and touching their strings, struck up with plaintive airs, till
they clove in sunder the hearts of the listeners, whilst the Lady
Bedrulbudour redoubled in wonderment and said in herself, "Never
in my life heard I the like of these songs;" so that she forgot
to eat and fell to listening. As for Alaeddin, he proceeded to
pour to her the wine and give her to drink with his own hand, and
mirth and good cheer and delight went round among them and it was
a rare night, such as Iskender of the Horns [FN#500] never in his
time spent. Then, after they had made an end of eating and
drinking, the tables were removed from before them and Alaeddin
arose and went in to his bride.

When it was the morning, Alaeddin arose and his treasurer brought
him a costly suit of the richest of kings' raiment; so he donned
it and sat down; whereupon coffee was brought him with ambergris
and he drank thereof and called for the horses. Accordingly, they
were saddled and he mounted and rode, with his mamelukes behind
him and before him, to the Sultan's palace. When he reached it
and entered, the eunuchs went in and acquainted the Sultan with
his presence; which [FN#501] when he heard, he arose forthwith and
coming to meet Alaeddin, embraced him and kissing him, as he were
his son, seated him on his right hand. Moreover the Viziers and
Amirs and officers of state and grandees of the realm invoked
blessings on him and the Sultan gave him joy [FN#502] and prayed
God prosper him. Then he bade lay breakfast; [FN#503] so they laid
[it] and they all broke their fast; and after they had eaten and
drunken their sufficiency and had finished and the servants had
removed the tables from before them, Alaeddin turned to the
Sultan and said to him, "O my lord, [belike] Thy Grace will
vouchsafe to honour me this day at the morning-meal [FN#503] with