====== Erlkönig ====== **//Erlkönig//** is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1782. It is based on translation of Danish ballad "Elveskud" (lit. "Elf-shot") into German by Johann Gottfried Herder, who transformed "elf-king" into "erl-king". The poem mixes traditional songs about some pagan spirits or creatures luring travellers with promises of wealth with legends about Wild Hunt. > 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 Blümen 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, bleib ruhig, mein Kind! > In durren 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 dustern 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 den Armen das ächzende Kind, > Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not; > In seinen Armen das Kind war tot. The poem has several musical adaptations, most famous one by Franz Schubert. ===== English translation ===== > Who rides so late through night and wind? > It is the father with his child; > He has the boy well in his arms, > He holds him safely, he keeps him warm. > > My son, why do you hide your face so fearfully? -- > Father, do you not see the Erl-King? > The Erl-King with crown and tail? -- > My son, it is a streak of fog. -- > > "You dear child, come, go with me! > (Very) beautiful games I play with you; > Many colourful flowers are on the beach, > My mother has many a golden robe." -- > > My father, my father, and do you not hear > What the Erl-King quietly promises me? -- > Be quiet, stay calm, my child; > Through dry leaves the wind whisps." -- > > "Do you, fine boy, want to go with me? > My daughters shall wait for you finely; > My daughters lead the nightly rows, > And cradle((sway, lull)) and dance and sing (to bring) you in." -- > > My father, my father, and don't you see there > The Erl-King's daughters in the gloomy place? -- > My son, my son, I see it clearly: > It seems the old willows so grey. -- > > "I love you, your beautiful form excites me; > And if you're not willing, then I will use force." -- > My father, my father, he's touching me now! > The Erl-King has done me harm! -- > > It horrifies the father; he swiftly rides on, > He holds the moaning child in his arms, > Reaches the farm with trouble and distress((need, difficulty)); > In his arms, the child was dead. ===== Translation into Nûrlâm ===== It's believed that Erlkönig should be properly translated as "Elf-king" (=> "Golugarn"), but Russian translation by [[wp>Vasily_Zhukovsky|Vasily Zhukovsky]] uses "Forest King" (which I prefer, but Nûrlâm's "tau" and "arn" do not form a pleasant compound word; also it would make sense that parent orcs ignite the prejudice against elves in their children by singing this song). > Mai bamâ lad zârz fugh as agh zûl as? > Za kulâ krankum tab khindsha; > Tabrus nondum bhog bazgtabor, > Tamankan bharnarz, tafîthan khâshûrz. > > Dab nond, mûr fishkal thakfib zârz ufursha? -- > Krank, finarmarkin Golugarn? > Golugarn, adal(sha) agh bautsha? -- > Dab nond, za (kulâ) shak hizgob. -- > > "Fi turkûrz dâg, ukh, skât dasha! > Sharz nîr tail datail fisha; > Mak grumûrz lûth (kulû) fâlzir, > Dab krankniz brusâ mak tulkh fagh." -- > > Krankdab, krankdab, agh narmarkoz > Amash Golugarn fadâ dazûr ghilarz? -- > Ghilarz! Dab khind, irn borzarz; > Thizg gâth as zûlum shlûshâ." -- > > "Fimarhiz, ghonbhog, ukhut dasha? > Dab nind darbubûtam bhogarz; > Dab nind dûghû fugh ting, > Agh lûrzhû agh lîdû agh lashû fizûr." -- > > Krankdab, krankdab, agh narmarkin zîgin > Nindum golugarnob indufumor? -- > Dab nond, dab nond, dakinan kilkarz: > Thakû tauzkû zash groth. -- > > "Dabrogbam, znanîrfib yoriz; > Agh ghung finarhiz, dai da ushdub bal." -- > Krankdab, krankdab, zil tagrauriz! > Golugarnum ruluziz! -- > > Krank furgaga; tadrobam hîsarz, > Tamank bazgtabor nîthug khind, > Tabarl thazdum traz(sha) agh nîrthurm-sha; > Bazgtabor, khindum kuz gûrz. ----------------- ===== Links ===== * [[wp>Erlkönig|Goethe's poem]] * [[wp>Erlking|Erlking]] * [[wp>Elveskud|"Elveskud" ballad]]