“Now, to help my prince to wed your princess,” he said. “Two such kind souls should dwell together and make the world happier.”
“Trust me,” said his brother, who had grown wise since he came to the palace and had learned court ways.
So when the eighty brothers presented themselves before the princess, dressed all in their finest array, she received them scornfully and sent them all away.
“Your faces smile,” she said, “but your hearts are cruel, and I will have none of you.”
But when the eighty-first brother presented himself before her golden throne, she stretched forth her hand and said, “Good heart and true, I will share my throne with you and you alone!”
Then was the eighty-first brother glad; and all the people rejoiced and the little hare danced merrily on two legs and said, “You see now, dear Prince, that I am not ungrateful; for it is due to me that you are the Choice of the Princess.”
THE MIRROR OF THE SUN GODDESS
Many, many years ago, when the gods reigned in high heaven, the country of Nippon rose from the waters. Izanagi and Izananu, standing upon the floating bridge of heaven, thrust down a glittering blade. They probed the blue ocean and the drops from the sword’s point hardened and became islands; and thus was created the “Land of Many Blades,” the isles of Nippon.
Now Izanagi and Izananu were the highest of the gods of heaven, and they had two children, Amaterasu and Susanoo. Susanoo was made god of the sea, and his sister was the bright and beautiful sun goddess, whose name meant Great Goddess of the Shining Heaven.
She reigned happily from her bright golden throne for many years, but Susanoo, like many other brothers, was a tease, and he made his sister very angry with some of his tricks. She was quite patient with him, as elder sisters should be, but at last there came a time when she could no longer stand his naughty ways.