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Updated: July 21, 2025
Huldbrand had no eyes but for his beautiful wife Undine, 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 mean while had joined them unobserved.
Now must our hearts be filled with anxiety, and our eyes find no sleep for the whole night; for who can assure us, in spite of her past escapes, that she will not some time or other come to harm, if she thus continue out in the dark and alone until daylight?" "Then pray, for God's sake, father, let us follow her," cried Huldbrand anxiously. "Wherefore should we?" replied the old man.
'Was it Kühleborn who spoke to you by the fountain? asked Huldbrand, and his voice sounded cold, for he did not wish to be reminded of his wife's strange relations. 'It was he, answered Undine. 'He told me tidings that made me rejoice. I will tell you without delay, should you desire it, what the tidings were.
Bertalda and Huldbrand shared this delightful feeling, and expected with fearful hope the tidings which were to fall from the lips of Undine. Several of the company pressed Undine to sing. The request seemed opportune, and ordering her lute 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!
Soft fingers tapped, and then very gently the door was opened, and Huldbrand, standing before a long mirror, saw, without turning, a white-veiled figure enter and close the door. 'The stone has been taken away from the fountain, and I have come to you and you must die, said a soft voice. Ah, it was Undine, his beautiful lost Undine, who had come back to him.
"Most gladly, my loved one," said she, throwing back her veil and disclosing her face divinely smiling. Imprinting on his lips a sacred kiss, Undine clasped the knight in her arms, weeping as if she would weep her very soul away. Huldbrand fell softly back on the pillows of his couch, a corpse.
With the earliest beams of morning a pretty carriage drove up to the entrance gate for Undine: the horses which Huldbrand and his squires were to ride stood near, pawing the ground with impatient eagerness. The knight was leading his beautiful wife from the door, when a fisher-girl crossed their way. "We do not need your fish," said Huldbrand to her, "we are now starting on our journey."
"No, sweet friend, I will never leave you!" cried Huldbrand, vainly endeavoring to restrain his furious steed; for, worse than before, it now began to foam and rear with excitement, till at last the knight was glad to keep the animal at a sufficient distance from the exhausted maiden to save her from increasing fear.
Soon afterwards Huldbrand saw two white horses appear through the trees. Then a wagon covered with a great white hood was to be seen, and last of all the driver, who was dressed in a white carter's frock. The driver drew near to the knight and tried to help him to quiet his frightened steed. 'Do you know, Sir Knight, why your good horse shivers thus? asked the carter, 'for if not I can tell you.
Undine, however, said to Huldbrand: "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 Huldbrand, smiling. "Then," said Undine, "you spoke unwisely.
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