Aladdin

and the Wonderful Lamp

There once lived a poor tailor,

who had a son called Aladdin,

a careless,

idle boy

who

would do nothing

but play 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.

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 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.

then turned

to Aladdin,

and asked him his trade,

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.

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.

Then they journeyed onwards

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 lead him on

in spite

of himself.

At last they came

to two mountains divided

by a narrow valley.

“We

will go no farther,”

said his 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

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

till you come

to niche

in a terrace

where stands a lighted lamp.

Pour out the oil it contains,

and bring it 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

to the fire,

he said something,

and the stone rolled back

into its place.

The man left the country,

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,

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 afterwards.

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.

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 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,

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

until none were left.

then had recourse

to the genie,

who gave him another set

of plates,

and thus they lived 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

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 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

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

until 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 freely,

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

which he hoped his son

could 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 everyone 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 tonight?”

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

will 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 refusing

to speak,

the Sultan threatened

to cut off her head.

She

then confessed all,

bidding him 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

of 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

would come up

to it.

The Sultan

than 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

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

to set out

to the palace,

two

by two,

followed

by his mother.

They were so richly dressed,

with such splendid jewels,

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

then 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 side 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;

and see

about it!”

The palace was finished 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,

that the air resounded

with music

and cheers.

She was taken

to the Princess,

who saluted her

and treated her

with great honour.

At night the princess said good-bye

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

as 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 honour

and wealth.

He knew

that the poor tailor’s son

could only have accomplished this

by means

of the lamp,

and travelled night

and day

till he reached the capital

of China,

bent

on Aladdin’s ruin.

As he passed

through the town he heard people talking everywhere

about a marvelous palace.

“Forgive my ignorance,”

he asked,

“what is the palace you speak of?”

Have you not heard

of Prince Aladdin’s palace,”

was the reply,

“the greatest wonder

in the world?

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 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,

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

towards 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 back

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.

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 hither,”

and showed him

from the window the place

where his palace had stood.

Aladdin was so amazed he

could not say a word.

“Where is your 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

at 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 doing so he rubbed the ring he still wore.

The genie he had seen

in the cave appeared,

and asked his will.

“Save my life,

genie,”

said Aladdin,

“and 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.”

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 owning

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

what 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 forever 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

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.

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 her,

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 afterwards.”

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

around his neck;

but Aladdin 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 felt only two little shocks,

and little thought she was home again.

The Sultan,

who was sitting

in his closet,

mourning

for his lost daughter,

happened too 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

if Aladdin might now live the rest

of his life

in peace;

but it was not meant

to be.

The African magician had a younger brother,

who was,

if possible,

more wicked

and more cunning

than himself.

He travelled

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,

coloured his face

like hers,

put

on her veil,

and murdered her,

that she might tell no tales.

Then he went

towards 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 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,

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 humour.

He begged

to know

what was amiss,

and she told him

that all her pleasure

in the hall was spoilt

or 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

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.

End