“But have you forgotten,” said she, “that no one can come before the Sultan without bringing him a present?”
“I have not forgotten,” said Aladdin, “and I mean to send the Sultan such a gift as he has never seen before.”
He then fetched from the cupboard a porcelain dish, and he also brought out the fruits he had brought from the garden. He arranged the fruits in the dish in a pyramid according to their colors, and when he had done this his mother was amazed at their beauty. They shone so brightly that it dazzled the eyes to look at them. “Now I will tell you,” said Aladdin, “that these fruits are jewels so rare and magnificent that not the greatest ruler on earth has any that can equal them.”
The widow was amazed when she heard this. She could hardly believe it, and it was with fear and trembling that she set out at length for the Sultan’s palace. She carried the dish of jewels with her, covered over with a fine napkin.
When she reached the palace she went into the audience chamber with the rest of the crowd who had come to bring their cases before the Sultan. She sat down near the wall and stayed there all day, but she found no chance to speak to the Sultan or to offer her gift. And so it was day after day. Every morning she came to the audience chamber with the jewels, and every evening she returned home without having spoken to him.
But it so chanced the Sultan noticed how she came day after day with the covered dish in her hands, and he grew curious as to who she was and what she wanted. At last he spoke to his Grand Vizier about her, and commanded that she should be brought before him.
This was done, but the poor woman was so frightened by the honor done her that she stood there trembling and unable to say a word.
The Sultan saw her terror and spoke to her gently. “My good woman,” said he, “do not be afraid. Tell me why you have come here day after day. Is there something you wish to ask of me?”
“There is indeed something that I wish to ask, and yet I dare not,” said the widow.
The Sultan, however, encouraged her. “Speak,” said he. “Do not be afraid. Tell me what you wish.”