Johann Karl August Musäus

“ The dim impervious forests were all hewn down and converted into fruitful fields, where the rich grain was ripening. Amidst orchards of fruit-trees, full of blossom, arose the straw-thatched roofs of thriving villages, and the curling smoke peacefully ascended from many a chimney ”

“ I shall animate every one of them; for take care that you count them correctly, for if you miss but one of them, my promise shall be withdrawn.” So enchanted was the gnome, that he would not have scrupled to count the sands of the sea-shore. The counting of a field of turnips, therefore, appeared a small affair; and Emma having retired into the palace not to disturb his calculations, he immediately began his task. But this he soon found was no such easy matter. Hour after hour did our lover labour at his task; at length it was accomplished, and he hurried to the palace. ”

“ Sometimes good natured, noble, and feeling, but by and by contradicting himself: wise and foolish, soft one minute and hard in another, like an egg which falls into boiling water; roguish and honest, obstinate and yielding;—just according to the mood of his inward humour at the time when he happens to come across some person or thing. ”

“ It sometimes pleased this subterranean prince to traverse his wide-spread domain in the dark abyss, that he might behold the inexhaustible treasure chambers of rocks and strata, observe how his subjects gnomes were getting on, and give them something to do; at times employing them in making dykes to stem the fire stream which flowed in the interior of the earth, or in bathing in metallic vapour the sterile stone, until it became transformed into noble ore. ”

“ He returned back in disgust to his rocky fortress, from thence beheld the smiling plain which human industry had made beautiful, and wondered that mother nature could lend her gifts to such a heartless brood. ”

“ He guarded them diligently, drove them to solitary places and steep hills, where the best grass grew. The flock throve and increased wonderfully: no sheep tumbled over the rocks, and none were torn to pieces by the wolf. ”

“ The fair Emma, finding that she was again to be doomed to solitude, first complained, and then wept; and so powerful are the tears of a lovely woman, that, not even a gnome could withstand them. He protested that he would explore every inch of his subterraneous domain in quest of another supply of turnips suited to her purpose ”

“ The report of the strange adventure of the princess, and the ingenious device by which she effected her escape, was soon spread abroad throughout her father’s kingdom, and in all the surrounding country, and it became a tradition, which descended from generation to generation, until at last the common people were accustomed to give the gnome, for want of a better, the name of Rübezahl, or the Turnip Counter ”