some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Wazir,
hearing the words of his son, was saddened and sorrowful exceedingly,
for it was his design to advance and promote his child by making him
son-in-law to the Sultan. So he became thoughtful and perplexed about
the affair and the device whereby to manage it, and it was sore grievous
for him to break off the marriage, it having been a rare enjoyment to
him that he had fallen upon such high good fortune. Accordingly he said,
“Take patience, O my son, until we see what may happen this night, when
we will set watchmen to ward you; nor do thou give up the exalted
distinction which hath fallen to none save to thyself.” Then the Wazir
left him and, returning to the sovran, reported that all told to him by
the Lady Badr al-Budur was a true tale; whereupon quoth the Sultan,
“Since the affair is on this wise, we require no delay,” and he at once
ordered all the rejoicings to cease and the marriage to be broken off.
This caused the folk and the citizens to marvel at the matter,
especially when they saw the Grand Wazir and his son leaving the palace
in pitiable plight for grief and stress of passion; and the people fell
to asking, “What hath happened and what is the cause of the wedding
being made null and void?” Nor did any know aught of the truth save
Alaeddin the lover who claimed the Princess’s hand, and he laughed in
his sleeve. But even after the marriage was dissolved, the Sultan forgot
nor even recalled to mind his promise made to Alaeddin’s mother; and the
same was the case with the Grand Wazir, while neither had any inkling of
whence befel them that which had befallen. So Alaeddin patiently awaited
the lapse of the three months after which the Sultan had pledged himself
to give him to wife his daughter; but, soon as ever the term came, he
sent his mother to the Sultan for the purpose of requiring him to keep
his covenant. So she went to the palace and when the King appeared in
the Divan and saw the old woman standing before him, he remembered his
promise to her concerning the marriage after a term of three months, and
he turned to the Minister and said “O Wazir, this be the ancient dame
who presented me with the jewels and to whom we pledged our word that
when the three months had elapsed we would summon her to our presence
before all others.” So the Minister went forth and fetched her[154] and
when she went in to the Sultan’s presence she saluted him and prayed for
his glory and permanence of prosperity. Hereat the King asked her if she
needed aught, and she answered, “O King of the Age, the three months’
term thou assignest to me is finished, and this is thy time to marry my
son Alaeddin with thy daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur.” The Sultan was
distraught at this demand, especially when he saw the old woman’s pauper
condition, one of the meanest of her kind; and yet the offering she had
brought to him was of the most magnificent, far beyond his power to pay
the price. Accordingly, he turned to the Grand Wazir and said, “What
device is there with thee? In very sooth I did pass my word, yet
meseemeth that they be pauper folk and not persons of high
condition.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Grand
Wazir, who was dying of envy and who was especially saddened by what had
befallen his son, said to himself, “How shall one like this wed the
King’s daughter and my son lose this highmost honour?” Accordingly, he
answered his Sovran speaking privily, “O my lord, ’tis an easy[155]
matter to keep off a poor devil such as this, for he is not worthy that
thy Highness give his daughter to a fellow whom none knoweth what he may
be?” “By what means,” enquired the Sultan, “shall we put off the man
when I pledged my promise; and the word of the Kings is their bond?”
Replied the Wazir, “O my lord, my rede is that thou demand of him forty
platters made of pure sand-gold[156] and full of gems (such as the woman
brought thee aforetime), with forty white slave-girls to carry the
platters and forty black eunuch-slaves.” The King rejoined, “By Allah, O
Wazir, thou hast spoken to the purpose, seeing that such thing is not
possible and by this way we shall be freed.” Then quoth he to Alaeddin’s
mother, “Do thou go and tell thy son that I am a man of my word even as
I plighted it to him, but on condition that he have power to pay the
dower of my daughter; and that which I require of him is a settlement
consisting of two score platters of virgin gold, all brimming with gems
the like of those thou broughtest to me, and as many white handmaids to
carry them and two score black eunuch-slaves to serve and escort the
bearers. An thy son avail hereto I will marry him with my daughter.”
