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it was a rare night, such as Iskender of the Horns[1] 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[2] 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[3] and prayed God prosper him. Then he bade lay breakfast;[4] so they laid [it] and
- ↑ i.e. Alexander the Great; see my “Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night,” Vol. V. p. 6, note.
- ↑ Night DLXIX.
- ↑ Henahu.
- ↑ Fetour, the slight meal eaten immediately on rising, answering to the French “premier dejeuner,” not the “morning-meal” (gheda), eaten towards noon and answering to the French “dejeuner à la fourchette.”
