Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp:

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There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called

Aladdin, a careless, idle boy who would do nothing but

play ball all day long in the streets with little idle boys like

himself. This so grieved the father that he died; yet, in

spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin did not

mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the

streets as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he

was not the son of Mustapha the tailor. "I am, sir,"

replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." On this

the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on

his neck and kissed him, saying, "I am your uncle, and

knew you from your likeness to my brother. Go to your

mother and tell her I am coming." Aladdin ran home and

told his mother of his newly found uncle. "Indeed, child,"

she said, "your father had a brother, but I always thought

he was dead." However, she prepared supper, and bade

Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and

fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place where

Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be

surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been

forty years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin,

and asked him his trade, at which the boy hung his

head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that

Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to

take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. Next

day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him

all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him

home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see

her son so fine.

The next day the magician led Aladdin into some

beautiful gardens a long way outside the city gates. They

sat down by a fountain and the magician pulled a cake

from his girdle, which he divided between them. They

then journeyed onward till they almost reached the

mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go

back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant

stories, and led him on in spite of himself. At last they

came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. "We

will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you

something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while

I kindle a fire." When it was lit the magician threw on

it a powder he had about him, at the same time saying

some magical words. The earth trembled a little and

opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with

a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to

run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a

blow that knocked him down. "What have I done, uncle?"

he said piteously; whereupon the magician said more

kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone

lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may

touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you." At the

word treasure Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the

ring as he was told, saying the names of his father and

grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, and some

steps appeared. "Go down," said the magician; "at the

foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into

three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go through

them without touching anything, or you will die instantly.

These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on

until you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a

lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to

me." He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to

Aladdin, bidding him prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said,

gathered some fruit off the trees, and, having got the

lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave. The magician

cried out in a great hurry: "Make haste and give me the

lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the

cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and

throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said something,

and the stone rolled back into its place.

The magician left Persia for ever, which plainly showed

that he was no uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician,

who had read in his magic books of a wonderful lamp,

which would make him the most powerful man in the

world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could

only receive it from the hand of another. He had picked

out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get

the lamp and kill him afterward.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and

lamenting. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and

in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had

forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and

frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: "What

wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and

will obey thee in all things." Aladdin fearlessly replied:

"Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the earth

opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes

could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the

threshold. When he came to himself he told his mother

what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits

he had gathered in the garden, which were, in reality,

precious stones. He then asked for some food. "Alas!

child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have

spun a little cotton and will go and sell it." Aladdin bade

her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead.

As it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might

fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared,

and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but

Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: "Fetch me

something to eat!" The genie returned with a silver bowl,

twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups,

and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she

came to herself, said: "Whence comes this splendid feast?"

"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. So they sat at

breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his

mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and

have nothing to do with devils. "No," said Aladdin,

"since chance hath made us aware of its virtues, we will

use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on

my finger." When they had eaten all the genie had

brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on

until none were left. He then had recourse to the genie,

who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived

for many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan

proclaimed that everyone was to stay at home and close his

shutters while the Princess, his daughter, went to and

from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her

face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled.

He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped

through a chink. The Princess lifted her veil as she went

in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with

her at first sight. He went home so changed that his

mother was frightened. He told her he loved the Princess

so deeply that he could not live without her, and meant

to ask her in marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing

this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed

upon her to go before the Sultan and carry his request.

She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from

the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the

most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please

the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The Grand

Vizier and the lords of council had just gone in as she

entered the hall and placed herself in front of the Sultan.

He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day

for a week, and stood in the same place. When the council

broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier:

"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every

day carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time,

that I may find out what she wants." Next day, at a sign

from the Vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and

remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good

woman, and tell me what you want." She hesitated, so

the Sultan sent away all but the Vizier, and bade her

speak frankly, promising to forgive her beforehand for

anything she might say. She then told him of her son's

violent love for the Princess. "I prayed him to forget

her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do some

desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for

the hand of the Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not

me alone, but my son Aladdin." The Sultan asked her

kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she unfolded

the jewels and presented them. He was thunderstruck,

and turning to the Vizier said: "What sayest

thou? Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who

values her at such a price?" The Vizier, who wanted her

for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for

three months, in the course of which he hoped his son

would contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan

granted this, and told Aladdin's mother that, though he

consented to the marriage, she must not appear before

him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but

after two had elapsed his mother, going into the city to

buy oil, found every one rejoicing, and asked what was

going on. "Do you not know," was the answer, "that the

son of the Grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan's daughter

to-night?" Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was

overwhelmed at first, but presently bethought him of the

lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie appeared, saying,

"What is thy will?" Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as

thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the

Vizier's son is to have the Princess. My command is that

to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom."

