CHAPTER I How has thou sung my heart to rest? How has thou clung to me and smiled, and wouldest, whispering in my ear, Give vent to all thy miseries drear, a little half-spoiled, timorous child? Yet have my zither caught the sound, and breathed from out its gates of gold, each gentle word thy lips have told, until their fame is spread around. And many a heart has loved thee well, in spite of every wayward deed, and many a one will gladly read the pages which thy history tell. I catch the whispered hope expressed that thou shouldst once again appear, so cast aside each doubt and fear, and come, Undean, thou spirit blessed? Greet every noble in the hall, and greet for all with trusting air, the beauteous women gathered there. I know that thou art loved by all. And if one ask thee after me say, He's a true and noble knight, fair woman slave in song and fight, and in all deeds of chivalry? UNDEAN CHAPTER I. HOW THE NIGHT CAME TO THE FISHERMAN There was once, it may be now many hundred years ago, a good old fisherman, who was sitting one fine evening before his door, mending his nets. The part of the country in which he lived was extremely pretty. The green sword on which his cottage stood ran far into the lake, and it seemed as if it was from love for the blue clear waters that the tongue of land had stretched itself out into them, while with an equally fond embrace the lake had encircled the green pasture rich with waving grass and flowers, and the refreshing shade of trees. The one welcomed the other, and it was just this that made each so beautiful. There were indeed few human beings, or rather none at all, to be met with on this pleasant spot, except the fisherman and his family. For at the back of this little promontory there lay a very wild forest, which both from its gloom and pathless solitude, as well as from the wonderful creatures and illusions with which it was said to abound, was avoided by most people, except in cases of necessity. The pious old fisherman, however, passed through it many a time undisturbed, when he was taking the choice fish which he had caught at his beautiful home to a large town situated not far from the confines of the forest. The principal reason why it was so easy for him to pass through this forest was because the tone of his thoughts was almost entirely of a religious character, and besides this, whenever he set foot upon the evil reputed shades, he was wont to sing some holy song, with a clear voice and a sincere heart. While sitting over his nets this evening, unsuspicious of any evil, a sudden fear came upon him, at the sound of a rustling in the gloom of the forest, as of a horse and rider, the noise approaching nearer and nearer to the little promontory. All that he had dreamed in many a stormy night of the mysteries of the forest now flashed at once through his mind, for most of all the image of a gigantic snow-white man, who kept unceasingly nodding his head in a portentous manner. Indeed, when he raised his eyes toward the wood it seemed to him as if he actually saw the nodding man approaching through the dense foliage. He soon, however, reassured himself, reflecting that nothing serious had ever befallen him even in the forest itself, and that upon this open tongue of land the evil spirit would be still less daring in the exercise of his power. At the same time he repeated aloud a text from the Bible with all his heart, and this so inspired him with courage that he almost smiled at the illusion he had allowed to possess him. The white, nodding man was suddenly transformed into a brook, long familiar to him, which ran foaming from the forest and discharged itself into the lake. The noise, however, which he had heard, was caused by a night, beautifully apparelled, who, emerging from the deep shadows of the wood, came riding toward the cottage. A scarlet mantle was thrown over his purple, golden-broidered doublet. A red and violet plume waved from his golden-colored headgear, and a beautifully and richly ornamented sword flashed from his shoulder-belt. The white steed that bore the night was more slenderly formed than war-horses generally are, and he stepped so lightly over the turf that this green and flowery carpet seemed scarcely to receive the slightest injury from his tread. The old fisherman did not, however, feel perfectly secure in his mind, although he tried to convince himself that no evil was to be feared from so graceful an apparition, and therefore he politely took off his hat as the night approached, and remained quietly with his nets. Presently the stranger drew up, and inquired whether he and his horse could have shelter and care for the night. "'As regards your horse, good sir,' replied the fisherman, I can assign him no better stable than this shady pasture, and no better provender than the grass growing on it. Yourself, however, I will gladly welcome to my small cottage and give you supper and lodging as good as we have.' The night was well satisfied with this. He alighted from his horse, and with the assistance of the fisherman he relieved it from saddle and bridle, and turned it loose upon the flowery green. Then addressing his host he said, "'Even had I found you less hospitable and kindly disposed, my worthy old fisherman, you would nevertheless scarcely have got rid of me today, for as I see a broad lake lies before us, and to ride back into that mysterious wood with the shades of evening coming on, heaven keep me from it. We will not talk too much of that,' said the fisherman, and he led his guest into the cottage. There beside the hearth, from which a scanty fire shed a dim light through the cleanly kept room, sat the fisherman's aged wife in a capacious chair. At the entrance of the noble guest she rose to give him a kindly welcome, but resumed her seat of honor without offering it to the stranger. Upon this the fisherman said with a smile, "'You must not take it amiss of her young sir, that she has not given up to you the most comfortable seat in the house. It is a custom among poor people that it should belong exclusively to the aged.' "'Why, husband,' said the wife, with a quiet smile, "'What can you be thinking of? Our guest belongs no doubt to Christian men, and how could it come into the head of the good young blood to drive old people from their chairs?' "'Take a seat, young master,' she continued, turning toward the night. "'Over there, there is a right pretty little chair. Only you must not move about on it too roughly, for one of its legs is no longer of the firmest.' The night fetched the chair carefully, sat down upon it good-humoredly, and it seemed to him as if he were related to this little household, and had just returned from abroad. The three worthy people now began to talk together in the most friendly and familiar manner. With regard to the forest, about which the night made some inquiries, the old man was not inclined to be communicative. He felt it was not a subject suited to approaching night. But the aged couple spoke freely of their home and former life, and listened also gladly when the night recounted to them his travels, and told them that he had a castle near the source of the Danube, and that his name was Sir Hulledbrand of Ringstetten. During the conversation the stranger had already occasionally heard a splash against the little low window, as if someone were sprinkling water against it. Every time the noise occurred, the old man knit his brow with displeasure. But when at last a whole shower was dashed against the panes, and bubbled into the room through the decayed casement, he rose angrily, and called threateningly from the window, Undean, will you for once leave off these childish tricks? And today besides there is a stranger night with us in the cottage. All was silent without.  But she means no harm by it. It is our foster child, Undean, and she will not wean herself from this childishness, although she has already entered her eighteenth year. But as I said, at heart she is thoroughly good. You may well talk, replied the old woman shaking her head, when you come home from fishing or from a journey her frolics may then be very delightful, but to have her about one the whole day long and never to hear a sensible word, and instead of finding her a help in the housekeeping as she grows older, always to be obliged to be taking care that her follies do not completely ruin us, that is quite another thing, and the patience of a saint would be worn out at last. Well, well, said her husband with a smile, you have your troubles with Undean, and I have mine with the lake. It often breaks away my dams and tears my nets to pieces, but for all that I have an affection for it, and so have you for the pretty child in spite of all your crosses and vexations. Isn't it so? One can't be very angry with her, certainly, said the old woman, and she smiled approvingly. Just then the door flew open, and a beautiful, fair girl glided laughing into the room and said, You have only been jesting, father, for where is your guest? At the same moment, however, she perceived the night, and stood fixed with astonishment before the handsome youth, Haldbrand was struck with her charming appearance and dwelt the more earnestly on her lovely features, as he imagined it was only her surprise that gave him this brief enjoyment, and that she would presently turn from his gaze with increased bashfulness. It was, however, quite otherwise, for after having looked at him for some time, she drew near him confidingly, knelt down before him, and said, as she played with a gold medal which he wore on his breast, suspended from a rich chain, Why, you handsome, kind guest, how have you come to our poor cottage at last? Have you been obliged, then, to wander through the world for years before you could find your way to us? Do you come out of that wild forest, my beautiful knight?" The old woman's reproof allowed him no time for reply. She admonished the girl to stand up and behave herself and to go to her work. Undeen, however, without making any answer, drew a little footstool close to Haldbrand's chair, sat down upon it with her spinning, and said pleasantly, I will work here. The old man did as parents are wont to do with spoiled children. He affected to observe nothing of Undeen's naughtiness and was beginning to talk of something else. But this the girl would not let him do. She said, I have asked our charming guest whence he comes, and he has not yet answered me. I come from the forest, you beautiful little vision, returned Haldbrand, and she went on to say, Then you must tell me how you came there, for it is usually so feared, and what marvelous adventures you met within it, for it is impossible to escape without something of the sort. Haldbrand felt a slight shudder at this remembrance and looked involuntarily toward the window, for it seemed to him as if one of the strange figures he had encountered in the forest were grinning in there. But he saw nothing but the deep dark night which had now shrouded everything without. On this he composed himself and was on the point of beginning his little history, when the old man interrupted him by saying, Not so, Sir Knight, this is no fit hour for such things. Undeen, however, sprang angrily from her little stool, and standing straight before the fisherman with her fair arms fixed in her sides, she exclaimed, He shall not tell his story, father? He shall not? But it is my will. He shall. He shall in spite of you. And thus saying she stamped her pretty little foot vehemently on the floor, but she did it all with such a comically graceful air that Haldbrand now felt his gaze almost more riveted upon her in her anger than before in her gentleness. The restrained wrath of the old man, on the contrary, burst forth violently. He severely