e hand, and
obliged him to sit close to the throne.

Alla ad Deen then addressed the sultan, saying, "I receive the
honour which your majesty out of your great condescension is
pleased to confer; but permit me to assure you, that I have not
forgotten that I am your slave; that I know the greatness of your
power, and that I am not in sensible how much my birth is below
the splendour and lustre of the high rank to which I am raised.
If any way," continued he, "I could have merited so favourable a
reception, I confess I owe it merely to the boldness which chance
inspired in me to raise my eyes, thoughts, and desires to the
divine princess, who is the object of my wishes. I ask your
majesty's pardon for my rashness, but I cannot dissemble, that I
should die with grief were I to lose my hopes of seeing them
accomplished."

"My son," answered the sultan, embracing him a second time, "you
would wrong me to doubt for a moment of my sincerity: your life
from this moment is too dear to me not to preserve it, by
presenting you with the remedy which is at my disposal. I prefer
the pleasure of seeing and hearing you before all your treasure
added to my own."

After these words, the sultan gave a signal, and immediately the
air echoed with the sound of trumpets, hautboys, and other
musical instruments: and at the same time the sultan led Alla ad
Deen into a magnificent hall, where was laid out a most splendid
collation. The sultan and Alla ad Deen ate by themselves, while
the grand vizier and the great lords of the court, according to
their dignity and rank, sat at different tables. The conversation
turned on different subjects; but all the while the sultan took
so much pleasure in looking at his intended son-in-law, that he
hardly ever took his eyes off him; and throughout the whole of
their conversation Alla ad Deen showed so much good sense, as
confirmed the sultan in the high opinion he had formed of him.

After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his
capital, and ordered him to draw up immediately a contract of
marriage between the princess Buddir al Buddoor his daughter and
Alla ad Deen. In the mean time the sultan and he entered into
another conversation on various subjects, in the presence of the
grand vizier and the lords of the court, who all admired the
solidity of his wit, the great ease and freedom wherewith he
delivered himself, the justness of his remarks, and his energy in
expressing them.

Whe