By this time, the tailor's widow was so much used to go to
audience, and stand before the sultan, that she did not think it
any trouble, if she could but satisfy her son that she neglected
nothing that lay in her power to please him : so the next audience-
day she went to the divan and placed herself in front of the sultan
as usual; and before the grand vizier had made his report of
business, the sultan perceived her, and compassionating her for
having waited so long, said to the vizier: "Before you enter upon
any business, remember the woman I spoke to you about;
bid her come near, and let us despatch her business first." The
grand vizier immediately called the chief of the macebearers,
and pointing to her, bade him tell her to come before the sultan.
The chief of the officers went to Aladdin's mother, and at a
sign he gave her, she followed him to the foot of the sultan's
throne, where he left her, and retired to his place by the grand
vizier. The old woman bowed her head down to the carpet,
which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that
posture till the sultan bade her rise, when he said to her: "Good
woman, I have observed you to stand from the beginning to the
rising of the divan; what business brings you here .^"
After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a
second time; and when she arose, said: "Monarch of monarchs,
before I tell your majesty the extraordinary and incredible busi-
ness which brings me before your high throne, I beg of you to
pardon the boldness of the demand I am going to make, which is
so uncommon, that I tremble, and am ashamed to propose it to
my sovereign." In order to give her the more freedom to explain
herself, the sultan ordered all to quit the divan but the grand
vizier, and then told her she might speak without restraint.
Aladdin's mother, not content with this favour of the sultan's
to save her the confusion of speaking before so many people, was,
notwithstanding, a little apprehensive; therefore, resuming her
discourse, she said: "I beg of your majesty, if you should think
my demand the least offensive, to assure me first of your forgive-
ness." "Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it
what it may, and no hurt shall come to you: speak boldly."
When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, she
told him faithfully how Aladdin had seen the Princess Badroul-
boudour, the violent love that fatal sight had inspired him with,
the declaration he had made to her when he came home, and
what she had said to dissuade him. "But," continued she,
"my son, instead of taking my advice and reflecting on his pre-
sumption, v/as so obstinate as to persevere, and to threaten me
with some desperate act, if I refused to come and ask the prin-
cess in marriage of your majesty; and it was not without the
greatest reluctance that I was led to accede to his request, for
which I beg your majesty once more to pardon not only me, but
also Aladdin my son, for entertaining so rash a project."
The sultan hearkened to this discourse without shewing the
least anger; but before he gave her any answer, asked her what
she had brought tied up in the napkin ? She took the china dish,
which she had set down at the foot of the throne before she
prostrated herself before him, untied it, and presented it to the
sultan.
The monarch's amazement and surprise were inexpressible,
when he saw so many large, beautiful, and valuable jew^els col-
lected in the dish. He remained for some time motionless with
admiration. At last, when he had recovered himself, he re-
ceived the present, crying out in a transport of joy: "How rich,
how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled all the
jew-els, one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and
shewing him the dish, said: "Behold, admire, wonder, and con-
fess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful
before." The vizier was charmed. "Well," continued the
sultan, **what sayest thou to such a present? Is it not worthy
of the princess, my daughter ? And ought I not to bestow her on
one who values her at so great price ?"
These words put the grand vizier into extreme agitation.
The sultan had some time before signified to him his intention
of bestowing the princess on a son of his; therefore he was afraid,
and not without grounds, that the present might change his
majesty's mind. Therefore going to him, and whispering him in
the ear, he said: "I cannot but own that the present is worthy of
the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months
before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that time,
my son, on whom you have had the goodness to look with a
favourable eye, will be able to make a nobler present than
Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty."
The sultan, though he was fully persuaded that it was not
possible for the vizier to provide so considerable a present for his
son, yet hearkened to him, and granted his request. Turning
therefore to the old widow, he said to her: "Good woman, go
home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you have made
me; but I cannot marry the princess, my daughter, till the
paraphernalia I design for her be got ready, which cannot be
finished these three months; but at the expiration of that time,
come again."
