Recently at twilight I travelled
Along a lake,
Loudly through the desolate quietness
The sound of a horn rang out.

Thereupon it seemed to me as if
A lovely woman were rising from the lake.
With long, gold strands of hair
And a slender, swan-like body.

She began to sing
A song so wondrous
That, hearing it, my soul began 
To swell in sweet enchantment.

A wondrously strange yearning
Passed through the depths of my soul,
And lo! upon my lashes
An ardent tear was suspended.

I saw the Nixie beckoning me
For a long time afterwards yet.
My thoughts were lost
In the past.

I dreamt once more again
A dream of love that had dissolved.
The sound of the horn had long since dissipated --
But I hardly noticed it.