or, the Wonderful Lamp Me 233

 

‘IT am not so much concerned about your palace,’ replied the
sultan; ‘I value my daughter ten thousand times before it, and
would have you find her out, otherwise I will cause your head to
be struck off, and no consideration shall prevent it.’

‘I beg your majesty, answered Aladdin, ‘to grant me forty
days to make my inquiries; and if in that time I have not the
success I wish for, I will come again and offer my head at the
foot of your throne, to be disposed of at your pleasure.’

‘I give you the forty days you ask for, said the sultan; ‘but
think not to abuse the favour I show you by imagining you shall
escape my resentment; for I will find you out in whatsoever part
of the world you are.’

Aladdin went out of the sultan’s presence with great humiliation,
and in a condition worthy of pity. He crossed the courts of the
palace, hanging down his head, and in such great confusion that
he dared not lift up his eyes. The principal officers of the court,
who had all professed themselves his friends, and whom he had
never disobliged, instead of going up to comfort him, and offer him
a refuge in their houses, turned their backs on him to avoid seeing
him, lest he should know them. But had they accosted him with
a word of comfort or offer of service, they would not have known
Aladdin. He did not know himself, and was no longer in his
senses, as plainly appeared by his asking everybody he met, at
every house, if they had seen his palace, or could tell him any
news of it.

These questions made everybody believe that Aladdin was mad.
Some laughed at him, but people of sense and humanity, particularly
those who had had any connection of business or friendship with
him, really pitied him. For three days he rambled about the city
after this manner, without coming to any decision, or eating any-
thing, but what some good people forced him to take out of charity.

At last, as he could no longer, in his unhappy condition, stay in a