Thereupon she returned home wagging her head and saying in her mind,
“Whence can my poor boy procure these platters and such jewels? And
granted that he return to the Enchanted Treasury and pluck them from the
trees which, however, I hold impossible; yet given that he bring them
whence shall he come by the girls and the blacks?” Nor did she leave
communing with herself till she reached her home, where she found
Alaeddin awaiting her, and she lost no time in saying, “O my son, did I
not tell thee never to fancy that thy power would extend to the Lady
Badr al-Budur, and that such a matter is not possible to folk like
ourselves?” “Recount to me the news,” quoth he; so quoth she, “O my
child, verily the Sultan received me with all honour according to his
custom and, meseemeth his intentions towards us be friendly. But thine
enemy is that accursed Wazir; for, after I addressed the King in thy
name as thou badest me say:—In very sooth the promised term is past,
adding:—’Twere well an thy Highness would deign issue commandment for
the espousals of thy daughter the Lady Badr al-Budur to my son Alaeddin,
he turned to and addressed the Minister who answered privily, after
which the Sultan gave me his reply.” Then she enumerated the King’s
demands and said, “O my son, he indeed expecteth of thee an instant
reply; but I fancy that we have no answer for him.”——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell
us some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With
love and good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that when
Alaeddin heard these words he laughed and said, O my mother, thou
affirmest that we have no answer and thou deemest the case difficult
exceedingly; but compose thy thoughts and arise and bring me somewhat
we may eat; and, after we have dined, an the Compassionate be willing,
thou shalt see my reply. Also the Sultan thinketh like thyself that he
hath demanded a prodigious dower in order to divert me from his
daughter, whereas the fact is that he hath required of me a matter far
less than I expected. But do thou fare forth at once and purchase the
provision and leave me to procure thee a reply.” So she went out to
fetch her needful from the Bazar and Alaeddin retired to his chamber
and taking the Lamp rubbed it, when forthright appeared to him its
Slave and said, “Ask, O my lord, whatso thou wantest.” The other
replied, “I have demanded of the Sultan his daughter to wife and he
hath required of me forty bowls of purest gold each weighing ten
pounds[157] and all to be filled with gems such as we find in the
Gardens of the Hoard; furthermore, that they be borne on the heads of
as many white handmaids, each attended by her black eunuch-slave, also
forty in full rate; so I desire that thou bring all these into my
presence.” “Hearkening and obeying, O my lord,” quoth the Slave and,
disappearing for the space of an hour or so, presently returned
bringing the platters and jewels, handmaids and eunuchs; then, setting
them before him the Marid cried, “This be what thou demandest of me:
declare now an thou want any matter or service other than this.”
Alaeddin rejoined, “I have need of naught else; but, an I do, I will
summon thee and let thee know.” The Slave now disappeared and, after a
little while, Alaeddin’s mother returned home and, on entering the
house, saw the blacks and the handmaids.[158] Hereat she wondered and
exclaimed, “All this proceedeth from the Lamp which Allah perpetuate
to my son!” But ere she doffed her mantilla Alaeddin said to her, “O
my mother, this be thy time before the Sultan enter his
Serraglio-palace[159] do thou carry to him what he required and wend
thou with it at once, so may he know that I avail to supply all he
wanteth and yet more; also that he is beguiled by his Grand Wazir and
the twain imagined vainly that they would baffle me.” Then he arose
forthright and opened the house-door, when the handmaids and
blackamoors paced forth in pairs, each girl with her eunuch beside
her, until they crowded the quarter, Alaeddin’s mother foregoing them.