reproved Undeen's disobedience and unbecoming behavior to the stranger, and his good old wife joined with him heartily. Undeen quickly retorted, If you want to chide me, and won't do what I wish, then sleep alone in your old smoky hut. And swift as an arrow she flew from the room, and fled into the dark night. CHAPTER II In what way Undeen had come to the fisherman. Haldbrand and the fisherman sprang from their seats and were on the point of following the angry girl. Before they reached the cottage door, however, Undeen had long vanished in the shadowy darkness without, and not even the sound of her light footsteps betrayed the direction of her flight. Haldbrand looked inquiringly at his host. It almost seemed to him as if the whole sweet apparition, which had suddenly merged again into the night, were nothing else than one of that band of the wonderful forms which had, but a short time since, carried on their pranks with him in the forest. But the old man murmured between his teeth, This is not the first time that she has treated us in this way. Now we have aching hearts and sleepless eyes the whole night through, for who knows, that she may not some day come to harm if she is thus out alone in the dark until daylight. Then let us for God's sake follow her, cried Haldbrand anxiously. What would be the good of it? replied the old man. It would be a sin were I to allow you all alone to follow the foolish girl in the solitary night, and my old limbs would not overtake the wild run away even if we knew in what direction she had gone. We had better at any rate call after her and beg her to come back, said Haldbrand, and he began to call in the most earnest manner, Undean, Undean, pray come back. The old man shook his head saying that all that shouting would help but little, for the night had no idea how self-willed the little truant was. But still he could not forbear often calling out with him in the dark night, Undean, ah, dear Undean, I beg you to come back, only this once. It turned out, however, as the fisherman had said, no Undean was to be heard or seen, and as the old man would on no account consent that Haldbrand should go in search of the fugitive, they were at last both obliged to return to the cottage. Here they found the fire on the hearth almost gone out, and the old wife, who took Undean's flight and danger far less to heart than her husband, had already retired to rest. The old man blew up the fire, laid some dry wood on it, and by the light of the flame sought out a tankard of wine, which he placed between himself and his guest. You, Sir Knight, said he, are also anxious about that silly girl, and we would both rather chatter and drink away a part of the night than keep turning round on our rush mats trying in vain to sleep. Is it not so? Haldbrand was well satisfied with the plan. The fisherman obliged him to take the seat of honor vacated by the good old housewife, and both drank and talked together in a manner becoming too modest and trusting men. It is true, as often as the slightest thing moved before the windows, or even at times when nothing was moving, one of the two would look up and say, She is coming. Then they would be silent for a moment or two, and as nothing appeared, they would shake their heads and sigh, and go on with their talk. As, however, neither could think of anything but of Undean, they knew of nothing better to do than that the old fisherman should tell the story, and the night should hear in what manner Undean had first come to the cottage. He therefore began as follows. It is now about fifteen years ago that I was one day crossing the wild forest with my goods on my way to the city. My wife had stayed at home, as her want is, and at this particular time for a very good reason, for God had given us, in our tolerably advanced age, a wonderfully beautiful child. It was a little girl, and a question already arose between us whether for the sake of the newcomer we would not leave our lovely home that we might better bring up this dear gift of heaven in some more habitable place. Poor people indeed cannot do in such cases as you may think they ought, sir Knight, but with God's blessing every one must do what he can. Well, the manner was tolerably in my head as I went along. This slip of land was so dear to me and I shuddered when, amid the noise and brawls of the city, I thought to myself, in such scenes as these, or in one not much more quiet, thou wilt also soon make thy abode. But at the same time I did not murmur against the good God. On the contrary, I thanked him in secret for the newborn babe. I should be telling a lie, too, where I to say that on my journey through the wood, going or returning, anything befell me out of the common way, and at that time I had never seen any of its fearful wonders. The Lord was ever with me in those mysterious shades. As he spoke, he took his little cap from his bald head, and remained for a time occupied with prayerful thoughts. He then covered himself again, and continued. On this side of the forest, alas, Asaro awaited me. My wife came to meet me with tearful eyes and clad in mourning. Oh, good God, I groaned. Where is our dear child? Speak! With him on whom you have called, dear husband, she replied, and we now entered the cottage together weeping silently. I looked around for the little corpse, and it was then only that I learned how it had all happened. My wife had been sitting with the child on the edge of the lake, and as she was playing with it, free of all fear and full of happiness, the little one suddenly bent forward as if attracted by something very beautiful in the water. My wife saw her laugh, the dear angel, and stretch out her little hands. But in a moment she had sprung out of her mother's arms and had sunk beneath the watery mirror. I sought long for our little lost one, but it was all in vain. There was no trace of her to be found. The same evening we, childless parents, were sitting silently together in the cottage. Neither of us had any desire to talk, even had our tears allowed us. We sat gazing into the fire on the hearth. Presently we heard something rustling outside the door. It flew open, and a beautiful little girl, three or four years old, richly dressed, stood on the threshold smiling at us.  But I saw the water dripping from her golden hair and rich garments, and I perceived that the pretty child had been lying in the water and needed help. Wife said I, no one has been able to save our dear child, yet let us at any rate do for others what would have made us so blessed. We undressed the little one, put her to bed, and gave her something warm. At all this she spoke not a word and only fixed her eyes that reflected the blue of the lake and the sky, smilingly upon us. Next morning we quickly perceived that she had taken no harm from her wedding, and I now inquired about her parents and how she had come here. But she gave a confused and strange account. She must have been born far from here, not only because for these fifteen years I have not been able to find out anything of her parentage, but because she then spoke, and at times still speaks, of such singular things that such as we are cannot tell but that she may have dropped upon us from the moon. She talks of golden castles, of crystal domes, and heaven knows what besides. The story that she told with most distinctness was that she was out in a boat with her mother on the great lake, and fell into the water, and that she only recovered her senses here under the trees where she felt herself quite happy on the merry shore. We had still a great misgiving and perplexity weighing on our heart. We had indeed soon decided to keep the child we had found and to bring her up in the place of our lost darling. But who could tell us whether she had been baptized or not? She herself could give us no information on the matter. She generally answered our questions by saying that she well knew she was created for God's praise and glory, and that she was ready to let us do with her whatever would tend to his honor and glory. My wife and I thought that if she were not baptized, there was no time for delay and that if she were a good thing could not be repeated too often. And in pursuance of this idea we reflected upon a good name for the child. For we now were often at a loss to know what to call her. We agreed at last that Dorothea would be the most suitable for her, for I once heard that it meant a gift of God, and she had surely been sent to us by God as a gift and comfort in our misery. She, on the other hand, would not hear of this, and told us that she thought she had been called Undeen by her parents, and that Undeen she wished still to be called. Now this appeared to me a heathenish name, not to be found in any calendar, and I took counsel therefore of a priest in the city. He also would not hear of the name Undeen, but at my earnest request he came with me through the mysterious forest in order to perform the rite of baptism here in my cottage. The little one stood before us so prettily arrayed and looked so charming that the priest's heart was at once moved within him, and she flattered him so prettily and braved him so merrily that at last he could no longer remember the objections he had had ready against the name Undeen. She was therefore baptized Undeen, and during the sacred ceremony she behaved with great propriety and sweetness, wild and restless as she invariably was at other times. For my wife was quite right when she said that it has been hard to put up with her. If I were to tell you, the night interrupted the fisherman to draw his attention to a noise as of a rushing flood of waters which had caught his ear during the old man's talk, and which now burst against the cottage window with redoubled fury, both sprang to the door. There they saw, by the light of the now-risen moon, the brook which issued from the wood widely overflowing its banks and whirling away stones and branches of trees in its sweeping course. The storm, as if awakened by the tumult, burst forth from the mighty clouds which passed rapidly across the moon, the lake roared under the furious lashing of the wind, the trees of the little peninsula groaned from root to topmost bow, and bent, as if reeling, over the surging waters. Undeen! For heaven's sake, Undeen! cried the two men in alarm. No answer was returned, and regardless of every other consideration they ran out of the cottage, one in this direction, and the other in that, searching and calling. End of Chapter 2. CHAPTER III. HOW THEY FOUND UNDEEN AGAIN The longer Haldbrand sought Undeen beneath the shades of night, and failed to find her, the more anxious and confused did he become. The idea that Undeen had been only a mere apparition of the forest again gained ascendancy over him. Indeed, amid the howling of the waves and the tempest, the cracking of the trees, and the complete transformation of a scene lately so calmly beautiful, he could almost have considered the whole peninsula with its cottage and its inhabitants as a mocking, elusive vision. But from afar he still ever heard through the tumult, the fisherman's anxious call for Undeen, and the loud praying and singing of his aged wife. At length he came close to the brink of the swollen stream, and saw in the moonlight how it had taken its wild course directly in front of the haunted forest, so as to change the peninsula into an island. Oh, God! he thought to himself, if Undeen has ventured a step into that fearful forest, perhaps in her charming willfulness, just because I was not allowed to tell her about it, and now the stream may be rolling between us and she may be weeping on the other side alone, among phantoms and spectres. A cry of horror escaped him, and he clambered down some rocks and overthrown