marriage were conducted in the sultan's palace with great
magnificence. The ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion,
and the princess and the son of the vizier retired to the
bedchamber prepared for them. No sooner had they entered it and
dismissed their attendants, than the genie, the faithful slave of
the lamp, to the great amazement and alarm of the bride and
bridegroom, took up the bed, and, by an agency invisible to them,
transported it in an instant into Aladdin's chamber, where he set
it down. "Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and
keep him a prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him
here." On Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he
endeavored to assuage her fears, and explained to her the
treachery practised upon him by the sultan her father. He then
laid himself down beside her, putting a drawn scimitar between
them, to show that he was determined to secure her safety, and to
treat her with the utmost possible respect. At break of day the
genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back the
bridegroom, whom, by breathing upon, he had left motionless and
entranced at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night; and,
at Aladdin's command, transported the couch with the bride and
bridegroom on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of
the sultan.
At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the
bride and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the
door to offer his good wishes to his daughter.
The grand vizier's son, who was almost perished with cold by
standing in his thin under-garment all night, no sooner heard the
knocking at the door than he got out of bed and ran into the
robing chamber, where he had undressed himself the night before.
The sultan, having opened the door, went to the bedside, kissed
the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see
her look so melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look,
expressive of great affliction. He suspected there was something
extraordinary in this silence, and thereupon went immediately to
the sultaness's apartment, told her in what a state he found the
princess, and how she had received him. "Sire," said the
sultaness, "I will go and see her; she will not receive me in the
same manner."
The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs
of deep dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of
telling her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise
description of all that happened to her during the night; on which
the sultaness enjoined on her the necessity of silence and
discretion, as no one would give credence to so strange a tale.
The grand vizier's son, elated with the honor of being the
sultan's son-in-law, kept silence on his part, and the events of
the night were not allowed to cast the least gloom on the
festivities on the following day, in continued celebration of the
royal marriage.
When night came the bride and bridegroom were again attended to
their chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding
evening. Aladdin, knowing that this would be so, had already given
his commands to the genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they
alone than their bed was removed in the same mysterious manner as
on the preceding evening; and having passed the night in the same
unpleasant way, they were in the morning conveyed to the palace of
the sultan. Scarcely had they been replaced in their apartment
than the sultan came to make his compliments to his daughter, when
the princess could no longer conceal from him the unhappy
treatment she had been subjected to, and told him all that had
happened, as she had already related it to her mother. The sultan,
on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand vizier;
and finding from him that his son had been subjected to even worse
treatment by an invisible agency, he determined to declare the
marriage to be cancelled, and all the festivities, which were yet
to last for several days, to be countermanded and terminated.
This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various
speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and
he kept it with the most scrupulous silence; and neither the
sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his
request, had the least thought that he had any hand in the strange
adventures that befel the bride and bridegroom.
On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's
promise expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace,
and stood in the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her
again, and directed his vizier to have her brought before him.
After having prostrated herself she made answer, in reply to the
sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the
fulfilment of the promise you made to my son." The sultan little
thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to him in
earnest, or that he would hear any more of the matter. He
therefore took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the
sultan should attach such conditions to the marriage that no one
in the humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfil.
In accordance with this suggestion of the vizier, the sultan
replied to the mother of Aladdin: "Good woman, it is true sultans
ought to abide by their word, 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 proof of your son
being able to support her in royal state, 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? 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 told Aladdin all the circumstances of
her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on which he
consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects your answer
immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe he
may wait long enough!"
"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This
demand is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage
with the princess. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request."
Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the
lamp, and required him to immediately prepare and present the
gift, before the sultan closed his morning audience, according to
the terms in which it had been prescribed. The genie professed his
obedience to the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very
short time, a train of forty black slaves, led by the same number
of white slaves, appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin
lived. Each black slave carried on his head a basin of massy gold,
full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Aladdin then
addressed his mother; "Madam, pray 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 and exactness of the ardent and sincere
desire I have to procure myself the honor of this alliance."
