| |
| WHO rides through the night and the storm, so wild? | |
| It is the father who carries his child; | |
| He holds the boy secure in his arm, | |
| He keeps him warm and safe from harm. | |
| |
| “Why, son, art thou hiding thy face in fear?” | 5 |
| “Seest thou not, father, the Alderking near? | |
| The Alderking with his crown and train?”— | |
| “My son, it is mist before the rain.” | |
| |
| “Thou dearest child, oh, come with me! | |
| Such lovely games I’ll play with thee. | 10 |
| My flowers gay thou shalt behold; | |
| My mother has many a gown of gold.” | |
| |
| “My father, my father, and canst thou not hear | |
| What Alderking whispers into my ear?”— | |
| “Be calm, be calm, my dearest child! | 15 |
| The wind in the leaves is murmuring wild.” | |
| |
| “Wilt thou come with me, oh handsome lad? | |
| My daughters shall serve thee and make thee glad; | |
| My daughters their nightly dances keep— | |
| They will rock and dance and sing thee to sleep.” | 20 |
| |
| “My father, my father, and canst thou not mark | |
| Alderking’s daughters there in the dark?”— | |
| “My son, my son, it is clear as day: | |
| The ancient willows appear so gray.” | |
| |
| “I love thee, thy beauty has charmed my eye; | 25 |
| If thou art not willing, with force I will try.”— | |
| “My father, my father, now he clutches my arm! | |
| The Alderking has done me harm!” | |
| |
| The father shudders, his riding is wild, | |
| He holds in his arms the moaning child, | 30 |
| He barely reaches his own homestead; | |
| And in his arms the child was dead. | |
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