where he had formerly made so fine a figure, he quitted it, and took the
road to the country, and after he had traversed several fields in a
frightful uncertainty, at the approach of night he came to a river side.
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, whom the sultan expects from me? I shall
never succeed; I had better free myself at once from so much fruitless
fatigue and such bitter grief which 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 could not do it without first saying his
prayers. Going to prepare himself, he went first to the river side to
wash his hands and face, according to custom. But that place being steep
and slippery, by reason of the water’s beating against it, 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 put on his finger
before he went down into the subterraneous abode to fetch the precious
lamp, which had not been taken from him. In slipping down the bank he
rubbed the ring so hard by holding on the rock, that immediately the
same genie appeared whom he saw in the cave where the magician 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
the despair he was in, replied, “Save my life, genie, a second time,
either by shewing me to the place where the palace I have caused to be
built now stands, or immediately transport it back where it first
stood.” “What you command me,” answered the genie, “is not in my power;
I am only the slave of the ring; you must address yourself to the slave
of the lamp.” “If it be so,” replied Aladdin, “I command thee, by the
power of the ring, to transport me to the place where my palace stands,
in what part of the world soever it is, and set me down under the
princess Badr-oul-boudour’s window.” These words were no sooner out of
his mouth, but the genie transported him into Africa, to the midst of a
large meadow, where his palace stood, a small distance from a great
city, and set him exactly under the windows of the princess’s apartment,
and then left him. All this was done almost in an instant.
Aladdin, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, knew his palace and
the princess Badr-oul-boudour’s apartment again very well; but as the
night was far advanced, and all was quiet in the palace, 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
pure chance, he found himself in a much more peaceable situation than
when he was arrested and carried before the sultan, delivered from the
danger of losing his life. He amused himself for some time with these
agreeable thoughts; but not having slept for five or six days, he was
not able to resist the drowsiness which came upon him, but fell fast
asleep where he was.
The next morning, as soon as day appeared, Aladdin was agreeably
awakened, not only by the singing of the birds which had roosted in the
tree under which he had passed the night, but all those which perched in
the thick trees of the palace garden. When he cast his eyes on that
wonderful edifice, he felt an inexpressible joy to think he should soon
be master of it again, and once more possess his dear princess
Badr-oul-boudour. Pleased with these hopes, he immediately got up, went
towards 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 from whence the cause of
his misfortune proceeded; and after mature reflection, he no longer
doubted that it was owing to his having put his lamp out of his sight.
He accused himself of negligence, and the little care he took of it, to
let it be a moment away from him. But what puzzled him most was, he
could not imagine who had been so jealous of his happiness. He would
soon have guessed this, if he had known that both he and his palace were
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 the least mention of the name of the place nor had Aladdin
asked him.
The princess Badr-oul-boudour 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; but 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 presently ran and told her mistress. The
princess, who could not believe the news, went that moment herself to
the window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise the
princess made in opening the window made Aladdin turn his head that way,
who, knowing the princess, saluted her with an air that expressed his
joy. “To lose no time,” said she to him, “I have sent to have the
private door opened for you. Enter and come up;” and then shut the
window.
The private door, which was just under the princess’s apartment, was
soon opened, and Aladdin was conducted up into the princess’s chamber.
It is impossible to express the joy of those lovers at seeing each
other, after a separation which they both thought was for ever. They
embraced several times, and showed all the marks of a sincere love and
tenderness, after an event so unforeseen and melancholy. After these
embracings, and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin,
beginning the discourse said, “I beg of you, princess, in God’s name,
before we talk of anything else, to tell me, both for your own sake, the
sultan your father’s and mine, what has become of an old lamp which I
left upon the cornice in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, before
I went to hunting.”
“Alas! dear husband,” answered the princess, “I am afraid our misfortune
is 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, since
it was entirely my fault, and 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.”
Then the princess Badr-oul-boudour gave Aladdin an account how she
changed the old lamp for a new one, which she ordered to be fetched,
that he might see it, 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 all 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 shewed 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 both to you and me.
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 comes 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 discourse tends to persuade me to break
that faith I have pledged to you, and to take him for a husband; giving
me to understand, I ought not to entertain any hopes of ever seeing you
again, for that you were dead, and had had your head struck off by the
sultan 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 vanquish my grief, in
hopes afterwards that I may change my sentiments; and if I persevere in
an obstinate refusal, to use violence. But my dear husband’s presence
removes all my disquiets.”
“I am confident it is not 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, and then
will communicate my design to you, and tell you 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;” all which the princess promised to observe.
When Aladdin had got out of the palace by that door, he looked round
about him on all sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country,
he hastened after him; and when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to
him to change clothes, which the man agreed to. They went behind a
hedge, and there 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 sorts of merchants and artisans
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, looking upon Aladdin by his habits 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 shewing him some gold, asked for half a drachm of the
powder; which the druggist weighed, and wrapped up in a piece of paper,
and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the
money in his hand, and staying no longer in the town but just to get a
little refreshment, 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
ravisher, may be an objection to your executing what I am going to
propose to you; but give me leave to tell you, it is proper that you
should at this juncture dissemble a little, and do violence to your
inclinations, if you would deliver yourself from him, and give my lord
the sultan, your father, the satisfaction of seeing you again.”
