The History of Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp Part Two

"Till this moment Aladdin had never seen any woman without her veil, except his mother, who was rather old, and who, even in her youth, had not possessed any beauty. He was therefore incapable of forming any judgment respecting the attractions of women.

"The appearance of the Princess Badroulboudour dispelled the notion Aladdin had entertained that all women resembled his mother. His opinions underwent an entire change, and his heart could not help surrendering itself to the object whose appearance had captivated him. The princess was, in fact, the most beautiful brunette ever seen. Her eyes were large, well shaped, and full of fire; yet the expression of her countenance was sweet and modest. Her nose was pretty and properly proportioned; her mouth small; her lips were like vermilion, and beautifully formed; in short, every feature of her face was perfectly lovely and regular. It is, therefore, by no means wonderful that Aladdin was dazzled at beholding a combination of charms to which he had hitherto been a stranger. Besides all these perfections, this princess had an elegant figure and a most majestic air.

"Long after she had passed him and entered the bath, Aladdin stood still like a man entranced, retracing and impressing more strongly on his own mind the image by which he had been charmed, and which had penetrated to the very bottom of his heart. At last he came to himself; and recollecting that the princess was gone, and that it would be perfectly useless for him to linger in the hope of seeing her come out, as she would then be veiled, he determined to quit his post and retire.

"When he came home Aladdin was unable to conceal his disquietude from the observation of his mother. She was very much surprised to see him appear so melancholy, and to notice the embarrassment of his manner. She asked him if anything had happened to him, or if he were unwell. He gave her no answer whatever, but continued sitting on the sofa, entirely taken up in retracing in his imagination the lovely image of the Princess Badroulboudour.

"Aladdin passed a wakeful night, occupied by thoughts of the beauty and charms of the Princess Badroulboudour; but the next morning, as he was sitting upon the sofa opposite his mother, he addressed her in the following words: 'O my mother, I will now break the long silence I have kept since my return from the city yesterday morning. I was not ill as you seemed to think, nor is anything the matter with me now; yet I can assure you that the pain I at this moment feel, and which I shall ever continue to feel, is much worse than any disease.

"'It was not proclaimed in this quarter of the city,' continued Aladdin, 'and therefore you of course have not heard that the Princess Badroulboudour, the daughter of our sultan, went to the bath after dinner yesterday. As I was not far from the bath at the time, the desire I felt to see the face of the princess made me take it into my head to place myself behind the door of the bath supposing that she might take off her veil just before she went into the building. She did take off her veil as she passed in, and I had the supreme happiness and satisfaction of seeing this beautiful princess. This, my dear mother, is the true cause of the state you saw me in yesterday, and the reason of the silence I have hitherto kept. I feel such a violent affection for this princess, that I know no terms strong enough to express it; and as my ardent love for her increases every instant, I am convinced it can only be satisfied by the possession of the amiable Princess Badroulboudour, whom I have resolved to ask in marriage of the sultan.'

"Aladdin's mother listened with great attention to this speech of her son's till he came to the last sentence; but when she heard that it was his intention to demand the Princess Badroulboudour in marriage, she could not help bursting into a violent fit of laughter. 'Alas! my son,' she cried, 'what are you thinking of? You must surely have lost your senses to talk thus.' 'Dear mother,' replied Aladdin, 'I do assure you I have not lost my senses. I foresaw very well that you would reproach me with folly and madness; but whatever you may say, nothing will prevent me from again declaring to you that my resolution to demand the Princess Badroulboudour of the sultan, in marriage, is absolutely unchangeable.'

"'In truth, my son,' replied his mother, very seriously, 'I cannot help telling you that you seem entirely to have forgotten who you are; and even if you are determined to put this resolution in practice, I do not know who will have the audacity to carry your message to the sultan.' 'You yourself must do that,' answered he instantly, without the least hesitation. 'I!' cried his mother, with the strongest marks of surprise, 'I go to the Sultan!-not I indeed. Nothing shall induce me to engage in such an enterprise. Have you forgotten that you are the son of one of the poorest tailors in this city? Do you not know that sultans do not deign to bestow their daughters even upon the sons of other sultans, unless the suitors have some chance of succeeding to the throne?'

"'My dear mother,' replied Aladdin, 'neither your reasons nor remonstrances will in the least change my resolution. I have told you that I would demand the Princess Badroulboudour in marriage, and that you must impart my wish to the sultan. It is a favour which I entreat at your hands and I beg you not to refuse me, unless you would see me die, whereas by granting it you will give me life, as it were, a second time.'

"Aladdin's mother was very much embarrassed when she saw with what obstinacy her son persisted in his mad design. 'My dear son,' she said, 'I am your mother, and I am ready to do anything that is reasonable and suited to your situation in life and my own, and to undertake anything for your sake. If this business were merely to ask in marriage the daughter of any of our neighbours whose condition was similar to yours, I would not object. But to hope for success, even with the daughter of one of our neighbours, you ought to possess some little fortune, or at least to be master of some business. But you, regardless of the lowness of your birth, and of your want of merit or fortune, at once aspire to the highest prize, and pretend to nothing less than to ask in marriage the daughter of your sovereign, who has but to open his lips to blast all your designs and destroy you at once.'

