And mermaidens comb out their green hair always,
And bleach here their shining white clothes.”
Stagnelius (Keightley’s tr.).
The Nixies, Undines, and Stromkarls were particularly gentle and lovable beings, and were very anxious indeed to obtain repeated assurances of their ultimate salvation.
Many stories are therefore told of priests or children meeting these spirits playing by a stream, and taunting them with future damnation, which threat turned the joyful music to pitiful wails. But when priest or children, discovering their mistake, hastened back to the stream and assured the green-toothed water sprites of future redemption, they invariably resumed their happy strain.
“Know you the Nixies, gay and fair?
Their eyes are black, and green their hair—
They lurk in sedgy shores.”
Mathisson.
River nymphs.