When [413] the Vizier heard his son's words, he grieved and was

exceeding chagrined, for that he had thought to greaten his son and

advance him by making him the King's son-in-law; so he bethought himself

and was perplexed anent the matter and what was to do therein; [414] and

indeed it irked him sore that the marriage should be dissolved, for that

he had long besought [415] the Ten [416] that he might compass the like

of that affair; [417] so he said to his son, "Have patience, O my son,

so we may see [how it will be] to-night, and we will set over you guards

to guard you; but do not thou let slip this great honour, for that

it hath fallen to none other than thyself." Therewith he left him and

returning to the Sultan, told him that the Lady Bedrulbudour's story was

true; whereupon quoth the Sultan, "Since the case is thus, we need

no wedding-festivities." [418] And he bade forthright break off the

rejoicings and the marriage was dissolved. The folk and the people of

the city marvelled at this strange thing, especially when they saw the

Vizier and his son go forth the palace in a pitiable plight for stress

of chagrin and despite, and they fell to asking, "What hath happened

and why is the marriage avoided and the rejoicings broken off?" But none

knew what was to do save Alaeddin, the suitor, [419] who laughed in his

sleeve. So the marriage was annulled; but the Sultan had forgotten his

promise to Alaeddin's mother and never again bethought him thereof,

neither he nor the Vizier; nor knew they whence came that which had

happened.

Alaeddin waited till the three months had elapsed, after which the

Sultan had promised that he would marry him to his daughter, the Lady

Bedrulbudour, then despatched his mother to the Sultan to require him of

the performance of his promise. So she repaired to the palace and

when the Sultan came to the Divan and saw her standing before him, he

remembered his promise to her, that after three months he would marry

his daughter to her son, and turning to the Vizier, said to him, "O

Vizier, yonder is the woman who presented us with the jewels and we gave

her our word that after three months [we would marry our daughter to her

son]. Bring her before me forthright." So the Vizier went and brought

Alaeddin's mother before the Sultan; and when she came into the

presence, she made her obeisance to him and prayed God to vouchsafe him

glory and endurance of prosperity. The Sultan asked her if she had a

need, and she said to him, "O King of the Age, the three months are

ended, after which thou didst promise me thou wouldst marry my son

Alaeddin to thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour." The Sultan was

perplexed at this her claim, more by token that he saw her in poor case,

as she were the meanest of the folk; but the present which she had made

him was exceeding magnificent [and indeed] beyond price; [420] so he

turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How deemest thou? What shall we

do? [421] It is true I gave her my word, but meseemeth they are poor

folk and not of the chiefs of the people."

The [422] Vizier, who was like to die of envy and chagrin for that which

had befallen his son, said in himself, "How shall one like this marry

the Sultan's daughter and my son lose this honour?" So he said to the

Sultan, [423] "O my lord, it is an easy matter to rid ourselves of [424]

this vagabond, [425] for that it would not beseem Thy Grace to give thy

daughter to a man like this, of whom it is not known what he is." Quoth

the Sultan, "On what wise shall we rid ourselves of this man, seeing

I have given him my word and a King's word is his bond?" "O my lord,"

answered the Vizier, "my counsel is that thou require of him forty

dishes of pure virgin gold, full of jewels, such as she [426] brought

thee the other day, [427] and forty slave-girls to bear the dishes and

forty black slaves." "By Allah, O Vizier," rejoined the Sultan, "'thou

speakest rightly; for that this is a thing to which he may not avail

and so we shall be rid of him by [fair] means." [428] So he said to

Alaeddin's mother, "Go and tell thy son that I abide by the promise

which I made him, but an if he avail unto my daughter's dowry; to wit,

I require of him forty dishes of pure gold, which must all be full

of jewels [such as] thou broughtest me [erst], together with forty

slave-girls to carry them and forty male slaves to escort and attend

them. If, then; thy son avail unto this, I will marry him to my

daughter."

Alaeddin's mother returned home, shaking her head and saying, "Whence

shall my poor son get these dishes of jewels? Supposing, for the jewels

and the dishes, that he return to the treasure and gather the whole from

the trees,--and withal methinketh not it is possible to him; but say

that he fetch them,--whence [shall he get] the slaves and slave-girls?"

And she gave not over talking to herself till she reached the house,

where Alaeddin awaited her, and when she came in to him, she said to

him, "O my son, said I not to thee, 'Think not to attain to the Lady

Bedrulbudour'? Indeed, this is a thing that is not possible unto folk

like ourselves." Quoth he, "Tell me what is the news." And she said to

him, "O my son, the Sultan received me with all courtesy, according to

his wont, and meseemeth he meant fairly by us, but [for] thine accursed

enemy the Vizier; for that, after I had bespoken the Sultan in thy name,

even as thou badest me, reminding him that the term for which he had

appointed us was past and saying to him, 'If Thy Grace would vouchsafe

to give commandment for the marriage of thy daughter the Lady

Bedrulbudour with my son Alaeddin,'--he turned to the Vizier and spoke

to him. The Vizier replied to him in a whisper and after that the Sultan

returned me an answer." Then she told him what the Sultan required of

him and added, "O my son, he would fain have present answer of thee; but

methinketh we have no answer to give him."

When [429] Alaeddin heard his mother's speech, he laughed and said, "O

my mother, thou sayest we have no answer to make him and deemest the

thing exceeding hard; but now be good enough to rise [430] and fetch us

somewhat to eat, and after we have dined, thou shalt (an it please the

Compassionate) see the answer. The Sultan like thyself, thinketh he hath

sought of me an extraordinary matter, so he may divert me from the Lady

Bedrulbudour; but the fact is that he seeketh a thing less than I had

looked for. But go now and buy us somewhat we may eat and leave me to

fetch thee the answer." Accordingly, she arose and went out to buy her

need from the market, so she might make ready the morning-meal; whilst

Alaeddin entered his chamber and taking the lamp, rubbed it. The genie

immediately appeared to him and said, "Seek what thou wilt, O my lord;"

whereupon quoth Alaeddin, "I seek the Sultan's daughter in marriage and

he requireth of me forty dishes of pure gold, each ten pounds in weight

and full of the jewels which be in the garden of the treasure, the

forty dishes to be borne by forty slave girls and each slave-girl to be

accompanied by a male slave; wherefore I will have thee bring me this,

all of it." "Hearkening and obedience, O my lord," replied the genie

and disappearing, was absent awhile, then returned with the forty

slave-girls, each attended by a male slave and bearing on her head a

dish of pure gold, full of precious jewels. So he brought them before

Alaeddin and said to him, "Here is that which thou soughtest. Tell me

an thou need thing or service other than this." Quoth Alaeddin, "I need

nothing [more]; if I need aught, I will summon thee and tell thee."

Accordingly, the genie vanished and after a little, Alaeddin's mother

returned and entering the house, saw the slaves and slave-girls; whereat

she marvelled and said, "All this is of the Lamp; God continue it unto

my son!" Then, before she put off her veil, Alaeddin said to her, "O my

mother, this is thy time, ere the Sultan enter his palace [and withdraw]

to his harem. Take him what he seeketh, and that forthright, so he may

know that I can avail unto that which he requireth, ay, and more, and

that he was deluded by the Vizier; albeit he thought to baffle me, he

and his Vizier." Then he arose and opening the house-door, let out the

damsels and the slaves, pair by pair, each damsel with a slave by her

side, so that they filled the street. His mother forewent them and the

people of the quarter, when they saw that rare and magnificent

sight, stood looking and marvelling and gazing upon the faces of the

slave-girls and their grace and goodliness [and their apparel], for that

they were clad in clothes all inwoven with gold and studded with jewels;

nay, the least one's clothes of them were worth thousands. Moreover they

looked at the dishes [431] and saw flashing therefrom a radiance that

outshone the light of the sun, albeit each dish was covered with a

piece of brocade, gold-inwrought and studded eke with precious jewels.

Alaeddin's [432] mother fared on and the damsels and slaves followed

after her, in all fair ordinance and disposition, whilst the folk stood

to gaze on the beauty of the slave-girls and extolled the perfection of

the Almighty Creator, till she reached the palace and entered it with

them.

When the eunuchs and chamberlains and captains of the guard saw them,

wonder took them and they were breathless for amaze at this sight, the

like whereof they had never in their lives seen, and especially at the

slave girls, each one of whom would ravish the wit of an anchorite.

Withal, the chamberlains and captains of the Sultan's guards were all

of them sons of grandees and Amirs; and they marvelled yet more at the

damsels' costly raiment and the dishes which they bore on their heads

and on which they might not open their eyes, [433] for the excess of

their flashing and radiance. Then the guards [434] entered and told the

Sultan, who bade bring them before him forthright into the Divan.

So Alaeddin's mother entered with them and when they came before the

Sultan, they all did obeisance to him with the utmost courtliness and

gravity and invoked on him glory and prosperity; then, raising the

dishes from their heads, they set them down before him and stood with

their hands clasped behind them, after they had removed the covers.

The Sultan wondered with an exceeding wonderment and was confounded

at the beauty of the girls and their loveliness, which overpassed

description; his wit was bewildered, when he saw the golden dishes, full

of jewels that dazzled the sight, and he was amazed at this marvel, so

that he became as one dumb, unable to speak aught, of the excess of his

wonderment; nay, his wit was the more perplexed, forasmuch as this

had all been accomplished in an hour's time. Then he bade carry the

slave-girls and their burdens to the pavilion of the Lady Bedrulbudour;

so the damsels took up the dishes and entered; whereupon Alaeddin's

mother came forward and said to the Sultan, "O my lord, this is no great

matter for the Lady Bedrulbudour's exalted rank; nay, she deserveth

manifold this." So the Sultan turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How

sayst thou, O Vizier? He that can in so short a time avail unto riches

like these, is he not worthy to be the Sultan's son-in-law and to have

his daughter to bride?" Now the Vizier marvelled at the greatness of

these riches yet more than the Sultan, but envy was killing him and

waxed on him more and more, when he saw that the Sultan was content with

the bride-gift [435] and the dowry; withal he could not gainstand the

[manifest] truth and say to the Sultan, "He is not worthy;" so he cast

about to work upon him by practice, that he might hinder him from giving

his daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour to Alaeddin, and accordingly said to

him, [436] "O my lord, all the treasures of the world were not worth

a paring of thy daughter Bedrulbudour's nails; indeed, Thy Highness

overrateth this upon her." [437]

When [438] the Sultan heard the Vizier's words, he knew that this his

speech arose from the excess of his envy; so he turned to Alaeddin's

mother and said to her, "O woman, go to thy son and tell him that I

accept of him the marriage-gift and abide by my promise to him and that

my daughter is his bride and he my son-in-law; so bid him come hither,

that I may make acquaintance with him. There shall betide him from me

nought but all honour and consideration and this night shall be the

beginning of the bridal festivities. But, as I said to thee, let him

come hither to me without delay." So she returned home swiftlier than

the wind, [439] of her haste to bring her son the good news; and she

was like to fly for joy at the thought that her son was to become the

Sultan's son-in-law. As soon as she had taken her leave, the Sultan

bade break up the Divan and entering the Lady Bedrulbudour's pavilion,

commanded to bring the damsels and the dishes before his daughter and

himself, so she should see them. So they brought them and when the Lady

Bedrulbudour saw the jewels, she was amazed and said, "Methinketh there

is not one of these jewels found in the treasuries of the world." Then

she looked at the damsels and marvelled at their beauty and grace and

knew that this was all from her new bridegroom and that he had proffered

it to her service. So she rejoiced, albeit she had been sad and sorry

for her [whilom] bridegroom the Vizier's son,--she rejoiced, [I say],

with an exceeding joy, when she saw the jewels and the beauty of the

damsels, and was cheered; whilst her father rejoiced exceedingly in her

joy, in that he saw her put off chagrin and dejection. Then he said

to her, "O my daughter Bedrulbudour, doth this please thee? Indeed,

methinketh this thy bridegroom is goodlier [440] than the Vizier's son,

and God willing, O my daughter, thou shalt rejoice with him abundantly."

