III

One day, as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an order proclaimed that the people should close their shops and houses and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the Sultan’s daughter, should go to the bath and return.  Aladdin was filled with an eager desire to see the face of the princess, and contrived to place himself behind the door of the bath.  When she was a few paces away from it she removed her veil, and Aladdin saw for a moment one of the most beautiful faces in the world.  When she passed by him he quitted his hiding-place, and went home thoughtful and grave.

“Are you ill?” asked his mother.

“No,” he answered, “but I love the princess more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in marriage of the Sultan.”

His mother thought him mad, but Aladdin said, “I have the slaves of the lamp and the ring to help me,” and then told her for the first time what riches he possessed in the jewels brought from the underground palace.  “These,” he said, “will secure the favor of the Sultan.  You have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how they will look when we have arranged them according to their different colors.”

Their eyes were dazzled by the splendor of the jewels when they were arranged in the dish, and Aladdin’s mother consented at once to take them to the Sultan, and ask his daughter’s hand for her son.

Early the next morning she wrapped the dish in two fine napkins and set out for the palace.  Though the crowd was great, she made her way into the divan, or audience hall, and placed herself just before the Sultan, the Grand Vizier, and other lords who sat beside him.  But there were many cases for him to hear and judge, and her turn did not come that day.  She told Aladdin that she was sure the Sultan saw her, and that she would try again.

For six days more she carried the jewels to the divan, and stood in the same place.  On the sixth the Sultan, as he was leaving the hall, said to the Grand Vizier, “For some time I have observed a certain woman standing near me every day with something wrapped in a napkin.  If she comes again, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what she has to say.”

On the next day, therefore, she was called forward.  She bowed her head till it touched the carpet on the platform of the throne.  Then the Sultan bade her rise and said,—­

“Good woman, I have observed you many days.  What business brings you here?”

“Monarch of monarchs,” she replied, “I beg you to pardon the boldness of my petition.”

“Well,” said the Sultan, “I will forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you.  Speak boldly.”

This gave her heart to tell the errand on which her son had sent her.  The Sultan listened without anger till she was done, and then asked what she had brought tied up in the napkin.  She took the china dish, which she had set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the Sultan.