will fulfil my promise as soon as he shall send me forty
trays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already
made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves,
who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, all dressed
magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow the princess, my
daughter, upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I
will wait till you bring me his answer."

Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan's
throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at her
son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can he get so many large
gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? Must he go again to
that subterranean abode and gather them off the trees? and where will he
get so many such slaves as the sultan requires? It is altogether out of
his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my embassy
this time." When she came home, full of these thoughts, she said to her
son: "Indeed, child, I would not have you think any farther of your
marriage with the princess. The sultan received me very kindly, and I
believe he was well inclined to you; but if I am not much deceived the
grand vizier has made him change his mind." She then gave her son an
exact account of what the sultan had said to her, and the conditions on
which he consented to the match. Afterward she said to him: "The sultan
expects your answer immediately; but," continued she, laughing, "I
believe he may wait long enough."

"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin; "the sultan is
mistaken, if he thinks by this exorbitant demand to prevent my
entertaining thoughts of the princess. I expected that he would have set
a higher price upon her incomparable charms. His demand is but a trifle
to what I could have done for her. But while I think of satisfying his
request, go and get something for our dinner, and leave the rest to me."

As soon as his mother was gone out, Aladdin took the lamp, and rubbing
it, the genie appeared, and offered his service as usual. "The sultan,"
said Aladdin to him, "gives me the princess his daughter in marriage;
but demands first, forty large trays of massy gold, full of the fruits
of the garden from whence I took this lamp; and these he expects to have
carried by as many black slaves, each preceded by a young handsome white
slave, richly clothed. Go, and fetch me this present as soo