The widow returned home much more gratified than she had
expected, since she had met with a favourable answer.
Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hear-
ing this news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had
taken in the affair, the good success of which w^as of so great
importance to his peace.
When two of the three months were passed, his mother one
evening going to light the lamp, and finding no oil in the house,
went out to buy some, and when she came into the city, found a
general rejoicing. The shops were open, dressed with fohage,
silks, and carpeting, every one striving to shew their zeal in the
most distinguished manner according to their abihty. The streets
were crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on
horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great many foot-
men. Aladdin's mother asked the oil-merchant what was the
meaning of all this preparation of pubHc festivity.^ "Whence
come you, good woman," said he, "that you do not know that
the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour,
the sultan's daughter, to-night ? She will presently return from
the baths; and these ofiBcers whom you see are to assist at the
cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnised."
This was news enough for Aladdin's mother. She ran till
she was quite out of breath home to her son, who little suspected
any such event. "Child," cried she, "you are undone! you
depend upon the sultan's fine promises, but they will come to
nothing." Aladdin was alarmed at these words. "Mother,"
replied he, "how do you know the sultan has been guilty of a
breach of promise.^" "This night," answered the mother,
"the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour."
She then related how she had heard it; so that he had no reason
to doubt the truth of what she said.
At this account, Aladdin was thunderstruck. Any other man
would have sunk under the shock; but a sudden hope of disap-
pointing his rival soon roused his spirits, and he bethought him-
self of the lamp, which had in every emergency been so useful
to him; and without venting his rage in empty words against
the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he only said: "Perhaps, mother,
the vizier's son may not be so happy to-night as he promises
himself: while I go into my chamber a moment, do you get sup-
per ready." She accordingly went about it, but guessed that her
son was going to make use of the lamp, to prevent, if possible,
the consummation of the marriage.
When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp,
rubbed it in the same place as before, when immediately the
genie appeared, and said to him: "What wouldst thou have.^
I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those
who have that lamp in their possession; I and the other slaves
of the lamp." "Hear me," said Aladdin; "thou hast hitherto
])rought me whatever I wanted as to provisions; but now I have
business of the greatest importance for thee to execute. I have
demanded the Princess Badroulboudour in marriage of the sultan,
her father; he promised her to me, only requiring three months'
delay; but instead of keeping that promise, has this night
planned to marry her to the grand vizier's son. What I ask of
you is, that as soon as the two are made one, you bring them
both hither to me." "Master," replied the genie, "I will obey
you. Have you any other commands.'*" "None at present,"
answered Aladdin, and then the genie disappeared.
Aladdin having left his chamber, supped with his mother,
with the same tranquillity of mind as usual; and after supper
talked of the princess's marriage as of an affair wherein he had
not the least concern ; he then retired to his own chamber again,
but sat up waiting the execution of his orders to the genie.
In the meantime, everything was prepared with the greatest
magnificence in the sultan's palace to celebrate the princess's
nuptials ; and the evening was spent with all the usual ceremonies
and great rejoicings.
No sooner had the bride and bridegroom slipped away from
the company, however, than the genie, as the faithful slave of the
lamp, and punctual in executing the command of those who
possessed it, to the great amazement of them both, took them up
and transported them in an instant to Aladdin's chamber, where
he set them down.
Aladdin had w^aited impatiently for this moment. *'Take
this new-married man," said he to the genie, "shut him up in the
house of office, and come again to-morrow morning before day-
break." The genie instantly carried the vizier's son whither
Aladdin had commanded him; and after he had breathed upon
him, which prevented his stirring, left him there.
Passionate as was Aladdin's love for the princess, he did not
talk much to her when they were alone; but only said w^ith a
respectful air: "Fear nothing, adorable princess; you are here in
safety. If I have been forced to come to this extremity, it is to
prevent an unjust rival's possessing you, contrary to your father's
promise in favour of myself."
