One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  So much for the Sultan and as for Alaeddin, when his mother came to the house and entered and he saw her laughing of the excess of her joy, he foreboded good news and said, “To God Everlasting be praise! Accomplished is that which I sought.” And she said to him, “Glad tidings, O my son! Let thy heart rejoice and thine eye be solaced in the attainment of thy desire, for that the Sultan accepteth thine offering, to wit, the bride gift and the dowry of the Lady Bedrulbudour, and she is thy bride and this, O my son, is the night of your bridal and thy going in to the Lady Bedrulbudour. Nay, the Sultan, that he might certify me of his word, proclaimed thee his son-in-law before the folk and declared that this should be the wedding-night; but he said to me, ‘Let thy son come hither to me, so I may make acquaintance with him, and I will receive him with all honour and worship.’ And now, O my son, my office is ended, whatsoever remaineth is a matter for thee.”

  Alaeddin kissed his mother’s hand and thanked her amain for her kindness; then he arose and entering his chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him, “Here am I; seek what thou wilt.” Quoth Alaeddin, “My will is that thou take me to a bath, whose like is not in the world, and fetch me a suit of royal raiment and exceeding costly, such as no king can boast.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the Marid and taking him up, brought him intro a bath, never saw King nor Kisra its like, for it was of alabaster and agate and full of marvellous limnings that ravished the sight, and therein was a saloon all embossed with precious jewels. None was there; but, when Alaeddin entered, there came in to him one of the Jinn in human semblance and washed him and bathed him to the utmost of the wish: after which he went forth the bath to the outer saloon, where he found his clothes taken away and in their stead a suit of the richest royal apparel. Then sherbets were brought him and coffee with ambergris and he drank and arose; whereupon there came to him a troop of slaves and clad him in those sumptuous clothes and he dressed and perfumed himself with essences and sweet-scented smoke. Now thou knowest that Alaeddin was the son of a poor man, a tailor: yet now none had thought it, but had said, “This is the chiefest of the sons of the kings,” extolled be the perfection of Him who changeth and is not changed!

  Then the slave of the lamp came to him and taking him up, set him down in his house and said to him, “O my lord, dost thou need aught?” “Yes,” answered Alaeddin; “I will have thee bring me eight-and-forty mamelukes, four-and-twenty to walk before me and four-and-twenty to walk behind me, with their horses and clothes and arms, and let all that is upon them and their horses be of stuffs costly and precious exceedingly, such as are not found in kings’ treasuries. Then bring me a stallion fit for the riding of the Chosroes and be his trappings all of gold, embossed with noble jewels; and bring me eight-and-forty thousand diners, in each mameluke’s hand a thousand, for that I purpose presently to visit the Sultan; wherefore delay thou not on me, since I cannot go thither without all that whereof I have bespoken thee. Bring me also twelve slave-girls, who must be unique in loveliness and clad in the richest of raiment, so they may attend my mother to the Sultan’s palace, and let each slave-girl have with her a suit of apparel fit for the wearing of kings’ wives.”

  “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the genie and disappearing, brought him in the twinkling of an eye all that he had commanded him withal, whilst in his hand he held a stallion, whose like is not among the horses of the Arabs of the Arabs, with housings of the richest stuffs brocaded with gold; whereupon Alaeddin called his mother forthright and delivered her the twelve slave-girls and gave her the [twelve] suits, so she might dress herself and go with them to the Sultan’s palace. Then he despatched one of the mamelukes thither, to see an the Sultan were come forth of the harem or not; so he went and returning, swiftlier than lightning, said to him, “O my lord, the Sultan awaiteth thee.” Accordingly he arose and mounting, [set forth], whilst the mamelukes rode before him and after him, (extolled be the perfection of the Lord who created them with that which clothed them of beauty and grace!), strewing gold upon the folk before their lord Alaeddin, who overpassed them all of his grace and goodliness, and ask thou not of kings’ sons, extolled be the perfection of the Giver, the Eternal! Now all this was of the virtue of the wonderful lamp, which gifted whoso possessed it with goodliness and grace and wealth and wisdom.

