PRINCE BEDER AND PRINCESS JEHAUN-ARA. 107

forego his design, and give him to understand it was dangerous to
proceed.

King Beder entered the city and saw many fair and spacious streets,
but was surprised to find no human beings. This made him think it
was not without cause that so many animals had opposed his passage.
Going forward, nevertheless, he observed divers shops open, which gave
him reason to believe the place was not so destitute of inhabitants as
he imagined. He approached one of these shops, where several sorts

  
  

 

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THE QUEEN OF THE CITY OF ENCHANTMENTS.

of fruits were exposed to sale, and saluted very courteously an old man
who was sitting within.

The old man lifted up his head, and seeing a youth who had an ap-
pearance of dignity in his air, started, asked him whence he came, and
what business had brought him there. King Beder satisfied him in a
few words ; and the old man further asked him if he had met anybody
on the road. ‘You are the first person I have seen,’ answered the
king, ‘and I cannot comprehend how so fine and large a city comes to