The Large Waterworks

As work on Cologne Cathedral began, a large waterworks was also to be constructed in Cologne. The hired master for this project had searched a long time for an appropriate water source without any success. Finally the Cathedral architect, Master Gerhard von Ryle, began to make fun of the man, knowing full well that the water source was under the Cathedral. He would rather see the majestic Cathedral finished than this miserable waterworks. The builder of the waterworks had told his wife about this and she comforted him and thought of a plan. Knowing that the Master Architect would never reveal his secret, she purloined it with alluring words of his wife: the water source was walled up in one of the towers of the Cathedral! Then the waterworks builder obtained permission from the City Council of Cologne to dig for water there. Soon he found the needed water and could complete his work. Now he made fun of Gerhard of Ryle, whose work continued slowly despite great enthusiasm. Because of this, the Master Architect eventually became so full of doubt that he died of worry. The construction of the Cathedral could only be finished hundreds of years later.