Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
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Aladdin finally visits the sultan and the marriage contract is written, which means Aladdin is now legally married to Princess Badrou'l-Budour.
But, surprisingly, Aladdin does not immediately meet his new wife. He has decided first to build a new palace worthy of his bride!
ON THE TWENTY-SEVENTH NIGHT
Sheherazade said:
Aladdin said to the genie of the lamp: "And that's all I want from you, for today!"
Now, as soon as Aladdin finished speaking that the genie, after the answer of hearing and obedience, hastened to disappear, but returned after a while with the horse, the forty-eight young slaves, the twelve young girls, the forty-eight bags of five thousand dinars each, and the twelve dresses of different fabrics and colors. And everything was of the requested quality, if not even better. And Aladdin took possession of everything and dismissed the genie, saying to him: "I will call you as soon as I need you!" And, wasting no time, he took leave of his mother, kissing her hands once more, and placed the twelve adolescent slaves at his service, recommending them to spare nothing to satisfy their mistress and to teach her the way of life. to put on the beautiful dresses they had brought.
After which Aladdin hastened to mount his horse, and leave the courtyard of his house. And although it was the first time that he was on the back of a horse, he knew how to hold on to it with elegance and firmness that the most accomplished riders would have envied him. And he set off, according to the plan of the procession he had imagined, preceded by twenty-four slaves, ranged in two rows of twelve, accompanied, on both sides, by four slaves who held the cords of the cover of the horse, and followed by the others, who brought up the rear.
However, as soon as the procession entered the streets, an immense crowd, much larger than that which had rushed to meet the first procession, gathered on all sides, both in the souks and on the windows and The terraces. And the forty-eight slaves then proceeded, following the orders which had been given them by Aladdin, to take gold from their sacks and to throw them by the handfuls, now to the right and now to the left, to the people who were pressing forward. on their footsteps. And cheers resounded throughout the city, as much for the generosity of the magnificent donor as for the beauty of the horseman and his splendid slaves. For Aladdin, on his horse, was really beautiful to see, with his face made even more charming by the virtue of the magic lamp, his royal demeanor, and the diamond plume that swayed on his turban. And so it was amid the cheers and wonder of an entire people that Aladdin arrived at the palace, where the rumor of his coming had already preceded him, and where everything had been prepared to receive him with all the honors due to the husband of Princess Badrou'l-Boudour.
Now, the sultan was waiting for him precisely at the top of the main staircase which opened onto the second courtyard. And as soon as Aladdin, aided by the grand-vizier himself who held the stirrup for him, had dismounted, the sultan descended two or three steps in his honor. And Aladdin went up to the sultan and wanted to prostrate himself in front of him; but he was prevented from doing so by the sultan who, amazed at his presence, his handsome air, and the richness of his dress, received him in his arms and kissed him as if he were his own child. And, at the same time, the air resounded with cheers from all the emirs, viziers, and guards, and the sound of trumpets, clarinets, oboes, and drums. And the sultan, with his arm around Aladdin's neck, led him into the great reception hall, and made him sit down beside him on the bed of the throne, and kissed him a second time and said to him: “By Allah, O my son Aladdin, I very much regret that my destiny did not make me meet you before this day, and to have thus deferred for three months your marriage with my daughter Badrou'l-Budour, your slave!" And Aladdin knew how to answer this in such a charming way that the sultan felt his love for him increase and said to him: “Certainly! O Aladdin, what king could not wish to have you as the husband of his daughter!" And he began to talk with him and to question him with much affection, and to admire the wisdom of his answers and the eloquence and finesse of his speeches. And he had a magnificent feast prepared in the throne room itself, and ate alone with Aladdin, being served by the grand-vizier, whose nose, in spite, stretched out to the limit of length, and by the emirs and other high dignitaries.
When the meal was over, the sultan, who did not want to delay the fulfillment of his promise any longer, summoned the kâdi and the witnesses and ordered them to write on the spot the marriage contract of Aladdin and his daughter the Princess Badrou'l-Budour. And the kadi, in the presence of the witnesses, hastened to carry out the order and to write the contract in all the forms required by the Book and the Sunnah. And when he had finished, the sultan kissed Aladdin, and said to him: "O my son, is it this very night that you want to enter the nuptial chamber for consumption?" And Aladdin answered: “O great king, indeed! if I only listened to the great love I feel for my wife, it is this very evening that I would enter for consumption. But I want it to be done in a palace worthy of the princess and of her own. Allow me then to defer the full realization of my happiness until I have built the palace I intend for it. And, for this purpose, I beg you to grant me the concession of a vast piece of land located opposite your palace, so that my wife is not too far from her father and that I myself can always be near you, to serve you! And I, for my part, undertake to have this palace built as soon as possible!" And the sultan answered: “Ah! my son, you hardly need to ask me for this permission! Take, in front of my palace, all the land you need. But hurry, I beg you, that this palace is completed as soon as possible; for I would very much like to enjoy the posterity of my descendants before I die!" And Aladdin smiled and said: "Let the king ease his mind on this!" The palace will be built with more diligence than he can wish for!" And he took leave of the sultan, who embraced him tenderly, and returned to his house, with the same procession which had accompanied him, amidst the acclamations of the people and wishes for happiness and prosperity.
Now, as soon as he returned to his house, he informed his mother of what had happened and hastened to retire, alone, to his room. And he took the magic lamp and rubbed it, as usual...
— At this point in her narration, Scheherazade saw the morning appear and quietly fell silent.
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