Arabian Nights

by Richard Burton

  The minister went over to her and brought her before the king, whom she saluted and blessed. In turn, the sultan asked her if there was anything he could do for her, and she answered, “Great king, the three months that you commanded me to wait have elapsed, and it is time to wed my son, Aladdin, with your daughter, the Lady Badar al-Badur.”

  The sultan was distraught at this request, especially since he saw that the woman was one of the poorest of his subjects. Nevertheless, the present she had brought him was magnificent and priceless. So he turned to the grand vizier and whispered, “What advice do you have for me? In truth, I did give my word. But it seems to me that they are poor and from the lower classes.”

  The vizier, who was mad with envy and bitter about what had happened to his son, said to himself, “How can someone like this wed the king’s daughter and my son lose this high honor?” Therefore, he whispered to the king, “My lord, it will be easy to put off a poor devil like her son. He’s certainly not worthy enough for your daughter, especially when you haven’t even seen what he looks like.”

  “But how am I to do this?” the sultan asked. “I can’t put off the man when I gave him my word. As you know, the word of kings is their bond.”

  “My lord,” the vizier replied, “my advice is that you place another demand on him and ask for forty platters of pure gold filled with gems like the ones that this woman already brought you with forty white slave girls and forty black eunuch slaves to carry the platters.”

  “By Allah,” the king answered, “that is good advice. It will be impossible for him to carry off such a feat, and then I’ll be freed of my promise.”

  Then he turned to Aladdin’s mother and addressed her loudly. “I want you to go and tell your son that I am a man of my word, but he can have my daughter only on the condition that he pay the dowry for my daughter. The settlement amounts to forty platters of pure gold, all brimful with gems, like those you’ve already brought me, with as many slave girls and black eunuchs to carry them. If your son can provide this dowry, then I’ll marry him to my daughter.”

  Aladdin’s mother departed, and on her way home she wagged her head and said to herself, “Where can my poor son procure these platters and jewels? Even if he were to return to the underground cave and pluck them from the trees, which I think is impossible anyway, how will he obtain the forty girls and black slaves?” Nor did she stop murmuring to herself until she reached her apartment, where she found Aladdin awaiting her, and she lost no time in saying, “My son, didn’t I tell you to forget about the Lady Badar al-Budur and that people like us can’t aspire to marriages with people of her rank?”

  “Tell me what happened,” Aladdin responded.

  “The sultan received me with all due honor,” she said, “and it seems to me that his intentions toward us are noble. But your enemy is that accursed vizier, for after I addressed the king in your name as you requested, he turned to the minister, who spoke to him in a whisper. After that the sultan replied with a list of demands.” Then she told her son the conditions for the marriage to take place and concluded by saying, “He expects you to give him a reply right away, but I suppose that we have no answer for him.”

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  “Mother, calm down and collect yourself,” Aladdin said. “Please bring me something to eat, and after we have dined, Allah willing, you’ll see my reply. The sultan thinks, like you, that he has demanded such an extraordinary dowry that he can deter me from marrying his daughter. The fact is that he’s demanded much less than I had expected. But do me a favor, and go out to purchase the food for dinner, and leave me alone to procure the reply.”

  So she went out to the bazaar to buy what was necessary for dinner while Aladdin retired to his room, where he took the lamp and rubbed it. Immediately the slave appeared to him and said, “Ask, my lord, whatever you want.”

  “I’ve asked permission from the sultan to marry his daughter,” Aladdin said, “and he has demanded forty platters of purest gold each weighing ten pounds and all to be filled with gems that come from the garden in the underground cave. Furthermore, they are to be carried on the heads of forty white slave girls to be attended by forty black eunuchs. I want you to bring them to me at once.”

  “As you request, my lord,” said the jinnee, who disappeared for an hour or so and then returned with the platters, jewels, slave girls, and eunuchs. After setting them down before Aladdin, he said, “Here is what you desired. If you would like anything else, just tell me.”

