Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Aladdin then conducted the sultan into the saloon where he had regaled
his bride the preceding night. The princess entered immediately
afterward, and received her father with an air that shewed how much she
was satisfied with her marriage. Two tables were immediately spread with
the most delicious meats, all served up in gold dishes. The sultan was
much pleased with the cookery, and owned he had never eaten anything
more excellent. He said the same of the wines, which were delicious; but
what he most of all admired were four large buffets, profusely furnished
with large flagons, basins, and cups, all of massy gold, set with
jewels.
When the sultan rose from table, he was informed that the jewellers and
goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, and shewed 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 well, and make
all the despatch you can."
The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three and twenty windows with
great attention, and after they had consulted together they returned and
presented themselves before the sultan, when the principal jeweller,
undertaking to speak for the rest, said: "Sir, we are all willing to
exert our utmost care and industry to obey your majesty; 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 jewellers 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.
Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavours to make this window
like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and goldsmiths, and
not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to
undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the
sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been
six weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took
the lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie
appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the
four and twenty windows of this hall imperfect and thou hast executed my
commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the rest." The
genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and
returning soon after, found the window like the others.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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