Pero siendo tan demente
El hombre que es codicioso,
No faltó quien jactancioso,
Despreciase al señor duende.
Not so the sharpers, who this house
Had made their special haunt:
"Señor Duende!—Humph!"—cried they
"May suck eggs with his aunt!"
Unos cuantos jugadores,
Que llaman de profesion,
Eligieron la mansion
Para exercer sus primores.
They and their worthy company,
Of the black-limbed profession,
Here cheated in a lawful way,
By that best right—possession!
Mui luego la compañia,
Numerosa vino á ser,
Y el que Ilegaba á perder,
Contra al duende maldecía.
The crowd increased. Some luckless wight
His winnings at an end, he
Swore by his trumps, 'twas owing to
That rascally Duende!
La confusa gritería,
Pronto al duende incomodó,
Y al complot se apareció
Que ápenas, cuarta tenía.
This roused him from his garret, where
He heard the daily squabble;
And lo, in human form, he stands
Before the shirtless rabble!
En voz, como chirimía,
Dijoles cortés y atento
Que habitaba el aposento
Donde su amo existia.
He squeaked, "Your servant, gentlemen;
I would not thus intrude,
'Pon honour, but your conduct is
So very-very rude.