balkis the most beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself, for she had heard all this talk. she thought, ‘if i am wise i can yet save my lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome queens,’ and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the butterfly’s wife, ‘little woman, come here.’ up flew the butterfly’s wife, very frightened, and clung to balkis’s white hand.