and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass ring fixed into
the middle. Aladdin was so frightened at what he saw, that he would have
run away; but the magician caught hold of him, abused him, and gave him
such a box on the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin got up
trembling, and with tears in his eyes, said to the magician: "What have
I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe manner?" "I have my
reasons," answered the magician; "I am your uncle, I supply the place of
your father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child," added he,
softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but
that you obey me punctually, if you would reap the advantages which I
intend you." These fair promises calmed Aladdin's fears and resentment;
and when the magician saw that he was appeased, he said to him: "You see
what I have done by virtue of my incense, and the words I pronounced.
Know then, that under this stone there is hidden a treasure, destined to
be yours, and which will make you richer than the greatest monarch in
the world: no person but yourself is permitted to lift this stone, or
enter the cave; so you must punctually execute what I may command, for
it is a matter of great consequence both to you and me."
Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard the magician say of the treasure
which was to make him happy forevermore, forgot what was past, and
rising, said: "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am ready
to obey." "I am overjoyed, child," said the African magician, embracing
him; "take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone." "Indeed, uncle,"
replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must help me." "You have
no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I help you,
we shall be able to do nothing; take hold of the ring, pronounce
the names of your father and grandfather, then lift it up, and you will
find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the magician bade him, raised
the stone with ease, and laid it on one side.
[Illustration]
_At the same time the earth, trembling, opened just before the magician,
and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass ring fixed into
the middle._
When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a cavity of about three or
four feet deep, with a little door, and steps to go down lower.
"Observe, my son," said the African magician, "what I direct. Descend
into the cave, and when you are at the bottom of those steps you will
find a door which will lead you into a spacious vault, divided into
three great halls, in each of which you will see four large brass
cisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you
do not meddle with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to
tuck up your vest, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second
into the third without stopping. Above all, have a care that you do not
touch the walls; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of
the third hall, you will find a door which opens into a garden planted
with fine trees loaded with fruit; walk directly across the garden by a
path which will lead you to five steps that will bring you upon a
terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a
lighted lamp. Take the lamp down, and extinguish it: when you have
thrown away the wick, and poured out the liquor, put it in your vestband
and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil your
clothes, for it is not oil; and the lamp will be dry as soon as it is
thrown out. If you should wish for any of the fruit of the garden, you
may gather as much as you please."
After these words, the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it
on one of Aladdin's, telling him that it was a preservative against all
evil, while he should observe what he had prescribed to him. After this
instruction he said: "Go down boldly, child, and we shall both be rich
all our lives."
Aladdin jumped into the cave, descended the steps, and found the three
halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them
with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire; crossed the
garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out
the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in his
vestband. But as he came down from the terrace, he stopped in the garden
to observe the fruit, which he only had a glimpse of in crossing it. All
the trees were loaded with extraordinary fruit, of different colours on
each tree. Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear and
transparent as crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green,
blue, and purple, and others yellow: in short, there was fruit of all
colours. The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the
deep red, rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the purple,
amethysts; and those that were of yellow cast, sapphires. Aladdin was
altogether ignorant of their worth, and would have preferred figs and
grapes, or any other fruits. But though he took them only for coloured
glass of little value, yet he was so pleased with the variety of the
colours, and the beauty and extraordinary size of the seeming fruit,
that he resolved to gather some of every sort; and accordingly filled
the two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes. Some
he wrapped up in the skirts of his vest, which was of silk, large and
full, and he crammed his bosom as full as it could hold.
Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches, returned through the
three halls with the same precaution, made all the haste he could, that
he might not make his uncle wait, and soon arrived at the mouth of the
cave, where the African magician expected him with the utmost
impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out: "Pray, uncle, lend
me your hand, to help me out." "Give me the lamp first," replied the
magician; "it will be troublesome to you." "Indeed, uncle," answered
Aladdin, "I cannot now; it is not troublesome to me: but I will as soon
as I am up." The African magician was so obstinate, that he would have
the lamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered
himself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused
to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician,
provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little
of his incense into the fire, which he had taken care to keep in, and no
sooner pronounced two magical words, than the stone which had closed the
mouth of the cave moved into its place, with the earth over it in the
same manner as it lay at the arrival of the magician and Aladdin.