"Master, I obey," said the genie. Aladdin then went to

his chamber, where, sure enough, at midnight the genie

transported the bed containing the Vizier's son and the

Princess. "Take this new-married man," he said, "and

put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak."

Whereupon the genie took the Vizier's son out of bed,

leaving Aladdin with the Princess. "Fear nothing,"

Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by

your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you." The

Princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most

miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside

her and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the genie

fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place,

and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter

good-morning. The unhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid

himself, while the Princess would not say a word, and

was very sorrowful. The Sultan sent her mother to her,

who said: "How comes it, child, that you will not speak

to your father? What has happened?" The Princess sighed

deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night,

the bed had been carried into some strange house, and

what had passed there. Her mother did not believe her in

the least, but bade her rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened,

and next morning, on the Princess's refusal to speak, the

Sultan threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed

all, bidding him to ask the Vizier's son if it were not so.

The Sultan told the Vizier to ask his son, who owned the

truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had

rather die than go through another such fearful night, and

wished to be separated from her. His wish was granted,

and there was an end to feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his

mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood

in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who had

forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for

her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined

than ever to keep his word, and asked his Vizier's advice,

who counselled him to set so high a value on the Princess

that no man living could come up to it. The Sultan then

turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a

Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember

mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold

brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as

many white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I

await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and

went home, thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the

message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your

answer!" "Not so long, mother, as you think," her son

replied. "I would do a great deal more than that for the

Princess." He summoned the genie, and in a few moments

the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small

house and garden. Aladdin made them set out to the

palace, two and two, followed by his mother. They were

so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their

girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of

gold they carried on their heads. They entered the palace,

and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle

round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's

mother presented them to the Sultan. He hesitated no

longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son

that I wait for him with open arms." She lost no time in

telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin

first called the genie. "I want a scented bath," he said,

"a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan's,

and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six

slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and

lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses." No

sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and

passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as

they went. Those who had played with him in his

childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. When

the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne,

embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was

spread, intending to marry him to the Princess that very

day. But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace

fit for her," and took his leave. Once home, he said to the

genie: "Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with

jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle

you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls

of massy gold and silver, each having six windows, whose

lattices, all except one which is to be left unfinished, must

be set with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables

and horses and grooms and slaves; go and see about it!"

The palace was finished by the next day, and the genie

carried him there and showed him all his orders faithfully

carried out, even to the laying of a velvet carpet from

Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother then

dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with

her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan

sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them,

so that the air resounded with music and cheers. She was

taken to the Princess, who saluted her and treated her

with great honor. At night the Princess said good-by to

her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace,

with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred

slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran

to receive her. "Princess," he said, "blame your beauty

for my boldness if I have displeased you." She told him

that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in

this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin

led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she

supped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace.

On entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows,

with their rubies, diamonds, and emeralds, he cried: "It

is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that

surprises me. Was it by accident that one window was left

unfinished?" "No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I

wished your Majesty to have the glory of finishing this

palace." The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best

jewelers in the city. He showed them the unfinished

window, and bade them fit it up like the others. "Sir,"

replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough."

The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used,

but to no purpose, for in a month's time the work was

not half done. Aladdin, knowing that their task was vain,

bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, and

the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan

was surprised to receive his jewels again, and visited

Aladdin, who showed him the window finished. The Sultan

embraced him, the envious Vizier meanwhile hinting

that it was the work of enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle

bearing. He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and

won several battles for him, but remained modest and

courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and content

for several years.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin,

and by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead

of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and

had married a princess, with whom he was living in great

honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son

could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp,

and traveled night and day until he reached the capital

of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he passed through

the town he heard people talking everywhere about a

marvellous palace. "Forgive my ignorance," he asked,

"what is this palace you speak Of?" "Have you not heard

of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the greatest

wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind

to see it." The magician thanked him who spoke, and

having seen the palace, knew that it had been raised

by the Genie of the Lamp, and became half mad with

rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again

plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days,

which gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a

dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to

the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed by a

jeering crowd. The Princess, sitting in the hall of

four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find out what the

noise was about, who came back laughing, so that the

Princess scolded her. "Madam," replied the slave, "who

can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange

fine new lamps for old ones?" Another slave, hearing this,

said: "There is an old one on the cornice there which he

can have." Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin

had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with

him. The Princess, not knowing its value, laughingly

bade the slave take it and make the exchange. She went

and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this."

