"Anonymous - Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anonymous)

hath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise,
which I shall always wear on my finger." When they had eaten all the
genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on
until none were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him
another set of plates, and thus they lived many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that
everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the
Princess his daughter went to and from the bath. Aladdin was
seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult,
as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of
the bath, and peeped through a chink. The Princess lifted her veil
as she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love
with her at first sight. He went home so changed that his mother
was frightened. He told her he loved the Princess so deeply he
could not live without her, and meant to ask her in marriage of
her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, but
Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and
carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic
fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like
the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the
Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The Grand Vizier and
the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and
placed herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no
notice of her. She went every day for a week, and stood in the
same place. When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan
said to his Vizier: "I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber
every day carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time,
that I may find out what she wants." Next day, at a sign from
the vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and remained
kneeling until the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good woman, and
tell me what you want." She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away
all but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising to
forgive her beforehand for anything she might say. She then told
him of her son's violent love for the Princess. "I prayed him to
forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do some
desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the
hand of the Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone,
but my son Aladdin." The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in
the napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.
He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said: "What
sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who
values her at such a price?" The Vizier, who wanted her for his
own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, in
the course of which he hoped his son could contrive to make him a
richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin's
mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not
appear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two