ALAEDDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP. [143]

There [144] was [once] in a city of the cities of China a man, a tailor

and poor, and he had a son by name Alaeddin, who was perverse and

graceless from his earliest childhood. When he came to ten years of age,

his father would fain have taught him his own craft, for that, because

he was poor, he could not spend money upon him to have him taught

[another] trade or art [145] or the like; [146] so he carried him to his

shop, that he might teach him his craft of tailoring; but, forasmuch

as the lad was perverse and wont still to play with the boys of the

quarter, [147] he would not sit one day in the shop; nay, he would watch

his father till such time as he went forth the place to meet a customer

[147] or on some other occasion, when he would flee forth incontinent

and go out to the gardens with the good-for-nothing lads like himself.

This, then, was his case, [148] and he would not obey his parents, nor

would he learn a craft. His father sickened of his grief and chagrin for

his son's perversity and died, whilst Alaeddin abode on that his wise.

When his mother saw that her husband had departed this life [149] and

that her son was a scapegrace and a good-for-nought, she sold the

shop and all she found therein and fell to spinning cotton and feeding

herself and her graceless son Alaeddin with her toil. The latter,

seeing himself quit of his father's danger, [150] redoubled in his

gracelessness and his perversity and would not abide in their house save

eating-whiles; and his poor wretched mother supported him [151] by the

spinning of her hands till he came to fifteen years of age.

One [152] day of the days, as he sat in the street, playing with the

vagabond boys, behold, a Maugrabin [153] dervish came up and stopping

to look at the lads, singled out Alaeddin from his comrades and fell to

gazing upon him and straitly considering his favour. Now this dervish

was from the land of Hither Barbary [154] and he was an enchanter who

would cast mountain upon mountain with his sorcery and was skilled to

boot in physiognomy. [155] When he had well considered Alaeddin, he said

in himself, "Certes, this boy is he whom I seek and he it is in quest of

whom I came forth from my country." So he took one of the lads apart and

asked him of Alaeddin, whose son he was, and questioned him of all his

affairs; after which he went up to Alaeddin and taking him aside, said

to him, "Harkye, boy, art thou not the son of such an one the tailor?"

And he answered him, saying "Yes, O my lord; but my father died awhile

agone." When the Maugrabin magician heard this, he threw himself upon

Alaeddin and embracing him, fell to kissing him and weeping, that his

tears ran down upon his cheek.

Alaeddin was astonished at the Maugrabin's behaviour; so he asked him

and said to him, "What is the cause of thy weeping, O my lord, and

whence knewest thou my father?" The Maugrabin answered him, in a

mournful, broken voice, [156] saying, "How, O my son, canst thou ask me

this question, after telling me that thy father, my brother, is dead,

for thy father was [indeed] my brother [157] and I am newly come from my

country and was rejoicing exceedingly, after this my strangerhood, of my

expectation that I should see him and solace myself with him; [158] and

now thou tellest me that he is dead! Marry, blood discovered unto me

that [159] thou wast the son of my brother, and indeed I knew thee from

amongst all the lads; although thy father, when I left him, was not yet

married. And [160] now, O my son Alaeddin," continued he, "I have lost

my consolation [161] and my joy in thy father, my brother, whom I had

hoped, after my strangerhood, to see ere I died; but separation hath

afflicted me in him [162] and there is no fleeing from that which is

[163] nor is there any resource against the ordinance of God the Most

High."

Then he took Alaeddin and said to him, "O my son, I have no comfort

[163] but in thee [164] and thou art [to me] in the stead of thy father,

since thou art his successor and whoso leaveth [a successor] is not

dead, O my son." With this he put his hand [to his pocket] and bringing

out ten diners, gave them to Alaeddin, saying, "O my son, where is your

house and where is thy mother, my brother's wife?" So Alaeddin took him

and showed him the way to their house; and the magician said to him, "O

my son, take these monies and give them to thy mother and salute her

on my behalf and tell her that thine uncle is come back from his

strangerhood; and God willing, to-morrow I will come visit you, so I

may salute her and look upon the house wherein my brother dwelt and see

where his tomb is." [165] Alaeddin kissed his hand and hastened home,

running in his joy, to his mother and entered, contrary to his wont, for

that he was not used to go in to her save at eating-times. So he went in

to her, rejoicing, and said to her, "O my mother, I bring thee glad news

of my uncle, in that he is come back from his absence, and he saluteth

thee." "O my son," quoth she, "meseemeth thou makest mock of me. Who is

thine uncle and whence hast thou an uncle on life?" And he said to her,

"O my mother, why didst thou tell me that I had no uncles and no

kinsfolk on life? Indeed, this man is my uncle and he embraced me and

kissed me, weeping, and bade me tell thee of this." And she answered

him, saying, "Yes, O my son, I knew thou hadst an uncle, but he is dead

and I know not that thou hast a second uncle."

As [166] for the Maugrabin enchanter, he went forth at dawn and fell to

searching for [167] Alaeddin, for that he might not brook parting from

him; [168] and as he went about in the thoroughfares of the city, he

came upon the lad, who was playing with the vagabonds, as of his wont.

So he went up to him and taking him by the hand, embraced him and kissed

him; then he brought out of his purse two diners and said to Alaeddin,

"Go to thy mother and give her these two diners and say to her, 'My

uncle would fain sup with us; so take these two diners and make a good

supper.' But first show me once more the way to your house." "On my head

and eyes, O my uncle," answered Alaeddin and foregoing him, showed him

the way to the house. Then the Maugrabin left him and went his way,

whilst Alaeddin returned home and telling his mother [what had passed],

gave her the two diners and said to her, "My uncle would fain sup with

us." So she arose forthright and went out to the market, where she

bought all that was needful and returning home, borrowed of her

neighbours that which she required of platters and the like and

proceeded to make ready for supper.

When the time of the evening-meal came, she said to Alaeddin, "O my son,

the supper [169] is ready and maybe shine uncle knoweth not the way to

the house. Go thou and meet him." And he answered her with "Hearkening

and obedience." But, whilst they were in talk, behold, there came a

knocking at the door; whereupon Alaeddin went out and opening, found the

Maugrabin enchanter, and with him a slave bearing wine and fruits. So he

brought them in and the slave went his way, whilst the Maugrabin entered

and saluted Alaeddin's mother; then he fell a-weeping and said to her,

"Where is the place in which my brother was wont to sit?" She pointed

him to her husband's sitting-place, whereupon he went thither and

prostrating himself, fell to kissing the earth and saying, "Alas, how

scant is my delight and how sorry my fortune, since I have lost thee,

O my brother and apple [170] of mine eye!" And the abode on this wise,

weeping and lamenting, till Alaeddin's mother was certified that he was

in earnest and that he was like to swoon of the excess of his wailing

and his lamentation. So she came to him and raised him from the ground,

saying, "What profiteth it that thou shouldst kill thyself?" And [171]

she proceeded to comfort him and made him sit down.

Then, before she laid the table, the Maugrabin fell to relating to her

[his history] and said to her, "O wife of my brother, let it not amaze

thee that in all thy days thou never sawest me neither knewest of me

in my late brother's lifetime, for that I left this country forty years

agone and became an exile from my native land. I journeyed to the lands

of Hind and Sind and all the country of the Arabs and coming presently

into Egypt, sojourned awhile in the magnificent city [of Cairo], which

is the wonder of the world. [172] Ultimately I betook myself to the land

of Hither Barbary [173] and sojourned there thirty years' space, [174]

till one day of the days, as I sat, [175] O wife of my brother, I

bethought me of my country and my native place and of my late brother

and longing waxed on me to see him and I fell a-weeping and lamenting

over my strangerhood and distance from him. In fine, my yearning for him

importuned me till I resolved to journey to this country, the which was

the falling-place of my head [176] and my native land, that I might see

my brother. And I said in myself, "O man, how long wilt thou be an exile

[177] from thy country and thy native place, whenas thou hast an only

brother and no more? Arise and journey and look upon him ere thou die.

Who knoweth the calamities of fate and the vicissitudes of the days?

Sore pity 'twere that thou shouldst die and not see thy brother.

Moreover, Allah (praised be He) hath given thee abundant wealth and it

may be thy brother is in poor case and straitened, and thou wilt help

him, an [178] thou see him." So I arose forthright and equipped myself

for travel; then, reciting the Fatiheh [179], I took horse, after the

Friday prayer, and came, after many hardships and fatigues,--which I

suffered, till the Lord (to whom belong might and majesty) protected

[me],--to this city. I entered it and as I went about its thoroughfares

the day before yesterday, I saw my brother's son Alaeddin playing with

the boys; and by Allah the Great, O wife of my brother, when I saw him,

my heart crave to him, for that blood yearneth unto blood, and my soul

foreboded me he was my brother's son. At his sight I forgot all my toils

and troubles and was like to fly for joy; then, when he told me that my

late brother had departed to the mercy of God the Most High, I swooned

away for stress of grief and chagrin; and most like he hath told thee

of that which overcame me. [180] But I comforted myself somewhat with

Alaeddin, who standeth in stead of [181] the departed, for that whoso

leaveth [a successor] [182] dieth not."

Then, [183] when he saw her weeping at this speech, he turned to

Alaeddin, by way of making her forget the mention of her husband and

feigning to comfort her, so he might the better accomplish his device

upon her, and said to him, "O my son Alaeddin, what hast thou learned of

crafts and what is thy business? Hast thou learned thee a trade whereby

thou mayst live, thou and thy mother?" At this Alaeddin was confounded

and abashed and hung down his head, bowing it to the ground, whilst his

mother said to the Maugrabin, "How? By Allah, he knoweth nought at all!

So graceless a lad I never saw. All day long he goeth about with the

vagabond boys of the quarter like himself; nay, his father, woe is me,

died not but of his chagrin concerning him; and now, as for me, my case

is woeful. I spin cotton and toil night and day, to earn two cakes of

bread, that we may eat them together. This, then, is his condition, O

my brother-in-law, and by thy life, he cometh not in to me save at

eating-times, and I am thinking to bolt the door of my house and not

open to him and let him go seek his living for himself, for that I am

grown an old woman and have no strength left to toil and provide for

the maintenance of a fellow like this. [184] By Allah, I get mine own

livelihood, I that need one who shall maintain me." [185]

Therewithal the Maugrabin turned to Alaeddin and said to him, "How is

this, O son of my brother? It is a disgrace to thee to go vagabonding

about in this abjection. This befitteth not men like thee. Thou art

gifted with understanding, O my son, and the child of [reputable] folk;

[186] I and it is a shame upon thee that thy mother, who is an old

woman, should toil for thy maintenance, now thou art grown a man.

Nay, it behoveth thee get thee some means whereby thou mayst maintain

thyself, O my son. See, by God's grace, (praised be He) here in our city

be masters of crafts, nowhere is there a place more abounding in them:

choose, then, the craft which pleaseth thee and I will establish thee

therein, so that, when thou growest up, O my son, thou mayst find thee

thy craft whereby thou shalt live. Belike thou hast no mind to thy

father's trade; so choose other than it. Tell me the craft which

pleaseth thee and I will help thee in all that is possible, O son of

my brother." Then, seeing that Alaeddin was silent and answered him

nothing, he knew that he had no mind to any craft at all and recked of

nothing but vagabondage and said to him, "O son of my brother, be not

abashed at me; [187] if so be withal [188] thou caress not to learn a

trade, I will open thee a merchant's shop of the costliest stuffs and

thou shalt make thyself acquainted with [189] the folk [190] and shalt

give and take and sell and buy and become known in the city."

