Erlkönig [English translation]

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.