Adventures and adventurers > Narrative of the extraordinary adventures of four Russian sailors

20
King and Fairy liing.
day be the cause of your misery, though the
particular manner thereof be concealed from
me.” The king would not listen to her in¬
treaties, but still urged his request- “ Since
then, you will have it so,” says she, “ I must
necessarily grant you a favour of which you
will dearly repent.” Hereupon she chafed
his shoulders with a fragrant liquor, when
immediately he perceived little wings shoot¬
ing at his back. These little wings were not
discernable under his habit; and when he had
a mind to fly, he needed only to touch them
with his hand, and they would spread so as
to bear him through the air swifter than an
eagle. When he had no farther occasion
for his wings, with a touch they shrunk a-
gain to a small size, as to lie so concealed un¬
der his garment.
By this magic, Alferute was able to trans¬
late himself, in a few moments, wherever he
pleased. He knew every thing, and no man
could conceive how he came by his intelli¬
gence; for he would often, retire into his clo¬
set, and pretend to be shut up there the
•whole day, with strict orders not to be dis¬
turbed; then making himself invisible with
his ring, he would enlarge his wings with a
touch, and traverse vast countries. By this
power he entered into very extraordinary
wars, and never failed to triumph. But, as
he continually saw into the secrets of men.