When Alaeddin heard these words of his uncle the Maugrabin, to wit,

that it was his intent to make him a merchant, [191] a trader, [192] he

rejoiced exceedingly, well knowing that all merchants' apparel is neat

and elegant; [193] so he looked at the Maugrabin and smiled and bowed

his head, as who should say, "I am content." The [194] magician, seeing

him smile, knew that he was content to be a merchant and said to him,

"Since thou art content that I should make thee a merchant and open thee

a shop, be a man, O son of my brother, and to-morrow, God willing, I

will take thee first to the market and let cut thee an elegant suit of

clothes such as merchants wear; and after that I will look thee out a

shop and perform my promise to thee." Now Alaeddin's mother was in some

little doubt as to the Maugrabin; but, when she heard his promise to her

son that he would open him a shop as a merchant with stuffs and

capital and what not else, she concluded that he was in very deed her

brother-in-law, inasmuch as a stranger would not do thus with her

son. So she fell to admonishing her son and exhorting him to put away

ignorance and folly from his head and be a man, and bade him still yield

obedience to his uncle, as he were his father, and apply himself to make

up the time which he had wasted in idleness [with] those who were like

him, after which she arose and laying the table, spread the evening-meal

and they all sat down and fell to eating and drinking, whilst the

Maugrabin talked with Alaeddin upon matters of merchandry and the like.

Then, when he saw that the night was far spent, [195] he arose and went

to his lodging, promising to return in the morning and take Alaeddin, so

he might let cut him a merchant's suit.

Alaeddin slept not that night for joy and when it was morning, behold,

the Maugrabin knocked at the door. The lad's mother arose and opened

to him; however, he would not enter, but sought Alaeddin, that he might

take him with him to the market. So Alaeddin went out to him and gave

him good-morning and kissed his hand; whereupon the Maugrabin took him

by the hand and going with him to the market, entered the shop of a

seller of all manner of clothes and demanded a suit of costly stuffs.

The merchant brought him what he sought, all sewn and ready, and the

Maugrabin said to Alaeddin, "Choose that which pleaseth thee, O my son."

Alaeddin rejoiced exceedingly, when he saw that his uncle gave him

his choice, and chose clothes to his mind, such as pleased him. The

Maugrabin at once paid the merchant their price and going out, carried

Alaeddin to the bath, where they bathed and came forth and drank wine.

[196] Then Alaeddin arose and donned the new suit; whereat he rejoiced

and was glad and coming up to his uncle, kissed his hand and thanked

him for his bounties. After [197] this the Maugrabin carried him to the

bazaar of the merchants and showed him the market and the selling and

buying and said to him, "O my son, it behoveth thee consort with

the folk, especially with the merchants, so thou mayst learn of them

merchandry, since this is become thy craft."

Then he took him again and showed him the city and the mosques and all

the sights of the place; after which he carried him to a cook's shop,

where the morning-meal was set before them in silver platters. So they

ate and drank till they had enough and going forth, fared on, whilst the

Maugrabin proceeded to show Alaeddin the pleasaunces and fine buildings,

[198] going in with him to the Sultan's palace and showing him all the

fair and fine quarters [199] [of the city]; after which he carried him

to the Khan of the stranger merchants, where he himself lodged. and

invited certain of the merchants who were in the Khan. Accordingly they

came and sat down to supper, and he informed them that this was his

brother's son and that his name was Alaeddin. Then, after they had eaten

and drunken, the night being now come, the Maugrabin arose and taking

Alaeddin, carried him back to his mother.

When she saw her son as he were one of the merchants, her wit fled [and

she waxed] sorrowful for gladness and fell to extolling the Maugrabin's

bounty and saying to him, "O my brother-in-law, I might not suffice [to

thy deserts,] though I thanked thee all my life long and praised thee

for the good thou hast done with my son." "O wife of my brother,"

answered he, "this is no manner of kindness in me, [200] for that

this is my son and it behoveth me stand in the stead of my brother his

father; so be thou easy." Quoth she, "I pray God, by the glory of the

ancients [201] and the moderns, that He let thee [live] and continue

thee, O my brother-in-law, and prolong me thy life, so thou mayst be

[as] a wing [202] to this orphan boy; and he shall still be under thine

obedience and thy commandment and shall do nought but that which thou

biddest him." "O wife of my brother," rejoined the Maugrabin, "Alaeddin

is a man of understanding and [the son of] decent folk, and my hope is

in God that he will follow in his father's footsteps and be the solace

of shine eyes; [203] but it irketh me that, to-morrow being Friday, I

cannot open him a shop. It being congregation day, all the merchants

will go out after prayers to the gardens and pleasaunces; but, God

willing, on Saturday, an it please the Creator, we will do our business.

Tomorrow I will come to you and take Alaeddin, that I may show him the

gardens and pleasaunces without the city,--it may be he hath not

yet seen them,--and he shall see the merchant-folk and the notables

a-pleasuring there, so he may become acquainted with them and they with

him." [204]

The [205] Maugrabin lay the night in his lodging; and on the morrow he

came to the tailor's house and knocked at the door. Alaeddin--of the

excess of his joy in the clothes he had donned and of the pleasures he

had enjoyed on the past day, what with the bath and eating and drinking

and viewing the folk and the thought that his uncle was coming in the

morning to take him and show him the gardens--slept not that night

neither closed an eye and thought the day would never break. [206] So,

when he heard a knocking at the door, he went out at once in haste, like

a spark of fire, and opening, found his uncle the Maugrabin. The latter

embraced him and kissed him and took him by the hand, saying, "O son of

my brother, to-day I will show thee a thing such as thou never sawest in

thy life." Then they went off together and the Maugrabin fell to making

merry with [207] Alaeddin and amusing him with familiar talk. They went

forth the gate of the city and the Maugrabin proceeded to walk with him

among the gardens and to show him the fine pleasaunces and marvellous

high-builded palaces; and whenassoever they looked upon a garden or a

palace [208] or a pavilion, [209] he would stand and say to Alaeddin,

"Doth this please thee, O my son Alaeddin?"

Alaeddin was like to fly for joy, inasmuch as he saw that which he had

never in his life seen, and they gave not over walking and gazing till

they were weary, when they entered a fine garden there, that cheered

the heart and brightened the eye with its springs [210] welling up among

flowers and its waters issuing from the mouths of lions of brass like

unto gold, and sitting down by a lake, rested awhile. As for Alaeddin,

he rejoiced and was exceeding glad and fell a-jesting with the Mangrabin

and making merry with him, as he were his uncle in very deed. Then the

latter arose and loosing his girdle, brought out therefrom a bag full

of victual and fruit and the like and said to Alaeddin, "O son of

my brother, thou art maybe anhungred; come, eat what thou wilt." So

Alaeddin proceeded to eat and the Maugrabin with him and they were

gladdened and refreshed and their souls were cheered. Then said the

Maugrabin, "Rise, O my son, an thou be rested, so we may walk a little

and fare onward." [211] So Alaeddin arose and the Maugrabin walked on

with him from garden to garden till they had passed them all and came to

a high mountain. [212]

Now Alaeddin had never gone forth the gate of the city nor in all his

life had he walked the like of that walk; so he said to the Maugrabin,

"O my uncle, whither are we going? See, we have left all the gardens

behind us and are come to the foot of a mountain. [213] If the way be

[yet] far, I have no strength left me for walking, for that I am worn

out with fatigue and there remain no more gardens before us; so let us

turn back and return to the city." "O my son," replied the Maugrabin,

"this is the way and the gardens are not yet at an end, for we are going

[214] to view a garden, whose like is not with the kings and compared

with which all these which thou hast seen are as nothing. So gird up thy

loins [215] for walking; praised be God, thou art a man." And he fell

to amusing him with fair words and telling him rare stories, true and

false, till they reached the place at which this Maugrabin enchanter

aimed and in quest whereof he was come from Barbary [216] to the land of

China; whereupon, "O son of my brother," quoth he to Alaeddin, "sit and

rest thee; this is the place for which we were making; and now, please

God, I will show thee marvellous things, the like whereof no one in the

world hath seen, nor hath any looked upon that which thou art about to

behold. But [217] do thou, after thou art rested, arise and seek sticks

and grass and reeds and such like matters as are small and dry, so we

may kindle a fire, and I will cause thee look, O son of my brother, upon

a thing which passeth understanding." [218]

When Alaeddin heard this, he yearned to see what his uncle was about to

do; so he forgot his fatigue and rising forthright, fell to gathering

brushwood and dry sticks and gathered till the Maugrabin said to him,

"Enough, O son of my brother." Then he brought out of his pocket a

casket, from which he took what he needed of perfumes, and proceeded

to make fumigations and conjurations, speaking words that might not be

understanded; and straightway it darkened and thundered and the earth

quaked and opened. At this Alaeddin was sore affrighted and would have

fled; which when the Maugrabin enchanter saw, he was exceeding, incensed

at him, for that without Alaeddin his labour was of none avail, since

the treasure whereat he sought to come might not be opened save by

means of the lad. So, when he saw him offer to flee, he rose to him and

lifting his hand, smote him on his head, that he came nigh to knock out

his teeth; whereupon Alaeddin swooned away and fell upon the earth;

but, after a little, he recovered his senses, by the virtue of the

Maugrabin's enchantments, and falling a-weeping, said to him, "O my

uncle, what have I done to deserve from thee this blow?" The Maugrabin

proceeded to soothe him and said to him, "O my son, it is my desire to

make thee a man; so cross me not, for that I am thine uncle and as it

were thy father; wherefore do thou obey me in that which I shall say to

thee, and after a little thou shalt forget all this travail and annoy,

whenas thou lookest upon things marvellous."

Now, when the earth clove in sunder before the enchanter, there appeared

to him an alabaster slab and in it a ring of molten brass; [219] so he

turned to Alaeddin and said to him, "An thou do that which I shall tell

thee, thou shalt become richer than all the kings; and on this account,

O my son, I beat thee, for that here is a treasure and it is in thy

name, and thou, thou wouldst fain have passed it by and fled. But

now collect thy wits [220] and see how I have opened the earth by my

conjurations and incantations. Under [221] yonder stone, wherein is the

ring, is the treasure whereof I have told thee; so do thou put thy hand

to the ring and lift the slab, for that none of mankind can open it but

thou and none but thou can set his foot within this treasure, since it

is guarded for thee. But needs must thou hearken from me that which I

shall teach thee and lose not [222] a syllable of my speech. Marry, all

this, O my son, is for thy good, for that this is an exceeding great

treasure, the kings of the world possess not its like, and it is thine

and mine." So poor Alaeddin forgot fatigue and beating and weeping, of

his amazement at the Maugrabin's speech and joy that he should become

rich after such a measure that even the kings would be no wealthier than

he, and said to him, "O my uncle, command me all thou wilt, for I will

be obedient unto thy commandment." And the Maugrabin said to him, "O

son of my brother, thou art as my very son, nay, dearer, for being my

brother's son. I have no kindred other than thyself and thou art my

natural heir and successor, O my son."

