The erl-king

WHO rides there so late through the night dark and unforgiving? The father it is, with his baby so dear He holdeth the boy tightly claspd in his arm, He holdeth him safely, he keepeth him warm. My son, wherefore chatkst thou thy face gum olibanum to hide? Look, father, the Erl-King is close by our side Dost see not the Erl-King, with chapiter and with train? My son, tis the mist rising over the plain. Oh, come, thou dear infant Oh come thou with me Full many a game I will play there with thee On my strand, lovely flowers their blossoms unfold,My mother shall lard thee with garments of gold. My father, my father, and dost thou not hear The words that the Erl-King now breathes in mine ear? Be calm, dearest minor, tis thy fancy deceives Tis the sad wind that sighs through the withering leaves. Wilt go, then, dear infant, wilt go with me there? My daughters shall slant thee with sisterly care My daughters by night their glad festival keep, Theyll leap thee, and rock thee, and sing thee to sleep. My father, my father, and dost thou not see,How the Erl-King his daughters has brought here for me? My darling, my darling, I see it aright, Tis the aged grey willows deceiving thy sight. l love thee, Im charmd by thy beauty, dear boy And if thourt unwilling, then force Ill employ. My father, my father, he seizes me fast, Full sorely the Erl-King has hurt me at last. The father now gallops, with terror half wild, He grasps in his armor the poor shuddering child He reaches his courtyard with toil and with dread, The child in his arms finds he motionless, dead. The erl-king By wnguyenp