X Song of the Bridegroom’s Friends
“Open the gates—the little gates!”
“Who is it calls? Who is it waits?”
“Attendants of the bridegroom we—”
“Ah, well! Now what may your gift be?”
“We offer you our golden bees—”
“Think you so small a thing would please?
Have you naught else for offering?”
“Behold the great gift that we bring:
The maiden, wearing on her brow
The Ruta-wreath,12 comes with us now.”