d, forgot his duty, and hurried down to the
earth to the bed of the stream. Here he stayed with Videvik, mouth to
mouth and lip to lip.

But while the Moon thus forgot his duty, his light became extinguished,
and thick darkness covered the land as he lay on Videvik's heart. And
now a great misfortune happened. The wolf, the wild beast of the forest,
who could work mischief when no eye could see him, attacked one of
Videvik's oxen and tore him to pieces. The nightingale sang loudly
through the dark thicket, "Idle maid, idle maid, long is the night.
Black stripes to the yoke, to the yoke! Bring the whip, bring the whip,
whip, whip, whip." But Videvik heard nothing. She had forgotten
everything but her love.

Early in the morning, when Koit rose from his couch, Videvik awakened at
last from her dream of love. When she saw the evil deed that the wolf
had wrought, she began to weep bitterly. But the tears of her innocent
affliction were not hidden from the Creator. He descended from his
heaven to punish the evil-doer and to bring the criminal to justice. He
dealt out severe punishment to the wolf, and yoked him high in heaven
with the ox, to draw water for ever, driven by the iron rod of the
pole-star.[19] But to Videvik he said, "As the Moon has touched thee
with the light of his beauty and has wooed thee, I will forgive thee,
and if thou lovest him from thy heart, I will not hinder you, and you
shall be wedded. But from thee, Videvik, I look for faithful watch and
vigilance that the Moon begins his course at the right time, and that
deep darkness falls no more on earth at night, when the evil powers can
work mischief at their pleasure. Rule over the night, and take care that
a happy peace prevails in its course."

Thus the moon received Videvik as his wife. Her friendly countenance
still smiles down upon us, and is reflected in the mirror of the brook,
where she first enjoyed the love of her consort.

Then the Creator summoned Koit and Aemarik to his presence, and said, "I
will guard against any further negligence respecting the light of the
world, lest darkness should again get the upper hand, and I will appoint
two watchers under whose care all shall run its course. The Moon and
Videvik shall illumine the night with their radiance at the appointed
time. Koit and Aemarik, to your watch and ward I intrust the light of day
beneath the firmament. Fulfil your duty with diligence. To thy care, my
daughter Aemarik, I entrus