At last they came to Schemseddin’s gate.  Schemseddin was Bedreddin’s uncle, and little thought his nephew was so near.  The door-keepers, to prevent any disorder, kept back all the slaves who carried torches, and would not let them come in.  Bedreddin was likewise refused; but the musicians, who had free entrance, stood still, and protested they would not go in without him.  He is not one of the slaves, said they; look upon him, and you will soon be satisfied as to that; he is certainly a young stranger, who is curious to see the ceremonies observed at weddings in this city.  Saying thus, they put him in the midst of them, and carried him in; they took his torch out of his hand, and gave it to the first they met.  Having brought him into the hall, they placed him at the right hand of the hump-backed bridegroom, who sat near the vizier’s daughter on a throne most richly adorned.  She appeared very lovely in her dress, but in her face there was nothing to be seen but poignant grief.  The cause was easy to be guessed at, when she had by her side a bridegroom so very deformed, and so unworthy of her love.  The throne of that ill-matched couple was in the midst of a sofa.  The ladies of the emirs, viziers, those of the sultan’s bed-chamber, and several other ladies of the court and city, were placed on each side, a little lower, every one according to rank, and all of them so fine and richly dressed, that it was one of the pleasantest sights that could be seen, each of them holding a large wax taper.  As soon as they saw Bedreddin come into the room, all fixed their eyes upon him, admiring his shape, his behaviour, and the beauty of his face.  When he was set down, they left their seats, and came near him, to have a full view of his face; and almost all of them, as they returned to their seats, found themselves moved with tender passion.

The disparity between Bedreddin and the hump-backed groom, who made such a horrible figure, occasioned a great murmuring among the company, insomuch that the ladies cried out, We must give our bride to this handsome young gentleman, and not to this ugly hump-back.  Nor did they rest here, but uttered imprecations against the sultan, who, abusing his absolute power, would unite ugliness and beauty together.  They also upbraided the bridegroom, and put him quite out of countenance, to the great satisfaction of the spectators, whose shouts for some time put a stop to the concert of music in the hall.  At last the musicians began again, and the women who had dressed the bride came round her.  Each time she changed her habit, she rose up from her seat, followed by her bride-women, and passed by Hump-back without giving him one look; but went towards Bedreddin, before whom she presented herself in her new attire.  On this occasion Bedreddin, according to the instructions given him by the genius, failed not to put his hand in his purse, and pulled out handfuls of sequins, which he distributed among the women that followed the bride; nor did he forget the players and dancers, but also threw money to them.  They showed themselves very thankful, and made signs that the young bride should be for him, and not for the hump-back fellow.  The women who attended her told her the same thing, and did not care whether the groom heard them or not; for they put a thousand tricks upon him, which very much pleased the spectators.