Let its materials be made of nothing less than
porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its
walls be massive gold and silver bricks and laid alternately. Let each
front contain six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one,
which must be left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and
emeralds, so that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen
in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the
palace, and a spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe
treasure house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also
kitchens and storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with
their equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers,
attendants, and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the
princess and myself. Go and execute my wishes."
When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The
next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having
obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace
he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he
found officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the
services to which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the
treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large
vases of different sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all
around the chamber. The genie thence led him to the stables, where
were some of the finest horses in the world, and the grooms busy in
dressing them; from thence they went to the storehouses, which were
filled with all things necessary, both for food and ornament.
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