dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning,
on the Princess’s refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off
her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the Vizier’s son if
it were not so. The Sultan told the Vizier to ask his son, who owned
the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had rather
die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be
separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of
feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the
Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the
Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for
her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt 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

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