"Der Erlkönig"
Who's riding so late, through night and wind?
It is the father, with his
child;
He has the young lad clasped in his arms,
He holds him securely, he
holds him warm
"My son, why do you hide your face?"
"Father, don't you
see the Erl King?
The Erl King, with his crown and cape tail?"
"My son,
it's just a strip of fog."
"You lovely child, come with me!
So many
lovely games I will play with you.
Many colorful flowers are by the
shore,
My mother has many golden robes."
"My father, my father, can't
you hear,
The promises the Erl King is whispering to me?"
"Be quiet, stay
quiet, my child;
It's just the dry leaves rustling in the wind."
"Fine
lad, will you come with me?
My daughters will tend to you;
My daughters
will put you to bed every night,
And they will sing and dance until you fall
asleep."
"My father, My father, can't you see over there?
The Erl
King's daughters at that dreary place?"
"My son, my son, I see it
clearly,
It's just the old weeping willows so grey."
"I love you, your
beautiful figure excites me;
And if you're not willing, then I will use
force."
"My father, my father, he's grabbing me!
The Erl King has done
something terrible to me!"
The father shudders, he rides swiftly,
He
holds in his arms, the moaning child.
He arrives at the farm with pain and
distress.
In his arms, the child was dead.
By: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.