  The folk marvelled at Alaeddin’s bounty and at the excess of his munificence and were amazed when they saw that which graced him of beauty and goodliness and his courtliness and dignity; yea, they extolled the perfection of the Compassionate One for this His noble creature and all of them great and small called down blessings on him, albeit they knew him for the son of such an one the tailor; yet none envied him, but all said, “He is deserving.” So he fared on his way, with the mamelukes before him and behind him, scattering gold upon the folk, till he came to the palace.

  Now the Sultan had summoned to his presence the chiefs of his state and telling them that he had passed his word for the marriage of his daughter to Alaeddin, bade them await the latter, commanding them that, when he came, they should all go out to meet him; moreover, he assembled the amirs and viziers and chamberlains and guards and captains of the troops and they were all awaiting Alaeddin at the door of the palace. When he arrived, he would have dismounted at the door, but there came up to him one of the Amirs, whom the Sultan had deputed to that office, and said to him, “O my lord, the commandment is that thou enter, riding on thy charger, so thou mayst alight at the door of the Divan.” So they all forewent him and he entered till they brought him to the door of the Divan. There sundry of them came forward and held his stirrup, whilst some supported him on both sides and other some took him by the hand, and so they dismounted him. Then the Amirs and officers of state forewent him and brought him into the Divan, till he drew near the Sultan’s throne; whereupon the latter came down forthright from his seat and embracing him, hindered him from kissing the carpet and seated him beside himself on his right hand. Alaeddin did that which behoveth and befitteth unto kings of obeisance and invocation and said to him, “O our lord the Sultan, thy Grace’s munificence hath vouchsafed to accord me the Lady Bedrulbudour thy daughter, albeit I am unworthy of this great favour, for that I am of the lowliest of thy slaves; wherefore I beseech God that He keep and continue thee. Indeed, O King, my tongue faileth to thank thee [as were behoving] for the greatness of this boon, overpassing its competence, wherewith thou hast favoured me, and I beseech Thy Grace to vouchsafe me ground, such as is meet, so I may build thereon a palace that shall be fit for the Lady Bedrulbudour.”

  The Sultan was amazed when he saw Alaeddin in this regal array and beheld his grace and goodliness and the mamelukes standing in attendance upon him in all their comeliness and fair favour; yea, and his wonderment redoubled when Alaeddin’s mother came up attired in rich and costly raiment, as she were a queen, and he saw twelve slave-girls in her service, preceding her, their hands clasped behind their backs, with all worship and observance. Moreover, he noted Alaeddin’s eloquence and the elegance of his speech and was amazed thereat, he and all who were present with him in the Divan, whilst fire was kindled in the Vizier’s heart for envy of Alaeddin, so that he was like to die. Then, after the Sultan had heard Alaeddin’s compliment and had seen the greatness of his quality and his modesty and eloquence, he strained him to his bosom and kissed him, saying, “It irketh me, O my son, that I have not known thee before to-day.” So, when he saw Alaeddin on this fashion, he rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and at once bade the music and the drums strike up; then, rising, he took him by the hand and carried him into the palace, where the evening-meal had been made ready and the servants set the tables. There he sat down and seated Alaeddin on his right hand; whereupon the viziers and chiefs of the state and the grandees of the realm sat also, each in his several room, whilst the drums beat and they held high festival in the palace.

