most experienced horseman might envy. The innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed made the air echo with their acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace.
On Aladdin’s arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which were so different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as Aladdin’s mother. He embraced him with demonstrations of joy, and when Aladdin would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and made him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him amidst the sounds of trumpets, and hautboys to a magnificent entertainment, at which the sultan and Aladdin ate at a table by themselves, and the great lords of the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different tables. After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al Buddoor and Aladdin. While the contract was being drawn, the sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and complete the ceremonies of the marriage that day. “Sire,” said Aladdin, “though great is my impatience to enter on the honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me first to build a palace worthy
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