On the eve of the daughter's wedding to the Duke, the young accountant, disguised as a servant,
slipped into the palace unnoticed. As the lovers escaped with the jewels, the alarm was raised.
They ran over a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, whip in hand. They eventually escaped on the Duke's
ship to the safety of a secluded island, where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke
learned of their refuge. Hungry for revenge, he sent soldiers, who captured the lovers and put them
to death. The gods, moved by their plight, transformed the lovers into a pair of doves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_pattern