Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan.pdf/167

Rh and after gathering his bunch of flowers, could be seen hurrying down the mountain driving his cows as fast as he could make them go. Up till this time he had always made it a rule to offer his prettiest bouquet to the Goddess, but now he always set the most beautiful one aside, and placed the next best upon the altar of the Goddess.

The Goddess was naturally displeased. One day, a woodman, named Ganzu, told her all about Adani’s love for Araginu. This man was rather elderly, and was a bad character. He spent much of his time searching round the villages at the foot of the mountain for stray sheep and odd fowls, and he often stole wine and fish from the villagers too. He had been told that from the beginning Araginu’s love had been strictly hidden from the Goddess. He heard this story from the girl’s uncle, who was an old hermit. He also was told that Araginu was busy weaving a most beautiful tapestry. She was spending most of her time very earnestly upon this work in order that she might one day enwrap her lover in its folds, so that he should never be enticed away by any other beautiful woman he might see. When the Goddess heard of this, an intense jealousy burned within her heart against the girl.

Her only desire was to see this wonderful tapestry which Araginu had woven. So one night, when the moon had wrapped the world in its gentle, opalescent light, she secretly descended the mountain, with the woodcutter as her guide.