The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on the princess’s refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head.  She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir’s son if it were not so.  The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her.  His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise.  She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for her.  On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked the vizir’s advice, who counselled him to set so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it.

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother, saying:  “Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed.  Tell him that I await his answer.”  The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message, adding:  “He may wait long enough for your answer!”

“Not so long, mother, as you think,” her son replied.  “I would do a great deal more than that for the princess.”  He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small house and garden.

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his mother.  They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin’s mother presented them to the Sultan.

He hesitated no longer, but said:  “Good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms.”

She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste.  But Aladdin first called the genie.

“I want a scented bath,” he said, “a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan’s, and twenty slaves to attend me.  Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.”

No sooner said than done.  Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went.  Those who had played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome.

When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the princess that very day.