And when the folk of that ward sighted such mighty fine sight and
marvellous spectacle, all stood at gaze and they considered the forms
and figures of the handmaids marvelling at their beauty and
loveliness, for each and every wore robes inwrought with gold and
studded with jewels, no dress being worth less than a thousand
dinars.[160] They stared as intently at the bowls and albeit these
were covered with pieces of brocade, also orfrayed and dubbed with
precious stones, yet the sheen outshot from them dulled the shine of
sun.——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the folk and
especially the people of the quarter stood a-marvelling at this singular
scene. Then Alaeddin’s mother walked forwards and all the handmaids and
eunuchs paced behind her in the best of ordinance and disposition, and
the citizens gathered to gaze at the beauty of the damsels, glorifying
God the Most Great, until the train reached the palace and entered it
accompanied by the tailor’s widow. Now when the Aghas and Chamberlains
and Army-officers beheld them, all were seized with surprise, notably by
seeing the handmaids who each and every would ravish the reason of an
anchorite. And albeit the royal Chamberlains and Officials were men of
family, the sons of Grandees and Emirs, yet they could not but
especially wonder at the costly dresses of the girls and the platters
borne upon their heads; nor could they gaze at them open-eyed by reason
of the exceeding brilliance and radiance. Then the Nabobs went in and
reported to the King who forthright bade admit them to the
presence-chamber, and Alaeddin’s mother went in with them. When they
stood before the Sultan, all saluted him with every sign of respect and
worship and prayed for his glory and prosperity; then they set down from
their heads the bowls at his feet and, having removed the brocade
covers, rested with arms crossed behind them. The Sultan wondered with
exceeding wonder and was distraught by the beauty of the handmaids and
their loveliness which passed praise; and his wits were wildered when he
considered the golden bowls brimful of gems which captured man’s vision,
and he was perplexed at the marvel until he became, like the dumb,
unable to utter a syllable for the excess of his wonder. Also his sense
was stupefied the more when he bethought him that within an hour or so
all these treasures had been collected. Presently he commanded the
slave-girls to enter, with what loads they bore, the dower of the
Princess; and, when they had done his bidding Alaeddin’s mother came
forward and said to the Sultan, “O my lord, this be not much wherewith
to honour the Lady Badr al-Budur, for that she meriteth these things
multiplied times manifold.” Hereat the Sovran turned to the Minister and
asked, “What sayest thou, O Wazir? is not he who could produce such
wealth in a time so brief, is he not, I say, worthy to become the
Sultan’s son-in-law and take the King’s daughter to wife?” Then the
Minister (although he marvelled at these riches even more than did the
Sultan), whose envy was killing him and growing greater hour by hour,
seeing his liege lord satisfied with the moneys and the dower and yet
being unable to fight against fact, made answer, “’Tis not worthy of
her.” Withal he fell to devising a device against the King that he might
withhold the Lady Badr al-Budur from Alaeddin and accordingly he
continued, “O my liege, the treasures of the universe all of them are
not worth a nail-paring of thy daughter: indeed thy Highness hath prized
these things overmuch in comparison with her.”——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Sixtieth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that when the King
heard the words of his Grand Wazir, he knew that the speech was prompted
by excess of envy; so turning to the mother of Alaeddin he said, “O
woman, go to thy son and tell him that I have accepted of him the dower
and stand to my bargain, and that my daughter be his bride and he my
son-in-law: furthermore, bid him at once make act of presence that I may
become familiar with him: he shall see naught from me save all honour
and consideration, and this night shall be the beginning of the
marriage-festivities. Only, as I said to thee, let him come to me and
tarry not.” Thereupon Alaeddin’s mother returned home with the speed of
the stormwinds that she might hasten her utmost to congratulate her son;
and she flew with joy at the thought that her boy was about to
become[161] son-in-law to the Sultan. After her departure the King
dismissed the Divan and, entering the palace of the Princess, bade them
bring the bowls and the handmaids before him and before her, that she
also might inspect them. But when the Lady Badr al-Budur considered the
jewels, she waxed distraught and cried, “Meseemeth that in the
treasuries of the world there be not found one jewel rivalling these
jewels.” Then she looked at the handmaids and marvelled at their beauty
and loveliness, and knew that all this came from her new bridegroom who
had sent them in her service. So she was gladdened, albeit she had been
grieved and saddened on account of her former husband, the Wazir’s son,
and she rejoiced with exceeding joy when she gazed upon the damsels and
their charms; nor was her sire, the Sultan, less pleased and inspirited
when he saw his daughter relieved of all her mourning and melancholy and
his own vanished at the sight of her enjoyment. Then he asked her, “O my
daughter, do these things divert thee? Indeed I deem that this suitor of
thine be more suitable to thee than the son of the Wazir; and right
soon, (Inshallah!) O my daughter, thou shalt have fuller joy with him.”
