"I will wait," said he.
A cask of saki was staved in, and the jolly drinkers talked and laughed noisily.
But all at once silence fell upon them; the shrill sound of a flute and the music of a stringed instrument were heard. The sounds came from the rooms above.
"Listen! listen!" was the general cry.
Some of the passers stopped to hear. The sound of a woman's voice was heard. The words of the song were clearly audible:—
"When Iza-Na-Gui descended to earth, his companion, Iza-Na-Mi, met him in a garden.
"'How delightful to meet such a handsome young man!' she exclaimed.
"But the God, in displeasure, replied: 'It is not fitting for the woman to speak first; meet me again.'
"They parted, and they met each other once more.
"'How agreeable to meet such a lovely girl!' said Iza-Na-Gui.
"Which of the two spoke first?'"
The voice ceased; the accompaniment went on for a few moments more.
A discussion ensued among the drinkers; they replied to the question asked by the singer.
"Of course the God was saluted first," said some.
"No, no! It was the Goddess!" shouted others. "The will of the God cancelled the first salutation."