ina dish, which she had set down at the
foot of the throne before she prostrated herself before him, untied it,
and presented it to the sultan.

The monarch's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so
many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He
remained for some time motionless with admiration. At last, when he had
recovered himself, he received the present, crying out in a transport of
joy: "How rich, how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled all the
jewels, one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and shewing
him the dish, said: "Behold, admire, wonder, and confess that your eyes
never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before." The vizier was
charmed. "Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a
present? Is it not worthy of the princess, my daughter? And ought I not
to bestow her on one who values her at so great price?"

These words put the grand vizier into extreme agitation. The sultan had
some time before signified to him his intention of bestowing the
princess on a son of his; therefore he was afraid, and not without
grounds, that the present might change his majesty's mind. Therefore
going to him, and whispering him in the ear, he said: "I cannot but own
that the present is worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to
grant me three months before you come to a final resolution. I hope,
before that time, my son, on whom you have had the goodness to look with
a favourable eye, will be able to make a nobler present than Aladdin,
who is an entire stranger to your majesty."

The sultan, though he was fully persuaded that it was not possible for
the vizier to provide so considerable a present for his son, yet
hearkened to him, and granted his request. Turning therefore to the old
widow, he said to her: "Good woman, go home, and tell your son that I
agree to the proposal you have made me; but I cannot marry the princess,
my daughter, till the paraphernalia I design for her be got ready, which
cannot be finished these three months; but at the expiration of that
time, come again."

The widow returned home much more gratified than she had expected, since
she had met with a favourable answer.

Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this news,
and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, the
good success of which was of so great importance to his peace.

When two of the three months were passed, h