every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of the audience, and takes care to place herself just before me. If this woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what she has to say.” The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed.
On the next audience day, when Aladdin’s mother went to the divan, and placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan bowed her head down to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that posture until he bade her rise, which she had no sooner done than he said to her, “Good woman, I have observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?”
Aladdin’s mother prostrated herself a second time; and when she arose, said, “Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your forgiveness.” “Well,” replied the sultan, “I will forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you; speak boldly.”
When Aladdin’s mother had taken these precautions, for
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