So sayinghe laid the four trays before the King，who uncovered them and seeing that they contained jewels，whose like he possessed not and whose worth equalled treasuries of moneysaid'O merchantthy present is acceptedand so God pleasewe will requite thee with its like.'And Ali kissed his hands and went away. Then the King called his grandees and said to them'How many kings have sought my daughter in marriage？'Many，'answered they. 'Hath any of them given me the like of this gift？'asked he. 'Not one，'replied they；'for that none of them hath its like；'and he said'I have consulted God the Most Highas to marrying my daughter to this merchant. What say ye？'Be it as thou deemest，'answered they. Then he bade the eunuch carry the four trays into his harem and going in to his wifelaid them before her. She uncovered them and seeing therein that whose like she possessed not，--nonor a fraction thereof，--said to him，'Of which of the kings hadst thou these？ Peradventure of one of those that seek our daughter in marriage？'Not so，'answered he'I had them of an Egyptian merchantwho is lately come to our city. I heard tell of him and sent to command him to usthinking to make his acquaintanceso haply we might find with him somewhat of jewels and buy them of him for our daughter's equipment. He obeyed the summons and brought us these four traysas a presentand I saw him to be a handsome and elegant young man of dignified aspect and accomplished witwell-nigh as he were of the sons of the kings. Wherefore my heart inclined to him and I rejoiced in him and thought to marry my daughter to him.'Then he told her what had passed between himself and his grandees on the subject and added'But what sayst thou？'O King of the age，'answered she'the affair is in God's handand thineand what God willeth shall come to pass.'If it be His will，'rejoined the King'I will marry her to none other than this young man.'
Soon the morrowhe went out to his Divan and sending for Ali and the rest of the merchants of Baghdadbade them be seated.
Then he summoned the Cadi of the Divan and said to him'O Cadidraw up the contract of marriage between my daughter and the merchant Ali of Cairo.'But the latter said'Thy pardonO our lord the Sultan！ It befits not that a merchantsuch as I，be the King's son-in-law.'Quoth the King'It is my will to bestow this favour upon theeas well as the Vizierate.'And he invested him forthwith in the Vizier's habit. Then Ali sat down in the seat of the Vizierate and said'O King of the agethou hast bestowed on me this；and indeed I am honoured by thy bounties；but hear one word from me.'Say on，'answered the King'and fear not.'Quoth Ali'Since it is thine august will to marry thy daughterthou wouldst do better to marry her to my son.'Hast thou then a son？'asked the King；and Ali replied'Yes.'Send for him forthright，'said the King；whereupon'I hear and obey，'answered Ali and sent a servant to fetch his sonwho came and kissing the ground before the Kingstood in an attitude of respect. The King looked at him and seeing him to be yet comelier than his daughter and goodlier than she in symmetry and brightness and perfection，said to him'O my sonwhat is thy name？'O our lord the Sultan，'replied the young manwho was then fourteen years old'my name is Hassan.'Then the Sultan said to the Cadi，'Write the contract of marriage between my daughter Husn el Wujoud and Hassanson of the merchant Ali of Cairo.'So he wrote the contract of marriage between themand the affair was ended on the goodliest wise；after which all in the Divan went their ways and the merchants escorted the Vizier Ali to his housewhere they gave him joy of his advancement and departed.
Then he went in to his wifewhoseeing him clad in the Vizier's habitexclaimed'What is this？'So he told her all that had passedand she rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy.
On the morrowhe went up to the Divanwhere the King received him with especial favour and seating him beside himselfsaid to him'O Vizierwe purpose to celebrate the wedding festivities and bring thy son in to our daughter.'O our lord the Sultan，'
replied Ali'that thou deemest good is good.'So the Sultan gave orders for the festivitiesand they decorated the city and held high festival thirty daysin all cheer and gladness；at the end of which timethe Vizier Ali's son Hassan went in to the princess and enjoyed her beauty and grace. When the queen saw her daughter's husbandshe conceived a warm affection for himand in like manner she rejoiced greatly in his mother. Then the King bade build his son-in-law a palace beside his own；so they built him with all speed a splendid palacein which he took up his abode；and his mother used to abide with her son some days and then return to her own house.
After awhilethe queen said to her husband'O King of the ageHassan's mother cannot take up her abode with her son and leave the Vizier；neither can she abide with her husband and leave her son.'Thou sayst sooth，'replied the King and bade build a third palace beside the two otherswhich being done in a few dayshe caused remove thither the Vizier's goodsand the latter and his wife took up their abode there. Now the three palaces communicated with one anotherso thatwhen the King had a mind to speak with the Vizier by nighthe would go to him or send to fetch him；and so with Hassan and his father and mother.