He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid

the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying

his lamps, and went out of the city gates to a lonely place,

where he remained till nightfall, when he pulled out the

lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the

magician's command carried him, together with the

palace and the Princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window

toward Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was

gone. He sent for the Vizier and asked what had become

of the palace. The Vizier looked out too, and was lost in

astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and

this time the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on

horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains. They met him riding

home, bound him, and forced him to go with them

on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed,

armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried

before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off

his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down,

bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike. At

that instant the Vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced

their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to

rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand.

The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan

gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and

pardoned him in the sight of the crowd. Aladdin now

begged to know what he had done. "False wretch!" said

the Sultan, "come thither," and showed him from the

window the place where his palace had stood. Aladdin

was so amazed that he could not say a word. "Where is

my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For

the first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter

I must have, and you must find her or lose your head."

Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her,

promising, if he failed, to return and suffer death at the

Sultan's pleasure. His prayer was granted, and he went

forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For three days he

wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what

had become of his palace, but they only laughed and

pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt

down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In

so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. The

genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his

will. "Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "bring my

palace back." "That is not in my power," said the genie;

"I am only the Slave of the Ring; you must ask him of the

lamp." "Even so," said Aladdin, "but thou canst take

me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife's

window." He at once found himself in Africa, under the

window of the Princess, and fell asleep out of sheer

weariness.

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his

heart was lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes

were owing to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered

who had robbed him of it.

That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had

done since she had been carried into Africa by the

magician, whose company she was forced to endure once a

day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared

not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her

women looked out and saw Aladdin. The Princess ran

and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin

looked up. She called to him to come to her, and

great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again.

After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you,

Princess, in God's name, before we speak of anything else,

for your own sake and mine, tell me that has become of an

old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty

windows, when I went a-hunting." "Alas!" she

said, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told

him of the exchange of the lamp. "Now I know," cried

Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magician for

this! Where is the lamp?" "He carries it about with him,"

said the Princess. "I know, for he pulled it out of his

breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith with

you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by

my father's command. He is for ever speaking ill of you

but I only reply by my tears. If I persist, I doubt not but

he will use violence." Aladdin comforted her, and left her

for a while. He changed clothes with the first person he

met in the town, and having bought a certain powder,

returned to the Princess, who let him in by a little side

door. "Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her

"and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to

believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with

you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country.

He will go for some and while he is gone I will tell you

what to do." She listened carefully to Aladdin and when

he left she arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she

left China. She put on a girdle and head-dress of

diamonds, and, seeing in a glass that she was more beautiful

than ever, received the magician, saying, to his great

amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is

dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me,

so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore

invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the wines

of China, and would fain taste those of Africa." The

magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder

Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned

she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa,

handing him her cup in exchange for his, as a sign she was

reconciled to him. Before drinking the magician made

her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut

him short, saying: "Let us drink first, and you shall say

what you will afterward." She set her cup to her lips and

kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs

and fell back lifeless. The Princess then opened the door

to Aladdin, and flung her arms round his neck; but Aladdin

put her away, bidding her leave him, as he had more

to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp

out of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and

all in it back to China. This was done, and the Princess

in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and little

thought she was at home again.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for

his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his

eyes, for there stood the palace as before! He hastened

thither, and Aladdin received him in the hall of the

four-and-twenty windows, with the Princess at his side.

Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the

dead body of the magician, that he might believe. A ten

days' feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin

might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not

to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was,

if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself.

He traveled to China to avenge his brother's death, and

went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she

might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped

a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his

bidding on pain of death. He changed clothes with her,

colored his face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered

her, that she might tell no tales. Then he went toward

the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he was

the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands

and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace there

was such a noise going on round him that the Princess

bade her slave look out of the window and ask what was

the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing

people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the

Princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her.

On coming to the Princess the magician offered up a

prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had done

the Princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay

with her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing

better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of

discovery. The Princess showed him the hall, and asked

him what he thought of it. "It is truly beautiful," said

the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but one thing."

"And what is that?" said the Princess. "If only a roc's

egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of this

dome, it would be the wonder of the world."

After this the Princess could think of nothing but the

roc's egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he

found her in a very ill humor. He begged to know what

was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the

hall was spoiled for the want of a roc's egg hanging from

the dome. "If that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall

soon be happy." He left her and rubbed the lamp, and

when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc's

egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that

the hall shook. "Wretch!" he cried, "is it not enough

that I have done everything for you, but you must command

me to bring my master and hang him up in the

midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace

deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this request does

not come from you, but from the brother of the African

magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace

disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it

was who put that wish into your wife's head. Take care

of yourself, for he means to kill you." So saying, the

genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head

ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be

fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magician

came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the

heart. "What have you done?" cried the Princess. "You

have killed the holy woman!" "Not so," replied Aladdin,

"but a wicked magician," and told her of how she had

been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He

succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many

years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

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