considering that the princess was gone past him, and that when she returned from the bath her back would be towards him, and then veiled, he resolved to quit his post and go home.
After supper, his mother asked him why he was so melancholy, but could get no information, and he determined to go to bed rather than give her the least satisfaction. Next day, after he arose, he told his mother all that he had done on the preceding day, to obtain a sight of the princess, and added, I cannot live without the possession of the amiable princess Badroulboudour, and am resolved to ask her in marriage of the sultan her father.
Aladdin’s mother listened with attention to what her son told her; but when he talked of asking the princess Badroulboudour in marriage of the sultan, she could not help bursting out into a loud laugh.
Indeed, son, replied the mother seriously, I think that you have quite forgot yourself; and if you would put this resolution of yours in execution, I do not see who you can get to venture to propose it for you. You, yourself, replied he immediately. I go to the sultan! answered the mother, amazed and surprised. I shall take care how I engage in such an affair. Have you forgot that your father was one of the poorest tailors in the capital, and that I am of no better extraction? and do not you know, that sultans never marry their daughters but to princes, sons of sultans like themselves?
Mother, answered Aladdin, I have told you that you must ask the princess Badroulboudour in marriage for me: it is a favour I desire of you, with ail the respect I owe you; and I beg of you not to refuse me.
The good old woman was very much embarrassed, when she found Aladdin so obstinately persisting in so foolish a design. My son, said she again, how could so extraordinary a thought come into your head, as that I should go to the sultan, and make a proposal to him, to give his daughter in marriage to you? Suppose I had, not to say the boldness, but the impudence to present myself before the sultan, and make so extravagant a request, to whom should I address myself to be introduced this majesty? Here is another reason, my son, which is, nobody ever goes to ask a favour of the sultan without a present; for by a present, they have this advantage, that if for some particular reasons the favour is denied, they are sure to be heard. But what presents have you to make? Therefore, reflect well on what you are about, and consider, that you aspire to a thing which is impossible for you to obtain.
Aladdin heard very calmly all that his mother could say to endeavour to dissuade him from his design, and after he had weighed her representation in all points, made answer: I own, mother, it is great rashness in me to presume to carry my pretensions so far. I love the Princess Badroulboudour beyond all you can imagine; and shall always persevere in my design, of marrying her. As to what you say about the present, I agree with you, and own that I never thought of it; but as to what you say that I have nothing fit to present him with, do not you think, mother, that what I brought home with me that day on which I was delivered from an inevitable death, may be an agreeable present? I mean those
