Now when three months were ended, Aladdin’s mother again presented herself before the Sultan, and reminded him of his promise, that the Princess should wed her son.

“I ever abide by my royal word,” said the Sultan; “but he who marries my daughter must first send me forty golden basins filled to the brim with precious stones.  These basins must be carried by forty black slaves, each led by a white slave dressed as befits the servants of the Sultan.”

Aladdin’s mother returned home in great distress when she heard this, and told Aladdin what the Sultan had said.

“Alas, my son!” she cried, “thy hopes are ended.”

“Not so, mother,” answered Aladdin.  “The Sultan shall not have long to wait for his answer.”

Then he rubbed the magic lamp, and when the Genie appeared, he bade him provide the forty golden basins filled with jewels, and all the slaves which the Sultan had demanded.

Now when this splendid procession passed through the streets on its way to the palace, all the people came out to see the sight, and stood amazed when they saw the golden basins filled with sparkling gems carried on the heads of the great black slaves.  And when the palace was reached, and the slaves presented the jewels to the Sultan, he was so surprised and delighted that he was more than willing that Aladdin should marry the Princess at once.

“Go, fetch thy son,” he said to Aladdin’s mother, who was waiting near.  “Tell him that this day he shall wed my daughter.”

But when Aladdin heard the news he refused to hasten at once to the palace, as his mother advised.  First he called the Genie, and told him to bring a scented bath, and a robe worked in gold, such as a King might wear.  After this he called for forty slaves to attend him, and six to walk before his mother, and a horse more beautiful than the Sultan’s, and lastly, for ten thousand pieces of gold put up in ten purses.

When all these things were ready, and Aladdin was dressed in his royal robe, he set out for the palace.  As he rode along on his beautiful horse, attended by his forty slaves, he scattered the golden pieces out of the ten purses among the crowd, and all the people shouted with joy and delight.  No one knew that this was the idle boy who used to play about the streets but they thought he was some great foreign Prince.

Thus Aladdin arrived at the palace in great state, and when the Sultan had embraced him, he ordered that the wedding feast should be prepared at once, and that the marriage should take place that day.

“Not so, your Majesty,” said Aladdin; “I will not marry the Princess until I have built a palace fit for the daughter of the Sultan.”

Then he returned home, and once more called up the Slave of the Lamp.

“Build me the fairest palace ever beheld by mortal eye,” ordered Aladdin.  “Let it be built of marble and jasper and precious stones.  In the midst I would have a great hall, whose walls shall be of gold and silver, lighted by four-and-twenty windows.  These windows shall all be set with diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones, and one only shall be left unfinished.  There must also be stables with horses, and slaves to serve in the palace.  Begone, and do thy work quickly.”