came from her new bridegroom who had sent them in her service.  So she was gladdened, albeit she had been grieved and saddened on account of her former husband, the Wazir’s son, and she rejoiced with exceeding joy when she gazed upon the damsels and their charms; nor was her sire, the Sultan, less pleased and inspirited when he saw his daughter relieved of all her mourning and melancholy and his own vanished at the sight of her enjoyment.  Then he asked her, “O my daughter, do these things divert thee?  Indeed I deem that this suitor of thine be more suitable to thee than the son of the Wazir; and right soon (Inshallah!), O my daughter, shalt thou have fuller joy with him.”  Such was the case with the King; but as regards Alaeddin, as soon as he saw his mother entering the house with face laughing for stress of joy he rejoiced at the sign of glad tidings and cried, “To Allah alone be lauds!  Perfected is all I desired.”  Rejoined his mother, “Be gladdened at my good news, O my son, and hearten thy heart and cool thine eyes for the winning of thy wish.  The Sultan hath accepted thine offering, I mean the moneys and the dower of the Lady Badr al-Budur, who is now thine affianced bride; and, this very night, O my child, is your marriage and thy first visit to her; for the King, that he might assure me of his word, hath proclaimed to the world thou art his son-in-law and promised this night to be the night of going in.  But he also said to me, ’Let thy son come hither forthright that I may become familiar with him and receive him with all honour and worship.’  And now here am I, O my son, at the end of my labours; happen whatso may happen the rest is upon thy shoulders.”  Thereupon Alaeddin arose and kissed his mother’s hand and thanked her, enhancing her kindly service:  then he left her and entering his chamber took the Lamp and rubbed it when, lo and behold! its Slave appeared and cried, “Adsum!  Ask whatso thou wantest.”  The young man replied, " ’tis my desire that thou take me to a Hammam whose like is not in the world; then, fetch me a dress so costly and kingly that no royalty ever owned its fellow.”  The Marid replied, “I hear and I obey,” and carried him to Baths such as were never seen by the Kings of the Chosroes, for the building was all of alabaster and carnelian and it contained marvellous limnings which captured the sight; and the great hall[FN#160] was studded with precious stones.  Not a soul was therein but, when Alaeddin entered, one of the Jann in human shape washed him and bathed[FN#161] him to the best of his desire.—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

      When it was the Five Hundred and Sixty-first Night,