For a short time he was happy, but one day,
as he walked in the garden, he saw that the
flowers were drooping, the grass was dry and
brown. And when he rode out he felt the hot sun
burn him in spite of his umbrella.
``The sun is mightier than I,'' thought he, and
then he sighed:--
``Ah me! Ah me!
If Hofus only the sun might be!''
And the voice answered:--
``Be thou the sun!''
Straightway the great sun he became. He
burned the grass and rice fields. he dried up the
streams. Rich and poor alike suffered from the
terrible heat.
One day a cloud came and rested in front of
him, and hid the earth from his sight. He was
angry and cried:--
``Ah me! Ah me!
If Hofus only a cloud might be!''
And the voice answered:--
``Be thou a cloud!''
Straightway a cloud he became. He floated
before the face of the sun, and hid the earth
from it.
Then day after day the cloud dropped rain.
The rivers overflowed, and the rice-fields were
covered with water. Towns were swept away.
Only the great rocks on the mountain-side stood
unmoved midst the flood.
The cloud looked at them in wonder, then he
sighed:--
``Ah me! Ah me!
If Hofus only a rock might be!''
And the voice answered:--
``Be thou a rock!''
Straightway a rock he became.
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