“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; receive him with an open
countenance, without affectation or constraint, yet so as that, if there
remains any cloud of affliction, he may imagine time will dissipate it.
In your conversation, let him understand that you strive to forget me;
and that he may be the more fully convinced of your sincerity, invite
him to sup with you, and give him to understand you should be glad to
taste 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 like that
you are accustomed to drink out of, this powder, and setting it by,
charge the slave you design that night to attend you, upon a signal you
shall agree upon with her, to bring that cup to you. When the magician
and you have eaten and drank as much as you choose, let her bring you
the cup, and change cups with him. He will take it as so great a favour
that he will not refuse you, and will empty the cup; but no sooner will
he have drank it off, than you will see him fall backwards. If you have
any reluctance to drink out of his cup, you may pretend only to do it,
without fear of being discovered; for the effect of the powder is so
quick, that he will not have time enough to know whether you drink or
not.”
When Aladdin had finished, “I own,” answered the princess, “I shall do
myself a great violence in consenting to make the magician such advances
as I see absolutely necessary for me to make; but what cannot one
resolve to do against a cruel enemy? I will therefore follow your
advice, since both my repose and yours depend on it.” After the princess
had agreed to the measures proposed by Aladdin, he took his leave of
her, and went and spent the rest of the day in the neighbourhood of the
palace till it was night, when he might safely return to the private
door.
The princess Badr-oul-boudour, who was not only inconsolable to be
separated from her dear husband, whom she loved from the first moment,
and still continued to love more out of inclination than duty, but also
from the sultan her father, who had always shewed a tender and paternal
love for her, had, ever since that cruel separation, lived in great
neglect of her person. She had almost, as one may say, forgot the
neatness so becoming persons of her sex and quality, particularly after
the first time the magician paid her a visit; and she understood by some
of the women, who knew him again, that it was he who took the old lamp
in exchange for a new one, which notorious cheat rendered the sight of
him more abhorred. However, the opportunity of taking the revenge he
deserved sooner than she durst hope for, made her resolve to gratify
Aladdin. As soon, therefore, as he was gone, she sat down at her toilet,
and was dressed by her women to the best advantage, in the richest
habit, most suitable to her design. Her girdle was of the finest and
largest diamonds set in gold, which she suited with a necklace of
pearls, six on a side, so well proportioned to that in the middle, which
was the largest and most valuable, that the greatest sultanesses and
queens would have been proud to have been adorned with only two of the
smallest. Her bracelets, which were of diamonds and rubies intermixed,
answered admirably to the richness of the girdle and necklace.
When the princess Badr-oul-boudour 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 up in all her
beauty and charms 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 piece of civility she had never shewn him before.
The African magician, dazzled more with the lustre of the princess’s
eyes than the glittering of the jewels with which she was adorned, was
very much surprised. The majestic and graceful air with which she
received him, so opposite to her former behaviour, quite confounded him.
When he had sat down, the princess, to free him from his embarrassment,
broke silence first. Looking at him all the time in a manner sufficient
to make him believe that he was not so odious to her as she had given
him to understand before, said to him, “You are doubtless, amazed to
find me so much altered to-day from what I used to be; 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, sorrow and uneasiness,
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 the sultan my father’s temper so well, that I
am persuaded, with you, that Aladdin could not escape the terrible
effects of his rage; therefore should I continue to lament him all my
life, my tears cannot recall him. For this reason, after I have paid all
the duties my love 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; and to begin to cast off all melancholy, I am
resolved to banish it entirely; and persuaded you will bear me company
to-night, I have ordered a supper to be prepared; but as I have no wines
but of China, I have a great desire to taste of the product of Africa,
where I now am, and doubt not you will get some of the best.”
The African magician, who looked upon the happiness of coming so soon
and so easily into the princess Badr-oul-boudour’s good graces as
impossible, could not think of words expressive enough to testify how
sensible he was of her favours: but to put an end the sooner to a
conversation which would have embarrassed him, if he had engaged farther
in it, he turned it upon the wines of Africa, and said, “Of all the
advantages Africa can boast, that of producing the most excellent wines
is one of the principal. I have a vessel of seven years old, which has
never been broached; and it is indeed, not praising it too much to say
it is the finest wine in the world. If my princess,” added he, “will
give me leave, I will go and fetch two bottles, and return again
immediately.” “I should be sorry to give you that trouble,” replied the
princess, “you had better send for them.” “It is necessary I should go
myself,” answered the African magician; “for nobody but myself knows
where the key of the cellar is laid, or has the secret to unlock the
door.” “If it be so,” said the princess, “make haste back again; for the
longer you stay the greater will be my impatience, and we shall sit down
to supper as soon as you come back.”
