214 xs The Story of Aladdin

embraced him with all the demonstrations of friendship. After
this, Aladdin would have cast himself at his feet again; but the
sultan held him fast by the hand, and obliged him to sit between
him and the grand vizier.

Then Aladdin said, ‘I receive, sir, the honour which your
majesty out of your great goodness is pleased to confer on me;
but permit me to tell you that I have not forgotten that I am
your slave; that I know the greatness of your power, and that I
am not unaware how much my birth is below the splendour and
lustre of the high rank to which I am raised. I ask your
majesty’s pardon for my rashness, but I cannot dissemble that
I should die with grief if I should lose my hope of marrying
the princess.’

‘My son, answered the sultan, embracing him a second time,
‘you would wrong me to doubt my sincerity for a moment.’

After these words the sultan gave a signal, and immediately
the air echoed with the sound of trumpets and hautboys, and
other musical instruments: and at the same time the sultan led
Aladdin into a magnificent hall, where there was prepared a
noble feast. The sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves; the
grand vizier and the great lords of the court, according to their
dignity and rank, waited all the time. The conversation turned
on different subjects; but all the while the sultan hardly ever
took his eyes off him; and throughout all their conversation
Aladdin showed so much good sense, that it confirmed the sultan
in the good opinion he had of him.

After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his capital,
and ordered him to draw up immediately a contract of marriage
between the Princess Badroulboudour, his daughter, and Aladdin.

When the judge had drawn up the contract in all the requisite
forms, the sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace,
and solemnise the ceremonies of marriage that day. To which he