"'I will not,' continued Aladdin's mother, 'speak of the probable consequences of this business to you: you ought to reflect upon them if you have any reason left; but I will only consider my own position. Now, suppose that I have the impudence to present myself before his majesty, and make such a mad request of him, to whom should I in the first place address myself to obtain admission to his presence? Do you not see that the very first person I spoke to would treat me as a madwoman, and drive me back with all the indignity and contempt I should so justly merit? But even if I overcame this difficulty, and procured an audience of the sultan, what should I do then? Are you in a position to bring forward your request? Do you think that you deserve the favour which you wish me to ask for you? How can I even open my lips to propose such a thing to the sultan? His illustrious presence and the magnificence of his whole court will instantly strike me dumb with shame. But there is another reason, my son, which you have not yet thought of; and that is, that no one ever appears before the sultan without offering him some present when a favour is sought at his hands. Presents have at least this advantage, that if the monarch refuses your request, he will listen patiently to what you have to say. But what present have you to offer him? Be reasonable, and reflect that you aspire to a thing it is impossible to obtain.'

"Aladdin listened with the greatest patience to all these representations by which his mother sought to dissuade him from his purpose; and addressed her in these words: 'I readily acknowledge to you, my dear mother, that it is a great piece of rashness in me to dare to aspire so high as I do; and that it is also very inconsiderate in me to request you with so much earnestness and warmth to go and propose this marriage to the sultan, I love the Princess Badroulboudour far beyond anything you can possibly conceive, and shall for ever persevere in my wish and intention of marrying her. I thank you sincerely for the hints you have given me.

"'You say that it is not customary to request an audience of the sultan without carrying a present in your hand, and tell me that I have nothing worthy of offering him. I agree with you about the present, and indeed I never once thought of it. But when you tell me I have nothing worthy of his acceptance, I must say you are wrong. Do you not suppose, mother, that the coloured fruits I brought home with me, on the day when I was saved from an almost inevitable death, would be an acceptable present to the sultan? I mean those things which we thought were pieces of coloured glass. I know their value better now, and can inform you that they are precious stones of inestimable worth, and worthy the acceptance of a great sovereign. All the gems which I have seen at our jewellers' are not to be compared with those we have either for size or beauty, and yet they are very highly valued. As I can judge from the little experience I have, I feel assured the present cannot but be very agreeable to the sultan. You have a porcelain dish of a very good shape and size for holding them. Bring it to me, and let us see how the stones will look when we have arranged them according to their different colours.'

"Aladdin's mother brought the dish, and he took the precious stones out of the two purses and arranged them upon it. The effect they produced in broad daylight, by the variety of their colours, their lustre, and brilliancy, was so great that both mother and son were absolutely dazzled and astonished.

"When they had for some time admired the beauty of the present, Aladdin resumed the conversation in these words: 'You cannot now excuse yourself any longer from going and presenting yourself to the sultan upon the plea that you have nothing to offer him. Here is a present which, in my opinion, will procure for you a most favourable reception.'

"Notwithstanding its great beauty and brilliancy, Aladdin's mother had no high opinion of the value of her son's present; still she supposed it would be very acceptable. She was, therefore aware that she could make no further objection on this score. She again recurred to the nature of the request which Aladdin wished her to make to the sultan. 'I cannot, my son,' she said, 'possibly believe that this present will produce the effect you wish, and that the sultan will look upon you with a favourable eye. Then, if you choose me for your messenger, it becomes necessary for me to acquit myself with propriety in the business you wish me to undertake. I shall be struck quite dumb, and thus not only lose all my labour, but the present also, and after all I shall have to come back and inform you of the destruction of all your hopes and expectations.'

"Aladdin's mother continued to urge upon her son many other reasons which should have made him change his mind; but the charms of the Princess Badroulboudour had made too strong an impression upon Aladdin to suffer him to alter his intentions. He persisted in requiring his mother to perform her part in his scheme; and the affection she had for him at length conquered her repugnance, and she promised to do as he bade her.

"Aladdin and his mother talked of nothing else during the rest of the day. Next day Aladdin rose at daybreak, and went immediately to call his mother. He was anxious that she should dress herself as soon as possible, that she might repair to the gate of the sultan's palace, and enter when the grand vizier, and all the officers of state went into the hall of audience, where the sultan always presided in person.

"Aladdin's mother did exactly as her son wished. She took the porcelain dish in which the present of jewels had been arranged, and folded it up in a very fine white linen cloth. Thereupon she set out, to the great joy of Aladdin, and took the road towards the palace of the sultan. The grand vizier, accompanied by the other officers of the court, had already gone into the hall of audience before she arrived at the gate. The crowd was very great. The doors were opened, and Aladdin's mother went into the divan with the rest. Aladdin's mother stopped, and placed herself so that she was opposite the sultan, the grand vizier, and other officers who formed the council. The different applicants were called up one after the other, according to the order in which .their petitions had been presented; and their different cases were heard, pleaded, and determined till the usual hour for breaking up the council. The sultan then rose, saluted the court, and went back to his apartment, followed by the grand vizier. The other viziers and officers who formed the council then went their various ways. All the applicants whose private business had brought them there did the same.

