Under the fir trees at the edge of the water, the boy was playing
By a creek of the legendary Lake Saimen.
From his hall under the waves, the water sprite saw him;
He gazed at the boy with love
And wished to lure him into his arms.

He rose to the beach in the guise of a man,
But the cheerful boy fled him;
Then he rose to the beach as a youth,
But the happy boy did not stay;
Finally, he turned himself into a frisky colt
And wandered among the trees.

Now when the boy saw the merry colt,
He walked slowly toward him, invitingly,
Gripped his mane in haste and leapt onto his back,
Wanting to have a joyous ride;
But at that moment, down into the depths
The water sprite fled with its lovely prey.

The boy's mother came to the edge of the water,
Seeking her child with grief and tears.
From his hall under the waves, the water sprite saw her;
He gazed at the fair woman with love
And wished to lure her into his arms.

He rose to the beach in the guise of a man,
But the sorrowing woman fled him;
Then he rose to the beach as a young man,
But the sorrowing woman did not stay;
Finally, turning into the merry boy,
He lay happily rocking in the waves.

Now, when the mother saw the son she had been mourning,
She sprang into the water toward his arms
Hoping to save him from danger,
But at that moment, down into the depths
The water sprite fled with its lovely prey.