Prev | Current Page 205 | Next

Anonymous

"The Arabian Nights Entertainments"


When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and
particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it
far to exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one
thing wanting, a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the
sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately." The genie
disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed in an instant.
The genie then returned, and carried him to his own home.
When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed to
find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent
palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the
sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier,
who informed the sultan.
"It must be Aladdin's palace," the sultan exclaimed, "which I gave him
leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let
us see what wonders can be done in only one night."
Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requested
his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that
the palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went,
attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding
day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment the sultan
himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew only as
his suppliant at his divan in humble guise, more richly and
sumptuously attired than his own daughter.


Pages:
193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217