King passing into his harem, she also wended her ways and returned

home. But as soon as her son espied her, bowl in hand, he thought that
haply something untoward had befallen her, but he would not ask of

aught until such time as she had set down the bowl, when she
acquainted him with that had occurred and ended by adding:

"Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord!- O my child, that I found courage
enough and secured for myself standing place in the levee this day.

And, albe' I dreaded to bespeak the King yet (Inshallah!) on the
morrow I will address him. Even today were many who, like myself,

could not get audience of the Sultan. But be of good cheer, O my
son, and tomorrow needs must I bespeak him for thy sake, and what

happened not may happen." When Aladdin heard his parent's words, he
joyed with excessive" target="_blank" title="a.过分的；极端的">excessive joy, and, although he expected the matter to be

managed hour by hour, for excess of his love and longing to the Lady
Badr al-Budur, yet he possessed his soul in patience.

They slept well that night, and betimes next morning the mother of
Aladdin arose and went with her bowl to the King's Court, which she

found closed. So she asked the people and they told her that the
Sultan did not hold a levee every day, but only thrice in the

sennight, wherefor she determined to return home. And after this,
whenever she saw the Court open she would stand before the King

until the reception ended, and when it was shut she would go to make
sure thereof, and this was the case for the whole month. The Sultan

was wont to remark her presence at every levee, but on the last day
when she took her station, as was her wont, before the Council, she

allowed it to close, and lacked boldness to come forward and speak
even a syllable. Now as the King, having risen, was making for his

harem accompanied by the Grand Wazir, he turned to him and said: "O
Wazir, during the last six or seven levee days I see yonder old

woman present herself at every reception, and I also note that she
always carrieth a something under her mantilla. Say me, hast thou, O

Wazir, any knowledge of her and her intention?" "O my lord the
Sultan," said the other, "verily women be weakly of wits, and haply

this goodwife cometh hither to complain before thee against her
goodman or some of her people." But this reply was far from satisfying

the Sultan- nay, he bade the Wazir, in case she should come again,
set her before him, and forthright the Minister placed hand on head

and exclaimed, "To hear is to obey, O our lord the Sultan!"
Now one day of the days, when she did according to her custom, the

Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him and said to
his Grand Wazir: "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee

yesterday, so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may
see what be her suit and fulfill her need." Accordingly the Minister

at once introduced her, and when in the presence she saluted the
King by kissing her finger tips and raising them to her brow, and,

praying for the Sultan's glory and continuance and the permanence of
his prosperity, bussed ground before him. Thereupon quoth he: "O

woman, for sundry days I have seen thee attend the levee sans a word
said, so tell me an thou have any requirement I may grant." She kissed

ground a second time and after blessing him, answered: "Yea, verily,
as thy head liveth, O King of the Age, I have a want. But first of all

do thou deign grant me a promise of safety, that I may prefer my
suit to the ears of our lord the Sultan, for haply thy Highness may

find it a singular." The King, wishing to know her need, and being a
man of unusual mildness and clemency, gave his word for her immunity

and bade forthwithdismiss all about him, remaining without other
but the Grand Wazir. Then he turned toward his suppliant and said:

"Inform me of thy suit. Thou hast the safeguard of Allah Almighty." "O
King of the Age," replied she, "I also require of thee pardon," and

quoth he, "Allah pardon thee even as I do."
Then quoth she: "O our lord the Sultan, I have a son, Aladdin hight,

and he, one day of the days, having heard the crier commanding all men
to shut shop and shun the streets for that the Lady Badr al-Budur,

daughter of the Sultan, was going to the hammam, felt an
uncontrollable longing to look upon her, and hid himself in a stead

whence he could sight her right well, and that place was behind the
door of the baths. When she entered, he beheld her and considered

her as he wished, and but too well, for since the time he looked
upon her, O King of the Age, unto this hour, life hath not been

pleasant to him. And he hath required of me that I ask her to wife for
him from thy Highness, nor could I drive this fancy from his mind,

because love of her hath mastered his vitals and to such degree that
he said to me, 'Know thou, O mother mine, that an I win not my wish

surely I shall die.' Accordingly I hope that thy Highness will deign
be mild and merciful and pardon this boldness on the part of me and my

child and refrain to punish us therefor."
When the Sultan heard her tale, he regarded her with kindness and,

laughing aloud, asked her, "What may be that thou carriest, and what
be in yonder kerchief?" And she, seeing the Sultan laugh in lieu of

waxing wroth at her words, forthright opened the wrapper and set
before him the bowl of jewels, whereby the audience hall was illumined

as it were by lusters and candelabra. And he was dazed and amazed at
the radiance of the rare gems, and he fell to marveling at their

size and beauty and excellence and cried: "Never at all until this day
saw I anything like these jewels for size and beauty and excellence,

nor deem I that there be found in my Treasury a single one like them."
Then he turned to his Minister and asked: "What sayest thou, O

Wazir? Tell me, hast thou seen in thy time such mighty fine jewels
as these?" The other answered: "Never saw I such, O our lord the

Sultan, nor do I think that there be in the treasures of my lord the
Sultan the fellow of the least thereof." The King resumed: "Now indeed

whoso hath presented to me such jewels meriteth to become bridegroom
to my daughter, Badr al-Budur, because, as far as I see, none is

more deserving of her than he." When the Wazir heard the Sultan's
words, he was tongue-tied with concern, and he grieved with sore

grief, for the King had promised to give the Princess in marriage to
his son. So after a little while he said: "O King of the Age, thy

Highness deigned promise me that the Lady Badr al-Budur should be
spouse to my son, so 'tis but right that thine Exalted Highness

vouchsafe us a delay of three months, during which time, Inshallah! my
child may obtain and present an offering yet costlier than this."

Accordingly the King, albeit he knew that such a thing could not be
done, or by the Wazir or by the greatest of his grandees, yet of his

grace and kindness granted him the required delay.
Then he turned to the old woman, Aladdin's mother, and said: "Go

to thy son and tell him I have pledged my word that my daughter
shall be in his name. Only 'tis needful that I make the requisite

preparations of nuptial furniture for her use, and 'tis only meet that
he take patience for the next three months." Receiving this reply,

Aladdin's mother thanked the Sultan and blessed him, then, going forth
in hottest haste, as one flying for joy, she went home. And when her

son saw her entering with a smiling face, he was gladdened at the
sip of good news, especially because she had returned without delay,

as on the past days, and had not brought back the bowl. Presently he
asked her saying: "Inshallah, thou bearest me, O my mother, glad

tidings, and peradventure the jewels and their value have wrought
their work, and belike thou hast been kindly received by the King

and he hath shown thee grace and hath given ear to thy request?" So
she told him the whole tale, how the Sultan had entreated her well and

had marveled at the extraordinary size of the gems and their
surpassing water, as did also the Wazir, adding: "And he promised that

his daughter should be thine. Only, O my child, the Wazir spake of a
secret contract made with him by the Sultan before he pledged

himself to me and, after speaking privily, the King put me off to
the end of three months. Therefore I have become fearful lest the

Wazir be evilly disposed to thee, and perchance he may attempt to