English
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a
careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in
the streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the
father that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and
prayers, Aladdin did not mend his ways. One day, when he was
playing in the streets as usual, a stranger asked him his age,
and if he was not the son of Mustapha the tailor. "I am, sir,"
replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." On this the
stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his neck
and kissed him saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from
your likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I
am coming." Aladdin ran home and told his mother of his newly
found uncle. "Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a
brother, but I always thought he was dead." However, she
prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came
laden with wine and fruit. He fell down and kissed the place
where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be
surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been forty
years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin, and asked
him his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his mother
burst into tears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would
learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it
with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of
clothes and took him all over the city, showing him the sights,
and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was
overjoyed to see her son so fine.
Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens
a long way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain
and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he
divided between them. Then they journeyed onwards till they
almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he
begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with
pleasant stories and lead him on in spite of himself. At last they
came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. "We will go
no farther," said his uncle. "I will show you something
wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire."
When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about
him, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth
trembled a little in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone
with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to
run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow
that knocked him down. "What have I done, uncle?" he said
piteously; whereupon the magician said more kindly: "Fear
nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a treasure which
is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must do
exactly as I tell you." At the word treasure Aladdin forgot his
fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of
his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, and
some steps appeared. "Go down," said the magician; "at the
foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three
large halls. Tuck up your gown and go through them without
touching anything, or you will die instantly. These halls lead
into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on till you come to niche
in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it
contains, and bring it me." He drew a ring from his finger and
gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper.
Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered
some fruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at
the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:
"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do
until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible
passion, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he
said something, and the stone rolled back into its place.
The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was no
uncle of Aladdin's but a cunning magician, who had read in his
magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the
most powerful man in the world. Though he alone knew where
to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He
had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending
to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.
For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and
lamenting. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so
doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to
take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie
rose out of the earth, saying: "What wouldst thou with me? I am
the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things." Aladdin
fearlessly replied, "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the
earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his
eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the
threshold. When he came to himself he told his mother what
had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had
gathered in the garden, which were in reality precious stones.
He then asked for some food. "Alas! child," she said, "I have
nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and will go
sell it." Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the
lamp instead. As it was very dirty, she began to rub it, that it
might fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared,
and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin,
snatching the lamp, said boldly: "Fetch me something to eat!"
The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates
containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine.
Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said: "Whence
comes this splendid feast?" "Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin.
So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told
his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have
nothing to do with devils. "No," said Aladdin, "since chance hath
made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring
likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger." When they
had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the
silver plates, and so on until none were left. He then had
recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and
thus they lived many years.
One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed
that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while
the Princess his daughter went to and from the bath. Aladdin
was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult,
as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of
the bath, and peeped through a chink. The Princess lifted her
veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in
love with her at first sight. He went home so changed that his
mother was frightened. He told her he loved the Princess so
deeply he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in
marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out
laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before
the Sultan and carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid
in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which
sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. She took
these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the
lamp. The Grand Vizier and the lords of council had just gone
in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the
Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day
for a week, and stood in the same place. When the council
broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier: "I see a
certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying
something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out
what she wants." Next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went
up to the foot of the throne and remained kneeling until the
Sultan said to her: "Rise, good woman, and tell me what you
want." She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the Vizier,
and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand
for anything she might say. She then told him of her son's
violent love for the Princess. "I prayed him to forget her," she
said, "but in vain; he threatened to do some desperate deed if I
refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the
Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son
Aladdin." The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the
napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented
them. He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said:
"What sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one
who values her at such a price?" The Vizier, who wanted her for
his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three
months, in the course of which he hoped his son could contrive
to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told
Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage,
she must not appear before him again for three months.
Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two
had elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found
everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on. "Do you not
know," was the answer, "that the son of the Grand Vizier is to
marry the Sultan's daughter tonight?" Breathless she ran and
told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently
bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it and the genie
appeared, saying: "What is thy will?" Aladdin replied: "The
Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the
vizier's son is to have the Princess. My command is that to-
night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom." "Master, I
obey," said the genie. Aladdin then went to his chamber, where,
sure enough, at midnight the genie transported the bed
containing the vizier's son and the Princess. "Take this new-
married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, and
return at daybreak." Whereupon the genie took the vizier's son
out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the Princess. "Fear nothing,"
Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by your
unjust father, and no harm will come to you." The Princess was
too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night
of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly.
