in this hopeless state the winter passed. the snow and frost and the cold winds gradually gave place to the gentle warmth of spring. then the summer came, and the sun burned white and scorching in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, and still these faithful knights kept watch and waited. at the end of these long months they called out to the old bamboo-cutter and entreated him to have some mercy upon them and to show them the princess, but he answered only that as he was not her real father he could not insist on her obeying him against her wishes.