most like my father the Sultan hath slain him, in the excess of his grief for my loss.  Nay, marvel not at me to-day, that I am changed since yesterday, for that I have bethought me to take thee to beloved and companion in Alaeddin’s stead, seeing there is left me no man other than thou.  Wherefore it is my hope that thou wilt come to-night, so we may sup together and drink somewhat of wine with each other, and I will have thee let me taste of the wine of thy country Africa, for that belike it is better [than ours].  Wine, indeed, I have by me; but it is that of our country, and I desire exceedingly to taste the wine of your country.”

When [FN#602] the Maugrabin saw the love which the Lady Bedrulbudour professed to him and that she was changed from her whilom plight of grief, he thought that she had given up her hope of Alaeddin; so he rejoiced greatly and said to her, “O my soul, hearkening and obedience unto all that which thou wiliest and biddest me withal.  I have with me in my house a jar of the wine of our country, the which I have kept stored these eight years under the earth; so I go now to fill from it our sufficiency and will return to thee forthright.”  Therewithal the Lady Bedrulbudour, that she might beguile him more and more, said to him, “O my beloved, do not thou go thyself and leave me.  Send one of thy servants to fill us from the jar and abide thou sitting with me, that I may take comfort in thee.”  “O my lady,” answered he, “none knoweth the place of the jar save myself; but I will not keep thee waiting.” [FN#603] So saying, he went out and returned after a little with their sufficiency of wine; and the Lady Bedrulbudour said to him, “Thou hast been at pains [FN#604] [for me], and I have put thee to unease, [FN#605] O my beloved.”  “Nay,” answered he, “O [thou that art dear to me as] mine eyes, I am honoured by thy service.”  Then she sat down with him at table and they both fell to eating.  Presently, the princess called for drink and the handmaid immediately filled her the cup; then she filled for the Maugrabin and the Lady Bedrulbudour proceeded to drink to his life and health, [FN#606] and he also drank to her life and she fell to carousing [FN#607] with him.  Now she was unique in eloquence and sweetness of speech and she proceeded to beguile him and bespeak him with words significant [FN#608] and sweet, so she might entangle him yet straitlier in the toils of her love.  The Maugrabin thought that all this was true [FN#609] and knew not that the love she professed to him was a snare set for him to slay him.  So he redoubled in desire for her and was like to die for love of her, when he saw from her that which she showed him of sweetness of speech and coquetry; [FN#610] his head swam with ecstasy [FN#611] and the world became changed [FN#612] in his eyes.