[441]

So much for the Sultan and as for Alaeddin, when his mother came to the

house and entered and he saw her laughing of the excess of her joy,

he foreboded good news and said, "To God Everlasting [442] be praise!

Accomplished is that which I sought." And she said to him, "Glad

tidings, O my son! Let thy heart rejoice and thine eye be solaced in the

attainment of thy desire, for that the Sultan accepteth thine offering,

to wit, the bride gift and the dowry of the Lady Bedrulbudour, and she

is thy bride and this, O my son, is the night of your [443] bridal and

thy going in to the Lady Bedrulbudour. Nay, the Sultan, that he might

certify me of his word, proclaimed thee his son-in-law before the folk

and declared that this should be the wedding-night; but he said to me,

'Let thy son come hither to me, so I may make acquaintance with him, and

I will receive him with all honour and worship.' And now, O my son, my

office [444] is ended, whatsoever remaineth is a matter for thee." [445]

Alaeddin kissed his mother's hand and thanked her amain for her

kindness; [446] then he arose and entering his chamber, took the lamp

and rubbed it; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him,

"Here am I; seek what thou wilt." Quoth Alaeddin, "My will is that thou

take me to a bath, whose like is not in the world, and fetch me a suit

of royal raiment and exceeding costly, such as no king can boast."

"Hearkening and obedience," replied the Marid and taking him up, brought

him intro a bath, never saw King nor Kisra [447] its like, for it was

of alabaster and agate and full of marvellous limnings that ravished the

sight, and therein was a saloon all embossed with precious jewels. None

was there; but, when Alaeddin entered, there came in to him one of the

Jinn in human semblance and washed him and bathed him to the utmost of

the wish: after [448] which he went forth the bath to the outer saloon,

where he found his clothes taken away and in their stead a suit of the

richest royal apparel. Then sherbets were brought him and coffee with

ambergris and he drank and arose; whereupon there came to him a troop

of slaves and clad him in those [449] sumptuous clothes [450] and he

dressed and perfumed himself with essences and sweet-scented smoke.

[451] Now thou knowest [452] that Alaeddin was the son of a poor man,

a tailor: yet now none had thought it, [453] but had said, "This is the

chiefest of the sons of the kings," extolled be the perfection of Him

who changeth and is not changed!

Then the slave of the lamp came to him and taking him up, set him down

in his house and said to him, "O my lord, dost thou need aught?" "Yes,"

answered Alaeddin; "I will have thee bring me eight-and-forty mamelukes,

[454] four-and-twenty to walk before me and four-and-twenty to walk

behind me, with their horses and clothes and arms, and let all that is

upon them and their horses be of stuffs costly and precious exceedingly,

such as are not found in kings' treasuries. Then bring me a stallion

fit for the riding of the Chosroes and be his trappings all of gold,

embossed with noble jewels; and bring me eight-and-forty thousand

diners, in each mameluke's hand a thousand, for that I purpose presently

to visit the Sultan; wherefore delay thou not on me, since I cannot go

thither without all that whereof I have bespoken thee. Bring me also

twelve slave-girls, who must be unique in loveliness and clad in the

richest of raiment, so they may attend my mother to the Sultan's palace,

and let each slave-girl have with her a suit of apparel fit for the

wearing of kings' wives." [455]

"Hearkening and obedience," replied the genie and disappearing, brought

him in the twinkling of an eye all that he had commanded him withal,

whilst in his hand he held a stallion, whose like is not among the

horses of the Arabs of the Arabs, [456] with housings of the richest

stuffs brocaded with gold; whereupon Alaeddin called his mother

forthright and delivered her the twelve slave-girls and gave her the

[twelve] suits, [457] so she might dress herself [458] and go with them

to the Sultan's palace. Then he despatched one of the mamelukes thither,

to see an the Sultan were come forth of the harem or not; so he went and

returning, swiftlier than lightning, said to him, "O my lord, the Sultan

awaiteth thee." Accordingly he arose and mounting, [set forth], whilst

the mamelukes rode before him and after him, (extolled be the perfection

of the Lord who created them with [459] that which clothed them of

beauty and grace!), strewing gold upon the folk before their lord

Alaeddin, who overpassed them all of his grace and goodliness, and ask

thou not of kings' sons, [460] extolled be the perfection of the Giver,

the Eternal! Now all this was of the virtue of the wonderful lamp, [461]

which gifted whoso possessed it with goodliness and grace and wealth and

wisdom.

The folk marvelled at Alaeddin's bounty and at the excess of his

munificence and were amazed when they saw that which graced him of

beauty and goodliness and his courtliness and dignity; yea, they

extolled the perfection of the Compassionate One for this His noble

creature and all of them great and small [462] called down blessings

on him, albeit they knew him for the son of such an one the tailor; yet

none envied him, but all said, "He is deserving." So [463] he fared on

his way, with the mamelukes before him and behind him, scattering gold

upon the folk, till he came to the palace.

Now the Sultan had summoned to his presence the chiefs of his state

and telling them that he had passed his word for the marriage of his

daughter to Alaeddin, bade them await the latter, commanding them that,

when he came, they should all go out to meet him; moreover, he assembled

the amirs and viziers and chamberlains and guards and captains of the

troops and they were all awaiting Alaeddin at the door of the palace.

When he arrived, he would have dismounted at the door, but there came up

to him one of the Amirs, whom the Sultan had deputed to that office, and

said to him, "O my lord, the commandment is that thou enter, riding on

thy charger, so thou mayst alight at the door of the Divan." So they

all forewent him and he entered till they brought him to the door of the

Divan. There sundry of them came forward and held his stirrup, whilst

some supported him on both sides and other some took him by the hand,

and so they dismounted him. Then the Amirs and officers of state

forewent him and brought him into the Divan, till he drew near the

Sultan's throne; whereupon the latter came down forthright from his seat

and embracing him, hindered him from kissing the carpet and seated him

beside himself on his right hand. Alaeddin did that which behoveth and

befitteth unto kings of obeisance and invocation and said to him, "O our

lord the Sultan, thy Grace's munificence hath vouchsafed [464] to accord

me the Lady Bedrulbudour thy daughter, albeit I am unworthy of this

great favour, for that I am of the lowliest of thy slaves; wherefore I

beseech God that He keep and continue thee. Indeed, O King, my tongue

faileth to thank thee [as were behoving] for the greatness of this boon,

overpassing its competence, [465] wherewith thou hast favoured me, and

I beseech Thy Grace to vouchsafe me ground, such as is meet, so I may

build thereon a palace that shall be fit for the Lady Bedrulbudour."

The Sultan was amazed when he saw Alaeddin in this regal array and

beheld his grace and goodliness and the mamelukes standing in attendance

upon him in all their comeliness and fair favour; yea, and his

wonderment redoubled when Alaeddin's mother came up attired in rich and

costly raiment, as she were a queen, and he saw twelve slave-girls in

her service, preceding her, their hands clasped behind their backs, with

all worship and observance. Moreover, he noted Alaeddin's eloquence and

the elegance of his speech and was amazed thereat, he and all who were

present with him in the Divan, whilst fire was kindled in the Vizier's

heart for envy of Alaeddin, so that he was like to die. Then, after the

Sultan had heard Alaeddin's compliment and had seen the greatness of his

quality and his modesty and eloquence, he strained him to his bosom and

kissed him, saying, "It irketh me, O my son, that I have not known thee

[466] before to-day." So, [467] when he saw Alaeddin on this fashion, he

rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and at once bade the music [468]

and the drums [469] strike up; then, rising, he took him by the hand and

carried him into the palace, where the evening-meal had been made ready

and the servants set the tables. There he sat down and seated Alaeddin

on his right hand; whereupon the viziers and chiefs of the state and

the grandees of the realm sat also, each in his several room, whilst the

drums beat and they held high festival in the palace. [470]

The Sultan proceeded to make familiar with Alaeddin and to talk with

him, and Alaeddin answered him with all courtliness and fluency, as he

had been bred in kings' palaces or as he were their constant associate;

[471] and the more the talk was prolonged between them, the more

gladness and joy redoubled on the Sultan for that which he heard of the

goodliness of Alaeddin's answers and the sweetness of his speech. Then,

when they had eaten and drunken and the tables were removed, the Sultan

bade fetch the Cadis and the witnesses; so they came and knotted the

knot and wrote the writ [of marriage] between Alaeddin and the Lady

Bedrulbudour. Therewith Alaeddin arose and would have taken leave; but

the Sultan laid hold on him and said to him, "Whither away, O my son?

The bride-feast is toward and the bride present; the knot is knotted

and the writ written." "O my lord the king," answered Alaeddin, "I

would fain build the Lady Bedrulbudour a palace, besorting her rank and

station, and it may not be that I should go in to her without this; but,

God willing, the building shall, by the diligent endeavour of thy slave

and by Thy Grace's auspice, [472] be right speedily despatched. Indeed,

I long for present enjoyment of the Lady Bedrulbudour; but it behoveth

me [first] apply myself to that which is incumbent on me for her

service." [473] Quoth the Sultan, "O my son, look thyself out the ground

which thou deemest apt to thine end and take it. All is in thy hand;

[474], but here before my palace is a spacious piece of ground, which

meseemeth were best; so, if it please thee, build thou the palace

thereon." And Alaeddin answered him, saying, "Indeed, it is my utmost

desire to be near Thy Grace."

Then he took leave of the Sultan and going forth, mounted and rode, with

his mamelukes before him and behind him, whilst the folk all prayed for

him and said, "By Allah, he is deserving!" till he came to his house and

alighting from his stallion, entered his chamber and rubbed the lamp;

whereupon the genie stood before him and said to him, "Seek what thou

wilt, O my lord" Quoth Alaeddin, "I desire of thee an important service,

to wit, that thou build me with all speed a palace before that of the

Sultan, which shall be marvellous in its building, never saw kings

its like, and be it complete with all its requisites of kingly and

magnificent furniture and so forth." "Hearkening and obedience," replied

the genie and [475] disappeared; but, before the dawn broke, he came

to Alaeddin and said to him, "O my lord, the palace is finished to the

utmost of the wish; wherefore, an thou wouldst see it, arise forthright

and look on it." So Alaeddin arose and the genie carried him, in the

twinkling of an eye, to the palace, which when he saw, he was amazed

at its building, for that all its stones were of jade and alabaster and

porphyry and mosaic. The genie carried him into a treasury full of all

manner of gold and silver and precious jewels past count or reckoning,

price or estimation; then he brought him into another place, where he

saw all the requisites of the table, platters and spoons and ewers and

basins and cups, of gold and silver, and thence to the kitchen, where

he found cooks, [476] with their cooking-gear and utensils, all on like

wise of gold and silver. Moreover, he brought him into a place, which he

found full of coffers overflowing with royal raiment, such as ravished

the wit, gold-inwoven stuffs, Indian and Chinese, and brocades, and

he showed him also many other places, all full of that which beggareth

description, till at last he brought him into a stable, wherein

were horses whose like is not found with the kings of the world; and

therewithin he showed him a storehouse, full of housings and saddles of

price, all broidered with pearls and precious stones and so forth.

