Belle dame sans merci [English translation]

"What ails you, my poor man,

that makes you pale and humbled so,

among the withered seashore reeds

where the song of no bird is heard1?"

"I met a noble lady on the Rhine,

so very fair was she - a fairy vision,

her hair was long, her gait was light,

and wild her stare.

I lifted her on my white steed

and nothing but her could I see,

as she leant by my side and sang

a song of the fairies.

She led me to her cave house

where she cried and wailed much;

so I closed her wild deer eyes2

with four kisses of mine.

She lulled me to sleep then,

and I dreamt a nightlong song!

and shadows follow me since

be it day or night3.

I saw a pale king and his son

knights pale as death, face to face;

who cried out: "The fair lady without mercy

has you in her spell!"

Thus shall I remain here alone

to wander, pale and humbled so,

among the withered seashore reeds

where the song of no bird is heard"

1. lit "(where) no bird sings"2. I assume it's "Aug(en)" instead of "Auf'"3. the original says "all the time" but I opted for (hopefully) more colorful English