NPPF--commentary--662--Who rides so late in the night and the windTr

[Paul Mackin]

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. 

K is drawing on the fact that wind (wind) and kind (child) rhyme. He
notes that in Zemblan these words also rhyme, as is also the case in
French (vent and enfant). In English it is wild and child that rhyme.
(which is convenient for Shade) See English translation of Goethe below.

Are these kinds of coincidences supposed to point to something else in
the poem? Is there an echo here of the similarity of white fountain and
white mountain--that Shade had seen as a some kind of message from
beyond. (don't know) 

Charles II recites the poem during his flight over the mountains. 

The Elf King, 1782 

Who rides so late in the night so wild? 
It is a father with his child. 
He cradles his offspring in his arm. 
Tightly he holds him to keep him from harm. 

My son, why do you fear and hide your face? 
Look father, it's the king of the elven race. 
Can you not see his cape and his crown? 
It's an illusion as the fog settles down. 

Oh beloved child, come unto me. 
So many games will I play with thee. 
Colorful flowers grow in my land, 
Sown by my mother's own loving hand. 

Oh father, can't you hear him, can't you see 
The offer the elf king is making to me? 
Calm yourself, child, it's only the breeze, 
The sound of the leaves quaking in the trees. 

Sweet, gentle boy, won't you come along. 
My daughters await to sing you their song. 
They will care for you, give them a chance. 
They will comfort you and teach you to dance. 

Oh my father, listen to me, please. 
The elf king's daughters my soul will seize. 
My son, I've looked, there's nothing to find. 
The darkness plays tricks on the innocent mind. 

I love your beauty, won't you come down off that horse? 
Since you won't come willingly, I'll take you by force. 
Father, please help, I'm in his embrace. 
The elf king has severed my soul from god's grace. 

The terrified father streaked off with alarm, 
Holding his pale son within his arm. 
He reached the farmhouse in fear and dread, 
too late for the boy, who already was dead.