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down in my country of Africa.[1] Thou knowest my town and I will have this palace be thereby among the gardens.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the Marid. “Shut [thine] eye and open [thine] eye, and thou wilt find thyself in thine own country with the palace.” And immediately this befell in the twinkling of an eye and the Maugrabin was transported, with Alaeddin’s palace and all that was therein, to the land of Africa.

So much for the enchanter, and now let us return to the Sultan and Alaeddin. The Sultan, of his love and affection for his daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour, was wont, every day, when he awoke from his sleep, to open the window and look at her therefrom; so he arose on the morrow, according to his wont, and opened his chamber-window, so he might see his daughter; but[2] when he put out his head and looked for Alaeddin’s palace, he beheld nothing but a place swept [and level], like as it was aforetime, and saw neither palace nor inhabitants;[3] whereat amazement clad him and his wit was bewildered and he fell to

  1. Ifrikiyeh.
  2. Night DLXXVII.
  3. Ummar. This may, however, be a mistake (as before, see ante, p. 177, note 2) for emaïr (buildings).