Alaeddin was amazed and bewildered at the greatness of these riches,

whereunto the mightiest king in the world might not avail, and all the

work of one night; more by token that the palace was full of slaves and

slave girls such as would bewitch a saint with their loveliness. But the

most marvellous of all was that he saw in the palace an upper hall [477]

and [478] a belvedere [479] with four-and-twenty oriels, all wroughten

of emeralds and rubies and other jewels, and of one of these oriels

the lattice-work was by his desire left unfinished, [480] so the Sultan

should fail of its completion. When he had viewed the palace, all of it,

he rejoiced and was exceeding glad; then he turned to the genie and said

to him, "I desire of thee one thing which is lacking and whereof I had

forgotten to bespeak thee." Quoth the slave, "Seek what thou wilt, O my

lord;" and Alaeddin said to him, "I will have thee bring me a carpet

Of fine brocade, all inwoven with gold, and spread it from my palace to

that of the Sultan, so the Lady Bedrulbudour, whenas she cometh hither,

may walk thereon and not upon the earth." So the genie was absent

a little and returning, said to him, "O my lord, that which thou

soughtest of me is here." Therewithal he took him and showed him the

carpet, which ravished the wit, and it was spread from the Sultan's

palace to that of Alaeddin; then taking him up, he set him down in his

own house.

It [481] was now grown high day; so the Sultan arose from sleep and

opening a window of his pavilion, looked forth and saw buildings [482]

before his palace; whereupon he fell to rubbing his eyes and opening

them wide and looking farther, saw a magnificent palace, that bewildered

the wits, and a carpet spread therefrom to his own palace; as on like

wise did the doorkeepers and all who were in the palace, and their wits

were bewildered at the sight. At this juncture the Vizier presented

himself and as he entered, he espied the new palace and the carpet and

marvelled also; so, when he came in to the Sultan, the twain fell to

talking of this strange matter and marvelling, for that they saw a thing

which amazed the beholder and dilated the heart; and they said, "Verily,

methinketh kings may not avail unto the building of the like of this

palace." Then the Sultan turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How now?

Deemest thou Alaeddin worthy to be bridegroom to my daughter the Lady

Bedrulbudour? Hast thou seen and considered this royal building and all

these riches which man's wit cannot comprehend?" The Vizier, of his

envy of Alaeddin, answered him, saying, "O King of the Age, indeed this

palace and its building and all these riches may not be but by means of

enchantment, for that no man among men, no, not the mightiest of them in

dominion or the greatest in wealth, might avail to upraise and stablish

[the like of] this building in one night." Quoth the Sultan, "I marvel

at thee how thou still deemest evil of Alaeddin; but methinketh it

ariseth from thine envy of him, for that thou wast present when he

sought of me a place whereon to build a palace for my daughter and I

accorded him, before thee, [leave to build] a palace on this ground;

and he who brought me, to my daughter's dower, jewels such that no

kings possess one thereof, shall he lack ableness to build a palace like

this?" When [483] the Vizier heard the Sultan's speech and understood

that he loved Alaeddin greatly, his envy of him increased; withal he

availed not to do aught against him, so he was dumb and could make the

Sultan no answer.

Meanwhile Alaeddin--seeing that it was high day and that the time was

come when he should go to the palace, for that his wedding-festivities

were toward and the Amirs and Viziers and chiefs of the state were

all with the Sultan, so they might be present at the bridal--arose and

rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to

him, "O my lord, seek what thou wilt, for that I am before thee, at thy

service." Quoth Alaeddin, "I purpose presently to go to the Sultan's

palace, and to-day is the wedding; wherefore I have occasion for ten

thousand diners, which I will have thee bring me." The slave was absent

the twinkling of an eye and returned to him with the money; whereupon

Alaeddin arose and taking horse, with his mamelukes behind him and

before him, rode to the palace, scattering gold upon the folk, as

he passed, so that they were fulfilled with the love of him and the

greatness of his munificence. [484] When he came to the palace and the

Amirs and eunuchs and soldiers, who were standing awaiting him, saw him,

they hastened forthright to the Sultan and told him; whereupon he arose

and coming to meet him, embraced him and kissed him; then he took him by

the hand and carried him into the palace where he sat down and seated

him on his right hand.

Now the city was all adorned and the instruments [of music] were smiting

in the palace and the singing-women singing. Then the Sultan trade serve

the morning-meal; so the slaves and mamelukes hastened to spread the

table and it was such as kings might take example by. [485] The Sultan

sat with Alaeddin and the officers of state and the chiefs of the realm

and they ate and drank till they were satisfied; and great was the

rejoicing in the palace and the city. Glad were all the chiefs of the

state and the folk rejoiced in all the realm, whilst there came from far

regions the notables of the provinces and the governors of the cities,

so they might see Alaeddin's wedding and his bride-feast. The Sultan

still marvelled in himself at Alaeddin's mother, how she had come to him

in poor clothes, whilst her son had command of this exceeding wealth;

and as for the folk, who came to the Sultan's palace, to gaze upon the

wedding-festivities, when they saw Alaeddin's palace and the goodliness

of its building, there took them great wonderment how so magnificent a

building had been upreared in one night and they fell all to praying for

Alaeddin and saying, "God prosper him! By Allah, he is deserving. God's

blessing on his days!"

Meanwhile [486] Alaeddin, having made an end of the morning-meal, arose

and taking leave of the Sultan, mounted with his mamelukes and rode to

his palace, so he might prepare for the reception of his bride, the

Lady Bedrulbudour. As he passed, all the folk cried out to him with

one voice, saying, "God gladden thee! God increase thee in glory! God

continue thee!" And so they brought him home in great procession, what

while he showered gold on them. When he came to his palace, he alighted

and entering, sat down in the Divan, whilst the mamelukes stood before

him with clasped hands. After a little they brought him sherbets and he

gave commandment to his mamelukes and slave-girls and eunuchs and all

who were in his palace that they should make ready to receive the Lady

Bedrulbudour, his bride. Then, when it was the time of the midafternoon

prayer [487] and the air grew cool and the heat of the sun abated, [488]

the Sultan bade the troops and the Amirs and the Viziers go down to

the horse-course. So they all repaired thither and with them the Sultan

himself; whereupon Alaeddin also arose and mounting with his mamelukes,

went down into the plain and showed his horsemanship; then he fell

to playing [489] in the tilting-ground and there was none could stand

before him. Now he was riding a stallion whose like is not among

the horses of the Arabs of the Arabs [490] and his bride the Lady

Bedrulbudour was looking upon him from the window of her pavilion, and

when she saw his grace and goodliness and knightly prowess, she was

overcome with his love and was like to fly for joy in him. Then, after

they had played [some] bouts [491] in the plain and each had shown what

was in him of horsemanship, (but Alaeddin overpassed them all,) the

Sultan went to his palace and Alaeddin on like wise returned home.

When it was eventide, the chiefs of the state and the Viziers went

and taking Alaeddin, carried him in procession to the Royal Bath, the

Renowned; [492] so he entered and bathed and perfumed himself, then,

coming forth, he donned a suit yet richer than the first and mounted,

whilst the troops rode before him and the Amirs and Viziers. So they

fared on with him in great state, with four of the Viziers for his

sword-bearers, whilst all the troops and people of the city, both

townsfolk and strangers, walked in procession before him, carrying

flambeaux and drums and flutes and instruments of mirth and music, till

they brought him to his palace, when he alighted and entering, sat down,

as did also the Viziers and Amirs who were in his company, whilst the

mamelukes brought sherbets and sweetmeats [493] and gave all who were

with him in the procession to drink, albeit they were a multitude of

folk whose number might not be told. Moreover, he gave commandment unto

his mamelukes, and they went out to the door of the palace and fell to

showering gold upon the folk.

Meanwhile, [494] when the Sultan returned from the horse-course and

entered his palace, he bade forthright carry his daughter the Lady

Bedrulbudour in procession to the palace of her bridegroom Alaeddin. So

the troops forthright mounted with the officers of state, who had been

in Alaeddin's procession, and the slave-girls and eunuchs went out

with flambeaux and carried the Lady Bedrulhudour in great state to her

bridegroom's palace, Alaeddin's mother by her side and before her the

women of the Viziers and Amirs and grandees and notables. Moreover, she

had with her eight and-forty slave-girls, whom Alaeddin had presented to

her, in each one's hand a great candle of camphor and ambergris, set in

a candlestick of gold, studded with jewels; and all the men and women in

the palace went out with her and fared on before her, till they brought

her to her bridegroom's palace and carrying her up to her pavilion,

[495] attired her in various robes [496] and displayed her. Then, after

they had made an end of displaying her, they carried her to the pavilion

of her groom Alaeddin and he went in to her. Now his mother was with the

Lady Bedrulbudour, and when he came up and did off her veil, she fell to

gazing upon the bride's beauty and grace and looked at the pavilion, the

which was all wroughten [497] of gold and jewels and therein were golden

lustres, all embossed with emeralds and rubies; and she said in herself,

"Methought the Sultan's palace was magnificent; but, for this pavilion

[498] alone, I doubt me the greatest of the Chosroes and the kings never

owned its match; nor, methinketh, might all mankind avail to make

the like thereof." And the Lady Bedrulbudour also fell to looking and

marvelling at the palace [499] and its magnificence. Then the table was

laid and they ate and drank and made merry; and presently there appeared

before them fourscore slave-girls, each with an instrument in her hand

of the instruments of mirth and music. So they plied their finger-tips

and touching their strings, struck up with plaintive airs, till

they clove in sunder the hearts of the listeners, whilst the Lady

Bedrulbudour redoubled in wonderment and said in herself, "Never in my

life heard I the like of these songs;" so that she forgot to eat and

fell to listening. As for Alaeddin, he proceeded to pour to her the wine

and give her to drink with his own hand, and mirth and good cheer and

delight went round among them and it was a rare night, such as Iskender

of the Horns [500] never in his time spent. Then, after they had made an

end of eating and drinking, the tables were removed from before them and

Alaeddin arose and went in to his bride.

When it was the morning, Alaeddin arose and his treasurer brought him

a costly suit of the richest of kings' raiment; so he donned it and

sat down; whereupon coffee was brought him with ambergris and he drank

thereof and called for the horses. Accordingly, they were saddled and he

mounted and rode, with his mamelukes behind him and before him, to the

Sultan's palace. When he reached it and entered, the eunuchs went in and

acquainted the Sultan with his presence; which [501] when he heard, he

arose forthwith and coming to meet Alaeddin, embraced him and kissing

him, as he were his son, seated him on his right hand. Moreover the

Viziers and Amirs and officers of state and grandees of the realm

invoked blessings on him and the Sultan gave him joy [502] and prayed

God prosper him. Then he bade lay breakfast; [503] so they laid [it] and

they all broke their fast; and after they had eaten and drunken their

sufficiency and had finished and the servants had removed the tables

from before them, Alaeddin turned to the Sultan and said to him, "O my

lord, [belike] Thy Grace will vouchsafe to honour me this day at the

morning-meal [503] with the Lady Bedrulbudour, thy precious daughter,

and be Thy Grace's company all thy viziers and the chief officers of

thy state." Quoth the Sultan, (and indeed he rejoiced in him), "Gladly,

[504] O my son," and bidding the Viziers and officers of state and

grandees attend him, arose forthright and mounted; whereupon Alaeddin

and the others mounted also and they all rode till they came to

Alaeddin's palace.

