Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-18
From ns Masonic Record ard 7fs'w Saturday uagcs,se.
THE uMDINH OF sTAUEEHNBHRo
LEGEND- OF THE RHYME. 81

some. ne mlgnt nave asplred TO the favour
of the Tfairest and most noble lady in the
kingdom; but this very circumstance seemed
to present obstacles to his choice. Like a
bee in a garden filed with choicest flowers,
he wandered from one to another, never wea-
rying in the pursuit of sweets, but still ficiSlo
and doubtful on which to rest. Perhaps had
the fair danes of the court paid him less
attention, and not allowed him 10 perceive
the high estimation in which he was held, it
would have been different, but alasl then,
us now, men were apt to be spoit by adulu-
ton, and Pierre was an example of this fact.
He had been left to his own guidance, from
a very early age, by reason Of the death of
both his parents. Surrounded, as he was.
by every temptation, it would not have been
very surprising had he given in to the preva-
lent vices of the court; but he escaped these,
and might have been perfectly happy but for
caprice, which was, however, not always un-
influenced by ambition.
Ono day, returning late from hunting, he
vas accidentally separated from his compa.
mons. Overcome with thirst and fatigue,
he perceived fountain, shaded by lofty and
beautiful oak trees, at which he dismountcd.
He had tied up his horse, and was about to
drink, when, to his surprise, he saw, seated
on the opposite bank of the fountain, a dam
sci of wonderful beauty. He bowed low to
her, and she returned his salutat ton, at the
same time calling him by his name The
astonshed count asked who she was and
wheNS came Il live near at hand"
sh have frequently seen YOU, al
thu with your dogs and huntSnen
ands IS that have learnt your name"
they continued conversing for some time.
each moment increasing the counts admira-
ton, when, on hearing voices in the neigh
bouring thIcket, she suddenly vanished.--
The counSwas surrounded in the next mi
mute by his hunting companions, who had
been vainly seeking him for some time, and
they limited that he must have been amusing
himself at their expense, as they had been
IN the neighbourhood of the fountain all the
time; and they insisted that they must have
been heard before, if he had not been OBJ
stinately and wilfuliy deaf One of them
said jestingly, that perhaps he had been visit
ing the bottom of the fountain in quest of one
OF It's fair inhabitants, as many of the ncirb-
bourIng peasants declared positively that fe-
males OF surprising beauty had been frequently
seen on its banks, and that on the approach
OF footsteps they always disappeared beneath
the waters. The count impaticnty inter
ruPted them, by asking whether they had
not seen female as they approached the
fountain. This, however, only gave new vi
gour to their jokes; and at length, having
sought in vain for the lovely girl, or for some
trace of her dwelling, which she said was
near at hand, the count, tired with his com
panlons' mirth, and full of surprise and per
plexity, returned TO his palace.
He could not, however, for one moment.
forget the fairy form and angelic counte-
nance OF the fountain beauty his wavward
heart now fancied itself fixed, and he impa
tiently passed the hours, till daylight enabled
HIM to renew his search. But day after dav
did he vainiy hope TO meet her. At the hour
he had first seen her he repaired constantly
to the fountain, but the unknown was,nevcr
there. AT length, one evening, when he
was Pensively reclining against an oak, he
heard voice of celestial sweetness, which
appeared TO proceed from the depth of the
water. He rose, looked on every side with
the utmost anxiety, but no one was visible
and the voice was no longer to be heard
lie turned to reseat himself under the oak.
IN the hopes that he should again hear the
voice, when suddenly he beheld the unknown
seated on the stone he had lust left. She
appeared IN most lively humour, and repli-
ed to all his questions with n fascinatinr
badlnage that captivated the count still more
than her former behaviour he confessed his
passion, she instantly became thoughtful and
silent: at length, she told him to meet her
Mt the same hour on the following day.
The chevallerwas true TO the appointment:
st break of day the fair unknown appeared
from the cOppice, and so beautiful she look-
ed, that Pierre thought he bcheld an angel.
The rInglets of her IoroIy aah,1rn hair snor-
ked with the morning dew, and were bound
with wreath Of blue-bels. She fixed her
innocent and expressive eyes on the ena-
incurred count, who was silent with admira-
ton. AT length he ventured to take her
hand, and speak OF his passion. She made
hum SIT down by her, and thus replied to him:
81 am not child Of earth: tie waters
gave me being and III the waters is INV home.
am an Undinc, and therefore unfit TO we'd
with the Count OF Stauiienberr. lie should
have with his bride, wealth and broad lands:
we OF the waters have neither gold nor low
els, nor house nor castle. Him we love truly
we tVod aud whom ,.,e ,,,oJ ,., 49,, -.