Northern mythology

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282 NETHEKLANDISH TRADITIONS.
house, where it vanished in an open window. Before six
weeks had expired every inmate of that
the plague.
ZEVENBERGEN.
house had died of
Before arriving at Dort_, there is to be seen by the high
road a large body of water, in the middle of which a lonely
church tower raises its head.
There stood formerly the rich and populous city of
Zevenbergen, the inhabitants
of which made use of gold
and silver as if they had been copper. All the latches of
their doors, all the hasps of their windows were of pui'e
gold ; all the nails in their houses, all their kitchen utensils
were of silver. In short their riches are not to be
described, and were attended with an arrogance still less
susceptible of description.
At one time it happened that every night a mermaid
came flying, and seated herself on the top of the tower of
the church, which was dedicated to St. Lobbctjen, and
there sang
Zevenbergen sol vergaeii, Zevenbergen shall perish.
En Lobbetjens toren blyven And Lobbetjen's tower remain
staen.
standing.
This song every one heard, but no one heeded it,
or, in
consequence of it, turned from his arrogance. At length
God grew weary, and in one night there arose so frightful
a storm of wind and rain,
accompanied by thunder, over
the city, that it perished in one instant, all except the
church, which remained standing and yet remains, as the
mermaid had sung. Over the site of the city an expanse
of water spread itself.
Fishermen who navigate the lake assert that they have
frequently seen the glittering gilded roofs of Zevenbergen
but no one has ever ventured to descend into its mysterious
depths.