Maidens of the Deep
Undine’s Spirit Warfare
Undine, Huldbrand, and Bertalda embark down the Danube. Immediately, Kuhleborn begins his “teasing tricks,” and Undine constantly has to “rebuke” the waves and winds “so that the pleasure of the little party was completely destroyed.” Even their trusted servants begin to look at them “with suspicious glances.”
Rather than grateful, Huldbrand is resentful, developing an “animosity” toward his “mermaid” wife. And he makes sure Undine knows it, too.
Poor Undine! “Wearied with this exhibition of displeasure, and exhausted by the constant effort to frustrate Kuhleborn’s artifices,” she falls “into a deep slumber.”