twelve slave-girls and gave her the [twelve] suits, [FN#457] so
she might dress herself [FN#458] and go with them to the Sultan's
palace. Then he despatched one of the mamelukes thither, to see
an the Sultan were come forth of the harem or not; so he went and
returning, swiftlier than lightning, said to him, "O my lord, the
Sultan awaiteth thee." Accordingly he arose and mounting, [set
forth], whilst the mamelukes rode before him and after him,
(extolled be the perfection of the Lord who created them
with [FN#459] that which clothed them of beauty and grace!),
strewing gold upon the folk before their lord Alaeddin, who
overpassed them all of his grace and goodliness, and ask thou not
of kings' sons, [FN#460] extolled be the perfection of the Giver,
the Eternal! Now all this was of the virtue of the wonderful
lamp, [FN#461] which gifted whoso possessed it with goodliness and
grace and wealth and wisdom.

The folk marvelled at Alaeddin's bounty and at the excess of his
munificence and were amazed when they saw that which graced him
of beauty and goodliness and his courtliness and dignity; yea,
they extolled the perfection of the Compassionate One for this
His noble creature and all of them great and small [FN#462] called
down blessings on him, albeit they knew him for the son of such
an one the tailor; yet none envied him, but all said, "He is
deserving." So [FN#463] he fared on his way, with the mamelukes
before him and behind him, scattering gold upon the folk, till he
came to the palace.

Now the Sultan had summoned to his presence the chiefs of his
state and telling them that he had passed his word for the
marriage of his daughter to Alaeddin, bade them await the latter,