Thesurging，violentcrowdnowcriedaround。”Back，peasants，back！Dohimnoharm！”
　　SuddenexclaimedaMonsieur，speakingwithalarm；
　　Thepeasantsmovedaside，andthengaveplaceToMontluc，glitteringwithgoldenlace；
　　ItwastheBaronofRoquefort！
　　Thefrightenedgirls，likehuntedhares，Atoncedispers’d，flewhereandthere。
　　Theshepherds，butamomentafter，Withthrillingfifeandbeaminglaughter，ThebraveandgoodPascalattendedonhisway，Untohishumblehome，as’twerehisnuptialday。
　　ButMarcel，furious，madwithrage，exclaimed，”Oh！couldIstabandkillthem！ButI’mmaimed！”
　　OnlyagestureofhislordRestrainedhim，handuponhissword。
　　Thendidhegrindhisteeth，ashelaybattered，Andinalowandbrokenvoicehemuttered：”Theyloveeachother，anddespisemykindness，Shefavourshim，andsheadmireshisfondness；
　　Ah，well！byMarcel’spatron，I’llnottarryTomakethemsmart，andFranconnetteNootherhusbandthanmyselfshallmarry！”
　　SECONDPART。
　　TheEnamouredBlacksmith——HisFretfulMother——TheBuskingSoiree——Pascal’sSong——TheSorcereroftheBlackForest——
　　TheGirlSoldtotheDemon。
　　SinceRoquefortfete，one，two，threemonthshavefled；
　　Thedancingfrolic，withtheharvestended；
　　Theout-doorsportsarebanished——
　　Forwintercomes；theairissadandcold，itsighsUnderthevaultedskies。
　　Atfallofnight，noneriskstowalkacrossthefields，Foreachone，sadandcheerless，beeldsBeforethegreatfiresblazing，Ortalksofwolfishfiends[3]amazing；
　　Andsorcerers——tomakeoneshudderwithaffright——
　　Thatwalkaroundthecotssowight，Or’neaththegloomyelms，andbyfarmyardsatnight。
　　ButnowatlasthasChristmascome，AndlittleJack，whobeatsthedrum，Criesroundthehamlet，withhisbeamingface：”Comebriskenup，youmaidensfair，Amerrybusking[4]shalltakeplaceOnFriday，firstnightoftheyear！”
　　Ah！nowthehappyyouthsandmaidensfairProclaimedthedrummer’swords，sobrightandrare。
　　ThenewswerecarriedfarandnearLightasabirdmostfleetWithwingstocarrythoughtssosweet。
　　Thesun，withbeamingrays，hadscarcelyshoneEreeverywherethejoyousnewshadflown；
　　Ateveryfiresidetheywereknown，Byeveryhearth，inconversekeen，Thebuskingwasthetheme。
　　ButwhentheFridaycame，afrozendewwasraining，Andbyafirelessforgeamothersatcomplaining；
　　Andtoherson，whosatthereby，Shespokeatlastentreatingly：”Hastthouforgotthesummerday，myboy，whenthoudidstcomeAllbleedingfromthefuriousfray，tothesoundofmusichome?