"Aladdin's mother, who saw the sultan get up and retire, rightly imagined that he would not appear any more that day; and, as she observed that every one was going away, she determined to return home. When Aladdin saw her come back with the present in her hand, he knew not at first what to think of the success of her journey. The good woman, who had never before set her foot within the walls of a palace, and who of course knew nothing of the customs of such places, very soon relieved her son from his embarrassment, by saying with a satisfied air: 'I have seen the sultan, my son, and I am certain he has seen me also. I placed myself directly opposite to him, and there was no person in the way to prevent his seeing me; but he was so much engaged in speaking with those who stood around him, that I really felt compassion when I saw the patience and kindness with which he listened to them. This lasted so long, that I believe at length he was quite worn out; for he got up before any one expected it, and retired very suddenly, without staying to hear a great number of persons who were all ranged in readiness to address him in their turn. But do not lose heart. I will not fail to go again to-morrow: the sultan will not then, perhaps, have so much business on his hands.'

"However violent Aladdin's passion was, he felt compelled to be satisfied with this answer, and to summon up all his patience. He had at least the satisfaction of knowing that his mother had got over a most difficult part of the business, and had penetrated into the presence of the sultan; and he therefore hoped that she would not hesitate to acquit herself of the commission with which she was entrusted when the favourable moment for addressing the sultan should arrive.

"The next morning Aladdin's mother set out for the sultan's palace, carrying with her the present of jewels; but again her journey was useless. She returned again to the palace six different times on the appointed days, always placing herself opposite the sultan. But she was each time as unsuccessful as at first; and she would have gone probably a hundred tunes with as little result, if the sultan, who saw her standing opposite him every day the divan sat, had not taken notice of her.

"One day, however, when the council had broken up and the sultan had retired to his apartment, he said to his grand vizier: 'For some time past I have observed a certain woman who comes regularly every day when I hold my council, and who carries something in her hand wrapped in a linen cloth. She always takes care to place herself opposite to me. Do you know what she wants?'

"The grand vizier, who did not wish to appear ignorant of the matter, though in fact he knew no more about it than the sultan himself, replied: 'Your majesty must be aware that women often make complaints upon the most trivial subjects. Probably she has come to your majesty with some complaint against a person who has sold her some bad meat, or on some equally insignificant matter.' This answer, however, did not satisfy the sultan. 'The very next day the council sits,' said he to the grand vizier, 'if this woman returns, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what she has to say.'

"The mother of Aladdin returned to the palace the next day the council met, and placed herself opposite the sultan.

"The grand vizier had scarcely begun to make his usual report, when the sultan perceived Aladdin's mother. Touched with compassion at the great patience she had shown, he said to the grand' vizier: 'In the first place, do you not observe the woman whom I mentioned to you the other day? Order her to come here, and we will begin by hearing what she has to say, and giving her an answer.' The grand vizier immediately pointed out the woman in question to the chief of the ushers, and desired him to go and bring her before the sultan. The officer went directly to the mother of Aladdin; and at a sign he made she followed him to the foot of the throne.

"Following the example set her by many others whom she had seen approach the sultan, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself, and she remained in that position till the sultan commanded her to rise. She obeyed, and he then addressed her in these words: 'For this long time past, good woman, I have seen you regularly attend my divan, and remain near the entrance from the time the council begins to assemble till it breaks up. What is the business that brings you here?' Aladdin's mother answered thus: 'O gracious monarch, before I inform your majesty of the extraordinary and almost incredible cause that compels me to appear before your sublime throne, I entreat you to pardon the boldness of the request I am about to make. It is of so uncommon a nature that I tremble, and feel almost overcome with shame, to think that I should have to propose it to my sultan.' To give the applicant full liberty to explain herself, the sultan commanded every one to leave the divan, and remained with only his grand vizier in attendance. He then told her she might speak, and exhorted her to tell the truth without fear.

"The kindness of the sultan, however, did not perfectly satisfy Aladdin's mother. She was still anxious to screen herself from the indignation which she could not but dread the proposal she had to make would excite. 'O mighty sovereign,' said she, again addressing the sultan, 'I once more entreat your majesty to assure me of your pardon beforehand, in case you should think my request at all injurious or offensive.' 'Whatever it may be,' replied the sultan, 'I pardon you in advance. Speak, therefore, with confidence.'

"Aladdin's mother faithfully related to the sultan by what means Aladdin had seen the Princess Badroulboudour, and with what a violent passion the sight of the princess had inspired him. She told how he had declared this attachment to her, and repeated every remonstrance she had urged to avert his thoughts from this passion. 'A passion,' added she, ‘as injurious to your majesty as to the princess your daughter. But,' she went on to say, 'my son would not listen to anything I could say, nor acknowledge his temerity. And once more I entreat your majesty to pardon not only me for making such a request, but also my son Aladdin, for having conceived the rash and daring thought of aspiring to so illustrious an alliance.'

"The sultan listened to this speech with the greatest patience and good humour, and showed not the least mark of anger at the extraordinary request of Aladdin's mother. Before he returned any answer he asked her what she had with her tied up in a cloth. Upon this Aladdin's mother took up the porcelain dish, which she had set down at the foot of the throne. She removed the linen cloth, and presented the dish to the sultan.

