“Vor der Burg wohl über dem See”
“The beautiful, young Lilofee”… This is the haunted verse of the German ballad known as the “Der Wilde Wassermann” or “Die Schöne Lilofee” (“The beautiful Lilofee”).
Here comes the English translation of the lyrics (see:http://lyricstranslate.com/en/der-wilde-wassermann-wild-waterman.html). It was first transcribed in 1813 in the region of Joachimsthal, Bohemia.
The Wild Waterman
A wild waterman is courting – In front of the castle across the lake
He’s courting in royal manner – The beautiful, young Lilofee
He let build a bridge -In front of the castle across the lake
Where he wanted her to walk on – The beautiful, young Lilofee
When she came upon the bridge – In front of the castle across the lake
The waterman pulled her down – The beautiful, young Lilofee
She spent seven years down there – In front of the castle across the lake
And she gave him seven children – The beautiful, young Lilofee
Once she heard the bells chime above – In front of the castle across the lake
Wanted to see father and mother again – The beautiful, young Lilofee
When she came out of the church – In front of the castle across the lake
There stood the wild waterman – In front of the beautiful, young Lilofee
“Do you want to go down with me? – In front of the castle across the lake
Your children down there are crying for you, – beautiful, young Lilofee”
“Let us split the children apart, – In front of the castle across the lake
Then I take three and you take three – Me poor, young Lilofee.”
“Let us divide the seventh, – In front of the castle across the lake
Then I take a leg and you take a leg, – beautiful, young Lilofee.”
“Before dividing the children, – In front of the castle across the lake
I’d rather let leaves and green grass go – Me poor, young Lilofee.”
The legend remains very present in Germany. It can be found until in architectural design elements in cities and parks, as in statuary.
There are also legends about (male) sirens of the seaside (the North Sea and Baltic in concrete), such as we see below.
