The poem seems to have been written around 1823.

When we studied it, we were told that the "Ich glaube" (I think) which begins the last 4-line stanza is crucial: it indicates an ironic standing back from the narrative. It almost suggests that the narrator is turning away from us with a shrug, saying, "you can think what you like ..."
It's certainly an odd thing for him to say just when he gets to the climax of the story, but it's something you do come across in German romanticism.

I'm just mentioning this so that anyone who wants to be strictly correct will be able to choose a translation that doesn't lose this. But I doubt if it's regarded as important to most people who sing the song, including German speakers.

Marje