taken [FN#383] and said to her, "By Allah, O my mother, it is as I
were in a tomb and now thou hast raised me up therefrom; and I
praise God the Most High, for I am presently certified that there
is none richer or happier than I in the world." Then he waited
till two of the three months were past, when his mother went out
one day of the days, at sundown, to buy oil, and saw the markets
closed and the city all decorated and the folk setting candles
and flowers in their windows and saw troops, horse and foot, and
mounted eunuchs drawn up in state, with cressets and lustres
burning. At this wonder took her; [FN#384]he went to an oilman's
shop there open and buying oil of him, said to him, "[I conjure
thee] by thy life, O uncle, tell me what is toward to-day in this
city, that the folk are making this decoration and the markets
[are shut] and the houses all adorned and the troops drawn up in
state?" Quoth he, "O woman, methinketh thou art a stranger and
art not of this city." "Nay," answered she, "but I am of this
city;" and he said to her, "Thou art of this city and knowest not
that this is the night of the going in of the Grand Vizier's son
to the Lady Bedrulbudour, the Sultan's daughter? Nay, he is
presently in the bath and yonder Amirs and troops are drawn up
awaiting him, against he come forth, so they may carry him in
procession to the palace of the Sultan's daughter."

When Alaeddin's mother heard this, she was troubled and perplexed
in her wit how she should do to acquaint her son with this woeful
news, for that the poor wretch was counting the hours till the
three months should be ended. So she returned home forthright and
going in to Alaeddin, said to him, "O my son, I have news to tell
thee, but it irketh me for thy chagrin therefrom." Quoth he,
"Speak; what is the news?" And she said to him, "The Sultan hath