This unusual kind of rain , and the pleasantness of the whole place , would , no doubt , have attracted numbers of people to it , if the King of the Sheep had been of a more sociable disposition , but from all accounts it is evident that he was as grave as a judge . As it was quite the nicest time of the year when Miranda arrived in this delightful land the only palace she saw was a long row of orange trees , jasmines , honeysuckles , and musk-roses , and their interlacing branches made the prettiest rooms possible , which were hung with gold and silver gauze , and had great mirrors and candlesticks , and most beautiful pictures . The Wonderful Sheep begged that the Princess would consider herself queen over all that she saw , and assured her that , though for some years he had been very sad and in great trouble , she had it in her power to make him forget all his grief . `` You are so kind and generous , noble Sheep , '' said the Princess , `` that I can not thank you enough , but I must confess that all I see here seems to me so extraordinary that I do n't know what to think of it . '' As she spoke a band of lovely fairies came up and offered her amber baskets full of fruit , but when she held out her hands to them they glided away , and she could feel nothing when she tried to touch them . `` Oh ! '' she cried , `` what can they be ? Whom am I with ? '' and she began to cry . At this instant the King of the Sheep came back to her , and was so distracted to find her in tears that he could have torn his wool . `` What is the matter , lovely Princess ? '' he cried . `` Has anyone failed to treat you with due respect ? '' `` Oh ! no , '' said Miranda ; `` only I am not used to living with sprites and with sheep that talk , and everything here frightens me . It was very kind of you to bring me to this place , but I shall be even more grateful to you if you will take me up into the world again . '' `` Do not be afraid , '' said the Wonderful Sheep ; `` I entreat you to have patience , and listen to the story of my misfortunes . I was once a king , and my kingdom was the most splendid in the world . My subjects loved me , my neighbors envied and feared me . I was respected by everyone , and it was said that no king ever deserved it more .
`` I was very fond of hunting , and one day , while chasing a stag , I left my attendants far behind ; suddenly I saw the animal leap XXXXX a pool of water , and I rashly urged my horse to follow it , but before we had gone many steps I felt an extraordinary heat , instead of the coolness of the water ; the pond dried up , a great gulf opened before me , out of which flames of fire shot up , and I fell helplessly to the bottom of a precipice .
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