The dwarf rose from his slumber
All in his cave of stone
With food no more in all his store
His stomach made great moan
His stomach made great moan, it did,
With food no more in all his store
His stomach made great moan
He girded on his armour
His cloak of fiery red
An iron cap with leather flap
He wore upon his head
He wore upon his head, he did...
I’ll take me down to market
He said in voice so gruff
To swindle men, then home again
And that will be enough
And that will be enough, he said...
And down the mountain path he trod
That path so steep and bare
Toward the town, he ventured down
To cheat the people there
To cheat the people there, he did...
The market was full fair that day
And all the folk were there
With beer and wine, and food so fine
And lots there was to spare
And lots there was to spare, there was...
But though his home was filled with gold
And silver in great store
It’s no dwarf’s way to meekly pay
When guile will serve them more
When guile will serve them more, my lads...
He changed false coinage into good
He argued every price
And at each stall he conquered all
And thought it very nice
And thought it very nice, he did...
And soon his sacks were filled with fare
With roots and fruits and bread
And wine and cheese and more like these
Just one thing more, he said
Just one thing more, he said, he did...
There was a man, at rest nearby
And by his side a steed
A fine red mare, without compare
The dwarf was filled with greed
The dwarf was filled with greed, he was...
Good man, good man, the dwarf he cried
I’ll play a game with you
With stones of clay, we’ll pass the day
And spend an hour or two
And spend an hour or two, he said...
The man he smiled and thought no ill
And saw in this no harm
And starting play, the stones he lay
And took him no alarm
And took him no alarm, he did...
But dwarves they are a wily crew
And this one worse than all
He’d not be beat when he could cheat
This man he soon would fall
This man he soon would fall, he would...
They played the game two hours long
All seated on the ground
For all man’s skill, the game went ill
He lost in every round
He lost in every round, he did...
His copper coins, then silver too
The man did lose and lack
The dwarf he smiled, and then beguiled
I’ll let you win it back
I’ll let you win it back, he said...
Oh you are kind the man did say
to play this last with me,
to evens make, but what’s the stake
What can I wager thee
What can I wager thee, he said...
The dwarf he looked upon the mare
With eyes that shone like flame
I’ve heard it said, a beast of red
Is yours in law and name
Is yours in law and name, it is...
The man’s face fell in sorrow sure
My Rosie, he did say
So dear in heart, I could not part
But how else could I pay
But how else could I pay, says he...
You’re ruined if you don’t my man
The dwarf did sharply say
No coins are left, of wealth bereft
For Rosie we shall play
For Rosie we shall play, we shall...
The man his eyes with tears were filled
I cannot bear to lose her
Beyond compare, so strong, so fair
That any man would choose her
That any man would choose her, aye...
I’ve ridden her for many years
And all around the town
But I say Aye, what choice have I
So lay the Hopestones down
So lay the Hopestones down, said he...
And down they fell, those painted stones
And chosen was each one
The round was played, the stones were laid
The poor man’s hope was gone
The poor man’s hope was gone, it was...
The dwarf sprang up triumphant,
You’ve lost, you’ve lost said he
You men are fools, you follow rules
We dwarves are far more free
We dwarves are far more free, we are...
Your hope is gone, your coin is mine
And now your steed is too
Your failure’s plain, hand me the rein
You lost her, sure and true
You lost her sure and true, you have...
The man he stared and then he cried
You’re wrong, upon my life!
My master’s horse is this of course,
And Rosie is my wife
And Rosie is my wife, said he...
Your Wife! Your Wife! The dwarf did say
His grey face turning white
I want no wife, upon my life
He’d taken such a fright
He’d taken such a fright, he had...
And here she comes, the man did say
Right there across the green
And on she came, with hair of flame
The angriest he’d seen
The angriest he’d seen, she was...
Her eyes were sharp, her bosom heaved
Her lips were pursed and red
Are those Hopestones? I’ll break your bones!
So this fierce fury said
So this fierce fury said, she did...
The husband fled and left the dwarf
Not knowing what to do
She hurled him down upon the ground
And beat him with her shoe
She beat him with her shoe, she did...
Oh save me from your wife Oh help!
The dwarf lay bleating there
The man said mine? No she is thine
You won her fair and square
You won her fair and square, you did...
She beat him still, and kicked him too
And called him such a name
That drunkards near said dear oh dear
That woman has no shame
That woman has no shame, they said...
And such a deed she did that day
She beat him round the town
With oaths so rare, he did despair
He to his knees fell down
He to his knees fell down, he did...
Oh woman, woman hear my plea
He wailed in great dismay
Oh spare my blame, I’ll yield my claim
Please let me flee away
Please let me flee away, he said...
Your claim, said she, you little beast
You have no claim to stake
Now damn your eyes, give back each prize
Or I’ll example make
Or I’ll example make, said she...
I yield, I yield, the dwarf declared
I cannot fight with thee
Each coin I’ll give, oh let me live!
And let me then go free
And let me then go free, fair maid...
She shook the money from his purse
And kicked him round some more
You cheat, you lie, then wonder why
Your people we abhor
Your people we abhor, said she...
And now the goods you stole, said she
When making men your joke
Now drop your sack and from your back
I’ll take your fiery cloak
I’ll take your fiery cloak, said she...
He dropped the sack of food and goods
That he had cheating gained
And cloak he gave, his life to save
And nothing he retained
And nothing he retained, my lads...
They watched him flee, they watched him go
The townsfolk cheered his flight
And people sang, their voices rang
So long into the night
So long into the night, they did...
And from that day to this my friends
He never came to town
And Rosie there, his cloak did wear
As proudly as a crown
As proudly as a crown, she did...
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