Types of Children's Literature: A Collection of the World's Best Literature for Children, For Use in Colleges, Normal Schools and Library Schools
General
Types of Children's Literature: A Collection of the World's Best Literature for Children, For Use in Colleges, Normal Schools and Library Schools
Children's literature
In the meantime Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne,
and having paid her respects, said to the sultan, "Sir, my son is
sensible this present, which he has sent your Majesty, is much below
the princess Buddir al Buddoor's worth; but hopes, nevertheless, that
your Majesty will accept of it and make it agreeable to the princess,
and with the greater confidence since he has endeavored to conform to
the conditions you were pleased to impose."
The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this compliment.
The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays, full of the most
precious, brilliant, and beautiful jewels he had ever seen, and the
fourscore slaves, who appeared by the elegance of their persons, and
the richness and magnificence of their dress, like so many princes, he
was so struck, that he could not recover from his admiration. Instead
of answering the compliment of Aladdin's mother, he addressed himself
to the grand vizier, who could not any more than the sultan comprehend
from whence such a profusion of richness could come. "Well, vizier,"
said he aloud, "who do you think it can be that has sent me so
extraordinary a present, and neither of us know? Do you think him
worthy of the princess Buddir al Buddoor, my daughter?"
The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief to see a stranger
preferred to be the sultan's son-in-law before his son, durst not
disguise his sentiments. It was too visible that Aladdin's present was
more than sufficient to merit his being received into royal alliance;
therefore, consulting his master's feelings, he returned this answer:
"I am so far from having any thoughts that the person who has made your
Majesty so noble a present is unworthy of the honor you would do him,
that I should say he deserved much more, if I was not persuaded that
the greatest treasure in the world ought not to be put in competition
with the princess your Majesty's daughter." This speech was applauded
by all the lords who were then in council.
The sultan made no longer hesitation, nor thought of informing himself
whether Aladdin was endowed with all the qualifications requisite in
one who aspired to be his son-in-law. The sight alone of such immense
riches, and Aladdin's quickness in satisfying his demand, without
starting the least difficulty at the exorbitant conditions he had
imposed, easily persuaded him, that he could want nothing to render him
accomplished, and such as he desired. Therefore, to send Aladdin's
mother back with all the satisfaction she could desire, he said to her,
"My good lady, go and tell your son, that I wait with open arms to
embrace him, and the more haste he makes to come and receive the
princess my daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do
me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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