  “I don’t need anything else right now,” Aladdin replied, “but if I do, I’ll summon you and let you know.”

  The slave now disappeared, and after a little while, Aladdin’s mother returned home, and when she entered the apartment, she saw the slave girls and blacks and exclaimed with wonder, “All this has come from that marvelous lamp! May Allah preserve it for my boy!”

  But before she could take off her mantilla, Aladdin said to her, “Mother, this is the time that the sultan usually goes to his seraglio palace. So take him what he’s demanded at once so that he’ll know that I’m prepared to provide him with all he wants and more. Also, he’ll realize that the grand vizier has beguiled him, and that it is fruitless to try to deter me.”

  Then he arose right away and opened the door to the apartment so that the slave girls and eunuchs could depart. When the people of the neighborhood saw such a marvelous spectacle, they all stood to gaze at it, and they admired the slave girls, who were beautiful and lovely, for each one of them wore robes lined with gold and studded with jewels worth no less than a thousand dinars apiece. The people also stared at the platters, and although they were covered by brocades studded with gems, their glitter pierced the brocades, and their gleam surpassed the rays of the sun. As Aladdin’s mother walked forward, the slave girls and the eunuchs followed her in a fine procession, and people from all quarters gathered to gaze at the beauty of the damsels, glorifying God Almighty, until the procession reached the palace and entered it. Now, when the high dignitaries, chamberlains, and commanders caught sight of Aladdin’s mother and her company, they were all astonished, especially when they laid their eyes on the slave girls, for each and every one of them could ravish the reason of a monk. And although the chamberlains and officials were men from distinguished and wealthy families, the sons of grandees and emirs, they were dazzled by the costly dresses of the slave girls and the platters that they were carrying on their heads. In fact, they had to veil their eyes when they looked at the stunningly bright platters. Then the nabobs went in and reported to the king, who commanded them to enter his chamber right away, and Aladdin’s mother went in with them. When they all stood before the sultan, they saluted him with every sign of respect and worship and prayed for his glory and prosperity. Then the slave girls removed the platters from their heads and placed them at his feet, and once they took off the brocade covers, they stood with their arms crossed behind them. The sultan was extremely astonished and captivated by the incomparable beauty and loveliness of the slave girls. Moreover, he was totally bedazzled by the golden platters filled with gems and so bewildered by this marvelous sight that he became dumbfounded and was unable to utter a syllable for quite some time. When he considered that all these treasures had been collected within an hour or so, he felt completely stupefied. Soon, however, he commanded the slave girls to carry the platters to his daughter’s chamber. When they left his presence, Aladdin’s mother stepped forward and said to the sultan, “My lord, this small token is the least we could do to honor the Lady Badar al-Budur. Actually, she really deserves much more than this.”

  Upon hearing this, the sultan turned to his minister and asked, “What do you say now? Isn’t a man who can produce such great wealth in so short a time worthy of becoming the sultan’s son-in-law?”

  Although the minister was stunned by
these riches, even more than the king, he was dying with envy and extremely frustrated because he saw that the king was satisfied with the dowry. Therefore, he replied with the intention of preventing the king from going through with the marriage, “It isn’t worthy enough for her. Not even all the treasures of the universe could match your daughter’s pinky. I believe that your highness is overestimating these things in comparison with your daughter.”

  When the king heard the vizier’s words, he knew that they were prompted by great envy. So he turned to Aladdin’s mother and said, “Go to your son and tell him that I’ve accepted his dowry and shall keep my word. My daughter shall be his bride, and he my son-in-law. Furthermore, tell him that I want him to appear before me at once so that I can become acquainted with him. He will be received with honor and consideration, and this night will be the beginning of the marriage festivities. Only he must come here without delay.”

