The woods are haunted by a malignant power, called ‘the Erl- or Oak-King:’ He it is who blights the trees, spoils the harvest, and commands the imps and goblins: he appears in the form of an old man of majestic figure, with a golden crown and long white beard: his principal amusement is to entice young children from their parents, and as soon as he gets them into his cave, he tears them into a thousand pieces⁠—the rivers are governed by another fiend, called ‘the Water-King:’ His province is to agitate the deep, occasion shipwrecks, and drag the drowning sailors beneath the waves: he wears the appearance of a warrior, and employs himself in luring young virgins into his snare: what he does with them, when he catches them in the water, reverend ladies, I leave for you to imagine⁠—‘The Fire-King’ seems to be a man all formed of flames: he raises the meteors and wandering lights which beguile travellers into ponds and marshes, and he directs the lightning where it may do most mischief⁠—the last of these elementary daemons is called ‘the Cloud-King;’ His figure is that of a beautiful youth, and he is distinguished by two large sable wings: though his outside is so enchanting, he is not a bit better disposed than the others: he is continually employed in raising storms, tearing up forests by the roots,