-LRB- 4 -RRB- ` Vineri ' is Friday , and also ` Venus . ' So Petru mounted his horse , and had hardly ridden three steps when he found himself in a new country . Here it was neither hot nor cold , but the air was warm and soft like spring , though the way ran through a heath covered with sand and thistles . ` What can that be ? ' asked Petru , when he saw a long , long way off , at the very end of the heath , something resembling a house . ` That is the house of the goddess Venus , ' replied the horse , ` and if we ride hard we may reach it before dark ' ; and he darted off like an arrow , so that as twilight fell they found themselves nearing the house . Petru 's heart leaped at the sight , for all the way along he had been followed by a crowd of shadowy figures who danced about him from right to left , and from back to front , and Petru , though a brave man , felt now and then a thrill of fear . ` They wo n't hurt you , ' said the horse ; ` they are just the daughters of the whirlwind amusing themselves while they are waiting for the ogre of the moon . ' Then he stopped in front of the house , and Petru jumped off and went to the door . ` Do not be in such a hurry , ' cried the horse . ` There are several things I must tell you first . You can not enter the house of the goddess Venus like that . She is always watched and guarded by the whirlwind . ' ` What am I to do then ? ' ` Take the copper wreath , and go with it to that little hill over there . When you reach it , say to yourself , `` Were there ever such lovely maidens ! such angels ! such fairy souls ! '' Then hold the wreath high in the air and cry , `` Oh ! if I knew whether any one would accept this wreath from me ... if I knew !
XXXXX I knew ! ''
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