"
Now, as he listened, there came through the wood a maiden, bare -
footed, save for grass sandals, and clad in coarse clothing, and
she came up and passed them, still singing.
And when she was past, His Majesty put up his hand to his eyes,
like one dreaming, and said;
"What have you seen?"
And the Dainagon answered;
"Augustness, a country wench, flat - faced, ugly and blind, and
with a voice like a crow. Has not your Majesty seen this?"
The Emperor, still shading his eyes, replied;
"I saw a maiden so beautiful that her Shining Majesty would be a
black blot beside her. As she went, the Spring and all its
sweetness blew from her garments. Her robe was green with small
gold flowers. Her eyes were closed, but she resembled a cherry
tree, snowy with bloom and dew. Her voice was like the singing
flowers of Paradise."
The Dainagon looked at him with fear and compassion;
"Augustness, how should such a lady carry in her arms a bundle of
firewood?"
"She bore in her hands three lotos flowers, and where each foot
fell I saw a lotos bloom and vanish.
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