was to become the Sultan’s son-in-law.  As soon as she had taken her leave, the Sultan bade break up the Divan and entering the Lady Bedrulbudour’s pavilion, commanded to bring the damsels and the dishes before his daughter and himself, so she should see them.  So they brought them and when the Lady Bedrulbudour saw the jewels, she was amazed and said, " Methinketh there is not one of these jewels found in the treasuries of the world.”  Then she looked at the damsels and marvelled at their beauty and grace and knew that this was all from her new bridegroom and that he had proffered it to her service.  So she rejoiced, albeit she had been sad and sorry for her [whilom] bridegroom the Vizier’s son,—­she rejoiced, [I say], with an exceeding joy, when she saw the jewels and the beauty of the damsels, and was cheered; whilst her father rejoiced exceedingly in her joy, in that he saw her put off chagrin and dejection.  Then he said to her, “O my daughter Bedrulbudour, doth this please thee?  Indeed, methinketh this thy bridegroom is goodlier [FN#440] than the Vizier’s son, and God willing, O my daughter, thou shalt rejoice with him abundantly.” [FN#441]

So much for the Sultan and as for Alaeddin, when his mother came to the house and entered and he saw her laughing of the excess of her joy, he foreboded good news and said, " To God Everlasting [FN#442] be praise!  Accomplished is that which I sought.”  And she said to him, “Glad tidings, O my son!  Let thy heart rejoice and thine eye be solaced in the attainment of thy desire, for that the Sultan accepteth thine offering, to wit, the bride gift and the dowry of the Lady Bedrulbudour, and she is thy bride and this, O my son, is the night of your [FN#443] bridal and thy going in to the Lady Bedrulbudour.  Nay, the Sultan, that he might certify me of his word, proclaimed thee his son-in-law before the folk and declared that this should be the wedding-night; but he said to me, ’Let thy son come hither to me, so I may make acquaintance with him, and I will receive him with all honour and worship.’  And now, O my son, my office [FN#444] is ended, whatsoever remaineth is a matter for thee.” [FN#445]

Alaeddin kissed his mother’s hand and thanked her amain for her kindness; [FN#446] then he arose and entering his chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him, “Here am I; seek what thou wilt.”  Quoth Alaeddin, “My will is that thou take me to a bath, whose like is not in the world, and fetch me a suit of royal raiment and exceeding costly, such as no king can boast.”  “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the Marid and taking him up, brought him intro a bath, never saw King nor Kisra [FN#447] its like, for it was of alabaster and agate and full of marvellous limnings that ravished the sight, and therein was a saloon all embossed with precious jewels.  None was there; but, when Alaeddin entered, there came in to him one of the Jinn in human semblance and washed him and bathed him to the utmost