unexpected happenings

The spring comes in full form.

a scholarly family

a cloud of good friends(a great many good friends)

have little food to eat

street rough(the riffraff)

crane one's neck to watch(stretch one's neck to see)

stimulate the circulation of the blood and cause the muscles and joints to relax

try every possible way to persuade

raise children(multiply the earth)

mystery(be enveloped in mystery)

the most beautiful woman

see off those who depart and welcome the arrivals(greet and see off guests)

drag somebody away willy-nilly

be honoured though dead( have died a glorious death)

talk up

bluster(hammer and tongs)

be under the spell(hold spellbound)

shamelessly nag at

thin and weak