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