there, that cheered the heart and brightened the eye with its
springs [FN#210] welling up among flowers and its waters issuing
from the mouths of lions of brass like unto gold, and sitting
down by a lake, rested awhile. As for Alaeddin, he rejoiced and
was exceeding glad and fell a-jesting with the Mangrabin and
making merry with him, as he were his uncle in very deed. Then
the latter arose and loosing his girdle, brought out therefrom a
bag full of victual and fruit and the like and said to Alaeddin,
"O son of my brother, thou art maybe anhungred; come, eat what
thou wilt." So Alaeddin proceeded to eat and the Maugrabin with
him and they were gladdened and refreshed and their souls were
cheered. Then said the Maugrabin, "Rise, O my son, an thou be
rested, so we may walk a little and fare onward." [FN#211] So
Alaeddin arose and the Maugrabin walked on with him from garden
to garden till they had passed them all and came to a high
mountain. [FN#212]

Now Alaeddin had never gone forth the gate of the city nor in all
his life had he walked the like of that walk; so he said to the
Maugrabin, "O my uncle, whither are we going? See, we have left
all the gardens behind us and are come to the foot of a
mountain. [FN#213] If the way be [yet] far, I have no strength
left me for walking, for that I am worn out with fatigue and
there remain no more gardens before us; so let us turn back and
return to the city." "O my son," replied the Maugrabin, "this is
the way and the gardens are not yet at an end, for we are
going [FN#214] to view a garden, whose like is not with the kings
and compared with which all these which thou hast seen are as
nothing. So gird up thy loins [FN#215] for walking; praised be
God, thou art a man." And he fell to amusing him with fair words