him; but when he came within half a league of the city, the detachment
surrounded him, when the officer addressed himself to him, and said;
"Prince, it is with great regret that I declare to you the sultan's
order to arrest you, and to carry you before him as a criminal: I beg
of you not to take it ill that we acquit ourselves of our duty, and to
forgive us." Aladdin, who felt himself innocent, was much surprised at
this declaration, and asked the officer if he knew what crime he was
accused of; who replied, he did not. Then Aladdin, finding that his
retinue was much inferior to this detachment, alighted from his horse,
and said to the officers: "Execute your orders; I am not conscious that
I have committed any offence against the sultan's person or government."
A heavy chain was immediately put about his neck, and fastened round his
body, so that both his arms were pinioned down; the officer then put
himself at the head of the detachment, and one of the troopers taking
hold of the end of the chain and proceeding after the officer, led
Aladdin, who was obliged to follow him on foot, into the city.
When this detachment entered the suburbs, the people, who saw Aladdin
thus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that his head was to be
cut off; and as he was generally beloved, some took sabres and other
arms; and those who had none gathered stones, and followed the escort.
Their numbers presently increased so much, that the soldiery began to
think it would be well if they could get into the sultan's palace before
Aladdin was rescued; to prevent which, according to the different extent
of the streets, they took care to cover the ground by extending or
closing. In this manner they with much difficulty arrived at the palace
square, and there drew up in a line, till their officer and troopers
with Aladdin had got within the gates, which were immediately shut.
Aladdin was carried before the sultan, who waited for him, attended by
the grand vizier; and as soon as he saw him he ordered the executioner,
who waited there for the purpose, to strike off his head without hearing
him, or giving him leave to clear himself. As soon as the executioner
had taken off the chain that was fastened about Aladdin's neck and body,
he made the supposed criminal kneel down, and tied a bandage over his
eyes. Then drawing his sabre, he took his aim by flourishing it three
times in the air, waiting for the sultan's giving the signal to strike.
At that instant the grand vizier perceiving that the populace had
crowded the great square before the palace, and were scaling the walls
in several places, said to the sultan, before he gave the signal: "I beg
of your majesty to consider what you are going to do, since you will
hazard your palace being destroyed; and who knows what fatal consequence
may follow?" "My palace forced!" replied the sultan; "who can have that
audacity?" "Sir," answered the grand vizier, "if your majesty will but
cast your eyes toward the great square, and on the palace walls, you
will perceive the truth of what I say."
The sultan was so much alarmed when he saw so great a crowd, and how
enraged they were, that he ordered the executioner to put his sabre
immediately into the scabbard, to unbind Aladdin, and at the same time
commanded the porters to declare to the people that the sultan had
pardoned him, and that they might retire. Those who had already got upon
the walls abandoned their design and got quickly down, overjoyed that
they had saved the life of a man they dearly loved, and published the
news amongst the rest, which was presently confirmed by the mace-bearers
from the top of the terraces. The justice which the sultan had done to
Aladdin soon disarmed the populace of their rage; the tumult abated and
the mob dispersed.
When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he turned toward the balcony, and
perceiving the sultan, raised his voice, and said to him in a moving
manner: "I beg of your majesty to add one favour more to that which I
have already received, which is, to let me know my crime?" "Your
crime," answered the sultan; "perfidious wretch! Do you not know it?
Come hither, and I will show it you." Aladdin went up, when the sultan,
going before him without looking at him, said: "Follow me;" and then led
him into his closet. When he came to the door, he said: "Go in; you
ought to know whereabouts your palace stood: look round and tell me what
is become of it?"
Aladdin looked, but saw nothing. He perceived the spot upon which his
palace had stood; but not being able to divine how it had disappeared,
was thrown into such great confusion and amazement that he could not
return one word of answer. The sultan, growing impatient, demanded of
him again: "Where is your palace, and what is become of my daughter?"
Aladdin, breaking silence, replied: "Sir, I perceive and own that the
palace which I have built is not in its place, but is vanished; neither
can I tell your majesty where it may be, but can assure you I had no
concern in its removal."
