the Nixie in the Pond池中水妖

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there was a miller. He lived contentedly with his wife. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased from year to year. But misfortune comes overnight. Just as their wealth had increased, so did it decrease from year to year, until finally the miller scarcely owned even the mill where he lived. He was in GREat distress, and when he lay down after a day's work, he found no rest, but tossed and turned in his bed, filled with worries.

　　One morning he got up before daybreak and went outside, thinking that the fresh air would lighten his heart. As he was walking across the mill dam, the first sunbeam was just appearing, and he heard something rippling in the pond.

　　Turning around, he saw a beautiful woman rising slowly out of the water. Her long hair, which she was holding above her shoulders with her soft hands, flowed down on both sides, and covered her white body. He saw very well that she was the nixie of the pond, and he was so frightened that he did not know whether to run away or stay where he was. But the nixie, speaking with a soft voice, called him by name and asked him why he was so sad.

　　At first the miller was speechless, but when he heard her speak so kindly, he took heart and told her how he had lived with good fortune and wealth, but that now he was so poor that he did not know what to do.

　　"Be at ease," answered the nixie. "I will make you richer and happier than you have ever been before. You must only promise to give me that which has just been born in your house."

　　"What else can that be," thought the miller, "but a young dog or a young cat," and he promised her what she demanded.

　　the nixie descended into the water again, and consoled and in good spirits he hurried back to his mill. He had not yet arrived there when the maid came out of the front door and called out to him that he should rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little boy.

　　the miller stood there as though he had been struck by lightning. He saw very well that the cunning nixie had known this and had cheated him. With his head lowered he went to his wife's bed. When she said, "Why are you not happy with the beautiful boy?" he told her what had happened to him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nixie.

　　"What good to me are good fortune and prosperity," he added, "if I am to lose my child? But what can I do?"

　　Even the relatives who had come to congratulate them did not have any advice for him.

　　In the meantime, good fortune returned to the miller's house. He succeeded in everything that he undertook. It was as though the trunks and strongboxes filled themselves of their own accord, and as though money in a chest multiplied overnight. Before long his wealth was GREater than it had ever been before. However, it did not bring him happiness without concern, for his agreement with the nixie tormented his heart. Whenever he passed the pond he feared she might appear and demand payment of his debt.

　　He never allowed the boy himself to go near the water. "Beware!" he said to him. "If you touch the water a hand will appear, take hold of you, and pull you under."

　　However, year after year passed, and the nixie made no further appearance, so the miller began to feel at ease.

　　the boy GREw up to be a young man and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had learned this trade and had become a skilled huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his service. In the village there lived a beautiful and faithful maiden whom the huntsman liked, and when his master noticed this, he gave him a little house. The two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other sincerely.

　　One day the huntsman was pursuing a deer. When the animal ran out of the woods and into an open field he followed it and finally brought it down with a single shot.

　　He did not notice that he was in the vicinity of the dangerous millpond, and after he had dressed out the deer, he went to the water in order to wash his blood-stained hands. However, he had scarcely dipped them into the water when the nixie emerged. Laughing, she wrapped her wet arms around him, then pulled him under so quickly that waves splashed over him.

　　When it was evening and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became frightened. She went out to look for him. He had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the nixie's snares, and that he did not dare to go near the millpond, so she already suspected what had happened. She hurried to the water, and when she found his hunting bag lying on the bank, she could no longer have any doubt of the misfortune. Crying and wringing her hands, she called her beloved by name, but to no avail. She hurried across to the other side of the millpond, and called him anew. She cursed the nixie with harsh words, but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm; only the moon's half face stared steadily back up at her.

　　the poor woman did not leave the pond. With fast strides, never stopping to rest, she walked around it again and again, sometimes in silence, sometimes crying out loudly, sometimes sobbing softly. Finally her strength gave out, and she sank down to the ground, falling into a heavy sleep. She was soon immersed in a dream.

　　She was fearfully climbing upwards between large rocky cliffs. Thorns and briers were hacking at her feet. Rain was beating into her face. the wind was billowing her long hair about. When she reached the top a totally different sight presented itself to her. The sky was blue, a soft breeze was blowing, the ground sloped gently downwards, and in a GREen meadow, dotted with colorful flowers, stood a neat cottage. She walked up to it and opened the door. There sat an old woman with white hair, who beckoned to her kindly.

