` The sun is not down yet , ' said the first bird ; ` we must wait yet awhile till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring . Do you think she will see that young man sitting under the tree ? ' ` Nothing is likely to escape her eyes , certainly not a young man , said the other bird . ` Will the youth have the sense not to let himself be caught in her toils ? ' ` We will wait , ' said the first bird , ` and see how they get on together . ' The evening light had quite faded , and the full moon was already shining down upon the forest , when the young man heard a slight rustling sound . After a few moments there came out of the forest a maiden , gliding over the grass so lightly that her feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground , and stood beside the spring . The youth could not turn away his eyes from the maiden , for he had never in his life seen a woman so beautiful . Without seeming to notice anything , she went to the spring , looked up to the full moon , then knelt down and bathed her face nine times , then looked up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well , and as she walked she sang this song : ` Full-faced moon with light unshaded , Let my beauty ne'er be faded . Never let my cheek grow pale ! While the moon is waning nightly , May the maiden bloom more brightly , May her freshness never fail ! ' Then she dried her face with her long hair , and was about to go away , when her eye suddenly fell upon the spot where the young man was sitting , and she turned towards the tree . The youth rose and stood waiting . Then the maiden said , ` You ought to have a heavy punishment because you have presumed to watch my secret doings in the moonlight . But I will forgive you this time , because you are a stranger and knew no better . But you must tell me truly who you are and how you came to this place , where no mortal has ever set foot before . ' The youth answered humbly : ` Forgive me , beautiful maiden , if I have unintentionally offended you . I chanced to come here after long wandering , and found a good place to sleep under this tree . At your coming I did not know what to do , but stayed where I was , because I thought my silent watching could not offend you . ' The maiden answered kindly , ` Come and spend this night with us .
You will sleep better XXXXX a pillow than on damp moss . '
At for if in on that to under upon with