o 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
y