liness
of its building, there took them great wonderment how so magnificent a
building had been upreared in one night and they fell all to praying for
Alaeddin and saying, "God prosper him! By Allah, he is deserving. God's
blessing on his days!"

Meanwhile [486] Alaeddin, having made an end of the morning-meal, arose
and taking leave of the Sultan, mounted with his mamelukes and rode to
his palace, so he might prepare for the reception of his bride, the
Lady Bedrulbudour. As he passed, all the folk cried out to him with
one voice, saying, "God gladden thee! God increase thee in glory! God
continue thee!" And so they brought him home in great procession, what
while he showered gold 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 [487] and the air grew cool and the heat of the sun abated, [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 [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 [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 [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; [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