THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES 195

Lonely and miserable, she thought of the prince of her
dreams. She saw him in his golden armour, mounted on his
spirited steed, looking at her with eyes full of love. So she
imagined him day and night.

Looking out of window one day, and seeing a atonal floating
on the horizon, she cried :

“Floating Cloudlet soft and white,
Pilgrim of the sky,
I pray you for one moment, light
On me your pitying eye.
Where my love is can you tell?
Thinks he of me ill or well?”

“T know not,” answered the cloud, ‘“‘ask the wind.”

Then she saw a tiny breeze playing among the field flowers,
and called out:

“Gentle Breezelet, soul of air,
Look not lightly on my pain ;
Kindly lift me from despair,
Help me freedom to regain.
Where my love is can you tell?
Thinks he of me ill or well?”

“Ask that little star yonder,” answered the breeze, “she
knows more than I.”

Sudolisu raised her beautiful eyes to the twinkling stars
and said:
“Shining Star, God’s light on high,

Look down and prithee see ;

Behold me weep and hear me sigh,
Then help and pity me.

Where my love is canst thou tell?

Thinks he of me ill or well?”