the sultan had appointed for the communication of the marriage between
the princess Badr-oul-boudour and himself; but the next day sent his
mother to the palace, to remind the sultan of his promise.
Aladdin’s mother went to the palace, as her son had bid her, and stood
before the divan in the same place as before. The sultan no sooner cast
his eyes upon her, but he knew her again, and 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 some months hence:
forbear your report till I have heard what she has to say.” The vizier
then, looking about the divan, presently perceived Aladdin’s mother, and
sent the chief of the officers for her.
Aladdin’s mother came to the foot of the throne and prostrated herself
as usual, and when she rose up again, 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 took his time to answer the request of this good
woman, the first time he saw her, little thought of hearing any more of
a marriage which he imagined must be very disagreeable to the princess,
when he only considered the meanness and poverty of Aladdin’s mother in
her dress, not above the common run; but this summons for him to be as
good as his word was somewhat embarrassing to him; 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 fortune he supposed to be very mean indeed.
The grand vizier freely told the sultan his thoughts on the matter, and
said to him, “In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible way for your
majesty to avoid a match so disproportionable, without giving Aladdin,
were he better known to your majesty, any cause of complaint; which is,
to set so high a value upon the princess, that were he never so rich, he
could not come up to it. This is the only way to make him desist from so
bold, not to say rash, an undertaking, which he never weighed before he
engaged in it.”
The sultan, approving of the grand vizier’s advice, turned about to
Aladdin’s mother, and after some reflection, said to her, “Good woman,
it is true sultans ought to be as good as their words, and I am ready to
keep mine, by making your son happy by the marriage of the princess, my
daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some valuable consideration
from your son, you may tell him, I will fulfil my promise as soon as he
shall send me forty basins of massy gold, brimful of the same things 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 well-made
white slaves, all dressed magnificently. On these conditions, I am ready
to bestow the princess, my daughter, on 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 such
large gold basins and enough of that coloured glass to fill them? Must
he go again to that subterraneous abode, the entrance into which is
stopped up, and gather them off the trees? But 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 well satisfied 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 Badr-oul-boudour. The sultan received me very kindly,
and I believe he was well inclined to you; but if I am not very much
deceived, the grand vizier has made him change his mind, as you will
guess from what I have to tell you. After I had represented to his
majesty that the three months were expired, and begged of him to
remember his promise, I observed that he whispered with his grand vizier
before he gave me this answer.” Then she gave her son an exact account
of what the sultan said to her, and the conditions on which he consented
to the match. Afterwards 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 greater difficulties,
and that he would have set a higher price upon that incomparable
princess. But I am very well pleased; 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 us something for dinner, and leave the rest to me.”
As soon as Aladdin’s mother was gone out to market, Aladdin took up 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 of me forty large basins of
massy gold, brimful of the fruits of the garden from whence I took this
lamp you are slave to; and these he expects to have carried by as many
black slaves, each preceded by a young handsome well-made 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 afterwards the genie returned with forty black slaves,
each bearing on his head a basin of massy gold of twenty marks’ weight,
full of pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, all larger and more
beautiful than those presented to the sultan before. Each basin was
covered with a silver stuff, embroidered with flowers of gold: all
these, and the white slaves, quite filled the house, which was but a
small one, and the little court before it, and the little garden behind.
The genie asked Aladdin if he had any other commands. Aladdin telling
him that he wanted nothing farther then, the genie disappeared.
When Aladdin’s mother came from market, she was in a great surprise 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 Aladdin
prevented her, and said, “Mother, let us lose no time: but before the
sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace, and go
with this present, as the dowry he asked for the princess
Badr-oul-boudour, that he may judge by my diligence and exactness of the
ardent and sincere zeal I have to procure myself the honour of this
alliance.” Without waiting for his mother making a reply, Aladdin opened
the street door, and made the slaves walk out; a white slave followed
always by a black one with a basin on his head. When they were all got
out, the mother followed the last black slave, and 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 at length receive him as
his son-in-law.