The African magician, full of hopes of his expected happiness, rather
flew than ran, and returned quickly with the wine. The princess not
doubting in the least but he would make haste, put with her own hand the
powder Aladdin gave her into the cup that was set apart for that
purpose. They sat down at the table opposite to each other, the
magician’s back towards the beaufet. The princess presented him with the
best at the table, and said to him, “If you please, I will entertain you
with a concert of vocal and instrumental music: but as we are only two,
I think conversation may be more agreeable.” This the magician took as a
new favour.
After they had eaten some time, the princess called for some wine, and
drank the magician’s health; and afterwards said to him, “Indeed you
were in the right to commend your wine, since I never tasted of any so
delicious in my life.” “Charming princess,” said he, holding in his hand
the cup which had been presented to him, “my wine becomes more exquisite
by your approbation of it.” “Then drink my health,” replied the
princess; “you will find I understand wines.” He drank the princess’s
health, and returning the cup, said, “I think myself happy, princess,
that I reserved this wine for so good an occasion; and I own I never
before drank any so excellent in every respect.”
When they had drank two or three cups more a-piece the princess, who had
completely charmed the African magician by her civility and obliging
behaviour, gave the signal to the slave who served them with wine,
bidding her bring the cup which had been filled for herself, and at the
same time bring the magician a full cup. When they both had their cups
in their hands, she said to him, “I know not how you here express your
loves when drinking together as we are: with us in China, the lover and
his mistress reciprocally exchange cups, and drink each other’s health;”
at the same time she presented to him the cup which was in her hand, and
held out her hand to receive his. He for his part hastened to make the
exchange with the more pleasure, because he looked upon this favour as
the most certain token of an entire conquest over the princess, which
raised his happiness to its height. Before he drank, he said to her,
with the cup in his hand, “Indeed, princess, we Africans are not so
refined in the art of love as you Chinese: and instructing me in a
lesson I was ignorant of, informs me how sensible I ought to be of the
favour done me. I shall never, lovely princess, forget my recovering, by
drinking out of your cup, that life, which your cruelty, had it
continued, would have made me despair of.”
The princess Badr-oul-boudour, who began to be tired with this barefaced
declaration of the African magician, interrupted him, by saying, “Let us
drink first, and then say what you will afterwards;” and at the same
time set the cup to her lips, while the African magician, who was eager
to get his wine off first, drank up the very last drop. In finishing it
he had reclined his head back, to show his eagerness, and remained some
time in that state. The princess kept her cup at her lips, till she saw
his eyes turn in his head, and he fell backwards lifeless.
The princess had no occasion to order the back-door to be opened to
Aladdin; for her women were so disposed from the great hall to the foot
of the staircase, that the word was no sooner given, that the African
magician was fallen backwards, but the door opened that instant.
As soon as Aladdin entered the hall, he saw the magician stretched
backwards on the sofa. The princess Badr-oul-boudour rose from her seat,
and ran overjoyed to him, to embrace him; but he stopped her, and said,
“Princess, it is not yet time; oblige me by retiring to your apartment,
and let me be left alone a moment, while I endeavour to transport you
back to China as quickly as you were brought from thence.”
When the princess, her women and eunuchs were gone out of the hall,
Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the
magician, opened his vest, and took out the lamp carefully wrapt up, as
the princess told him, and unfolding and rubbing it the genie
immediately appeared. “Genie,” said Aladdin, “I have called thee to
command thee, on the part of thy good mistress of this lamp, to
transport this palace presently into China to the same place from whence
it was brought hither.” The genie bowed his head in token of obedience,
and disappeared. Immediately the palace was transported into China, and
its removal was only felt by two little shocks, the one when it was
lifted up, the other when it was set down, and both in a very short
interval of time.
Aladdin went down to the princess’s apartment, and embracing her, said,
“I can assure you, princess, that your joy and mine will be complete
to-morrow morning.” The princess, who had not quite supped, guessing
that Aladdin might be hungry, ordered the meats that were served up in
the great hall, and were scarce touched, to be brought down. The
princess and Aladdin ate as much as they thought fit, and drank in like
manner of the African magician’s old wine: during which time their
discourse could not be any otherwise than satisfactory, and then they
retired to their own chamber.
From the time of the transportation of Aladdin’s palace, and of the
princess Badr-oul-boudour in it, the sultan, that princess’s father, was
inconsolable for the loss of her, as he considered it. He hardly slept
night or day and instead of taking measures to avoid everything that
could keep off his affliction, he, on the contrary, indulged in it; for
whereas before he used to go every morning into his closet, to please
himself with that agreeable prospect, he went now many times in the day,
to renew his tears, and plunge himself into the deepest melancholy, by
the idea of no more seeing that which once gave him so much pleasure,
and reflecting how he had lost what was the most dear to him in this
world.