ey
went and informed the sultan, who immediately ordered the bands of
trumpets, cymbals, drums, fifes, and hautboys, placed in different parts
of the palace, to play, so that the air resounded with concerts which
inspired the whole city with joy: the merchants began to adorn their
shops and houses with fine carpets and silks, and to prepare
illuminations against night. The artisans of every description left
their work, and the populace repaired to the great space between the
royal palace and that of Aladdin; which last drew all their attention,
not only because it was new to them, but because there was no comparison
between the two buildings. But their amazement was to comprehend by what
unheard-of miracle so magnificent a palace could have been so soon
erected, it being apparent to all that there were no prepared materials,
or any foundations laid the day before.

Aladdin's mother was received in the palace with honour, and introduced
into the Princess Badroulboudour's apartment by the chief of the
eunuchs. As soon as the princess saw her, she rose, saluted, and desired
her to sit down on a sofa; and while her women finished dressing, and
adorning her with the jewels which Aladdin had presented to her, a
collation was served up. At the same time the sultan, who wished to be
as much with his daughter as possible before he parted with her, came in
and paid the old lady great respect. Aladdin's mother had talked to the
sultan in public, but he had never seen her with her veil off, as she
was then; and though she was somewhat advanced in years, she had the
remains of a good face, which showed what she had been in her youth. The
sultan, who had always seen her dressed very meanly, not to say poorly,
was surprised to find her as richly and magnificently attired as the
princess, his daughter. This made him think Aladdin equally prudent and
wise in whatever he undertook.

When it was night, the princess left her own apartment for Aladdin's
palace, with his mother on her left hand carried in a superb litter,
followed by a hundred women slaves, dressed with surprising
magnificence. All the bands of music, which had played from the time
Aladdin's mother arrived, being joined together, led the procession,
followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black
eunuchs, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundred
of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which,
together with the illumi