They bowed respectfully to her and displayed some splendid velvets and brocades , and opened cases of pearls and precious stones . Such beautiful things had never been seen in the island , and the nurse and waiting women stood bewildered by all the magnificence . They whispered together that they had never beheld anything like it . The princess too saw and wondered , and her eyes could not weary of looking at the lovely things , or her fingers of stroking the rich soft stuffs , and of holding up the sparkling jewels to the light . ` Fairest of princesses , ' said Simon . ` Be pleased to order your waiting-maids to accept the silks and velvets , and let your women trim their head-dresses with the jewels ; these are no special treasures . But permit me to say that they are as nothing to the many coloured tapestries , the gorgeous stones and ropes of pearls in our ship . We did not like to bring more with us , not knowing what your royal taste might be ; but if it seems good to you to honour our ship with a visit , you might condescend to choose such things as were pleasing in your eyes . ' This polite speech pleased the princess very much . She went to the king and said : ` Dear father , some merchants have arrived with the most splendid wares . Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose out what I like . ' The king thought and thought , frowned hard and rubbed his ear . At last he gave consent , and ordered out his royal yacht , with 100 cross-bows , 100 knights , and 1,000 soldiers , to escort the Princess Helena . Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort . The brothers Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship , and , led by the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women , she crossed the crystal plank from one vessel to another . The seventh Simon spread out his goods , and had so many curious and interesting tales to tell about them , that the princess forgot everything else in looking and listening , so that she did not know that the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship , and that all of a sudden it had vanished from sight , and was racing along in the depths of the sea . The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud , the knights stood still with terror , the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads . There was nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss . How he wept and stormed ! ` Oh , light of my eyes , ' he sobbed ; ' I am indeed punished for my pride .
I thought no one good enough XXXXX be your husband , and now you are lost in the depths of the sea , and have left me alone !
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