Lago Santo

Among the high peaks which overhang the Cembra valley, lies a solitary

mountain lake whose little outlet falls into the foaming Nevisbach. A

small hut at the pointed end of the lake, and a deserted mine which

stands close by, surrounded by large heaps of _débris_, give evidence

to the former activity of the spot.

This dark lake is called “Lago Santo” (or Holy Lake).

Where it now stands there used to be a flourishing village, whose

inhabitants found in the neighbouring mines plenty of work and wealth;

they were a happy and contented race. A few miles off lay King

Laurin’s crystal palace, and through the constant communication with

this good-hearted mountain King, they became clever and fortunate in

all their undertakings. But, as time went on, they grew haughty and

independent; foreign miners brought false doctrines into the parish,

and as the priest was either too weak or negligent to oppose their

wicked practices, in a few years the people became entirely corrupted.

About that time a poor man arrived in the village begging for alms, but

all Christian charity had disappeared, and he was turned off from every

door, even from that of the wealthy priest. At the end of the village

there lived a poor widow woman with a numerous family, who alone gave

a piece of bread to the mendicant, who told her in gratitude, “Tonight

you will hear a fearful noise in the village; however, you need not be

frightened, but pray, and for your life do not look out of the window.”

After saying these words, the beggar disappeared, and when the family

had retired to rest, they were awakened at midnight by a terrible

storm. The thunder was terrific, and the lightning streamed over

the village, setting every building on fire; then the rain fell in

torrents, as though the flood-gates of Heaven were opened. The poor

widow was dreadfully terrified, and forgetting the command of the

beggar, she looked out of the window, but at the same moment she

received from an invisible hand such a blow in the face, that she fell

senseless to the ground.

As on the following morning she came again to herself, the terrors of

the night had disappeared, and the sun shone brilliantly down from

Heaven. The widow opened the door of her little hut, and, to her great

astonishment, found the whole country changed; the village had sunk

beneath the earth, and a dark See was spread over the spot where it

used to be; her little hut alone stood unhurt on the borders of the

new-formed lake.

Sometimes it is possible to see to the bottom of the lake, where the

avaricious priest paces slowly up and down, reading a book; he has

neglected the souls which had been entrusted to his care, and therefore

he has now to suffer penance.