is mother one evening going
to light the lamp, and finding no oil in the house, went out to buy
some, and when she came into the city, found a general rejoicing. The
shops were open, dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, every one
striving to shew their zeal in the most distinguished manner according
to their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits of
ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great
many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil-merchant what was the
meaning of all this preparation of public festivity? "Whence come you,
good woman," said he, "that you do not know that the grand vizier's son
is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour, the sultan's daughter,
to-night? She will presently return from the baths; and these officers
whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the palace, where the
ceremony is to be solemnised."

This was news enough for Aladdin's mother. She ran till she was quite
out of breath home to her son, who little suspected any such event.
"Child," cried she, "you are undone! you depend upon the sultan's fine
promises, but they will come to nothing." Aladdin was alarmed at these
words. "Mother," replied he, "how do you know the sultan has been guilty
of a breach of promise?" "This night," answered the mother, "the grand
vizier's son is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour." She then related
how she had heard it; so that he had no reason to doubt the truth of
what she said.

At this account, Aladdin was thunderstruck. Any other man would have
sunk under the shock; but a sudden hope of disappointing his rival soon
roused his spirits, and he bethought himself of the lamp, which had in
every emergency been so useful to him; and without venting his rage in
empty words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he only said:
"Perhaps, mother, the vizier's son may not be so happy to-night as he
promises himself: while I go into my chamber a moment, do you get
supper ready." She accordingly went about it, but guessed that her son
was going to make use of the lamp, to prevent, if possible, the
consummation of the marriage.

When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it in
the same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, and said
to him: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave,
and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their possession; I and
the other slaves of the lamp." "Hear me,"