The princess, who knew nothing of these particulars, gave
very little attention to what Aladdin could say. The fright and
amazement of so surprising an adventure had alarmed her so
much that he could not get one word from her. Badroulboudour
never passed a night so ill in her life ; and if we consider the condi-
tion in which the genie left the grand vizier's son, we may imagine
that the new^ bridegroom spent it much worse.
Aladdin had no occasion the next morning to rub the lamp
to call the genie; who appeared at the hour appointed, and said
to him : " I am here, master ; what are your commands .? " " Go,"
said Aladdin, "fetch the vizier's son out of the place where you
left him, and carry the pair to the sultan's palace, from whence
you brought them." The genie presently returned with the
vizier's son, and in an instant they were transported into the same
chamber of the palace from whence they had been brought.
But we must observe, that all this time the genie never was
visible either to the princess or the grand vizier's son. His
hideous form would have made them die with fear. Neither did
they hear anything of the discourse between Aladdin and him;
they only perceived the motion through the air, and their trans-
portation from one place to another ; which we may well imagine
was enough to alarm them.
The sultan went to the room of the princess next morning and
kissed her between the eyes, according to custom, wishing her a
good morrow, but was extremely surprised to see her so melan-
choly. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive of great
affliction. He said a few words to her; but finding that he could
not get an answer, was forced to retire. Nevertheless, he
suspected that there was something extraordinary in this silence,
and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's apartment,
told her in what a state he had found the princess, and how she
had received him. "Sir," said the sultaness, *'I will go and see
her; I am much deceived if she receives me in the same manner."
As soon as the sultaness was dressed, she went to the princess's
apartment, w^ho was still in bed. She undrew the curtain, wished
her good morrow, and kissed her. But how great was her sur-
prise when she returned no answer ; and looking more attentively
at her, she perceived her to be much dejected, which made her
judge that something had happened, which she did not under-
stand. "How comes it, child," said the sultaness, "that you do
not return my caresses ? Ought you to treat your mother after this
manner ? I am induced to believe something extraordinary has
happened ; come, tell me freely, and leave me no longer in a pain-
ful suspense."
At last the princess broke silence with a deep sigh, and said :
"Alas! most honoured mother, forgive me if I have failed in the
respect I owe you. My mind is so full of the extraordinary
circumstances which have befallen me that I have not yet recov-
ered from my amazement and alarm." She then related her
surprising adventures, which the sultaness heard very patiently,
but could scarcely believe. "You did wiell, child," said she, "not
to speak of this to your father: take care not to mention it to
anybody ; for you will certainly be thought mad if you talk in this
manner." "Madam," replied the princess, "I can assure you I
am in my right senses; ask my husband and he will tell you the
same circumstances." "I will," said the sultaness; "but if he
should talk in the same manner, I shall not be better persuaded
of the truth. Come, rise, and throw off this idle fancy; it will
be strange if all the feasts and rejoicings in the kingdom should
be interrupted by such a vision. Do not you hear the trumpets
of congratulation, and concerts of the finest music .? Cannot these
inspire you with joy and make you forget the fancies of a dream ?"
At the same time the sultaness called the princess's women, and
after she had seen her get up, went to the sultan's apartment,
told him that her daughter had got some odd notions in her head,
but that there was nothing in them but idle phantasy.
She then sent for the vizier's son, to know of him something
of what the princess had told her ; but he, thinking himself highly
honoured to be allied to the sultan, and not willing to lose the
princess, denied what had happened. "That is enough,"
answered the sultaness ; " I ask no more. I see you are wiser than
my daughter."
The rejoicings lasted all that day in the palace, and the
sultaness, who never left the princess, forgot nothing to divert her,
and induce her to take part in the various diversions and shows ;
but she was so struck with the idea of what had happened to her
in the night, that it was easy to see her thoughts were entirely
taken up with it. Neither was the grand vizier's son in less tribu-
lation, though his ambition made him disguise his feelings so
well, that nobody doubted of his being a happy bridegroom.