　　At that moment, the poor woman awoke. It was already daylight, and she decided at once to follow her dream. With difficulty she climbed the mountain, and everything was just as she had seen it during the night. The old woman received her kindly, showing her a chair where she was to sit.

　　"You must have met with misfortune," she said, "having sought out my lonely cottage."

　　the woman related with tears what had happened to her.

　　"Be comforted," said the old woman. "I will help you. Here is a golden comb for you. Wait until the full moon has risen, then go to the millpond, sit down on the bank and comb your long black hair with this comb. When you are finished set it down on the bank, and you will see what will happen."

　　the woman returned home, but the time passed slowly for her until the full moon came. Finally the shining disk appeared in the heaven, and she went out to the millpond, sat down, and combed her long black hair with the golden comb. When she was finished she set it down at the water's edge. Before long there came a motion from beneath the water. A wave arose, rolled onto the bank, and carried the comb away with it. In not more time than it took for the comb to sink to the bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the huntsman's head emerged. He said nothing, only looking at his wife with sorrowful glances. That same instant a second wave rushed up and covered her husband's head. Then everything vanished. The millpond lay as peaceful as before, with only the face of the full moon shining on it.

　　Filled with sorrow, the woman returned, but she saw the old woman's cottage in a dream.

　　the next morning she again set out and told her sorrows to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said, "Wait until the full moon comes again, then take this flute. Sit on the bank and play a beautiful tune on it. When you are finished set it in the sand. Then you will see what will happen."

　　the woman did what the old woman had told her to do. No sooner was the flute lying in the sand than there was a motion from beneath the water, and a wave rushed up and carried the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only her husband's head, but half of his body emerged as well. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave rushed up, covered him, and pulled him down again.

　　"Oh, what does it help me," said the unhappy woman, "for me only to see my beloved and then to lose him again?"

　　Despair filled her heart anew, but a dream led her a third time to the old woman's house. She went there, and the wise woman gave her a golden spinning wheel, comforted her, and said, "Everything is not yet fulfilled. Wait until the full moon comes, then take the spinning wheel, sit on the bank, and spin the spool full. When you have done this place the spinning wheel at the water's edge, and you will see what will happen."

　　the woman did everything exactly as she had been told. As soon as the full moon appeared she carried the golden spinning wheel to the bank, and span diligently until she was out of flax, and the spool was completely filled with thread. She had scarcely placed the wheel on the bank when there was a more violent motion than before from the water's depth. Then a powerful wave rushed up and carried the wheel away with it.

　　Immediately the head and the whole body of her husband emerged in a waterspout. He quickly jumped to the bank, caught his wife by the hand, and fled. They had gone only a little distance when the entire millpond arose with a terrible roar, then with terrible force streamed out across the countryside. The fugitives saw death before their eyes, when the wife in her terror called out for the old woman to help them, and they were instantly transformed, she into a toad, he into a frog.

　　the flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it separated them and carried them far away. When the water receded and they both reached dry land again, their human forms returned again, but neither knew where the other one was. They found themselves among strange people who did not know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to earn a living, they both had to herd sheep. For long years they drove their flocks through fields and woods, and were filled with sorrow and longing.

　　One day when spring had once again broken forth on the earth, they both went out with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they moved toward one another. He saw a herd on a distant mountainside and drove his sheep toward it. They met in a valley but did not recognize one another, but they were happy that they were no longer so alone. From then on every day they drove their flocks next to each other. They did not speak much, but they did feel comforted.

　　One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest, the shepherd took his flute out of his pocket and played on it a beautiful but sorrowful tune. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was crying bitterly.

　　"Why are you crying? he asked.

　　"Oh," she answered, " the full moon was shining like this when I played that tune on the flute for the last time, and my beloved's head emerged out of the water."

　　He looked at her, and it was as though a veil fell from his eyes. He recognized his beloved wife, and when she looked at him, with the moon shining on his face, she recognized him as well. They embraced and kissed one another, and no one needs to ask if they were happy.

