"O man, take my clothes and give me thine." But the peasant would not do so. So 'Ala-ed-Din compelled him and took his clothes from him and put them on, and gave him his own costly robes. Then he went along 'the road till he reached the city. And he went to the bazar of the perfumers and bought of them some potent benj, the son of an instant,[1] buying two drachms of it for two dinars. Then he returned along 'the road till he came to the palace; and when the slave-girl saw him she opened the private door. And he entered to the Lady Bedr-el Budur, and said to her: "Listen! I wish thee to dress and adorn thyself 'and dismiss grief; and when this damned Moor cometh, do thou receive him with a pleasant welcome, and meet him with a smiling face, and bid him come and sup with thee; and "shew him that thou hast forgotten thy beloved 'Ala-ed-Din and thy father, and that thou lovest him with vehement love. Then ask him for a drink, and let it be red wine; and, shewing all the tokens of joy and happiness, drink to his secret; and when thou hast served him with three cups of wine, so as to make him careless, put this powder in the cup and crown it with wine; and as soon as he drinketh this cup wherein thou hast put this powder, he shall instantly fall, like a dead man, on his back." And when the Lady Bedr-el-Budur heard these words of 'Ala-ed-Din she said: "This is an exceedingly difficult thing for me to do; but to escape from the profanation of this accursed, who hath afflicted me with separation from thee and from my father, it is lawful to kill the wretch." Then, after 'Ala-ed-Din had eaten and drunk with his wife and appeased his hunger, he arose without delay or hindrance and went forth from the palace.
Then the Lady Bedr-el-Budur sent for her tirewoman, who attired her and adorned her and put on her handsomest dress and perfumed her. And whilst she was doing so, behold, the cursed Moor appeared. And when he looked at her in this array, he rejoiced greatly, and all the more when she received him with a smiling face, contrary to her habit; and his love for her increased, and he desired her passionately. Then she took him by her side and seated him, saying: "O my beloved, if thou wilt, come to me this night and let us sup together. Enough of sorrow have I had, and
- ↑ I.e., which took effect in a moment.
