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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.”

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The Lovely (and Wild) Undine – Part 1

She “knew she was created for God’s praise and glory….She was therefore baptized ‘Undine,’ and during the sacred ceremony she behaved with great propriety and sweetness, wild and restless as she invariably was at other times.”[1] 

This is my favorite “mermaid” story!  It was written in 1811 by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, a French ex-patriot who lived in Germany.  Interestingly, it came before many other mermaid tales, including Hans Christian Anderson’s famous Little Mermaid.

Even though I’ll give a thorough outline, I highly encourage you to read it yourself – it is lovely…and wild.  Just like Undine…

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Vilfridr’s Vindication

“For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free.” ~ Deuteronomy 32:36 We left Vilfridr last week in a state of contentment.  Not joy, mind you; merely content.  Her Read more…

Vilfridr’s Salvation

“Vilfridr soon felt the pangs of the tightening belt, and after suffering dreadful tortures and agonies, was found in a death-swoon by the dwarfs, when they came home.”[1] “When she awoke, she asked where the dwarfs were.  Of this the king knew nothing.  He now walked, at Vilfridr’s request, a Read more…