This action of the African magician's plainly shewed him to be neither
Aladdin's uncle, nor Mustapha the tailor's brother; but a true African.
Africa is a country whose inhabitants delight most in magic of any in
the whole world, and he had applied himself to it from his youth. After
forty years' experience in enchantments and reading of magic books, he
had found out that there was in the world a wonderful lamp, the
possession of which would render him more powerful than any monarch; and
by a late operation of geomancy, he had discovered that this lamp lay
concealed in a subterranean place in the midst of China. Fully persuaded
of the truth of this discovery, he set out from the farthest part of
Africa; and after a long and fatiguing journey came to the town nearest
to this treasure. But though he had a certain knowledge of the place
where the lamp was, he was not permitted to take it himself, nor to
enter the subterranean place, but must receive it from the hands of
another person. For this reason he had addressed himself to Aladdin,
whom he looked upon as a lad fit to serve his purpose, resolving, as
soon as he should get the lamp into his hands, to sacrifice him to his
avarice and wickedness, by making the fumigation mentioned before, and
repeating two magical words, the effect of which would remove the stone
into its place, so that no witness would remain of the transaction.
The blow he had given Aladdin was intended to make him obey the more
readily, and give him the lamp as soon as he should ask for it. But his
too great precipitation, and his fear lest somebody should come that way
and discover what he wished to keep secret, produced an effect quite
contrary to what he had proposed.
When the African magician saw that all his hopes were frustrated
forever, he returned the same day for Africa; but went quite round the
town, and at some distance from it, lest some persons who had observed
him walk out with the boy, on seeing him come back without him, should
entertain suspicions, and stop him.
According to all appearances, there was no prospect of Aladdin being
heard of any more. But the magician, when he had contrived his death,
forgot the ring he had put upon his finger, which preserved him, though
he knew not its virtue. It may seem astonishing that the loss of that,
together with the lamp, did not drive the magician to despair; but
magicians are so much used to misfortunes that they do not lay them to
heart, but still feed themselves, to the end of life, with unsubstantial
notions and chimeras.
The surprise of Aladdin, who had never suspected this treachery from his
pretended uncle, is more easily to be imagined than expressed. When he
found himself buried alive, he cried, and called out to his uncle, to
tell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but in vain, since his cries
could not be heard. He descended to the bottom of the steps, with a
design to get into the garden, but the door, which was opened before by
enchantment, was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his
cries, sat down on the steps, without any hopes of ever seeing light
again, and in a melancholy certainty of passing from the present
darkness into that of a speedy death.
Aladdin remained in this state two days, without eating or drinking, and
on the third looked upon death as inevitable. Clasping his hands with
resignation to the will of God, he said: "There is no strength or power
but in the great and high God." In joining his hands he rubbed the ring
which the magician had put on his finger, and of which he knew not yet
the virtue. Immediately a genie of enormous size and frightful aspect
rose out of the earth, his head reaching the roof of the vault, and said
to him: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as the slave of
all who may possess the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of
that ring."
At another time, Aladdin, who had not been used to such appearances,
would have been so frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure
that he would not have been able to speak; but the danger he was in made
him answer without hesitation: "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this
place, if thou art able." He had no sooner spoken these words, than he
found himself on the very spot where the magician had caused the earth
to open.
It was some time before his eyes could bear the light, after being so
long in total darkness: but after he had endeavoured by degrees to
support it, and began to look about him, he was much surprised not to
find the earth open, and could not comprehend how he had got so soon out
of its bowels. There was nothing to be seen but the place where the fire
had been, by which he could nearly judge the situation of the cave. Then
turning himself toward the town, he perceived it at a distance in the
midst of the gardens that surrounded it, and saw the way by which the
magician had brought him. Returning God thanks to find himself once more
in the world, he made the best of his way home. When he got within his
mother's door, the joy of seeing her and his weakness for want of food
for three days made him faint, and he remained for a long time as dead.
