ping 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 increa