Once upon a time the air, the mountain, and the sea lived undisturbed upon all the earth. The mountain alone was immovable; he stood always here upon his rocky foundation, and the sea rippled¹ and foamed² at his feet, while the air danced freely over his head and about his grim face. It came to pass that both the sea and the air loved the mountain, but the mountain loved the sea.  
"Dance on forever, O air," said the mountain; "dance on and sing your merry songs. But I love the gentle sea, who in sweet humility³ crouches⁴ at my feet or playfully dashes her white spray against my brown bosom⁵."
 
Now the sea was full of joy when she heard these words, and her thousand voices sang softly with delight. But the air was filled with rage [Pg 88]and jealousy⁶, and she swore a terrible revenge.
 
"The mountain shall not wed⁷ the sea," muttered the envious⁸ air. "Enjoy your triumph while you may, O slumberous⁹ sister; I will steal you from your haughty¹⁰ lover!"
 
And it came to pass that ever after that the air each day caught up huge parts of the sea and sent them floating forever through the air in the shape of clouds. So each day the sea receded¹¹ from the feet of the mountain, and her tuneful waves played no more around his majestic¹² base.
 
"Whither art thou going, my love?" cried the mountain, in dismay.
 
"She is false to thee," laughed the air, mockingly. "She is going to another love far away."
 
But the mountain would not believe it. He towered his head aloft and cried more beseechingly¹³ than before: "Oh, whither art thou going, my beloved? I do not hear thy sweet voice, nor do thy soft white arms compass me about."
 
Then the sea cried out in an agony of helpless love. But the mountain heard her not, for [Pg 89]the air refused to bring the words she said.
 
"She is false!" whispered the air. "I alone am true to thee."
 
But the mountain believed her not. Day after day he reared his massive head aloft and turned his honest face to the receding¹⁴ sea and begged her to return; day after day the sea threw up her snowy arms and uttered the wildest lamentations, but the mountain heard her not; and day by day the sea receded farther and farther from the mountain's base. Where she once had spread her fair surface appeared fertile plains and verdant¹⁵ groves¹⁶ all peopled with living things, whose voices the air brought to the mountain's............