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
then 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. But Aladdin refused,
saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and took his leave.
Once home, he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest
marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the
middle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls
of massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices,
all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds
and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves;
go and see about it!"

The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried him
there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even
to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's.
Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the
palace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback.
The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to