本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Goethe-Gedichte 1
Selected German Verse by J.W. Goethe
In the original German with a
line-by-line prose translation in English


Erlkönig/Erlking (1782)
von Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In German and Scandinavian mythology, an “Erlkönig” is an evil spirit that lurks about to threaten humans, especially children. It has often been claimed that Goethe's term Erlkönig is a German mistranslation of the Danish “ellerkonge” or “elverkonge” or “king of the elves,” but in fact this may not be the case. In an interesting German article on the topic, Burkhard Schröder claims that Goethe knew exactly what he was doing, and the term Erlkönig can be traced back to an ancient Greek goddess of death (Todesgöttin) known as Alphito, who became a female Erlkönigin as she moved north, and even the biblical Lilith. (For more, see German Myth 9 in our Misnomers, Myths, and Misconceptions section.)


Original German

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?
Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;
Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,
Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm.

"Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?"
"Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht?
Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif?"
"Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif."'

"Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!
Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir;
Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,
Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand."

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,
Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?"
"Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;
In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind."

"Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn?
Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;
Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn,
Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein."

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort
Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?"
"Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau."

"Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt."
"Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!"

Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,
Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not;
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.


English Translation

Who rides 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 cuddle and sing and dance you to sleep."

"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 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.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net