When the Sultan entered the palace and viewed its building and ordinance

and saw its stones, which were of jade and agate, he was amazed

[505] and his wit was bewildered at that affluence and wealth and

magnificence; so he turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How sayst

thou, O Vizier? Hast thou in all thy days seen aught like this? Are

there found with the greatest of the kings of the world riches and gold

and jewels such as these we see in this palace?" "O my lord the King,"

answered the Vizier, "this is a thing beyond the competence of a king of

the sons of Adam, nor might all the people of the earth together avail

to build a palace like this; nay, there are no craftsmen living able

to do work like this, except it be, as I said to Thy Grace, by might of

magic." [506] The Sultan knew that the Vizier, in seeking to convince him that

this was not by might of men, but all of it enchantment, still spoke not

but of his envy of Alaeddin; so he said to him, "Enough, O Vizier; let

us have no more of thy talk. I know the cause which maketh thee speak on

this wise."

Then Alaeddin forewent the Sultan till he brought him to the high

pavilion [507] and he looked at the belvedere [508] and its oriols

[509] and lattices, [510] all wroughten of emeralds and rubies and other

precious stones, and was amazed and astonied; his wit was bewildered and

he abode perplexed in his thought. Then he fell to going round about

the pavilion and viewing these things that ravished the sight, till

presently he espied the casement [511] which Alaeddin had purposely left

wanting and unfinished. When the Sultan examined it and saw that it was

unfinished, he said, "Woe is me for thee, O casement, that thou art not

perfect!" Then, turning to the Vizier, he said to him, "Knowest thou the

reason of the lack of completion of this casement and its lattices?" "O

[512] my lord," answered the Vizier, "methinketh it is because Thy Grace

hastened upon Alaeddin with the wedding and he had no time to complete

it." Now Alaeddin had meanwhile gone in to his bride, the Lady

Bedrulbudour, to acquaint her with the coming of her father the Sultan;

and when he returned, the Sultan said to him, "O my son Alaeddin, what

is the reason that the lattice[-work] of yonder oriel [513] is not

completed?" "O King of the Age," replied Alaeddin, "by reason of the

haste made with the bridal, the craftsmen might not avail to [514]

finish it." Quoth the Sultan to him, "It is my wish to finish it

myself." And Alaeddin answered, saying, "God prolong thy glory, O King;

so shall there remain unto thee a remembrance [515] in thy daughter's

palace."

Accordingly the Sultan bade straightway fetch jewellers and goldsmiths

and commanded to give them from the treasury all that they needed of

gold and jewels and [precious] metals; so they came and he bade them do

that which was wanting of the lattice-work of the [unfinished] oriel.

[516] Meanwhile, the Lady Bedrulbudour came out to receive her father

the Sultan, and when she came up to him and he saw her smiling-faced he

embraced her and kissed her and taking her [by the hand], went in with

her to her pavilion. So they entered all, for that it was the appointed

time of the morning-meal and they had set one table for the Sultan and

the Lady Bedrulbudour and Alaeddin and another for the Vizier and

the officers of state and grandees of the realm and captains and

chamberlains and deputies. The Sultan sat between his daughter, the Lady

Bedrulbudour, and his son-in-law Alaeddin, and when he put his hand to

the food and tasted it, wonder took him at the richness of the meats and

the exquisiteness of their seasonings. [517] Now there stood before them

fourscore damsels, each as it were she said to the full moon, "Rise,

so I may sit in thy place;" and in each one's hand was an instrument

of mirth and music. So they tuned their instruments and touched their

strings and struck up with plaintive [518] airs that dilated the

mourning heart. [519] The Sultan was cheered and the time was pleasant

to him and he rejoiced and said, "Verily, Kings and Kaisers would fail

of [520] this thing."

Then they fell to eating and drinking and the cup went round among them

till they had taken their sufficiency, when there came sweetmeats [521]

and various kinds of fruits and so forth; and these were laid in another

saloon. So they removed thither and took their fill of those dainties;

after which the Sultan arose, that he might see if the work of the

jewellers and goldsmiths likened that of the palace. So he went up to

them and viewed their work and how they wrought and saw that they were

far from availing to do work like that [of the rest] of Alaeddin's

palace. [522] Moreover [523] they told him that all they found in his

treasury they had brought and it sufficed not; whereupon he bade open

the Great Treasury and give them what they needed and that, if it

sufficed not, they should take that which Alaeddin had given him. So

they took all the jewels assigned them by the Sultan and wrought with

them, but found that these also sufficed them not, nor might they

complete withal the half of that which lacked of the lattice work of the

oriel; [524] whereupon the Sultan bade take all the jewels which should

be found with the Viziers and chiefs of the state; and accordingly they

took them all and wrought therewith; but this also sufficed not.

When it was morning, Alaeddin went up to view the jewelers' work and saw

that they had not completed half the lacking lattice-work; whereupon

he bade them incontinent undo all that they had wrought and restore the

jewels to their owners. Accordingly, they undid it all and sent to the

Sultan that which was his and to the Viziers [and others] that which

was theirs. Then they went to the Sultan and told him that Alaeddin had

commanded them of this; whereupon he asked them, "What said he to you

and why would he not have the lattice-work finished and why undid he

that which you had done?" And they said to him, "O my lord, we know

nothing, save that he bade us undo all that we had done." Whereupon the

Sultan immediately called for the horses and arising, mounted and rode

to Alaeddin's palace.

Meanwhile Alaeddin, after dismissing the goldsmiths and the jewellers,

entered his closet and rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie forthwith

appeared and said to him, "Seek what thou wilt; thy slave is before

thee." And Alaeddin said to him, "It is my will that thou complete the

lacking lattice-work of the oriel." [525] "On my head and eyes [be it],"

replied the slave and disappearing, returned after a little and said to

him, "O my lord, that whereof thou commandedst me I have performed." So

Alaeddin went up to the belvedere [526] and found all its lattices [527]

perfect; and whilst he was viewing them, behold the [chief] eunuch [528]

came in to him and said to him, "O my lord, the Sultan cometh to visit

thee and is at the palace-door." So he came down forthright and went to

meet the Sultan, who [529] said to him, when he saw him, "Wherefore, O

my son, hast thou done thus, and why sufferedst thou not the jewellers

complete the lattice-work of the oriel, [530] so there might not remain

a place in thy palace [531] defective?" "O King of the Age," answered

Alaeddin, "I left it not imperfect but of my free will, nor did I lack

of ableness to complete it. However, I could not brook that Thy Grace

should honour me [with thy presence] in a palace [532] wherein there was

somewhat lacking; wherefore, so thou mayst know that it was not for lack

of ableness that I left it uncomplete, [533] let Thy Grace go up and see

the lattice-work of the kiosk, [534] an there be aught lacking thereto."

The Sultan accordingly went up to the pavilion [535] and entering the

kiosk, [536] viewed it right and left and saw no manner defect in its

lattices, but found them all perfect; whereat he was astounded and

embracing Alaeddin, fell a-kissing him and saying, "O my son, what is

this extraordinary thing? In one night thou dost a work wherefrom the

jewellers would fail in months! By Allah, methinketh thou hast not thy

fellow [537] in the world!" Quoth Alaeddin, "God prolong thy life and

perpetuate thy continuance! Thy slave is not worthy of this praise." "By

Allah, O my son," rejoined the Sultan, "thou deservest all praise, in

that thou hast done a thing wherefrom [all the] craftsmen of the

world would fail." Then he went down and entering the pavilion of his

daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, found her rejoicing exceedingly over

this great magnificence wherein she was; and after he had rested with

her awhile, he returned to his palace.

Now Alaeddin used every day to mount and ride through the town, with

his mamelukes behind him and before him, strewing gold upon the people,

right and left, and the folk, stranger and neighbour, near and far, were

fulfilled with the love of him for the excess of his munificence and his

bounty. Moreover he exceeded in benefaction of the poor and the indigent

[538] and used himself to distribute his alms to them with his own hand.

After this fashion he won himself great renown in all the realm and the

most of the chiefs of the state and the Amirs used to eat at his table

and swore not but by his precious life. Moreover, he fell to going

everywhile [539] to the chase and the horse course and to practicing

horsemanship and archery [540] before the Sultan, whilst the Lady

Bedrulbudour redoubled in love of him, whenassoever she saw him

disporting himself a horseback, and thought in herself that God had

wrought exceeding graciously by her in that there had befallen her

what befell with the Vizier's son, so He might keep her for her true

bridegroom Alaeddin. So [541] he went daily waxing in goodliness of

repute and in praise and the love of him redoubled in the hearts of the

common folk and he was magnified in men's eyes.

Now in those days certain of the Sultan's enemies took horse against

him; so he levied troops to repel them and made Alaeddin chief thereof.

Alaeddin set out with his host and fared on till he drew near the enemy,

whose troops were exceeding many; where upon he drew his sword and fell

upon them and there befell battle and slaughter and sore was the stress

of the mellay; but Alaeddin broke them and routed them and slew the most

part of them. Moreover, he plundered their goods and possessions and gat

him spoil beyond count or reckoning, wherewith he returned in triumph,

[having gained] a great victory, and entered the city, which had adorned

itself for him of its joy in him. The Sultan came out to meet him

and give him joy and embraced him and kissed him, and there was high

festival holden in the kingdom and great rejoicing. Then the Sultan and

Alaeddin betook themselves to the latter's palace; [542] whereupon his

bride, the Lady Bedrulbudour, came out to meet him, rejoicing in

him, and kissed him between the eyes, and he went in with her to her

pavilion; [543] whither after a little came the Sultan and they sat down

and the slave-girls brought sherbets. [544] So they drank and the Sultan

commanded that all the realm should be decorated for Alaeddin's victory

over the enemy; whilst it became [a saying] with the commons and the

troops and the folk, all of them, "Allah in heaven and Alaeddin on

earth." and they loved him yet more, having regard not only to the

excess of his bounty and munificence, but to his knightly prowess, in

that he had done battle for the kingdom and had routed the enemy.

So much for Alaeddin, and now to return to the Mangrabin enchanter. When

he returned to his country, he abode all this time, bewailing that which

he had endured of toil and stress, so he might compass the lamp, yet had

his travail all been wasted and the morsel had escaped from his hand,

after it had reached his mouth; and he still thought upon all this,

bemoaning himself and reviling Alaeddin of the excess of his anger

against him; and whiles he said in himself, "Since yonder whoreson is

dead under the earth, I am content withal and I have hopes of the lamp,

that I may yet achieve it, inasmuch as it is still safeguarded." Then,

one day of the days, he smote the sand and extracting the figures, set

them down after the most approved fashion [545] and adjusted [546] them,

so he might see and certify himself of the death of Alaeddin and the

safe keeping of the lamp under the earth; and he looked well into [547]

the figures, both mothers and daughters, [548] but saw not the lamp,

whereupon rage overrode him and he smote the sand a second time, that

he might certify himself of Alaeddin's death, but saw him not in the

treasure; whereat he redoubled in wrath, and yet more when it was

certified to him that the lad was alive upon the surface of the earth

and he knew that he had come forth from under the ground and had gotten

the lamp, on account whereof he himself had suffered toil and torment

such as passeth man's power to endure. So he said in himself, "I have

suffered many hardships for the sake of the lamp and have endured

fatigues such as none but I might brook, [549] and now yonder accursed

one taketh it without stress and it is evident [550] [that], an he have

learned the use thereof, there will be none in the world richer than

he."

