Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing
out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His
thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a
dream. Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the shore, or is it
a sail? No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying along with
billowing sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the wire rigging,
the anchor is thrown out and the crystal plank laid from the ship to
the pier. The lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines like the
sun, and the stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes.
Up sprang King Archidej in haste: “Hurry, hurry,” he cried. “Let us
hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!”
And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets
were laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess.
King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into
the royal apartments.
“Madam,” said he, “the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had
not dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here
against your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back
to your father and your own country; but if you will consent to stay
here, then reign over me and my country as our queen.”
What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess
listened to the king’s wooing, and their betrothal took place with
great pomp and rejoicings.
The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter
to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the
wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and
soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led out to execution.
Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: “Stop! stop! I bring a
letter from the Princess Helena!”
The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the
knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej’s
ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he
could not be brought to attend the wedding.
When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were
enchanted with the news it brought.
The king sent for the seven Simons. “A thousand thanks to you, my brave
fellows,” he cried. “Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you
will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for
and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles,
or to govern towns? Only speak.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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