smelled the savory odor from the food, "who has given us these
wonderful things? Has the sultan remembered us?"
"Never mind that," said Aladdin. "Let us sit down and eat. When we
have done, I will tell you."
As they ate, both looked at the dishes, but neither knew their value.
They were attracted more by the novelty than by the fact that they
were silver. They lingered long over their food, and after they had
eaten all they could, they found that enough was left for the whole of
the next day.
"Now," said the mother after she had put away the dishes and the
remnants of the feast, "tell me what happened while I was in the
swoon."
What her son told her amazed her as much as the appearance of the
genie.
"What have we to do with genii?" said the mother, "and how came that
vile one to speak to me instead of to you, whom he had seen in the
cave?"
"Mother," answered Aladdin, "the genie I saw in the cave was another,
the slave of the ring. The one you saw was a slave of the lamp."
"What!" cried his mother, "was it the lamp that caused that horrible
genie to speak to me instead of to you? Take the lamp out of my sight
and do with it what you please. If you take my advice, you will part
with the lamp and the ring too, and have nothing to do with genii,
who, as our Prophet has told us, are only devils."
"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall take care how I
sell a lamp which will be so serviceable to us. That stranger would
never have come to us for any reason but to get this lamp, and as we
came honestly by it, let us use it without making any great show and
exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. However, since the
genie frightened you, I will hide the lamp where I can find it in case
I need it. The ring I will never part with, for without it I never
would have seen you again. Let me keep it, therefore, and wear it on
my finger."
Aladdin's mother consented, but declared she would have no more to do
with genii, and would never mention the matter again. When their food
was all gone, Aladdin took one of the silver plates and sold it to an
old Jew, who gave him about a sixtieth of what it was worth. But even
then they were able to live upon the money for several days, and by
selling the other dishes, even at the same low figure, they were able
to live a long time.
When all the money was spent, Aladdin again took the lamp, found the
place where his mother had scrubbed it with sand, and rubbed it once
more.
"What wouldst thou have?" said the genie, who came immediately, as
before. "I and the other slaves of the lamp that is in your hands are
ready to obey thee."
"I am hungry," replied Aladdin; "bring me something to eat."
Then for the second time the genie brought a tray and dishes of silver
loaded with appetizing food, all as fine and valuable as those of the
first gift. After the provisions were eaten, Aladdin started again to
the Jew with one of the plates. As he was passing a goldsmith's shop,
the latter said to him, "My lad, you must have something to sell to
the Jew, whom I have seen you visit so often. Now he is the greatest
of rogues. Let me see what you have, and I will give you all it is
worth, or I will direct you to other merchants who will not cheat
you."
Aladdin pulled the plate from under his vest and showed it to the
goldsmith.
"What does the Jew give you for such a plate?" said the goldsmith.
"I have sold him twelve such for a piece of gold each," replied
Aladdin.
"What a villain!" said the goldsmith. "Let me show you how much the
Jew has cheated you."
The goldsmith weighed the plate and said, "This should bring you sixty
pieces of silver, and I am willing to pay you that for it now."
Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never again went to any
other person.
With such a thing as the lamp in their possession, you may well
believe that neither Aladdin nor his mother suffered for food or
clothing, but they were wise in the use of their treasure and lived
with as great frugality as before the lamp was found.
Aladdin, too, improved in his conduct, and spent the most of his time
among the merchants who sold gold, silver and fine clothing. Here at
one time he learned that the fruits that he had gathered in the garden
were not glass as he had supposed, but were precious jewels of
inestimable value. He took care, however, not to mention this fact to
any one, even his mother.
One day, as Aladdin was walking through the town, he heard a
proclamation that commanded the people to shut up their shops and
houses and stay within doors while the sultan's daughter, the Princess
Buddir al Buddoor, passed through the streets. Aladdin was instantly
inspired with curiosity to see the princess's face, and determined to
gratify his wish by concealing himself behind a door. As it happened,
the princess actually took off her veil just as she passed Aladdin,
and he was able to see her face clearly. She was indeed a noted
beauty. Her eyes were large, lively and sparkling; her smile
bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small; her lips vermilion.
It is not surprising, then, that Aladdin, who had never before seen
any one so beautiful, was both dazzled and enchanted.
After the princess had passed, he hurried home and told his mother his
adventure, concluding, "I love the princess more than I can express,
and am resolved to ask her in marriage of the sultan."
"Alas, child," said the mother. "What are you thinking of? You must be
mad to dream of such a thing."
"Far from it," replied Aladdin. "I am not mad, but in my right senses.
I knew you would reproach me, but I must tell you once more that I am
resolved to ask the princess in marriage, and I do not despair of
success. With the slaves of the ring and of the lamp to help me, how
can I fail? Moreover, I have another secret for you; those pieces of
glass which I took from the trees in that underground garden are
jewels of inestimable value, and fit for the greatest of monarchs.
There is nothing to be compared with mine for size or beauty. I am
sure that they will secure me the favor of the sultan. You have a
large porcelain dish fit to hold them; let us see how they will look
when we have arranged them by colors."