pine stems in order to reach the rushing stream and by wading or swimming to seek the fugitive on the other side. He remembered all the awful and wonderful things which he had encountered even by day under the now rustling and roaring branches of the forest. Above all it seemed to him as if a tall man in white, whom he knew but too well, was grinning and nodding on the opposite shore. But it was just these monstrous forms which forcibly impelled him to cross the flood, as the thought seized him that Undeen might be among them in the agonies of death and alone. He had already grasped the strong branch of a pine and was standing supported by it in the whirling current, against which he could with difficulty maintain himself, though with a courageous spirit he advanced deeper into it. Just then a gentle voice exclaimed near him, venture not, venture not, the old man, the stream, is full of tricks. He knew the sweet tones. He stood as if entranced beneath the shadows that duskily shrouded the moon, and his head swam with the swelling of the waves, which he now saw rapidly rising to his waist. Still he would not desist. If thou art really there, if thou art only floating about me like a mist, then may I too cease to live and become a shadow like thee, dear, dear, Undeen. Thus exclaiming aloud he again stepped deeper into the stream. Look round thee, oh! Look round thee beautiful but infatuated youth, cried a voice again close beside him, and, looking aside, he saw by the momentarily unveiled moon a little island formed by the flood, on which he perceived under the interweaved branches of the overhanging trees, Undeen, smiling and happy, nestling in the flowery grass. Oh! how much more gladly than before did the young man now use the aid of his pine branch! With a few steps he had crossed the flood which was rushing between him and the maiden, and he was standing beside her on a little spot of turf, safely guarded and screened by the good old trees. Undeen had half raised herself, and now under the green leafy tent she threw her arms round his neck, and drew him down beside her on her soft seat. You shall tell me your story here, beautiful friend, said she in a low whisper. The cross-old people cannot hear us here, and our roof of leaves is just as good a shelter as their poor cottage. It is heaven itself, said Haldbrand, embracing the beautiful girl and kissing her fervently. The old fisherman, meanwhile, had come to the edge of the stream and shouted across to the two young people. Why, sir Knight, I have received you as one honest-hearted man is want to receive another, and now here you are caressing my foster child in secret, and letting me run hither and thither through the night in anxious search of her. I have only just found her myself, old father, returned the knight. So much the better, said the fisherman, but now bring her across to me without delay upon firm ground. Undeen, however, would not hear of this. She declared she would rather go with the beautiful stranger into the wild forest itself than return to the cottage, where no one did as she wished, and from which the beautiful knight would himself depart sooner or later. Then, throwing her arms round Haldbrand, she sang with indescribable grace. A stream ran out of the misty veil, its fortunes to obtain, the ocean's depths it found a home, and Nair returned again. The old fisherman wept bitterly at her song, but this did not seem to affect her particularly. She kissed and caressed her new friend, who at last said to her, Undeen, if the old man's distress does not touch your heart, it touches mine. Let us go back to him. She opened her large blue eyes in amazement at him and spoke at last slowly and hesitatingly. If you think so, well, whatever you think is right to me. But the old man yonder must first promise me that he will let you, without objection, relate to me what you saw in the wood, and well, other things will settle themselves. Come, only come, cried the fisherman to her, unable to utter another word, and at the same time he stretched out his arms far over the rushing stream toward her, and nodded his head as if to promise the fulfilment of her request, and as he did this, his white hair fell strangely over his face, and reminded Haldbrand of the nodding white man in the forest. Without allowing himself, however, to grow confused by such an idea, the young knight took the beautiful girl in his arms, and bore her over the narrow passage which the stream had forced between her little island and the shore. The old man fell upon Undine's neck and could not satisfy the exuberance of his joy. His good wife also came up and caressed the newly found in the heartiest manner. Not a word of reproach passed their lips, nor was it thought of, for Undine, forgetting all her waywardness, almost overwhelmed her foster parents with affection and fond expressions. When at last they had recovered from the excess of their joy, Day had already dawned, and had shed its purple hue over the lake. Stillness had followed the storm, and the little birds were singing merrily on the wet branches. As Undine now insisted upon hearing the knight's promised story, the aged couple smilingly and readily exceeded to her desire. Breakfast was brought out under the trees which screened the cottage from the lake, and they sat down to it with contented hearts, Undine on the grass at the knight's feet, the place chosen by herself. Undine by Friedrich Delamotte-Fouquet, translated by F. E. Bunnett. CHAPTER IV. OF THAT WHICH THE NIGHT ENCOUNTERED IN THE WOOD. IT IS NOW ABOUT EIGHT DAYS AGO SINCE I ROAD INTO THE FREE IMPERIAL CITY, WHICH LIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FOREST.  ONCE WHEN I WAS PAUSING AT THE LISTS TO REST AFTER MY MARRY TOILE AND WAS HANDING BACK MY HELMET TO ONE OF MY SQUIRES, MY ATTENTION WAS ATTRACTED BY A FEMALE FIGURE OF GREAT BEAUTY, WHO WAS STANDING RITCHLY ATIED ON ONE OF THE GALLERIES ALLOTTED TO SPECTATORS. I ASKED MY NEIGHBOR AND LEARNED FROM HIM THAT THE NAME OF THE FAIR LADY WAS BRITALDA, AND THAT SHE WAS THE FOSTER DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE POWERFUL DUKS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY. I REMARKED THAT SHE ALSO WAS LOOKING AT ME AND, AS IT IS WANT TO BE WITH US YOUNG NIGHTS, I had already ridden bravely and now pursued my course with renovated confidence and courage. In the dance that evening I was Britalda's partner, and I remained so throughout the festival. A sharp pain in his left hand which hung down by his side here interrupted Haldbrand's narrative and drew his attention to the aching part. Undine had fastened her pearly teeth upon one of his fingers, appearing at the same time very gloomy and angry. Suddenly, however, she looked up in his eyes with an expression of tender melancholy and whispered in a soft voice, It is your own fault. Then she hid her face and the night, strangely confused and thoughtful, continued his narrative. This Britalda was a haughty, wayward girl. Even on the second day she pleased me no longer as she had done on the first and on the third day still less. Still I continued about her because she was more pleasant to me than to any other night, and thus it was that I begged her ingest to give me one of her gloves. I will give it to you when you have quite alone explored the ill-famed forest, said she, and can bring me tidings of its wonders. It was not that her glove was of such importance to me, but the word had been said, and an honourable night would not allow himself to be urged a second time to such a proof of valor. I think she loved you, said Undine, interrupting him. It seemed so, replied Haldbrand.  The forest and its mysteries might have waited long enough for me. Yesterday morning, continued the night, smiling kindly at Undine, I set out on my enterprise. The stems of the trees caught the red tints of the morning light which lay brightly on the green turf. The leaves seemed whispering merrily with each other, and in my heart I could have laughed at the people who could have expected anything to terrify them in this pleasant spot. I shall soon have trotted through the forest there and back again, I said to myself, with a feeling of easy gaiety, and before I had even thought of it I was deep within the green shades, and could no longer perceive the plain which lay behind me. Then for the first time it struck me that I might easily lose my way in the mighty forest, and that this, perhaps, was the only danger which the wanderer had to fear. I therefore paused and looked round in the direction of the sun, which in the meanwhile had risen somewhat higher above the horizon. While I was thus looking up I saw something black in the branches of a lofty oak. I thought it was a bear, and I grasped my sword, but with a human voice that sounded harsh and ugly it called to me from above. If I do not nibble away the branches up here, Sir Malapert, what shall we have to roast you with at midnight? And so saying it grinned and made the branches rustle so that my horse grew furious and rushed forward with me before I had time to see what sort of devil it really was. You must not call it so, said the old fisherman as he crossed himself. His wife did the same silently. Undeen looked at the night with sparkling eyes and said, The best of the story is that they certainly have not roasted him yet.  The night continued his narration. My horse was so wild that he almost rushed with me against the stems and branches of trees he was dripping with sweat and yet would not suffer himself to be held in. At last he went straight in the direction of a rocky precipice. Then it suddenly seemed to me as if a tall white man threw himself across the path of my wild steed. The horse trembled with fear and stopped. I recovered my hold of him, and for the first time perceived that my deliverer was no white man but a brook of silvery brightness, rushing down from a hill by my side and crossing and impeding my horse's course. Thanks, dear brook, exclaimed Undeen, clapping her little hands. The old man, however, shook his head and looked down in deep thought. I had scarcely settled myself in the saddle, continued Haldbrand, and seized the reins firmly when the wonderful little man stood at my side, diminutive and ugly beyond the conception.   As this farce was now becoming inconvenient to me, I thanked him briefly and turned about my still trembling steed, thinking either to seek another adventure or, in case I met with none, to find my way back, for during my wild chase the sun had already passed the meridian, but the little fellow sprang round with the speed of lightning and stood again before my horse. "'Room!' I cried angrily.  "'Give me first some drink money, for I have stopped your horse. Without me you and your horse would be now both lying in the stony ravine, Ugg. "'Don't make any more faces,' said I, and take your money, even if you are telling lies, for, see, it was the good brook there that saved me and not you, you miserable white!'  I then trotted on, but he screamed after me and suddenly with inconceivable quickness was at my side. I urged my horse into a gallop. The imp ran, too, making at the same time strange contortions with his body, half ridiculous, half horrible, and holding up the gold-piece he cried at every leap. "'False money! False coin! False coin! False money!' And this he uttered with such a hollow sound that one would have supposed that after every scream he would have fallen dead to the ground.  I stopped, perplexed, and asked, What do you mean by this screaming? Take another piece of gold, take two, but leave me.' He then began again his hideous burlesque of politeness and snarled out, Not gold! Not gold, my young gentleman! I have too much of that trash myself as I will show you at once. Suddenly it seemed to me as if I could see through the solid soil as, though it were, green grass and the smooth earth were as round as a ball.  