difficult even to get into the presence of
the Princess. At length he hit upon a plan, and spoke to the King: "All
the things she has about her--tables, chairs, dishes, goblets, bowls,
and all her household furniture--are made of gold. You have in
your treasure five tons of gold; let the goldsmiths of your kingdom
manufacture them into all manner of vases and vessels, into all sorts of
birds and game and wonderful beasts; that will please her. We shall
go to her with them and try our luck." The King summoned all his
goldsmiths, and they had to work hard day and night, till at length the
most magnificent things were completed. When a ship had been laden with
them the faithful John disguised himself as a merchant, and the King had
to do the same, so that they should be quite unrecognizable. And so
they crossed the seas and journeyed till they reached the town where the
Princess of the Golden Roof dwelt.

Trusty John made the King remain behind on the ship and await his
return. "Perhaps," he said, "I may bring the Princess back with me, so
see that everything is in order; let the gold ornaments be arranged and
the whole ship decorated." Then he took a few of the gold things in his
apron, went ashore, and proceeded straight to the palace. When he came
to the courtyard he found a beautiful maiden standing at the well,
drawing water with two golden pails. And as she was about to carry away
the glittering water she turned round and saw the stranger, and asked
him who he was. Then he replied: "I am a merchant," and opening his
apron, he let her peep in. "Oh! my," she cried; "what beautiful gold
wares!" she set down her pails, and examined one thing after the other.
Then she said: "The Princess must see this, she has such a fancy for
gold things that she will buy up all you have." She took him by the hand
and let him into the palace, for she was the lady's maid.

When the Princess had seen the wares she was quite enchanted, and said:
"They are all so beautifully made that I shall buy everything you have."
But Trusty John said: "I am only the servant of a rich merchant, what
I have here is nothing compared to what my master has on his ship; his
merchandise is more artistic and costly than anything that has ever been
made in gold before." She desired to have everything brought up to her,
but he said: "There is such a quantity of things that it would take many
days to bring them up, and they would take up so many rooms that
you wo