The first white slave that went out of the house made all the people,
who were going by and saw him, stop; and before they were all got out of
the house, the streets were crowded with spectators, who ran to see so
extraordinary and noble a sight. 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 good grace, noble air, and delicate shape
and proportion of each slave was unparalleled; their grave walk at an
equal distance from each other, the lustre of the jewels, which were
large, and curiously set in their girdles of massy gold, in beautiful
symmetry, and those ensigns of precious stones in their hats, which were
of so particular a taste, put the crowds of spectators into so great
admiration, that they could not be weary of gazing at them, and
following them with their eyes as far as possible; but the streets were
so crowded with people that none could move out of the spot they stood
on. As they were to pass through a great many streets to go to the
palace, a great part of the city had an opportunity of seeing them. As
soon as the first of these slaves arrived at the palace gate, the
porters formed themselves into order, and took him for a king, by the
richness and 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.”
Then this 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 very much eclipsed by the slaves
who bare Aladdin’s present, of which they themselves made a part.
Nothing was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan’s palace
before; and all the lustre of the lords of his court was not to be
compared to them.
As the sultan, who had been informed of their march, and coming to the
palace, had given orders for them to be admitted when they came, they
met with no obstacle, but went into the divan in good order, one part
filing to the right and the other to the left. After they had all
entered, and had formed a great semicircle before the sultan’s throne,
the black slaves laid the basins on the carpet, and all prostrated
themselves, touching the carpet with their foreheads and at the same
time the white slaves did the same. When they all rose again, the black
slaves uncovered the basins, and then all stood with their arms crossed
over their breasts with great modesty.
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 Aladdin
is sensible this present, which he has sent your majesty, is much below
the princess Badr-oul-boudour’s worth; but hopes, nevertheless, that
your majesty will accept of it, and make it agreeable to the princess,
with the greater confidence that he has endeavoured to conform to the
conditions you were pleased to impose on him.”
The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this compliment
of Aladdin’s mother. The moment he cast his eyes on the forty basins,
brimful of the most precious, brilliant, and beautiful jewels he had
ever seen, and the fourscore slaves, who appeared, by the comeliness of
their persons, and the richness and magnificence of their dress, like so
many kings, he was so struck that he could not recover from his
admiration; but, instead of answering the compliment of Aladdin’s
mother, addressed himself to the grand vizier, who could not any more
than the sultan comprehend from whence such a profusion of riches could
come.—“Well, vizier,” said he aloud, “who do you think it can be that
has sent me so extraordinary a present, and neither of us know? Do you
think him worthy of the princess Badr-oul-boudour, my daughter?”
The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief to see a stranger
preferred to be the sultan’s son-in-law before his son, durst not
disguise his sentiments. It was too visible that Aladdin’s present was
more than sufficient to merit his being received into that great
alliance; therefore, adopting the sultan’s sentiments, he returned this
answer: “I am so far, sir, from having any thoughts that the person who
has made your majesty so noble a present is unworthy of the honour you
would do him, that I should be bold to say he deserved much more, if I
was not persuaded that the greatest treasure in the world ought not to
be put in a balance with the princess, your majesty’s daughter.”—This
advice was applauded by all the lords who were then in council.
The Sultan made no longer hesitation, nor thought of informing himself
whether Aladdin was endowed with all the qualifications requisite in one
who aspired to be his son-in-law. The sight alone of such immense
riches, and Aladdin’s diligence in satisfying his demand, without
starting the least difficulty on the exorbitant conditions he had
imposed on him, easily persuaded him that he could want nothing to
render him accomplished, and such as he desired. Therefore, to send
Aladdin’s mother back with all the satisfaction she could desire, he
said to her, “Good woman, go and tell your son that I wait to receive
him with open arms and embrace him; and the more haste he makes to come
and receive the princess my daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure
he will do me.”
As soon as Aladdin’s mother retired, overjoyed as a woman in her
condition must be, to see her son raised beyond all expectations to such
great fortune, the sultan put an end to the audience for that day; and,
rising from his throne, ordered that the princess’s eunuchs should come
and carry those basins into their mistress’s apartment, whither he went
himself to examine them with her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves
were not forgotten, but were conducted into the palace; and some time
after, the sultan, telling the princess Badr-oul-boudour of their
magnificent appearance, ordered them to be brought before her apartment,
that she might see through the lattices he exaggerated not in his
account of them.
