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Page 26
As the waterfall came rushing from its crag, it distinctly uttered
these words in Huldbrand's ear: "Rash knight! valiant knight! I am
not angry with you; I have no quarrel with you; only continue to
defend your lovely little wife with the same spirit, you bold knight!
you valiant champion!"
After advancing a few steps farther, the travellers came out upon
open ground. The imperial city lay bright before them; and the
evening sun, which gilded its towers with gold, kindly dried their
garments that had been so completely drenched.
The sudden disappearance of the young knight, Huldbrand of
Ringstetten, had occasioned much remark in the imperial city, and no
small concern amongst those who, as well on account of his expertness
in tourney and dance, as of his mild and amiable manners, had become
attached to him. His attendants were unwilling to quit the place
without their master, although not a soul of them had been courageous
enough to follow him into the fearful recesses of the forest. They
remained, therefore, at the hostelry, idly hoping, as men are wont to
do, and keeping the fate of their lost lord fresh in remembrance by
their lamentations.
Now when the violent storms and floods had been observed immediately
after his departure, the destruction of the handsome stranger became
all but certain; even Bertalda had openly discovered her sorrow, and
detested herself for having been the cause of his taking that fatal
excursion into the forest. Her foster-parents, the duke and duchess,
had meanwhile come to take her away; but Bertalda persuaded them to
remain with her until some certain news of Huldbrand should be
obtained, whether he were living or dead. She endeavoured also to
prevail upon several young knights, who were assiduous in courting
her favour, to go in quest of the noble adventurer in the forest.
But she refused to pledge her hand as the reward of the enterprise,
because she still cherished, it might be, a hope of its being claimed
by the returning knight; and no one would consent, for a glove, a
riband, or even a kiss, to expose his life to bring back so very
dangerous a rival.
When Huldbrand now made his sudden and unexpected appearance, his
attendants, the inhabitants of the city, and almost every one
rejoiced. This was not the case with Bertalda; for although it might
be quite a welcome event to others that he brought with him a wife of
such exquisite loveliness, and Father Heilmann as a witness of their
marriage, Bertalda could not but view the affair with grief and
vexation. She had, in truth, become attached to the young knight
with her whole soul; and her mourning for his absence, or supposed
death, had shown this more than she could now have wished.
But notwithstanding all this, she conducted herself like a wise
maiden in circumstances of such delicacy, and lived on the most
friendly terms with Undine, whom the whole city looked upon as a
princess that Huldbrand had rescued in the forest from some evil
enchantment. Whenever any one questioned either herself or her
husband relative to surmises of this nature, they had wisdom enough
to remain silent, or wit enough to evade the inquiries. The lips of
Father Heilmann had been sealed in regard to idle gossip of every
kind; and besides, on Huldbrand's arrival, he had immediately
returned to his cloister: so that people were obliged to rest
contented with their own wild conjectures; and even Bertalda herself
ascertained nothing more of the truth than others.
For the rest, Undine daily felt more love for the fair maiden. "We
must have been before acquainted with each other," she often used to
say to her, "or else there must be some mysterious connection between
us, for it is incredible that any one so perfectly without cause--
I mean, without some deep and secret cause--should be so fondly
attached to another as I have been to you from the first moment of
our meeting."
And even Bertalda could not deny that she felt a confiding impulse,
an attraction of tenderness toward Undine, much as she deemed this
fortunate rival the cause of her bitterest disappointment. Under the
influence of this mutual regard, they found means to persuade, the
one her foster-parents, and the other her husband, to defer the day
of separation to a period more and more remote; nay, more, they had
already begun to talk of a plan for Bertalda's accompanying Undine to
Castle Ringstetten, near one of the sources of the Danube.
Once on a fine evening they happened to be talking over their scheme
just as they passed the high trees that bordered the public walk.
The young married pair, though it was somewhat late, had called upon
Bertalda to invite her to share their enjoyment; and all three
proceeded familiarly up and down beneath the dark blue heaven, not
seldom interrupted in their converse by the admiration which they
could not but bestow upon the magnificent fountain in the middle of
the square, and upon the wonderful rush and shooting upward of its
waters. All was sweet and soothing to their minds. Among the
shadows of the trees stole in glimmerings of light from the adjacent
houses (sic). A low murmur as of children at play, and of other
persons who were enjoying their walk, floated around them--they were
so alone, and yet sharing so much of social happiness in the bright
and stirring world, that whatever had appeared rough by day now
became smooth of its own accord. All the three friends could no
longer see the slightest cause for hesitation in regard to Bertalda's
taking the journey.
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