that same evening the suitors arrived and began to play their flutes in turn, and to sing their self-composed songs telling of their great and tireless love. the bamboo-cutter went out to them and offered them his sympathy for all they had endured and all the patience they had shown in their desire to win his foster-daughter. then he gave them her message, that she would consent to marry whosoever was successful in bringing her what she wanted. this was to test them.