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 an