WHO rides so late through the midnight blast? | |
| ’T is a father spurs on with his child full fast; | |
| He gathers the boy well into his arm, | |
| He clasps him close and he keeps him warm. | |
| |
| “My son, why thus to my arm dost cling?”— | 5 |
| “Father, dost thou not see the elfin-king? | |
| The elfin-king with his crown and train!” | |
| “My son, ’t is a streak of the misty rain!” | |
| |
| “Come hither, thou darling, come, go with me! | |
| Fine games I know that I ’ll play with thee; | 10 |
| Flowers many and bright do my kingdoms hold, | |
| My mother has many a robe of gold.” | |
| |
| “O father, dear father, and dost thou not hear | |
| What the elfin-king whispers so low in mine ear?”— | |
| “Calm, calm thee, my boy, it is only the breeze, | 15 |
| As it rustles the withered leaves under the trees.” | |
| |
| “Wilt thou go, bonny boy, wilt thou go with me? | |
| My daughters shall wait on thee daintily; | |
| My daughters around thee in dance shall sweep, | |
| And rock thee and kiss thee and sing thee to sleep.” | 20 |
| |
| “O father, dear father, and dost thou not mark | |
| The elf-king’s daughters move by in the dark?”— | |
| “I see it, my child; but it is not they, | |
| ’T is the old willow nodding its head so gray.” | |
| |
| “I love thee! thy beauty it charms me so; | 25 |
| And I ’ll take thee by force, if thou wilt not go!” | |
| “O father, dear father, he ’s grasping me,— | |
| My heart is as cold as cold can be!” | |
| |
| The father rides swiftly,—with terror he gasps,— | |
| The sobbing child in his arms he clasps; | 30 |
| He reaches the castle with spurring and dread; | |
| But alack! in his arms the child lay dead! | |
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