Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/190

146 not, good simple folk that ye are, what befell him last night, that ye envy him.” Then, when the night came in and it was the season of sleep, Alaeddin arose and entering his chamber, rubbed the lamp, whereupon the genie appeared to him forthright and he bade him bring the princess and her bridegroom, as on the past night, ere the Vizier’s son should take her maidenhead. The genie delayed not, but was absent a little while; and when it was the appointed time, he returned with the bed and therein the Lady Bedrulbudour and the Vizier’s son. With the latter he did as he had done the past night, to wit, he took him and couched him in the draught-house, where he left him parched for excess of fright and dismay; whilst Alaeddin arose and placing the sword between himself and the Lady Bedrulbudour, lay down and slept till the morning, when the genie appeared and restored the twain to their place, leaving Alaeddin full of joy at [the discomfiture of] the Vizier’s son.

When the Sultan arose in the morning, he bethought himself to visit his daughter Bedrulbudour and see an she should do with him as she had done on the past day; so, as soon as he awoke from his sleep, he rose and donning his clothes, went to his daughter’s chamber and opened