第3章

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother toremind the Sultan of his promise.She stood in the same place asbefore, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at onceremembered him, and sent for her.On seeing her poverty theSultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and askedhis Vizier's advice, who counselled him to set so high a value onthe Princess that no man living would come up to it.The Sultanthan turned to Aladdin's mother, saying:"Good woman, a sultanmust remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but yourson must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels,carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones,splendidly dressed.Tell him that I await his answer."Themother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message adding, "He may wait long enough foryour answer!""Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied.

"I would do a great deal more than that for the Princess."He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived,and filled up the small house and garden.Aladdin made them to setout to the palace, two by two, followed by his mother.They were sorichly dressed, with such splendid jewels, that everyone crowdedto see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan,stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed,while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan.He hesitatedno longer, but said:"Good woman, return and tell your son that Iwait for him with open arms."She lost no time in telling Aladdin,bidding him make haste.But Aladdin first called the genie.

"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit,a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me.

Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother;and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses."No sooner saidthen done.Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets,the slaves strewing gold as they went.Those who had played withhim in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome.

When the sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him,and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intendingto marry him to the Princess that very day.But Aladdin refused,saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and took his leave.

Once home, he said to the genie:"Build me a palace of the finestmarble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones.In themiddle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four wallsof massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices,all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamondsand rubies.There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves;go and see about it!"

The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried himthere and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, evento the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's.

Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to thepalace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback.

The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals tomeet them, so that the air resounded with music and cheers.

She was taken to the Princess, who saluted her and treated her withgreat honour.At night the princess said good-bye to her father,and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his motherat her side, and followed by the hundred slaves.She was charmedat the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her."Princess," hesaid, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you."She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyedher father in this matter.After the wedding had taken place,Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and shesupped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace.Onentering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with theirrubies, diamonds and emeralds, he cried, "It is a world's wonder!

There is only one thing that surprises me.Was it by accidentthat one window was left unfinished?""No, sir, by design,"returned Aladdin."I wished your Majesty to have the glory offinishing this palace."The Sultan was pleased, and sent for thebest jewelers in the city.He showed them the unfinished window,and bade them fit it up like the others."Sir," replied theirspokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough."The Sultan had his ownfetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in a month'stime the work was not half done.Aladdin knowing that their taskwas vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, andthe genie finished the window at his command.The Sultan wassurprised to receive his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, whoshowed him the window finished.The Sultan embraced him, theenvious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing.

He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won severalbattles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and livedthus in peace and content for several years.