"It is impossible to express the utter astonishment of the monarch when he saw collected together in that dish such a quantity of the most precious, perfect, and brilliant jewels, greater in size and value than any he had ever seen. When he began to recollect himself, he took the present from the hand of Aladdin's mother, and exclaimed, in a transport of joy: 'Ah! how very beautiful, how glorious is this!' And then, after admiring the jewels separately, he turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, asked him if jewels so perfect and valuable had ever been seen before. The vizier was himself delighted with the jewels. 'Tell me,' added the sultan, 'what do you say to such a present? Is not the donor worthy of the princess my daughter? and must not I give her to him who comes and demands her at such a price?'

"This speech of the sultan's was very disagreeable to the grand vizier, because the monarch had some time before given that minister to understand that he had an intention of bestowing the hand of the princess upon the vizier's only son. Therefore the vizier was fearful that the sultan would be dazzled by the rich and extraordinary present, and would, in consequence, alter his mind. He therefore approached the sultan, and whispered the following words in his ear: 'O great monarch, every one must allow that this present is not unworthy of the princess; but I entreat you to grant me three months before you absolutely determine to bestow her hand. I hope that long before that time my son, for whom you have the condescension to express to me great inclination, will be able to offer a much more considerable present than that of Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty.' Although the sultan in his own mind was quite convinced that it was not possible for his grand vizier's son to make so valuable a present to the princess, he nevertheless granted the delay requested. Thereupon he turned towards Aladdin's mother, and said to her: 'Go, my good woman. Return home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal he has made through you, but that I cannot bestow the princess my daughter in marriage until I have ordered and received certain furniture and ornaments, which will not be ready for three months. At the end of that time you may return here.'

"The mother of Aladdin went home in a very joyful mood. When Aladdin saw his mother enter the house, he noticed two circumstances that led him to suppose she brought him good news. In the first place, she had returned that morning much sooner than usual; and, secondly, her countenance expressed pleasure and good humour. 'Tell me, mother,' said Aladdin, 'do you bid me hope, or am I doomed to die in despair?' When his mother had taken off her veil and had seated herself on the sofa by his side, she said: ‘O my son, not to keep you any longer in suspense, I will, in the first place, tell you that you have every reason to be satisfied.' She then went on to explain to him in what manner she had obtained an audience before any one else was heard. She described the precautions she had taken to make her request to the sultan in such a way that he might not be offended when he came to know that she asked nothing less than the hand of the Princess Badroulboudour in marriage for her son; and lastly, she repeated the favourable answer the sultan had given her with his own mouth. She then added that, as far as she could judge from the words and behaviour of the sultan, it was the present that had such a powerful effect upon his mind as to induce him to return so favourable an answer. 'This is my belief,' added she, 'because, before the sultan returned me any answer at all, the grand vizier whispered something in his ear; and I was afraid it would lessen the good intentions he had towards you.'

"When Aladdin heard this good news he thought himself the happiest of mortals. He thanked his mother for all the pains she had taken in managing this business, and for the happy success with which her perseverance had been rewarded. Impatient as he was to possess the object of his affection, the three months that were to elapse seemed to him an age. He nevertheless endeavoured to wait with patience, as he relied upon the word of the sultan, which he considered irrevocable.

"It happened one evening, when about two months of the time had gone, that as Aladdin's mother was going to light her lamp she found that she had no oil in the house. Accordingly she went out to buy some; and on going into the city she soon perceived signs of great festivity and rejoicing. All the shops, instead of being shut up, were open, and ornamented with green branches and decorations; and every preparation was being made for an illumination. The people also showed evident signs of pleasure and rejoicing. The streets were crowded with the different officers in their dresses of ceremony, mounted on horses most richly caparisoned, and surrounded by a great number of attendants and domestics on foot, who were going and coming in every direction. On seeing all this, Aladdin's mother asked the merchant of whom she bought the oil what it all meant. 'Where do you come from, my good woman,' said he, ‘that you do not know that the son of the grand vizier is this evening to be married to the Princess Badroulboudour, the daughter of our sultan? The princess is just now coming from the bath, and the officers whom you see have assembled here to escort her back to the palace where the ceremony is to be performed.'

"Aladdin's mother did not wait to hear more. She returned home with all possible speed, and arrived quite out of breath. She found her son not in the least prepared for the bad news she brought him. 'All is lost, my son!' she exclaimed. 'You depended upon the fair promises of the sultan, and have been deceived.' Aladdin instantly replied: 'My dear mother, why should not the sultan keep his word? How do you know anything about it?' 'This very evening,' answered Aladdin's mother, 'the son of the grand vizier is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour at the palace.' She then related to him in what way she had heard the news.

"Aladdin was greatly astonished at this intelligence. It came upon him like a thunder-stroke. Any person but himself would have been quite overwhelmed; but a sort of secret jealousy prevented him from remaining long inactive. He quickly bethought himself of the lamp, which had hitherto been so useful to him; and then, without indulging in vain reproaches, he only said: 'This bridegroom, mother, shall not be so happy to-night as he expects. While I am gone for a few moments into my chamber, do you prepare supper.'

