was no uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was
that he had learned from his magic books the secret and the value
of this wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer
than any earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art
had also told him that he was not permitted to take it himself,
but must receive it as a voluntary gift from the hands of another
person. Hence he employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of
kindness and authority to make him obedient to his word and will.
When he found that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to
Africa, but avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him
leave in company with Aladdin should make inquiries after the
youth. Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness, 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 palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment,
was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and
tears, sat down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing
light again, and in an expectation of passing from the present
darkness to a speedy death. In this great emergency he said,
"There is no strength or power but in the great and high God"; and
in joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician
had put on his finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect
appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey
thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; I and the
other slaves of that ring." At another time Aladdin would
have been frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure,
but the danger he was in made him answer without hesitation,
"Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place."
He had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself on the
very spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of
cave or opening, nor disturbance of the earth. 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 to see
her and his weakness for want of sustenance made him so faint that
he remained for a long time as dead. As soon as he recovered he
related to his mother all that had happened to him, and they were
both very vehement in their complaints of the cruel magician.
Aladdin 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 wished she would 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 I
have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it,
and 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 of 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 Aladdin, who had seen such a 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 had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to
recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her
cure, it was not long before she came to herself. "Mother" said
Aladdin, "be not afraid; get up and eat; here is what will put you
in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme hunger."
His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve
dishes, six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the
savory odor 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 a good 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
tray and 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 and set by what was left, she
went and sat down 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. 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 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 now take care
how I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me.
That false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a
journey to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its
value to exceed that of gold and silver. And since we have
honestly come by it, let us make a profitable use of it, without
making any great show, and exciting the envy and jealousy of our
neighbors. 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 were 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."
Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for
her part she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say
anything more about 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 had never been used to such
traffic, told him he would trust to his judgment and honor. 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 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 endeavor to get some change out of
the piece of gold; but he 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.
When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the
lamp. He took it in his hand, looked for that part where his
mother had rubbed it with the sand, rubbed it also, when the genie
immediately appeared, and said, "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." "I am hungry," said Aladdin; "bring me something to eat."
The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray, the
same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and
vanished.
As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again
expended, he took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew
chapman; but passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith
perceiving him called to him and said, "My lad, I imagine that you
have something to sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit; but
perhaps you do not know that he is the greatest rogue even among
the Jews.
I will give you the full worth of what you have to sell, or I will
direct you to other merchants who will not cheat you."
This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest
and show it to the goldsmith, who at first sight saw that it was
made of the finest silver, and asked him if he had sold such as
that to the Jew; when Aladdin told him that he had sold him twelve
such, for a piece of gold each. "What a villain!" cried the
goldsmith. "But," added he, "my son, what is past cannot be
recalled. By showing you the value of this plate, which is of the
finest silver we use in our shops, I will let you see how much the
Jew has cheated you."
The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured
him that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold,
which he offered to pay down immediately.
Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to
any other person.
Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in
their lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they
lived with the same frugality as before, and it may easily be
supposed that the money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and
tray was sufficient to maintain them some time.
During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the
principal merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver,
linens, silk stuffs, and jewelry, and oftentimes joining in their
conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world and a desire to
improve himself. By his acquaintance among the jewellers he came
to know that the fruits which he had gathered when he took the
lamp were, instead of colored glass, stones of inestimable value;
but he had the prudence not to mention this to anyone, not even to
his mother.
One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he heard an order
proclaimed commanding the people to shut up their shops and
houses, and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al
Buddoor, the sultan's daughter, went to the bath and returned.
This proclamation inspired Aladdin with an eager desire to see
the princess's face, which he determined to gratify by placing
himself behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to
see her face.
Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came.
She was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes,
who walked on each side and behind her. When she came within three
or four paces of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and
gave Aladdin an opportunity of a full view of her face.
The princess was a noted beauty: her eyes were large, lively, and
sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth
small; her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that
Aladdin, who had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was
dazzled and enchanted.
After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin
quitted his hiding-place and went home. His mother perceived him
to be more thoughtful and melancholy than usual, and asked what
had happened to make him so, or if he was ill. He then told his
mother all his adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the
princess more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask
her in marriage of the sultan."
Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her;
but when he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed
aloud. "Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You
must be mad to talk thus."
"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but
in my right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with
folly and extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am
resolved to demand the princess of the sultan in marriage, nor do
I despair of success. I have the slaves of the Lamp and of the
Ring to help me, and you know how powerful their aid is. And I
have another secret to tell you: those pieces of glass, which I
got from the trees in the garden of the subterranean palace, are
jewels of inestimable value, and fit for the greatest monarchs.
