alabaster, Sumaki
marble and mosaicwork. Then the slave led him into
the treasury, which was full of all manner of gold and silver and
costly gems, not to be counted or computed, priced or estimated.
Thence to another place, where Aladdin saw all requisites for the
table, plates and dishes, spoons and ladles, basins and covers, cups
and tasses, the whole of precious metal. Thence to the kitchen,
where they found the kitcheners provided with their needs and
cooking batteries,
likewise golden and silvern. Thence to a
warehouse piled up with chests full-packed of royal
raiment, stuffs
that captured the reason, such as gold-wrought brocades from India and
China and kimcobs or orfrayed cloths. Thence to many
apartments
replete with appointments which
beggardescription. Thence to the
stables containing coursers whose like was not to be met with
amongst the kings of the
universe. And
lastly they went to the harness
rooms all hung with housings,
costly saddles, and other furniture,
everywhere studded with pearls and precious stones. And all this was
the work of one night.
Aladdin was wonder-struck and astounded by that
magnificentdisplay of
wealth, which not even the mightiest
monarch on earth could
produce, and more so to see his
pavilion fully provided with eunuchs
and handmaids whose beauty would reduce a saint. Yet the Prime
marvel of the
pavilion was an upper kiosque or belvedere of four and
twenty windows all made of emeralds and rubies and other gems, and one
window remained
unfinished at the
requirement of Aladdin, that the
Sultan might prove him impotent to complete it. When the youth had
inspected the whole
edifice, he was pleased and gladdened exceedingly.
Then, turning to the slave, he said: "I require of thee still one
thing which is yet
wanting and
whereof I had forgotten to tell
thee." "Ask, O my lord, thy want," quoth the servitor, and quoth the
other: "I demand of thee a
carpet of the primest brocade all
gold-inwrought which, when unrolled and
outstretched, shall extend
hence to the Sultan's palace, in order that the Lady Badr al-Budur
may, when coming
hither, pace upon it and not tread common earth." The
slave
departed for a short while and said on his return, "O my lord,
verily that which thou demandest is here." Then he took him and showed
him a
carpet, which wildered the wits, and it
extended from palace
to pavillion. And after this the servitor bore off Aladdin and set him
down in his own home.
Now day was brightening, so the Sultan rose from his sleep and
throwing open the
casement, looked out and espied opposite his
palace a palatial
pavilion ready edified. Thereupon he fell to rubbing
his eyes and
opening them their widest and
considering the scene,
and he soon was certified that the new
edifice was
mighty fine, and
grand enough to
bewilder the wits. Moreover, with
amazement as great
he saw the
carpet dispread between palace and
pavilion. Like their
lord, also the royal doorkeepers and the household, one and all,
were dazed and amazed at the
spectacle. Meanwhile the Wazir came in,
and as he entered, espied the newly builded
pavilion and the
carpet,
whereat he also wondered. And when he went in to the Sultan, the twain
fell to talking on this
marvelous" target="_blank" title="(=
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marvelous matter with great surprise at a
sight which distracted the gazer and attracted the heart. They said
finally, "In very truth, of this
pavilion we deem that none of the
royalties could build its fellow," and the King, turning to the
Minister, asked him: "Hast thou seen now that Aladdin is
worthy to
be the husband of the Princess, my daughter? Hast thou looked upon and
considered this right royal building, this
magnificence of opulence,
which thought of man cannot contain?" But the Wazir in his envy of
Aladdin replied: "O King of the Age, indeed this
foundation and this
building and this opulence may not be save by means of magic, nor
can any man in the world, be he the richest in good or the greatest in
governance, avail to found and finish in a single night such
edificeas this." The Sultan rejoined: "I am surprised to see in thee how thou
dost
continually harp on evil opinion of Aladdin, but I hold that 'tis
caused by thine envy and
jealousy. Thou wast present when I gave him
the ground at his own prayer for a place
whereon he might build a
pavilionwherein to lodge my daughter, and I myself favored him with a
site for the same, and that too before thy very face. But however that
be, shall one who could send me as dower for the Princess such store
of such stones
whereof the kings never obtained even a few, shall
he, I say, be
unable to edify an
edifice like this?" When the Wazir
heard the Sultan's words, he knew that his lord loved Aladdin
exceedingly, so his envy and
malice increased. only, as he could do
nothing against the youth, he sat silent, and impotent to return a
reply.
But Aladdin,
seeing that it was broad day and the appointed time had
come for his repairing to the Place (where his
wedding was being
celebrated and the emirs and wazirs and grandees were gathered
together about the Sultan to be present at the
ceremony), arose and
rubbed the lamp, and when its slave appeared and said, "O my lord, ask
whatso thou wantest, for I stand before thee and at thy service," said
he: "I mean forthright to seek the palace, this day being my
weddingfestival, and I want thee to supply me with ten thousand dinars."
The slave evanished for an eye twinkling and returned bringing the
moneys, when Aladdin took horse with his Mamelukes a-van and arear and
passed on his way, scattering as he went gold pieces upon the lieges
until all were
fondlyaffected toward him and his
dignity was
enhanced. But when he drew near the palace, and the emirs and agas and
army officers who were
standing to await him noted his approach,
they hastened
straightway to the King and gave him the tidings
thereof,
whereupon the Sultan rose and met his son-in-law and, after
embracing and kissing him, led him, still
holding his hand, into his
own
apartment, where he sat down and seated him by his right side.
The city was all decorated and music rang through the palace and the
singers sang until the King bade bring the noon meal, when the eunuchs
and Mamelukes hastened to spread the tables and trays which are such
as are served to the kings. Then the Sultan and Aladdin and the
lords of the land and the grandees of the realm took their seats and
ate and drank until they were satisfied. And it was a
mighty fine
wedding in city and palace, and the high nobles all rejoiced
thereinand the commons of the kingdom were
equally gladdened, while the
governors of provinces and nabobs of districts flocked from far
regions to
witness Aladdin's marriage and its
processions and
festivities. The Sultan also
marveled in his mind to look at Aladdin's
mother and recall to mind how she was wont to visit him in pauper
plight while her son could command an this opulence and
magnificence. And when the spectators who
crowded the royal palace
to enjoy the
wedding feasts looked upon Aladdin's
pavilion and
beauties of the building, they were seized with an
immense surprise,
that so vast an
edifice as this could be reared on high during a
single night, and they
blessed the youth and cried: "Allah gladden
him: By Allah, he deserveth all this! Allah bless his days!"
When dinner was done, Aladdin rose and, farewelling the Sultan, took
horse with his Mamelukes and rode to his own
pavilion, that he might
prepare to receive
therein his bride, the Lady Badr al-Budur. And as
he passed, all the folk shouted their good wishes with one voice and
their words were: "Allah gladden thee! Allah increase thy glory! Allah
grant thee length of life!" while
immense crowds of people gathered to
swell the marriage
procession, and they conducted him to his new home,
he
showering gold upon them during the whole time. When he reached his
pavilion, he dismounted and walked in and sat him down on the divan,
whilst his Mamelukes stood before him with arms afolded. Also after
a short delay they brought him sherbets, and when these were drunk, he
ordered his white slaves and handmaids and eunuchs and all who were in
the
pavilion to make ready for meeting the Lady Badr al-Budur.
Moreover, as soon as midafternoon came and the air had cooled and
the great heat of the sun was abated, the Sultan bade his army
officers and emirs and wazirs go down into the maydan plain, w
hitherhe
likewise rode. And Aladdin also took horse with his Mamelukes, he
mounting a stallion whose like was not among the steeds of the, Arab
al-Arba, and he showed his horsemanship in the hippodrome, and so