  Aladdin’s mother returned home faster than a cyclone in order to congratulate her son, and she was in ecstasy at the thought that her boy was about to become the son-in-law of the sultan. After her departure from the palace, the king dismissed the divan and went to the princess’s chamber, where he ordered the platters and slave girls brought before him so that he could inspect them with his daughter. When the Lady Badar al-Budur looked at the jewels, she was astonished and cried out, “I don’t think that there are any jewels in the world that can compare to these!” Then she looked at the slave girls and admired their beauty and loveliness. Since she was aware that they had been sent to her by her new bridegroom, she was very pleased. To be sure, she had been distressed by what had happened to her former husband, the vizier’s son, but now she was overjoyed when she gazed upon the damsels and their charms. Furthermore, her father was just as glad as she was and particularly happy when he saw that his daughter was no longer melancholy. Then he asked her, “Are you pleased with these things? Personally I think that your new bridegroom is more suitable for you than the vizier’s son. And very soon, Allah willing, you’ll find your happiness with him.”

  So much for the king.

  In the meantime, as soon as Aladdin saw his mother enter the house with a great smile of joy on her face, he cried out, “May Allah be praised! All that I’ve ever desired has now been fulfilled!”

  “You’ll be glad once you hear my news,” his mother said. “The sultan has accepted your offer, I mean, your dowry, and you are now engaged to the Lady Badar al-Budur. You are to be married to her this very night, my son. The king has given me his word and has proclaimed to the world that you will be his son-in-law. However, he also told me to send you to him right away so that he can become acquainted with you and receive you with honor and respect. So here I am, my son, my work is done. Let what may happen happen. The rest is up to you.”

  Aladdin arose and kissed his mother’s hand and thanked her for her kind service. Then he left her, went into his room, took the lamp, and rubbed it. Immediately the jinnee appeared and cried out, “At your service, my lord. Ask whatever you want.”

  “I want you to take me to the finest Hammam in the world,” Aladdin said. “Then fetch me the most expensive and regal garments that surpass anything ever worn by a king.”

  “As you command,” the marid replied, and he carried Aladdin to baths that even the kings of the Chosroës had never seen. The building was made entirely of alabaster and carnelian, and it was lined with marvelous and captivating paintings. The great hall was studded with precious stones, and not a soul was there. But when Aladdin entered, a jinnee in human shape washed and bathed him as he wished. After Aladdin left the baths, he went into a large room, where he found a rich and princely suit. Then he was served with sherbets and coffee flavored with ambergris. Once he was done drinking, a group of black slaves approached him, sprayed him with perfume, and clothed him in the costliest of clothing.

  As we know, Aladdin was the son of a poor tailor, but anyone who had seen him then would have said, “This young man is the greatest progeny of the kings. Praise be to Him who changes others and who does not change Himself!” Soon the jinnee arrived and transported him back to his home.

  “My lord,” the ifrit asked, “do you need me for anything else?”

  “Yes,” Aladdin replied. “I want you to bring me forty-eight mamelukes. Twenty-four are to precede me, and the other twenty-four are to follow me, and I want all of them equipped with the best suits of armor, weapons, and horses. Indeed, their outfits are to be the costliest in the world. Then fetch me a stallion fit for a king of the Chosroës, and let his trappings be studded with gold and the finest jewels. I also want forty-eight thousand dinars so that each white slave can carry a thousand gold pieces. Since I intend to visit the sultan right away, don’t delay. Without all these men and equipment, it will be impossible to appear before him. Furthermore, I want you to produce a dozen slave girls, incomparably beautiful and magnificently dressed so that they can accompany my mother to the royal palace. Let each one of the slave girls be robed in raiment that would fit a queen.”

  “As you command,” the jinnee replied, and after disappearing for a split second, he brought everything that he had been ordered to bring. In addition, he gave Aladdin a stallion unrivaled by the finest of Arabian steeds, and its saddle cloth was a splendid brocade lined with gold. Immediately, Aladdin sent for his mother and gave her the garments that she was to wear. In addition, he placed her in charge of the twelve slave girls, who formed her escort to the palace. Then he sent one of the mamelukes ahead to see if the sultan had left the seraglio or not. The white slave went and returned faster than lightning and reported, “My lord, the sultan is awaiting you!”

