Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/266

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210
ORIENTAL FABLES

to a husband worthy of her, and to none other. But it is the right of every young Girl to choose her own husband. If it is pleasing to her, I will call the venerable Sun, and give her to him in marriage."

"There can be no harm in that; do so by all means," answered the Wife.

So the Holy Man summoned the Sun by the help of mystic formulas; and the Sun at once appeared.

"Venerable Sir, why do you summon me?" he asked.

Yajnavalkya replied: "Here is my daughter. If she will choose you, it is my wish that you should marry her." Then turning to his daughter, he said: "My daughter, this is the venerable Sun, who lights the Three Worlds, will you choose him?"

"My father," replied the Girl, "The Sun is too ardent; I do not want him. Call some one else greater than he."

When the Holy Man heard these words of his daughter, he said to the Sun, "Venerable Sun, is there any other who is greater than thou?"

The Sun replied, "The Cloud is more powerful than I; for when covered by him, I become invisible."

Then Yajnavalkya summoned the Cloud, and said to his daughter:

"My child, I will give you in marriage to this one, if he pleases you.

"No," replied the Girl, "he is too black and cold, give me to some one greater than he."

Then the Holy Man said: "Oh, Cloud, is there any other superior to thee?"

The Cloud replied, "The Wind is superior to me. When beaten by the Wind, I scatter into a thousand pieces."

When Yajnavalkya heard this, he summoned the Wind, and said: