to me without delay." So she returned home swiftlier than the
wind, [FN#439] of her haste to bring her son the good news; and
she was like to fly for joy at the thought that her son 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