My hideous companion stood partly within and partly without. He ordered the others to reach him up, heaps of gold, and showing it to me with a laugh. He then flung it back with a ringing noise into the immeasurable abyss. He then showed the piece of gold I had given him to the goblins below, and they laughed themselves half dead over it, and hissed at me. At last they all pointed at me with their metal-stained fingers, and more and more wildly, and more and more densely, and more and more madly the swarm of spirits came clambering up to me. I was seized with terror as my horse had been before. I put spurs to him, and I know not how far I galloped for the second time wildly into the forest. At length, when I again halted, the coolness of evening was around me. Through the branches of the trees I saw a white footpath gleaming, which I fancied must lead from the forest toward the city. I was anxious to work my way in that direction, but a face perfectly white and indistinct, with features ever changing kept peering at me between the leaves. I tried to avoid it, but wherever I went it appeared also. Enraged at this I determined at last to ride at it, when it gushed forth volumes of foam upon me and my horse, obliging us half blinded to make a rapid retreat. Thus it drove us step by step ever away from the footpath, leaving the way open to us only in one direction. When we advanced in this direction, it kept indeed close behind us, but did not do us the slightest harm. Moving around at it occasionally I perceived that the white face that had besprinkled us with foam belonged to a form equally white and of gigantic stature. Many a time I thought that it was a moving stream, but I could never convince myself on the subject. Weiried out, the horse and his rider yielded to the impelling power of the white man, who kept nodding his head as if he would say, quite right, quite right, and thus at last we came out here to the end of the forest, where I saw the turf, and the lake, and your little cottage, and where the tall man disappeared. "'It's well that he's gone,' said the old fisherman, and now he began to talk of the best way by which his guest could return to his friends in the city. Upon this Undine began to laugh slyly to herself. Haldbrand observed it and said, "'I thought you were glad to see me here. Why then do you now rejoice when my departure is talked of?' "'Because you cannot go away,' replied Undine, just try it once to cross that overflowed forest stream with a boat with your horse or alone as you may fancy, or rather don't try it, for you would be dashed to pieces by the stones and trunks of trees which are carried down by it with the speed of lightning. And as to the lake, I know it well. Father dare not venture out far enough with his boat.' Haldbrand rose, smiling, in order to see whether things were as Undine had said. The old man accompanied him, and the girl danced merrily along by their side. They found everything, indeed, as Undine had described, and the night was obliged to submit to remain on the little tongue of land that had become an island, till the flood should subside. As the three were returning to the cottage after their ramble, the night whispered in the ear of the little maiden, "'Well, how is it, my pretty Undine?   End of Chapter 4. Recording by Pete Williams, Pittsburgh, PA. CHAPTER V. After having been much driven to and fro in the world, you have perhaps, my dear reader, reached at length some spot where all was well with thee, where the love for home and its calm peace innate to all has again sprung up within thee. Where thou hast thought that this home was rich with all the flowers of childhood, and of the purest deepest love that rests upon the graves of those that are gone, and thou hast felt it must be good to dwell here, and to build habitations. Even if thou hast erred in this and hast had afterward bitterly to atone for the error, that is nothing to the purpose now, and thou wouldst not, indeed, voluntarily sadden myself with the unpleasant recollection. But recall that inexpressibly sweet foreboding, that angelic sense of peace, and thou wilt know somewhat of the night-hulled brand's feelings during his abode on the little promontory. He often perceived with hearty satisfaction that the forest stream rolled along every day more wildly, making its bed ever broader and broader, and prolonging his sojourn on the island to an indefinite period. Part of the day he rambled about with an old crossbow which he had found in a corner of the cottage and had repaired, and watching for the waterfowl, he killed all that he could for the cottage kitchen. When he brought his booty home, Undeen rarely neglected to upbraid him with having so cruelly deprived the happy birds of life. Indeed, she often wept bitterly at the sight he placed before her. But if he came home another time without having shot anything, she scolded him no less seriously, since now, for his carelessness and want of skill, they had to be satisfied with living on fish. He always delighted heartily in her graceful little scoldings, all the more as she generally strove to compensate for her ill-humour by the sweetest caresses. The old people took pleasure in the intimacy of the young pair. They regarded them as betroved, or even as already united in marriage, and living on this isolated spot as a sucker and support to them in their old age. It was this same sense of seclusion that suggested the idea also to Haldbrand's mind that he was already Undeen's accepted one. He felt as if there were no world beyond these surrounding waters, or as if he could never recross them to mingle with other men. And when at times his grazing horse would neigh as if inquiringly to remind him of nightly deeds, or when the coat of arms on his embroidered saddle and horse gear shone sternly upon him, or when his beautiful sword would suddenly fall from the nail on which it was hanging in the cottage, gliding from the scabbard as it fell, he would quiet the doubts of his mind by saying, Undeen is no fisherman's daughter, she belongs in all probability to some illustrious family abroad. There was only one thing to which he had a strong aversion, and this was when the old dame reproved Undeen in his presence. The wayward girl, it is true, laughed at it for the most part without attempting to conceal her mirth. But it seemed to him as if his honour were concerned, and yet he could not blame the old fisherman's wife, for Undeen always deserved at least ten times as many reproofs as she received. So in his heart he felt the balance in favour of the old woman, and his whole life flowed onward in calm enjoyment. There came, however, an interruption at last. The fisherman and the knight had been accustomed at their midday meal, and also in the evening when the wind roared without, as it was always want to do toward night, to enjoy together a flask of wine. But now the store which the fisherman had from time to time brought with him from the town was exhausted, and the two men were quite out of humour in consequence. Undeen laughed at them excessively all day, but they were neither of them merry enough to join in her jests as usual. Toward evening she went out of the cottage to avoid, as she said, two such long and tiresome faces. As twilight advanced there were again tokens of a storm, and the water rushed and roared. Full of alarm the knight and the fisherman sprang to the door to bring home the girl, remembering the anxiety of that night when Haldbrand had first come to the cottage. Undeen, however, met them, clapping her little hands with delight. What will you give me, she said, to provide you with wine, or rather, you need not give me anything, she continued, for I am satisfied if you will look merrier and be in better spirits than you have been throughout this whole weary some day. Only come with me. The forest stream has driven ashore a cask, and I will be condemned to sleep through a whole week if it is not a wine cask. The men followed her, and in a sheltered creek on the shore they actually found a cask, which inspired them with the hope that it contained the generous drink for which they were thirsting. They at once rolled it as quickly as possible toward the cottage, for the western sky was overcast with heavy storm clouds, and they could observe in the twilight the waves of the lake, raising their white foaming heads, as if looking out for the rain which was presently to pour down upon them. Undeen helped the men as much as she was able, and when the storm of rain suddenly burst over them she said, with a merry threat to the heavy clouds, Come, come, take care that you don't wet us. We are still some way from shelter. The old man reproved her for this as simple presumption, but she laughed softly to herself, and no mischief befell anyone in consequence of her levity. Nay more, contrary to all expectation, they reached the comfortable hearth with their booty perfectly dry, and it was not till they had opened the cask and had proved that it contained some wonderfully excellent wine, that the rain burst forth from the dark cloud, and the storm raged among the tops of the trees, and over the agitated billows of the lake. Several bottles were soon filled from the great cask, which promised a supply for many days, and they were sitting drinking and jesting round the glowing fire, feeling comfortably secure from the raging storm without. Suddenly the old fisherman became very grave, and said, Ah, great God, here we are rejoicing over this rich treasure, and he to whom it once belonged, and of whom the floods have robbed it, has probably lost this precious life in their waters. That he has not, declared on Dean as she smilingly filled the night's cup to the brim. But Haldbrand replied, By my honour, old father, if I knew where to find and to rescue him, no nightly errand and no danger would I shirk. So much, however, I can promise you, that if ever again I reach more inhabited lands, I will find out the owner of this wine, or his heirs, and requite it twofold, nay, threefold. This delighted the old man, he nodded approvingly to the night, and drained his cup with a better conscience and greater pleasure. Undeen, however, said to Haldbrand, Do as you will with your gold and your reimbursement, but you spoke foolishly about the venturing out in search. I should cry my eyes out if you were lost in the attempt, and isn't it true that you would yourself rather stay with me and the good wine? Yes, indeed, answered Haldbrand, smiling. Then, said Undeen, you spoke unwisely, for charity begins at home, and what do other people concern us? The old woman turned away sighing and shaking her head. The fisherman forgot his wanted affection for the pretty girl and scolded her. It sounds exactly, said he, as he finished his reproof, as if Turks and Heathens had brought you up.  