—i-

 

me a | Pe, Prince Beder and

yesterday to prevent her doing you the same harm. The earth
has borne this monster long enough, and it is now high time she
should be treated as she deserves.’

So saying, Abdallah put two cakes into King Beder’s hands,
bidding him keep them to make use of as he should direct. ‘You
told me,’ continued he, ‘the sorceress made a cake last night ; it was
for you to eat, depend upon it ; but take great care you do not touch
it. Nevertheless, do not Meni to receive it when she offers it you ;
but instead of tasting it, break off part of one of the two I shall
give you, unobserved, and eat that. As soon as she thinks you have
swallowed it, she will not fail to attempt transforming you into
some animal, but she will not succeed ; when she sees that she will
immediately turn the thing into a joke, as if what she had done
was only to frighten you. But she will conceal a mortal grief
in her heart, and think she omitted something in the. composition
of her cake. As for the other cake, you shall make a present of
it to her and press her to eat it; which she will not refuse to do,
were it only to convince you ae does: not mistrust you, though
she has given you so much reason to mistrust her. When she has
eaten of it, take a little water in the hollow of your hand, and
throwing it: in her face, say, “Quit that form you now wear, and
take that of such and such an animal” as you think fit; which
done, come to me with the animal, and I will tell you what you
shall do afterwards.’

King Beder thanked Abdallah in the most expressive terms, and
took his leave of him and returned to the palace. Upon his arrival,
he understood that the queen waited for him with great impatience
‘in the garden. He went to her, and she no. sooner perceived him,
than she came in great haste to meet him. ‘My dear. Beder!’
said she, ‘it seems ages: since I have been separated from you.
If you had stayed ever so little longer, I was. preparing to come
and fetch you.’