The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to
dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as
that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got
ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves
to the sultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the
princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of
his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately,
and, preceded by the principal officers of his palace, and followed by
all the great lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin.
The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was
struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, when he came into the
hall and saw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
all large perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his
son-in-law, "This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where
in all the world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and
silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But
what most surprises me is that a hall of this magnificence should be
left with one of its windows incomplete and unfinished."
"Sire," answered Aladdin, "the omission was by design, since I wished
that you should have the glory of finishing this hall."
"I take your intention kindly," said the sultan, "and will give orders
about it immediately."
After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, provided
for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the
jewelers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall,
and showed them the window which was unfinished.
"I sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great
perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch
you can."
The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with
great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what
each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the
sultan, whose principal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest,
said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry
to obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so
great a work."
"I have more than are necessary," said the sultan. "Come to my palace,
and you shall choose what may answer your purpose."
When the sultan returned to his palace he ordered his jewels to be
brought out, and the jewelers took a great quantity, particularly
those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without
making any great advance in their work. They came again several times
for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In
short, they used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the
vizier, but yet the work was not half done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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