Under the linden the music is gay
The couples are gossiping loudly
Amd two are dancing whom nobody knows
They carry themselves so proudly
Now here now there they glide and sway
In wave-like measure beguiling
They bow to each other and as they nod
She whispers gently smiling
A water-pink is hanging from
Your cap, my fair sweet dancer
It only grows in the depths of the sea
You are no mortal man, sir
You are a merman and to lure
These silly maids—your wish is
I knew at once by your sea-blue eyes
And you glide just like the fishes
Now here now there they glide and sway
In wave-like measure beguiling
They bow to each other and as they nod
He answers gently smiling
My lovely lady, tell me why
Your hand’s so cold and shiny
Ans why is the border of your gown
So damp and draggled and briny?
I knew at once by your deep green eyes
And your bow—so mocking and trick-sy
You aren’t some simple lady, my dear
You are my sister—the nixie
The fiddles are silent—the dancing done
They part with a ripple of laughter
They know each other far too well and try
To avoid such a meeting thereafter
Under the linden the music is gay The couples are gossiping loudly Amd two are dancing whom nobody knows They carry themselves so proudly
Now here now there they glide and sway In wave-like measure beguiling They bow to each other and as they nod She whispers gently smiling
A water-pink is hanging from Your cap, my fair sweet dancer It only grows in the depths of the sea You are no mortal man, sir
You are a merman and to lure These silly maids—your wish is I knew at once by your sea-blue eyes And you glide just like the fishes
Now here now there they glide and sway In wave-like measure beguiling They bow to each other and as they nod He answers gently smiling
My lovely lady, tell me why Your hand’s so cold and shiny Ans why is the border of your gown So damp and draggled and briny?
I knew at once by your deep green eyes And your bow—so mocking and trick-sy You aren’t some simple lady, my dear You are my sister—the nixie
The fiddles are silent—the dancing done They part with a ripple of laughter They know each other far too well and try To avoid such a meeting thereafter
Heinrich Heine (paraphrased)