Fairy-tale-like from the waters
The old castle ruins rise
And the silvery radiance of the moon
Trembles through the window-arches.

A summer night so balmy and mild
Stretches over land and waters,
Blissful scents of blossoms
Breathe balm from the shoreline.

And from their bed of waves
The nixies quietly surface,
With their heads of golden curls
Twined about with the white of waterlilies.

Listen! a flitting and a splashing
And wondrous harp tones
Waft and sound
To the singing of lovely voices.

Silver-white, airy garments
Flutter quietly in the moonlight
And thus they form the roundelay
In the ruins of the old castle.

Suddenly the roundelay stops
And the delicate, pale queen, 
Lovely as a lily, beckons, --
For the young morning approaches.

And the beautiful, lovely nixies
Dive into the deep waters;
Sadly, the willows incline
From the shore into the waves.

And daylight illuminates the ruins;
They gaze sadly from out of the water,
And from the fallen walls gazes forth
The glory of vanished times.