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Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp by Unknown
page 122 of 244 (50%)
he entered, he espied the new palace and the carpet and marvelled
also; so, when he came in to the Sultan, the twain fell to
talking of this strange matter and marvelling, for that they saw
a thing which amazed the beholder and dilated the heart; and they
said, "Verily, methinketh kings may not avail unto the building
of the like of this palace." Then the Sultan turned to the Vizier
and said to him, "How now? Deemest thou Alaeddin worthy to be
bridegroom to my daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour? Hast thou seen
and considered this royal building and all these riches which
man's wit cannot comprehend?" The Vizier, of his envy of
Alaeddin, answered him, saying, "O King of the Age, indeed this
palace and its building and all these riches may not be but by
means of enchantment, for that no man among men, no, not the
mightiest of them in dominion or the greatest in wealth, might
avail to upraise and stablish [the like of] this building in one
night." Quoth the Sultan, "I marvel at thee how thou still
deemest evil of Alaeddin; but methinketh it ariseth from thine
envy of him, for that thou wast present when he sought of me a
place whereon to build a palace for my daughter and I accorded
him, before thee, [leave to build] a palace on this ground; and
he who brought me, to my daughter's dower, jewels such that no
kings possess one thereof, shall he lack ableness to build a
palace like this?" When [FN#483] the Vizier heard the Sultan's
speech and understood that he loved Alaeddin greatly, his envy of
him increased; withal he availed not to do aught against him, so
he was dumb and could make the Sultan no answer.

Meanwhile Alaeddin--seeing that it was high day and that the time
was come when he should go to the palace, for that his
wedding-festivities were toward and the Amirs and Viziers and
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