Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/167



No man greater than a blacksmith, Honest, sturdy is the blacksmith; Firm upon his feet he standeth,
 * Dealing heavy blow on blow.

With quick hand his axe he handeth,
 * Many works before him grow.
 * And so, and so,
 * Blow upon blow,

Like thunder they fall on the anvil, and lo! He misses the iron by never a blow.

Blacksmiths, like all things in keeping, Heavy blows, and not much speaking, Manly speech and diligent work,
 * Heart for every noble thing.

And so we hear him at his work,
 * Dealing blows that loudly ring,
 * And so, and so,
 * Blow upon blow,

Like thunder they fall on the anvil, and lo! He misses the iron by never a blow.

The blacksmith is a man of truth, At home, or in the world, forsooth. The crooked he makes straight, the bad
 * He throws away in the dark.

A lover of the law, not sad,
 * He deals his heavy blows, hark!
 * And so, and so.
 * Blow upon blow,

Like thunder they fall on the anvil, and lo! Ho misses the iron by never a blow.