CHORUS
And their green colour will be purple dyed.
SPIRIT
The Shepherd’s Purse of Chōan—[22]
CHORUS
And the hot shepherd’s purse, a useless thing,
And other herbs white rooted, like the dawn,[23]
Which, hidden by the snow we may mistake
And gather in the place of those we want.
CHORUS
The morning breeze in Ono still is cold
The lower branches of the pine trees still
Are weighted down with snow. Where hides the spring
We cannot tell. And though the river breeze
Blows cold, our billowing sleeves are colder far.
Let us go home, although we leave unplucked
Some of the young green shoots, let us go home.
PRIEST
Now there is something I would speak of unto thee if thou permittest—
All the maidens who were gathering the young greens have departed
Save thyself, and wherefore then art thou alone remaining with me?