of a thunder-storm at dawn. The moon, in shame and anger, avoids his spouse, and is visible only by night, while she appears by day in the sight of all mankind.
The wooing of Morning Star brought grief to her as well as to the moon, as is related in another dainà.23
"When Morning Star was wedded,
Perkúns rode through the door-way
And the green oak24 he shattered.
Then forth the oak's blood spurted,
Besprinkling all my garments,
Besprinkling, too, my crownlet.
With streaming eyes. Sun's daughter
For three years was collecting
The leaves, all sear and withered.
Oh where, oh where, my mother.
Shall I now wash my garments,
And where wash out the blood-stains?
My daughterling, so youthful.
Swift haste unto the fountain
Wherein nine brooks are flowing.
Oh where, oh where, my mother.
Shall I now dry my garments.
Where dry them in the breezes?
My daughter, in the garden
Where roses nine are blooming.
Oh where, oh where, my mother,
Shall I now don my garments
Bright gleaming in their whiteness?
Upon that day, my daughter,
When nine suns shall be shining."
Here the fountain with nine brooks, the garden with nine roses, and the day with nine suns symbolize the rays of the sun,25 as does the apple-tree with nine branches in another dainà.26 The rôle of Perkunas receives an explanation in the marriage custom
