with precious rubies and
thickly incrusted with carbuncles. But the tailors that made their
clothes were quite invisible, so that I also wondered as I saw one
coat prepared after another and one garment after another, how
these things came to pass, since I well knew that no one came into
the chamber except the bridegroom with his bride. So that what I
wondered at most of all was that as soon as another coat or
garment was ready, the first immediately vanished before my eyes,
so that I knew not whence they came or who had taken them away.

[19]. When now this precious clothing was ready, the great and
mighty king appeared in great splendor and magnificence, to which
nothing might be compared. And when he found himself shut in, he
begged me with friendly and very gracious words, to open the door
for him and permit him to go out; it would prove of great
advantage to me. Although I was strictly forbidden to open the
chamber, yet the grand appearance and the winning persuasiveness
of the king disconcerted me so that I cheerfully let him go. And
when he went out he was so friendly and so gracious and yet so
meek that he proved indeed that nothing did so grace high persons
as did these virtues.

[20]. But because he had passed the dog days in great heat, he was
very thirsty, also faint and tired and directed me to dip up some
of the swift running water under the mill wheels, and bring it,
and when I did, he drank a large part with great eagerness, went
back into his chamber, and bade me close the door fast behind him,
so that no one might disturb him or wake him from sleep.

[21]. Here he rested for a few days and called to me to open the
door. Methought, however, that he was much more beautiful, more
ruddy and lordly, which he then also remarked and deemed it a
lordly and wholesome water, drank much of it, more than before so
that I was resolved to build the chamber much larger. [Evidently
because the inmate increased in size.] When now the king had drunk
to his satisfaction of this precious drink, which yet the
unknowing regard as nothing he became so beautiful and lordly,
that in my whole life I never saw a more lordly person nor more
lordly demeanor. Then he led me into his kingdom, and showed me
all the treasures and riches of the world, so that I must confess,
that not onl