"His mother easily understood that Aladdin intended to make use of the lamp in order, if possible, to prevent the completion of the marriage of the grand vizier's son with the Princess Badroulboudour. In this conjecture she was right; for as soon as he was in his own room he took the wonderful lamp, rubbed it, and the genie instantly appeared before him. 'What are thy commands? ' said he to Aladdin. 'Attend to me,' answered Aladdin: 'you have hitherto supplied me with food and drink when I needed it. I have now a business of more importance for you. I have demanded of the sultan the Princess Badroulboudour, his daughter, in marriage. He promised her to me, stipulating for a delay of three months; but, instead of keeping his word, he has this very evening, when the three months have not yet elapsed, given his daughter in marriage to the son of his grand vizier. What I order you to do is this: as soon as the bride and bridegroom have retired to rest, take them up and instantly bring them both here in their bed.' 'O master,' replied the genie, 'I will obey thee. Hast thou any further commands?' 'None at present,' said Aladdin. The genie instantly disappeared.

"Aladdin then went back to his mother, and supped with her in the same tranquil manner as usual. After supper he returned to his chamber and left his mother to betake herself to bed. He, of course, did not retire to rest, but waited till the genie should return and report the execution of his orders.

"In the meantime every preparation was made in the sultan's palace to celebrate the nuptials of the princess; and the whole evening was spent in ceremonies and rejoicings till the night was far advanced. When the proper time came, the son of the grand vizier retired unperceived, at a sign that the chief of the eunuchs belonging to the princess privately gave him; and this officer then introduced him into the apartment of the princess his wife, and conducted him to the chamber where the nuptial couch was prepared. The vizier's son retired to bed first; and in a short time the sultana, accompanied by her own women and those of her daughter, brought the bride into the room. The sultana assisted in undressing her; and, wishing her a good night, she retired with all the women.

"Scarcely had this taken place, when the genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, took up the bed with the bride and bridegroom in it; and, to the great astonishment of them both, in an instant transported them to Aladdin's chamber, where he set them down.

"Aladdin, who was awaiting the genie's arrival with the greatest impatience, did not long suffer the son of the grand vizier to retain his place. 'Take this bridegroom,' said he to the genie, 'and shut him up in the lumber-room, and return again in the morning just at daybreak.' The genie instantly took the grand vizier's son, and transported him in his shirt to the place Aladdin had designated, where he left him, after first breathing upon him in such a way that he became paralysed in every limb, and could not stir.

"Though Aladdin felt a deep and fervent affection for the princess, he did not enter into any long conversation with her when he was with her alone. 'Fear nothing, most adorable princess,' he exclaimed, with an air of deep respect; 'you are here in safety; and however violent the love which I feel for you may be-with whatever ardour I adore your beauty and charms-be assured that I will never exceed the limits of the profound veneration I have for you. I have been forced,' he added, 'to proceed to this extremity; but what I have done has not been with the intention of offending you, but to prevent an unjust rival from calling you his, contrary to the promise which the sultan your father has made to me."

"The princess, who knew nothing of all these particulars, paid very little attention to what Aladdin said. The alarm and astonishment caused by this surprising and unexpected adventure had such an effect upon her that Aladdin could not get a single word from her in reply. Presently he laid himself down in the place of the grand vizier's son, with his back turned towards the princess, having first taken the precaution to place a drawn sabre between the princess and himself, as a sign that he deserved to be punished if he off ended her in any way.

"Satisfied with having thus deprived his rival of the beauteous princess who had been promised to him, Aladdin slept very tranquilly. But very different was the case with the princess. Never in her whole life had she passed so unpleasant and disagreeable a night; and we need only remember in what a place and situation the genie had left the son of the grand vizier, to judge that the bridegroom spent his time in still greater discomfort.

"Aladdin had no occasion to rub his lamp the next morning to call the genie, who appeared punctually at the appointed hour, and found Aladdin dressing himself. 'I am here,' said he to Aladdin; 'what commands hast thou for me?' 'Go,' answered Aladdin, 'and bring back the son of the grand vizier from the place where you have put him. Place him again in his bed, and transport it to the palace of the sultan, whence you have brought it.' The genie instantly went to release the grand vizier's son from his imprisonment; and as soon as he appeared, Aladdin took away the sabre. He placed the bridegroom by the side of the princess; and in one moment the bed was carried back to the very same chamber of the sultan's palace whence it had been taken.

"During all these transactions the genie was invisible to the princess and the son of the grand vizier. They did not even hear a single word of the conversation that passed between Aladdin and him, and perceived only by the agitation of the bed that they were being transported from one place to another.

"The genie had just replaced the nuptial couch in the princess' chamber when the sultan came to visit his daughter and wish her good morning. The son of the grand vizier, who was half dead with the cold he had suffered all night, and who not yet had time enough to warm himself, jumped out of bed as soon as he heard the door open, and went into the dressing-room where he had undressed himself the evening before.

"The sultan came up to the bedside of the princess, and kissed her between her eyes, as is the usual custom in wishing any one a good morning. He asked her, with a smile upon his face, how she had slept; but when he looked at her he was extremely surprised to observe that she was in the most dejected and melancholy state. She cast upon him very sorrowful looks, and showed by her whole manner that she was in a state of great alarm and grief. The sultan again spoke to her; but, as he could not get a word from her in reply, he retired. He could not, however, but suspect from her continued silence that something very extraordinary had happened. He therefore went immediately to the apartment of the sultana his wife, to whom he mentioned the state in which he had found the princess, and the reception she had given him. 'O my lord,' replied the sultana, 'I will go and see her. I shall be very much surprised if she will receive me in the same manner.'

