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 hearing this news,
and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, the
good success of which was 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 foliage, silks, and carpeting, every one
striving to shew their zeal in the most distinguished manner according
to their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits of
ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great
many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil-merchant what was the
meaning of all this preparation of public 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 officers
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 disappointing his rival soon
roused his spirits, and he bethought himself 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
supper 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 brought 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 waited 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 daybreak." 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 with 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 condition 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 transportation 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 melancholy. 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, who was still in bed. She undrew the curtain, wished her good
morrow, and kissed her. But how great was her surprise 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 understand. "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 painful 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 recovered from my amazement and alarm."
She then related her surprising adventures, which the sultaness heard
very patiently, but could scarcely believe. "You did well, 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 tribulation, 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
confusion than before, doubted not that something very extraordinary 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 nothing, 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
necessary 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 countermand 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,
perceived 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 somewhat 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 precious 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. When 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 were all clear of the house, the streets were
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
unparalleled; 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 household was ranged
during the sitting of the divan. The magnificence of the officers, 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."