the Lady Bedrulbudour, thy precious daughter, and be Thy Grace's
company all thy viziers and the chief officers of thy state."
Quoth the Sultan, (and indeed he rejoiced in him),
"Gladly, [FN#504] O my son," and bidding the Viziers and officers
of state and grandees attend him, arose forthright and mounted;
whereupon Alaeddin and the others mounted also and they all rode
till they came to Alaeddin's palace.

When the Sultan entered the palace and viewed its building and
ordinance and saw its stones, which were of jade and agate, he
was amazed [FN#505] and his wit was bewildered at that affluence
and wealth and magnificence; so he turned to the Vizier and said
to him, "How sayst thou, O Vizier? Hast thou in all thy days seen
aught like this? Are there found with the greatest of the kings
of the world riches and gold and jewels such as these we see in
this palace?" "O my lord the King," answered the Vizier, "this is
a thing beyond the competence of a king of the sons of Adam, nor
might all the people of the earth together avail to build a
palace like this; nay, there are no craftsmen living able to do
work like this, except ;it be, as I said to Thy Grace, by might
of magic." The Sultan knew that the Vizier, in seeking to
convince him that this was not by might of men, but all of it
enchantment, still spoke not but of his envy of Alaeddin; so he
said to him, "Enough, O Vizier; let us have no more of thy talk.
I know the cause which maketh thee speak on this wise."

Then Alaeddin forewent the Sultan till he brought him to the high
pavilion [FN#507] and he looked at the belvedere [FN#508] and its
oriols [FN#509] and lattices, [FN#510] all wroughten of emeralds
and rubies and other precious stones, and was amazed and