38 gui | Prince Beder. and

 

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another. The’ king was so surprised, that’ he immediately sent
the officer to desire the queen to come and see this wonder, ‘The
officer related it to her majesty, and ‘she came forthwith: but she
no sooner saw the bird, than she covered’ her face with her veil,
and would have retired. The king, surprised at her’ proceeding,
asked the reason of it. oe a
Oli answeted the queen, ‘your majesty will no ‘longer be
surprised when you understand that this bird is not, as you take
it, a bird, but a man,’ : a ee jae
‘Madam,’ said the’ oe more ssoniched ‘than before, ‘you are
making fun of me; you shall never peers ‘me that a bird
can be a man.’ ; bi : ee ae
«Sir? replied the queen, ‘far be it from me to take fun ory your
majesty ; nothing is more certain. than ‘what’ I ‘have had the honour’
to tell you. I can assure your. “majesty it is the King of Persia,
riamed Beder, son of the celebrated Gulnare, princess of one of
the largest kingdoms of the “sea, nephew: of Saleh, king of that.
kingdom, and. grandson of Queen’ Farasche, mother of Gulnare and
Saleh; and it was the Princess Giauhara, daughter - of. the King:
of Samandal, who thus metamorphosed him into a bird’ That
the king might no longer doubt of what she affirmed, she told’
him the whole story, how ‘and for ‘what’ reason the Princess
Giauhara had. thus revenged herself for ‘the ill-treatment oe Kine:
Saleh towards the king of Samandal, her father: |. : ae
‘The king had less ‘difficulty in bélieving- ‘this ’ assértion of “the:
queen in that he knew her to: be ‘a skilful magician, one of the
greatest in the world. And as she knew’ everything which’ took:
place, he was always by her means timely informed of ‘the designs -
of the kings’ his neighbours: against him, and: pievented’ them. - His
majesty. had - compassion on. the King ‘of: Persia; and earnestly
besought - his queen to. break uy enehog et, that he eet
return to his own form. ~~ eee ee coe