Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/127

98 Then he said to Mundzîr, "Take away your gift, and when you have departed I shall send an army to make war upon you, and to seize your people and your country."

Then when her messengers returned unto Balkîs, she said unto them, "By Allâh! I knew of a truth that he was more than a king—even a prophet—and we can do nought against him." So she sent a message to King Solomon, saying, "I am coming to thee, I and my people, to see what this thing is that thou desirest." Then she took her jewelled bed, and placed it within seven rooms, and outside the seven rooms were seven palaces. And she locked the doors, and placed a guard at every door. Then she said to one whom she nominated captain over them, "Guard the bed, and rule the kingdom, until my return." Then she wrote a proclamation for the people who were to journey with her, saying, "Prepare for a journey." And twelve thousand Wazîrs travelled with her, and under each Wazîr were thousands of people.

And King Solomon sat upon his throne amid his councillors, and he beheld people approaching, and asked, "What is this?" They replied, "It is Balkîs."