We come from the country of the great and good King Archidej , and we bring foreign wares -- rich brocades , carpets , and costly jewels , which we wish to show to your king and the princess . We desire to trade -- to sell , to buy , and to exchange . ' The brothers launched a small boat , took some of their valuable goods with them , rowed to shore and went up to the palace . The princess sat in a rose-red room , and when she saw the brothers coming near she called her nurse and other women , and told them to inquire who and what these people were , and what they wanted . The seventh Simon answered the nurse : ` We come from the country of the wise and good King Archidej , ' said he , ` and we have brought all sorts of goods for sale . We trust the king of this country may condescend to welcome us , and to let his servants take charge of our wares . If he considers them worthy to adorn his followers we shall be content . ' This speech was repeated to the princess , who ordered the brothers to be brought to the red-room at once . 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 , XXXXX 100 cross-bows , 100 knights , and 1,000 soldiers , to escort the Princess Helena .
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