As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at
its head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city
was filled with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a
sight. The graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness
of each slave; their grave walk at an equal distance from each
other; the lustre of their jewelled girdles, and the brilliancy of
the aigrettes of precious stones in their turbans, excited the
greatest admiration in the spectators. As they had to pass through
several streets to the palace, the whole length of the way was
lined with files of spectators. Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so
beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's palace, and the richest
robes of the emirs of his court were not to be compared to the
costly dresses of these slaves, whom they supposed to be kings.
As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given
orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but
went into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the
right, and the other to the left. After they were all entered, and
had formed a semi-circle before the sultan's throne, the black
slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves,
touching the carpet with their foreheads, 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 prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire,
my son knows this present is much below the notice of Princess
Buddir al Buddoor; but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will
accept of it, and make it agreeable to the princess, and with the
greater confidence since he has endeavored to conform to the
conditions you were pleased to impose."
The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such more than royal
magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's
mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to
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 had retired, the sultan put an
end to the audience; and rising from his throne, ordered that the
princess's attendants should come and carry the trays into their
mistress's apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with
her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the
palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent
apparel, ordered them to be brought before her apartment, that she
might see through the lattices he had not exaggerated in his
account of them.
In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her
air and countenance the good news she brought her son. "My son,"
said she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your
desires. The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess
Buddir al Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience."
Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little
reply, but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and
the obedient genie appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at
once to a bath, and supply me with the richest and most
magnificent robe ever worn by a monarch."
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered
him, as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a
hummum of the finest marble of all sorts of colors, where he was
undressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious
hall. He was then well rubbed and washed with various scented
waters. 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 as that of a child, his body lightsome and free; and
when he returned into the hall, he found, instead of his own poor
raiment, a robe the magnificence of which astonished 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; "bring me a charger that
surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan's stables,
with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with his
value. Furnish 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 to go before me in two ranks. Besides these,
bring my mother six women slaves to attend her, as richly dressed
at least as any of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying
a complete dress 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,
but presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of
whom carried each a purse containing ten 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 tissue, and
presented them all to Aladdin.
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. Of the ten purses Aladdin took 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.
When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview
with the sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting
his charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback
before, appeared with a grace the most experienced horseman might
envy. The innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed
made the air echo with their acclamations, especially every time
the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among
the populace.
On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to
find him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been
himself, and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of
manner, which were so different from what he expected in the son
of one so humble as Aladdin's mother. He embraced him with all the
demonstrations of joy, and when he would have fallen at his feet,
held him by the hand, and made him sit near his throne. He shortly
after led him, amid the sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all
kinds of music, to a magnificent entertainment, at which the
sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and the great lords of the
court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different
tables. After the feast the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and
commanded him to draw up a contract of marriage between the
Princess Buddir al Buddoor and Aladdin. When the contract had been
drawn, the sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and
complete the ceremonies of the marriage that day.
"Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience to enter on
the honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me
first to build a palace worthy to receive the princess your
daughter. I pray you to grant me sufficient ground near your
palace, and I will have it completed with the utmost expedition."
The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again embraced him.
After which he took his leave with as much politeness as if he had
been bred up and had always lived at court.
Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amid the
acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and
prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own
chamber, took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual, who
professed his allegiance.
"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the
Princess Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing
less than porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis-lazuli, and the finest
marble. Let its walls be massive gold and silver bricks laid
alternately. Let each front contain six windows, and let the
lattices of these (except one, which must be left unfinished) be
enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, so that they shall
exceed everything of the kind ever seen in the world. Let there be
an inner and outer court in front of the palace, and a spacious
garden; but, above all things, provide a safe treasure-house, and
fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens and
storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with their
equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, attendants,
and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the princess
and myself. Go and execute my wishes."
When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie the sun was set. The
next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and having
obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the
palace he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments,
where he found officers and slaves, habited according to their
rank and the services to which they were appointed. The genie then
showed him the treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where
Aladdin saw large vases of different sizes, piled up to the top
with money, ranged all round the chamber. The genie thence led him
to the stables, where were some of the finest horses in the world,
and the grooms busy in dressing them; from thence they went to the
storehouses, which were filled with all things necessary, both for
food and ornament.
