The Nix of the Millpond (Grimm)
Short summary
A poor miller met a beautiful water nix who promised him wealth in exchange for what had just been born in his house. Thinking it was an animal, he agreed, but discovered his wife had given birth to a son. The miller prospered but kept his son away from the pond. The boy grew up to become a huntsman and married.
One day while hunting, the huntsman went to wash his bloodstained hands at the millpond.
Scarcely had he dipped them in than the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him.
The Wife sought help from an old woman who gave her three magical items. Each full moon, she used one: a golden comb, a flute, and a spinning wheel. Each time, more of her husband emerged from the water. Finally, he escaped completely, but a flood separated them after they were transformed into animals. Years later, as lonely shepherds, they met in a valley. When he played his flute under the full moon, they recognized each other and reunited.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The millers bargain with the nix
A miller once lived with his wife in great contentment, enjoying prosperity that increased year by year. However, misfortune struck like a thief in the night, and their wealth began to decrease just as rapidly as it had grown. Eventually, the miller could barely call his mill his own property. Distressed and unable to sleep, he rose before daybreak one morning and went outside, hoping the fresh air might lighten his troubled heart.
As he stepped over the milldam at the first sunbeam, he heard a rippling sound in the pond. Turning around, he saw a beautiful woman rising slowly from the water, her long hair falling down both sides and covering her white body. Recognizing her as the nix of the millpond, he stood frozen in fright, unsure whether to flee or stay. The nix spoke to him in a sweet voice, calling him by name and asking why he was so sad.
Be easy, I will make thee richer and happier than thou hast ever been before, only thou must promise to give me the young thing which has just been born in thy house.
The miller, thinking this could only mean a young puppy or kitten, agreed to her terms. The nix descended back into the water, and he hurried home, consoled and in good spirits. However, before he reached his mill, the maidservant came out crying joyfully that his wife had given birth to a little boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning, realizing the cunning nix had known about the birth and cheated him.
When he told his wife what had happened, she asked what use riches and prosperity were if they were to lose their child. Even the relations who came to wish them joy could not offer advice. Nevertheless, prosperity returned to the miller's house - everything he undertook succeeded, as if presses and coffers filled themselves and money multiplied nightly. His wealth became greater than ever before, but he could not rejoice, tormented by his bargain with the nix.
The huntsmans life and capture
Years passed without the nix appearing, and the miller began to feel at ease. The boy grew up and was apprenticed to a huntsman, becoming excellent at his craft. The lord of the village took him into service and, noticing the young man's affection for a beautiful and truehearted maiden, gave him a little house so they could marry. The couple lived peacefully and happily, loving each other with all their hearts.
One day while chasing a roe, the huntsman pursued it from the forest into open country and shot it. Not noticing he was near the dangerous millpond, he went to the water to wash his bloodstained hands after disemboweling the animal. Scarcely had he dipped his hands in the water when the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and quickly drew him down under the waves.
The wifes magical rescue attempts
When evening came and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. Knowing he had often spoken of guarding against the nix's snares, she suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water and found his hunting-pouch on the shore, confirming her fears. Lamenting and wringing her hands, she called his name in vain, hurried to the other side of the pond, and reviled the nix with harsh words, but received no answer.
The poor woman did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it... sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing.
At last her strength ended, she sank to the ground and fell into heavy sleep. In a dream, she climbed anxiously between great masses of rock, through thorns and briars, until she reached a summit where she found a pretty cottage. Inside sat an old woman with white hair who beckoned kindly to her. Upon waking, she resolved to act according to her dream and found everything exactly as she had seen it.
Here is a golden comb for thee... comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast done, lay it down on the bank, and thou wilt see what will happen.
The woman waited until the full moon rose, then went to the millpond and combed her hair with the golden comb. When she laid it on the water's edge, a wave rose and bore it away. The water parted, revealing her husband's head, but a second wave covered him again. The old woman then gave her a golden flute, instructing her to play a beautiful air at the next full moon. This time, half of the huntsman's body appeared before vanishing again.
Alas, what does it profit me? that I should see my beloved, only to lose him again! Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a third time...
Escape, transformation, and reunion
For the third attempt, the old woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel. At the full moon, she spun until the spool was filled with threads, then placed the wheel near the water. A mighty wave bore it away, and immediately the huntsman's entire body rose in a waterspout. He sprang to shore, caught his wife's hand, and they fled together.
The whole pond rose with a frightful roar and streamed over the countryside. In terror, the woman implored the old woman's help, and instantly they were transformed - she into a toad, he into a frog. The flood could not destroy them but tore them apart and carried them far away. When the water dispersed and they regained human form on dry land, neither knew where the other was, finding themselves among strangers in an unknown land.
For many years, both tended sheep in their separate locations, driving their flocks through fields and forests, full of sorrow and longing. One spring day, chance brought them to the same valley, though they did not recognize each other. They began meeting daily at the same place, finding comfort in each other's presence. One evening, when the full moon shone and the sheep rested, the shepherd played a sorrowful tune on his flute. The shepherdess wept bitterly, saying she had played that same air when her beloved's head rose from the water.
They looked at each other, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife... They embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy.