laddin, "I foresaw all that you have said, or can
say: and tell you that neither your discourse nor your remonstrances
shall make me change my mind. I have told you that you must ask the
princess in marriage for me. I beg of you not to refuse, unless you
would rather see me in my grave, than by your compliance give me new
life."

The good old woman was much embarrassed, when she found Aladdin
persisting in so wild a design. "My son," said she again, "I am your
mother, and there is nothing that is reasonable but I would readily do
for you. If I were to go and treat about your marriage with some
neighbour's daughter, I would do it with all my heart; and even then
they would expect you should have some little estate, or be of some
trade. When such poor folks as we are wish to marry, the first thing
they ought to think of, is how to live. But without reflecting on the
meanness of your birth, and the little fortune you have to recommend
you, you aim at the highest pitch of exaltation; and your pretensions
are no less than to demand in marriage the daughter of your sovereign,
who with one single word can crush you to pieces. How could so
extraordinary a thought come into your head, as that I should go to the
sultan and ask him to give his daughter in marriage to you? Suppose I
had the impudence to present myself before the sultan, to whom should I
address myself to be introduced to his majesty? Do you not think the
first person I should speak to would take me for a mad woman, and
chastise me as I should deserve? I know there is no difficulty to those
who go to petition for justice, which the sultan distributes equally
among his subjects; I know, too, that to those who ask a favour he
grants it with pleasure when he sees it is deserved. But do you think
you have merited the honour you would have me ask? What have you done to
claim such a favour, either for your prince or country? How can I open
my mouth to make the proposal to the sultan? His majestic presence and
the lustre of his court would absolutely confound me. There is another
reason, my son, which you do not think of, which is that nobody ever
goes to ask a favour of the sultan without a present. But what presents
have you to make? and what proportion could they bear to the favour you
would ask? Therefore, reflect well, and consider that you aspire to an
object which it is impossible for you to obtain."

Aladdin heard very calmly all that his mother could say to dissu