With a terror-filled night
when a man can hardly sleep
there resounds in the deep dark forest
the joy-filled laughter of a child

by the help of forest demons
the princess' son flourishes
fed on the fresh meat of venison
and the wine of the forest fairies
in the rocky cavern he dwells
and on boar's skin he sleeps
undisturbed by the people
because in these parts
specters are said to haunt

bad spirits search for him
because under the protection of Wotan
he can take pride in his son

around his fifth year he insulted
the treacherous queen of the fairies
and she retaliated
at noon with a damp kiss
in the lighted clearing along the path
she brought upon him a weary sleep
as uncertain fate would have it, nevertheless
exactly here a plentiful
and very honorable family comes along
and this lost child
the parents of the Crucifix
try to give root among them
and confused after his strange sleep
they drag him to the town without resistance