wit, that thou build me with all speed a palace before that of
the Sultan, which shall be marvellous in its building, never saw
kings its like, and be it complete with all its requisites of
kingly and magnificent furniture and so forth." "Hearkening and
obedience," replied the genie and [FN#475] disappeared; but,
before the dawn broke, he came to Alaeddin and said to him, "O my
lord, the palace is finished to the utmost of the wish;
wherefore, an thou wouldst see it, arise forthright and look on
it." So Alaeddin arose and the genie carried him, in the
twinkling of an eye, to the palace, which when he saw, he was
amazed at its building, for that all its stones were of jade and
alabaster and porphyry and mosaic. The genie carried him into a
treasury full of all manner of gold and silver and precious
jewels past count or reckoning, price or estimation; then he
brought him into another place, where he saw all the requisites
of the table, platters and spoons and ewers and basins and cups,
of gold and silver, and thence to the kitchen, where he found
cooks, [FN#476] with their cooking-gear and utensils, all on like
wise of gold and silver. Moreover, he brought him into a place,
which he found full of coffers overflowing with royal raiment,
such as ravished the wit, gold-inwoven stuffs, Indian and
Chinese, and brocades, and he showed him also many other places,
all full of that which beggareth description, till at last he
brought him into a stable, wherein were horses whose like is not
found with the kings of the world; and therewithin he showed him
a storehouse, full of housings and saddles of price, all
broidered with pearls and precious stones and so forth.

Alaeddin was amazed and bewildered at the greatness of these
riches, whereunto the mightiest king in the world might not