Then, [551] when he saw and was certified that Alaeddin had come forth

from under the earth and had happened upon the good of the Lamp, [552]

he said in himself, "Needs must I go about to kill him." So he smote the

sand once more and examining its figures, saw that Alaeddin had gotten

him exceeding wealth and had married the Sultan's daughter; whereat he

was all afire for rage and envy and arising then and there, equipped

himself for travel and set out for the land of China. When he came to

the city of the sultanate, [553] wherein was Alaeddin, he entered and

alighting at one of the khans, heard the folk talking of nought but the

magnificence of Alaeddin's palace; then, after he was rested from his

journey, he changed [554] his clothes and went down to go round about

in the thoroughfares of the city. He passed no folk but they were

descanting upon the palace and its magnificence and talking of

Alaeddin's grace and comeliness and his bounty and munificence and the

goodliness of his manners and disposition; so [555] he went up to one

of those who were extolling Alaeddin on this wise and said to him,

"Prithee, fair youth, who is this whom you describe and praise?" "O man,"

replied the other, "meseemeth thou art a stranger and comest from afar;

but, granting thou art from a far country, hast thou not heard of the

Amir Alaeddin, whose repute, methought, filled the earth, and of his

palace, a wonder of the world, whereof both far and near have heard? How

is it thou hast heard nought of this nor of the name of Alaeddin, whom

Our Lord increase in glory and prosper?" Quoth the Maugrabin, "Marry, it

is the utmost of my wish to look upon the palace; so, an thou wouldst do

me a kindness, direct me thither, for that I am a stranger." "Hearkening

and obedience," replied the other and going before him, guided him to

Alaeddin's palace.

The Maugrabin fell to examining it and knew that this all of it was the

work of the Lamp; so he said, "Alack! Alack! Needs must I dig a pit for

this accursed one, this tailor's son, who could not come by a night's

supper; but, an destiny enable me, I will send his mother back to spin

at her wheel, like as she did erst, and as for him, it shall cost him

[556] his life." Then he returned to the khan in a woeful state of

chagrin and colour and despite, for envy of Alaeddin, and [557] taking

his geomantic instruments, [558] smote his [tablet of] sand, so he might

learn where the lamp was, and found that it was in the palace and not

with Alaeddin; [559] whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said,

"Now it will be an easy matter for me to bereave this accursed of his

life and I have a way to come at the lamp." Accordingly he went to a

coppersmith and said to him, "Make me so many [560] lamps [561] and

take of me their worth in full; [562] but I will have thee despatch them

quickly." "Hearkening and obedience," replied the smith and falling to

work on them, speedily despatched them for him. When they were finished,

the Maugrabin paid him their price, even that which he sought, and

taking the lamps, carried them to the khan, where he laid them in a

basket and fell to going round about in the markets and thoroughfares

of the city and crying out, "Ho! who will barter an old lamp for a new

lamp?" When the folk heard him crying this, they laughed at him and

said, "Certes, this man is mad, since he goeth about, bartering new

lamps for old." Moreover, people [563] followed him and the street-boys

caught him up from place to place [564] and laughed at him. However, he

fended not himself neither took heed of this, but ceased not to go round

about the city till he came under Alaeddin's palace, where he fell

to crying his loudest, whilst the children called after him, "Madman!

Madman!"

Now as fate willed it, the Lady Bedrulbudour was in the kiosk and

hearing one crying out and the boys calling after him and understanding

not what was toward, bade one of the slave-girls "Go see what is this

man who crieth out and what he crieth." So the girl went and looking,

saw one crying out, "Ho, who will barter an old lamp for a new lamp?"

with the boys after him, laughing at him; so she returned and told her

mistress, saying, "O my lady, this man crieth, 'Ho! who will barter an

old lamp for a new lamp?' and the boys are following him and laughing

at him;" and the Lady Bedrulbudour laughed also at this marvel. Now

Alaeddin had forgotten the lamp in his pavilion, [565] without locking

it up in his treasury [as was his wont], and one of the girls had seen

it; so she said to the princess, "O my lady, methinketh I have seen an

old lamp in my lord Alaeddin's pavilion; let us barter it with this

man for a new one, so we may see an his speech be true or leasing." And

[566] the princess said to her, "fetch the lamp whereof thou speakest."

Now the Lady Bedrulbudour had no knowledge of the lamp and its

properties, neither knew she that this it was which had brought Alaeddin

her husband to that great estate, and it was the utmost of her desire to

prove and see the wit of this man who bartered new for old, nor was

any one aware of the Maugrabin enchanter's craft and trickery. So the

slave-girl went up into Alaeddin's pavilion and returned with the lamp

to the Lady Bedrulbudour, who bade the Aga of the eunuchs [567] go down

and exchange it for a new one; so he took it and going down, gave it to

the Maugrabin and took of him a new lamp, with which he returned to the

princess, who examined it and finding it new and real, fell to laughing

at the Maugrabin's [lack of] wit. Meanwhile, when the enchanter had

gotten the lamp and knew it for that of the Treasure, he thrust it

forthwith into his sleeve [568] and leaving the rest of the lamps to

the folk who were in act to barter of him, set off running, till he came

without the city, and walked about the waste places, awaiting the coming

of the night. Then, when he saw himself alone in the open country, he

brought out the lamp from his sleeve and rubbed it; whereupon the Marid

immediately appeared to him and said, "Here am I; thy slave [is] before

thee. Seek of me what thou wilt." Quoth the Maugrabin, "My will is that

thou take up Alaeddin's palace from its place, with its inhabitants and

all that [569] is therein and myself also, and set it down in my country

of Africa. [570] Thou knowest my town and I will have this palace be

thereby among the gardens." "Hearkening and obedience," replied the

Marid. "Shut [thine] eye and open [thine] eye, and thou wilt find

thyself in thine own country with the palace." And immediately this

befell in the twinkling of an eye and the Maugrabin was transported,

with Alaeddin's palace and all that was therein, to the land of Africa.

So much for the enchanter, and now let us return to the Sultan and

Alaeddin. The Sultan, of his love and affection for his daughter the

Lady Bedrulbudour, was wont, every day, when he awoke from his sleep,

to open the window and look at her therefrom; so he arose on the morrow,

according to his wont, and opened his chamber-window, so he might

see his daughter; but [571] when he put out his head and looked for

Alaeddin's palace, he beheld nothing but a place swept [and level],

like as it was aforetime, and saw neither palace nor inhabitants; [572]

whereat amazement clad him and his wit was bewildered and he fell

to rubbing his eyes, so haply they were bleared or dimmed. Then he

proceeded to look closely till at last he was certified that there was

neither trace nor sign left of the palace and knew not what was come of

it; whereupon he redoubled in perplexity and smote hand upon hand

and his tears ran down upon his beard, for that he knew not what had

befallen his daughter. So he sent forthright to fetch the Vizier,

who came in to him and seeing him in that woeful state, said to him,

"Pardon, O King of the Age (God keep thee from harm!) why art thou

woeful?" Quoth the Sultan, "Meseemeth thou knowest not of my affair."

And the Vizier said to him, "By Allah, O my lord, I have no knowledge

of aught whatsoever." "Then," rejoined the Sultan, "thou hast not looked

towards Alaeddin's palace." "Nay, O my lord," replied the Vizier, "it

is yet shut." And the Sultan said to him, "Since thou hast no news of

aught, rise and look at it from the window and see where it is, this

palace of Alaeddin's, whereof thou sayest that it is yet shut." The

Vizier arose and looked from the window towards Alaeddin's palace,

but could see nothing, neither palace nor aught else; so his wit was

bewildered and he was amazed and returned to the Sultan, who said to

him, "Now knowest thou the cause of my distress and seest Alaeddin his

palace, whereof thou saddest that it was shut." "O King of the Age,"

rejoined the Vizier, "I told Thy Grace aforetime that this palace and

these affairs were all of them [the work of] enchantment."

At this the Sultan was fired with wrath and said to him, "Where is

Alaeddin?" And he answered, "He is at the chase." Whereupon the Sultan

bade sundry of his eunuchs and officers go straightway fetch him bound

and shackled. So they went till they came to Alaeddin and said to him,

"O our lord Alaeddin, blame us not, for that the Sultan hath bidden

us carry thee to him, bound and shackled; wherefore we beseech thee

of excusement, for that we are under a royal commandment and may not

gainsay it." When Alaeddin heard their speech, wonderment took him and

his tongue was tied, for that he knew not the cause; then he turned to

the eunuchs and officers and said, "Prithee, sirs, [573] have you no

knowledge of the cause of this commandment of the Sultan? I know myself

guiltless, forasmuch as I have done no sin against the Sultan nor

against his realm." And they said to him, "O our lord, we have no manner

of knowledge thereof." So Alaeddin lighted down from his stallion and

said to them, "Do with me that which the Sultan biddeth you, for that

his commandment is upon the head and eyes." Accordingly [574] the

officers shackled him and pinioning him, haled him along in irons and

entered the city with him.

The folk, seeing Alaeddin pinioned and shackled with iron, knew that

the Sultan was minded to cut off his head, and forasmuch as he was

extraordinarily beloved of them, they all gathered together and taking

up arms, came forth their houses and followed the troops, so they might

see what was to do. When the officers came with Alaeddin to the palace,

they entered and told the Sultan, who immediately bade the headsman go

and cut off his head. But the commons, hearing of this his commandment,

shut the gates of the palace and sent to say to the Sultan, "This very

moment we will overthrow the palace upon thee and all who are therein,

an the least harm happen to Alaeddin." So the Vizier went and told the

Sultan and said to him, "O King of the Age, all will be over with us

forthright; [575] wherefore thou wert best pardon Alaeddin, lest some

calamity befall us, for that the commons love him more than us." Now the

headsman had spread the carpet of blood and seating Alaeddin thereon,

had bound his eyes and gone round him three times, [576] awaiting the

King's final commandment. The Sultan looked at his subjects and seeing

them swarming upon him and climbing up to the palace, that they might

overthrow it, commanded the headsman to hold his hand from Alaeddin and

bade the crier go forth among the people and proclaim that he pardoned

Alaeddin and took him [again] into favour.

When Alaeddin found himself released and saw the Sultan sitting, he went

up to him and said to him, "O my lord, since Thy Grace hath bountifully

vouchsafed me my life, [577] favour me [yet farther] and tell me the

manner of my offence." "O traitor," replied the Sultan, "till [but] now

I knew not thine offence;" then, turning to the Vizier, he said to

him, "Take him, that he may see from the windows where his palace is."

Accordingly the Vizier took him and Alaeddin looked from the windows in

the direction of his palace and finding the place swept and clear, like

as it was before he built the palace thereon, neither seeing any

trace of the latter, he was amazed and bewildered, unknowing what had

happened. When he returned, the King said to him, "What hast thou seen?

