Oh , how quickly they darted through the still , warm sea ! The young man held tight , and marvelled where they were going and how long they were to travel , but for three days they rushed on , till at last the turtle stopped before a splendid palace , shining with gold and silver , crystal and precious stones , and decked here and there with branches of pale pink coral and glittering pearls . But if Uraschimataro was astonished at the beauty of the outside , he was struck dumb at the sight of the hall within , which was lighted by the blaze of fish scales . ` Where have you brought me ? ' he asked his guide in a low voice . ` To the palace of Ringu , the house of the sea god , whose subjects we all are , ' answered the turtle . ' I am the first waiting maid of his daughter , the lovely princess Otohime , whom you will shortly see . ' Uraschimataro was still so puzzled with the adventures that had befallen him , that he waited in a dazed condition for what would happen next . But the turtle , who had talked so much of him to the princess that she had expressed a wish to see him , went at once to make known his arrival . And directly the princess beheld him her heart was set on him , and she begged him to stay with her , and in return promised that he should never grow old , neither should his beauty fade . ` Is not that reward enough ? ' she asked , smiling , looking all the while as fair as the sun itself . And Uraschimataro said ` Yes , ' and so he stayed there . For how long ? That he only knew later . His life passed by , and each hour seemed happier than the last , when one day there rushed over him a terrible longing to see his parents . He fought against it hard , knowing how it would grieve the princess , but it grew on him stronger and stronger , till at length he became so sad that the princess inquired what was wrong . Then he told her of the longing he had to visit his old home , and that he must see his parents once more . The princess was almost frozen with horror , and implored him to stay with her , or something dreadful would be sure to happen . ` You will never come back , and we shall meet again no more , ' she moaned bitterly .
But Uraschimataro stood firm and repeated , ` Only this once will I leave you , and then will I return to your side XXXXX ever . '
That To as for if so than through with within