“Well, then, I will give you your liberty, but now you must give me your rose.”
“There are plenty on the bush yonder, and more beautiful ones; choose whichever you like. Why do you want just this one?”
“To keep it carefully in remembrance of the most beautiful maiden I ever saw.”
“Then I shall certainly not give it to you; for those are not my real friends who tell me I am beautiful, only those who tell me I am good.”
“Where did you learn that?”
“From my grandmother Rhodopis.”
“Very well, then I will tell you you are better than any other maiden in the whole world.”
“How can you say such things, when you don’t know me at all? Oh, sometimes I am very naughty and disobedient. If I were really good I should be indoors now instead of talking to you here. My grandmother has forbidden me ever to stay in the garden when visitors are here, and indeed I don’t care for all those strange men who always talk about things I cannot understand.”
“Then perhaps you would like me to go away too?”
“Oh no, I can understand you quite well; though you cannot speak half so beautifully as our poor Phanes for example, who was obliged to escape so miserably yesterday evening, as I heard Melitta saying just this minute.”