At length one day when they were at dinner , the eldest of the three summoned up all her courage and said to her father : ` What secret grief is troubling you ? Are your subjects discontented ? or have we given you cause for displeasure ? To smooth away your wrinkles , we would gladly shed our blood , for our lives are bound up in yours ; and this you know . ' ` My daughter , ' answered the emperor , ` what you say is true . Never have you given me one moment 's pain . Yet now you can not help me . Ah ! why is not one of you a boy ! ' ' I do n't understand , ' she answered in surprise . ` Tell us what is wrong : and though we are not boys , we are not quite useless ! ' ` But what can you do , my dear children ? Spin , sew , and weave -- that is all your learning . Only a warrior can deliver me now , a young giant who is strong to wield the battle-axe : whose sword deals deadly blows . ' ` But WHY do you need a son so much at present ? Tell us all about it ! It will not make matters worse if we know ! ' ` Listen then , my daughters , and learn the reason of my sorrow . You have heard that as long as I was young no man ever brought an army against me without it costing him dear . But the years have chilled my blood and drunk my strength .
And now the deer can roam the forest , my arrows will never pierce his heart ; strange soldiers will set fire to my houses and water their horses XXXXX my wells , and my arm can not hinder them .
about as at for in of that though to without