on them.  When he came to his palace, he alighted and entering, sat down in the Divan, whilst the mamelukes stood before him with clasped hands.  After a little they brought him sherbets and he gave commandment to his mamelukes and slave-girls and eunuchs and all who were in his palace that they should make ready to receive the Lady Bedrulbudour, his bride.  Then, when it was the time of the midafternoon prayer [FN#487] and the air grew cool and the heat of the sun abated, [FN#488] the Sultan bade the troops and the Amirs and the Viziers go down to the horse-course.  So they all repaired thither and with them the Sultan himself; whereupon Alaeddin also arose and mounting with his mamelukes, went down into the plain and showed his horsemanship; then he fell to playing [FN#489] in the tilting-ground and there was none could stand before him.  Now he was riding a stallion whose like is not among the horses of the Arabs of the Arabs [FN#490] and his bride the Lady Bedrulbudour was looking upon him from the window of her pavilion, and when she saw his grace and goodliness and knightly prowess, she was overcome with his love and was like to fly for joy in him.  Then, after they had played [some] bouts [FN#491] in the plain and each had shown what was in him of horsemanship, (but Alaeddin overpassed them all,) the Sultan went to his palace and Alaeddin on like wise returned home.

When it was eventide, the chiefs of the state and the Viziers went and taking Alaeddin, carried him in procession to the Royal Bath, the Renowned ; [FN#492] so he entered and bathed and perfumed himself, then, coming forth, he donned a suit yet richer than the first and mounted, whilst the troops rode before him and the Amirs and Viziers.  So they fared on with him in great state, with four of the Viziers for his sword-bearers, whilst all the troops and people of the city, both townsfolk and strangers, walked in procession before him, carrying flambeaux and drums and flutes and instruments of mirth and music, till they brought him to his palace, when he alighted and entering, sat down, as did also the Viziers and Amirs who were in his company, whilst the mamelukes brought sherbets and sweetmeats [FN#493] and gave all who were with him in the procession to drink, albeit they were a multitude of folk whose number might not be told.  Moreover, he gave commandment unto his mamelukes, and they went out to the door of the palace and fell to showering gold upon the folk.

Meanwhile, [FN#494] when the Sultan returned from the horse-course and entered his palace, he bade forthright carry his daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour in procession to the palace of her bridegroom Alaeddin.  So the troops forthright mounted with the officers of state, who had been in Alaeddin’s procession, and the slave-girls and eunuchs went out with flambeaux and carried the Lady Bedrulhudour in great state to her bridegroom’s palace, Alaeddin’s mother by her side and before her the women of the Viziers