  The Sultan proceeded to make familiar with Alaeddin and to talk with him, and Alaeddin
answered him with all courtliness and fluency, as he had been bred in kings’ palaces or as he were their constant associate; and the more the talk was prolonged between them, the more gladness and joy redoubled on the Sultan for that which he heard of the goodliness of Alaeddin’s answers and the sweetness of his speech. Then, when they had eaten and drunken and the tables were removed, the Sultan bade fetch the Cadis and the witnesses; so they came and knotted the knot and wrote the writ [of marriage] between Alaeddin and the Lady Bedrulbudour. Therewith Alaeddin arose and would have taken leave; but the Sultan laid hold on him and said to him, “Whither away, O my son? The bride-feast is toward and the bride present; the knot is knotted and the writ written.” “O my lord the king,” answered Alaeddin, “I would fain build the Lady Bedrulbudour a palace, besorting her rank and station, and it may not be that I should go in to her without this; but, God willing, the building shall, by the diligent endeavour of thy slave and by Thy Grace’s auspice, be right speedily despatched. Indeed, I long for present enjoyment of the Lady Bedrulbudour; but it behoveth me [first] apply myself to that which is incumbent on me for her service.” Quoth the Sultan, “O my son, look thyself out the ground which thou deemest apt to thine end and take it. All is in thy hand; , but here before my palace is a spacious piece of ground, which meseemeth were best; so, if it please thee, build thou the palace thereon.” And Alaeddin answered him, saying, “Indeed, it is my utmost desire to be near Thy Grace.”

  Then he took leave of the Sultan and going forth, mounted and rode, with his mamelukes before him and behind him, whilst the folk all prayed for him and said, “By Allah, he is deserving!” till he came to his house and alighting from his stallion, entered his chamber and rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie stood before him and said to him, “Seek what thou wilt, O my lord” Quoth Alaeddin, “I desire of thee an important service, to wit, that thou build me with all speed a palace before that of the Sultan, which shall be marvellous in its building, never saw kings its like, and be it complete with all its requisites of kingly and magnificent furniture and so forth.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied the genie and disappeared; but, before the dawn broke, he came to Alaeddin and said to him, “O my lord, the palace is finished to the utmost of the wish; wherefore, an thou wouldst see it, arise forthright and look on it.” So Alaeddin arose and the genie carried him, in the twinkling of an eye, to the palace, which when he saw, he was amazed at its building, for that all its stones were of jade and alabaster and porphyry and mosaic. The genie carried him into a treasury full of all manner of gold and silver and precious jewels past count or reckoning, price or estimation; then he brought him into another place, where he saw all the requisites of the table, platters and spoons and ewers and basins and cups, of gold and silver, and thence to the kitchen, where he found cooks, with their cooking-gear and utensils, all on like wise of gold and silver. Moreover, he brought him into a place, which he found full of coffers overflowing with royal raiment, such as ravished the wit, gold-inwoven stuffs, Indian and Chinese, and brocades, and he showed him also many other places, all full of that which beggareth description, till at last he brought him into a stable, wherein were horses whose like is not found with the kings of the world; and therewithin he showed him a storehouse, full of housings and saddles of price, all broidered with pearls and precious stones and so forth.

  Alaeddin was amazed and bewildered at the greatness of these riches, whereunto the mightiest king in the world might not avail, and all the work of one night; more by token that the palace was full of slaves and slave girls such as would bewitch a saint with their loveliness. But the most marvellous of all was that he saw in the palace an upper hall and a belvedere with four-and-twenty oriels, all wroughten of emeralds and rubies and other jewels, and of one of these oriels the lattice-work was by his desire left unfinished, so the Sultan should fail of its completion. When he had viewed the palace, all of it, he rejoiced and was exceeding glad; then he turned to the genie and said to him, “I desire of thee one thing which is lacking and whereof I had forgotten to bespeak thee.” Quoth the slave, “Seek what thou wilt, O my lord;” and Alaeddin said to him, “I will have thee bring me a carpet Of fine brocade, all inwoven with gold, and spread it from my palace to that of the Sultan, so the Lady Bedrulbudour, whenas she cometh hither, may walk thereon and not upon the earth.” So the genie was absent a little and returning, said to him, “O my lord, that which thou soughtest of me is here.” Therewithal he took him and showed him the carpet, which ravished the wit, and it was spread from the Sultan’s palace to that of Alaeddin; then taking him up, he set him down in his own house.