Such was the case with the King; but as regards Alaeddin, as soon as he
saw his mother entering the house with face laughing for stress of joy
he rejoiced at the sign of glad tidings and cried, “To Allah alone be
lauds! Perfected is all I desired.” Rejoined his mother, “Be gladdened
at my good news, O my son, and hearten thy heart and cool thine eyes for
the winning of thy wish. The Sultan hath accepted thine offering, I mean
the moneys and the dower of the Lady Badr al-Budur, who is now thine
affianced bride; and, this very night, O my child, is your marriage and
thy first visit to her; for the King, that he might assure me of his
word, hath proclaimed to the world thou art his son-in-law and promised
this night to be the night of going in. But he also said to me:—Let thy
son come hither forthright that I may become familiar with him and
receive him with all honour and worship. And now here am I, O my son, at
the end of my labours: happen whatso may happen the rest is upon thy
shoulders.” Thereupon Alaeddin arose and kissed his mother’s hand and
thanked her, enhancing her kindly service: then he left her and entering
his chamber took the Lamp and rubbed it when, lo and behold! its Slave
appeared and cried, “Adsum! Ask whatso thou wantest.” The young man
replied, “’Tis my desire that thou take me to a Hammám whose like is not
in the world; then, fetch me a dress so costly and kingly that no
royalty ever owned its fellow.” The Marid replied, “I hear and I obey,”
and carried him to Baths such as were never seen by the Kings of the
Chosroës, for the building was all of alabaster and carnelian and it
contained marvellous limnings which captured the sight; and the great
hall[162] was studded with precious stones. Not a soul was therein but,
when Alaeddin entered, one of the Jann in human shape washed him and
bathed[163] him to the best of his desire.——And Shahrazad was surprised
by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Sixty-first Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that Alaeddin, after
having been washed and bathed, left the Baths and went into the great
hall where he found that his old dress had been removed and replaced by
a suit of the most precious and princely. Then he was served with
sherbets and ambergris’d coffee[164] and, after drinking, he arose and a
party of black slaves came forwards and clad him in the costliest of
clothing, then perfumed and fumigated him. It is known that Alaeddin was
the son of a tailor, a pauper, yet now would none deem him to be such;
nay, all would say, “This be the greatest that is of the progeny of the
Kings: praise be to Him who changeth and who is not changed!” Presently
came the Jinni and lifting him up bore him to his home and asked, “O my
lord, tell me hast thou aught of need?” He answered, “Yes, ’tis my
desire that thou bring me eight and forty Mamelukes, of whom two dozen
shall forego me and the rest follow me, the whole number with their
war-chargers and clothing and accoutrements; and all upon them and their
steeds must be of naught save of highest worth and the costliest, such
as may not be found in treasuries of the Kings. Then fetch me a stallion
fit for the riding of the Chosroes and let his furniture, all thereof,
be of gold crusted with the finest gems:[165] fetch me also eight and
forty thousand dinars that each white slave may carry a thousand gold
pieces. ’Tis now my intent to fare to the Sultan, so delay thou not, for
that without all these requisites whereof I bespake thee I may not visit
him. Moreover set before me a dozen slave girls unique in beauty and
dight with the most magnificent dresses, that they wend with my mother
to the royal palace; and let every handmaid be robed in raiment that
befitteth Queen’s wearing.” The Slave replied, “To hear is to obey;”
and, disappearing for an eye-twinkling, brought all he was bidden bring
and led by hand a stallion whose rival was not amongst the Arabian
Arabs,[166] and its saddle cloth was of splendid brocade gold-inwrought.
