The sultan, approving of the grand vizier’s advice, turned to the tailor’s widow, and said to her, “Good woman, it is true sultans ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage with the princess my daughter.  But as I cannot marry her without some further valuable consideration from your son, you may tell him, I will fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massive 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.”

Alla ad Deen’s mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan’s throne, and retired.  In her way home, she laughed within herself at her son’s foolish imagination.  “Where,” says she, “can he get so many large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them?  Must he go again to that subterraneous abode, the entrance into which is stopped up, and gather them off the trees?  But 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, as you will guess from what I have to tell you.  After I had represented to his majesty that the three months were expired, and begged of him to remember his promise, I observed that he whispered with his grand vizier before he gave me his answer.”  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.  Afterwards 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 Alla ad Deen:  “the sultan is mistaken, if he thinks by this exorbitant demand to prevent my entertaining thoughts of the princess.  I expected greater difficulties, and that he would have set a higher price upon her incomparable charms.  I am very well pleased; 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 to market, Alla ad Deen took the lamp, and rubbing it, the genie appeared, and offered his service as usual.  “The sultan,” said Alla ad Deen to him, “gives me the princess his daughter in marriage; but demands first forty large trays of massive 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 soon as possible, that I may send it to him before the divan breaks up.”