"One day it fell that as his eyes were fixed in deep thought upon the glassy surface of the lake, which lies so still beneath yon Peak, he beheld a herd of white oxen rise from the water, driven by a swan, which, as he gazed, grew into a lovely maiden, with eyes as blue as the sky and as bright as the stars, and gleaming golden hair, which clothed her like a beauteous outer raiment almost to her feet. His heart, long untouched by mortal maiden, melted within him at the fair vision, more fair, in sooth, than all his dreams, and, stretching out his arms towards her in deep yearning, he offered her of his bread. But with a smile she glided from his clasp and vanished, laughing, beneath the wave. A second day he came, and once more the beautiful vision appeared to his longing eyes, and he again offered her his bread to eat, but she vanished from sight as before, so that he went home sadly, and pined for days in secret, till, no longer able to bear alone his woe, he confessed to his mother the strange tale and the love he bore the magic maiden. She bade him seek his love yet once again, and on the eve of Midsummer Day he trod in trembling the lonely path up the mountain-side, and lay till midnight on the shore of the black lake, consumed with impatient longing for the fair vision. At last to his wondering gaze there appeared upon the dark surface of the water a slice of magic milk-white bread, of which, as it drew near to his outstretched hand, he partook, kneeling reverently upon the bare earth the while. Then once more the phantom herd glided forth to land, driven by the wondrous maiden, who, rowing swiftly in her golden shallop to the shore, cast herself with joyful cry into his longing arms, and together they partook of what remained of the magic bread, and confessed their mutual love on the lake's dark brink, ere he led her homewards. So, through the eating of this wondrous bread, their souls were knit in one, and she became his loving bride, promising all wifely love and obedience, with this warning only, that since she, an immortal maiden, was thus wed to mortal man, he must needs ever bear in mind, that should he in all the course of their life together e'er chance three times to strike her, she and her fair herds must return at once to their own people. Some years they dwelt together ere any shadow crossed their path; fair children were born to them, and their flocks and herds multiplied exceedingly; but one day, while they were still in the flower of youth, they were bidden to a christening, and he, finding that she lingered awhile, not greatly moved on account of her own primeval faith to witness the ceremony, struck her in play upon the shoulder, chiding her for her tardiness; whereupon she bade him beware, and ever bear in mind that he had once done the forbidden deed. Long after, at a wedding-feast, her far-seeing soul warned her of great sorrow in store for the newly-married pair; she wept