Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/360

356 survive even one night with such a god?”—for they had come to attach a peculiar significance to the odd shape which the deity had assumed.

At this juncture a young and beautiful widow from the village stepped forward, saying, “Since it is for the god, I will offer myself in place of the young maidens.”

All night long the beautiful widow waited in the shrine, but she did not get a bit of affection. Enraged, she charged into the inner sanctum, grasped the divine umbrella firmly in her hands and screaming, “Worthless deceiver!” she tore it apart, and threw the pieces as far as she could!