Page:Aladdin, or, The wonderful lamp.pdf/19

 be glad to. have it confirmed by your son; therefore go and ask him how it was. The grand vizier went immediately to his son, and communicated to him what the sultan had told him, and enjoined him to conceal nothing from him, but to tell him the whole truth; father, replied the son, all that the princess says is true: but what she relates particularly to myself she knows nothing of. Then he told his father all that had befallen him the last two nights, and added, I would much rather die, than live longer in so great an alliance, if I must undergo what I have already endured. Therefore, father, I beg you, by the same tenderness you had for me to procure me so great an honour, to get the sultan’s consent that our marriage may be declared null and void.

He then left him to go and give the sultan an account of what he had told him, and begged of him to give his son leave to retire from the palace. The grand vizier found no great difficulty to obtain what he asked. From that instant the sultan gave orders to put a stop to all rejoicings in the palace and town. This sudden and unexpected change gave rise both in the city and kingdom to various speculations and inquiries; but what is most particular, neither the sultan nor the grand vizier had the least thought that Aladdin had any hand in the enchantment which caused the dissolution of the marriage. Nevertheless, Aladdin waited till the three months were completed, and then sent his mother to the palace, to remind the sultan of his promise.

Aladdin’s mother went to the palace and stood before the divan in the same place as before. The sultan no sooner cast his eyes upon her, but he said, Vizier, I see the good woman who made me the present some months hence; forbear your report till I have heard what she has to say. The vizier then looking about the divan, presently perceived Aladdin’s mother, and sent the chief of the officers for her. She then came to the foot of the throne, and prostrated herself as usual, and when she rose up again, the sultan asked her what she would have. Sir, said she, I come to remind you of your promise to my son Aladdin. The sultan declined giving her an answer till he had consulted his vizier. The grand vizier freely told the sultan his thoughts on the matter, and said to him, In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible way for your majesty to avoid a match so disproportionable, without giving Aladdin any cause of complaint; which is, to set so high a value upon the princess, that were he never so rich, he could not come up to it.

The sultan approving of the grand vizier’s advice, turned about to Aladdin’s mother, and said to her, Good woman, it is true sultans ought to be as good as their words, but as I cannot marry her without some valuable consideration from your son, you may tell him, I will fulfil my promise as soon as he shall send me forty basins of massy gold, brimful of the same things you have already made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome well-made white slaves, all dressed magnificently. Go, hasten home and declare my will to your son.

As soon as Aladdin received this message, he rubbed the lamp, and the genie stood before him, whom he commanded to bring the basins of gold.