Therewith he came up to Alaeddin and kissed him saying, "All these my

toils, whom do they concern? [223] They are all for thy sake, O my son,

that I may make [224] thee a man rich and great [225] exceedingly; so

gainsay me not in aught that I shall tell thee; but go up to yonder ring

and raise it, as I bade thee." "O my uncle," quoth Alaeddin, "this stone

is heavy; I cannot raise it of myself, [226] so come thou also and help

me raise it, for I am little of years." "O son of my brother," replied

the Maugrabin, "it will not be possible for us to do aught, an I help

thee, and our toil will be wasted in vain; but do thou put thy hand to

the ring and raise it and it will immediately come up with thee; for, as

I said to thee, none may handle it but thou. But, when thou raisest

it, name thine own name and those of thy father and mother and it will

straightway rise with thee, nor shalt thou feel its weight."

Accordingly, Alaeddin took courage and summoning his resolution, did

as the Maugrabin bade him and raised the slab with all ease, whenas he

pronounced his own name and those of his father and his mother. So the

stone came up and he threw it aside; whereupon [227] there appeared to

him an underground place and its door, whereas one entered by a stair of

some dozen steps, and the Maugrabin said to him, "O Alaeddin, give heed

[228] and do punctually that which I shall tell thee, neither fail of

aught thereof. Go down with all circumspection into yonder vault till

thou come to the bottom thereof and thou wilt find there a place divided

into four chambers, [229] in each of which thou wilt see four jars of

gold and others of native ore and silver. Beware lest thou handle them

or take aught therefrom, but pass them by till thou come to the fourth

chamber, and let not thy clothes or thy skirts touch the jars, no, nor

the walls, and stay not one moment; for, an thou do contrary to this,

thou wilt forthright be transformed and wilt become a black stone. When

thou comest to the fourth chamber, thou wilt find there a door; open

it and speak the names which thou spokest over the slab; then enter and

thou wilt find thyself in a garden, all adorned with trees and fruits.

Thence do thou fare on some fifty cubits in the path thou wilt find

before thee and thou wilt come to a dais, [230] with [231] a stair of

some thirty steps. Above the dais thou [232] wilt find a lamp hung up;

take it and pour out the oil that is therein and put it in thy sleeve;

[233] and fear not for thy clothes therefrom, for that it [234] is not

oil. And as thou returnest, thou mayst pluck from the trees what thou

wilt, for that it is thine, what while the lamp abideth in thy hand."

When the Maugrabin had made an end of his speech, he drew from his

finger a ring and putting it on Alaeddin's finger, said to him, "And

this ring, O, my son, shall deliver thee from all hurt and all fear that

may betide thee, provided thou observe all that I have said to thee. So

now arise and go down; gird thy loins and summon up thy resolution and

fear not, for that thou art a man and not a child; and after this, O

my son, thou shalt in a little time become the richest of mankind."

So Alaeddin arose and going down into the underground, found the four

chambers and in each four jars of gold. He passed them by with all care

and precaution, even as the Maugrabin had bidden him, and entering the

garden, fared on there through till he came to the dais and mounting the

stair, entered [235] and found the lamp. So he quenched it and pouring

out the oil that was therein, put it in his sleeve; then, going down

into the garden, he fell to gazing upon its trees, whereon were birds

extolling with their songs [236] the perfection of the Great Creator,

and he had not seen them as he entered. Now the fruits of these trees

were all precious stones, each tree bearing fruit of one colour and

kind of jewel, and these fruits were of all colours, green and white and

yellow and red and what not else of colours. Their glitterance outshone

the rays of the sun in its forenoon splendour and the bigness of each

jewel overpassed description; suffice it that not one of them might be

found with the greatest of the kings of the world, [237] no, nor a gem

half the bigness of the smallest that was there.

Alaeddin [238] entered among the trees and proceeded to gaze upon them

and upon these things which amazed the sight and ravished the sense

and observing them, saw that, instead of fruits, they bore magnificent

jewels from the mines, emeralds and diamonds and rubies and pearls and

topazes [239] and the like of precious stones, such as confounded the

wit. Now, for that this was a thing Alaeddin had never in his life seen,

neither was he of ripe age, so he should know the value of these jewels,

by reason of his being yet a young lad, he thought that they were all

glass or crystal; so he gathered of them what filled his sleeves [240]

and fell to looking an they were grapes or figs and the like of fruits

that might be eaten or not; but, finding them like glass, he proceeded

to gather in his sleeve [241] of every kind that was upon the trees,

albeit he knew not jewels nor their worth, saying in himself, since he

had been baulked in his intent of eating, "I will gather of these fruits

of glass and will play with them at home." Accordingly he proceeded to

pluck and put in his pockets [242] and his sleeves [243] till he filled

them; after which he filled his girdle with the fruits and girt himself

withal; in fine, he carried off as much as he might, purposing to lay

them up with him in the house by way of ornament, for that he thought

them glass, as I have said. Then he quickened his pace, of his fear of

his uncle the Maugrabin, and hastened through the four chambers and the

[outer] vault nor looked, as he returned, at the jars of gold, albeit he

might now have taken of them. [244]

When he came to the stair [245] and ascended it and there remained to

him but a small matter, to wit, the last step, which was much higher

than the others, he could not avail to mount it of himself, having

regard to that which he was carrying; so he said to the Maugrabin, "O

my uncle, give me thy hand and help me up." Quoth he, "O my son, give

me the lamp and lighten thyself; maybe it is that which hindereth thee."

"Nay, O my uncle," answered Alaeddin, "the lamp hindereth me nought; but

do thou give me thy hand and when I am up, I will give thee the lamp."

The enchanter, who wanted the lamp and that only, fell to urging

Alaeddin to give it him; but the latter, having wrapped it within his

clothes, with purses [246] of jewel-fruits atop of it, [247] could

not reach it with his hand, so he might give it him. [248] The [249]

Maugrabin was instant with him to give him the lamp and was like to lose

his wits for rage, seeing he attained not his object, albeit Alaeddin

still promised him that he would give it him as soon as he was forth of

the vault, [and that] without lying thought or ill intent. Then, when he

saw that Alaeddin would not give it him, he was angry with an exceeding

anger and abandoning all hope of the lamp, conjured and enchanted and

cast perfumes into the midst of the fire; whereupon the slab immediately

turned over [250] and shut [251] of itself by the might of his

enchantments; the earth covered it like as it was before and Alaeddin

abode under the ground, unable to come forth.

Thus the enchanter--forasmuch as he was a stranger and no uncle of

Alaeddin, as he said, but had counterfeited himself and avouched

leasing, so he might get the lamp by means of the lad, unto whom that

treasure was fortuned by the stars-shut up [252] the earth upon him and

left him to die of hunger. Now this accursed Maugrabin wizard was from

the city of Africa [253] in Hither Barbary and had from his childhood

been addicted to magic and all the occult arts, for which the city in

question is renowned. He ceased not from his tenderest years to study

and learn in his native land Africa till he became versed in all

sciences, and of the much skill and proficiency which he acquired,

by dint of study and application for the space of forty years, in the

matter of incantations and conjurations, it was discovered to him, [254]

one day of the days, that among the uttermost of the cities of China

was a city called El Kelaas and in this city a vast treasure, the like

whereof no king of the kings of the world ever possessed; but the rarest

[was] that in this treasure [was] [255] a wonderful lamp, [256] whereat

if one should come, there might no man be found on earth richer than he,

whether in might or in wealth, nor might the greatest king in the

world avail unto aught of the riches of this lamp and its puissance and

virtue. Moreover [257] he saw that this treasure was to be achieved

by means of a lad of mean birth, by name Alaeddin, who was of the city

aforesaid, and that it was eath to take and unarduous: so he tarried

not, but equipped himself forthright for the voyage to China, as we have

said, and did that which he did with Alaeddin, thinking to come by the

lamp. But his endeavour was baffled and his expectation baulked and his

toil wasted in vain; whereupon he sought to kill Alaeddin and closed up

the earth upon him by his sorcery, so he might die (and the live hath

no slayer [258]); moreover, he purposed by this that Alaeddin should

not come forth and that the lamp should not be brought up from under the

earth. Then he went his ways and returned to his country Africa, woeful

and despairing of his hope.

So much for the enchanter and as for what came of Alaeddin, after the

earth closed over him, he fell to calling upon the Maugrabin, whom he

thought his uncle, to give him his hand, so he might come forth the

underground to the surface of the earth; but, when he found that none

returned him an answer, he was ware of the cheat which the Maugrabin had

put upon him and knew that he was none of his uncle, but a liar and a

sorcerer. Therewith he despaired of his life and knew, to his woe, that

there was no more going forth for him upon the face of the earth; so he

fell to weeping and lamenting over that which had befallen him. Then,

after a little, he arose and went down, that he might see if God the

Most High had vouchsafed him a door whereby he might go forth; and he

went seeking right and left, but saw nought save darkness and four walls

shut upon him; for that the Maugrabin sorcerer had by his enchantments

locked all the doors and had even shut up the garden, so he might leave

him no door whereby he should come forth upon the face of the earth

and so hasten his death upon him. Alaeddin's weeping redoubled and his

lamentation waxed when he saw all the doors shut and eke the garden, for

that he thought to solace himself with them [259] a little; but he found

them locked, so he fell to crying out and weeping, as he whose hope is

cut off, and returning, sat down upon the steps of the stair whereby he

had entered the vault, weeping [260] and wailing; and indeed he had lost

hope.

But it is a small matter for God (extolled be His perfection and exalted

be He) whenas He willeth a thing, to say to it "Be," and it is; for that

He createth relief out of the midst of stress; by token that, when the

Maugrabin enchanter sent Alaeddin down into the vault, he gave him a

ring and put it on his finger, saying, "This ring will deliver thee from

all stress, an thou be in calamities or vicissitudes, and will remove

from thee troubles; yea, it will be thy helper whereassoever thou art;"

and this was by the foreordinance of God the Most High, so it might be

the means of Alaeddin's deliverance. So, as he sat weeping and bewailing

his case and indeed his hope was cut off of life and despair was heavy

upon him, he fell, of the excess of his anguish, to wringing [261] his

hands, after the wont of the woeful; then, raising them [to heaven], he

made supplication to God, saying, "I testify that there is no God but

Thou alone, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Conquering, the Giver of Life

and Death, [262] Creator and Accomplisher [263] of necessities, Resolver

of difficulties and perplexities and Dispeller thereof, [264] Thou

my sufficiency, Thou the most excellent Guardian, and I testify that

Mohammed is Thy servant and Thine apostle. O my God, I conjure Thee, by

his [265] glory with Thee, deliver me from my extremity."

