as possible. As soon as the first of these slaves arrived at
the palace gate, the porters formed themselves into order, taking him
for a prince from the magnificence of his habit, and were going to kiss
the hem of his garment; but the slave, who was instructed by the genie,
prevented them, and said: "We are only slaves, our master will appear at
a proper time."

The first slave, followed by the rest, advanced into the second court,
which was very spacious, and in which the sultan's household was ranged
during the sitting of the divan. The magnificence of the officers, who
stood at the head of their troops, was considerably eclipsed by the
slaves who bore Aladdin's present, of which they themselves made a part.

As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach to the palace,
had given orders for them to be admitted, they went into the divan in
regular order, one part filing to the right, and the other to the left.
After they were all entered, and had formed a semicircle before the
sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet,
prostrating themselves, and at the same time the white slaves did the
same. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all
stood with their arms crossed over their breasts.

In the meantime Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, and
having paid her respects, said to the sultan: "Sir, my son is sensible
that this present, which he has sent your majesty, is much below the
Princess Badroulboudour's worth; but hopes, nevertheless, that your
majesty will accept of it."

The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this compliment.
The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays, full of the most
precious and beautiful jewels he had ever seen, and the fourscore
slaves, who appeared by the elegance of their persons, and the
magnificence of their dress, like so many princes, he was overwhelmed.
Instead of answering the compliment of Aladdin's mother, he addressed
himself to the grand vizier, who could not any more than the sultan
comprehend from whence such a profusion of richness could come. "Well,
vizier," said he aloud, "who do you think it can be that has sent me so
extraordinary a present? Do you think him worthy of the Princess
Badroulboudour, my daughter?"

The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief at seeing a stranger
preferred to his son, durst not disguise his sentiments. It was too
visible that Aladdin's present w