At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering
bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back
to the palace.
Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning.
The unhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while the
Princess would not say a word and was very sorrowful. The
Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child,
that you will not speak to your father? What has happened?"
The Princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how,
during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange
house, and what had passed there. Her mother did not believe
her in the least, but bade her rise and consider it an idle
dream.
The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next
morning, on the Princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan
threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed all, bidding
him ask the Vizier's son if it were not so. The Sultan told the
Vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly
as he loved the Princess, he had rather die than go through
another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from
her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting
and rejoicing.
When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to
remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place
as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once
remembered him, and sent for her. On seeing her poverty the
Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked
his Vizier's advice, who counselled him to set so high a value
on the Princess that no man living would come up to it. The
Sultan than turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman,
a sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember
mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold
brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as many
white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his
answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home,
thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the message adding, "He
may wait long enough for your answer!" "Not so long, mother,
as you think," her son replied. "I would do a great deal more
than that for the Princess." He summoned the genie, and in a
few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small
house and garden. Aladdin made them to set out to the palace,
two by two, followed by his mother. They were so richly
dressed, with such splendid jewels, that everyone crowded to
see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.
They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan,
stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed,
while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan. He
hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell
your son that I wait for him with open arms." She lost no time
in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin first
called the genie. "I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly
embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty
slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully
dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces
of gold in ten purses." No sooner said then done. Aladdin
mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves
strewing gold as they went. Those who had played with him in
his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. When
the sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced
him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread,
intending to marry him to the Princess that very day. But
Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and
took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie: "Build me a
palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other
precious stones. In the middle you shall build me a large hall
with a dome, its four walls of massy gold and silver, each side
having six windows, whose lattices, all except one which is to
be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies.
There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go
and see about it!"
The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried him
there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even
to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the
Sultan's. Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and
walked to the palace with her slaves, while he followed her on
horseback. The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and
cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with music
and cheers. She was taken to the Princess, who saluted her and
treated her with great honour. At night the princess said
good-bye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's
palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the
hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who
ran to receive her. "Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for
my boldness if I have displeased you." She told him that, having
seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in this matter. After
the wedding had taken place, Aladdin led her into the hall,
where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after
which they danced till midnight.
Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On
entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with their
rubies, diamonds and emeralds, he cried, "It is a world's
wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was it by
accident that one window was left unfinished?" "No, sir, by
design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have the
glory of finishing this palace." The Sultan was pleased, and sent
for the best jewelers in the city. He showed them the unfinished
window, and bade them fit it up like the others. "Sir," replied
their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough." The Sultan
had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose,
for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin
knowing that their task was vain, bade them undo their work
and carry the jewels back, and the genie finished the window at
his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels
again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him the window
finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizier
meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.
Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing.
He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several
battles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and lived
thus in peace and content for several years.
But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and
by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing
miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a
princess, with whom he was living in great honour and wealth.
He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have
accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night
and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's
ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people talking
everywhere about a marvelous palace. "Forgive my ignorance,"
he asked, "what is the palace you speak of?" "Have you not
heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the greatest
wonder in the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to see
it." The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the
palace knew that it had been raised by the Genie of the Lamp,
and became half mad with rage. He determined to get hold of
the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.
Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which
gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen lamps,
put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New
lamps for old!" followed by a jeering crowd. The Princess,
sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to
find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so
that the Princess scolded her. "Madam," replied the slave, "who
can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine
new lamps for old ones?" Another slave, hearing this, said,
"There is an old one on the cornice there which he can have."
Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as
he could not take it out hunting with him. The Princess, not
knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make
the exchange. She went and said to the magician: "Give me a
new lamp for this." He snatched it and bade the slave take her
choice, amid the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared, but left off
crying his lamps, and went out of the city gates to a lonely
place, where he remained till nightfall, when he pulled out the
lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the magician's
command carried him, together with the palace and the
Princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.
Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards
Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent
for the Vizier and asked what had become of the palace. The
Vizier looked out too, and was lost in astonishment. He again
put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed
him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin back in
chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him
to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him,
followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was
carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut
off his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down,
bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike. At that
instant the Vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced their way
into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin,
called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed,
looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered
Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the
crowd. Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. "False
wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from
the window the place where his palace had stood. Aladdin was
so amazed he could not say a word. "Where is your palace and
my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the first I am not so
deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you must
find her or lose your head." Aladdin begged for forty days in
which to find her, promising if he failed to return to suffer
death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer was granted, and he
went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence.
For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking
everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed
and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt down
to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In doing so he
rubbed the ring he still wore. The genie he had seen in the cave
appeared, and asked his will. "Save my life, genie," said Aladdin,
"and bring my palace back." "That is not in my power," said the
genie; "I am only the Slave of the Ring; you must ask him of the
lamp." "Even so," said Aladdin, "but thou canst take me to the
palace, and set me down under my dear wife's window." He at
once found himself in Africa, under the window of the Princess,
and fell asleep out of sheer weariness.
He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was
lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owning to
the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him
of it.
That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had done since
she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose
company she was forced to endure once a day. She, however,
treated him so harshly that he dared not live there altogether.
As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw
Aladdin. The Princess ran and opened the window, and at the
noise she made, Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come
to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each
other again. After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you,
Princess, in God's name, before we speak of anything else, for
your own sake and mine, tell me what has become of an old
lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty
windows when I went a-hunting." "Alas," she said, "I am the
innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him of the exchange
of the lamp. "Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank
the African magician for this! Where is the lamp?" "He carries it
about with him," said the Princess. "I know, for he pulled it out
of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith with
you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my
father's command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only
reply by my tears. If I persist, I doubt not but he will use
violence." Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. He
changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and
having bought a certain powder returned to the Princess, who
let him in by a little side door. "Put on your most beautiful
dress," he said to her, "and receive the magician with smiles,
leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to
sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country.
He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what to
do." She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left her,
arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she left China. She
put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds and seeing in a
glass that she was more beautiful than ever, received the
magician, saying, to his great amazement: "I have made up my
mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring
him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have
therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the
wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa." The
magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder
Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked
him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her
cup in exchange for his, as a sign she was reconciled to him.
Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of
her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying: "Let us drink
first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She set her
cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his
to the dregs and fell back lifeless. The Princess then opened
the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms around his neck; but
Aladdin went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his
vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to
China. This was done, and the Princess in her chamber felt only
two little shocks, and little thought she was home again.
The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost
daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there
stood the palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin
received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with
the Princess at his side. Aladdin told him what had happened,
and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might
believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if
Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was
not meant to be.
The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if
possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He
travelled to China to avenge his brother's death, and went to
visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of use
to him. He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to her breast,
telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death. He
changed clothes with her, coloured his face like hers, put on
her veil, and murdered her, that she might tell no tales. Then
he went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people,
thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing
his hands and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace
there was such a noise going on round him that the Princess
bade her slave look out the window and ask what was the
matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing people by
her touch of their ailments, whereupon the Princess, who had
long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the
Princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and
prosperity. When he had done the Princess made him sit by her,
and begged him to stay with her always. The false Fatima, who
wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for
fear of discovery. The princess showed him the hall, and asked
him what he thought of it. "It is truly beautiful," said the false
Fatima. "In my mind it wants but one thing." "And what is that?"
said the Princess. "If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung
up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the
world."
After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc's egg,
and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very
ill humour. He begged to know what was amiss, and she told
him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for want of a
roc's egg hanging from the dome. "If that is all," replied
Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy." He left her and rubbed the
lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a
roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that
the hall shook.
"Wretch!" he cried, "is it not enough that I have done everything
for you, but you must command me to bring my master and
hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife and
your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this request
does not come from you, but from the brother of the African
magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace
disguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered. He it was
who put that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself,
for he means to kill you." So saying, the genie disappeared.
Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, and
requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her
hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing
his dagger, pierced him to the heart. "What have you done?"
cried the Princess. "You have killed the holy woman!" "Not so,"
replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how
she had been deceived.
After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the
Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving
behind him a long line of kings.