at seemed like a place of meeting for all
riches and all enjoyments. And he saw the girl sitting on a jewelled
couch, and he approached and sat beside her. He was like a man painted
in a picture, for his eyes were fastened on her face.
Now a servant of the maiden saw that his body was thrilled, that he was
intent upon the maiden, that he was in love. She understood his
feelings and said to him: "Sir, you are our guest. Enjoy the
hospitality of my mistress. Arise. Bathe. Eat." And he felt a little
hope at her words and went to a pool in the garden which she showed him.
He plunged into the pool, and when he rose to the surface, he found
himself in the pool of King Fierce-lion in Copper City. And when he saw
that he had come there so suddenly, he thought: "Oh, what does it mean?
Where is that heavenly garden? What a difference between the sight of
that girl which was like nectar to me, and this immediate separation
from her which is like terrible poison! It was no dream. I was awake
when the serving-maid deceived me and made a fool of me."
He was like a madman without the girl. He wandered in the garden and
mourned in a lovelorn way. He was surrounded by wind-blown
flower-pollen which seemed to him the yellow flames of separation. And
when the gardener saw him in this state, he went and told the king.
And the king was troubled. He went himself to see Good, and asked him
soothingly: "What does this mean? Tell me, my friend. Where did you go?
And where did you come? And where did you stay? And what did you fall
into?"
Then Good told him the whole adventure. And the king thought: "Ah, it
is fortunate for me that this brave man is lovelorn. For now I have a
chance to pay my debt to him." So the king said to him: "My friend,
give over this vain grief. I will go with you by the same road, and
bring you to the heavenly maiden." So he comforted Good, and made him
take a bath.
The next day he transferred his royal duties to his counsellors and
entered a ship with Good. Good showed the way through the sea and they
saw the flag-pole with its banners rising as before in the middle of
the ocean. Then Good said to the king: "Your Majesty, here is the magic
flag-pole standing up. When I sink down there, you must sink too along
the flag-pole." So when they came near the sinking pole, Good jumped
first, and the king followed him.
They sank down and came to the heavenly city. And the king was
astonished, and after he had wors
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