Now Alaeddin used every day to mount and ride through the town, with his mamelukes behind him and before him, strewing gold upon the people, right and left, and the folk, stranger and neighbour, near and far, were fulfilled with the love of him for the excess of his munificence and his bounty.  Moreover he exceeded in benefaction of the poor and the indigent [FN#538] and used himself to distribute his alms to them with his own hand.  After this fashion he won himself great renown in all the realm and the most of the chiefs of the state and the Amirs used to eat at his table and swore not but by his precious life.  Moreover, he fell to going everywhile [FN#539] to the chase and the horse course and to practicing horsemanship and archery [FN#540] before the Sultan, whilst the Lady Bedrulbudour redoubled in love of him, whenassoever she saw him disporting himself a horseback, and thought in herself that God had wrought exceeding graciously by her in that there had befallen her what befell with the Vizier’s son, so He might keep her for her true bridegroom Alaeddin.  So [FN#541] he went daily waxing in goodliness of repute and in praise and the love of him redoubled in the hearts of the common folk and he was magnified in men’s eyes.

Now in those days certain of the Sultan’s enemies took horse against him; so he levied troops to repel them and made Alaeddin chief thereof.  Alaeddin set out with his host and fared on till he drew near the enemy, whose troops were exceeding many; where upon he drew his sword and fell upon them and there befell battle and slaughter and sore was the stress of the mellay; but Alaeddin broke them and routed them and slew the most part of them.  Moreover, he plundered their goods and possessions and gat him spoil beyond count or reckoning, wherewith he returned in triumph, [having gained] a great victory, and entered the city, which had adorned itself for him of its joy in him.  The Sultan came out to meet him and give him joy and embraced him and kissed him, and there was high festival holden in the kingdom and great rejoicing.  Then the Sultan and Alaeddin betook themselves to the latter’s palace; [FN#542] whereupon his bride, the Lady Bedrulbudour, came out to meet him, rejoicing in him, and kissed him between the eyes, and he went in with her to her pavilion; [FN#543] whither after a little came the Sultan and they sat down and the slave-girls brought sherbets. [FN#544] So they drank and the Sultan commanded that all the realm should be decorated for Alaeddin’s victory over the enemy; whilst it became [a saying] with the commons and the troops and the folk, all of them, “Allah in heaven and Alaeddin on earth.” and they loved him yet more, having regard not only to the excess of his bounty and munificence, but to his knightly prowess, in that he had done battle for the kingdom and had routed the enemy.