Aladdin, who was well acquainted with what passed in the
palace, was resolved that the troublesome adventure of the night
before should again disturb the unhappy pair, and therefore
had recourse to his lamp, and when the genie appeared and
offered his service, he said to him: "Bring the grand vizier's
son and the Princess Badroulboudour hither to-night, as thou
didst yesterday."
The genie obeyed as faithfully and exactly as the day before ;
the grand vizier's son passed the night as coldly and disagreeably,
and the princess had the same alarm and mortification. The
genie, according to orders, came the next morning, and returned
the new-married couple again to the palace.
The sultan, after the reception the princess had given him,
was very anxious to know how she had passed the second night,
and therefore went into her chamber as early as the morning
before. After the same caresses he had given her the former
morning, he bade her good-morrow. "Well, daughter," said he,
"are you in a better humour than yesterday ?" Still the princess
was silent, and the sultan, perceiving her to be in greater con-
fusion than before, doubted not that something very extraor-
dinary was the cause; but provoked that his daughter should
conceal it, he said to her in a rage, with his sabre in his hand:
" Daughter, tell me what is the matter, or I will cut off your head
immediately."
The princess, more frightened at the tone of the enraged
sultan than at the sight of the drawn sabre, at last broke silence,
and said with tears in her eyes: "My dear father and sultan, I ask
your majesty's pardon if I have offended you, and hope that out
of your goodness you will have compassion on me."
After this preamble, which appeased the sultan, she told him
what had happened to her in so moving a manner, that he, who
loved her tenderly, was most sensibly grieved. She added: "If
your majesty doubts the truth of this account, you may inform
yourself from my husband, who will tell you the same thing."
The sultan immediately felt all the uneasiness so surprising
an adventure must have given the princess. "Daughter," said
he, "you are much to blame for not telling me this yesterday,
since it concerns me as much as yourself. I did not marry you
to make you miserable, but that you might enjoy all the happiness
you might hope for from a husband, who to me seemed agreeable
to you. Efface all these troublesome ideas from your memory;
I will take care that you shall have no more such disagreeable
experiences."
As soon as the sultan had returned to his own apartment, he
sent for the grand vizier: "Vizier," said he, "have you seen your
son, and has he told you anything.?" The vizier replied: "No."
The sultan related all the circumstances of which the princess had
informed him, and afterward said: "I do not doubt but that my
daughter has told me the truth ; but nevertheless I should be glad
to have it confirmed by your son, therefore go and ask him how
it was.
The grand vizier went immediately to his son, communicated
what the sultan had told him, and enjoined him to conceal noth-
ing, but to relate the whole truth. "I will disguise nothing from
you, father," replied the son, *'for indeed all that the princess has
stated is true. Yet I must tell you, that all these experiences do
not in the least lessen those sentiments of love and gratitude I
entertain for her; but I must confess, that notwithstanding all
the honour that attends marrying my sovereign's daughter, I
would much rather die than continue in so exalted an alliance, if
I must undergo much longer what I have already endured. I
do not doubt but that the princess entertains the same sentiments,
and that she will readily agree to a separation which is so neces-
sary both for her repose and mine. Therefore, father, I beg, by
the same tenderness which led you to procure me so great an
honour, to obtain the sultan's consent that our marriage may be
declared null and void."
Notwithstanding the grand vizier's ambition to have his son
allied to the sultan, the firm resolution he saw he had formed to be
separated from the princess caused the father to give his majesty
a full account of what had passed, begging him finally to give
his son leave to retire from the palace, alleging it was not just that
the princess should be a moment longer exposed to so terrible
a persecution upon his son's account.
