She shall bear thee so lightly thro’ wet and thro’ wild,
And press thee and kiss thee and sing to my child.”
“O Father, my Father, and saw you not plain,
The Erl-King’s pale daughter glide past thro’ the rain?”——
“Oh, yes, my loved treasure, I knew it full soon:
It was the grey willow that danced to the moon.”
THE ERL-KING SPEAKS AGAIN
“Oh! come and go with me, no longer delay,
Or else, silly child, I will drag thee away.”—
“O Father! O Father! now, now keep your hold,