echoed it in song?

It is the best known of the Rhine tales, not because it is the most
interesting, but because it is associated with the noblest scenery
of the river, with poetry and music. It is hardly equal to such
legends as the "Drachenfels" and the "Two Brothers," but it is
lifted into historic prominence by its associations.

Still the story is richer in incident than the mere song would
indicate. The origin and development of the popular legend is as
follows:--

In the shadowy days of the Palatines of the Rhine,--shadowy because
of ignorance and superstition,--the boatmen among the rocks above
St. Goar on the Rhine used to fancy that they could see at night the
form of a beautiful nymph on the "Lei," or high rock of the river.
Her limbs were moulded of air; a veil of mist and gems covered her
face; her hair was long and golden, and her eyes shone like the
stars. Her robe was blue and glimmering like the waves, decked with
water flowers and zoned with crystals. She was most distinctly seen
by pale moonlight.

They called this recurring vision of mist and gems Lore, the
enchantress. They believed that her favor brought good luck, but her
ill will destruction.

Nothing could be more natural than for the simple fishermen to think
that they saw a form of mist, very bright and lovely, above the
rocks at night, when once the story had been told them.

In the days of superstition such a story was sure to grow.

It was said that this Undine of the Rhine, the enchantress Lore, had
a most melodious and seductive voice. When she sang those who heard
her listened spellbound. If the boatmen displeased her, she
entranced them by her song, and drew them into the whirlpools under
the rocks, where they disappeared forever. To the landsmen who
offended her, she made the river appear like a road, and led them to
fall over the rocks to destruction. With all her beauty and charms,
she was the evil genius of the place.

Herman, the only son of the last Palatine, a youth of some fifteen
summers, was delicate in health. Instead of devoting himself to
chivalrous exercises, he gave his attention to music and song.

One night he and his father were descending the Rhine, when he felt
an inspiration come over him to sing. His voice was silvery and
flute-like, and breathed the emotional sentiment of the heart of
youth. As the boat drew near the Lei, Lore