and embracing him, fell to kissing him and weeping, that his
tears ran down upon his cheek.

Alaeddin was astonished at the Maugrabin's behaviour; so he asked
him and said to him, "What is the cause of thy weeping, O my
lord, and whence knewest thou my father?" The Maugrabin answered
him, in a mournful, broken voice, [FN#156] saying, "How, O my son,
canst thou ask me this question, after telling me that thy
father, my brother, is dead, for thy father was [indeed] my
brother [FN#157] and I am newly come from my country and was
rejoicing exceedingly, after this my strangerhood, of my
expectation that I should see him and solace myself with
him; [FN#158] and now thou tellest me that he is dead! Marry,
blood discovered unto me that [FN#159] thou wast the son of my
brother, and indeed I knew thee from amongst all the lads;
although thy father, when I left him, was not yet married.
And [FN#160] now, O my son Alaeddin," continued he, "I have lost
my consolation [FN#161] and my joy in thy father, my brother, whom
I had hoped, after my strangerhood, to see ere I died; but
separation hath afflicted me in him [FN#162] and there is no
fleeing from that which is [FN#163] nor is there any resource
against the ordinance of God the Most High."

Then he took Alaeddin and said to him, "O my son, I have no
comfort [FN#163] but in thee [FN#164] and thou art [to me] in the
stead of thy father, since thou art his successor and whoso
leaveth [a successor] is not dead, O my son." With this he put
his hand [to his pocket] and bringing out ten diners, gave them
to Alaeddin, saying, "O my son, where is your house and where is
thy mother, my brother's wife?" So Alaeddin took him and showed