"As soon as the sultana was dressed, she went to the apartment of the princess. She approached the bed, and wishing her daughter a good morning, embraced her; but her surprise was great when she found that the princess was in the greatest distress. Therefore she said affectionately: 'My dear daughter, what is the reason that you do not return the caresses I bestow upon you? Something surely has occurred which I do not understand. Tell me candidly what it is, and do not suffer me to remain long in an uncertainty that distresses me beyond measure.'

"At length, with a deep sigh, the Princess Badroulboudour broke silence. 'Alas! my most honoured mother,' she cried, 'pardon me if I have failed in the respect that is due to you. My mind is so entirely absorbed by the strange and extraordinary things which happened to me last night, that I have not yet recovered from my fears, and can scarcely summon courage to speak to you.' She then related in the greatest agitation how on the previous night the bed had been taken up and transported into an ill-furnished and dismal chamber, where she found herself quite alone, and separated from her husband without at all knowing what had become of him; and that she found in this apartment a young man, who, after addressing a few words to her which her terror prevented her from understanding, lay down in her husband's place, having first put his sabre between them; and that, when morning approached, her husband was restored to her, and the bed again brought back to her own chamber in a single instant. 'This second removal,' she added, 'was but just completed when the sultan my father came into my chamber. I was then so full of grief and distress that I could not answer him a single word.'

"The sultana listened with great attention to everything the princess had to relate; but she could not give full credit to her daughter's story. 'You have done well, my child,' she said to the princess, 'not to inform the sultan your father of this matter. Take care that you mention it to no one, unless you wish to be considered a madwoman.' ‘O my mother,' replied the princess, 'I assure you that I am in my right senses, and know what I say: you may ask my husband, and he will tell you the same thing.' 'I will take care to question him,' answered the sultana; 'but even if he gives me the same account as you have done, I shall not be convinced of its truth. In the meantime, however, I beg you will rise and drive this fantasy from your mind.' The sultana then called her women; and after she had made her daughter get up and seen her at her toilet, she went to the sultan's apartment, and told him that some fancy seemed to have got into the head of his daughter, but that it was a mere trifle. She then ordered the son of the grand vizier to be called, in order to question him about what the princess had told her. But he felt himself so highly honoured by this alliance with the sultan, that he determined to feign ignorance. 'Tell me, my dear son-in-law,' said the sultana, 'have you the same strange ideas in your head that your wife has taken into hers?' 'Honoured madam,' he replied, 'may I be permitted to ask the meaning of this question?' 'This is sufficient,' answered the sultana; 'I do not wish to know more. I see you have more sense than she has.'

"The festivities in the palace continued throughout the day; and the sultan, who loved the princess tenderly, omitted nothing that he thought might inspire her with joy. He endeavoured to interest her in the diversions and various exhibitions that were going on; but the recollection of what had happened the preceding night made such a strong impression on her mind, that it was very clear her thoughts were unpleasantly occupied. The son of the grand vizier was equally mortified at the wretched night he had passed; but his ambitious views made him dissemble; and therefore, to judge from his appearance, any one would have thought him the happiest bridegroom in the world.

"Aladdin, who was well informed of everything that had occurred in the palace, did not doubt that the newly married pair would again sleep together, notwithstanding the adventure that had happened to them the night before. He did not, therefore, leave them to repose in quiet: a short time before night came on, he again had recourse to his lamp. The genie instantly appeared, and addressed Aladdin with the accustomed speech. ‘The grand vizier's son and the Princess Badroulboudour,' replied Aladdin, 'are again to sleep together this night. Go, and as soon as they have retired, bring the bed hither as you did yesterday.'

"The genie obeyed Aladdin with the same fidelity he had shown on the previous night, and the vizier's son passed this second night in as cold and unpleasant a situation as he had passed the former; while the princess had the mortification of having Aladdin for a bedfellow, with the sabre, as before, placed between them. In the morning the genie came to carry off the bed, and took it back to the chamber of the palace whence he had taken it.

"The extraordinary reception which the Princess Badroulboudour had given to the sultan on the preceding morning had made him very anxious to learn how she had passed the second night, and whether she would again receive him in the same manner as before. He therefore went to her apartment early in the morning. The grand vizier's son, still more mortified and distressed at the misfortune that had befallen him on the second night than he had been at the first, no sooner heard the sultan than he rose as fast as possible, and ran into the dressing-room. The sultan came to her bedside and wished the princess a good morning. 'Well, my daughter,' he said, 'are you as ill-humoured this morning as you were yesterday? Tell me how you slept last night.' The princess made no reply, and the sultan perceived that she was still more dejected and distressed than she had been the morning before. He could not but believe that something very extraordinary had happened to her. Irritated at the mystery she maintained with him, he drew his sabre, and exclaimed in an angry voice: 'O daughter, tell me what you thus conceal, or I will instantly strike off your head.'

