Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/35

Rh their business to Therba. The daughter of the Elf smiled at the boisterous complaints of the brothers against the beneficial arrangements of Nature, and satisfied both their demands; she let rain fall upon the fields of the husbandman, and upon the neighbouring ground of the potter she let the sun shine.

Through these charms both sisters gained much renown and great riches; for they never parted with their gifts without reward or gain. By means of their riches they built palaces and country-houses, laid out splendid pleasure-gardens, and were never tired of giving balls and entertainments, and of trifling with those who were suitors for their hand.

Libussa had not the pride and vanity of her sisters. Although possessing the same ability of discovering the secrets of nature, and of making use of her hidden powers, she was contented with sharing these wonderful gifts of her maternal inheritance without making usurious advantage of them. Her vanity did not extend beyond the consciousness of her beauty; she did not covet riches, nor strive to be honoured or feared, like her sisters. For whilst they amused themselves at their country-seats, flew from pleasure to pleasure, chaining the flower of