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should be the wedding-night; but he said to me, ‘Let thy son come hither to me, so I may make acquaintance with him, and I will receive him with all honour and worship.’ And now, O my son, my office[1] is ended, whatsoever remaineth is a matter for thee.”[2]
Alaeddin kissed his mother’s hand and thanked her amain for her kindness;[3] then he arose and entering his chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him, “Here am I; seek what thou wilt.” Quoth Alaeddin, “My will is that thou take me to a bath, whose like is not in the world, and fetch me a suit of royal raiment and exceeding costly, such as no king can boast.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the Marid and taking him up, brought him into a bath, never saw King nor Kisra[4] its like, for it was of alabaster and agate and full of marvellous limnings that ravished the sight, and therein was a saloon all
- ↑ Or “commission” (mishwar).
- ↑ Bekia ma bekia hatha shey aleik, lit. “remaineth what remaineth this is a thing upon (or for) thee.” Burton, “Happen whatso may happen; the rest is upon thy shoulders.” The first bekia is perhaps used in the common colloquial sense of “then.”
- ↑ Shekeraha wa istekthera bi-kheiriha. See ante, p. 135, note 3. Burton, “enhancing her kindly service.”
- ↑ Surname of the ancient Kings of Persia, vulg. Chosroës.
