Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/197

153 him glory and endurance of prosperity. The Sultan asked her if she had a need, and she said to him, “O King of the Age, the three months are ended, after which thou didst promise me thou wouldst marry my son Alaeddin to thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour.” The Sultan was perplexed at this her claim, more by token that he saw her in poor case, as she were the meanest of the folk; but the present which she had made him was exceeding magnificent [and indeed] beyond price; so he turned to the Vizier and said to him, “How deemest thou? What shall we do? It is true I gave her my word, but meseemeth they are poor folk and not of the chiefs of the people.”

The Vizier, who was like to die of envy and chagrin for that which had befallen his son, said in himself, “How shall one like this marry the Sultan’s daughter and my son lose this honour?” So he said to the Sultan, “O my lord, it is an easy matter to rid ourselves of this