harm befell!

El suceso maldecian
Los unos por el temor,
Y gritaban con furor
Los que el dinero perdian.

The rogues, who saw him disappear,
Waxed paler than before:
Some said an _Ave_; some for fear,
And some for folly, swore.

Vuelve por segunda vez,
El mensajero, crecido
Media vara, y atrevido,
Les dice, menos cortes.

When suddenly amidst them all,
Again the demon stands;
A full half-yard in stature grown!
Their business he demands.

_Que su amo, era absoluto,_
_De aquella encantada casa,_
_Y su paciencia era escasa,_
_Con todo fullero astuto_.

"I tell ye, villains, gamblers, thieves!
His patience is but small,
With such as you,--so master says,
Who master will you all!

_Que les mandaba salir_
_De aquel lugar, con presteza,_
_Pues de no, su gentileza,_
_Los haria consumir_.

"Out of the house, ye rabble rout!
Out of the house! I say,
Or otherwise his honour will
Consume you utterly!"

Del duendecito quisieron
Apoderarse valientes,
Mas se les fue entre los dientes,
Y sin la presa se vieron.

Thought one, "I'll seize this varlet vile,"
And speedily arose;
He caught him in his clutch--the sprite
Vanished and tweaked his nose!

Ya el temor empezo a obrar
Y entraron las reflexiones,
Apoyando con varones,
Que era Duende, a no dudar.

"San Jerome, save us, we are loo'd
If this should be the sprite;
The big _Duende_, best we bid
His boggartship good night."

Como siempre al jugador,
Lo sostiene la esperanza,
Fundaron la confianza,
En que un Duende es vividor.

But hope, the gambler's enemy,
Beguiled them to their ruin;
"These ugly sprites, they say, are rich,
Yet yield nought without wooing.

Que su ciencia atrae dinero,
Y medios paro adquirirlo,
Y era cuerdo el admitirlo,
Dandole el lugar primero.

"His skill may help us to repair
Our cloaks, and eke our breeches;
Best speak him fair. We'll worship Nick
If he but grant us riches!"

Mas el duende que escuchaba
La trama de los fulleros,
Quiso en tales caballeros,
_Vengar,_ lo que suspiraba.

The sly _Duende_, like a mouse,
Hearkening behind the wall,
Did now resolve he quickly would
Th