"I am not so much concerned about your palace," replied the sultan; "I
value my daughter ten thousand times more, and would have you find her
out, otherwise I will cause your head to be struck off, and no
consideration shall divert me from my purpose."
"I beg of your majesty," answered Aladdin, "to grant me forty days to
make my inquiries; and if in that time I have not the success I wish, I
will offer my head at the foot of your throne, to be disposed of at your
pleasure." "I give you the forty days you ask," said the sultan; "but
think not to escape my resentment if you fail; for I will find you out
in whatsoever part of the world you may conceal yourself."
Aladdin went out of the sultan's presence with great humiliation, and in
a condition worthy of pity. He crossed the courts of the palace,
hanging down his head, and in such great confusion that he durst not
lift up his eyes. The principal officers of the court, who had all
professed themselves his friends, instead of going up to him to comfort
him, turned their backs to avoid seeing him. But had they accosted him
with an offer of service, they would have no more known Aladdin. He did
not know himself, and was no longer in his senses, as plainly appeared
by his asking everybody he met, and at every house, if they had seen his
palace, or could tell him any news of it. These questions made the
generality believe that Aladdin was mad. Some laughed at him, but people
of sense and humanity, particularly those who had had any connection of
business or friendship with him, really pitied him. For three days he
rambled about the city in this manner, without coming to any resolution
or eating anything but what some compassionate people forced him to take
out of charity. At last he took the road to the country; and after he
had traversed several fields in wild uncertainty, at the approach of
night came to the bank of a river. There, possessed by his despair, he
said to himself: "Where shall I seek my palace? In what province,
country, or part of the world, shall I find that and my dear princess? I
shall never succeed; I would better free myself at once from fruitless
endeavours, and such bitter grief as preys upon me." He was just going
to throw himself into the river, but, as a good Mussulman, true to his
religion, he thought he should not do it without first saying his
prayers. Going to prepare himself, he went to the river's brink, in
order to perform the usual ablutions. The place being steep and
slippery, he slid down, and had certainly fallen into the river, but for
a little rock, which projected about two feet out of the earth. Happily
also for him, he still had on the ring which the African magician had
put on his finger before he went down into the subterranean abode to
fetch the precious lamp. In slipping down the bank he rubbed the ring so
hard by holding on the rock, that immediately the same genie appeared
whom he had seen in the cave where the magician had left him. "What
wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as thy
slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their finger;
both I and the other slaves of the ring."
Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an apparition he so little expected in
his present calamity, replied; "Save my life, genie, a second time,
either by showing me to the place where the palace I caused to be built
now stands, or immediately transporting it back where it first stood."
"What you command me," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I
am only the slave of the ring; you must address yourself to the slave of
the lamp." "If that be the case," replied Aladdin, "I command thee, by
the power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palace
stands, in what part of the world soever it may be, and set me down
under the window of the Princess Badroulboudour." These words were no
sooner out of his mouth than the genie transported him into Africa, to
the midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, and placing him
exactly under the window of the princess's apartment, left him. All this
was done almost in an instant. Aladdin, notwithstanding the darkness of
the night, knew his palace again; but as the night was far advanced and
all was quiet, he retired to some distance, and sat down at the foot of
a large tree. There, full of hopes, and reflecting on his happiness, for
which he was indebted to chance, he found himself in a much more
comfortable situation than when he was arrested and carried before the
sultan, being now delivered from the immediate danger of losing his
life. He amused himself for some time with these agreeable thoughts; but
not having slept for two days, was unable to resist the drowsiness
which came upon him, but fell fast asleep.
The next morning, as soon as day appeared, Aladdin was agreeably
awakened by the singing not only of the birds which had roosted in the
tree under which he had passed the night, but also of those which
frequented the thick groves of the palace garden. When he cast his eyes
on that wonderful edifice, he felt inexpressible joy at thinking he
might soon be master of it again, and once more greet his dear Princess
Badroulboudour. Pleased with these hopes, he immediately arose, went
toward the princess's apartment, and walked some time under her window
in expectation of her rising, that he might see her. During this
expectation, he began to consider with himself whence the cause of his
misfortune had proceeded; and after mature reflection, no longer doubted
that it was owing to having trusted the lamp out of his sight. He
accused himself of negligence in letting it be a moment away from him.
