Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, acareless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in thestreets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the fatherthat he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdindid not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets asusual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he was not the son ofMustapha the tailor. "I am, sir, " replied Aladdin; "but he died a longwhile 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 youfrom your likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I amcoming. " Aladdin ran home and told his mother of his newly founduncle. "Indeed, child, " she said, "your father had a brother, but Ialways thought he was dead. " However, she prepared supper, and badeAladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and fruit. He felldown and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin'smother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as he hadbeen forty years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin, andasked him his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his motherburst into tears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn notrade, 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 overthe city, showing him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall tohis mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine. 

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a longway outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain and themagician 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 magicianbeguiled him with pleasant stories and lead him on in spite of himself. At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. "Wewill go no farther, " said his uncle. "I will show you somethingwonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire. " Whenit was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at thesame time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little infront of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in themiddle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magiciancaught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. "What have Idone, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician said morekindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies atreasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so youmust do exactly as I tell you. " At the word treasure Aladdin forgothis fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of hisfather and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, and some stepsappeared. "Go down, " said the magician; "at the foot of those stepsyou will find an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck upyour gown and go through them without touching anything, or you willdie instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on till you come to niche in a terrace where stands a lightedlamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it me. " He drew a ringfrom his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper. 

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruitoff the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of thecave. The magician cried out in a great hurry: "Make haste and give methe lamp. " This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some morepowder on to the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled backinto its place. 

The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was no uncle ofAladdin's but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic books of awonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in theworld. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive itfrom the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin forthis purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. 

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. Atlast he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately anenormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: "Whatwouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey theein all things. " Aladdin fearlessly replied, "Deliver me from thisplace!" whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. Assoon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on thethreshold. 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 spuna little cotton and will go sell it. " Aladdin bade her keep hercotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty, shebegan to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly ahideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She faintedaway, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: "Fetch me somethingto eat!" The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver platescontaining rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said: "Whence comes thissplendid feast?" "Ask not, but eat, " replied Aladdin. So they sat atbreakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother aboutthe lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do withdevils. "No, " said Aladdin, "since chance hath made us aware of itsvirtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall alwayswear 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 many years. 

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyonewas to stay at home and close his shutters while the Princess hisdaughter went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire tosee her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. Hehid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The Princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautifulthat Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home sochanged that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved thePrincess so deeply he could not live without her, and meant to ask herin marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst outlaughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before theSultan and carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it themagic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone likethe most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please theSultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The Grand Vizier and thelords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placedherself 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 thecouncil broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier: "Isee a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carryingsomething in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out whatshe wants. " Next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went up to thefoot of the throne and remained kneeling until the Sultan said to her:"Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want. " She hesitated, so theSultan sent away all but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might say. Shethen told him of her son's violent love for the Princess. "I prayedhim to forget her, " she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do somedesperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand ofthe Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my sonAladdin. " The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them. He wasthunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said: "What sayest thou?Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who values her at such aprice?" The Vizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultanto withhold her for three months, in the course of which he hoped hisson could contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan grantedthis, and told Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to themarriage, she must not appear before him again for three months. 

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two hadelapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyonerejoicing, and asked what was going on. "Do you not know, " was theanswer, "that the son of the Grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan'sdaughter tonight?" Breathless she ran and told Aladdin, who wasoverwhelmed at first, but presently bethought him of the lamp. Herubbed it and the genie appeared, saying: "What is thy will?" Aladdinreplied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to have the Princess. My command is thatto-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 sonand the Princess. "Take this new-married man, " he said, "and put himoutside in the cold, and return at daybreak. " Whereupon the genie tookthe vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the Princess. "Fearnothing, " Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by yourunjust father, and no harm will come to you. " The Princess was toofrightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. At the appointedhour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in hisplace, and transported the bed back to the palace. 

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. Theunhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while the Princesswould not say a word and was very sorrowful. The Sultan sent hermother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, that you will not speakto your father? What has happened?" The Princess sighed deeply, andat last told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carriedinto some strange house, and what had passed there. Her mother did notbelieve her in the least, but bade her rise and consider it an idledream. 

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on the Princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut offher head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the Vizier's son ifit were not so. The Sultan told the Vizier to ask his son, who ownedthe truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had ratherdie than go through another such fearful night, and wished to beseparated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end offeasting and rejoicing. 

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind theSultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and theSultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent forher. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever tokeep his word, and asked his Vizier's advice, who counselled him to setso 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, asultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but yourson must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carriedby forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer. " The mother of Aladdin bowed low andwent home, thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the message adding, "He may wait long enough for your answer!" "Not so long, mother, asyou think, " her son replied. "I would do a great deal more than thatfor the Princess. " He summoned the genie, and in a few moments theeighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small house and garden. Aladdin made them to set out to the palace, two by two, followed by hismother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels, thateveryone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried ontheir heads. They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before theSultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their armscrossed, while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan. Hehesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your sonthat I wait for him with open arms. " She lost no time in tellingAladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin first called the genie. "I want a scented bath, " he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horsesurpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, tenthousand pieces of gold in ten purses. " No sooner said then done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slavesstrewing gold as they went. Those who had played with him in hischildhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. When the sultan sawhim he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hallwhere a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the Princess thatvery day. But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit forher, " and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie: "Build mea palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and otherprecious stones. In the middle you shall build me a large hall with adome, its four walls of massy gold and silver, each side having sixwindows, whose lattices, all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horsesand grooms and slaves; go and see about it!"