"Terrified at the menaces of the sultan and at the sight of the drawn sabre, the Princess at length broke silence. 'My dear father,' she exclaimed, with tears in her eyes, 'if I have offended your majesty, I most earnestly entreat your pardon. Knowing your goodness, I trust I shall change your anger into compassion, by relating to you the occasion of the distressing and melancholy situation in which I have been placed both last night and the night before.' This appeased and softened the sultan. The princess went on to relate what had happened to her on both these horrible nights, and spoke in so affecting a manner that the sultan was penetrated with grief for the sufferings of his beloved daughter. She concluded her narrative by saying: 'If your majesty has the least doubt of the truth of any part of what I have said, you can easily inquire of the husband you have bestowed upon me: he will corroborate me in everything I have related.'

"The sultan sympathized very fully with the distress this surprising adventure must have excited in his daughter's mind. 'My child,' said he, ‘you were wrong not to divulge to me yesterday the strange story which you have just related, and in which I am not less interested than yourself. I have not bestowed you in marriage to render you unhappy, but, on the contrary, to increase your happiness, and to afford you every enjoyment you so well deserve. Banish from your memory, then, the melancholy remembrance of what you have been relating to me: I will take care that you shall experience no more such nights as those which you have now suffered.'

"When the sultan got back to his apartment, he immediately sent for the grand vizier. 'Have you seen your son?' he asked him, 'and has he made any communication to you?' On the reply of the minister that he had not seen his son, the sultan reported to him everything he had heard from the Princess Badroulboudour. He then added: 'I have no doubt that my daughter has told me the truth. I wish, nevertheless, to have this matter confirmed by the testimony of your son. Go, and question him.'

"The grand vizier immediately went to his son, informed him of what the sultan had said, and commanded him to tell everything that had happened. 'I will conceal nothing from you, my father,' replied the son. 'Everything the princess has told the sultan is true: but she was unable to give an account of the bad treatment which I in particular have experienced. Since my marriage I have spent two of the most dreadful nights you can possibly conceive. But you yourself can judge of the dreadful state I was in, when I tell you that I passed both nights standing upright in a sort of narrow lumber-room, with nothing upon me but my shirt, and deprived of the power of moving from the spot where I was placed, or of making the least movement, although I could not see the obstacle that rendered me thus powerless. Let me add that all this has by no means lessened the respect and affection which I had for the princess my wife; though I confess to you most sincerely that, in spite of all the honour and glory that I derive from having the daughter of my sovereign for my wife, I would much sooner die than continue to enjoy this high alliance, if I must continue to undergo the severe and horrible treatment I have already suffered. I am sure the princess must be of the same opinion as myself, and that our separation is as necessary for her comfort as for my own. I entreat you, therefore, my dear father, to procure the consent of the sultan to have our marriage declared null and void.'

"Great as had been the ambition of the grand vizier to have his son so nearly allied to the sultan, the fixed resolution which he found the young man had formed of dissolving his union with the princess, made him think it necessary to request his son to have patience for a few days before the matter was finally settled, in order to see whether this unpleasant business might not settle itself. He then left his son, and returned to the sultan, to whom he acknowledged that everything the princess had said was true. And then, without waiting till the sultan himself spoke to him about annulling the marriage, he requested permission for his son to leave the palace; giving as his reason that it was not just that the Princess Badroulboudour should be exposed for one instant longer to so terrible a persecution through the marriage she had contracted.

"The grand vizier had no difficulty in obtaining his request. The sultan, who had already settled the matter in his own mind, immediately gave orders that the rejoicings should be stopped, not only in his own palace, but throughout the whole extent of his dominions; and in a short time every mark of public joy and festivity within the kingdom ceased. This sudden and unexpected change gave rise to a variety of different conjectures. Every one was inquiring why these strange orders were issued, and all affirmed that the grand vizier had been seen coming out of the palace, and going towards his own house, accompanied by his son, and that they both seemed very much dejected. Aladdin was the only person who knew the real reason of the change, and he rejoiced most sincerely at the happy success arising from the use of the lamp. And now that he knew for a certainty that his rival had left the palace, and that the marriage between the princess and the vizier's son was absolutely annulled, he had no further occasion to rub his lamp and have recourse to the genie, in order to prevent the completion of the marriage.

"Aladdin allowed the three months, which the sultan wished to elapse before the marriage of the Princess Badroulboudour and himself, to pass without making any application. On the very morning after the whole period had expired he did not fail to send his mother to the palace, to put the sultan in mind of his promise. She went accordingly and stood at her usual place, near the entrance of the divan. As soon as the sultan cast his eyes that way and beheld her, he recollected her, and she instantly brought to his mind the request she had made. As the grand vizier approached to make some report to him, the sultan stopped him by saying: 'I perceive yonder that good woman who presented us with the beautiful collection of jewels some time since; order her to come forward.' The grand vizier directly turned his head towards the entrance of the divan, and perceived the mother of Aladdin. He immediately called to the chief of the ushers, and pointing her out to him, desired him to conduct her forward.

"Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, where she prostrated herself in the usual manner. After she had risen the sultan asked her what she wished. 'O mighty monarch,' she replied, 'I again present myself before the throne of your majesty to announce to you, in the name of my son Aladdin, that the three months during which you have desired him to wait have expired; and to entreat that you will have the goodness to recall that circumstance to your remembrance.'