When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and
particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found
it to far exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there
is one thing wanting--a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon
from the sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately."
The genie disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed
in an instant. The genie then returned and carried him to his own
home.
When the sultan's porters came to open the gates they were amazed
to find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a
magnificent palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the
way from the sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the
grand vizier, who informed the sultan, who exclaimed, "It must be
Aladdin's palace, which I gave him leave to build for my daughter.
He has wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders can be
done in only one night."
Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home,
requested his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and
tell her that the palace would be ready for her reception in the
evening. She went, attended by her women slaves, in the same order
as on the preceding day. Shortly after her arrival at the
princess's apartment, the sultan himself came in, and was
surprised to find her, whom he knew as his suppliant at his divan
in such humble guise, to be now more richly and sumptuously
attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher opinion of
Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her share his
wealth and honors. Shortly after her departure Aladdin, mounting
his horse, and attended by his retinue of magnificent attendants,
left his paternal home forever, and went to the palace in the same
pomp as on the day before. Nor did he forget to take with him the
wonderful lamp, to which he owed all his good-fortune, nor to wear
the ring which was given him as a talisman. The sultan entertained
Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at night, on the
conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took leave
of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession,
followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black
mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four
hundred of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each
side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's and
Aladdin's palaces, made it as light as day. In this order the
princess, conveyed in her litter, and accompanied also by
Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb litter and attended by her
women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which was spread from the
sultan's palace to that of Aladdin. On her arrival Aladdin was
ready to receive her at the entrance, and led her into a large
hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax candles, where a
noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massy gold, and
contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and goblets
were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the other
ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this
display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in
one place, said to Aladdin: "I thought, prince, that nothing in
the world was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but
the sight of this hall alone is sufficient to show I was
deceived."
When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female
dancers, who performed, according to the custom of the country,
singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and
bridegroom.
About midnight Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial
apartment, and he soon after retired.
The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to
dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent
as that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to
be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop
of slaves to the sultan's palace, to entreat him to take a repast
in the princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the
lords of his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up
immediately, and, preceded by the principal officers of his
palace, and followed by all the great lords of his court,
accompanied Aladdin.
The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace the more he was
struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, came into the
hall, and saw the windows enriched with diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, all large, perfect stones, he was completely surprised,
and said to his son-in-law: "This palace is one of the wonders of
the world; for where in all the world besides shall we find walls
built of massy gold and silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds
composing the windows? But what most surprises me is that a hall
of this magnificence should be left with one of its windows
incomplete and unfinished." "Sire," answered Aladdin, "the
omission was by design, since I wished that you should have the
glory of finishing this hall." "I take your intention kindly,"
said the sultan, "and will give orders about it immediately."
After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment
provided for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed
that the jewellers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned
to the hall, and showed them the window which was unfinished. "I
sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great
perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the
despatch you can."
The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows
with great attention, and after they had consulted together, to
know what each could furnish, they returned, and presented
themselves before the sultan, whose principal jeweller,
undertaking to speak for the rest, said: "Sire, we are all willing
to exert our utmost care and industry to obey you; but among us
all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great a work." "I have
more than are necessary," said the sultan; "come to my palace, and
you shall choose what may answer your purpose."
When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to
be brought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity,
particularly those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they
soon used, without making any great advance in their work. They
came again several times for more, and in a month's time had not
finished half their work. In short, they used all the jewels the
sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yet the work was not
half done.
Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this
window like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and
goldsmiths, and not only commanded them to desist from their
work, but ordered them to undo what they had begun, and to carry
all their jewels back to the sultan and to the vizier. They undid
in a few hours what they had been six weeks about, and retired,
leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the lamp, which he
carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie appeared.
"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the four-
and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed
my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the
rest." The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the
hall, and returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it
to be, like the others.