Comeasyouare;donotloiteroveryourtoilet.
Ifyourbraidedhairhasloosened,ifthepartingofyourhairbenotstraight,iftheribbonsbenotfastened,donotmind.
Comeasyouare;donotloiteroveryourtoilet.Come,withquickstepsoverthegrass.Iftheredcomefromyourfeetbecauseofthedew,iftheringsofbellsuponyourfeetslacken,ifpearlsdropoutofyourchain,donotmind.Come,withquickstepsoverthegrass.Doyouseethecloudswrappingthesky?Flocksofcranesflyupfromthefurtherriverbank.Theanxiouscattleruntotheirstallsinthevillage.
Doyouseethecloudswrappingthesky?Comeasyouare;donotloiteroveryourtoilet.Letyourworkbe.Listen,theguesthascome.Doyouhear,heisgentlyshakingthechainwhichfastensthedoor?Seethatyourankletsmakenoloudnoise,andthatyourstepisnotover-hurriedatmeetinghim.
Letyourworkbe,theguesthascomeintheevening.ItisthefullmoononanightofApril;shadowsarepaleinthecourtyard;theskyoverheadisbright.Drawyourveiloveryourfaceifyoumust,carrythelampinthedoorifyoufear.
Havenowordwithhimifyouareshy;standasidebythedoorwhenyoumeethim.Ifheasksyouquestions,andifyouwishto,youcanloweryoureyesinsilence.Donotletyourbraceletsjinglewhen,lampinhand,youleadhimin.Haveyounotfinishedyourworkyet?Listen,theguesthascome.