The grand vizier found no great difficulty to obtain what he
asked, as the sultan had determined upon it already; orders were
given to put a stop to all rejoicings in the palace and town,
and expresses despatched to all parts of his dominions to counter-
mand his first orders; and in a short time, all merry-making
ceased.
This sudden change gave rise both in the city and kingdom
to various speculations and inquiries ; but no other account could
be given of it, except that both the vizier and his son went out of
the palace much dejected. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret,
who rejoiced at the happy success procured by his lamp. Neither
the sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his
request, had the least thought that he had any concern in the
enchantment which caused the dissolution of the marriage.
Aladdin waited till the three months were completed, which
the sultan had appointed for the consummation of the marriage
between the Princess Badroulboudour and himself; and the
next day sent his mother to the palace, to remind the sultan of
his promise.
The widow went to the palace, and stood in the same place as
before in the hall of audience. The sultan no sooner cast his eyes
upon her than he knew her again, remembered her business, and
how long he had put her off: therefore, when the grand vizier
was beginning to make his report, the sultan interrupted him, and
said: "Vizier, I see the good woman who made me the present of
jewels some months ago; forbear your report, till I have heard
what she has to say." The vizier, looking about the divan, per-
ceived the tailor's widow, and sent the chief of the mace-bearers
to conduct her to the sultan.
Aladdin's mother came to the foot of the throne, prostrated
herself as usual, and when she rose, the sultan asked her what she
would have. "Sir," said she, "I come to represent to your
majesty, in the name of my son, Aladdin, that the three months,
at the end of which you ordered me to come again, are expired ;
and to beg you to remember your promise."
The sultan, when he had fixed a time to answer the request
of this good woman, little thought of hearing any more of a
marriage, which he imagined would be very disagreeable to the
princess ; so this summons for him to fulfil his promise was some-
what embarrassing; he declined giving an answer till he had
consulted his vizier, and signified to him the little inclination he
had to conclude a match for his daughter with a stranger, whose
rank he supposed to be very mean.
The grand vizier freely told the sultan his thoughts, and said
to him: "In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible way for your
majesty to avoid a match so disproportionate, without giving
Aladdin, were he known to your majesty, any cause of complaint ;
which is, to set so high a price upon the princess that, however
rich he may be, he cannot comply with it. This is the only way
to make him desist from so bold an undertaking."
The sultan, approving of the grand vizier's advice, turned to
the tailor's widow and said to her: "Good woman, it is true
sultans ought to abide by their words, and I am ready to keep
mine, by making your son happy in marriage with the princess,
my daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some further
valuable consideration from your son, you may tell him, I will
fulfil my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massy
gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a
present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who
shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves,
all dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to
bestow the princess, my daughter, upon him; therefore, good
woman, go and tell him so, and I will wait till you bring me his
answer."
Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before
the sultan's throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed
within herself at her son's foolish imagination. "Where," said
she, "can he get so many large gold trays, and such precious
stones to fill them ? Must he go again to that subterranean
abode and gather them off the trees ? and where will he get so
many such slaves as the sultan requires ? It is altogether out of
his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my
embassy this time." When she came home, full of these thoughts,
she said to her son: "Indeed, child, I would not have you think
any farther of your marriage with the princess. The sultan
received me very kindly, and I believe he was well inclined to
you; but if I am not much deceived the grand vizier has made
him change his mind." She then gave her son an exact account
of what the sultan had said to her, and the conditions on which
he consented to the match. Afterward she said to him: "The
sultan expects your answer immediately; but," continued she,
laughing, "I believe he may wait long enough."
"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin;
'''the sultan is mistaken, if he thinks by this exorbitant demand
to prevent my entertaining thoughts of the princess. I expected
that he would have set a higher price upon her incomparable
charms. His demand is but a trifle to what I could have done
for her. But while I think of satisfying his request, go and get
something for our dinner, and leave the rest to me."
