“Now we are here,” said she.
Then round about him the Herd Boy saw forests of chrysophrase and trees of jade. The grass was of jasper and the flowers of coral. In the midst of all this splendor lay a great, four-square sea, covering some five-hundred acres. Its green waves rose and fell, and fishes with golden scales were swimming about in it. In addition there were countless magic birds who winged above it and sang. Even in the distance the Herd Boy could see the nine maidens in the water. They had all laid down their clothes on the shore.
“Take the red clothes, quickly,” said the cow, “and hide away with them in the forest, and though she ask you for them never so sweetly do not give them back to her until she has promised to become your wife.”
Then the Herd Boy hastily got down from the cow’s back, seized the red clothes and ran away. At the same moment the nine maidens noticed him and were much frightened.
“O youth, whence do you come, that you dare to take our clothes?” they cried. “Put them down again quickly!”
But the Herd Boy did not let what they said trouble him; but crouched down behind one of the jade trees. Then eight of the maidens hastily came ashore and drew on their clothes.
“Our seventh sister,” said they, “whom Heaven has destined to be yours, has come to you. We will leave her alone with you.”
The Weaving Maiden was still crouching in the water.
But the Herd Boy stood before her and laughed.
“If you will promise to be my wife,” said he, “then I will give you your clothes.”