Well, replied Undeen, for all that it is what I feel. Let who will hate brought me up, and all your words can't help that. Silence, exclaimed the fisherman, and Undeen, who in spite of her pertness, was exceedingly fearful, shrank from him, and moving tremblingly toward Haldbrand, asked him in a soft tone. Are you also angry, dear friend? The night pressed her tender hand and stroked her hair. He could say nothing, for vexation at the old man's severity toward Undeen closed his lips. And thus the two couples sat opposite to each other, with angry feelings and embarrassed silence. Chapter 6 OF A NUPSHALL CEREMONY A low knocking at the door was heard in the midst of this stillness, startling all the inmates of the cottage, for there are times when a little circumstance, happening quite unexpectedly, can unduly alarm us. But there was here the additional cause of alarm that the enchanted forest lay so near, and that the little promontory seemed just now inaccessible to human beings. They looked at each other doubtingly, as the knocking was repeated, accompanied by a deep groan, and the night sprang to reach his sword, but the old man whispered softly, If it will be what I fear, no weapon will help us. Undeen, meanwhile, approached the door and called out angrily and boldly, Spirits of the earth, if you wish to carry on your mischief, Kulubarn shall teach you something better. The terror of the rest was increased by these mysterious words. They looked fearfully at the girl, and Haldbrand was just regaining courage enough to ask what she meant, when a voice said without, I am no spirit of the earth but a spirit, indeed, still within its earthly body. You within the cottage, if you fear God and will help me, open to me. At these words Undeen had already opened the door and had held a lamp out in the stormy night, by which they perceived an aged priest standing there, who stepped back in terror at the unexpected sight of the beautiful maiden. He might well think that witchcraft and magic were at work when such a lovely form appeared at such a humble cottage door. He therefore began to pray, All good spirits praise the Lord. I am no specter, said Undeen, smiling. Do I then look so ugly? Besides you may see the holy words do not frighten me. I too know of God and understand how to praise him, every one to be sure in his own way, for so he has created us. Come in, venerable Father, you come among good people. The holy man entered, bowing and looking round him with a profound yet tender demeanor. But the water was dropping from every fold of his dark garment and from his long white beard and from his gray locks. The fisherman and the knight took him to another apartment and furnished him with other clothes, while they gave the women his own wet attire to dry. The aged stranger thanked them humbly and courteously, but he would on no account accept the knight's splendid mantle which was offered to him, but he chose instead an old gray overcoat belonging to the fisherman. They then returned to the apartment and the good old dame immediately vacated her easy chair for the reverend father, and would not rest till he had taken possession of it. Four said she, you are old and exhausted and you are moreover a man of God. Undeen pushed under the stranger's feet her little stool, on which she had been want to sit by the side of Huldbrand, and she showed herself in every way most gentle and kind in her care of the good old man. Huldbrand whispered some railery added in her ear, but she replied very seriously, he is a servant of him who created us all. Holy things are not to be gested with. The knight and the fisherman then refreshed their reverend guest with food and wine, and when he had somewhat recovered himself he began to relate how he had the day before set out from his cloister, which lay far beyond the great lake, intending to travel to the bishop in order to acquaint him with the distress into which the monastery and its tributary villages had fallen on account of the extraordinary floods. After a long circuitous route which these very floods had obliged him to take, he had been this day compelled toward evening to procure the aid of a couple of good boatmen to cross an arm of the lake which had overflowed its banks. Scarcely, however, continued he, had our small craft touched the waves, than that furious tempest burst forth which is now raging over our heads. It seemed as if the waters had only waited for us to commence their wildest whirling dance with our little boat. The oars were soon torn out of the hands of my men and were dashed by the force of the waves further and further beyond our reach. We ourselves, yielding to the resistless powers of nature, helplessly drifted over the surging billows of the lake toward your distant shore, which we already saw looming through the mist and foam. Presently our boat turned round and round as in a giddy whirlpool. I know not whether it was upset or whether I fell overboard. In a vague terror of inevitable death I drifted on till a wave cast me here, under the trees on your island. Yes, island! cried the fisherman. A short time ago it was only a point of land, but now since the forest stream and the lake have become well nigh bewitched, things are quite different with us. I remarked something of the sort, said the priest, as I crept along the shore in the dark and hearing nothing but the uproar around me. I at last perceived that a beaten footpath disappeared just in the direction from which the sound proceeded. I now saw the light in your cottage and ventured hither, and I cannot sufficiently thank my heavenly father that after preserving me from the waters he has led me to such good and pious people as you are. And I feel this all the more as I do not know whether I shall ever behold any other beings in this world except those I now address. What do you mean? asked the fisherman. Do you know then how long this commotion of the elements is to last? replied the holy man. And I am old in years. Easily enough may the stream of my life run itself out before the overflowing of the forest stream may subside. And indeed it were not impossible that more and more of the foaming waters may force their way between you and Yonder Forest, until you are so far sundered from the rest of the world that your little fishing-boat will no longer be sufficient to carry you across, and the inhabitants of the Continent in the midst of their diversions will have entirely forgotten you in your old age. The fisherman's wife started at this, crossed herself and exclaimed, God forbid! But her husband looked at her with a smile and said, What creatures we are after all! Even were it so, things would not be very different, at least not for you, dear wife, than they are now. For have you for many years been further than the edge of the forest? And have you seen any other human beings than Undeen and myself? The night and this holy man have only come to us lately. They will remain with us if we do become a forgotten island. So you would even be a gainer by it after all. I don't know, said the old woman. It is somehow a gloomy thought, when one imagines that one is irrecoverably separated from other people, although we're at otherwise one might neither know nor see them. Then you will remain with us, whispered Undeen in a low, half-singing tone as she nestled closer to Haldbrand's side. But he was absorbed in the deep and strange visions of his own mind. The region on the other side of the forest river seemed to dissolve into distance during the priest's last words, and the blooming island upon which he lived grew more green and smiled more freshly in his mind's vision. His beloved one glowed as the fairest rose of this little spot of earth, and even of the whole world, and the priest was actually there. Added to this at that moment an angry glance from the old dame was directed at the beautiful girl because even in the presence of the reverend father she leaned so closely on the night, and it seemed as if a torrent of reproving words were on the point of following. Presently, turning to the priest, Haldbrand broke forth, Venerable Father, you see before you here a pair pledged to each other, and if this maiden and these good old people have no objection, you shall unite us this very evening. The aged couple were extremely surprised. They had it as true hitherto often thought of something of the sort, but they had never yet expressed it, and when the night now spoke thus, it came upon them as something wholly new and unprecedented. Andine had become suddenly grave, and looked down thoughtfully while the priest inquired respecting the circumstances of the case, and asked if the old people gave their consent. After much discussion together the matter was settled. The old dame went to arrange the bridal chamber for the young people, and to look out two consecrated tapers which she had had in her possession for some time, and which she thought essential to the nuptial ceremony. The night, in the meanwhile, examined his gold chain, from which he wished to disengage two rings, that he might make an exchange of them with his bride. She, however, observing what he was doing, started up from her reverie, and exclaimed, Not so, my parents have not sent me into the world quite destitute. On the contrary, they must have anticipated with certainty that such an evening as this would come. Thus saying, she quickly left the room and reappeared in a moment with two costly rings, one of which she gave to her bridegroom, and kept the other for herself. The old fisherman was extremely astonished at this, and still more so his wife, who just then entered, for neither had ever seen these jewels in the child's possession. My parents, said Undine, sewed these little things into the beautiful frock which I had on when I came to you. They forbid me, moreover, to mention them to any one before my wedding evening, so I secretly took them, and kept them concealed until now. The priest interrupted all further questionings by lighting the consecrated tapers which he placed upon a table, and summoned the bridal pair to stand opposite to him. He then gave them to each other with a few short, solemn words. The elder couple gave their blessing to the younger, and the bride, trembling and thoughtful, leaned upon the night. Then the priest suddenly said, You are strange people, after all. Why did you tell me you were the only people here on the island, and during the whole ceremony a tall, stately man in a white mantle has been looking at me through the door opposite. He must still be standing before the door, to see if you will invite him to come into the house. God forbid, said the old dame with a start. The fisherman shook his head in silence, and Haldbrand sprang to the window. It seemed even to him as if he could still see a white streak, but it soon completely disappeared in the darkness. He convinced the priest that he must have been absolutely mistaken, and they all sat down together round the hearth. CHAPTER VII WHAT FURTHER HAPPENED ON THE EVENING OF THE WEDDING Both before and during the ceremony Andine had shown herself gentle and quiet. But it now seemed as if all the wayward humours which rioted within her burst forth all the more boldly and unrestrainedly. She teased her bridegroom and her foster parents, and even the holy man whom she had so lately reverenced with all sorts of childish tricks, and when the old woman was about to reprove her she was quickly silenced by a few grave words from the night, speaking of Andine now as his wife. Nevertheless the night himself was equally little pleased with Andine's childish behaviour. But no signs and no reproachful words were of any avail. It is true, whenever the bride noticed her husband's dissatisfaction, and this occurred occasionally, she became more quiet, sat down by his side, caressed him, whispered something smilingly into his ear, and smoothed the wrinkles that were gathering on his brow. But immediately afterward some wild freak would again lead her to return to her ridiculous proceedings, and matters would be worse than before. At length the priest said in a serious and kind tone, My fair young maiden, no one indeed can look at you without delight, but remember so to attune your soul betimes, that it may ever harmonise with that of your wedded husband. Soul! said Andine, laughing, that sounds pretty enough and may be a very edifying and useful caution for most people. But when one hasn't a soul at all, I beg you, what is there to attune then? And that