Thereupon, without stay or delay, Alaeddin sent for his mother and gave
her the garments she should wear and committed to her charge the twelve
slave-girls forming her suite to the palace. Then he sent one of the
Mamelukes, whom the Jinni had brought, to see if the Sultan had left the
Serraglio or not. The white slave went forth lighter than the lightning
and returning in like haste, said, “O my lord, the Sultan awaiteth
thee!” Hereat Alaeddin arose and took horse, his Mamelukes riding a-van
and arear of him, and they were such that all must cry, “Laud to the
Lord who created them and clothed them with such beauty and loveliness.”
And they scattered gold amongst the crowd in front of their master who
surpassed them all in comeliness and seemlihead nor needst thou ask
concerning the sons of the Kings,—“praise be to the Bountiful, the
Eternal! All this was of the virtues of the Wonderful Lamp,”[167] which,
whoso possessed, him it gifted with fairest favour and finest figure,
with wealth and with wisdom. The folk admired Alaeddin’s liberality and
exceeding generosity and all were distraught seeing his charms and
elegance, his gravity and his good manners, they glorified the Creator
for this noble creation, they blessed him each and every and, albeit
they knew him for the son of Such-an-one, the tailor, yet no man envied
him; nay, all owned that he deserved his great good fortune.——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Sixty-second Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the people were
bewildered at Alaeddin and his liberality and generosity; and all
blessed and prayed for him, high and low, as he rode palace-wards with
the Mamelukes before and behind him, scattering gold upon the heads of
the folk. Now the Sultan had assembled the Lords of the land and,
informing them of the promise he had passed to Alaeddin, touching the
marriage of his daughter, had bidden them await his approach and then go
forth, one and all, to meet him and greet him. Hereupon the Emirs and
Wazirs, the Chamberlains, the Nabobs and the Army-officers took their
stations expecting him at the palace gate. Alaeddin would fain have
dismounted at the outer entrance; but one of the Nobles, whom the King
had deputed for such duty, approached him and said, “O my lord, ’tis the
Royal Command that thou enter riding thy steed nor dismount except at
the Divan-door.”[168] Then they all forewent him in a body and conducted
him to the appointed place where they crowded about him, these to hold
his stirrup and those supporting him on either side whilst others took
him by the hands and helped him dismount; after which all the Emirs and
Nobles preceded him into the Divan and led him close up to the royal
throne. Thereupon the Sultan came down forthright from his seat of
estate and, forbidding him to buss the carpet, embraced and kissed and
seated him to the right[169] of and beside himself. Alaeddin did whatso
is suitable, in the case of the Kings, of salutation and offering of
blessings, and said, “O our lord the Sultan, indeed the generosity of
thy Highness demanded that thou deign vouchsafe to me the hand of thy
daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur, albeit I undeserve the greatness of
such gift, I being but the humblest of thy slaves. I pray Allah grant
thee prosperity and perpetuance; but in very sooth, O King, my tongue is
helpless to thank thee for the fullness of the favour, passing all
measure, which thou hast bestowed upon me. And I hope of thy Highness
that thou wilt give me a piece of ground fitted for a pavilion which
shall besit thy daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur.” The Sultan was struck
with admiration when he saw Alaeddin in his princely suit and looked
upon him and considered his beauty and loveliness, and noted the
Mamelukes standing to serve him in their comeliness and seemlihead; and
still his marvel grew when the mother of Alaeddin approached him in
costly raiment and sumptuous, clad as though she were a Queen, and when
he gazed upon the twelve handmaids standing before her with crossed arms
and with all worship and reverence doing her service. He also considered
the eloquence of Alaeddin and his delicacy of speech and he was
astounded thereat, he and all his who were present at the levée.
Thereupon fire was kindled in the Grand Wazir’s heart for envy of
Alaeddin until he was like to die: and it was worse when the Sultan,
after hearing the youth’s succession of prayers and seeing his high
dignity of demeanour, respectful withal, and his eloquence and elegance
of language, clasped him to his bosom and kissed him and cried, “Alas, O
my son, that I have not enjoyed thy converse before this day!”——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Sixty-third Night,