His mother, who had given him over for lost, seeing him in this
condition, omitted nothing to bring him to himself. As soon as he
recovered, the first words he spoke were: "Pray, mother, give me
something to eat, for I have not put a morsel of anything into my mouth
these three days." His mother brought what she had, and set it before
him. "My son," said she, "be not too eager, for it is dangerous; eat but
little at a time, and take care of yourself. Besides, I would not have
you talk; you will have time enough to tell me what has happened to you
when you are recovered. It is a great comfort to me to see you again,
after the affliction I have been in since Friday, and the pains I have
taken to learn what was become of you."
Aladdin took his mother's advice, and ate and drank moderately. When he
had done, "Mother," said he to her, "I cannot help complaining of you,
for abandoning me so easily to the discretion of a man who had a design
to kill me, and who at this very moment thinks my death certain. You
believed he was my uncle, as well as I; and what other thoughts could we
entertain of a man who was so kind to me? but I must tell you, mother,
he is a rogue and a cheat, and only made me those promises to accomplish
my death; but for what reason neither you nor I can guess. You shall
judge yourself, when you have heard all that passed from the time I left
you, till he came to the execution of his wicked design."
Aladdin then related to his mother all that had happened to him, from
the Friday when the magician took him to see the palaces and gardens
about the town, till they came to the place between the two mountains
where the great deed was to be performed; how, with incense which the
magician threw into the fire, and some magical words which he
pronounced, the earth opened, and discovered a cave, which led to an
inestimable treasure. He did not forget the blow the magician had given
him, and in what manner he softened again, and engaged him by great
promises, and putting a ring on his finger, to go down into the cave. He
did not omit the least circumstance of what he saw in crossing the three
halls and the garden, and his taking the lamp, which he pulled out of
his bosom and shewed to his mother: as well as the transparent fruit of
different colours, which he had gathered in the garden as he returned.
But, though these fruits were precious stones, brilliant as the sun, she
was as ignorant of their worth as her son. She had been bred in a low
rank of life, and her husband's poverty prevented his being possessed of
jewels, nor had she, her relations, or neighbours ever seen any; so that
we must not wonder that she regarded them as things of no value.
Aladdin put them behind one of the cushions of the sofa, and continued
his story. When he had come to an end, Aladdin said to his mother: "I
need say no more! this is my adventure, and the dangers I have been
exposed to since you saw me."
His mother heard with much interest this surprising relation,
notwithstanding it could be no small affliction to a mother who loved
her son tenderly; but yet in the most moving part, which discovered the
perfidy of the African magician, she could not help showing, by marks of
the greatest indignation, how much she detested him; and when her son
had finished his story, she broke out into a thousand reproaches against
that vile impostor. She called him perfidious traitor, barbarian,
assassin, deceiver, magician, and an enemy and destroyer of mankind.
"Without doubt, child," added she, "he is a magician, and they are
plagues to the world, and by their enchantments and sorceries have
commerce with the devil. Bless God for preserving you from his wicked
designs; for your death would have been inevitable, if you had not
called upon Him, and implored His assistance." She said a great deal
more against the magician's treachery; but finding that whilst she
talked, Aladdin began to doze, she left him to his repose, and retired.
Aladdin, who had not closed his eyes while he was in the subterranean
abode, slept very soundly till late the next morning; when the first
thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, and
that she could not do him a greater kindness than to give him his
breakfast. "Alas! child," said she, "I have not a bit of bread to give
you, you ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but
have a little patience, and it shall not be long before I will bring you
some: I have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it,
buy bread, and something for our dinner." "Mother," replied Aladdin,
"keep your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp I brought home
with me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the money I shall get for
it will serve both for breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too."
Aladdin's mother took the lamp, and said to her son: "Here it is, but it
is very dirty; if it was a little cleaner I believe it would bring
something more." She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but had
no sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of
gigantic size appeared before her, and said to her in a voice like
thunder: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave,
and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I and the
other slaves of the lamp."
Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when the
lad, who had seen such another phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp
out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly: "I am hungry,
bring me something to eat." The genie disappeared immediately, and in an
instant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes
of the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six large
white bread-cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver
cups. All these he placed upon a carpet, and disappeared: this was done
before Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon.
Aladdin fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face, to recover
her: whether that or the smell of the meat brought her to life again, it
was not long before she came to herself. "Mother," said Aladdin, "do not
mind this; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same time
satisfy my extreme hunger: do not let such delicious meat get cold."
His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, six
loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savoury odour which
exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for
this great plenty and liberality; has the sultan been made acquainted
with our poverty, and had compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother,"
said Aladdin; "let us sit down and eat, for you have almost as much need
of breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you."
Accordingly, both mother and son sat down, and ate with the better
relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's
mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the dishes, though she
could not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and the
novelty more than the value attracted her attention.
The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and then
they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet after
this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two meals
for the next day.
When Aladdin's mother had taken away what was left, she went and sat by
her son on the sofa, saying: "I expect now that you should satisfy my
impatience, and tell me exactly what passed between the genie and you
while I was in a swoon;" which he readily complied with.
She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at the
appearance of the genie; and said to him: "But, son, what have we to do
with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seen
one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you,
to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" "Mother," answered Aladdin,
"the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me, though he
resembles him in size; no, they had quite different persons and habits;
they belong to different masters. If you remember, he that I first saw
called himself the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw,
called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your hand: but I believe
you did not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to
speak."
"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that
cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son,
take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I will never touch
it. I had rather you would sell it, than run the hazard of being
frightened to death again by touching it: and if you would take my
advice, you would part also with the ring, and not have anything to do
with genies, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils."
"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall take care how I
sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. Have you not
been an eye-witness of what it has procured us? and it shall still
continue to furnish us with subsistence. My false and wicked uncle would
not have taken so much pains, and undertaken so long a journey, if it
had not been to get into his possession this wonderful lamp, which he
preferred before all the gold and silver which he knew was in the halls.
He knew too well the worth of this lamp, not to prefer it to so great a
treasure; and since chance hath discovered the virtue of it to us, let
us make a profitable use of it, without making any great show, and
exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbours. However, since the
genies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put
it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part
with; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I am
alive now, perhaps, if it was gone, I might not be so some moments
hence; therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear
it always on my finger. Who knows what dangers you and I may be exposed
to, which neither of us can foresee, and from which it may deliver us?"
As Aladdin's arguments were just, his mother had nothing to say against
them; she only replied, that he might do what he pleased; for her part,
she would have nothing to do with genies, but would wash her hands of
them.
By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had
brought: and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought of
hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out early
to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the streets,
took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he would buy it.
The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found that
it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who
knew not its value, and never had been used to such traffic, told him he
would trust to his judgment and honour. The Jew was somewhat confounded
at this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the
material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of
gold out of his purse and gave it to him, though it was but the sixtieth
part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly,
retired with so much haste, that the Jew, not content with the
exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his
ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavour to get some
change out of the piece of gold; but the lad ran so fast, and had got so
far, that it would have been impossible for him to overtake him.
Before Aladdin went home, he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of
bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his mother,
who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some time. After
this manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly,
as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; who, after the
first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of losing so good a
bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray,
which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried it
to his old purchaser, but that it was too large and cumbersome;
therefore he was obliged to bring him home with him to his mother's,
where, after the Jew had examined the weight of the tray, he laid down
ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very well satisfied.
They lived on these ten pieces in a frugal manner, for Aladdin, though
formerly used to an idle life, had left off playing with young lads of
his own age ever since his adventure with the African magician. He spent
his time in walking about, and conversing with decent people, with whom
he gradually got acquainted. Sometimes he would stop at the principal
merchants' shops, where people of distinction met, and listen to their
discourse, by which he gained some little knowledge of the world.