lt less inclined than ever to
keep his word, and asked his Vizier's advice, who counselled him to set
so high a value on the Princess that no man living would come up to it.
The Sultan than turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a
sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your
son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried
by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed.
Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and
went home, thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the message adding,
"He may wait long enough for your answer!" "Not so long, mother, as
you think," her son replied. "I would do a great deal more than that
for the Princess." He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the
eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small house and garden.
Aladdin made them to set out to the palace, two by two, followed by his
mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels, that
everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on
their heads. They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the
Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms
crossed, while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan. He
hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son
that I wait for him with open arms." She lost no time in telling
Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin first called the genie.
"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse
surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this,
six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten
thousand pieces of gold in ten purses." No sooner said then done.
Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves
strewing gold as they went. Those who had played with him in his
childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. When the sultan saw
him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall
where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the Princess that
very day. But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for
her," and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie: "Build me
a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other
precious stones. In the middle you shall build me a large hall with a
dome, its four walls of massy gold and silver, each side having six
windo