As soon as his mother was gone out, Aladdin took the lamp,
and rubbing it, the genie appeared, and offered his service as
usual. "The sultan," said Aladdin to him, "gives me the
princess his daughter in marriage ; but demands first, forty large
trays of massy gold, full of the fruits of the garden from whence
I took this lamp ; and these he expects to have carried by as many
black slaves, each preceded by a young handsome white slave,
richly clothed. Go, and fetch me this present as soon as possible,
that I may send it to him before the divan breaks up." The
genie told him his command should be immediately obeyed, and
disappeared.
In a little time afterward the genie returned with forty
black slaves, each bearing on his head a heavy tray of pure gold,
full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and every sort of pre-
cious stones, all larger and more beautiful than those formerly
presented to the sultan. Each tray was covered with silver tissue,
embroidered with flowers of gold : these, together with the white
slaves, quite filled the house, which was but a small one, the little
court before it, and a small garden behind. The genie asked if
he had any other commands, and Aladdin telling him that he
wanted nothing further, he disappeared.
When Aladdin's mother came from market, she was much
surprised to see so many people and such vast riches. As soon
as she had laid down her provisions, she was going to pull off
her veil; but her son prevented her, and said: "Mother, let us
lose no time; before the sultan and the divan rise, I would have
you return to the palace with this present as the dowry demanded
for the princess, that he may judge by my diligence of the ardent
desire I have to procure myself the honour of this alliance."
Without waiting for his mother's reply, Aladdin opened the street-
door, and made the slaves walk out; each white slave followed
by a black with a tray upon his head. W hen they were all out,
the mother followed the last black slave; he shut the door, and
then retired to his chamber, full of hopes that the sultan, after
this present, which was such as he required, would receive him
as his son-in-law.
The first white slave who went out made all the people who
were going by stop; and before they w^ere all clear of the house,
the streets w^ere crowded with spectators, who ran to see so
extraordinary and magnificent a procession. The dress of each
slave was so rich, both for the stuff and the jewels, that those
who were dealers in them valued each at no less than a million
of money; besides, the neatness and propriety of the dress, the
noble air, fine shape and proportion of each slave were unparal-
leled ; their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the
lustre of the jewels, curiously set in their girdles of gold, and the
egrets of precious stones in their turbans, put the spectators into
such great admiration, that they could not avoid following them
with their eyes as far as possible. As soon as the first of these
slaves arrived at the palace gate, the porters formed themselves
into order, taking him for a prince from the magnificence of his
habit, and were going to kiss the hem of his garment; but the
slave, who was instructed by the genie, prevented them, and
said: "We are only slaves, our master will appear at a proper
time."
The first slave, followed by the rest, advanced into the second
court, which was very spacious, and in which the sultan's house-
hold was ranged during the sitting of the divan. The magnifi-
cence of the oSicers, who stood at the head of their troops, was
considerably eclipsed by the slaves who bore Aladdin's present,
of which they themselves made a part.
As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach to
the palace, had given orders for them to be admitted, they went
into the divan in regular order, one part filing to the right, and
the other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed
a semicircle before the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the
golden trays on the carpet, prostrating themselves, and at the
same time the white slaves did the same. When they rose, the
black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood with their
arms crossed over their breasts.
In the meantime Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of
the throne, and having paid her respects, said to the sultan: "Sir,
my son is sensible that this present, which he has sent your
majesty, is much below the Princess Badroulboudour's worth;
but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it."
The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this
compliment. The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays,
full of the most precious and beautiful jewels he had ever seen,
and the fourscore slaves, who appeared by the elegance of their
persons, and the magnificence of their dress, like so many princes,
he was overwhelmed. Instead of answering the compliment
of Aladdin's mother, he addressed himself to the grand vizier,
who could not any more than the sultan comprehend from whence
such a profusion of richness could come. "Well, vizier," said
he aloud, "who do you think it can be that has sent me so
extraordinary a present? Do you think him worthy of the
Princess Badroulboudour, my daughter?"
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