从前，有位磨坊主和妻子生活在一块，生活十分富足。他们有钱有地，光景一年好似一年。但不幸的事情突然来了，他的财富变得一年少似一年，最后那磨坊主连自己的磨坊几乎都不能维持了。他悲痛万分，每天干完活躺在床上，总是辗转反侧，夜不能寐。一天早晨，天不亮他就起床出了门，心想这样心情可能会好些。等他跨上水坝，太阳还刚刚升上地平线，突然他听到水中有潺潺之声，他回头一看，发现水中缓缓地冒出个美女。她用纤纤的玉手将一头长长的秀发理在两肩旁，遮住了整个身躯。磨坊主马上意识到她就是水池中的水妖了，情急之中他不知该留还是该走了。只听水妖柔柔地呼唤着他的名字，问他为何如此闷闷不乐，声音十分悦耳。起初磨坊主给吓怕了，但当他听到美女说话如此温柔可爱时，便赶紧定了定神，告诉她自己过去的生活如何富足，现在生活如何贫困潦倒、百般的无奈。“别着急，”水妖说，“我会让你过比以前更富足、更幸福的，但你必须答应把家中新降生的小东西给我。”“那除了小猫小狗之类还会有甚么别的东西呢？”磨坊主心想，於是他答应了她的要求。听完这话，水妖沉了下去，他也乐颠颠地跑回作坊，心存安慰，神情格外舒畅。但他刚跨进门就见女仆跑出房子尖叫着向他道喜，说夫人刚生下个男婴。真是如五雷轰顶一般，磨坊主站在那儿，呆若木鸡，他意识到那狡猾的水妖早就知道这一点，而且还欺骗了他。他耸拉着脑袋，走到妻子床前，妻子对他说：“给你生了个胖小子，难道你还不开心吗？”他告诉她灾难已降临到他头上，接着便把许诺的事一五一十地说了。“财富对我来说有甚么用呢？”他又说，“如果失去了孩子，我该怎么办？”就是那些前来道贺的亲朋好友们也不知该说甚么好。这以后磨坊主确实时来运转了，他所做的交易都兑了现。似乎一夜之间柜里自行装满了钱币，壁橱里的钱也都积得满满的。不久他的财富就大大超过了从前。但是他却不能高兴起来，因为他和水妖之间的交易让他伤透了脑筋。每当他走过池边，总担心女妖会从水中冒出来讨债，他也从不让孩子一个人走近水边，“记住，”他告诫孩子，“如果你碰到水，水里就会伸出一只手来抓住你，把你拖下水去。”但年复一年水妖没再现身，磨坊主心中的一块石头总算放了下来。男孩长大成人了，在一名猎户手下当徒弟。当他学会了十八般武艺，成为一名出色的猎手时，村长便让他为村里服务。村里有位美丽的姑娘深为猎手锺爱，村长知道这一切时便给了他一间小屋，让两人终於结成百年之好，他们婚后过得幸福安乐，相亲也相爱。

　　一天猎手正追赶一只雄鹿，当雄鹿从森林处拐进一片旷野后，他迅速追了上去，射死了它。但他却没注意到自己竟站在了水池边。他把鹿开膛破肚后，走到水边想洗洗那双沾满鲜血的手。不料一沾水，水妖便突然从水中钻了出来，面带笑容，用她那湿淋淋的双手抱住猎手，跌入水中，浪花倾刻淹没了他。时至黄昏，猎手还没回家，妻子焦急万分，便出去找他。因为丈夫曾一再说过要防范水妖的诱惑，不敢斗胆到池边去。她马上明白发生了甚么事情，於是便赶紧跑到水边。当她看到丈夫留在岸边的猎袋时，她证实了自己的猜疑。此刻她悲痛欲绝，芳心欲碎，一遍遍呼唤着爱人的名字，但听不到回音。她又跑到水池的对岸去叫唤，口中咒骂着水妖，但仍然没有人应声。水面平静，只有初升的新月目不转睛地注视着她，这可怜的女人没有离开水池，她一刻不停地围着水池跑，跑了一圈又一圈，时而默不作声，时而低泣。最后她筋疲力竭，倒在地上睡着了，不久便进入了梦乡。