Whilst he was thus supplicating God and wringing his hands in the

excess of his affliction for that which had befallen him of calamity,

he chanced to rub upon the ring, and immediately, behold, a genie [266]

rose up before him and said to him, "Here am I; thy slave is before

thee. Seek whatsoever thou wilt, for that I am his slave who hath the

ring in hand, the ring of my lord." [267] Alaeddin looked and saw a

Marid, [268] as he were of the Jinn of our lord Solomon, standing before

him, and shuddered at his frightful aspect; but, when he heard the genie

say to him, "Seek whatsoever thou wilt, for that I am thy slave, since

the ring of my lord is on thy hand," he took heart and bethought him

of the Maugrabin's speech to him, whenas he gave him the ring. So he

rejoiced exceedingly and took courage and said to him, "O slave of the

lord of the ring, I will of thee that thou bring me out upon the face of

the earth." Hardly had he made an end of that his speech when, behold,

the earth opened and he found himself without, at the door of the

treasure, to wit, upon the surface of the earth.

Now, he had been three days under the earth, sitting in the treasure in

the dark; so, when the light of day smote on his face and the rays of

the sun, he might not unclose his eyes, but took to opening them little

by little and shutting them again till they became stronger and grew

used to the light and were cleared of the darkness. Then, [269] seeing

himself upon the surface of the earth, he rejoiced exceedingly, but

marvelled to find himself overagainst the entrance of the treasure,

whereby he went down, whenas the Maugrabin enchanter opened it; and now

the stone was shut down and the earth levelled, nor was there any sign

therein of a door. So he redoubled in wonderment and thought himself

otherwhere; nor was he assured that he was in the very place, till

he saw whereas they had kindled the fire of sticks and brushwood

and whereas the Maugrabin enchanter had made his fumigations and

conjurations. Then he turned right and left and saw the gardens afar off

and looked at the way and knew it for that by which they had come. So he

gave thanks to God the Most High, who had brought him out on the earth's

face and had delivered him from death, after he had given up hope of

life. Then he arose and fared homeward, by the way which he knew, till

he came to the city and entering, betook himself to their house and

went in to his mother. When he saw her, he fell down before her, of

the greatness of the joy which possessed him for his deliverance, and

swooned away for the affright and the weariness which he had suffered,

more by token that he was weak with hunger.

Now his mother had been woebegone since he left her and sat wailing and

weeping for him; so, when she saw him come in to her, she rejoiced in

him with an exceeding joy, but grief overwhelmed her, whenas she saw

him fall aswoon upon the earth. However, she wasted no time in vain

lamentation, but hastened to sprinkle water on his face and sought of

her neighbours somewhat of perfumes, to which she made him smell. When

he was a little recovered, he prayed her bring him somewhat to eat,

saying to her, "O my mother, these three days past I have eaten

nothing." So she arose and setting before him that which she had ready,

said to him, "Rise, O my son, eat and restore thyself; and when thou

art rested, tell me what hath happened to thee and what calamity hath

befallen thee. I will not question thee now, because thou art weary."

So, [270] when he had eaten and drunken and had refreshed himself and

was rested and restored, he said to her, "Alack, mother mine, I have a

sore grief against thee in that thou leftest me to yonder accursed man,

who strove for my destruction. Indeed, he sought to kill me; nay, I saw

death face to face from that accursed wretch, whom thou deemedst mine

uncle, and but for God the Most High, who delivered me from him, [I had

perished]. Marry, both I and thou, O my mother, suffered ourselves to be

deluded by him after the measure of that which the accursed promised

to do with me of good and of the love which he professed for me. Know,

then, O my mother, that this man is an accursed Maugrabin enchanter,

a liar, a deceiver, an impostor and a hypocrite; methinketh the devils

that be under the earth are not his match, may God put him to shame in

every book! [271] Hear, O my mother, what this accursed did; nay, all

I shall tell thee is truth and soothfastness. Do but see the villain's

duplicity; bethink thee of the promises he made me that he would do me

all manner of good [272] and the love he professed to me, and how he did

all this that he might accomplish his purpose; nay, his intent was to

kill me, and praised be God for my deliverance! Hearken, O my mother,

and learn what this accursed one did."

Then he told her all that had befallen him from the time of his leaving

her, weeping the while for excess of joy; how the Maugrabin brought

him to the hill, wherein was the treasure, and how he conjured and

fumigated. "And indeed. O my mother," said he, "there overcame me

exceeding fear, whenas the hill clove in sunder and the earth opened

before me by his enchantments; and I quaked with terror at the voice of

the thunder which I heard and the darkness which befell of his spells

and fumigations, and of my dismay at these portents, I would have fled.

When he saw me offer to flee, he reviled me and smote me, dealing me

a buffet which caused me swoon for pain [273] but, inasmuch as the

treasure was opened and he could not go down into it himself, seeing he

had opened it by my means and that it was in name and not for him, he

knew, being a foul sorcerer, that it might [only] be achieved through me

and that this adventure was [reserved] for me. [274] Accordingly [275]

he applied himself to make his peace with me, that he might send me down

into the treasure, now it was opened, and attain his object by my means;

and when he sent me down, he gave me a ring, which he had on his hand,

and put it on my finger. So I descended into the treasure and found four

chambers, all full of gold and silver and the like; but this all was

nothing and the accursed one charged me take nought thereof. Thence I

entered a magnificent garden, [276] all full of high trees, whose

fruits ravished the wits, O my mother, for that they were all of

various-coloured crystal, [277] and I fared on till I came to the

pavilion [278] wherein was this lamp; whereupon I took it forthright and

quenching it, poured out that which was therein."

[So saying,] he pulled out the lamp from his sleeve and showed it to his

mother. Moreover, he showed her the jewels which he had brought from

the garden. Now there were two great purses [279] full of these jewels,

whereof not one was to be found with the kings of mankind; and Alaeddin

knew not their value, but thought that they were glass or crystal.

"Then, O my mother," continued he, "after I had fetched the lamp and had

gone forth [the garden] and came to the door of the treasure, I cried

out to the accursed Maugrabin, who feigned himself my uncle, to give me

his hand and pull me up, for I was laden with things which weighed me

down, so that it was not possible for me to mount alone. However, he

would not give me his hand, but said to me, 'Reach me the lamp that

is with thee, and after I will give thee my hand and pull thee up.'

I, seeing that I had put the lamp within my sleeve and the purses atop

[280] of it, could not reach it to give it to him and said to him, 'O

my-uncle, I cannot give thee the lamp. When I come up, I will give it

to thee.' But he would not help me up; nay, he would e'en have the lamp,

and his intent was to take it from me and turn back the earth over me

and destroy me, even as he did with me in the end. This, then, O my

mother, was what befell me from that foul wizard." And he told her all

that had passed between them from first to last and fell to reviling

the Maugrabin with all rancour and heat of heart, saying, "Out on this

accursed one, this foul sorcerer, this hard-hearted oppressor, this

inhuman, perfidious, hypocritical villain, lacking [281] all mercy and

ruth!"

When [282] Alaeddin's mother heard her son's speech and that which the

accursed Maugrabin did with him, she said to him, "Yea, verily, O my

son, he is a misbeliever and a hypocrite, who destroyeth folk with his

sorcery; but glory [283] to God the Most High, who hath delivered thee

from the perfidy and guile of this accursed sorcerer, of whom I thought

that he was in very deed thine uncle." Now, Alaeddin had passed three

days without sleep and found himself drowsy; so he [withdrew to his

chamber and] slept. His mother did likewise and Alaeddin ceased not to

sleep till next day, [284] near noontide, when he awoke and immediately

sought somewhat to eat, for that he was anhungred; and his mother said

to him, "O my son, I have nought to give thee to eat, for that all I had

by me thou atest yesterday. But wait awhile; I have here a little yarn

by me and I am going down to the market, so I may sell it and buy thee

withal somewhat thou mayst eat." "O my mother," rejoined Alaeddin, "keep

the yarn and sell it not; but give me the lamp which I brought home,

so I may arise and sell it and with its price buy somewhat we may eat.

Methinketh it will fetch more than the yarn." So she arose and fetched

the lamp; but, finding it exceeding dirty, she said to him, "O my son,

this lamp is dirty, and if we wash it and furbish it, it will sell for

a better price." Accordingly she took a little sand and fell to scouring

the lamp withal; but scarce had she begun to rub it when there appeared

to her one of the Jinn, foul of favour and monstrous of make as he were

of the giants, and said to her, "Say what thou wilt of me. Here am I,

thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp; and not I

alone, but all the slaves of the wonderful lamp that is in thy hand."

When she saw his frightful aspect, she trembled and fear get hold upon

her and her tongue was tied, nor could she return an answer, for that

she was not used to look upon apparitions like unto this; so [285] she

fell down aswoon of her terror.

Now Alaeddin her son was standing afar off and he had seen the slave

of the ring which he had rubbed in the treasure; so, when he heard the

genie's speech to his mother, he hastened to take the lamp from her hand

and said to him, "O slave of the lamp, I am hungry; my will is that

thou bring me somewhat I may eat, and be it somewhat good past conceit."

[286] The genie was absent the twinkling of an eye and [returning,]

brought him a great costly tray of sheer silver, whereon were twelve

platters of various kinds and colours [287] of rich meats and two silver

cups and two flagons [288] of clarified old wine and bread whiter than

snow; all which he set before him and disappeared. So Alaeddin arose and

sprinkled rosewater on his mother's face and made her smell to strong

[289] perfumes; whereupon she revived and he said to her, "Rise, O

my mother, so we may eat of this food that God the Most High hath

vouchsafed us." [290] When she saw the great silver tray, she marvelled

and said to Alaeddin, "O my son, who is the generous, the bountiful one

that hath sought out our hunger [291] and our poverty? Indeed, we are

beholden to him. [292] Apparently the Sultan hath heard of our case and

our wretchedness and hath sent us this tray." "O my mother," answered

Alaeddin, "this is no time for questioning; rise, so we may eat, for we

are anhungred."

So they arose and sitting down to the tray, proceeded to eat, whilst

Alaeddin's mother tasted food such as she had never in all her life

eaten. And they ate diligently [293] with all appetite, for stress of

hunger, more by token that the food [was such as] is given to kings,

nor knew they if the tray were precious or not, for that never in their

lives had they seen the like of these things. When they had made an end

of eating and were full (and there was left them, over and above what

sufficed them, [enough] for the evening-meal and for the next day

also), they arose and washing their hands, sat down to talk; whereupon

Alaeddin's mother turned to her son and said to him, "O my son, tell me

what befell of [294] the genie, now that, praised be God, we have eaten

of His bounty and are satisfied and thou hast no pretext for saying

to me, 'I am anhungred.'" So he told her all that had passed between

himself and the genie, whenas she fell down aswoon of her affright;

whereat exceeding wonderment took her and she said to him, "It is true,

then, [295] that the Jinn appear to the sons of Adam, though I, O my

son, in all my days, I have never seen them, and methinketh this is

he who delivered thee, whenas thou west in the treasure." "Nay, O my

mother," answered he, "this was not he; he who appeared to thee is the

slave of the lamp." "How so, [296] O my son?" asked she; and he said,

"This slave is other of make than that. That was the servant of the ring

and this thou sawest is the slave of the lamp which was in thy hand."

