Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/188

144 have not lost my wits; nay, this is what happened to me, and an thou believe it not from me, ask my bridegroom.” Quoth the queen, “Rise, O my daughter, and put away these illusions from thy thought; nay, don thy clothes and see the rejoicing that is toward in the town on thine account and the festivities that they celebrate in the kingdom for thy sake and hear the drums and the singing and look upon the decorations, all in honour of thy nuptials, O my daughter.” Accordingly, she summoned the tirewomen,tire-women, [sic] who dressed the Lady Bedrulbudour and busked her; whilst the Queen went in to the Sultan and told him that there had that night betided the princess a dream and illusions, saying, “Blame her not for her failure to answer thee.” Moreover, she sent for the Vizier’s son privily and questioned him of the affair, whether the Lady Bedrulbudour’s speech was true or not; but he, of his fear to lose his bride, lest she should go from his hand, said to her, “O my lady, I know nothing of that which thou sayest;” wherefore the queen was certified that there had betided her daughter illusions and a dream.

The wedding rejoicings continued all that day, with dancing-women and singing-women, and all the instruments of mirth and minstrelsy were smitten, whilst the