bespoke thee, that we may range of these jewels therein and see
how they show."

Accordingly, she arose and brought the China dish, saying in
herself, "Let us see if my son's speech be true concerning these
jewels or not." So she set the dish before Alaeddin and he
brought out jewels of all kinds from the purses and proceeded to
range them in the dish till he filled it. When it was full, his
mother looked at the dish, but could not gaze fixedly thereon,
for the radiance of the jewels and their lustre and the excess of
their flashing; so she shut her eyes and her wit was confounded
at them; yet was she not certified that their value was in very
deed so great as her son had said, but bethought her that his
speech might be true in that their like was not found with kings.
Then Alaeddin turned to her and said, "See, O my mother, this is
a magnificent present for the Sultan and I am assured that thou
wilt get of him exceeding honour and that he will receive thee
with all consideration. And now, O my mother, there remaineth to
thee no excuse; so be good enough [FN#342] to take this dish and
go with it to the palace."


"O my son," replied she, " true it is that the present is
exceedingly costly and precious and as thou sayest, none hath the
like thereof; but who shall dare to come forward and seek of the
Sultan his daughter Bedrulbudour? Nay, I dare not adventure
myself and say to him, 'I want thy daughter,' whenas he asketh
me, 'What wouldst thou?' Marry, O my son,, my tongue will be
tied. And grant that Allah make [the thing] possible and I take
courage and say to him, 'I desire to ally myself to thee by