Elf king
Who rides so late through night and wind?
It is the father with his child;
He probably has the boy in his arms,
He takes hold of him, he keeps him warm.
"Son, what are you bothering your face?" -
"Father, do not you see the Erlking?
The Elf king with crown and tail? "-
"My son, it's a fog."
"Dear child, come, go with me!
I play beautiful games with you;
Many colorful flowers are on the beach,
My mother has many a gilded robe. "-
"My father, my father, and do not you hear
What Elf king promises me quietly? "-
"Be quiet, stay calm, my child;
In dry leaves the wind whispers. "-
"Will you, dear boy, you go with me?
My daughters should wait for you nicely;
My daughters lead the nightly Reihn,
And weigh and dance and sing you in. "-
"My father, my father, and you do not see there
Elf king's daughters in the gloomy place? "-
"My son, my son, I see it exactly:
The old pastures seem so gray. - "
"I love you, your beautiful figure teases me;
And if you are not willing, then I need violence. "-
"My father, my father, now he touches me!
Erlkönig has done me a sorrow! "-
The father is terrified, he rides swiftly,
He holds in arms the groaning child
Reach the farm with hardship and hardship;
In his arms the child was dead.