But what puzzled him most was, that he could not imagine who had been so
envious of his happiness. He would soon have guessed this, if he had
known that both he and his palace were now in Africa, the very name of
which would soon have made him remember the magician, his declared
enemy; but the genie, the slave of the ring, had not made mention of the
name of the country, nor had Aladdin inquired.
The princess rose earlier that morning than she had done since her
transportation into Africa by the magician, whose presence she was
forced to support once a day, because he was master of the palace;
though she had always treated him so harshly that he dared not reside in
it. As she was dressing, one of the women looking through the window
perceived Aladdin, and instantly told her mistress. The princess, who
could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the window,
and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of opening the
window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving the princess
he saluted her with joy. "To lose no time," said she to him, "I have
sent to have the private door opened for you; enter, and come up." The
private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was soon
opened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is impossible to
express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so cruel a
separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down,
and Aladdin said: "I beg of you, princess, in Heaven's name, before we
talk of anything else, to tell me, both for your own sake, the sultan
your father's, and mine, what is become of an old lamp which I left upon
a shelf in my robing-chamber, when I departed for the chase."
"Alas! dear husband," answered the princess, "I was afraid our
misfortune might be owing to that lamp: and what grieves me most is,
that I have been the cause of it." "Princess," replied Aladdin, "do not
blame yourself, for I ought to have taken more care of it. But let us
now think only of repairing the loss; tell me what has happened, and
into whose hands it has fallen." The princess then related how she had
changed the old lamp for a new one, and how the next morning she found
herself in the unknown country they were then in, which she was told was
Africa, by the traitor who had transported her thither by his magic art.
"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have informed me who
the traitor is, by telling me we are in Africa. He is the most
perfidious of men; but this is neither a time nor place to give you a
full account of his villainies. I desire you only to tell me what he has
done with the lamp, and where he has put it." "He carries it carefully
wrapt up in his bosom," said the princess; "and this I can assure you,
because he pulled it out before me, and showed it to me in triumph."
"Princess," said Aladdin, "do not be displeased that I trouble you with
so many questions, since they are equally important to us both. But to
come to what most particularly concerns me: tell me, I conjure you, how
so wicked and perfidious a man treats you?" "Since I have been here,"
replied the princess, "he repairs once every day to see me; and I am
persuaded the little satisfaction he receives from his visits makes him
come no oftener. All his addresses tend to persuade me to break that
faith I have pledged to you, and to take him for my husband; giving me
to understand I need not entertain hopes of ever seeing you again, for
that you were dead, having had your head struck off by my father's
order. He added, to justify himself, that you were an ungrateful wretch;
that your good fortune was owing to him, and a great many other things
of that nature which I forbear to repeat: but as he received no other
answer from me but grievous complaints and tears, he was always forced
to retire with as little satisfaction as he came. I doubt not his
intention is to allow me time to overcome my grief, in hopes that
afterward I may change my sentiments. But my dear husband's presence
removes all my apprehensions."
"I am confident my attempts to punish the magician will not be in vain,"
replied Aladdin, "since my princess's fears are removed, and I think I
have found the means to deliver you from both your enemy and mine; to
execute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the town. I shall
return by noon, will then communicate my design, and what must be done
by you to ensure success. But that you may not be surprised, I think it
proper to acquaint you that I shall change my apparel, and beg of you
to give orders that I may not wait long at the private door, but that it
may be opened at the first knock."
When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides,
and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him; and
when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him to change habits,
which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the countryman
went about his business, and Aladdin to the city. After traversing
several streets, he came to that part of the town where all descriptions
of merchants had their particular streets, according to their trades. He
went into that of the druggists; and going into one of the largest and
best-furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had a certain powder
which he named. The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very
poor, and that he had not money enough to pay for it, told him he had
it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin penetrating his
thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked for
half a drachm of the powder; which the druggist weighed, wrapped up in
paper, and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin
put the money into his hand, and returned to the palace, where he waited
not long at the private door. When he came into the princess's
apartment, he said to her: "Princess, perhaps the aversion you tell me
you have for your captor may be an objection to your executing what I am
going to propose; but permit me to say it is proper that you should
dissemble a little, and do violence to your inclinations, if you would
deliver yourself from him.
