said, "I will endow her with such perfume, both in body and breath, as
shall far exceed the sweetest flowers." The third said, "My gift shall
be none of the least, for as she is a king's daughter. I'll make her so
fortunate that she shall become queen to the greatest prince that
reigns." This done, at their request she let them down into the well
again, and so proceeded on her journey. She had not travelled long
before she saw a king hunting in the park with his nobles. She would
have shunned him, but the king having a sight of her, made towards her,
and between her beauty and perfumed breath, was so powerfully smitten
that he was not able to subdue his passion, but proceeded on his
courtship, where, after some compliments and kind embraces, he gained
her love. And bringing her to his palace, he caused her to be clothed in
the most magnificent manner.
This being ended, and the king finding that she was the king of
Colchester's daughter, ordered some chariots to be got ready that he
might pay him a visit. The chariot in which the king and queen rode was
beautified with rich ornamental gems of gold. The king, her father, was
at first astonished that his daughter had been so fortunate as she was
till the young king made him sensible of all that happened. Great was
the joy at court among the nobility, except the queen and her
club-footed daughter, who were ready to burst with malice, and envied
her happiness; and the greater was their madness because she was now
above them all. Great rejoicings, with feasting and dancing, continued
many days. Then at length, with the dowry that her father gave her, they
returned home.
"Well," said the fifth boy, "had she not been kind and beautiful, such
good fortune had never come to her lot. And pray what became of her
hump-backed sister-in-law?" "Indeed I know not." "Why, then," said the
fifth boy, "I can tell you something of her."
TALE V.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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