“If it be for his majesty,” answered the. peasant, “I humbly beg of him to accept it of me as a present, and I desire you to carry it to him.”  The officer took the bird to the king, who found it so great a rarity, that he ordered the same officer to take ten pieces of gold, and carry them to the peasant, who departed very well satisfied.  The king ordered the bird to be put into a magnificent cage, and gave it corn and water in rich vessels.

The king being then ready to mount on horseback to go a hunting, had not time to consider the bird, therefore had it brought to him as soon as he returned.  The officer brought the cage, and the king, that he might the better view the bird, took it out himself; and perched it upon his hand.  Looking earnestly upon it, he demanded of the officer, if he had seen it eat.  “Sir,” replied the officer, “your majesty may observe the vessel with his food is still full, and I have not observed that he has touched any of it.”  Then the king ordered him meat of divers sorts, that he might take what he liked best.

The table being spread, and dinner served up just as the king had given these orders, as soon as the dishes were placed, the bird, clapping his wings, leaped off the king’s hand, flew upon the table, where he began to peck the bread and victuals, sometimes on one plate and sometimes on another.  The king was so surprised that he immediately sent the officer of the eunuchs to desire the queen to come and see this wonder.  The officer related it to her majesty, and she came forthwith; but she no sooner saw the bird, than she covered her face with her veil, and would have retired.  The king, surprised at her proceeding, as there was none present in the chamber but the eunuchs and the women who attended her, asked the reason of her conduct.

“Sir,” answered the queen, “your majesty will no longer be surprised, when you understand, that this is not as you suppose a bird, but a man.”  “Madam,” said the king, more astonished than before, “you mean to banter me; but you shall never persuade me that a bird can be a man.”  “Sir,” replied the queen, “far be it from me to banter your majesty; nothing is more certain than what I have had the honour to tell you.  I can assure your majesty, it is the king of Persia, named Beder, son of the celebrated Gulnare, princess of one of the largest kingdoms of the sea, nephew of Saleh, king of that kingdom, and grandson of Queen Farasche, mother of Gulnare and Saleh; and it was the Princess Jehaun-ara, daughter of the king of Samandal, who thus metamorphosed him into a bird.”  That the king might no longer doubt of what she affirmed, she told him the whole story, and stated that the Princess Jehaun-ara had thus revenged herself for the ill treatment which King Saleh had used towards the king of Samandal her father.

The king had the less difficulty to believe this assertion of the queen, as he knew her to be a skilful magician.  And as she knew everything which passed in every part of the world, he was always by her means timely informed of the designs of the kings his neighbours against him, and prevented them.  His majesty had compassion on the king of Persia, and earnestly besought his queen to break the enchantment, that he might return to his own form.