first night of his arrival. On the farther side, he placed her upon
the soft grass, and was throwing himself lovingly near his beautiful
burden; but she said to him, "Not here, but opposite me. I shall
read my doom in your eyes, even before your lips pronounce it: now
listen attentively to what I shall relate to you." And she began:

"You must know, my own love, that there are beings in the elements
which bear the strongest resemblance to the human race, and which, at
the same time, but seldom become visible to you. The wonderful
salamanders sparkle and sport amid the flames; deep in the earth the
meagre and malicious gnomes pursue their revels; the forest-spirits
belong to the air, and wander in the woods; while in the seas,
rivers, and streams live the widespread race of water-spirits. These
last, beneath resounding domes of crystal, through which the sky can
shine with its sun and stars, inhabit a region of light and beauty;
lofty coral-trees glow with blue and crimson fruits in their gardens;
they walk over the pure sand of the sea, among exquisitely variegated
shells, and amid whatever of beauty the old world possessed, such as
the present is no more worthy to enjoy--creations which the floods
covered with their secret veils of silver; and now these noble
monuments sparkle below, stately and solemn, and bedewed by the
water, which loves them, and calls forth from their crevices delicate
moss-flowers and enwreathing tufts of sedge.

"Now the nation that dwell there are very fair and lovely to behold,
for the most part more beautiful than human beings. Many a fisherman
has been so fortunate as to catch a view of a delicate maiden of the
waters, while she was floating and singing upon the deep. He would
then spread far the fame of her beauty; and to such wonderful females
men are wont to give the name of Undines. But what need of saying