  Thereupon, Aladdin arose and mounted his horse with his mamelukes riding behind and in front of him. They looked so splendid that all who saw them had to exclaim, “Praise the Lord who created them and endowed them with such magnificence and beauty!” And they scattered the gold coins among the crowds of people who came to watch them and their master, who surpassed not only his men but also the finest of princes in his splendor and glory. Praise be to the Bountiful Giver, the Lord Eternal! All this was due to the power of the magic lamp, which provided the person who possessed it with the fairest looks, enormous wealth, and great wisdom. The people appreciated Aladdin’s generosity, and they were all captivated by his charm, elegance, comportment, and dignified manners. They praised the Creator for such a noble creation, and each and every person blessed Aladdin, for although they knew that he was the son of a poor tailor, nobody envied him, and they all felt that he deserved his good fortune.

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  Now the sultan had assembled the lords of the land and had informed them of the promise that he had made to Aladdin. Moreover, he ordered them to wait for Aladdin’s approach and then to go forth, one and all, to meet and greet him. Therefore, the emirs, viziers, chamberlains, nabobs, and officers took their stations at the palace gate. Aladdin would have dismounted at the outer entrance, but one of the nobles, whom the king had assigned this duty, approached him and said, “My lord, your highness the sultan has commanded that you ride your steed up to the divan door, where you are to dismount.”

  Then they all accompanied him to the appointed place, where they helped him dismount. After this, all the emirs and nobles went ahead of him into the divan and led him up to the royal throne. Thereupon the sultan came down from his throne to prevent Aladdin from prostrating himself, and after embracing and kissing him, he seated him to his right. Aladdin did what was customary in greeting a king by blessing him and wishing him a long life and prosperity. Then he said, “My lord, thanks to your generosity, you have promised me the hand of your daughter the Lady Badar al-Budur, even though I do not deserve the greatness of such a gift, since I am but the humblest of your slaves. Indeed, I pray that Allah preserve you and keep you pr
osperous. In truth, great king, I do not have the words to thank you for the enormous favor that you have bestowed upon me. And I hope that you will grant me a plot of land where I can build a pavilion suitable for your daughter.”

  The sultan was struck with admiration when he saw Aladdin in his princely suit. He noted how handsome and attractive he looked and how remarkable the mamelukes were who served him. His astonishment grew even greater when Aladdin’s mother approached him in a splendid and costly dress, clad as though she were a queen, and followed by twelve slave girls, who attended her with great respect and reverence. Finally, he was most impressed by Aladdin’s eloquence and polite speech, and so was everyone else at this gathering. Of course, the grand vizier was so enraged with envy that he almost exploded, and he felt even worse when the sultan clasped Aladdin to his bosom and kissed him after listening to the youth’s eloquent and respectful speech.

  “Alas, my son,” said the king, “that I have not had the pleasure of conversing with you until this day.”

  After making this remark, the sultan commanded the music to begin. Then he arose, and taking Aladdin by hand, he led him into the palace, where supper had been prepared, and the eunuchs at once laid the tables. Once the king had sat down and seated Aladdin on his right side, the viziers and other officials took their places, each according to his rank. Meanwhile, the bands played and a splendid marriage feast was displayed in the palace. The king started making friends with Aladdin and conversed with the youth, who answered the sultan politely and eloquently, as though he had been bred in the palaces of kings or had lived with them all his life. The more they conversed with each other, the more the sultan was delighted and pleased by his son-in-law’s wit and elegance. After they had eaten and drunk and the trays were removed, the king summoned the kazis and witnesses, who wrote out the marriage contract between Aladdin and the Lady Badar al-Badur. Then the bridegroom arose and would have gone away if his father-in-law had not prevented him and asked, “Where are you going, my son? The wedding festivities have just begun. The marriage is made. The knot is tied. The contract written.”