  It was now grown high day; so the Sultan arose from sleep and opening a window of his pavilion, looked forth and saw buildings before his palace; whereupon he fell to rubbing his eyes and opening them wide and looking farther, saw a magnificent palace, that bewildered the wits, and a carpet spread therefrom to his own palace; as on like wise did the doorkeepers and all who were in the palace, and their wits were bewildered at the sight. At this juncture the Vizier presented himself and as he entered, he espied the new palace and the carpet and marvelled also; so, when he came in to the Sultan, the twain fell to talking of this strange matter and marvelling, for that they saw a thing which amazed the beholder and dilated the heart; and they said, “Verily, methinketh kings may not avail unto the building of the like of this palace.” Then the Sultan turned to the Vizier and said to him, “How now? Deemest thou Alaeddin worthy to be bridegroom to my daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour? Hast thou seen and considered this royal building and all these riches which man’s wit cannot comprehend?” The Vizier, of his envy of Alaeddin, answered him, saying, “O King of the Age, indeed this palace and its building and all these riches may not be but by means of enchantment, for that no man among men, no, not the mightiest of them in dominion or the greatest in wealth, might avail to upraise and stablish [the like of] this building in one night.” Quoth the Sultan, “I marvel at thee how thou still deemest evil of Alaeddin; but methinketh it ariseth from thine envy of him, for that thou wast present when he sought of me a place whereon to build a palace for my daughter and I accorded him, before thee, [leave to build] a palace on this ground; and he who brought me, to my daughter’s dower, jewels such that no kings possess one thereof, shall he lack ableness to build a palace like this?” When the Vizier heard the Sultan’s speech and understood that he loved Alaeddin greatly, his envy of him increased; withal he availed not to do aught against him, so he was dumb and could make the Sultan no answer.

  Meanwhile Alaeddin — seeing that it was high day and that the time was come when he should go to the palace, for that his wedding-festivities were toward and the Amirs and Viziers and chiefs of the state were all with the Sultan, so they might be present at the bridal — arose and rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him, “O my lord, seek what thou wilt, for that I am before thee, at thy service.” Quoth Alaeddin, “I purpose presently to go to the Sultan’s palace, and to-day is the wedding; wherefore I have occasion for ten thousand diners, which I will have thee bring me.” The slave was absent the twinkling of an eye and returned to him with the money; whereupon Alaeddin arose and taking horse, with his mamelukes behind him and before him, rode to the palace, scattering gold upon the folk, as he passed, so that they were fulfilled with the love of him and the greatness of his munificence. When he came to the palace and the Amirs and eunuchs and soldiers, who were standing awaiting him, saw him, they hastened forthright to the Sultan and told him; whereupon he arose and coming to meet him, embraced him and kissed him; then he took him by the hand and carried him into the palace where he sat down and seated him on his right hand.

  Now the city was all adorned and the instruments [of music] were smiting in the palace and the singing-women singing. Then the Sultan trade serve the morning-meal; so the slaves and mamelukes hastened to spread the table and it was such as kings might take example by. The Sultan sat with Alaeddin and the officers of stat
e and the chiefs of the realm and they ate and drank till they were satisfied; and great was the rejoicing in the palace and the city. Glad were all the chiefs of the state and the folk rejoiced in all the realm, whilst there came from far regions the notables of the provinces and the governors of the cities, so they might see Alaeddin’s wedding and his bride-feast. The Sultan still marvelled in himself at Alaeddin’s mother, how she had come to him in poor clothes, whilst her son had command of this exceeding wealth; and as for the folk, who came to the Sultan’s palace, to gaze upon the wedding-festivities, when they saw Alaeddin’s palace and the goodliness of its building, there took them great wonderment how so magnificent a building had been upreared in one night and they fell all to praying for Alaeddin and saying, “God prosper him! By Allah, he is deserving. God’s blessing on his days!”