to stay at home and close his shutters while the Princess, his
daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to
see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He
hid himself behind the door of the bath and peeped through a chink.
The Princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful
that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so
changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the
Princess so deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to
ask her in marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst
out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the
Sultan and carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the
magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like
the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the
Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The Grand Vizier and the
lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed
herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her.
She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place. When the
council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier: "I
see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying
something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what
she wants." Next day, at a sign from the Vizier, she went up to the
foot of the throne and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her:
"Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want." She hesitated, so the
Sultan sent away all but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely,
promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might say. She
then told him of her son's violent love for the Princess. "I prayed
him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do some
desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of
the Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son
Aladdin." The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin,
whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them. He was
thunderstruck, and turning to the Vizier said: "What sayest thou?
Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who values her at such a
price?" The Vizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan
to withhold her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his
son would contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted
this, and told Aladdin's