"When, on a former occasion, the sultan had desired a delay of three months before he acceded to the request of this good woman, he thought he should hear no more of a marriage which appeared to him entirely unsuited to the princess his daughter. He naturally judged of the suitor's position from the apparent poverty and low situation of Aladdin's mother, who always appeared before him in a very coarse and common dress. The application, therefore, which she now made to him to keep his word, embarrassed him greatly, and he did not think it prudent to give her an immediate and direct answer. He consulted his grand vizier, and acknowledged the repugnance he felt at concluding a marriage between the princess and an unknown man, whom fortune, he conjectured, had not raised much above the condition of a common citizen.

"The grand vizier did not hesitate to give his opinion on the subject. 'O my lord,' said he to the sultan,' it seems to me that there is a very easy and yet very certain method to avoid this unequal marriage-a method of which this Aladdin, even if he were known to your majesty, could not complain. It is, to set so high a price upon the princess your daughter, that all his riches, however great they may be, cannot amount to the value. Then he will be obliged to desist from his bold design, which he certainly does not seem to have considered well before he engaged in it.'

"The sultan approved of the advice of his grand vizier; and, after some little reflection, he said to Aladdin's mother: ‘Good woman, it is right that a sultan should keep his word; and I am ready to adhere to mine, and to render your son happy by marrying him to the princess my daughter; but as I cannot bestow her in marriage till I have seen proofs that she will be well provided for, tell your son that I will fufil my promise as soon as he sends me forty large basins of massive gold quite full of jewels, like those which you have already presented to me from him. These basins must be carried by forty black slaves, each of whom shall be conducted by a white slave, young, handsome, and richly dressed. These are the conditions upon which I am ready to give him the princess my daughter for his wife. Go, my good woman, and I will wait till you bring me his answer.'

"Aladdin's mother again prostrated herself at the foot of the throne, and retired. On her way home she smiled within herself at the foolish projects of her son. 'Where, indeed,' said she, 'is he to find so many golden basins, and such a great quantity of coloured glass as he will require to fill them? Will he attempt to go back into the subterraneous cavern, the entrance of which is shut up, that he may gather them off the trees? And where can he procure all the handsome slaves whom the sultan demands? He is far enough from having his wishes accomplished, and I believe he will not be very well satisfied with the result of my embassy.' Thus she entered the house, with her mind occupied by these thoughts. 'My son,' said she, 'I advise you to think no more of your projected marriage with the Princess Badroulboudour. The sultan, indeed, received me with great kindness, and I believe that he was well inclined towards you. It was the grand vizier who, if I am not mistaken, made him alter his opinion. After I had represented to his majesty that the three months had expired, and that I came on your behalf to request he would recollect his promise, I observed that he did not make me the answer I am going to repeat to you until he had spoken for some time in a low tone of voice to the grand vizier.' Aladdin's mother then gave her son a very exact account of everything the sultan had said, and of the conditions upon which he consented to the marriage of the princess his daughter with Aladdin. ‘He is even now, my son,' she continued, 'waiting for your answer; but between ourselves,' she said, with a smile, 'he may wait long enough.' 'Not so long as you may think, mother,' replied Aladdin; ‘and the sultan deceives himself if he supposes that by such exorbitant demands he can prevent my thinking any more of the Princess Badroulboudour. I am very well satisfied; for what he requires of me is a trifle in comparison to what I would give him to possess such a treasure as the princess. While I am taking measures to satisfy his demands, do you go and prepare something for dinner, and leave me awhile to myself.'

"As soon as his mother was gone out to purchase provisions, Aladdin took the lamp. When he rubbed it, the genie instantly appeared, and demanded to know what was required of him. 'The sultan agrees to give me the princess his daughter in marriage,' said Aladdin; 'but he demands of me forty large basins of massive gold, filled to the very top with the various fruits of the garden from which I took the lamp of which you are the slave. He requires also that these forty basins should be brought to him by forty black slaves, preceded by an equal number of young and handsome white slaves very richly dressed. Go and procure me this present as soon as possible, that I may send it to the sultan before the sitting of the divan is over.' The genie said that his master's commands should be instantly executed, and disappeared.

"In a very short time the genie returned with forty black slaves, each carrying upon his head a large golden basin of great weight, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, which might compete for brilliancy and size with those which had already been presented to the sultan. Each basin was covered with a doth of silver embroidered with flowers of gold. The forty black slaves with their golden basins and their white companions entirely filled the house, which was but small, as well as the court in front and a garden behind it. The genie asked Aladdin if he was satisfied, and on being told that nothing further was required, he immediately disappeared.

"Aladdin's mother now returned from market; and great was her surprise on coming home to see so many persons and such vast wealth. When she had set down the provisions she had brought with her, she was going to take off her veil, but Aladdin prevented her, and exclaimed: 'There is no time to lose. It is of consequence that you should return to the palace before the divan breaks up, that you may at once deliver to the sultan the present and dowry which he demands for the Princess Badroulboudour, that he may judge of my ardent and sincere zeal to procure the honour of being received into alliance with his family.'

"Without waiting for his mother's answer, Aladdin opened the door that led into the street and ordered all the slaves to go out one after the other. He then posted a white slave in front of each of the black ones, who carried the golden basins on their heads. When his mother, who followed the last black slave, had gone out, he shut the door and remained quietly in his chamber, fully convinced that the sultan, after receiving such a present as he had required, would now readily consent to accept him as his son-in-law.