Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
July -27 -2912 (Friday)
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 were 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.
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 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 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.
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 till 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 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 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. He then asked for some food.
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 has 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 till 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-vizir 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.
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-vizir 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 vizir: "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 vizir, 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 vizir,
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 vizir said:
"What sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values
her at such a price?"
The vizir, 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.
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-vizir 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 vizir'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 vizir'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 vizir'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 vizir'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 vizir's son if
it were not so. The Sultan told the vizir 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.
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 the vizir'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.
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 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; go and see about
it!"
The palace was finished by 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 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.
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 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 vizir meanwhile hinting
that it was the work of enchantment.
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 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 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 towards
Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the
vizir, and asked what had become of the palace. The vizir 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.
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 vizir, 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 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.
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, "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 the slave 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.
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."
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 that 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."
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 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 looked 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."
that she looked 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 me 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 round his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to 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 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 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.
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 a 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 for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome.
him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome.
"It 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 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.
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.