Where is thy palace and where is my daughter, my heart's darling and

mine only one, than whom I have none other?" And Alaeddin answered him,

saying, "O King of the Age, I have no knowledge thereof, neither know I

what hath befallen." And the Sultan said to him, "Know, O Alaeddin, that

I have pardoned thee, so thou mayst go and look into this affair and

make me search for my daughter; and do not thou present thyself but with

her; nay, an thou bring her not back to me, as my head liveth, I will

cut off thine." "Hearkening and obedience, O King of the Age," replied

Alaeddin. "Grant me but forty days' grace, and an I bring her not after

that time, cut off my head and do what thou wilt." Quoth [578] the

Sultan to him, "I grant thee, according to thy request, the space of

forty days; but think not to flee from my hand, for that I will fetch

thee back, though thou wert above the clouds, not to say upon the face

of the earth." "O my lord the Sultan," rejoined Alaeddin, "as I said

to Thy Grace, an I bring her not to thee in this space of time, I will

present myself before thee, that thou mayst cut off my head."

Now the commons and the folk, one and all, when they saw Alaeddin,

rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and were glad for his deliverance;

but the ignominy which had befallen him and shame and the exultation of

the envious had bowed down his head; so he went forth and fell to going

round about the city, perplexed anent his case and unknowing how all

this had happened. He abode in the city two days in the woefullest

of case, knowing not how he should do to find his palace and the Lady

Bedrulbudour, his bride, what while certain of the folk used to come to

him privily with meat and drink. Then he went forth, wandering in the

deserts and knowing not whitherward he should aim, and ceased not going

till he came to a river; whereupon, his hope being cut off for stress of

chagrin that possessed him, he thought to cast himself into the stream;

but, for that he was a pious Muslim, professing the unity of God, he

feared God in himself and stood on the bank; of the stream to perform

the ablution. [579] So he took of the water in his hands and proceeded

to rub between his fingers; and in doing this, his rubbing chanced upon

the ring, whereupon a Marid appeared to him and said to him, "Here am I;

thy slave is before thee. Seek what thou wilt."

When Alaeddin saw the Marid, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said

to him, "O slave, I will have thee bring me my palace, with my bride,

the Lady Bedrulbudour, and all that is therein." "O my lord," replied

the Marid, "it irketh me sore that what thou seekest of me is a thing

unto which I cannot avail, for that it pertaineth unto the slaves of

the Lamp and I may not adventure upon it." "Then," said Alaeddin,

"since this is not possible unto thee, take me and set me down beside

my palace, in what land soever it is." "Hearkening and obedience, O

my lord," replied the Marid and taking him up, set him down, in the

twinkling of an eye, beside his palace in the land of Africa and before

his wife's pavilion. By this time, the night was come; so he looked

at his palace and his cares and sorrows were dispelled from him and he

trusted in God, after he had forsworn hope, that he should see his bride

once again. Then he fell to thinking upon the hidden mercies of God

(glorified be His might!) and how He had vouchsafed [580] him the ring

and how his hope had been cut off, except God had provided him with the

slave of the Ring. So he rejoiced and all chagrin ceased from him; then,

for that he had been four days without sleeping, of the stress of his

chagrin and his trouble and his grief and the excess of his melancholy,

he went to the side of the palace and lay down under a tree; for that,

as I have said, the palace was among the gardens of Africa without the

city. [581] He [582] lay that night under the tree in all ease; but

he whose head is in the headsman's hand sleepeth not anights. [583]

However, fatigue and lack of sleep for four days past caused slumber

get the mastery over him; [584] so he slept till break of morn, when he

awoke at the chirp [585] of the sparrows. He arose and going to a stream

there which flowed into the city, washed his hands and face; then,

making the ablution, he prayed the morning-prayer and after returned and

sat under the windows of the Lady Bedrulbudour's pavilion.

Now the princess, of the excess of her grief for her separation from her

husband and the Sultan her father and of her sore distress at that which

had betided her with the accursed Maugrabin enchanter, used every day to

arise, at the first peep of dawn, [586] and sit weeping; nay, she slept

not anights and forswore meat and drink. Her handmaid used to go in to

her at the time of the Salutation, [587] so she might dress her, and

that morning, by the decree of destiny, the damsel opened the window at

that time, thinking to solace her mistress with the sight of the trees

and streams. So she looked out and seeing her lord Alaeddin sitting

under the windows of the pavilion, said to the princess, "O my lady, my

lady, here is my lord Alaeddin sitting under the pavilion!" Whereupon

the Lady Bedrulbudour arose in haste and looking from the window, saw

Alaeddin, and he raised his head and saw her; so she saluted him and he

her and they were both like to fly for joy. Then said she to him, "Arise

and come in to me by the privy door, for that the accursed one [588] is

not now here;" and she bade her handmaid go down and open the door.

So the damsel went down and opened to Alaeddin, who arose and entered

thereby. His wife, [589] the Lady Bedrulbudour, met him at the door and

they embraced and kissed each other with all joyance, till they fell

a-weeping of the excess of their gladness.

Then they sat down and Alaeddin said to her, "O Lady Bedrulbudour, there

is somewhat whereof I would ask thee, before all things. I used to lay

an old copper lamp in such a place in my pavilion..." When the princess

heard this, she sighed and answered him, saying, "O my beloved, it was

that which was the cause of our falling into this calamity." [590] Quoth

he, "How came this about?" So she acquainted him with the whole matter

from first to last, telling him how they had bartered the old lamp for

a new one; "and next morning," added she, "we found ourselves in this

country and he who had cozened me and changed the lamp told me that he

had wroughten these tricks upon us of the might of his magic, by means

of the lamp and that he is a Maugrabin from Africa [591] and that we are

now in his native land." When [592] she had made an end of her story,

Alaeddin said to her, "Tell me, what does this accursed one purpose with

thee; what saith he to thee and of what doth he bespeak thee and what is

his will of thee?" "Every day," answered the princess, "he cometh to me

once and no more and seeketh to draw me to his love, willing me take

him in thy stead and forget and renounce thee; nay, he told me that my

father the Sultan had cut off thy head. Moreover, he useth to say to me

of thee that thou art the son of poor folk and that he was the cause of

thine enrichment and seeketh to cajole me with talk, but never hath he

seen of me aught but tears and weeping or heard from me one soft

word." [593] Quoth Alaeddin, "Tell me where he layeth the lamp, an thou

knowest." And she said, "He still carrieth it [about him] nor will part

with it a moment; nay, when he acquainted me with that whereof I have

told thee, he brought out the lamp from his sleeve and showed it to me"

When Alaeddin heard this, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said to

her, "Harkye, Lady Bedrulbudour; it is my present intent to go out and

return in disguise. [594] Marvel thou not at this and let one of thy

slave-girls abide await at the privy door, to open to me forthright,

when she seeth me coming; and I will cast about for a device whereby I

may slay this accursed one." Then he rose and going forth the [privy]

door of his palace, walked on till he encountered a peasant by the way

and said to him, "Harkye, sirrah, take my clothes and give me thine."

The man demurred, but Alaeddin enforced him and taking his clothes from

him, donned them and gave him his own costly apparel. Then he fared on

in the high road till he came to the city and entering, betook himself

to the drug-market, where for two diners he bought of [one of] the

druggists two drachms of rare strong henbane, the son of its minute,

[595] and retracing his steps, returned to the palace. When the damsel

saw him, she opened him the privy door and he went in to the Lady

Bedrulbudour [596] and said to her, "Harkye, I will have thee dress and

tire thyself and put away melancholy from thee; and when the accursed

Maugrabin cometh to thee, do thou receive him with 'Welcome and fair

welcome' and go to meet him with a smiling face and bid him come sup

with thee and profess to him that thou hast forgotten thy beloved

Alaeddin and thy father and that thou lovest him with an exceeding love.

Moreover, do thou seek of him wine, and that red, [597] and make him a

show of all joy and gladness and drink to his health. [598] Then, when

thou hast filled him two or three cups of wine, [599] [watch] till thou

take him off his guard; then put him this powder [600] in the cup and

fill it up with wine, and an he drink it, he will straightway turn

over on his back, like a dead man." When the Lady Bedrulbudour heard

Alaeddin's words, she said! to him, "This is a thing exceeding hard on

me to do; but it is lawful to slay this accursed, so we may be delivered

from his uncleanness who hath made me rue thy separation and that of my

father." Then Alaeddin ate and drank with his wife that which stayed

his hunger and rising at once, went forth the palace; whereupon the Lady

Bedrulbudour summoned her tirewoman, who busked her and adorned her, and

she rose and donned fine clothes and perfumed herself. Whilst she was

thus engaged, the accursed Maugrabin presented himself and was exceeding

rejoiced to see her on this wise, more by token that she received

him with a smiling face, contrary to her wont; so he redoubled in

distraction for her love and longing for her. Then she took him and

seating him by her side, said to him, "O my beloved, an thou wilt, come

hither to me this night and we will sup together. Enough of mourning;

for that, an I sat grieving a thousand years, what were the profit?

Alaeddin cannot return from the tomb and I have considered and believe

[601] that which thou saidst to me yesterday, to wit, that most like

my father the Sultan hath slain him, in the excess of his grief for my

loss. Nay, marvel not at me to-day, that I am changed since yesterday,

for that I have bethought me to take thee to beloved and companion

in Alaeddin's stead, seeing there is left me no man other than thou.

Wherefore it is my hope that thou wilt come to-night, so we may sup

together and drink somewhat of wine with each other, and I will have

thee let me taste of the wine of thy country Africa, for that belike it

is better [than ours]. Wine, indeed, I have by me; but it is that of our

country, and I desire exceedingly to taste the wine of your country."

When [602] the Maugrabin saw the love which the Lady Bedrulbudour

professed to him and that she was changed from her whilom plight of

grief, he thought that she had given up her hope of Alaeddin; so he

rejoiced greatly and said to her, "O my soul, hearkening and obedience

unto all that which thou wiliest and biddest me withal. I have with

me in my house a jar of the wine of our country, the which I have kept

stored these eight years under the earth; so I go now to fill from it

our sufficiency and will return to thee forthright." Therewithal the

Lady Bedrulbudour, that she might beguile him more and more, said to

him, "O my beloved, do not thou go thyself and leave me. Send one of thy

servants to fill us from the jar and abide thou sitting with me, that I

may take comfort in thee." "O my lady," answered he, "none knoweth the

place of the jar save myself; but I will not keep thee waiting."

[603] So saying, he went out and returned after a little with their

sufficiency of wine; and the Lady Bedrulbudour said to him, "Thou hast

been at pains [604] [for me], and I have put thee to unease, [605] O

my beloved." "Nay," answered he, "O [thou that art dear to me as] mine

eyes, I am honoured by thy service." Then she sat down with him at table

and they both fell to eating. Presently, the princess called for drink

and the handmaid immediately filled her the cup; then she filled for the

Maugrabin and the Lady Bedrulbudour proceeded to drink to his life and

health, [606] and he also drank to her life and she fell to carousing

[607] with him. Now she was unique in eloquence and sweetness of speech

and she proceeded to beguile him and bespeak him with words significant

[608] and sweet, so she might entangle him yet straitlier in the toils

of her love. The Maugrabin thought that all this was true [609] and knew

not that the love she professed to him was a snare set for him to slay

him. So he redoubled in desire for her and was like to die for love

of her, when he saw from her that which she showed him of sweetness

of speech and coquetry; [610] his head swam with ecstasy [611] and the

world became changed [612] in his eyes.