When [297] his mother heard this, "Well, well!" cried she. "Then the

accursed who appeared to me and came nigh to kill me for affright is

of the lamp?" "Ay is he," answered Alaeddin; and she said to him, "I

conjure thee, O my son, by the milk thou suckedst of me, that thou cast

away from thee both lamp and ring, for that they will be to us a cause

of exceeding fear and I could not endure to see them [298] a second

time; nay, their commerce is forbidden unto us, for that the prophet

(whom God bless and keep) warneth us against them." [299] "O my mother,"

answered Alaeddin, "thy speech is on my head and eyes; [300] but, as for

this that thou sayest, it may not be that I should cast away either the

lamp or the ring; nay, thou seest that which it [301] did with us of

good, whenas we were anhungred, and know, O my mother, that the lying

Maugrabin enchanter, what time I went down into the treasure, sought

nought of gold nor of silver, whereof the four places were full, but

charged me bring him the lamp and that only, for that he knew the

greatness of its virtues; [302] and except he knew it to be exceeding of

might, he had not toiled and travailed and come from his land to this in

quest of it, nor had he shut the treasure on me, whenas he failed of the

lamp, seeing I gave it him not. Wherefore, O my mother, it behoveth us

keep this lamp and guard it with all care, for that this is our support

and this it is shall enrich us; and it behoveth us show it not unto any.

On like wise, as for the ring, it may not be that I should put it off

from my finger, forasmuch as, but for this ring, thou hadst not seen me

again on life; nay, I had died under the earth within the treasure; so

how can I put it off from my hand and who knoweth what may happen to

me in time to come of error or calamity or shift of the shifts of

mischance, from which the ring might deliver me? However, of regard for

thy wish, I will lay up the lamp and let thee not see it henceforth."

When his mother heard his words and pondered them, she saw them to be

just and true and said to him, "O my son, do what thou wilt. For my

part, I wish never to see them nor ever again to behold that loathsome

aspect [303] which I saw [but now]."

Alaeddin [304] and his mother abode two days eating of the food which

the genie had brought, and when it was finished and he knew that there

was left them nothing to eat, he arose and taking a platter of those

which the slave had brought on the tray (now they were of fine gold,

but Alaeddin knew it not) went with it to the market, where a Jew, a

man viler than devils themselves, accosted [305] him and he gave him the

platter. When the Jew saw it, he took Alaeddin aside, so none might see

him, and examining the platter, found it of fine gold, [306] but knew

not if Alaeddin was ware of its worth or if he was ignorant thereof; so

he said to him, "How much, O my lord, for this platter?" And Alaeddin

answered him, saying, "Thou knowest how much it is worth." The Jew was

perplexed how much he should give Alaeddin for the platter, by reason of

his having made him an adroit answer, and bethought himself to give him

little, but feared lest he should be aware of its value and debated with

himself if he should give him much. Then said he in himself, "Most like

he knoweth not its value;" so he brought out of his pocket a gold diner

and gave it to him. When Alaeddin saw the diner in his hand, he took it

and went off in haste, whereby the Jew knew that the lad was unaware

of the value of the plate and repented him sore that he had given him a

gold diner and not a carat of three-score: [307]

Meanwhile Alaeddin tarried not, but went forthright to the baker and

bought of him bread and changed the diner; then, returning to his

mother, he gave her the bread and the rest of the money and said to her,

"O my mother, go and buy us what we need." So she arose and going to the

market, bought all that they needed and they ate and were cheered.

Then, whenassoever the price of a platter was spent, Alaeddin would take

another and carry it to the Jew; on which wise the accursed Jew bought

them all of him for a small matter and would fain also have reduced the

price; but, since he had given him a diner the first time, he feared to

offer him less, lest the lad should go and sell to another [308] and he

lose that excessive profit. Accordingly, Alaeddin ceased not to sell him

platter after platter till he had sold them all and there was left

him only the tray whereon they had been; then, for that it was big and

heavy, he went and fetched the Jew to the house and brought out to him

the tray. When he saw it and noted its bigness, he gave Alaeddin ten

diners, which he took, and the Jew went his way.

Alaeddin and his mother lived upon the ten diners till they came to an

end; then he arose and bringing out the lamp, rubbed it, whereupon the

slave of the lamp, to wit, the genie whom he had seen before, appeared

to him and [309] said to him, "Seek what thou wilt, O my lord, for that

I am thy slave and the slave of whoso hath with him the lamp." Quoth

Alaeddin, "It is my will that thou bring me a tray of food like unto

that which thou broughtest me erewhen, for that I am hungry;" and the

slave brought him, in the twinkling of an eye, a tray like unto that

which he had brought him before, and on it twelve magnificent platters

full of rich meats, together with flagons [310] of clarified wine and

bread of the finest. Now Alaeddin's mother, when she knew that her son

was minded to rub the lamp, had gone out, so she might not see the genie

again; but, after a little, she came in to him and seeing the tray full

of silver platters, whilst the whole house reeked with the fragrance of

the rich meats, marvelled and rejoiced; and Alaeddin said to her, "O

my mother, thou badest me throw away the lamp. See now its uses." "O my

son," answered she, "may God prosper him; [311] but fain would I not see

him." Then they sat down to the tray and ate and drank till they were

satisfied, laying up that which remained with them against the morrow.

Then, when that which was with them of food was finished, Alaeddin arose

and taking one of the platters under his clothes, went in quest of the

Jew, so he might sell it to him; but, as chance willed it, he passed by

the shop of a goldsmith, an honest, pious man, who feared God. When the

latter saw Alaeddin, he accosted him and said to him, "O my son, what

wilt thou? This many a time have I seen thee pass hereby and betake

thyself to such an one, a Jew, and I have seen thee give him certain

things. Nay, methinketh even now thou hast somewhat with thee and art

seeking him, so thou mayst sell it to him. But thou knowest not, O my

son, that the good of the Muslims, believers in the unity of God the

Most High, is lawful spoil in the eyes of Jews; nay, they still cheat

the Muslims and especially this accursed one with whom thou dealest and

into whose hands thou hast fallen. Wherefore, O my son, an thou have

with thee aught thou wouldst sell, show it to me and fear nothing, for

that, by the truth of God the Most High, I will give thee its price."

Accordingly, Alaeddin brought out the platter to the old man, who took

it and weighing it in his scales, said to him, "Was it the like of this

thou usest to sell to the Jew?" "Ay," replied Alaeddin, "its like and

its brother." "And how much," asked the goldsmith, "useth he to give

thee to its price?" And Alaeddin said, "He useth to give me a diner."

When [312] the goldsmith heard this, "Out on this accursed one," cried

he, "who fleeceth the servants of God the Most High!" Then he looked

at Alaeddin and said to him, "O my son, this Jew is a cheat, who hath

cheated thee and laughed at thee, for that the silver of this thy

platter is pure and fine; and I have weighed it and find its worth

threescore diners and ten; so, an it please thee take its price, take

[it]." Accordingly, he counted out to him seventy diners and he took

them and thanked him for his kindness, in that he had shown him the

Jew's trickery. Thenceforward, whenassoever the price of one platter was

spent, he would carry another to the old goldsmith, and on this wise he

and his mother increased in substance; but they ceased not to live at

their sufficiency, [313] midwise [betwixt rich and poor], [314] without

excessive spending [315] or squandering. As for Alaeddin, he left

idleness and the commerce of striplings and took to consorting with

grown men; [316] nay, he would go every day to the market of the

merchants and sit with the great and the small of them and question

of the ways and fashions of commerce and the prices of articles of

merchandise [317] and otherwhat. He used also to go to the market of the

goldsmiths and the market of the jewellers, and there he would sit and

look upon the different kinds of jewels and see them bought and sold;

whereby he became aware that the fruits of the trees, wherewith he had

filled the purses, [318] whenas he was in the treasure, were neither

glass nor crystal, but jewels, and knew that he had happened upon great

wealth, such as kings might nowise compass. Moreover, he noted all

the jewels that were in the jewellers' market, but saw not [among] the

biggest [of them] one to match with the smallest of those he had at

home.

He ceased not to go daily to the market of the jewellers and to clap

up acquaintance with the folk, making friends with them and questioning

them of buying and selling and giving and taking and dear and cheap,

till, one day of the days, he arose in the morning and donning his

clothes, went forth, intending, as of wont, for the jewellers' market;

but, as he went, he heard the crier proclaiming aloud on this wise, "By

commandment of the Lord of Beneficence, the king of the age and monarch

of the time and the tide, let all the folk shut their shops and stores

and enter their houses, for that the Lady Bedrulbudour, daughter of

the Sultan, purposeth to go to the bath, and whoso transgresseth the

commandment, his punishment shall be death and his blood be on his own

head." [319] When Alaeddin heard this proclamation, he longed to look

upon the Sultan's daughter and said in himself, "All the folk talk of

her grace and goodliness, and the uttermost of my desire is to see her."

So [320] he cast about for a device how he might contrive to see the

Lady Bedrulbudour and him-seemed he were best stand behind the door of

the bath, that he might see her face, as she entered. Accordingly he

betook himself to the bath, awhile in advance, and posted himself behind

the door, whereas none of the folk might see him.

Presently, the Sultan's daughter came forth and went round about the

city and its thoroughfares and diverted herself by viewing it; then

she repaired to the bath and when she came thither, she lifted her

face-veil, as she entered; whereupon her face shone out, as it were the

resplendent sun or a precious pearl, and she was as saith of her one of

her describers:

Who sprinkled the kohl of enchantment upon her eyes

And gathered the bloom of the rose from her cheeks, fruit-wise?

And who was it let down the curtained night of her hair

And eke through its glooms made the light of her forehead rise?

When she raised the veil from her face and Alaeddin saw her, he said,

"Verily, her fashion glorifieth the Great Creator and extolled be the

perfection of Him who made her and graced her with this beauty and

goodliness!" And his back was cloven in sunder, [321] when he saw her;

his thought was confounded and his understanding [322] dazed and

the love of her gat hold upon his whole heart; so he turned back and

returning home, went in to his mother, like one distraught. She bespoke

him and he answered her neither yea nor nay; then she brought him the

morning-meal, as he abode on this wise, and said to him, "O my son, what

hath betided thee? Doth there ail thee aught? Tell me what hath befallen

thee, for that, against thy wont, I bespeak thee and thou answerest me

not."

Now Alaeddin had been used to think that women were all like his mother

and he had heard of the beauty of the Lady Bedrulbudour, daughter of the

Sultan, but had not known what beauty and grace were; so he turned to

his mother and said to her, "Leave me;" but she was instant with him

to come and eat. Accordingly, he came forward and ate a little; then,

rising, he threw himself on his bed and lay musing till break of morn;

and on this wise he abode all next day. His mother was perplexed at his

case, unknowing what had befallen him, and bethought herself that belike

he was sick; so she came up to him and questioned him, saying, "O my

son, an thou feel aught of pain or otherwhat, tell me, that I may go

fetch thee a physician, more by token there is presently in the city a

physician from the land of the Arabs, whom the Sultan hath sent to bring

hither, and report saith of him that he is exceeding skilful; so [tell

me] if thou art sick, that I may go and call him to thee."

