greeable to the sultan, but she still hesitated. "My son," said she, "I
cannot conceive that the sultan will look upon me with a favourable eye;
I am sure, that if I attempt to deliver your strange message, I shall
have no power to open my mouth; therefore I shall not only lose my
labour, but the present, which you say is so valuable, and shall return
home again in confusion, to tell you that your hopes are frustrated.
But," added she, "I will do my best to please you, though certainly the
sultan will either laugh at me, or be in so great a rage, as to make us
both the victims of his fury."

She used many other arguments to endeavour to make Aladdin change his
mind; but he persisted in importuning his mother to execute his
resolution, and she, out of tenderness, complied with his request.

As it was now late, and the time for admission to the palace was passed,
the visit was put off till the next day. The mother and son talked of
different matters the remaining hours; and Aladdin strove to encourage
her in the task she had undertaken; while she could not persuade herself
she should succeed; and it must be confessed she had reason enough to
doubt. "Child," said she to Aladdin, "if the sultan should hear my
proposal with calmness, and after this should think of asking me where
lie your riches and your estate, what answer would you have me return
him?"

"Let us not be uneasy, mother," replied Aladdin, "about what may never
happen. First, let us see how the sultan receives, and what answer he
gives you. If he desires to be informed of what you mention, I am
confident that the lamp will not fail me in time of need."

The tailor's widow reflected that the lamp might be capable of doing
greater wonders than just providing victuals for them, and this removed
all the difficulties which might have prevented her from undertaking the
service she had promised. Aladdin, who penetrated into his mother's
thoughts, said to her: "Above all things, mother, be sure to keep secret
our possession of the lamp, for thereon depends the success we have to
expect;" and after this caution they parted to go to rest. Aladdin rose
before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to get herself
dressed to go to the sultan's palace, and to get admittance, if
possible, before the great officers of state went in to take their seats
in the divan, where the sultan always assisted in person.

Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put