When they came to the last of the supper and the princess knew that the

wine had gotten the mastery in his head, she said to him, "We have in

our country a custom, meknoweth not if you in this country use it or

not." "And what is this custom?" asked the Maugrabin. "It is," answered

she, "that, at the end of supper, each lover taketh the other's cup and

drinketh it." So saying, she took his cup and filling it for herself

with wine, bade the handmaid give him her cup, wherein was wine mingled

with henbane, even as she had taught her how she should do, for that all

the slaves and slave-girls in the palace wished his death and were at

one against him with the Lady Bedrulbudour. So the damsel gave him the

cup, and he, hearing the princess's words and seeing her drink in his

cup and give him to drink in hers, deemed himself Iskender of the Horns,

whenas he saw from her all this love. Then she bent towards him, swaying

gracefully from side to side, and laying her hand on his, said, "O my

life, here is thy cup with me and mine is with thee; thus do lovers

drink one from other's cup." Then she kissed [613] his cup and drinking

it off, set it down and came up to him and kissed him on the cheek;

[614] whereat he was like to fly for joy and purposing to do even as

she had done, raised the cup to his mouth and drank it all off, without

looking if there were aught therein or not; but no sooner had he done

this than he turned over on his back, like a dead man, and the cup fell

from his hand.

The Lady Bedrulbudour rejoiced at this and the damsels ran, vying with

each other in their haste, [615] and opened the palace-door [616] to

Alaeddin, their lord; whereupon he entered and [617] going up to his

wife's pavilion, [618] found her sitting at the table and the Maugrabin

before her, as one slain. So he went up to the princess and kissed

her and thanked her for this [that she had done] and rejoiced with

an exceeding joy. Then said he to her, "Get thee now into thine inner

chamber, thou and thy damsels, and leave me alone, so I may consider

of that which I have to do." Accordingly, the Lady Bedrulbudour tarried

not, but entered the inner pavilion, she and her women; whereupon

Alaeddin arose and locked the door on them and going up to the

Maugrabin, put his hand to his sleeve and pulled out the lamp; after

which he drew his sword and cut off the sorcerer's head. Then he rubbed

the lamp and the Marid, its slave, appeared to him and said, "Here am I,

O my lord; what wiliest thou?" Quoth Alaeddin, "I will of thee that thou

take up this palace from this country and carry it to the land of China

and set it in the place where it was erst, before the Sultan's

palace." "Hearkening and obedience, O my lord," replied the Marid [and

disappeared], whilst Alaeddin went in and sat with the Lady Bedrulbudour

his bride and embraced her and kissed her and she him; and they sat

talking and making merry, what while the Marid took up the palace with

[619] them and set it down in its place before the Sultan's palace.

Presently Alaeddin called for food; so the slave-girls set the tray

before him and he sat, he and the Lady Bedrulbudour his wife, and ate

and drank in all joy and gladness till they had taken their sufficiency.

Then they removed to the chamber of wine and carousel, where they sat

drinking and making merry and kissing one another with all eagerness,

for that it was long since they had had easance together; and they

ceased not from this till the sun of wine rose in their heads and sleep

took them; whereupon they arose and lay down on their bed in all

rest and delight. In the morning Alaeddin arose and aroused his wife,

whereupon her women came to her and dressed her and busked her and

adorned her; whilst he, on his part, donned the richest of raiment,

[620] and both were like to fly for joy at their reunion with each

other, after their separation, whilst the Lady Bedrulbudour was

especially glad, for that she looked to see her father that day.

So much for Alaeddin and the Lady Bedrulbudour; and as for the Sultan,

after he had released Alaeddin, he ceased not to mourn for the loss of

his daughter and to sit and weep for her, like a woman, at every time

and tide; for that she was his only one and he had none other than her.

And every day, whenas he arose from his sleep in the morning, he would

go hastily to the window and opening it, look towards the place where

Alaeddin's palace was erst and weep till his eyes were dried up and

their lids ulcered. He arose that day at dawn, according to his wont,

and opening the window, looked out and saw before him a building; so he

fell to rubbing his eyes and looking closelier, was certified that it

was Alaeddin's palace; whereupon he immediately called for the horses.

Accordingly, they saddled them and he went down and mounting, rode to

Alaeddin's palace. When the latter saw him coming, he went down and

meeting him half-way, took him by the hand and carried him up to the

pavilion of the Lady Bedrulbudour, his daughter. Now she also longed

sore for her father; so she came down and met him at the stair-foot

door, over against the lower hall; whereupon he embraced her and fell

to kissing her and weeping and on this wise did she also. Then Alaeddin

brought them up to the upper pavilion, [621] where they sat down and the

Sultan proceeded to question the princess of her case and of that which

had befallen her, whilst [622] she acquainted him with all that had

happened to her and said to him, "O my father, I breathed not till

yesterday, when I saw my husband, and he it is who delivered me from the

bondage of a Maugrabin, an accursed sorcerer, methinketh there is not

a filthier than he on the face of the earth; and but for my beloved

Alaeddin, I had not won free of him and thou hadst not seen me all thy

life. Indeed, O my father, there possessed me grief and sore chagrin,

not only for my severance from thee, but also for the loss of my

husband, to whom I shall be beholden all the days of my life, seeing he

delivered me from that accursed enchanter."

Then she went on to acquaint her father with all that had befallen her

and to tell him of the Maugrabin's dealings and what he did with her

and how he feigned himself a lampseller, who bartered new for old. "And

when," [quoth she]; "I saw this [seeming] lack of wit in him, I fell to

laughing at him, unknowing his perfidy and his intent; so I took an old

lamp that was in my husband's pavilion and sent it by the eunuch, who

exchanged it with him for a new lamp; and next day, O my father, at

daybreak, we found ourselves in Africa, with the palace and all that

was therein; and I knew not the properties of the lamp which I had

exchanged, till my husband Alaeddin came to us and contrived against

the Maugrabin a device whereby he delivered us from him. Now, except my

husband had won to us, it was the accursed one's intent to go in to me

perforce; but Alaeddin, my husband gave me a powder, the which I put

for him in a cup of wine and gave it him to drink. So he drank it and

fell-back as one dead; whereupon my husband Alaeddin came in to me and

meknoweth not how he wrought, so that he transported us back from the

land of Africa to our place here." And Alaeddin said to the Sultan,

"O my lord, when I came up and saw him cast down like one slain and

sleeping for the henbane, I said to the Lady Bedrulbudour, 'Go in, thou

and thy women, to the inner pavilion.' So she arose and went in, she and

her damsels, from that loathsome sight; whilst I went up to the accursed

Maugrabin and putting my hand to his sleeve, pulled out the lamp, for

that the Lady Bedrulbudour had told me he still carried it there. Then,

when I had gotten it, I drew my sword and cut [off] the accursed's

[head] and making use of the lamp, bade its servants take us up, with

the palace and all that was therein, and set us down here in our place.

And if Thy Grace be in doubt of my words, do thou come with me and see

the accursed Maugrabin."

So the King arose and going in with Alaeddin to the pavilion, saw the

Maugrabin [Iying ]: whereupon he bade forthright take the carcase and

burn it and scatter its ashes [to the winds]. Then he embraced Alaeddin

and fell to kissing him and said to him, "Excuse me, O my son, for that

I was going [623] to bereave thee of thy life, through the wickedness of

yonder accursed sorcerer who cast thee into this pit; and indeed, O my

son, I was excusable in that which I did with thee, inasmuch as I saw

myself bereft of my daughter and mine only one, who is dearer to me

than my kingdom, and thou knowest how fathers' hearts yearn upon their

children, more by token that I have but the Lady Bedrulbudour." And he

went on to excuse himself to him and kiss him; and [624] Alaeddin said

to him, "O Lord of the Age, thou didst with me nothing contrary to the

law and I also was guiltless of offence; but the thing came all of that

vile Maugrabin enchanter." Then the Sultan bade decorate the city and

hold festival and rejoicings and commanded the crier to cry in the

city that that day was a great festival, wherefore rejoicings should be

holden in all the realm during the space of a month, [to wit,] thirty

days' time, for the return of the Lady Bedrulbudour his daughter and her

husband Alaeddin.

This, then, is what befell Alaeddin with the Maugrabin; but Alaeddin,

for all this, was not altogether [625] quit of the accursed enchanter,

withal his body had been burned and given to the winds; for that the

accursed one had a brother viler than he [and yet more skilled] in magic

and geomancy and astrology; [nay, they were even] as saith the proverb,

"A bean and it was cloven in twain;" [626] and each dwelt in one quarter

of the world, so they might fill it [627] with their sorcery and craft

and guile. It chanced one day that the Maugrabin's brother was minded to

know how it was with his brother; so he fetched his sand-board and smote

it and extracted its figures; then he considered them and examining them

throughly, found his brother in the house of the tomb; [628] whereat

he mourned and was certified that he was indeed dead. Then he smote the

sand a second time, so he might learn how and where he died, and found

that he had died in the land of China and by the foulest of deaths and

knew that he who slew him was a youth by name Alaeddin. So he rose at

once and equipping himself for travel, set out and traversed plains and

deserts and mountains months and months, till he came to the land of

China [and entering] the city of the sultanate, wherein was Alaeddin,

repaired to the Strangers' Khan, where he hired him a lodging and rested

there a little.

Then he arose to go round about the thoroughfares of the city, that he

might spy him out a means of compassing his fell purpose, the which

was to take vengeance of his brother on Alaeddin. So he entered a

coffee-house in the market, a mighty fine place whither there resorted

great plenty of folk, some to play tables, [629] some draughts [630] and

other some chess and what not else. There he sat down and heard those

who sat beside him talk of an old woman, an anchoress, by name Fatimeh,

who still abode in her place without the city, serving [God], and came

not down into the town but two days in the month, avouching her to be

possessed of divine gifts galore. [631] When the Maugrabin enchanter

heard this, he said in himself, "Now have I found that which I sought.

An it please God the Most High, I shall achieve my quest by means of

this woman." So [632] he went up to the folk who were speaking of the

devout old woman's supernatural powers and said to one of them, "O

uncle, I hear you talk of the divine gifts of one she-saint, [633] by

name Fatimeh. Who [634] is she and where is her place?" "Wonderful!"

cried the man. "What, thou art in our city and hast not heard of the

divine gifts of my Lady [635] Fatimeh? Apparently, good man, [636] thou

art a stranger, since thou hast never chanced to hear of the fasts of

this holy woman and her abhorrence of the world and the goodliness

of her piety." "Ay, my lord," replied the Maugrabin, "I am indeed a

stranger and arrived but yesternight in this your town; wherefore I

beseech thee tell me of the divine gifts of this holy woman and where

her place is, for that I have fallen into a calamity and would fain go

to her and crave her of prayer, so haply God (to whom belong might and

majesty) may deliver me from my stress, by means of her intercession."

The man accordingly told him of the divine gifts of the holy woman

Fatimeh and her piety and the excellence of her devotion; then, taking

him by the hand, he carried him without the city and showed him the way

to her abiding-place, which was in a cavern on the top of a little hill;

whereupon the Maugrabin thanked him amain for his kindness [636] and

returned to his place in the Khan.

Now, by the decree of destiny, Fatimeh came down on the morrow to the

city and the enchanter, going forth the Khan in the morning, saw the

folk crowding together; so he went up, to see what was toward, and found

Fatimeh standing, whilst every one who had a pain or an ache came to

her, seeking her blessing and soliciting her prayers, and whenas she

stroked him, he was made whole of his ailment. The Maugrabin followed

her, till she returned to her cavern, and waited till nightfall, when he

arose and entering a sherbet-sellers [637] shop, drank a cup of liquor,

[638] then went forth the city, intending for the cavern of Fatimeh the

recluse. When he came thither, he entered and saw her sleeping on her

back on a piece of matting; so he went up to her and sitting down [639]

on her breast, [640] drew his dagger and cried out at her; whereupon she

awoke and opening her eyes, saw a man, a Maugrabin, with a drawn dagger,

sitting on her breast [641] and offering to kill her. So she feared and

trembled and he said to her, "Harkye, an thou say aught or cry out, I

will kill thee on the spot. Arise now and do all that I shall bid thee."

