any trouble, if she could but satisfy her son that she neglected nothing that lay in her power to please him: so the next audience-day she went to the divan and placed herself in front of the sultan as usual; and before the grand vizier had made his report of business, the sultan perceived her, and compassionating her for having waited so long, said to the vizier: “Before you enter upon any business, remember the woman I spoke to you about; bid her come near, and let us despatch her business first.” The grand vizier immediately called the chief of the macebearers, and pointing to her, bade him tell her to come before the sultan.
The chief of the officers went to Aladdin’s mother, and at a sign he gave her, she followed him to the foot of the sultan’s throne, where he left her, and retired to his place by the grand vizier. The old woman bowed her head down to the carpet, which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that posture till the sultan bade her rise, when he said to her: “Good woman, I have observed you to stand from the beginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?”
After these words, Aladdin’s mother prostrated herself a second time; and when she arose, said: “Monarch of monarchs, before I tell your majesty the extraordinary and incredible business which brings me before your high throne, I beg of you to pardon the boldness of the demand I am going to make, which is so uncommon, that I tremble, and am ashamed to propose it to my sovereign.” In order to give her the more freedom to explain herself, the sultan ordered all to quit the divan but the grand vizier, and then told her she might speak without restraint.
Aladdin’s mother, not content with this favour of the sultan’s to save her the confusion of speaking before so many people, was, notwithstanding, a little apprehensive; therefore, resuming her discourse, she said: “I beg of your majesty, if you should think
[ 130 ]