When [323] Alaeddin heard his mother offer to fetch him the physician,

he said to her, "O my mother, I am well and not sick, but I had thought

that women were all like unto thee. However, yesterday, I saw the Lady

Bedrulbudour, the Sultan's daughter, as she went to the bath;" and

he told her all that had happened to him, adding, "And most like thou

heardest the crier proclaiming that none should open his shop nor stand

in the road, so the Lady Bedrulbudour might pass to the bath; but I saw

her even as she is, for that, when she came to the door of the bath, she

lifted her veil, and when I noted her favour and viewed that noble form

of hers, there befell me, O my mother, a passion of yearning for love of

her and desire of her [324] usurped mine every part; nor can I ever more

have ease, except I get her, and I purpose, therefore, to demand her of

the Sultan her father in the way of law and righteousness."

When Alaeddin's mother heard her son's speech, she thought little of

his wit and said to him, "O my son, the name of God encompass thee!

Meseemeth thou hast lost thy wit; return to thy senses, [325] O my son,

and be not like the madmen!" "Nay, O my mother," replied he, "I have

not lost my wits nor am I mad; and this thy speech shall not change that

which is in my mind, nor is rest possible to me except I get the darling

of my heart, the lovely Lady Bedrulbudour. And my intent is to demand

her of her father the Sultan." So she said to him, "O my son, my life

upon thee, speak not thus, lest one hear thee and say of thee that thou

art mad. Put away from thee this extravagance: [326] who shall undertake

an affair like this and demand it of the Sultan? Meknoweth not how thou

wilt do to make this request of the Sultan, and if thou speak sooth,

[327] by whom wilt thou make it?" "O my mother," rejoined Alaeddin, "by

whom [should I make] a request like this, when thou art at hand, and

whom have I trustier [328] than thyself? Wherefore my intent is that

thou shalt make this request for me." "O my son," quoth she, "God

deliver me from this! What, have I lost my wits like thee? Put away this

thought from thy mind and bethink thee who thou art, O my son,--the son

of a tailor, the poorest and least of the tailors in this city, and I

also am thy mother and my folk are exceeding poor; so how wilt thou dare

to demand the Sultan's daughter, whom her father would not vouchsafe

to marry with kings' sons and Sultans, except they were his peers in

puissance and rank and noblesse; nay, were they one degree less than he,

he would not give them his daughter."

Alaeddin [329] waited till his mother had made an end of her speech and

said to her, "O my mother, all that thou thinkest I know; marry, I know

full well that I am the son of poor folk, nor may all this thy talk

anywise avail to move me from my purpose; but I beseech thee, an I be

thy very son and thou love me, do me this kindness; else wilt thou lose

me, for death hasteneth upon me, an I attain not my wish of the beloved

of my heart. In any case, O my mother, I am thy son." When his mother

heard his speech, she wept of her concern for him and said to him, "Yes,

O my son, I am thy mother and thou art my son and the darling of my

heart; [330] I have none other than thee and the extreme of my desire is

to rejoice in thee and marry thee. So, an thou wilt, I will seek thee a

bride of our own rank. But suppose [I do this], they [331] [will] ask at

once an thou have craft or land or trade or garden, so thou mayst live,

and what shall I answer them. And if I cannot answer poor folk like

ourselves, how, O my son, shall I dare to seek the King's daughter of

China, who hath none before him and none after him? Wherefore do thou

ponder this matter in thine understanding. And who seeketh her? The son

of a tailor. [332] Indeed, I know that, an I speak of this, it will but

be for the increase of our ill luck, for that this affair will bring us

in great danger with the Sultan and belike there will be death therein

for thee and for me. As for me, how can I adventure upon this danger and

this effrontery? Moreover, O my son, on what wise shall I demand thee

his daughter of the Sultan and how shall I avail to go in to him? Nay,

if they question me, what shall I answer them? Most like they will deem

me a madwoman. And suppose I gain admission to the presence, what shall

I take by way of offering to the Sultan's highness? It [333] is true, O

my son, that the Sultan is clement and rejecteth none that cometh to him

for protection or craveth a boon of him, for that he is bountiful and

beneficent unto all, great and small; [334] but he bestoweth his favours

upon those who are deserving thereof or who have done some feat of arms

before him or have wrought for the service or defence of the realm; and

thou, O my son, tell me, what hast thou done for [335] the Sultan or the

realm, that thou shouldst merit of him this boon? Again, this that thou

cravest is beyond thy condition; [336] so it cannot be that the king

will grant thee that which thou seekest. Moreover, whoso presenteth

himself before the Sultan and craveth favours of him, it behoveth him

take in his hand somewhat that sorteth with the royal dignity; and as

I said to thee, how canst thou presume to present thyself before the

Sultan and seek of him his daughter, without aught thou mayst proffer

him of that which sorteth with his rank?"

"O my mother," replied Alaeddin, "thou speakest justly and deemest that

which is true, [337] and it behoveth me consider all that whereof thou

mindest me; but, O my mother, the love of the Sultan's daughter, the

Lady Bedrulbudour, hath entered into the innermost of my heart; and

there can be no rest for me, except I obtain her. Moreover, thou mindest

me of somewhat I had forgotten, and that a thing which emboldeneth me to

seek of him his daughter by thee. Thou sayst, O my mother, that I have

no gift to present to the Sultan, according to the wont of the folk,

whilst in fact I have by me a gift and an offering, the like whereof

methinketh no king ever possessed, no, nor aught to match therewith; for

[338] thou must know, O my mother, that the fruits, which I brought in

the purses [339] from the treasure and which I deemed glass or crystal,

are very jewels, methinketh all the kings of the world may not compass

the least of them, and I, of my companying with the jewellers, know that

they are precious stones. Wherefore, an thou please, have the goodness

to rise and bring me such a China dish which we have by us, [340] that

I may fill it with these jewels, and thou shalt take it as a present to

the Sultan. By this means I am assured that the thing will be easy to

thee, and do thou stand before the Sultan and seek of him my desire;

but, O my mother, an thou refuse to further me with thine endeavour for

the attainment of my wish of the Lady Bedrulbudour, know that I am a

dead man. Be not concerned for the gift, for these be exceeding precious

jewels, and know, O my mother, that I have gone many a time to the

market of the jewellers and have seen them sell jewels, that had not an

hundredth part [341] of the beauty of these of ours, at exceeding high

prices such as man's wit cannot conceive. When, therefore, I saw this,

I said [in myself], 'Verily, the jewels that are with us are exceeding

precious.' So now, O my mother, arise, as I bade thee, and fetch me the

China dish whereof I bespoke thee, that we may range of these jewels

therein and see how they show."

Accordingly, she arose and brought the China dish, saying in herself,

"Let us see if my son's speech be true concerning these jewels or not."

So she set the dish before Alaeddin and he brought out jewels of all

kinds from the purses and proceeded to range them in the dish till he

filled it. When it was full, his mother looked at the dish, but could

not gaze fixedly thereon, for the radiance of the jewels and their

lustre and the excess of their flashing; so she shut her eyes and her

wit was confounded at them; yet was she not certified that their value

was in very deed so great as her son had said, but bethought her that

his speech might be true in that their like was not found with kings.

Then Alaeddin turned to her and said, "See, O my mother, this is a

magnificent present for the Sultan and I am assured that thou wilt

get of him exceeding honour and that he will receive thee with all

consideration. And now, O my mother, there remaineth to thee no excuse;

so be good enough [342] to take this dish and go with it to the palace."

"O my son," replied she, "true it is that the present is exceedingly

costly and precious and as thou sayest, none hath the like thereof;

but who shall dare to come forward and seek of the Sultan his daughter

Bedrulbudour? Nay, I dare not adventure myself and say to him, 'I want

thy daughter,' whenas he asketh me, 'What wouldst thou?' Marry, O my

son,, my tongue will be tied. And grant that Allah make [the thing]

possible and I take courage and say to him, 'I desire to ally myself

to thee by [marrying] thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour with my son

Alaeddin,' they will straightway deem me mad and will put me out with

ignominy and reproach; nay, I need not tell thee that by this I shall

fall into danger of death, and not I only, but thou also. Withal, O my

son, of regard for thy wish, needs must I take courage and go; but, O my

son, if the King receive me and honour me for the gift's sake and I seek

of him that which thou wilt in [343] the matter of marrying his daughter

and he ask me, after the wont of the folk, what are thy possessions and

thy revenues, what shall I say to him? And most like, O my son, he will

ask me of this ere he ask me of thyself." And Alaeddin said to her,

"Nay, it cannot be that the Sultan will ask this, whenas he seeth the

jewels and their magnificence, and it booteth not to think of a thing

that will not happen. Do thou but rise and seek me his daughter of him

and proffer him these jewels and sit not magnifying the affair in thy

thought beforehand. Moreover, O my mother, thou knowest of the lamp

which is with me and which presently provideth for our livelihood; [344]

nay, all that I seek of it it will bring me, and I trust by its means I

shall know how to answer the Sultan, an he ask me of this."

They abode in talk of the matter all that night and when the morning

morrowed, Alaeddin's mother arose and fortified her heart, more by token

that her son expounded to her somewhat of the properties of the lamp and

its uses, in that it would bring them all they sought. But, when he saw

that she heartened herself for that which he set forth to her of its

virtues, he feared lest she should talk of this to the folk, so he said

to her, "O my mother, beware lest thou bespeak any of the lamp and its

uses, for that this is our fortune; be careful [345] and exceed not in

speech thereof to any one, lest we lose it and lose this our present

prosperity, for that it is from it." [346] "Have no fear for that, O my

son," answered she and rising, took the dish wherein were the jewels

and wrapping it in a fine handkerchief, went forth betimes, so she might

reach the Divan and enter, ere it became crowded. When she came to the

palace, the Divan was not yet assembled [347] and she saw the Vizier and

certain of the chiefs of the state entering the presence-chamber. After

a while, the Divan being complete with the Viziers and the chiefs of the

state and officers and Amirs and grandees, the Sultan appeared and the

Viziers and other the officials and notables ranged themselves before

him, whilst he sat down on the throne of his kingship and all who were

present in the Divan stood before him, with hands clasped behind them,

[348] awaiting his commandment to sit. So he bade them be seated and

they all sat down, each in his several room; then the petitioners [349]

presented themselves before the Sultan and each affair was decided in

its course, [350] till the Divan came to an end, when the King rose and

entered the palace and each went his way.

As [351] for Alaeddin's mother, having come before all, she found room

to enter, but withal none bespoke her, so he should bring her in before

the Sultan; wherefore she ceased not standing till the Divan broke up

and the Sultan rose and entered the palace and all went their ways. When

she saw the Sultan rise from his throne and enter the harem, she

took her way homeward and returning on her steps, entered her house.

Alaeddin, seeing her with the dish in her hand, knew that most like

some mischance had betided her, but cared not to question her till she

entered and setting down the dish, told him what had passed and finally

said to him, "God be praised, O my son, I mustered courage to find

myself a place in the Divan, albeit I could not win to speak with the

Sultan to day; but to-morrow, an it please God the Most High, I will

bespeak him. To-day there were many other folk, like myself, unable

to get speech of the Sultan; but be easy, O my son; to-morrow I will

without fail bespeak him on thy behalf, and what happened not shall

happen." When Alaeddin heard his mother's words, he rejoiced with an

exceeding joy, albeit, of the excess of his love and longing for the

Lady Bedrulbudour, he had looked for the matter to be accomplished then

and there; nevertheless, he used patience.

