Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/180

136 and buying oil of him, said to him, “[I conjure thee] by thy life, O uncle, tell me what is toward to-day in this city, that the folk are making this decoration and the markets [are shut] and the houses all adorned and the troops drawn up in state?” Quoth he, “O woman, methinketh thou art a stranger and art not of this city.” “Nay,” answered she, “but I am of this city;” and he said to her, “Thou art of this city and knowest not that this is the night of the going in of the Grand Vizier’s son to the Lady Bedrulbudour, the Sultan’s daughter? Nay, he is presently in the bath and yonder Amirs and troops are drawn up awaiting him, against he come forth, so they may carry him in procession to the palace of the Sultan’s daughter.”

When Alaeddin’s mother heard this, she was troubled and perplexed in her wit how she should do to acquaint her son with this woeful news, for that the poor wretch was counting the hours till the three months should be ended. So she returned home forthright and going in to Alaeddin, said to him, “O my son, I have news to tell thee, but it irketh me for thy chagrin therefrom.” Quoth he, “Speak; what is the news?” And she said to him, “The Sultan hath gone from his promise to thee in the matter of his daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, for that