All the precious stones the jewellers have in Bagdad are not to be
compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am sure that the offer
of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You have a large
porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how they
will look, when we have arranged them according to their different
colors."
Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the jewels
out of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them
in order according to his fancy. But the brightness and lustre
they emitted in the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so
dazzled the eyes both of mother and son that they were astonished
beyond measure. Aladdin's mother, emboldened by the sight of these
rich jewels, and fearful lest her son should be guilty of greater
extravagance, complied with his request, and promised to go early
in the next morning to the palace of the sultan. Aladdin rose
before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to go to the
sultan's palace, and to get admittance, if possible, before the
grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great officers of state
went in to take their seats in the divan, where the sultan always
attended in person.
[Illustration: Caption DISGUISED AS A TRAVELLER AND A STRANGER.--
page 27 From the painting by Edmund Dulac]
Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the
jewels the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set
forward for the sultan's palace. When she came to the gates, the
grand vizier, the other viziers, and most distinguished lords of
the court were just gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of
people was great, she got into the divan, a spacious hall, the
entrance into which was very magnificent. She placed herself just
before the sultan, grand vizier, and the great lords, who sat in
council on his right and left hand. Several causes were called,
according to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until the time the
divan generally broke up, when the sultan, rising, returned to his
apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers and
ministers of state then retired, as also did all those whose
business had called them thither.
Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people
depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and
resolved to go home; and on her arrival said, with much
simplicity, "Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well
persuaded he has seen me too, for I placed myself just before him;
but he was so much taken up with those who attended on all sides
of him, that I pitied him and wondered at his patience. At last I
believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would
not hear a great many who were ready prepared to speak to him, but
went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose
all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But
there is no harm done: I will go again tomorrow; perhaps the
sultan may not be so busy."
The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the
present, as early as the day before; but when she came there she
found the gates of the divan shut. She went six times afterward on
the days appointed, placed herself always directly before the
sultan, but with as little success as the first morning.
On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the
sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier,
"I have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends
constantly every day that I give audience, with something wrapped
up in a napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the
breaking up of the audience, and affects to place herself just
before me. If this woman comes to our next audience, do not fail
to call her, that I may hear what she has to say." The grand
vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up
above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he
failed.
On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan,
and placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand
vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and,
pointing to her, bade him bring her before the sultan. The old
woman at once followed the mace-bearer, and when she reached the
sultan, bowed her head down to the carpet which covered the
platform of the throne, and remained in that posture till he bade
her rise, which she had no sooner done than he said to her, "Good
woman, I have observed you to stand many days, from the beginning
to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?"
After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second
time, and, when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs I beg of you
to pardon the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your
pardon and forgiveness." "Well,". replied the sultan, "I will
forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you.
Speak boldly."
When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions for fear of
the sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which
her son had sent her, and the event which led to his making so
bold a request in spite of all her remonstrances.
The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least
anger; but, before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had
brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish, which she
had set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented
it to the sultan.
The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible when he saw
so many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the
dish. He remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when
he had recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's
mother's hand, saying, "How rich! how beautiful!" After he had
admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he turned to
his grand vizier, and, showing him the dish, said, "Behold!
admire! wonder! and confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so
rich and beautiful before!" The vizier was charmed. "Well,"
continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is it
not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow
her on one who values her at so great a price?" "I cannot but
own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is worthy of the
princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months
before you come to a final resolution. I hope before that time my
son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to make
a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to
your majesty."
The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman,
"Good woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the
proposal you have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my
daughter for three months. At the expiration of that time come
again."
Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had
expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer
she had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to
come to the divan again that day three months.
Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this
news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the
affair, the good success of which was of so great importance to
his peace that he counted every day, week, and even hour as it
passed. When two of the three months were passed, his mother one
evening, having no oil in the house, went out to buy some, and
found a general rejoicing--the houses dressed with foliage, silks,
and carpeting, and every one striving to show their joy according
to their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits
of ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended
by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil merchant
what was the meaning of all this preparation of public festivity.
"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that
the grand vizier's son is to marry the princess Buddir al Buddoor,
the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from
the bath; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the
cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized."
Aladdin's mother on hearing this news ran home very quickly.
"Child," cried she, "you are undone; the sultan's fine promise
will come to naught! This night the grand vizier's son is to marry
the Princess Buddir al Buddoor."
At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck, and he bethought
himself of the lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey
him; and without indulging in idle words against the sultan, the
vizier, or his son, he determined, if possible, to prevent the
marriage.
When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it
in the same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared,
and said to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee
as thy slave; I and the other slaves of the lamp." "Hear me," said
Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me; but now I am about to
impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was
promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the
grand vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire
to their bedchamber."
"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you."
Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to
his own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie,
according to his commands.