　　她梦见自己正在一大堆顽石间焦急地向上攀登，荆棘绊住了她的脚，雨点打在她的脸上，风把她的头发吹得七零八落，当她到达山顶时，展现在眼前的是一副从未见过的画面：天空碧蓝，空气新鲜，坡度平缓。一间精緻小巧的农舍在一片绿草地上，周围长满了各色的花朵。她走上前去把门打开，发现里面坐着一位白发苍苍的老婆婆，正热情地跟她打招呼。就在这时，可怜的女人醒了，天刚破晓，她马上按昨夜梦里见到的去做，不辞辛苦地爬上山顶，果真见到了和梦中完全一样的景色。老婆婆接待了她，给她指定一张椅子坐下。“你一定是遇到了麻烦，”她说，“否则你不会找到我这偏僻寒舍来的。”可怜的女人一把眼泪一把鼻涕地把事情的原委都说了。“开心点，”老婆婆说，“我会帮你的。这里有一把金梳。等满月升起时，你就到池边去，坐在池边，用这把梳子梳理你那乌黑的秀发。梳完后再把它放在岸边，看看会发生甚么事。”女人回了家，但时间距离满月还早得很。最后她终於等到了满月升起，赶紧跑去池边，坐在岸边，用金梳梳发，然后再把它放在水边。不久水里就翻起了万千波涛，浪涛打到岸边，把金梳给卷走了。还没等金梳沉底，水面突然分开，露出了猎手的脑袋。猎手没说话，只是忧郁地看着他的妻子。同时，又一个浪涛打过来，他的脑袋被淹没了。倾刻一切都消失了，水面平静如初，唯有满月倒映在其中。

　　女人满怀悲痛地走回家中，但她又梦见了那位村舍里的老婆婆。第二天早晨，她又去老婆婆那儿诉苦。老人给了她一只金笛说：“等到满月升起时，用这只笛子吹出一曲优美的曲子，吹完后再把笛子放在沙滩上看看会怎么样。”女人照着她说的话去做了。笛子刚放到沙地上就听见水里有一阵响动，一个浪涛打来把笛子卷走了。水路立刻分开，露出了猎手的头和半个身子，他伸出手臂想要拥抱她，但又一个浪头打过来把他给淹没了。“啊，她是怎么帮我的？”女人叫道，“为甚么让我看到他又要失去他啊！”她又绝望了，但梦又把她引到了老婆婆的面前，这回老人给了她一只金纺轮，并安慰她说：“这一切并没有完，等满月升起时，拿这只纺轮坐到岸边，把这卷线纺完，再把纺轮放在岸边，看看会发生甚么事情。”女人完全照着她的话去做了。当满月升起时，她拿着纺轮坐到岸边，一刻不停地纺啊纺，直到亚麻线用完，水池上满是纺好的线。同样的事情又出现了，只见一个浪头打来，把纺轮卷走了，很快，猎手头和整个身体都从水中脱水而出，呈现在女人面前。猎人赶紧跳到岸边，抓起妻子的手就逃。但没等他们走出多远，就听到池水一片諠譁，池水立刻漫及整个旷野。两人立刻意识到死亡的危险，吓呆了的女人乞求老婆婆暗中相助。过了一会儿，他俩便变了形，一个成了蛤蟆，一个成了青蛙。洪水吞没了他们但没能毁灭他们，只是把他们冲散，带到老远的地方去了。

　　水退了，他们又踏上干地，重现人形，但彼此都不知对方在那里。他们发现自己身处陌生人中间，那些人都不知自己的家乡在何方。他们面前只有高山低谷，为了活命，他们不得不去放羊。多年过后，他们仍一直赶着羊群穿行森林草地，无处可托相思，无可可托牵挂。

　　春天来临了，一天他们都出去放羊，可能是命运的安排，他俩走得越来越近了，在峡谷中相遇了，但互不认识。但是他们高兴，因为他们不再孤独了。他们因此每天都把羊赶到一个地方，说话不多，但彼此心存慰藉。一天傍晚当满月升起时，羊儿也睡着了，牧羊人从袋中抽出一支短笛，吹出一支优美而略带伤感的曲子，等他吹完，他发现牧羊女正在悲伤地哭泣。“你哭甚么？”他问。“啊！”她回答说，“当我最后一次吹起这根笛子时，天空升起满月，水中露出我爱人的脑袋。”他看着她，彷彿觉得他眼睛上的一层眼罩立刻脱落，他认出了她，同时她也看了看他，月亮正照在他的脸上，她也认出了他。他们相互拥抱着，亲吻着，谁都无需再问他们是否幸福了。