“O my brother, light of the world, thou who art pure of all stain, one has never seen a brother and sister married together, because it would be a shameful sin.”
At this rebuke the Sun hid himself, and mounted up higher to the throne of God, bent before Him, and spoke:—
“Lord our Father, the time has arrived for me to wed. But, alas! I cannot find a love in the world worthy of me except the beautiful Helen, Helen of the silver hair!”
God heard him, and, taking him by the hand, led him into hell to affright his heart, and then into paradise to enchant his soul.
Then He spake to him, and while He was speaking
the Sun began to shine brightly and the clouds passed over:—
“Radiant Sun! Thou who art free from all stain, thou hast been through hell and hast entered paradise. Choose between the two.”
The Sun replied, recklessly, “I choose hell, if I may have, for a life, Helen, Helen of the shining silver hair.”
The Sun descended from the high heaven to his sister Helen, and ordered preparation for his wedding. He put on her forehead the waving gold chaplet of the bride, he put on her head a royal crown, he put on her body a transparent robe all embroidered with fine pearls, and they all went into the church together.
But woe to him, and woe to her! During the service the lights were extinguished, the bells cracked while ringing, the seats turned themselves upside down, the tower shook to its base, the priests lost their voices, and the sacred robes were torn off their backs.