They slept that night and on the morrow Alaeddin's mother arose and went

with the dish to the Sultan's Divan, but found it closed; so she asked

the folk and they said to her, "The Sultan holdeth a Divan but thrice

a week;" wherefore she was compelled [352] to return home. Then she

proceeded to go every day, and whenas she found the Divan open, she

would stand before the door, [353] till it broke up, when she would

return home; and whiles she went and found the Divan closed. [354] On

this wise she abode a week's space [355] and the Sultan saw her at

each Divan; so, when she went on the last day [of the week] and stood,

according to her wont, before the Divan, till it was ended, but could

not muster courage to enter [356] or say aught, the Sultan arose and

entering the harem, turned to his chief Vizier, who was with him, and

said to him, "O Vizier, these six or seven days [357] past I have seen

yonder old woman come hither at every Divan and I note that she still

carrieth somewhat under her veil. [358] Hast thou any knowledge of her,

O Vizier, and knowest thou what is her want?" "O our lord the Sultan,"

replied the Vizier, "verily women are little of wit; and most like this

woman cometh to complain to thee of her husband or one of her folk,"

The Sultan was not content with the Vizier's reply, but bade him, an

she came again to the Divan, bring her before him forthright; [359]

whereupon the Vizier laid his hand on his head and answered, "Hearkening

and obedience, O our lord the Sultan."

Meanwhile, [360] Alaeddin's mother, albeit she was grown exceeding weary

and dejected, yet made light of all weariness, for her son's sake, and

continued, as of her wont, to go every court-day and stand in the Divan

before the Sultan. [361] Accordingly, one day of the days, she went to

the Divan, as of her wont, and stood before the Sultan; and when he saw

her, he called his Vizier and said to him, "Yonder is the woman of whom

I bespoke thee yesterday; bring her now before me, so I may see what

her suit is and accomplish unto her her occasion." So the Vizier arose

forthright and let bring Alaeddin's mother in before the Sultan. When

she came into the latter's presence, she made her obeisance to him and

did him reverence, wishing him glory and continuance and eternity of

prosperity and kissing the ground before him. Then said he to her, "O

woman, I see thee come every day to the Divan and thou speakest not of

aught. Tell me an thou have a want, that I may accomplish it unto thee;"

whereupon she kissed the earth a second time and called down blessings

upon him, then answered, "Ay, O King of the Age, as thy head liveth,

I have indeed a want; but before all things do thou give me thine

assurance, [362] so I may make bold to prefer my suit to the hearing of

our lord the Sultan, for that belike Thy Grace will find it a strange

one."

The Sultan, that he might learn what her suit was and for that he was of

his nature exceeding clement, gave her his assurance and bidding all

who were with him go out forthright, abode alone [with her], he and the

Grand Vizier. Then he turned to her and said, "Tell me thy suit, and the

assurance [363] of God the Most High be upon thee." Quoth she, "O King

of the Age, I wish thy pardon also." And he said to her, "God pardon

thee!" [364] Then said she to him, "O our lord the Sultan, I have a

son, whose name is Alaeddin, and one day of the days he heard the

crier proclaim that none should open his shop nor show himself in the

thoroughfares of the city, [365] for that the Lady Bedrulbudour, the

daughter of our lord the Sultan, was going to the bath. When my son

heard this, he wished to see her; so he hid himself in a place,

whence he might see her well, and this was behind the door of the bath.

Accordingly, when she came up, he saw her and viewed her well, beyond

his wish; and from that time till now, O King of the Age, life hath

not been pleasant to him [366] and he will e'en have me seek her of Thy

Grace, [367] so thou mayst marry her with him, and I cannot do away this

conceit from his wit, for that the love of her hath gotten possession of

his vitals, so that he saith to me, 'Know, O mother mine, that, except

I attain my desire, assuredly I am a dead man.' Wherefore I crave Thy

Grace's clemency and hope that thou wilt pardon me and my son this

effrontery neither be wroth with us therefor."

When the King heard her story, he fell a-laughing, of his clemency,

[368] and asked her, "What is that thou hast with thee and what is that

bundle?" [369] Whereupon she, seeing that he was not angered at her

words, but laughed, opened the handkerchief forthright and proffered him

the dish of jewels. When the Sultan saw the jewels (and indeed, whenas

she raised the handkerchief from them, the Divan became as it were

all illumined with lamp-clusters and candlesticks), he was amazed and

confounded at their radiance and fell a-marvelling at their lustre and

bigness and beauty; and [370] he said, "Never saw I the like of these

jewels for beauty and bigness and perfection, nor methinketh is one of

them found in my treasuries." Then he turned to his Vizier and said to

him, "How sayst thou, O Vizier? Sawest thou ever in thy life the like of

these magnificent jewels?" "Never, O our lord the Sultan," replied the

Vizier, "nor, methinketh, is the least of those which be here found in

the treasuries of our lord the King." Quoth the Sultan, "Doth not he

who giveth me these jewels deserve to be bridegroom to my daughter

Bedrulbudour? Marry, by what I see, meseemeth none is worthier of her

than he."

When the Vizier heard the Sultan's words, his tongue was tied for

despite and he was overcome with exceeding chagrin, forasmuch as the

King had promised him that he would marry his daughter to his son;

so, after a little, he said to him, "O King of the age, Thy Grace

condescended to promise me [371] that the Lady Bedrulbudour should be my

son's; wherefore it behoveth thine exalted highness appoint a delay of

three months, [372] and God willing, my son's present shall be greater

than this." The King, for all he knew that this was a thing whereto the

Vizier might not avail, no, nor the greatest King, [373] nevertheless

exercised his clemency [374] and granted him the delay he sought; then,

turning to the old woman, he said to her, "Go to thy son and tell him

I give him [my] word that my daughter shall be in his name; [375] but

needs must I take order for her equipment; [376] wherefore it behoveth

him grant us a delay of three months."

Alaeddin's mother took the answer and thanked the Sultan and prayed for

him, then went forth and fared homeward in haste, flying of her joy,

till she came to the house and entered. Her son saw her laughing-faced

and foreboded good news; more by token that she returned forthright

and tarried not, as on each day past, neither brought back the dish.

Accordingly he asked her and said to her, "God willing, O my mother,

thou bringest me good news; the jewels and their value have wrought

their work and thou wilt have found acceptance with the Sultan; yea, he

will have shown thee favour and given ear unto thy suit." So she told

him all that had passed and how the Sultan had received her and had

marvelled, both he and his Vizier, at the size and beauty of the jewels,

and how he had promised her that [quoth she] "his daughter shall be in

thy name. But, O my son, ere he promised me, the Vizier whispered [377]

him somewhat, whereupon he appointed me for three months hence; and I

am fearful lest the Vizier be a man of evil disposition, [378] who will

change the King's mind."

When [379] Alaeddin heard his mother's words and how the Sultan had

appointed her for [380] three months [thence], his heart was lightened

and he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said, "Since the Sultan hath

promised for [381] three months [hence], true, it [382] is long, but in

any case my joy is great." Then he thanked her for her kindness and the

pains she had taken [383] and said to her, "By Allah, O my mother, it

is as I were in a tomb and now thou hast raised me up therefrom; and

I praise God the Most High, for I am presently certified that there is

none richer or happier than I in the world." Then he waited till two

of the three months were past, when his mother went out one day of the

days, at sundown, to buy oil, and saw the markets closed and the city

all decorated and the folk setting candles and flowers in their windows

and saw troops, horse and foot, and mounted eunuchs drawn up in state,

with cressets and lustres burning. At this wonder took her; [384]he went

to an oilman's shop there open and buying oil of him, said to him, "[I

conjure thee] by thy life, O uncle, tell me what is toward to-day in

this city, that the folk are making this decoration and the markets

[are shut] and the houses all adorned and the troops drawn up in state?"

Quoth he, "O woman, methinketh thou art a stranger and art not of this

city." "Nay," answered she, "but I am of this city;" and he said to her,

"Thou art of this city and knowest not that this is the night of

the going in of the Grand Vizier's son to the Lady Bedrulbudour, the

Sultan's daughter? Nay, he is presently in the bath and yonder Amirs

and troops are drawn up awaiting him, against he come forth, so they may

carry him in procession to the palace of the Sultan's daughter."

When Alaeddin's mother heard this, she was troubled and perplexed in

her wit how she should do to acquaint her son with this woeful news, for

that the poor wretch was counting the hours till the three months should

be ended. So she returned home forthright and going in to Alaeddin, said

to him, "O my son, I have news to tell thee, but it irketh me for thy

chagrin therefrom." Quoth he, "Speak; what is the news?" And she said to

him, "The Sultan hath gone from his promise to thee in the matter of his

daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, for that this very night the Vizier's

son goeth in to her; and indeed methought at the time, [385] O my son,

the Vizier would change the Sultan's mind, even as I told thee that he

bespoke him privily before me." "How knewest thou this," asked Alaeddin,

"that the Vizier's son goeth in this night to the Lady Bedrulbudour?" So

she told him all she had seen of the decorations in the city, whenas she

went to buy the oil, and how the eunuchs and chiefs of the state were

drawn up awaiting the Vizier's son, against he should come forth of the

bath, for that this was the night of his going in. When Alaeddin heard

this, he fell into a fever of chagrin; [386] but presently he bethought

him of the lamp and rejoiced and said to his mother, "By thy life, O my

mother, methinketh the Vizier's son shall not rejoice in her, as

thou deemest. But now leave us be with this talk and go lay us the

evening-meal, so we may sup; then, when I shall have passed a while in

my chamber, all shall yet be well."

Accordingly, [387] after he had supped, he went into his chamber and

locking the door on himself, fetched the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon

the genie at once appeared to him and said, "Seek what thou wilt, for I

am thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp, I and all

the slaves of the lamp." And Alaeddin said to him, "Harkye, I sought of

the Sultan to marry his daughter, and he appointed me for [388] three

months' time; however, he abode not by his promise, but gave her to the

Vizier's son, and the latter purposeth to go in [to her] this night.

Wherefore I do presently command thee, as thou art a loyal servant of

the lamp, that this night, whenas thou seest the bride and bridegroom

abed together, thou take them up in their bed [and bring them] hither.

This is what I seek of thee." "Hearkening and obedience," answered the

genie, "and if thou have a service [to require of me] other than this,

command me whatsoever thou seekest." And Alaeddin said to him, "I have

no present requirement save that whereof I have bespoken thee." So the

slave disappeared and Alaeddin returned to finish his supper [389] with

his mother.

