Then the Lady Bedrulbudour took him and showed him the belvedere [FN#650] and the kiosk of jewels, with the four-and-twenty oriels, [FN#651] and said to him, “How deemest thou, O my Lady Fatimeh, of this wonderful pavilion?” [FN#652] “By Allah, O my daughter,” replied he, “it is indeed marvellous in the extreme, [FN#653] nor methinketh is its like found in the world; nay, it is magnificent exceedingly; but oh, for one thing which would far increase it in beauty and adornment!” And the princess said to him, “O my Lady Fatimeh, what is lacking to it and what is this thing which would adorn it?  Tell me of it; I had thought that it was altogether perfect.”  “O my lady,” answered the sorcerer, “that which lacketh to it is the egg of the bird Roc, which being hung in its dome, there were no like unto this pavilion in all the world.”  “What is this bird.” asked the princess, “and where shall we find its egg?” And the Moor said to her, “O my lady, this is a great bird that taketh up camels and elephants in its talons and flieth with them, of its bigness and greatness; it is mostly to be found in the mountain Caf and the craftsman who builded this palace [FN#654] is able to bring its egg.”  Then they left that talk and it was the time of the morning-meal.  So the slave-girls laid the table and the Lady Bedrulbudour sat down and sought of the accursed sorcerer that he should eat with her; but he refused and rising, entered the pavilion which she had given him, whither the slave-girls carried him the morning-meal.

When it was eventide and Alaeddin returned from the chase, the Lady Bedrulbudour met him and saluted him:  whereupon he embraced her and kissed her and looking in her face, saw that she was somewhat troubled and smiled not, against her wont.  So he said to her, “What aileth thee, O my beloved?  Tell me, hath there befallen thee aught to trouble thee?” And she answered him, saying, “There aileth me nothing; but, O my beloved, I had thought that our palace [FN#655] lacked of nought; however, O my eyes [FN#656] Alaeddin, were there hung in the dome of the upper pavilion [FN#657] an egg of the bird Roc, there were not its like in the world.”  “And wast thou concerned anent this?” rejoined Alaeddin.  “This is to me the easiest of all things; so be easy, for it is enough that thou tell me of that which thou wishest and I will fetch it thee from the abysses of the world on the speediest wise.”  Then [FN#658] after he had comforted the princess and promised her all she sought, he went straight to his closet and taking the lamp rubbed it; whereupon the Marid at once appeared and said to him, “Seek what thou wilt;” and Alaeddin, “I will have thee bring me a Roc’s egg and hang it in the dome of the [upper] pavilion.” [FN#659]