Erklönig

Erklönig, a German mistranslation (meaning 'alder king') of the Danish Ellerkonge (i.e. Elverkonge, 'king of the elves'). It was first used by Herder instead of the corresponding German word Elfenkönig; and Goethe followed Herder in his famous ballad (set to remarkable music by Schubert), in which a human child is carried off by the Erking, and dies in his cold arms. See FAIRIES.