When he deemed it time for the genie's coming, he arose and entered his

chamber; and after a little, the Marid appeared with the bridal pair in

their bed; whereat Alaeddin rejoiced with exceeding great joy and said

to the slave, "Bear this gallowsbird hence and couch him in the house of

easance." [390] The genie accordingly took up the bridegroom and couched

him in the draught-house; moreover, ere he left him, he blew on him a

blast wherewith he dried him up, and the Vizier's son abode in woeful

case. Then he returned to Alaeddin and said to him, "An thou need

otherwhat, tell me." And Alaeddin said to him, "Return in the morning,

so thou mayst take them [back] to their place." "Hearkening and

obedience," answered the genie and was gone; whereupon Alaeddin

arose,--and indeed he had scarce believed that the thing should succeed

with him,--and when he saw the Lady Bedrulbudour in his house, he

entreated her with respect, albeit he had long burned for love of her,

and said to her, "O princess of the fair, think not that I have brought

thee hither to soil shine honour. God forbid! Nay, it was that I might

not let others [391] enjoy thee, for that thy father the Sultan gave me

his word upon thee; so be thou in peace and assurance." As [392] for

the princess, when she found herself in that mean dark; house and heard

Alaeddin's words, fear and trembling get hold upon her and she was

confounded and could return him no answer. Then he arose and putting off

his clothes, placed a sword between himself and her and lay down by her

side in the bed, without treason; [393] it sufficed him to prevent [the

consummation of] her marriage with the Vizier's son. Nevertheless, the

Lady Bedrulbudour passed the sorriest of nights, never in her life had

she known a worse; whilst the Vizier's son lay in the draught-house and

dared not stir for fear of the genie.

When it was morning, the genie presented himself before Alaeddin,

without his rubbing the lamp, and said to him, "O my lord, an thou

wish aught, command me withal, so I may do it on my head and eyes." And

Alaeddin bade him go carry the bride and bridegroom to their own place.

The genie did his bidding in the twinkling of an eye and laying the

Vizier's son with the Lady Bedrulbudour, took them up and set them down

in their place in the palace, without their seeing any one; but they

were like to die of fright, when they felt themselves carried from

place to place. Hardly had the genie set them down and gone out when the

Sultan came to visit his daughter; and when the Vizier's son heard the

door open, he straightway sprang out of bed, knowing that none might

enter but the Sultan, and donned his clothes, [394] albeit this irked

him sore, for that he would fain have warmed himself a little, having

had no time [to do so] since he left the draught-house. The [395] Sultan

came in to his daughter and kissing her between the eyes, gave her

good-morrow and asked her of her bridegroom and if she was content with

him; but she returned him no answer and looked at him with a dejected

air. [396] He bespoke her several times, but she was silent and answered

him not a word; so he went out from her and going in to the Queen, told

her what had passed between himself and the Lady Bedrulbudour.

The Queen, so she might not leave the Sultan angry with the Lady

Bedrulbudour, said to him, "O King of the Age, this is the wont of

most brides, on their wedding-day, to be shamefast and show somewhat of

coyness. So be not vexed with her and after a day or two she will return

to herself and proceed to speak with the folk; but now, O King of the

Age, shame hindereth her from speaking. However, I purpose to go to her

and see her." Accordingly she arose and donning her clothes, repaired

to her daughter's apartment. Then, going up to her, she gave her

good-morrow and kissed her between the eyes; but the Lady Bedrulbudour

returned her no manner of answer and the Queen said in herself, "Needs

must some strange thing have befallen her, to trouble her thus." So

she asked her, saying, "O my daughter, what is the cause of this thy

behaviour? Tell me what aileth thee, that I come to thee and give thee

good-morrow and thou returnest me no answer."

The Lady Bedrulbudour raised her head and said to her, "Blame me not,

O my mother; indeed, it behoved me receive thee with all reverence and

worship, since thou honourest me by coming to me; but I beseech thee

hear the cause of this my case and see how this night I have passed

hath been for me the sorriest of nights. Hardly had we lain down, O

my mother, when one, whose fashion I know not, took up the bed and

transported us to a place dark, foul [397] and mean." Then she told her

mother the queen all that had betided her that night and how they had

taken her bridegroom, leaving her alone, and how after a little there

came another youth and lay down in the place of her bridegroom, putting

a sword between himself and her; "and in the morning" [quoth she] "he

who had brought us thither returned and taking us up, carried us back to

our place here: and hardly had he brought us hither and left us when my

father the Sultan entered and I had neither heart nor tongue to answer

him for stress of fright and trembling which possessed me. And belike my

father is vexed with me; wherefore I prithee, O my mother, tell him

the cause of this my case, so he be not wroth with me for my failure to

answer him neither blame me, but excuse me."

When [398] the queen heard the princess's story, she said to her, "O my

daughter, beware of [399] telling this tale before any, lest they [400]

say, 'Verily the Sultan's daughter hath lost her wits.' Marry, thou

diddest well in that thou acquaintedst not thy father with this;

and beware, yea [again I say,] beware, O my daughter, of telling him

thereof." "O my mother," rejoined the Lady Bedrulbudour, "indeed, I

bespoke thee in sober earnest and have not lost my wits; nay, this

is what happened to me, and an thou believe it not from me, ask my

bridegroom." Quoth the queen, "Rise, O my daughter, and put away these

illusions from thy thought; nay, don thy clothes and see the rejoicing

that is toward in the town on thine account and the festivities that

they celebrate in the kingdom for thy sake and hear the drums and the

singing and look upon the decorations, all in honour of thy nuptials, O

my daughter." Accordingly, she summoned the tirewomen, who dressed the

Lady Bedrulbudour and busked her; whilst the Queen went in to the Sultan

and told him that there had that night betided the princess a dream

and illusions, saying, "BIame her not for her failure to answer thee."

Moreover, she sent for the Vizier's son privily and questioned him of

the affair, whether the Lady Bedrulbudour's speech was true or not; but

he, of his fear to lose his bride, lest she should go from his hand,

said to her, "O my lady, I know nothing of that which thou sayest;"

wherefore the queen was certified that there had betided her daughter

illusions and a dream.

The wedding rejoicings continued all that day, with dancing-women and

singing-women, and all the instruments of mirth and minstrelsy were

smitten, whilst the queen and the Vizier and his son were exceeding

assiduous in keeping up the festivities, so the Lady Bedrulbudour should

rejoice and her chagrin be dispelled; nay, they left nought that day

of that which exciteth unto liesse but they did it before her, so she

should leave what was in her mind and be cheered. But all this had no

effect on her and she was silent and thoughtful and confounded at that

which had befallen her that night. True, the Vizier's son had fared

worse than she, for that he was couched in the draught-house; but he

belied [401] the matter and put away that tribulation from his thought,

of his fear lest he should lose his bride and his rank, [402] more by

token that all the folk envied him his lot, for the much increase of

honour it brought him, as also for the exceeding beauty and loveliness

of the Lady Bedrulbudour.

As for Alaeddin, he went out that day and saw the rejoicings toward in

the city and the palace and fell a-laughing, especially when he heard

the folk speak of the honour which had betided the Vizier's son and

the greatness of his good luck, in that he was become the Sultan's

son-in-law, and the exceeding pomp used in his marriage and bridal

festivities; and he said in himself, "Ye know not, good simple folk that

ye are, [403] what befell him last night, that ye envy him." Then, when

the night came in and it was the season of sleep, Alaeddin arose and

entering his chamber, rubbed the lamp, whereupon the genie appeared

to him forthright and [404] he bade him bring the princess and her

bridegroom, as on the past night, ere the Vizier's son should take her

maidenhead. The genie delayed not, but was absent a little while; and

when it was the appointed time, he returned with the bed and therein the

Lady Bedrulbudour and the Vizier's son. With the latter he did as he

had done the past night, to wit, he took him and couched him in the

draught-house, where he deft him parched for excess of fright and

dismay; whilst Alaeddin arose and placing the sword between himself and

the Lady Bedrulbudour, lay down and slept till the morning, when the

genie appeared and restored the twain to their place, leaving Alaeddin

full of joy at [the discomfiture of] the Vizier's son.

When the Sultan arose in the morning, he bethought himself to visit his

daughter Bedrulbudour and see an she should do with him as she had done

on the past day; so, as soon as he awoke from his sleep, he rose and

donning his clothes, went to his daughter's chamber and opened the door.

Whereupon the Vizier's son arose forthright and coming down from the

bed, fell to donning his clothes, with ribs cracking for cold; for

that, when the Sultan entered, it was no great while since the genie

had brought them back. The Sultan went up to his daughter, the Lady

Bedrulbudour, as she lay abed, and raising the curtain, gave her good

morning and kissed her between the eyes and asked her how she did. She

frowned and returned him no answer, but looked at him sullenly, as she

were in sorry case. He was wroth with her, for that she made him no

answer, and thought that something had betided her; so he drew the sword

and said to her, "What hath befallen thee? Either thou shalt tell me

what aileth thee or I will do away thy life this very moment. Is this

the respect that is due to my rank and the honour in which thou holdest

me, that I bespeak thee and thou answerest me not a word?"

When the Lady Bedrulbudour knew that her father was angry and saw the

naked sword in his hand, she was like to swoon for fear; [405] so she

raised her head and said to him, "Dear [406] my father, be not wroth

with me, neither be thou hasty in thine anger, for that I am excusable

in that which thou hast seen from me. [407] Do but hearken what hath

betided me and I am well assured that, whenas thou hearest my story of

that which hath happened to me these two nights past, thou wilt excuse

me and Thy Grace will be moved to compassion upon me, as I know from thy

love for me." [408] Then she acquainted him with all that had befallen

her and said to him, "O my father, an thou believe me not, ask my

bridegroom and he will resolve Thy Grace of everything, albeit I know

not what they did with him, when they took him from my side, nor where

they set him." When [409] the Sultan heard his daughter's story, he

was sore concerned and his eyes brimmed with tears; then, sheathing

the sword and coming up to her, he kissed her and said to her, "O my

daughter, why didst thou not tell me yesterday, so I might have warded

off from thee the torment and affright which have befallen thee this

night? But no matter; arise and put away from thee this thought, and

to-night I will set over thee those who shall guard thee, so there shall

not again befall thee that which befell yesternight." Then he returned

to his pavilion and sent at once for the Vizier, who came and stood

before him, awaiting his commands; and the Sultan said to him, "O

Vizier, how deemest thou of this affair? Most like thy son hath told

thee what happened to him and to my daughter." "O King of the Age,"

answered the Vizier, "I have not seen my son or yesterday or to-day."

Whereupon the Sultan acquainted him with all that his daughter the Lady

Bedrulbudour had told him and said to him, "It is now my will that thou

enquire of thy son the truth of the case, for it may be my daughter

knoweth not for fright what happened to her, though methinketh her tale

is all true." So the Vizier arose and sending for his son, asked him of

all that the Sultan had told him, if it were true or not. Whereupon,

"O my father the Vizier," replied the youth, "[God] preserve the Lady

Bedrulbudour from leasing! [410] Indeed, all she saith is true and these

two nights past have been for us the sorriest of nights, instead of

being nights of pleasance and delight. Marry, that which befell me was

yet worse, for that, instead of sleeping with my bride in bed, I lay

in the draught-house, a place dark and frightful, noisome of smell and

accursed, and my ribs were straitened [411] with cold." Brief, he told

the Vizier all that had befallen him and ultimately said to him; "Dear

[412] my father, I beseech thee speak with the Sultan that he release me

from this marriage. True, it is great honour for me to be the Sultan's

son-in-law, more by token that the love of the Lady Bedrulbudour hath

gotten possession of my vitals, but I cannot avail to endure one more

night like the two that are past."