These assurances, which appeared very doubtful, were not sufficient to support King Beder’s spirits.  “After all you have told me of this queen’s wickedness,” replied he, “you cannot wonder if I am somewhat fearful to approach her:  I should, it may be, slight all you could tell me of her, and suffer myself to be dazzled by the lustre of grandeur that surrounds her, did I not know by experience what it is to be at the mercy of a sorceress.  The condition I was in, through the enchantment of the Princess Jehaun-ara, and from which I was delivered only to fall almost immediately into the power of another, has made me look upon such a fate with horror.”  His tears hindered him from going on, and sufficiently shewed with what repugnance he beheld himself under the fatal necessity of being delivered to queen Labe.

“Son,” replied old Abdallah, “do not afflict yourself; for though I must own, there is no great stress to be laid upon the promises and oaths of so perfidious a queen, yet I must withal acquaint you, her power extends not to me.  She knows this full well; and that is the reason, and no other, why she pays me so much respect.  I can quickly hinder her from doing you the least harm, if she should be perfidious enough to attempt it.  You may depend upon me, and, provided you follow exactly the advice I shall give you, before I abandon you to her, she shall have no more power over you than she has over myself.”

The magic queen did not fail to pass by the old man’s shop the next day, with the same pomp as the preceding, and Abdallah waited for her with great respect.  “Father,” cried she, “you may judge of my impatience to have your nephew with me, by my punctually coming to remind you of your promise.  I know you are a man of your word, and I cannot think you will break it with me.”

Abdallah, who fell on his face as soon as he saw the queen approaching, rose up when she had done speaking; and as he would have no one hear what he had to say to her, he advanced with great respect as far as her horse’s head, and then said softly, “Puissant queen!  I am persuaded your majesty will not be offended at my seeming unwillingness to trust my nephew with you yesterday, since you cannot be ignorant of the reasons I had for it; but I conjure you to lay aside the secrets of that art which you possess in so wonderful a degree.  I regard my nephew as my own son; and your majesty would reduce me to despair, if you should deal with him as you have done with others.”

“I promise you I will not,” replied the queen; “and I once more repeat the oath I made yesterday, that neither you nor your nephew shall have any cause to be offended at me.  I see plainly,” added she, “you are not yet well enough acquainted with me; you never saw me yet but through my veil; but as I find your nephew deserving of my friendship, I will shew you I am not any ways unworthy of his.”  With that she threw off her veil, and discovered to King Beder, who came near her with Abdallah, an incomparable beauty.  But King Beder was little charmed:  “It is not enough,” said he within himself, “to be beautiful; one’s actions ought to correspond in regularity with one’s features.”