is my case. The priest was silent and deeply wounded, and with holy displeasure he turned his face from the girl. She, however, went up to him caressingly and said, No, listen to me first, before you look angry, for your look of anger gives me pain, and you must not give pain to any creature who has done you no wrong. Only have patience with me, and I will tell you properly what I mean. It was evident that she was preparing herself to explain something in detail, but suddenly she hesitated, as if seized with an inward shuttering, and burst out in a flood of tears. They none of them knew what to make of this ebullition, and filled with various apprehensions they gazed at her in silence. At length, wiping away her tears and looking earnestly at the reverend man, she said, There must be something beautiful, but at the same time extremely awful, about a soul. Tell me, holy sir, were it not better that we never shared such a gift? She was silent again as if waiting for an answer, and her tears had ceased to flow. All in the cottage had risen from their seats and had stepped back from her with horror. She, however, seemed to have eyes for no one but the holy man. Her features wore an expression of fearful curiosity, which appeared terrible to those who saw her. The soul must be a heavy burden, she continued, as no one answered her, very heavy, for even its approaching image overshadows me with anxiety and sadness. And, ah, I was so lighthearted and so merry till now, and she burst into a fresh flood of tears, and covered her face with the draperies she wore. Then the priest went up to her with a solemn air, and spoke to her, and conjured her by the name of the Most Holy to cast aside the veil that enveloped her, if any spirit of evil possessed her. But she sank on her knees before him, repeating all the sacred words he uttered, praising God, and protesting that she wished well with the whole world. Then at last the priest said to the night, Sir Bridegroom, I will leave you alone with her whom I have united to you in marriage. So far as I can discover there is nothing of evil in her, but much indeed that is mysterious. I commend to you prudence, love, and fidelity. So, saying, he went out, and the fisherman and his wife followed him, crossing themselves. Undeen had sunk on her knees.  As she said this, she looked so exquisitely graceful and touching that her Bridegroom forgot all the horror he had felt, and all the mystery that clung to her, and hastening to her he raised her in his arms.  You cannot leave me, she whispered, with confidence security, stroking the night's cheek with her tender hand. Haldbrand tried to dismiss the fearful thoughts that still lurked in the background of his mind, persuading him that he was married to a fairy, or to some malicious and mischievous being of the spirit world. Only the single question half-unawares escaped his lips. My little Undeen, tell me this one thing. What was it you said of spirits of the earth, and of Kuliborne, when the priest knocked at the door? It was nothing but fairy tales. Children's fairy tales, said Undeen, with all her wanted gaiety. I frightened you at first with them, and then you frightened me. That's the end of our story and of our nuptial evening. Nay, it isn't, said the night, intoxicated with love, and extinguishing the tapers, he bore his beautiful beloved to the bridal chamber by the light of the moon, which shone brightly through the windows. End of Chapter 7. Recording by Pete Williams. The day after the wedding. The fresh light of the morning awoke the young married pair. Wonderful and horrible dreams had disturbed Haldbrand's rest. He had been haunted by specters, who, grinning at him by stealth, had tried to disguise themselves as beautiful women. And from beautiful women they all at once assumed the faces of dragons. And when he started up from these hideous visions, the moonlight shone pale and cold into the room. Terrified he looked at Undeen, who still lay in unaltered beauty and grace. Then he would press a light kiss upon her rosy lips, and would fall asleep again, only to be awakened by new terrors. After he had reflected on all this, now that he was fully awake, he reproached himself for any doubt that could have led him into error with regard to his beautiful wife. He begged her to forgive him for the injustice he had done her, but she only held out to him her fair hand, sighed deeply, and remained silent. But a glance of exquisite fervor beamed from her eyes such as he had never seen before, carrying with it the full assurance that Undeen bore him no ill will. He then rose cheerfully, and left her, to join his friends in the common apartment. He found the three sitting round the hearth with an air of anxiety about them, as if they dared not venture to speak aloud. The priest seemed to be praying in his inmost spirit that all evil might be averted. When, however, they saw the young husband come forth so cheerfully, the care-worn expression of their faces vanished. The old fisherman even began to jest with the night so pleasantly that the aged wife smiled good-humoredly as she listened to them. Undeen at length made her appearance. All rose to meet her, and all stood still with surprise, for the young wife seemed so strange to them, and yet the same. The priest was the first to advance toward her with paternal arms, affection beaming in his face, and as he raised his hand to bless her, the beautiful woman sank reverently on her knees before him. With a few humble and gracious words she begged him to forgive her for any foolish things she might have said the evening before, and entreated him in an agitated tone to pray for the welfare of her soul. She then rose, kissed her foster parents, and, thanking them for all the goodness they had shown her, she exclaimed, Oh, I now feel in my innermost heart how much, how infinitely much, you have done for me, dear, kind people. She could not at first desist from her caresses, but scarcely had she perceived that the old woman was busy in preparing breakfast, then she went to the hearth, cooked, and arranged the meal, and would not suffer the good old mother to take the least trouble. She continued thus throughout the whole day, quiet, kind, and attentive, at once a little matron and a tender, bashful girl. The three who had known her longest expected every moment to see some whimsical vagary of her capricious spirit burst forth. But they waited in vain for it. Undine remained as mild and gentle as an angel. The Holy Father could not take his eyes from her, and he said repeatedly to the bridegroom, The goodness of heaven, sir, has entrusted a treasure to you yesterday. Through me, unworthy as I am, cherish it as you ought, and it will promote your temporal and eternal welfare. Toward evening Undine was hanging on the night's arm with humble tenderness, and drew him gently out of the door, where the declining sun was shining pleasantly on the fresh grass, and upon the tall slender stems of the trees. The eyes of the young wife were moist, as with the dew of sadness and love, and a tender and fearful secret seemed hovering on her lips, which, however, was only disclosed by scarcely audible sighs. She led her husband onward and onward in silence. When he spoke she only answered him with looks, in which it is true there lay no direct reply to his inquiries but whole heaven of love and timid devotion. Thus they reached the edge of the swollen forest stream, and the night was astonished to see it rippling along in gentle waves, without a trace of its former wildness and swell. By the morning it will be quite dry, said the beautiful wife, in a regretful tone, and you can then travel away wherever you will, without anything to hinder you. Not without you, my little undean, replied the night, laughing, remember, even if I wished to desert you, the church and the spiritual powers and the emperor, and the empire would interpose and bring the fugitive back again. All depends on you. All depends on you, whispered the wife, half weeping and half smiling. I think, however, nevertheless, that you will keep me with you. I love you so heartily. Now carry me across to that little island that lies before us, the matter shall be decided there. I could easily, indeed, glide through the rippling waves, but it is so restful in your arms, and if you were to cast me off, I shall have sweetly rested in them once more for the last time. Huldebrand, full as he was of strange fear and emotion, knew not what to reply. He took her in his arms and carried her across, remembering now for the first time that this was the same little island from which he had borne her back to the old fisherman on that first night. On the further side he put her down on the soft grass and was on the point of placing himself lovingly near his beautiful burden when she said, No, they are opposite to me. I will read my sentence in your eyes before your lips speak. Now listen attentively to what I will relate to you. And she began. You must know, my loved one, that there are beings in the elements which almost appear like mortals and which rarely allow themselves to become visible to your race. Wonderful salamanders glitter and sport in the flames, lean and malicious gnomes dwell deep within the earth, spirits belonging to the air wander through the forests, and a vast family of water spirits live in the lakes and streams and brooks. In resounding domes of crystal, through which the sky looks in with its sun and stars, these ladder spirits find their beautiful abode. Lofty trees of coral with blue and crimson fruits gleam in their gardens. They wander over the pure sand of the sea and among lovely variegated shells, and amid all exquisite treasures of the old world which the present is no longer worthy to enjoy. All these the floods have covered with their secret veils of silver, and the noble monuments sparkle below, stately and solemn, and bedewed by the loving waters which allure from them many a beautiful moss flower and entwining cluster of seagrass. Those, however, who dwell there are very fair and lovely to behold, and for the most part are more beautiful than human beings. Many a fisherman has been so fortunate as to surprise some tender mermaid as she rose above the waters and sang. He would tell afar of her beauty, and such wonderful beings have been given the name of Undines. You, however, are now actually beholding an Undine. The knight tried to persuade himself that his beautiful wife was under the spell of one of her strange humours, and that she was taking pleasure in teasing him with one of her extravagant inventions. But repeatedly as he said this to himself he could not believe it for a moment. A strange shudder passed through him. Unable to utter a word he stared at the beautiful narrator with an immovable gaze.  Our condition would be far superior to that of other human beings, for human beings we call ourselves, being similar to them in form and culture. But there is one evil peculiar to us. We and our like in the other elements vanish into dust and pass away, body and spirit, so that not a vestige of us remains behind. And when you mortals hereafter awake to a purer life we remain with the sand, and the sparks, and the wind, and the waves. Hence we have also no souls. The element moves us and is often obedient to us while we live, though it scatters us to dust when we die.  