In the meantime Aladdin’s mother got home, and shewed in her air and
countenance the good news she brought her son. “My son,” said she to
him, “you have now all the reason in the world to be pleased: you are,
contrary to my expectations, arrived at the height of your desires, and
you know what I always told you. Not to keep you too long in suspense,
the sultan, with the approbation of the whole court, has declared that
you are worthy to possess the princess Badr-oul-boudour, and waits to
embrace you, and conclude your marriage; therefore you must think of
making some preparations for that interview, that may answer the high
opinion he has formed of your person; and after the wonders I have seen
you do, I am persuaded nothing can be wanting. But I must not forget to
tell you, the sultan waits for you with great impatience, therefore lose
no time to go to him.”
Aladdin, charmed with this news, and full of the object which possessed
his soul, made his mother very little reply, but retired to his chamber.
There after he had rubbed his lamp, which had never failed him in
whatever he wished for, the obedient genie appeared. “Genie,” said
Aladdin, “I want to bathe immediately; and you must afterwards provide
me the richest and most magnificent habit ever worn by a monarch.” No
sooner were the words out of his mouth, but the genie rendered him, as
well as himself invisible, and transported him into a bath of the finest
marble of all sorts of colours, where he was undressed, without seeing
by whom, in a neat and spacious hall. From the hall he was led to the
bath, which was of a moderate heat, and he was there rubbed and washed
with all sorts of scented water. After he had passed through several
degrees of heat, he came out, quite a different man from what he was
before. His skin was clear, white, and red, and his body lightsome and
free; and when he returned into the hall, he found instead of his own, a
suit, the magnificence of which very much surprised him. The genie
helped him to dress, and when he had done, transported him back to his
own chamber, where he asked him if he had any other commands. “Yes,”
answered Aladdin; “I expect you should bring me as soon as possible a
horse, that surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan’s
stables, with a saddle, bridle, and housing, and other accoutrements
worth a million of money. I want also twenty slaves, as richly clothed
as those who carried the present to the sultan, to walk by my side, and
follow me, and twenty more such to go before me in two ranks. Besides
these, bring my mother six women slaves to wait on her, as richly
dressed at least as any of the princess Badr-oul-boudour’s, each loaded
with a complete suit fit for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand
pieces of gold in ten purses. Go, and make haste.”
As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, and
presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carried
each a purse with one thousand pieces of gold, and six women slaves,
each carrying on her head a different dress for Aladdin’s mother,
wrapped up in a piece of silver stuff, and presented them all to
Aladdin.
Of the ten purses Aladdin took but four, which he gave to his mother,
telling her those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he
left in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw
them by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan’s palace.
The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march
before him, three on the right hand and three on the left. Afterwards he
presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were her
slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use.
When Aladdin had thus settled matters, he told the genie he would call
for him when he wanted him, and thereupon the genie disappeared.
Aladdin’s thoughts now were only of answering, as soon as possible, the
desire the sultan had shown to see him. He despatched one of the forty
slaves to the palace, with an order to address himself to the chief of
the officers, to know when he might have the honour to come and throw
himself at the sultan’s feet. The slave soon acquitted himself of his
message, and brought for answer that the sultan waited for him with
impatience.
Aladdin immediately mounted his horse, and began his march in the order
we have already described: and though he was never on a horse’s back
before, he appeared with such extraordinary grace, that the most
experienced horseman would not have taken him for a novice. The streets
through which he was to pass were almost instantly filled with an
innumerable concourse of people, who made the air echo with their
acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried the
purses threw handfuls of gold into the air on both sides. Neither did
these acclamations and shouts of joy come only from those who scrambled
for the money, but from a superior rank of people, who could not forbear
applauding publicly Aladdin’s generosity. Not only those who knew him
once when he played in the streets like a vagabond, did not know him
again; those who saw him but a little while before hardly knew him, so
much were his features altered: such were the effects of the lamp, as to
procure by degrees to those who possessed it perfections agreeable to
the rank the right use of it advanced them to. Much more attention was
paid to Aladdin’s person than to the pomp and magnificence of his
attendants, which had been taken notice of the day before, when the
slaves walked in procession with the present to the sultan. Nevertheless
the horse was very much admired by good judges, who knew not how to
discern his beauties, without being dazzled with the jewels and richness
of the furniture: and when the report was everywhere spread about, that
the sultan was going to give the princess Badr-oul-boudour in marriage
to him, nobody regarded his birth; nor envied his good fortune, so
worthy he seemed of it.
