Before my very eyes it appeared
(Certain night)
So alive as my bated breath
At the first moment
I couldst not believe
Insisted I hast so I waited
For the same dead hour

While such freezing cold
Charmed the silence,
There he was, standing clearly far away
Only a true king
Could act that way
He was the night preceding the day

In his eyes, chagrin oceans
Drowned his rage
His face, formerly hot like the sun
Was mantled by the virgin snow

Yes, he looked steadily at me
He waved his hand and
I thought I had something to say
But on the distant horizon
Which seemed so close
Dawn was breaking once again
A fearful feeling
Filled his eyes and he disappeared
As the cock crowed!

"My lord, if thine eyes believe that
This ghost is really thy dead father
Won't thee show thyself to him
In order to discover
The reasons of his return...

If he's a demon,
Or an angel with broken wings,
Thou shalt at least investigate, my lord
For nothing returns from the afterlife
After losing what was trust to us
Before our birth

So, follow us through this dark night
And take with thee thy honour
When a phantom returns, it's because
Something is coming up
And there is a rotten smell
On Denmark's ground..."