And he swore an oath to her that, if she did for him that which he

should bid her, he would not kill her.

Then he rose from her and she rose also, and he said to her, "Give me

thy clothes and take mine." So she gave him her clothes and head-bands

and her kerchief and veil; and he said to her, "Now must thou anoint

me, to boot, with somewhat, so my face may become like unto shine in

colour." Accordingly Fatimeh went within the cavern and bringing out a

vial of ointment, took thereof in her palm and anointed his face withal,

whereupon it became like unto hers in colour. Then she gave him her

staff and taught him how he should walk and how he should do, whenas he

went down into the city; moreover, she put her rosary on his neck and

finally giving him the mirror, said to him, "Look now; thou differest

not from me in aught." So he looked and saw himself as he were Fatimeh

herself. [642] Then, when he had gotten his desire, he broke his oath

and sought of her a rope; so she brought him a rope and he took her and

strangled her therewith in the cavern. When she was dead, he dragged her

forth and cast her into a pit therewithout; then, [643] returning to her

cavern, he slept there till the day broke, when he arose and going down

into the city, came under Alaeddin's pavilion. [644]

The folk gathered about him, believing him to be Fatimeh the Recluse,

and he proceeded to do like as she had been used to do, laying hands on

those in pain and reciting for this one the Fatiheh [645] and for that

a[nother] chapter of the Koran and praying for a third. Then, for

the much crowding upon him and the clamour of the folk, the Lady

Bedrulbudour heard and said to her women, "See what is to do and what is

the cause of this noise." So the Ada of the eunuchs went to see what was

toward and returning, said to her, "O my lady, this clamour is because

of the Lady Fatimeh. An it please thee bid me fetch her to thee, so thou

mayst ask a blessing of her...." And the Lady Bedrulbudour said to him,

"Go and bring her to me; marry, this long while past I have still heard

of her gifts and excellences and have yearned to see her, so I may ask a

blessing of her, for that the folk are beyond measure abundant [in

talk] of her [646] virtues." So the Aga went and brought the enchanter,

disguised as Fatimeh, before the Lady Bedrulbudour; whereupon the

Maugrabin offered up abundance of prayers for her, and none misdoubted

of him but that he was Fatimeh the recluse. The princess rose and

saluting him, seated him by her side and said to him, "O my Lady

Fatimeh, I will have thee with me alway, that I may be blessed in thee

and eke that I may learn of thee the ways of God-service and piety and

model myself on thee."

Now this was what the accursed sorcerer aimed at; however, the better to

accomplish his perfidious intent, [647] he [dissembled and] said to her,

"O my lady, I am a poor woman sitting in the desert and it beseemeth

not that the like of me should abide in kings' palaces." Quoth the Lady

Bedrulbudour, "Have no manner of care, O my lady Fatimeh; I will give

thee a place in my house, where thou shalt do thy devotions, and none

shall ever go in to thee; nay, here shalt thou serve God better than in

thy cavern." And the Maugrabin said to her, "Hearkening and obedience,

O my lady; I will not gainsay thy commandment, for that the speech of

princes may not be crossed neither disputed; but I beg of thee that my

eating and drinking and sitting may be in my closet alone [and] that

none may come in upon me. Moreover, I need no rich viands, but every

day do thou favour me and send me by thy handmaid a piece of bread and

a draught of water to my closet; and when I am minded to eat, I will eat

in my closet alone." (Now this the accursed did, of his fear lest his

chin veil should be raised, when he ate, and so his case be exposed

and they know him for a man by his beard and moustaches.) "O my lady

Fatimeh," rejoined the princess, "be easy; nothing shall betide save

that which thou wiliest; so rise now [and come] with me, that I may show

thee the pavilion [648] which I purpose to order for thine inhabitance

with us." So [649] saying, she arose and carrying the sorcerer to the

place which she had appointed him wherein to abide, said to him, "O my

lady Fatimeh, here shalt thou dwell; this pavilion is in thy name and

thou shalt abide therein in all quiet and ease of privacy." And the

Maugrabin thanked her for her bounty and prayed for her.

Then the Lady Bedrulbudour took him and showed him the belvedere [650]

and the kiosk of jewels, with the four-and-twenty oriels, [651] and

said to him, "How deemest thou, O my Lady Fatimeh, of this wonderful

pavilion?" [652] "By Allah, O my daughter," replied he, "it is indeed

marvellous in the extreme, [653] nor methinketh is its like found in the

world; nay, it is magnificent exceedingly; but oh, for one thing which

would far increase it in beauty and adornment!" And the princess said

to him, "O my Lady Fatimeh, what is lacking to it and what is this

thing which would adorn it? Tell me of it; I had thought that it was

altogether perfect." "O my lady," answered the sorcerer, "that which

lacketh to it is the egg of the bird Roc, which being hung in its dome,

there were no like unto this pavilion in all the world." "What is this

bird." asked the princess, "and where shall we find its egg?" And the

Moor said to her, "O my lady, this is a great bird that taketh up camels

and elephants in its talons and flieth with them, of its bigness

and greatness; it is mostly to be found in the mountain Caf and the

craftsman who builded this palace [654] is able to bring its egg." Then

they left that talk and it was the time of the morning-meal. So the

slave-girls laid the table and the Lady Bedrulbudour sat down and sought

of the accursed sorcerer that he should eat with her; but he refused

and rising, entered the pavilion which she had given him, whither the

slave-girls carried him the morning-meal.

When it was eventide and Alaeddin returned from the chase, the Lady

Bedrulbudour met him and saluted him: whereupon he embraced her and

kissed her and looking in her face, saw that she was somewhat troubled

and smiled not, against her wont. So he said to her, "What aileth thee,

O my beloved? Tell me, hath there befallen thee aught to trouble thee?"

And she answered him, saying, "There aileth me nothing; but, O my

beloved, I had thought that our palace [655] lacked of nought; however,

O my eyes [656] Alaeddin, were there hung in the dome of the upper

pavilion [657] an egg of the bird Roc, there were not its like in the

world." "And wast thou concerned anent this?" rejoined Alaeddin. "This

is to me the easiest of all things; so be easy, for it is enough that

thou tell me of that which thou wishest and I will fetch it thee from

the abysses of the world on the speediest wise." Then [658] after he had

comforted the princess and promised her all she sought, he went straight

to his closet and taking the lamp rubbed it; whereupon the Marid at once

appeared and said to him, "Seek what thou wilt;" and Alaeddin, "I will

have thee bring me a Roc's egg and hang it in the dome of the [upper]

pavilion." [659]

When the Marid heard Alaeddin's words, his face frowned and he was

wroth and cried out with a terrible great voice, saying, "O denier of

benefits, doth it not suffice thee that I and all the slaves of the Lamp

are at thy service and wouldst thou eke have me bring thee our liege

lady, for thy pleasure, and hang her in the dome of thy pavilion, to

divert thee and thy wife? By Allah, ye deserve that I should forthright

reduce you both to ashes and scatter you to the winds! But, inasmuch as

ye are ignorant, thou and she, concerning this matter and know not its

inward from its outward, [660] I excuse you, for that ye are innocent.

As for the guilt, it lieth with the accursed one, the surviving [661]

brother of the Maugrabin enchanter, who feigneth himself to be Fatimeh

the Recluse; for lo, he hath slain Fatimeh in her cavern and hath donned

her dress and disguised himself after her favour and fashion and is come

hither, seeking thy destruction, so he may take vengeance on thee for

his brother; and he it is who taught thy wife to seek this of thee."

[662] Therewith he disappeared, and as for Alaeddin, when he heard this,

his wit fled from his head and his joints trembled at the cry wherewith

the Marid cried out at him; but he took heart and leaving his closet,

went in straightway to his wife and feigned to her that his head irked

him, of his knowledge that Fatimeh was renowned for the secret of

healing [663] all aches and pains. When the Lady Bedrulbudour saw him

put his hand to his head and complain of its aching, [664] she asked him

what was the cause and he said, "I know not, except that my head irketh

me sore." Accordingly she sent forthwith to fetch Fatimeh, so she

might lay her hand on his head; whereupon quoth Alaeddin, "Who is this

Fatimeh?" And the princess told him how she had lodged Fatimeh the

recluse with her in the palace. [665]

Meanwhile the slave-girls went and fetched the accursed Maugrabin, and

Alaeddin arose to him, feigning ignorance of his case, and saluted

him, as he had been the true Fatimeh. Moreover he kissed the hem of his

sleeve and welcomed him, [666] saying, "O my Lady Fatimeh, I beseech

thee do me a kindness, since I know thy usances in the matter of the

healing of pains, for that there hath betided me a sore pain in my

head." The Maugrabin could scarce believe his ears of this speech, [667]

for that this was what he sought; so he went up to Alaeddin, as he would

lay his hand on his head, after the fashion of Fatimeh the recluse, and

heal him of his pain. When he drew near-him, he laid one hand on his

head and putting the other under his clothes, drew a dagger, so [668] he

might slay him withal. But Alaeddin was watching him and waited till he

had all to-drawn the dagger, when he gripped him by the hand and taking

the knife from him, planted [669] it in his heart.

When the Lady Bedrulbudour saw this, she cried out and said to him,

"What hath this holy anchoress done, that thou burthenest thyself with

the sore burden of her blood? Hast thou no fear of God, that thou dost

this and hast slain Fatimeh, who was a holy woman and whose divine gifts

were renowned?" Quoth he to her, "I have not slain Fatimeh; nay, I have

slain him who slew her; for that this is the brother of the accursed

Maugrabin enchanter, who took thee and by his sorcery transported the

palace with thee to the land of Africa. Yea, this accursed one was

his brother and came to this country and wrought these frauds, slaying

Fatimeh and donning her clothes and coming hither, so he might take

vengeance on me for his brother. Moreover, it was he who taught thee to

seek of me a Roc's egg, so my destruction should ensue thereof; and if

thou misdoubt of my word, come and see whom I have slain." So saying, he

did off the Maugrabin's chin veil and the Lady Bedrulbudour looked and

saw a man whose beard covered his face; whereupon she at once knew the

truth and said to Alaeddin, "O my beloved, twice have I cast thee into

danger of death;" and he said to her, "O Lady Bedrulbudour, thanks to

thine eyes, [670] no harm [hath betided me thereof; nay,] I accept with

all joy everything that cometh to me through thee." When the princess

heard this, she hastened to embrace him and kissed him, saying, "O my

beloved, all this was of my love for thee and I knew not what I did;

[671] nor indeed am I negligent of thy love." [672] Whereupon Alaeddin

kissed her and strained her to his breast and love redoubled between

them.

Presently, in came the Sultan; so they told him of all that had passed

with the Maugrabin enchanter's brother and showed him the latter, as he

lay dead; whereupon he bade burn him and scatter his ashes to the winds.

Thenceforward Alaeddin abode with his wife the Lady Bedrulbudour in

all peace and pleasure and was delivered from all perils. Then, after

a while, the Sultan died and Alaeddin sat down on the throne of the

kingdom and ruled and did justice among the people; and all the folk

loved him and he lived with his wife, the Lady Bedrulbudour, in all

cheer and solace and contentment till there came to them the Destroyer

of Delights and the Sunderer of Societies.