The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried him thereand showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to thelaying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to thepalace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultansent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the airresounded with music and cheers. She was taken to the Princess, whosaluted her and treated her with great honour. At night the princesssaid good-bye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin'spalace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundredslaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receiveher. "Princess, " he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I havedispleased you. " She told him that, having seen him, she willinglyobeyed her father in this matter. After the wedding had taken place, Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she suppedwith him, after which they danced till midnight. 

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering thehall with the four-and-twenty windows with their rubies, diamonds andemeralds, he cried, "It is a world's wonder! There is only one thingthat surprises me. Was it by accident that one window was leftunfinished?" "No, sir, by design, " returned Aladdin. "I wished yourMajesty to have the glory of finishing this palace. " The Sultan waspleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He showed themthe unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the others. "Sir, "replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough. " The Sultanhad his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in amonth's time the work was not half done. Aladdin knowing that theirtask was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, andthe genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was surprisedto receive his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him thewindow finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizier meanwhilehinting that it was the work of enchantment. 

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He wasmade captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and lived thus in peace andcontent for several years. 

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by hismagic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably inthe cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he wasliving in great honour and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's soncould only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travellednight and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin'sruin. As he passed through the town he heard people talking everywhereabout a marvelous palace. "Forgive my ignorance, " he asked, "what isthe palace you speak of?" "Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin'spalace, " was the reply, "the greatest wonder in the world? I willdirect you if you have a mind to see it. " The magician thanked him whospoke, and having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by theGenie of the Lamp, and became half mad with rage. He determined to gethold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty. 

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave themagician plenty of time. He bought a dozen lamps, put them into abasket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followedby a jeering crowd. The Princess, sitting in the hall offour-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find out what the noise wasabout, who came back laughing, so that the Princess scolded her. "Madam, " replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fooloffering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?" Another slave, hearing this, said, "There is an old one on the cornice there which hecan have. " Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. The Princess, notknowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make theexchange. She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp forthis. " He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid thejeers 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 remainedtill nightfall, when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genieappeared, and at the magician's command carried him, together with thepalace and the Princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa. 

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin'spalace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the Vizierand asked what had become of the palace. The Vizier looked out too, and was lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, andthis time the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback tofetch Aladdin back in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, andforced him to go with them on foot. The people, however, who lovedhim, followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carriedbefore the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raisedhis scimitar to strike. At that instant the Vizier, who saw that thecrowd had forced their way into the courtyard and were scaling thewalls to rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way andordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of thecrowd. Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. "False wretch!"said the Sultan, "come hither, " and showed him from the window theplace where his palace had stood. Aladdin was so amazed he could notsay a word. "Where is your palace and my daughter?" demanded theSultan. "For the first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter Imust have, and you must find her or lose your head. " Aladdin beggedfor forty days in which to find her, promising if he failed to returnto suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer was granted, andhe went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. 

For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone whathad become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. Hecame to the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers beforethrowing 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. "Savemy life, genie, " said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back. " "That isnot in my power, " said the genie; "I am only the Slave of the Ring; youmust ask him of the lamp. " "Even so, " said Aladdin, "but thou cansttake 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 owning to the loss of thelamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it. 

That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had done since she hadbeen carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forcedto endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that hedared not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her womenlooked out and saw Aladdin. The Princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made, Aladdin looked up. She called to him tocome to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each otheragain. 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 andmine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice inthe hall of four-and-twenty windows when I went a-hunting. " "Alas, " shesaid, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows, " and told him of theexchange of the lamp. "Now I know, " cried Aladdin, "that we have tothank the African magician for this! Where is the lamp?" "He carriesit about with him, " said the Princess. "I know, for he pulled it outof his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith with you andmarry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's command. He isforever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my tears. If Ipersist, I doubt not but he will use violence. " Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. He changed clothes with the first person hemet in the town, and having bought a certain powder returned to thePrincess, who let him in by a little side door. "Put on your mostbeautiful dress, " he said to her, "and receive the magician withsmiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite himto sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. Hewill 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 herselfgaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle andhead-dress of diamonds and seeing in a glass that she was morebeautiful than ever, received the magician, saying, to his greatamazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that allmy tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn nomore, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired ofthe wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa. " Themagician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder Aladdinhad given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink herhealth 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 madeher a speech in praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying: "Let us drink first, and you shall say what you willafterwards. " She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while themagician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. The Princessthen 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. Thiswas 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 lostdaughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood thepalace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in thehall 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 themagician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, andit seemed as 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, morewicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avengehis 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 adagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain ofdeath. He changed clothes with her, coloured his face like hers, puton her veil, and murdered her, that she might tell no tales. Then hewent towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he wasthe holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging hisblessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going onround him that the Princess bade her slave look out the window and askwhat was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curingpeople by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the Princess, who hadlong desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the Princessthe magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. Whenhe had done the Princess made him sit by her, and begged him to staywith her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princessshowed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it. "It is trulybeautiful, " said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but onething. " "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 thewonder of the world. "

After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc's egg, andwhen 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 herpleasure in the hall was spoilt for want of a roc's egg hanging fromthe dome. "If that is all, " replied Aladdin, "you shall soon behappy. " He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appearedcommanded him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud andterrible shriek that the hall shook. 

"Wretch!" he cried, "is it not enough that I have done everything foryou, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in themidst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to beburnt to ashes, but that this request does not come from you, but fromthe brother of the African magician, whom you destroyed. He is now inyour palace disguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered. He it waswho put that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for hemeans to kill you. " So saying, the genie disappeared. 

Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, andrequesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands onit. 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 awicked magician, " and told her of how she had been deceived. 

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded theSultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him along line of kings.