commandment. The Sultan looked at his subjects and seeing them
swarming upon him and climbing up to the palace, that they might
overthrow it, commanded the headsman to hold his hand from
Alaeddin and bade the crier go forth among the people and
proclaim that he pardoned Alaeddin and took him [again] into
favour.

When Alaeddin found himself released and saw the Sultan sitting,
he went up to him and said to him, "O my lord, since Thy Grace
hath bountifully vouchsafed me my life, [FN#577] favour me [yet
farther] and tell me the manner of my offence." "O traitor,"
replied the Sultan, "till [but] now I knew not thine offence;"
then, turning to the Vizier, he said to him, "Take him, that he
may see from the windows where his palace is." Accordingly the
Vizier took him and Alaeddin looked from the windows in the
direction of his palace and finding the place swept and clear,
like as it was before he built the palace thereon, neither seeing
any trace of the latter, he was amazed and bewildered, unknowing
what had happened. When he returned, the King said to him, "What
hast thou seen? Where is thy palace and where is my daughter, my
heart's darling and mine only one, than whom I have none other?"
And Alaeddin answered him, saying, "O King of the Age, I have no
knowledge thereof, neither know I what hath befallen." And the
Sultan said to him, "Know, O Alaeddin, that I have pardoned thee,
so thou mayst go and look into this affair and make me search for
my daughter; and do not thou present thyself but with her; nay,
an thou bring her not back to me, as my head liveth, I will cut
off thine." "Hearkening and obedience, O King of the Age,"
replied Alaeddin. "Grant me but forty days' grace, and an I bring
her not after that time, cut off my head and do what thou wilt."