Aladdin's mother brought the dish, and Aladdin placed the jewels in it
according to his fancy. Their brightness and luster and great variety
of colors dazzled the eyes of both mother and son, who had never
before seen them thus together.
Aladdin's mother, fearing that he might be guilty of even greater
extravagance, promised to do as he wished, and early the next morning
she took the china dish in which the jewels had been arranged the day
before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forth to the sultan's
palace, where the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the most
distinguished lords of the court were gathered. Despite the fact that
the crowd was great, she got into the divan, a spacious hall with a
magnificent entrance, and placed herself before the sultan and the
great lords who sat with him in council. After several causes had been
called, pleaded and adjudged according to their order, the divan broke
up, and the sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, accompanied by
all the high officials.
Aladdin's mother, thinking rightly that the sultan would not appear
again that day, hurried back to her home, where she said to Aladdin
with much simplicity, "Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well
persuaded he has seen me, too, for I placed myself just before him;
but he was so much taken up with those who attended on all sides of
him that I pitied him, and wondered at his patience. At last I believe
he was heartily tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would not hear a
great many who were ready prepared to speak to him, but went away, at
which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose all patience, and
was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But there is no harm
done; I will go again; perhaps the sultan may not be so busy."
She went six times afterward on the days appointed, and placed herself
always directly before the sultan, but with as little success as the
first morning.
On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the
sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier: "I
have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly
every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin;
she always stands from the beginning to the breaking up of the
audience, and affects to place herself just before me. If this woman
comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may hear
what she has to say." The grand vizier made answer by lowering his
hand, and then lifting it up above his head, signifying his
willingness to lose it if he failed.
On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and
placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier
immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her
bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed
the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan bowed her head down
to the carpet which covered the platform, of the throne, and remained
in that posture until he bade her rise, which she had no sooner done,
than he said to her, "Good woman, I have observed you to stand many
days from the beginning to the rising of the divan; what business
brings you here?"
After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time;
and when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon
the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and
forgiveness."
"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may,
and no hurt shall come to you; speak boldly."
Then Aladdin's mother told the sultan faithfully the errand on which
her son had sent her.
The sultan hearkened to her discourse without showing any anger; but
before he answered her, he asked her what she had brought tied in the
napkin. Thereupon she uncovered the china dish and presented it to the
sultan. His amazement and surprise were inexpressible, and for some
time he remained lost in admiration. At last, however, he took the
present from the hand of Aladdin's mother, saying, "How rich! how
beautiful!"
Having handled all the jewels, one after another, he turned to the
grand vizier and said, "Behold, admire, wonder! and confess that your
eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before." The vizier was
charmed, and the sultan continued, "What sayest thou to such a
present? Is it not worthy of the princess, my daughter? And ought I
not to be willing to give her to one who values her at so great a
price?"
"I cannot but own," replied the vizier, "that the present is worthy
the princess, but I beg your majesty to grant me three months before
you decide. I hope before that time that my son, whom you have looked
upon with favor heretofore, will be able to make you a nobler present
than this of the stranger, Aladdin."
"Good woman," said the sultan, turning to Aladdin's mother, "go home
and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you made, but I cannot
marry the princess, my daughter, for three months. At the expiration
of that time come again."
Aladdin thought himself the most happy of men when he heard this news,
and began to count every week, day, and even hour that passed, so
great was his impatience. One evening, when two of the three months
had gone, his mother went out to buy some oil, and found a general
festival--the houses dressed with foliage, silks and carpeting, and
every one joining in a great rejoicing. The officers, in showy
uniforms, on richly caparisoned horses, galloped about the streets.
"What is the meaning of all this preparation for public festivity?"
said Aladdin's mother to the oil merchant.
"Where have you been, good woman," answered he, "that you do not know
that the son of the grand vizier is to marry the Princess Buddir al
Buddoor to-night? These officers are to assist at the palace, where
the ceremony is to be solemnized."
Hearing this news, Aladdin's mother ran home very quickly. "Child,"
she cried, "you are undone. The sultan's fine promises have come to
nought. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess
Buddir al Buddoor."
For a moment Aladdin was thunderstruck, but then he bethought himself
of the lamp and summoned the genie, resolved if possible to prevent
the marriage.
"What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I and the other slaves of
the lamp that is in thy hands are ready to obey thee."
"Hear me," said Aladdin. "You have hitherto obeyed me; this is a
harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was promised me as my bride,
is this night married to the son of the grand vizier. Bring them both
hither to me as soon as they have retired to their chamber."
"Master," replied the genie, "I obey thee."
Aladdin supped with his mother as usual and then went to his own
apartment to await the return of the genie.
In the meantime the festivities in honor of the princess's marriage
were conducted at the sultan's palace with great magnificence. When
the ceremonies were concluded, the princess and her husband retired to
the chamber prepared for them. But no sooner had they lain down than
the genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and
alarm of both the bride and the groom, took up the bed and in an
instant transported them all to the chamber of Aladdin.
"Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and keep him a
prisoner till to-morrow morning; then return with him here."
When Aladdin was left alone with the princess, he tried to quiet her
fears and to explain to her the treachery practiced upon him by the
sultan. Then, drawing his scimitar, he laid it down between them to
show her that he would treat her with the utmost possible respect, and
secure her safety.
At break of day, the genie appeared bringing back the bridegroom, whom
he had entranced and left motionless outside the door of Aladdin's
chamber during the night. By Aladdin's command the couch with the
bride and groom was transported into the sultan's palace. A moment
after the genie had set the couch down in the chamber of the palace,
the sultan came to the door to offer his good wishes to his daughter.
The grand vizier's son, who had almost perished from cold by standing
in his thin undergarment all night, hurried to the robing chamber and
dressed himself.
Having opened the door, the sultan went to the bedside, kissed the
princess on the forehead, and was greatly surprised to find her
apparently in the greatest affliction. He left the room in a few
moments and hurried to the apartments of the sultaness, whom he told
of the princess's melancholy.
"Sire," said the sultaness, "I will go and see her; she will not
receive me in the same manner."
Nevertheless, the princess received the sultaness with sighs and
tears, but after some persuasion she told her mother all that had
happened during the night. The sultaness urged her to say nothing
about it, as no one would believe so strange a tale. Naturally the
grand vizier's son, proud of being the sultan's son-in-law, was more
than willing to keep silence.
The next night everything happened precisely as it had on the
preceding night, but the second morning the princess told the sultan
everything she had told her mother. On hearing this strange piece of
news he summoned the grand vizier and declared the marriage canceled,
for he feared even worse treatment from the invisible agency which had
troubled the young couple.
Everybody was astonished at the sultan's change of mind, but no one
except Aladdin knew the cause, and he kept profound silence.
On the very day that the three months expired, Aladdin's mother went
again to the divan and stood in the same place. The sultan knew her
and directed her to be brought before him.
Having prostrated herself before him, she said, "Sire, I come at the
end of three months to ask of you the fulfilment of the promise you
have made to my son."
The sultan had not thought that the request of Aladdin's mother was
made seriously, so he consulted with the vizier, who suggested that
the sultan should not refuse Aladdin's request, but should attach such
conditions to the marriage as would be impossible for Aladdin to
fulfill.
"Good woman," said the sultan after he had made his decision, "sultans
ought to abide by their word, and I will keep mine by making your son
happy in marriage with the princess, my daughter. But I cannot marry
her without some further proof that your son is able to support her in
royal state. Tell him then that I will fulfill my promise when he
sends me forty trays of massy gold filled with jewels such as those he
has given me already, each tray borne by a black slave, who shall be
led by a young and handsome white slave, all dressed magnificently. Go
and tell your son what I say. I will wait for his answer."
"Where," said she on her way home, "can Aladdin get so many large gold
trays and such precious stones to fill them? He will not be much
pleased with my errand this time."
When she came home, she told Aladdin the whole story and added,
laughing, "The sultan expects your answer immediately. I believe he
will have to wait long enough."
"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This demand
is a mere trifle. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request."
In a very short time after Aladdin had retired to his apartment and
conversed again with the genie of the lamp, 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.
"Mother," said Aladdin, "pray lose no time; before the sultan and his
divan rise, be there with this present as the dowry demanded for the
princess, so that he may know how diligent and exact I am, and how
sincere I am in wishing 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 the slaves; their
grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the luster of their
jeweled 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
semicircle 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
likewise. 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 to her son.
"My son," said she, "you may rejoice, for 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, delighted with this news, said little, but hurried into his
chamber. Here 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, making
Aladdin as well as himself invisible, took the latter into an elegant
marble bath, where the youth was well rubbed and washed with scented
waters. When he came out from the bath, his skin was as clear as that
of a child, and his body lightsome and free.
When the bath was finished, Aladdin found before him a robe, the
magnificence of which astonished him. By the genie's aid he put on the
robe, and was returned to his chamber.
"Have you any further command?" asked the genie.
"Yes," answered Aladdin, "bring me a charger that surpasses in
goodness and beauty the best in the sultan's stable. Give him a rich
saddle and bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with his value.
Furnish me with twenty slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried
the present to the sultan, to walk by my side and to follow me, and
twenty more to go before me in two ranks. Bring my mother six women
slaves to attend her, all dressed as richly as any slave of the
Princess Buddir al Buddoor, each slave carrying a complete dress fit
for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten
purses; go, and make haste."
The genie executed all these difficult commands in a moment. Then
Aladdin, taking the women slaves, each carrying on her head a
beautiful dress wrapped in a piece of silver tissue, presented them to
his mother, saying that the dresses were brought for her use. Of the
ten purses, Aladdin gave his mother four. The other six he left in the
hands of the slaves who brought them, telling them to throw the money
by handfuls among the people as the procession went to the sultan's
palace.
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 had been 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 demonstrations of joy, and when
Aladdin would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and made
him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him, amidst the sounds
of trumpets, haut-boys, 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.