Part 20: Alexander Comes to Egypt

When he returned and reached the palace gate, he gave a good sum of gold coins to Nasr. The one who had been poor became rich, and even so, what he ate came from his own labor. From there he led his glad army onward and arrived at Jeddah with little delay. He ordered his troops that everyone should build many ships and boats. The conqueror, with an army seeking its path, set his face from Jeddah toward Egypt. The king in Egypt was Qaytun, whose army was greater than one could guess. When he heard that the victorious conqueror had come by the sacred road with force and fire, he went out to greet him with a great army, bringing bags of coin, slaves, a crown, and a throne. Alexander was glad to see him, and it was said that his enemy turned to wind and vanished. The king stayed a full year in Egypt, so that both king and army could rest. There was a woman ruling in Andalusia, wise and with a countless army. The generous world seeker was Qaydafa, who through her excellence had gained fortune and gain. From among her troops she sought a horseman who was a painter, one who could draw a likeness exactly right. She told him: go to Alexander, but do not let any word of this land or of us slip out. Look closely, just as he truly is, and set to work until your hand achieves it. From his coloring, his face, and his stature, bring back a portrait from his head to his feet. The painter listened, then mounted and rode off, bound to fulfill his sovereign's command. He came from Andalusia to Egypt swiftly, to the honored Caesar Alexander. Whether he saw him on the throne or in the saddle, he brought out paper and Chinese silk. He painted Alexander's image exactly as it was, then quickly departed from that place. When Qaydafa saw Alexander's face, she grew sad, hid her feelings, and fell silent. Alexander asked Qaytun and said: who on earth is a match for Qaydafa? Qaytun replied: O king, there is no ruler in the world like her. No one knows the count of her army, unless one searches through many a ledger. In treasure, greatness, and worthiness, in calm composure and in capability, in sound judgment and in fine, well-meaning speech, you will find no one in the world like her. She has built a city of stone that not even a leopard's claw could scratch. Its height is four leagues of land, and its breadth is by the same measure. If you ask of her treasure, it has no limit, and the tales of her are ever fresh in the world.