Thus my father, who is a powerful water-prince in the Mediterranean Sea, desired that his only daughter should become possessed of a soul, even though she must then endure many of the sufferings of those thus endowed. Such as we are, however, can only obtain a soul by the closest union of affection with one of your human race. I am now possessed of a soul, and my soul thanks you, my inexpressibly beloved one, and it will ever thank you if you do not make my whole life miserable. For what is to become of me if you avoid and reject me? Still I would not retain you by deceit, and if you mean to reject me, do so now, and return alone to the shore. I will dive into this brook which is my uncle, and here in the forest, far removed from other friends, he passes his strange and solitary life. He is, however, powerful and is esteemed and beloved by many great streams, and as he brought me hither to the fisherman, a light-hearted, laughing child, he will take me back again to my parents, a loving, suffering, and soul-endowed woman. She was about to say still more, but Haldbrand embraced her with the most heartfelt emotion and love, and bore her back again to the shore. It was not till he reached it that he swore amid tears and kisses never to forsake his sweet wife, calling himself more happy than the Greek Pygmalion, whose beautiful statue received life from Venus and became his loved one. In endearing confidence, Undine walked back to the cottage, leaning on his arm, feeling now for the first time with all her heart how little she ought to regret the forsaken crystal palaces of her mysterious father. CHAPTER IX. HOW THE NIGHT TOOK HIS YOUNG WIFE WITH HIM. When Haldbrand awoke from his sleep on the following morning and missed his beautiful wife from his side, he began to indulge again in the strange thoughts, that his marriage and the charming Undine herself were but fleeting and deceptive illusions. But at the same moment she entered the room, sat down beside him and said, I've been out rather early to see if my uncle keeps his word. He has already led all the waters back again into his own calm channel, and he now flows through the forest, solidarily and dreamily as before. His friends in the water and the air have also returned to repose. All will again go on quietly and regularly. And you can travel homeward when you will, dry shod. It seemed to Haldbrand as though he were in a waking dream, so little could he reconcile himself to the strange relationship of his wife. Nevertheless he made no remark on the matter, and the exquisite grace of his bride soon lulled to rest every uneasy misgiving. When he was afterwards standing before the door with her and looking over the green peninsula with its boundary of clear waters, he felt so happy in this cradle of his love that he exclaimed, Why shall we travel so soon as today? We shall scarcely find more pleasant days in the world yonder than those we have spent in this quiet little shelter. Let us yet see the sun go down here twice or thrice more. As my lord wills, replied Undine humbly, It is only that the old people will, at all events, part from me with pain, and when they now for the first time perceive the true soul within me, and how I can now heartily love and honour, their feeble eyes will be dimmed with plentiful tears. At present they consider my quietness and gentleness of no better promise than before, like the calmness of the lake when the air is still, and as matters now are they will soon learn to cherish a flower or a tree as they have cherished me. Do not, therefore, let me reveal to them this newly bestowed and loving heart, just at the moment when they must lose it for this world, and how could I conceal it if we remain longer together? Haldbrand conceded the point. He went to the aged people and talked with them over the journey, which he proposed to undertake immediately. The holy father offered to accompany the young married pair, and after a hasty farewell he and the knight assisted the beautiful bride to mount her horse, and walked with rapid step by her side over the dry channel of the forest stream into the wood beyond. Undeen wept silently but bitterly, and the old people gave loud expression to their grief. It seemed as if they had a pre-sentiment of all they were now losing in their foster child. The three travellers had reached in silence the densest shades of the forest. It must have been a fair sight under that green canopy of leaves to see Undeen's lovely form, as she sat on her noble and richly ornamented steed with the venerable priest in the white garb of his order on one side of her, and on the other the blooming young knight in his gay and splendid attire, with his sword at his girdle. Haldbrand had no eyes but for his beautiful wife. Undeen, who had dried her tears, had no eyes but for him, and they soon fell into a mute, voiceless converse of glance and gesture from which they were only roused at length by the low talking of the reverend father, with a fourth traveller, who in the meanwhile had joined them unobserved. He wore a white garment almost resembling the dress of the priest's order, except that his hood hung low over his face, and his whole attire floated round him in such vast folds that he was obliged every moment to gather it up, and throw it over his arm or dispose of it in some way, and yet it did not in the least seem to impede his movements. When the young couple first perceived him he was just saying, And so venerable sir, I have now dwelt for many years here in the forest, and yet no one could call me a hermit, in your sense of the word, for as I said I know nothing of penance, and I do not think I have any special need for it. I lose the forest only for this reason, that its beauty is quite peculiar to itself, and it amuses me to pass along in my flowing white garments among the eases and dusky shadows while now and then a sweet sunbeam shines down unexpectedly upon me.  And to pass from one thing to another, who may you be yourself, asked the stranger. I am called Father Heilman, said the holy man, and I come from the monastery of Our Lady which lies on the other side of the lake. Indeed, replied the stranger, my name is Culliborne, and so far as courtesy is concerned I might claim the title of Lord Culliborne, or Free Lord of Culliborne, for I am as free as the birds in the forest, and perhaps a little more so. For example, I have now something to say to the young lady there. And before they were aware of his intention he was at the other side of the priest, close beside Undeen, stretching himself up to whisper something in her ear. But she turned from him with alarm and exclaimed, I have nothing more to do with you. Ho-ho! laughed the stranger. What is this immensely grand marriage you have made, that you don't know your own relations any longer?  Who so faithfully bore you on his back through this region? I beg you, nevertheless, replied Undeen, not to appear in my presence again. I am now afraid of you, and suppose my husband should learn to avoid me when he sees me in such strange company, and with such relations. My little niece, said Culliborne. You must not forget that I am with you here as a guide.  Let me therefore go quietly on with you.  I was so, truly enough, for I was the water-spout that carried him out of it, and washed him safely ashore for your wedding. Undeen and the night turned toward Father Heilman, but he seemed walking on, as in a sort of dream, and no longer to be conscious of all that was passing. Undeen then said to Culliborne, I see yonder the end of the forest. We no longer need your help, and nothing causes us alarm but yourself. I beg you, therefore, in all love and goodwill, vanish, and let us proceed in peace. Culliborne seemed to become angry at this. His countenance assumed a frightful expression, and he grinned fiercely at Undeen, who screamed aloud and called upon her husband for assistance. As quick as lightning, the night sprang to the other side of the horse and aimed his sharp sword at Culliborne's head. But the sword cut through a waterfall, which was rushing down near them from a lofty crag, and with a splash, which almost sounded like a burst of laughter, it poured over them and wet them through to the skin. The priest, as if suddenly awaking, exclaimed, I have long been expecting that, for the stream ran down from the height so close to us. At first it really seemed to me like a man, and as if it could speak. As the waterfall came rushing down, it distinctly uttered these words in Haldbrand's ear. Rash Knight, Brave Knight, Rage I feel not, Chide I will not, But ever guard thy little wife as well, Rash Knight, Brave Knight. Protect her well. A few footsteps more, and they were upon open ground. The imperial city lay bright before them, and the evening sun, which gilded its towers, kindly dried the garments of the drenched wanderers. 10. How They Lived In The City The sudden disappearance of the young knight Haldbrand von Ringstetten from the imperial city had caused great sensation, and solicitude among those who had admired him, both for his skill in the tournament and the dance, and no less so for his gentle and agreeable manners. His servants would not quit the place without their master, although not one of them would have had the courage to go in quest of him into the shadowy recesses of the forest. They therefore remained in their quarters, inactively hoping, as men are wont to do, and keeping alive the remembrance of their lost lord by their lamentations. When soon after the violent storms and floods were observed, the less doubt was entertained as to the certain destruction of the handsome stranger, and Bertalda openly mourned for him and blamed herself for having allured the unfortunate knight into the forest. Her foster-parents, the Duke and Duchess, had come to fetch her away, but Bertalda entreated them to remain with her until certain intelligence had been obtained of Haldbrand's fate. She endeavored to prevail upon several young knights who were eagerly courting her, to follow the noble adventurer to the forest. But she would not pledge her hand as a reward of the Enterprise, because she always cherished the hope of belonging to the returning knight.  When Haldbrand now suddenly and unexpectedly appeared, his servants and the inhabitants of the city and almost everyone rejoiced. Bertalda alone refused to do so. For agreeable as it was to the others that he should bring with him such a beautiful bride, and Father Heilman as a witness of the marriage, Bertalda could feel nothing but grief and vexation. In the first place she had really loved the young knight with all her heart, and in the next her sorrow at his absence had proclaimed this far more before the eyes of all, than was now befitting. She still however conducted herself as a wise maiden, reconciled herself to circumstances, and lived on the most friendly terms with Undeen, who was looked upon throughout the city as a princess whom Haldbrand had rescued in the forest from some evil enchantment. When she or her husband were questioned on the matter, they were wise enough to be silent or skillfully to evade the inquiries. Father Heilman's lips were sealed to idle gossip of any kind, and moreover immediately after Haldbrand's arrival he had returned to his monastery so that people were obliged to be satisfied with their own strange conjectures, and even to Bertalda herself knew no more of the truth than others. Day by day Undeen felt her affection increase for the fair maiden. We must have known each other before, she often used to say to her, or else there must be some mysterious connection between us, for one does not love another as dearly as I have loved you from the first moment of our meeting without some cause, some deep and secret cause. And Bertalda also could not deny the fact that she felt drawn to Undeen with a tender feeling of confidence, however much she might consider that she had cause for bitterest lamentation at this successful rival. Biased by this mutual affection they both persuaded, the one her foster parents, the other her husband, to postpone the day of departure from time to time. Indeed