and Amirs and grandees and notables.  Moreover, she had with her eight and-forty slave-girls, whom Alaeddin had presented to her, in each one’s hand a great candle of camphor and ambergris, set in a candlestick of gold, studded with jewels; and all the men and women in the palace went out with her and fared on before her, till they brought her to her bridegroom’s palace and carrying her up to her pavilion, [FN#495] attired her in various robes [FN#496] and displayed her.  Then, after they had made an end of displaying her, they carried her to the pavilion of her groom Alaeddin and he went in to her.  Now his mother was with the Lady Bedrulbudour, and when he came up and did off her veil, she fell to gazing upon the bride’s beauty and grace and looked at the pavilion, the which was all wroughten [FN#497] of gold and jewels and therein were golden lustres, all embossed with emeralds and rubies; and she said in herself, “Methought the Sultan’s palace was magnificent; but, for this pavilion [FN#498] alone, I doubt me the greatest of the Chosroes and the kings never owned its match; nor, methinketh, might all mankind avail to make the like thereof.”  And the Lady Bedrulbudour also fell to looking and marvelling at the palace [FN#499] and its magnificence.  Then the table was laid and they ate and drank and made merry; and presently there appeared before them fourscore slave-girls, each with an instrument in her hand of the instruments of mirth and music.  So they plied their finger-tips and touching their strings, struck up with plaintive airs, till they clove in sunder the hearts of the listeners, whilst the Lady Bedrulbudour redoubled in wonderment and said in herself, “Never in my life heard I the like of these songs;” so that she forgot to eat and fell to listening.  As for Alaeddin, he proceeded to pour to her the wine and give her to drink with his own hand, and mirth and good cheer and delight went round among them and it was a rare night, such as Iskender of the Horns [FN#500] never in his time spent.  Then, after they had made an end of eating and drinking, the tables were removed from before them and Alaeddin arose and went in to his bride.

When it was the morning, Alaeddin arose and his treasurer brought him a costly suit of the richest of kings’ raiment; so he donned it and sat down; whereupon coffee was brought him with ambergris and he drank thereof and called for the horses.  Accordingly, they were saddled and he mounted and rode, with his mamelukes behind him and before him, to the Sultan’s palace.  When he reached it and entered, the eunuchs went in and acquainted the Sultan with his presence; which [FN#501] when he heard, he arose forthwith and coming to meet Alaeddin, embraced him and kissing him, as he were his son, seated him on his right hand.  Moreover the Viziers and Amirs and officers of state and grandees of the realm invoked blessings on him and the Sultan gave him joy [FN#502] and prayed God prosper him.  Then he bade lay breakfast; [FN#503]