54 ome Prince Beder and
SS
help being surprised. But, madam,’ continued he, ‘let us drop this,
and since I have eaten your cake, would you do me the favour
to taste mine?’ .
Queen Labe, who could not better justify herself than by show-
ing this mark of confidence in the King of Persia, broke off a
piece of his cake, and ate it. She had no sooner swallowed it
than she appeared much troubled, and remained as it were motion-
less. King Beder lost no time, but took water out of the same
basin, and throwing it ‘in “her face, cried, ‘Abominable sorceress !
quit that form of a woman, and be turned instantly into a mare,’
The same instant Queen Labe was transformed into a very
beautiful mare; and her confusion’ was so great to find herself in
that condition, that she shed tears in great abundance, which perhaps
no mare before had ever been known to do. She bowed her head
to the feet of King Beder, thinking to move him to compassion ;
but though he could have been so moved, it was absolutely out
of his power to.repair the mischief he had done. He led her into
the stable belonging to the palace, and put her into the hands of
a groom, to bridle and saddle; but of all the bridles which the
groom tried upon her, not one would fit her. This made him cause
two horses to be saddled, one for the groom, and the other for
himself; and the groom led the mare after him to old Abdallah’s,
Abdallah, seeing at a distance King Beder coming with the
mare, doubted not. but he had done what he advised him.
‘Hateful sorceress!’ said he immediately to himself in a transport
of joy, ‘Heaven has at length punished thee as thou deservest.’
King Beder alighted at Abdallah’s door, and entered the shop,
embracing and ‘thanking him for all the signal services he had
done him. He related to him the whole matter, and told him
that he could find no bridle fit for the mare. Abdallah, who had
one for every horse, bridled the mare himself, and as soon as
King Beder had sent back the groom with the two horses, he