ver took his eyes off him; and throughout the whole of their
conversation Aladdin shewed so much good sense, as confirmed the sultan
in the high opinion he had formed of him.

After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his capital, and
ordered him to draw up immediately a contract of marriage between the
Princess Badroulboudour, his daughter, and Aladdin.

When the judge had drawn up the contract in all the requisite forms, the
sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace, and solemnise the
ceremonies of marriage that day; to which he answered: "Sir, though
great is my impatience to enjoy your majesty's goodness, yet I beg of
you to give me leave to defer it till I have built a palace fit to
receive the princess; therefore I petition you to grant me a convenient
spot of ground near your abode, that I may the more frequently pay my
respects, and I will take care to have it finished with all diligence."
"Son," said the sultan, "take what ground you think proper, there is
space enough on every quarter round my palace; but consider, I cannot
see you too soon united with my daughter, which alone is wanting to
complete my happiness." After these words he embraced Aladdin again, who
took his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred up and had
always lived at court.

Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the acclamations
of the people, who wished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon as
he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, took the lamp, and called
the genie as before, who in the usual manner made him a tender of his
service. "Genie," said Aladdin, "I have every reason to commend your
exactness in executing hitherto punctually whatever I have demanded; but
now, if you have any regard for the lamp, your protector, you must shew,
if possible, more zeal and diligence than ever. I would have you build
me, as soon as you can, a palace opposite, but at a proper distance
from, the sultan's, fit to receive my spouse, the Princess
Badroulboudour. I leave the choice of the materials to you, that is to
say, porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, or the finest marble of
various colours, and also the architecture of the building. But I expect
that on the terraced roof of this palace you will build me a large hall
crowned with a dome, and having four equal fronts; and that instead of
layers of bricks, the walls be formed of massy gold and silver, laid
alternately: that each fron