"If you will take my advice," continued he, "dress yourself this moment
in one of your richest habits, and when the African magician comes, make
no difficulty to give him the best reception; so that he may imagine
time has removed your disgust at his addresses. In your conversation let
him understand that you strive to forget me; and that he may be the
more fully convinced, invite him to sup with you, and tell him you
should be glad to taste of some of the best wines of his country. He
will presently go to fetch you some. During his absence, put into one of
the cups which you are accustomed to drink of, this powder, and setting
it by, charge the slave you may order that night to attend you, on a
signal you shall agree upon, to bring that cup to you. When the magician
and you have eaten and drunk as much as you choose, let her bring you
the cup, and then change cups with him. He will esteem it so great a
favour that he will not refuse, but eagerly quaff it off; but no sooner
will he have drunk, than you will see him fall backward."
When Aladdin had finished, "I own," answered the princess, "I shall do
myself violence in consenting to make the magician such advances; but
what cannot one resolve to do against a cruel enemy? I will therefore
follow your advice, since both my repose and yours depend upon it."
After the princess had agreed to the measures proposed by Aladdin, he
took his leave and went and spent the rest of the day in the
neighbourhood of the palace till it was night, and he might safely
return to the private door.
The princess, who had remained inconsolable at being parted from her
husband, had, ever since their cruel separation, lived in great neglect
of her person. She had almost forgotten the neatness so becoming persons
of her sex and quality, particularly after the first time the magician
paid her a visit and she had understood by some of the women, who knew
him again, that it was he who had taken the old lamp in exchange for a
new one. However, the opportunity of taking the revenge he deserved made
her resolve to gratify Aladdin. As soon, therefore, as he was gone, she
sat down to dress, and was attired by her women to the best advantage
in the richest habit of her wardrobe. Her girdle was of the finest and
largest diamonds set in gold, her necklace of pearls, six on a side, so
well proportioned to that in the middle, which was the largest ever
seen, that the greatest sultanesses would have been proud to have been
adorned with only two of the smallest. Her bracelets, which were of
diamonds and rubies intermixed, corresponded admirably to the richness
of the girdle and necklace.
When the Princess Badroulboudour was completely dressed, she consulted
her glass and women upon her adjustment; and when she found she wanted
no charms to flatter the foolish passion of the African magician, she
sat down on a sofa expecting his arrival. The magician came at the usual
hour, and as soon as he entered the great hall where the princess waited
to receive him, she rose with an enchanting grace and smile, and pointed
with her hand to the most honourable place, waiting till he sat down,
that she might sit at the same time, which was a civility she had never
shown him before.
The African magician, dazzled more with the lustre of the princess's
eyes than the glittering of her jewels, was much surprised. The smiling
air with which she received him, so opposite to her former behaviour,
quite fascinated his heart. When he was seated, the princess, to free
him from his embarrassment, broke silence first, looking at him all the
time in such a manner as to make him believe that he was not so odious
to her as she had given him to understand hitherto, and said; "You are
doubtless amazed to find me so much altered to-day; but your surprise
will not be so great when I acquaint you, that I am naturally of a
disposition so opposite to melancholy and grief, that I always strive to
put them as far away as possible when I find the subject of them is
past. I have reflected on what you told me of Aladdin's fate, and know
my father's temper so well that I am persuaded, with you, he could not
escape the terrible effects of the sultan's rage: therefore, should I
continue to lament him all my life, my tears cannot recall him. For this
reason, since I have paid all the duties decency requires of me to his
memory, now he is in the grave I think I ought to endeavour to comfort
myself. These are the motives of the change you see in me; I am resolved
to banish melancholy entirely; and persuaded that you will bear me
company to-night, I have ordered a supper to be prepared; but as I have
no wines but those of China, I have a great desire to taste of the
produce of Africa, and doubt not your procuring some of the best."