it was even proposed that Bertalda should accompany Undeen for a time to Castle Ringstetten, near the source of the Danube. They were talking over this plan one evening as they were walking by starlight in the large square of the Imperial City under the tall trees that enclose it. The young married pair had incited Bertalda to join them in their evening walk, and all three were strolling up and down under the dark blue sky, often interrupting their familiar talk, to admire the magnificent fountain in the middle of the square as its waters rushed and bubbled forth with wonderful beauty. It had a soothing happy influence upon them, between the shadows of the trees there stole glimmerings of light from the adjacent houses. A low murmur of children at play and of others enjoying their walk floated around them. They were so alone and yet in the midst of the bright and living world. Whatever had appeared difficult by day now became smooth as of itself. And the three friends could no longer understand why the slightest hesitation had existed with regard to Bertalda's visit to Ringstetten. Presently, just as they were on the point of fixing the day for their common departure, a tall man approached them from the middle of the square, bowed respectfully to the company and said something in the ear of the young wife. Displeased as she was at the interruption and its cause, she stepped a little aside with the stranger and both began to whisper together, as it seemed in a foreign tongue. Haldbrand fancied he knew the strange man, and he stared so fixedly at him that he neither heard nor answered Bertalda's astonished inquiries. All at once, Undeen, clapping her hands joyfully and laughing, quitted the stranger's side, who, shaking his head, retired hastily and discontentedly, and vanished in the fountain. Haldbrand now felt certain on the point, but Bertalda asked, And what did the master of the fountain want with you, dear Undeen? The young wife laughed within herself and replied, The day after tomorrow, my dear child, on the anniversary of your name-day you shall know it. And nothing more would she disclose. She invited Bertalda and sent an invitation to her foster-parents to dine with them on the appointed day, and soon after they parted. Culliborn? Was it Culliborn? said Haldbrand with a secret shudder to his beautiful bride when they had taken leave of Bertalda and were now going home through the darkening streets. Yes, it was he, replied Undeen, and he was going to say all sorts of nonsensical things to me, but in the midst, quite contrary to his intention, he delighted me with a most welcome piece of news. If you wish to hear it at once, my dear lord and husband, you have but to command, and I will tell it you without reserve. But if you would confer a real pleasure on your Undeen, you will wait till the day after tomorrow, and you will then have your share, too, in the surprise. The night gladly complied with his wife's desire, which had been urged so sweetly, and as she fell asleep, she murmured smilingly to herself, Dear, dear Bertalda, how she will rejoice and be astonished at what her master of the fountain told me. CHAPTER XI The anniversary of Bertalda's name day. The company were sitting at dinner, Bertalda, looking like some goddess of spring with her flowers and jewels, the presence of her foster parents and friends, was placed between Undeen and Haldbrand. When the rich repast was ended, and the last course had appeared, the doors were left open, according to a good old German custom, that the common people might look on and take part in the festivity of the nobles. Servants were carrying round cake and wine among the spectators. Haldbrand and Bertalda were waiting with secret impatience for the promised explanation, and sat with their eyes fixed steadily on Undeen. But the beautiful wife still continued silent, and only kept smiling to herself with secret and hearty satisfaction. All who knew of the promise she had given could see that she was every moment on the point of betraying her happy secret, and that it was with a sort of longing renunciation that she withheld it, just as children sometimes delay the enjoyment of their choicest morsels. Bertalda and Haldbrand shared this delightful feeling, and expected with fearful hope the tidings which were to fall from the lips of Undeen. Several of the company pressed Undeen to sing. The request seemed opportune, and ordering her loot to be brought, she sang the following words. Bright opening day, wild flowers so gay, tall grasses their thirst that slake, on the banks of the billowy lake. What glimmers there so shining, the reedy growth entwining? Is it a blossom white as snow, fallen from heaven, here below? It is an infant, frail and dear, with flower-ets playing in its dreams, and grasping mornings golden beams. Oh, whence, sweet stranger, art thou here? From some far-off and unknown strand the lake has borne thee to this land, nay, grasp not tender little one, with thy tiny hand outspread, no hand will meet thy touch with love, mute is that flowery bed. The flowers can deck themselves so fair, and breathe forth fragrance blessed, yet none can press thee to itself, like that far-off mother's breast. So early at the gate of life with smiles of heaven on thy brow, thou hast the best of treasures lost, poor wandering child, nor knowest it now. A noble duke comes riding by, and near thee checks his coarser's speed, and full of ardent chivalry he bears the home upon his steed. Much, endless much, has been thy gain, thou bloomest the fairest in the land, yet, ah, the priceless joy of all, thou'st left upon an unknown strand.  Yes, so it was on the morning that I found you, my poor sweet orphan, said the duke, deeply agitated. The beautiful singer is certainly right. We have not been able to give you that priceless joy of all. But we must also hear how it fared with the poor parents, said Undeen, as she resumed her loot and sang. Through every chamber roams the mother, moves and searches everywhere, seeks, she scarce knows what, with sadness, and finds an empty house is there. An empty house, oh, word of sorrow, to her who once had been so blessed, who led her child about by day and cradled it at night to rest. The beach is growing green again, the sunshine guilds its wanted spot, but mother, cease thy searching vain, thy little loved one, cometh not. And when the breath of Eve blows cool, and father in his home appears, the smile he almost tries to wear is quenched at once by gushing tears. Full well he knows that in his home he not confined but wild despair, he hears the mother's grieved lament, and no bright infant greets him there. Oh, for God's sake, Undeen, where are my parents, cried the weeping Bertelda? You surely know. You have discovered them, you wonderful being, for otherwise you would not have thus torn my heart. Are they perhaps already here? Can it be? Her eyes passed quickly over the brilliant company, and lingered on a lady of high rank who was sitting next her foster-father. Undeen, however, turned toward the door while her eyes overflowed with the sweetest emotion. Where are the poor, waiting parents she inquired, and the old fisherman and his wife advanced hesitatingly from the crowd of spectators? Their glance rested inquiringly now on Undeen, now on the beautiful girl who was said to be their daughter. It is she, said the delighted benefactress in a faltering tone, and the two old people hung round the neck of their recovered child, weeping and praising God. But amazed and indignant, Bertelda tore herself from their embrace, such a recognition was too much for this proud mind, at a moment when she had surely imagined that her former splendor would even be increased, and when hope was deluding her with a vision of almost royal honors. It seemed to her as if her rival had devised all this on purpose, signally to humble her before Haldbrand and the whole world. She reviled, Undeen, she reviled Undeen, she reviled the old people and bitter invectives such as deceiver and bribed imposters fell from her lips. Then the old fisherman's wife said in a low voice to herself, Ah me, she has become a wicked girl and yet I feel in my heart that she is my child. The old fisherman, however, had folded his hands and was praying silently that this might not be his daughter. Undeen, pale as death, turned with agitation from the parents to Bertelda and from Bertelda to the parents, suddenly cast down from that heaven of happiness of which she had dreamed, and overwhelmed with a fear and a terror such as she had never known, even in imagination. Have you a soul? Have you really a soul, Bertelda? She cried again and again to her angry friend as if forcibly to rouse her to consciousness from some sudden delirium or maddening nightmare. But when Bertelda only became more and more enraged, when the repulsed parents began to weep aloud and the company in eager dispute were taking different sides, she begged in such a dignified and serious manner to be allowed to speak in this her husband's hall that all around were in a moment silenced. She then advanced to the upper end of the table where Bertelda had seated herself and with a modest and yet proud air, while every eye was fixed upon her, she spoke as follows. My friends, you look so angry and disturbed and you have interrupted my happy feast by your disputings. Ah, I knew nothing of your foolish habits and your heartless mode of thinking and I shall never all my life long become accustomed to them. It is not my fault that this affair has resulted in evil. Believe me, the fault is with yourselves alone, little as it may appear to you to be so. I have therefore but little to say to you, but one thing I must say. I have spoken nothing but truth. I neither can nor will give you proofs beyond my own assertion, but I will swear to the truth of this. I received this information from the very person who allured Bertelda into the water, away from her parents, and who afterward placed her on the green meadow in the duke's path. She is an enchantress, cried Bertelda, a witch who has intercourse with evil spirits. She acknowledges it herself. I do not, said Undine, with a whole heaven innocence and confidence beaming in her eyes. I am no witch. Only look at me. She is false and boastful, interrupted Bertelda, and she cannot prove that I am the child of these low people. My noble parents, I beg you, take me from this company and out of this city where they are only bent on insulting me. But the aged and honourable duke remained unmoved, and his wife said, We must thoroughly examine how we are to act. God forbid that we should move a step from this hall until we have done so. Then the old wife of the fisherman drew near, and making a low reverence to the duchess, she said. Noble, God-fearing lady, you have opened my heart. I must tell you, if this evil-disposed young lady is my daughter, she has a mark, like a violet, between her shoulders, and another like it on the instep of her left foot, if she would only go out of the hall with me. I shall not uncover myself before the peasant woman, exclaimed Bertelda, proudly turning her back on her. But before me you will, rejoined the duchess very gravely, follow me into that room, girl, and the good old woman shall come with us. The three disappeared, and the rest of the company remained where they were, in silent expectation. After a short time they returned. Bertelda was pale as death. Right is right, said the duchess, I must therefore declare that our hostess has spoken perfect—truth. Bertelda is the fisherman's daughter, and that is as much as it is necessary to inform you here. The princely pair, left with their adopted daughter, and at a sign from the duke the fisherman and his wife, followed them.