Petru as he entered the house, and, seating himself
near the fire, listened comfortably to whatever the goddess might choose
to talk about, which was for the most part the wickedness of men,
with whom she was evidently very angry. But Petru agreed with her in
everything, as he had been taught was only polite.

But was anybody ever so old as she! I do not know why Petru devoured her
so with his eyes, unless it was to count the wrinkles on her face; but
if so he would have had to live seven lives, and each life seven times
the length of an ordinary one, before he could have reckoned them up.

But Venus was joyful in her heart when she saw Petru's eyes fixed upon
her.

'Nothing was that is, and the world was not a world when I was born,'
said she. 'When I grew up and the world came into being, everyone
thought I was the most beautiful girl that ever was seen, though many
hated me for it. But every hundred years there came a wrinkle on my
face. And now I am old.' Then she went on to tell Petru that she was the
daughter of an emperor, and their nearest neighbour was the Fairy of the
Dawn, with whom she had a violent quarrel, and with that she broke out
into loud abuse of her.

Petru did not know what to do. He listened in silence for the most
part, but now and then he would say, 'Yes, yes, you must have been badly
treated,' just for politeness' sake; what more could he do?

'I will give you a task to perform, for you are brave, and will carry it
through,' continued Venus, when she had talked a long time, and both
of them were getting sleepy. 'Close to the Fairy's house is a well, and
whoever drinks from it will blossom again like a rose. Bring me a flagon
of it, and I will do anything to prove my gratitude. It is not easy! no
one knows that better than I do! The kingdom is guarded on every side by
wild beasts and horrible dragons; but I will tell you more about that,
and I also have something to give you.' Then she rose and lifted the lid
of an iron-bound chest, and took out of it a very tiny flute.

'Do you see this?' she asked. 'An old man gave it to me when I was
young: whoever listens to this flute goes to sleep, and nothing can wake
him. Take it and play on it as long as you remain in the kingdom of the
Fairy of the Dawn, and you will be safe.

At this, Petru told her that he had another task to fulfil at the well
of the Fairy of the Dawn, and Venus was still better pleased when she
heard his tale.

So Petru b