　　HowIhavesufferedforyoursorrow，Andallthatyouhavehadtogothrough。
　　LonghaveItroubledforyourarm！Formercy’ssakeOh！gonotforthto-night！Idreamtofflowersagain，Andwhatmeansthat，Pascal，butsomuchtearsandpain！””Nowartthoucraven，mother！andsee’stthatlife’sallblack，Butwhereforetremble，sinceMarcelhasgone，andcomesnotback！””Ohyet，myson，doyoutakeheed，Ipray！
　　ForthewizardoftheBlackWoodisroamingroundthisway；
　　Thesamewhowroughtsuchhavoc，’twasbutayearagone，Theytellmeonewasseentocomefrom’scaveatdawnButtwodayspast——itwasasoldier；nowWhatifthiswereMarcel?Oh，mychild，dotakecare！
　　Eachmothergiveshercharmsuntohersons；dothouTakemine；butIbeseech，gonotforthanywhere！””Justforonelittlehour，mineeyestosetOnmyfriendThomas，whomI’mboundtomeet！””Thyfriend，indeed！Nay，nay！ThoumeanestFranconnette，Whomthoulovesdearly！Iwishthou’dlovesomeothermaid！
　　Oh，yes！Ireaditinthineeyes！
　　Thoughthousing’st，artgay，thysecretbravelykeeping，ThatImaynotbesad，yetallalonethou’rtweeping——
　　Myheadachesforthymisery；
　　Yetleaveher，forthineowngood，mydearPascal；
　　Shewouldsogreatlyscornaworkingsmithlikethee，Withmotheroldinpenury；
　　Forpoorweare——thouknowesttruly。”Howwehavesoldandsoldfillscarceascytheremains。
　　Oh，darkthedaysthishousehathseenSince，Pascal，thousoillhastbeen；
　　Nowthouartwell，arouse！dosomethingforourgainsOrrestthee，ifthouwilt；withsufferingwecanfight；
　　But，forGod’slove，oh！gonotforthto-night！”
　　Andthepoormother，quiteundone，Cried，whilethuspleadingwithherson，Who，leaningonhisblacksmith’sforgeThestiflingsobsquelledinhisgorge。”’Tisverytrue，”hesaid，”thatwearepoor，ButhadIthatforgot?……Igotowork，mymother，now，besure！”
　　Nosoonersaidthandone；forinablinkWasheardtheanvil’sclink，Thesparksflewfromtheblacksmith’sfireHigherandstillhigher！
　　Theforgemanstruckthemoltenirondead，Hammerinhand，asifhehadahundredinhishead！
　　Butnow，theBuskingwasapace，Andsoon，fromeverycornerplaceThegirlscamewiththeskeinoftheirownmakingTowindupatthissweethearts’merrymeeting。
　　Inthelargechamber，wheretheysatandwindedThethreads，alldoublygarnished，Thegirls，thelads，pliedhardtheirfinger，AndswiftlywoundtogetherTheclewsoflintsofair，Asfineasanyhair。
　　Thewindingnowwasdone；andthewhitewine，andrhymsters，Cameforthwithripplingglassandporringers，AndbroughttheirvividvapoursTobrightenuptheircapers——
　　Ah！iftheprettiestwerethebest，withprideIwouldmyFranconnettedescribe。
　　Thoughqueenofgames，shewasthelast，notworst，Itisnotthatshereignedatpresent，yetwasfirst。”Hold！Hold！”shecried，thebrown-hairedmaid，Nowshedirectedthemfromsidetoside——
　　Threewomenmergedinone，theysaid——
　　Shedances，speaks，sings，allbewitching，Bymaiden’swilesshewassorichin；
　　Shesingswithsoulofturtle-dove，Shespeakswithgraceangelic；
　　Shedancesonthewingsoflove——
　　Sings，speaks，anddances，inaguiseMorethanenoughtoturntheheadmostwise！
　　Hertriumphiscomplete；alleyesarefixeduponher，Thoughheradorersarebutpeasants；
　　Hereyesarebeaming，Blazingandsparkling，Andquitebewitching；
　　Nowonderthatthesweetheartladsareravishedwithher！
　　ThenThomasroseand，onthecoquettefixingHisardenteyes，thoughblushing，Inlanguagefullofneatness，Andtonesoflute-likesweetness，Thissongbegantosing：
　　THESYRENWITHAHEARTOFICE。”Oh，tellus，charmingSyren，Withheartoficeunmoved，WhenshallwehearthesoundOfbellsthatringaround，Tosaythatyouhaveloved?
　　Alwayssofreeandgay，Thosewingsofdazzlingray，Arespreadtoeveryair——
　　Andallyourfavourshare；
　　AttractedbytheirlightAllfollowinyourflight。
　　Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
　　Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?”You’veseenhowfullofjoyWe’vemarkedthesunarise；
　　EvensoeachSundaymornWhenyou，beforeoureyes，Bringussuchsweetsurprise。
　　Withusnewlifeisborn：
　　Weloveyourangelface，Yourstepsodebonnaire，Yourmienofmaidengrace，Yourvoice，yourlips，yourhair，Youreyesofgentlefire，Allthesewenowadmire！
　　Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
　　Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?”Alas！ourgrovesaredullWhenwidowedofthysight，AndneitherhedgenorfieldTheirperfumeseemtoyield；
　　TheblueskyisnotbrightWhenyoureturnoncemore，Allthatwassadisgone，Allnatureyourestore，Webreatheinyoualone；
　　WecouldyourrosyfingerscoverWithkissesofdelightallover！
　　Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
　　Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?