When he arrived at the palace, everything was prepared for his
reception; and when he came to the second gate, he would have alighted
from off his horse, agreeable to the custom observed by the grand
vizier, the generals of the armies, and governors of provinces of the
first rank; but the chief of the officers, who waited on him by the
sultan’s order, prevented him, and attended him to the council hall,
where he helped him to dismount; though Aladdin opposed him very much,
but could not prevail. The officers formed themselves into two ranks at
the entrance of the hall. The chief put Aladdin on his right hand, and
through the midst of them led him to the sultan’s throne.
As soon as the sultan perceived Aladdin, he was no less surprised to see
him more richly and magnificently clothed than ever he had been himself,
than surprised at his good mien, fine shape, and a certain air of
unexpected grandeur, very different from the meanness his mother
appeared in.
But notwithstanding, his amazement and surprise did not hinder him from
rising off his throne and descending two or three steps quick enough to
prevent Aladdin’s throwing himself at his feet. He embraced him with all
the demonstrations of friendship. After this civility, Aladdin would
have cast himself at his feet again; but he held him fast by the hand,
and obliged him to sit between him and the grand vizier.
Then Aladdin, resuming the discourse, said, “I receive, sir, the honour
which your majesty out of your great goodness is pleased to confer on
me; but permit me to tell you, that I have not forgotten that I am your
slave; that I know the greatness of your power, and that I am not
insensible how much my birth is below the splendour and lustre of the
high rank to which I am raised. If in any way,” continued he, “I could
have merited so favourable a reception, I confess I owe it merely to the
boldness which chance inspired in me to raise my eyes, thoughts, and
desires to the divine princess, who is the object of my wishes. I ask
your majesty’s pardon for my rashness, but I cannot dissemble, that I
should die with grief if I should lose my hopes of seeing them
accomplished.”
“My son,” answered the sultan, embracing him a second time, “you would
wrong me to doubt for a moment of my sincerity: your life from this
moment is too dear to me not to preserve it, by presenting you with the
remedy which is at my disposal. I prefer the pleasure of seeing and
hearing you before all your treasure added to mine.”
After these words the sultan gave a signal, and immediately the air
echoed with the sound of trumpets and hautboys, and other musical
instruments: and at the same time the sultan led Aladdin into a
magnificent hall, where there was prepared a noble feast. The sultan and
Aladdin ate by themselves, the grand vizier and the great lords of the
court, according to their dignity and rank, waited all the time. The
conversation turned on different subjects; but all the while the sultan
took so great a pleasure in seeing him, that he hardly ever took his
eyes off him; and throughout all their conversation Aladdin shewed so
much good sense, as confirmed the sultan in the good opinion he had of
him.
After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his capital, and
ordered him to draw up immediately a contract of marriage between the
princess Badr-oul-boudour his daughter, and Aladdin. In the meantime the
sultan and he entered into another conversation on various subjects, in
the presence of the grand vizier and the lords of the court, who all
admired the solidity of his wit, the great ease and freedom wherewith he
delivered himself, and the beautiful thoughts, and his delicacy in
expressing them.
When the judge had drawn up the contract in all the requisite forms, the
sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and solemnise the
ceremonies of marriage that day. To which he answered, “Sir, though
great is my impatience to enjoy your majesty’s goodness, yet I beg of
you to give me leave to defer it till I have built a palace fit to
receive the princess in; I therefore desire you to grant me a convenient
spot of ground near your palace, that I may come the more frequently to
pay my respects to you, and I will take care to have it finished with
all diligence.” “Son,” said the sultan, “take what ground you think
proper; there is land enough before my palace; but consider, I cannot
then see you so soon united with my daughter, which would complete my
joy.” After these words he embraced Aladdin again, who took his leave
with as much politeness as if he had been bred up and had always lived
at court.