Alaeddin heard their speech, wonderment took him and his tongue
was tied, for that he knew not the cause; then he turned to the
eunuchs and officers and said, "Prithee, sirs, [FN#573] have you
no knowledge of the cause of this commandment of the Sultan? I
know myself guiltless, forasmuch as I have done no sin against
the Sultan nor against his realm." And they said to him, "O our
lord, we have no manner of knowledge thereof." So Alaeddin
lighted down from his stallion and said to them, "Do with me that
which the Sultan biddeth you, for that his commandment is upon
the head and eyes." Accordingly [FN#574] the officers shackled him
and pinioning him, haled him along in irons and entered the city
with him.

The folk, seeing Alaeddin pinioned and shackled with iron, knew
that the Sultan was minded to cut off his head, and forasmuch as
he was extraordinarily beloved of them, they all gathered
together and taking up arms, came forth their houses and followed
the troops, so they might see what was to do. When the officers
came with Alaeddin to the palace, they entered and told the
Sultan, who immediately bade the headsman go and cut off his
head. But the commons, hearing of this his commandment, shut the
gates of the palace and sent to say to the Sultan, "This very
moment we will overthrow the palace upon thee and all who are
therein, an the least harm happen to Alaeddin." So the Vizier
went and told the Sultan and said to him, "O King of the Age, all
will be over with us forthright; [FN#575] wherefore thou wert best
pardon Alaeddin, lest some calamity befall us, for that the
commons love him more than us." Now the headsman had spread the
carpet of blood and seating Alaeddin thereon, had bound his eyes
and gone round him three times, [FN#576] awaiting the King's final