Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 3 (Celtic and Slavic).djvu/494

328 'Nay, I cannot, hero, Nay, I cannot, youngling. For my mother dear will chide me, Yea, the aged dame will chide me If I tarry longer.'

'Speak thus to her, maiden. Speak thus to her, youngling: "Thither came two swans a-flying And the water's depth they troubled; Till it cleared I waited.'"

'T is not true, my daughter. For beneath the maple With a young man thou wast talking With a youth thou wast exchanging Words of love's sweet language.'"

Life is not all love, unfortunately, and both "God's sons" and the daughters of the sun have their tasks to perform. Some of these we already know.$66$ In Germany the morning star must prepare a coat of samite (i.e. the rich hues of dawn); "God's sons" must band the broken solar orb after the summer solstice; they must heat the bath (of dawn) ; as the workmen of Sun and Moon, or as the servants of Perkúnas, they are reproved for not mowing the meadows, etc. (i.e. preparing for the dawn); but after uprooting the birch-forest (i.e. dissipating the last traces of day) they go to Germany to play games.$67$ As for the sun's daughter, the golden cock crows on the edge of the "Great Water" (Daugawa)$68$ to rouse her that she may spin the silver thread, i.e. the rays of the rising sun.$69$ Her chief task, however, is to wash her golden jug (the solar disk) at evening. This she loses, and she herself is drowned;$70$ or else she falls into a golden boat, which remains behind her on the waves, or "God's sons" row the boat which rescues her as she wades in the sea, so that she can reappear at dawn.$71$ Occasionally, however, "God's son" stands passively on the mountain while she sinks; or, instead of wedding her, he merely escorts her to Germany.$72$ Behind this mountain stands an oak (the tree, no doubt, beneath which the lovers dance), and on this