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Updated: July 21, 2025
Huldbrand, however, persuaded himself that the priest was full of whims and fancies, and with dawn of day he sent for a father from the nearest monastery, who, without hesitation, promised to perform the ceremony in a few days. It was between night and dawn of day that the knight was lying on his couch, half-waking, half-sleeping.
The farewells were said and Huldbrand lifted his beautiful wife and seated her on his horse. He himself would walk by her side. The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest. On one side of the lady walked the priest, clad in a long white robe, while, guarding her on the other side, was, as I told you, the knight.
Promise me, therefore, that when we are near water, you will remember what I have now told you. Huldbrand promised, and hand in hand they went in search of Bertalda. She meanwhile had called together some workmen, and as she saw the knight and Undine drawing near, she gave her orders to the men in a loud, discontented voice. 'The stone may now be removed. Hasten, see that it be done immediately!
Before them was the city, glowing red in the rays of the setting sun. Now all this time the lady Bertalda had been very unhappy because of the knight's long absence. Indeed, she had no sooner sent Huldbrand forth into the haunted forest than she began to wish that she had kept him by her side.
But Huldbrand, in a passion of burning tears, threw himself upon the deck of the bark; and a deep swoon soon wrapped the wretched man in a blessed forgetfulness of misery. Shall we call it a good or an evil thing, that our mourning has no long duration?
Huldbrand saw that Bertalda seemed to shrink away from his beautiful wife. And when at length he asked her the reason that she no longer loved Undine so well as she had been used to do, she told him that she now knew from whence his wife had come. 'And for the spirit world, said Bertalda, 'I do not care, for I know it not. It and those who have dwelt there fill me with fear and dread.
Then she, seeing he was silent, whispered, 'Let us give up this voyage, for now has our joy turned into sadness. Let us go back to the castle where nothing can disturb us. Huldbrand, however, was not to be so easily restored to good humour. He answered her crossly, 'Why should I have to stay shut up at home? Even there can I have quiet only so long as the fountain remains sealed.
The knight was to be interred in the village church-yard, in whose consecrated ground were the graves of his ancestors; a place which they, as well as himself, had endowed with rich privileges and gifts. His shield and helmet lay upon his coffin, ready to be lowered with it into the grave, for Lord Huldbrand of Ringstetten had died the last of his race.
Trembling, at once with love and awe, the Knight approached her; she received him with a tender embrace; but instead of relaxing her hold, she pressed him more closely to her heart, and wept as if her soul would pour itself out. Drowned in her tears and his own, Huldbrand felt his heart sink within him, and at last he fell lifeless from the fond arms of Undine upon his pillow.
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 Huldbrand; and she went on to say:
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