The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so
many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He
remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had
recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's
hand, saying, "How rich, how beautiful!"
After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he
turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said, "Behold,
admire, wonder! And confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich
and beautiful before."
The vizier was charmed.
"Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is
it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow
her on one who values her at so great a price?"
"I cannot but own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is
worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three
months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that
time, my son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to
make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to
your majesty."
The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Good
woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you
have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three
months. At the expiration of that time, come again."
Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had
expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she
had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to
the divan again that day three months.
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