His great army was made up of men ready to obey his slightest wish ; he owned forty times forty cities , and in each city he had ten palaces with silver doors , golden roofs , and crystal windows . His council consisted of the twelve wisest men in the country , whose long beards flowed down over their breasts , each of whom was as learned as a whole college . This council always told the king the exact truth . Now the king had everything to make him happy , but he did not enjoy anything because he could not find a bride to his mind . One day , as he sat in his palace looking out to sea , a great ship sailed into the harbour and several merchants came on shore . Said the king to himself : ` These people have travelled far and beheld many lands . I will ask them if they have seen any princess who is as clever and as handsome as I am . ' So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him , and when they came he said : ` You have travelled much and visited many wonders . I wish to ask you a question , and I beg you to answer truthfully . ` Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor , king , or a prince , who is as clever and as handsome as I am , and who would be worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country ? ' The merchants considered for some time . At last the eldest of them said : ' I have heard that across many seas , in the Island of Busan , there is a mighty king , whose daughter , the Princess Helena , is so lovely that she can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty , and so clever that the wisest greybeard can not guess her riddles . ' ` Is the island far off , and which is the way to it ? ' ` It is not near , ' was the answer . ` The journey would take ten years , and we do not know the way . And even if we did , what use would that be ? The princess is no bride for you . ' ` How dare you say so ? ' cried the king angrily . ` Your Majesty must pardon us ; but just think for a moment .
Should you send an envoy to the island he will take ten XXXXX to get there and ten more to return -- twenty years in all .
Busan Helena day greybeard harbour lands mind sea seas years