He used to carry his zither and play and sing to her, until she finally caused the waves to rise so high that his boat was upset and broken. The count sank into the waves, and his attendants returned home to tell the father the sad news.
The old count swore revenge, and was going to seize Lore and have her burnt. The next night he took some friends and surrounded the rock.
When Lore appeared the old count said, "Where is my son?"
Lore pointed to the waves, at the same time continuing to sing very sweetly.
As soon as Lore had finished her song, she threw a stone into the river, which caused a wave to rise. She mounted it and sank from view with it, never to be seen again, though her singing was often heard by men passing by.
The rock was formerly called Lorely, but is now Lurlei, and has a lovely echo said to be the gift of Lore.
The girls were disappointed to see the water around the rock so very quiet—no whirlpool at all.
When they saw that a cut had been made through the rock for railroad trains, all the romance was gone for them.
Alice said, "O papa, how could anybody spoil that pretty story by running trains through the rock? If that is the way my romances are going to end I will not read any more."
However, she soon saw a house built in the river, and wanted to know what it was and why it was there.