The first slave, followed by the rest, advanced into the second court, which was very spacious, and in which the sultan’s household was ranged during the sitting of the divan.  The magnificence of the officers, who stood at the head of their troops, was considerably eclipsed by the slaves who bore Alla ad Deen’s present, of which they themselves made a part.  Nothing was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan’s palace; and all the lustre of the lords of his court was not to be compared to them.

As the sultan, who had been informed of their march, and approach to the palace, had given orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went into the divan in regular order, one part filing to the right, and the other to the left.  After they were all entered, and had formed a semicircle before the sultan’s throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet with their foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the same.  When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood with their arms crossed over their breasts.

In the meantime Alla ad Deen’s mother advanced to the foot of the throne, and having paid her respects, said to the sultan, “Sir, my son is sensible this present, which he has sent your majesty, is much below the princess Buddir al Buddoor’s worth; but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make it agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he has endeavoured to conform to the conditions you were pleased to impose.”

The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this compliment.  The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays, full of the most precious, brilliant, and beautiful jewels he had ever seen, and the fourscore slaves, who appeared by the elegance of their persons, and the richness and magnificence of their dress, like so many princes, he was so struck, that he could not recover from his admiration.  Instead of answering the compliment of Alla ad Deen’s mother, he addressed himself to the grand vizier, who could not any more than the sultan comprehend from whence such a profusion of richness could come.  “Well, vizier,” said he aloud, “who do you think it can be that has sent me so extraordinary a present, and neither of us know?  Do you think him worthy of the princess Buddir al Buddoor, my daughter?”

The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief to see a stranger preferred to be the sultan’s son-in-law before his son, durst not disguise his sentiments.  It was too visible that Alla ad Deen’s present was more than sufficient to merit his being received into royal alliance; therefore, consulting his master’s feelings, he returned this answer:  “I am so far from having any thoughts that the person who has made your majesty so noble a present is unworthy of the honour you would do him, that I should say he deserved much more, if I was not persuaded that the greatest treasure in the world ought not to be put in competition with the princess your majesty’s daughter.”  This speech was applauded by all the lords who were then in council.