The Project Gutenberg eBook of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

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There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a careless, idleboy who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idleboys like himself. This so grieved the father that he died; yet, in spite ofhis 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, andif he was not the son of Mustapha the tailor. “I am, sir,” repliedAladdin; “but he died a long while ago.” On this the stranger, whowas a famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him saying: “Iam your uncle, and knew you from your likeness to my brother. Go to your motherand tell her I am coming.” Aladdin ran home and told his mother of hisnewly found uncle. “Indeed, child,” she said, “your fatherhad a brother, but I always thought he was dead.” However, she preparedsupper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and fruit. Hefell down and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit, biddingAladdin’s mother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as hehad been forty years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin, and askedhim his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his mother burst intotears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offeredto take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he boughtAladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him all over the city, showing him thesights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed tosee her son so fine.

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long wayoutside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain and the magician pulled acake from his girdle, which he divided between them. Then they journeyedonwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that hebegged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant stories and leadhim on in spite of himself. At last they came to two mountains divided by anarrow valley. “We will go no farther,” said his uncle. “Iwill show you something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindlea fire.” When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had abouthim, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little infront of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middleto raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gavehim a blow that knocked him down. “What have I done, uncle?” hesaid piteously; whereupon the magician said more kindly: “Fear nothing,but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and noone else may touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you.” At the wordtreasure Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, sayingthe names of his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, andsome steps appeared. “Go down,” said the magician; “at thefoot 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 willdie instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on tillyou come to niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil itcontains, and bring it me.” He drew a ring from his finger and gave it toAladdin, bidding him prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit off thetrees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave. The magiciancried out in a great hurry: “Make haste and give me the lamp.” ThisAladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into aterrible passion, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he saidsomething, and the stone rolled back into its place.

The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was no uncle ofAladdin’s but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic books of awonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the world. Thoughhe alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand ofanother. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending toget the lamp and kill him afterwards.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last heclasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which themagician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightfulgenie rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I am theSlave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.” Aladdin fearlesslyreplied, “Deliver me from this place!” whereupon the earth opened,and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could bear the light he wenthome, but fainted on the threshold. When he came to himself he told his motherwhat had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in thegarden, which were in reality precious stones. He then asked for some food.“Alas! child,” she said, “I have nothing in the house, but Ihave spun a little cotton and will go sell it.” Aladdin bade her keep hercotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty, she began torub 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 thelamp, said boldly: “Fetch me something to eat!” The genie returnedwith a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silvercups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin’s mother, when she came toherself, said: “Whence comes this splendid feast?” “Ask not,but eat,” replied Aladdin. So they sat at breakfast till it wasdinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sellit, and have nothing to do with devils. “No,” said Aladdin,“since chance hath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and thering likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger.” When they hadeaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and soon until none were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave himanother set of plates, and thus they lived many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone was tostay at home and close his shutters while the Princess his daughter went to andfrom the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was verydifficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of thebath, 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. Hewent home so changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved thePrincess so deeply he could not live without her, and meant to ask her inmarriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, butAladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry hisrequest. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from theenchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. Shetook 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 thehall and placed herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice ofher. She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place. When thecouncil broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier: “I see acertain 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 asign from the vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and remainedkneeling until the Sultan said to her: “Rise, good woman, and tell mewhat you want.” She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but theVizier, and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand foranything she might say. She then told him of her son’s violent love forthe Princess. “I prayed him to forget her,” she said, “but invain; he threatened to do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask yourMajesty 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 thenapkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them. He wasthunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said: “What sayest thou? OughtI not to bestow the Princess on one who values her at such a price?” TheVizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her forthree months, in the course of which he hoped his son could contrive to makehim a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin’s motherthat, though he consented to the marriage, she must not appear before him againfor 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 askedwhat was going on. “Do you not know,” was the answer, “thatthe son of the Grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan’s daughtertonight?” Breathless she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed atfirst, but presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it and the genieappeared, saying: “What is thy will?” Aladdin replied: “TheSultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier’sson is to have the Princess. My command is that to-night you bring hither thebride and bridegroom.” “Master, I obey,” said the genie.Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, at midnight the genietransported the bed containing the vizier’s son and the Princess.“Take this new-married man,” he said, “and put him outside inthe cold, and return at daybreak.” Whereupon the genie took thevizier’s son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the Princess. “Fearnothing,” Aladdin said to her; “you are my wife, promised to me byyour unjust father, and no harm will come to you.” The Princess was toofrightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night of her life, whileAladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the geniefetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported thebed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappyVizier’s son jumped up and hid himself, while the Princess would not saya 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 hashappened?” The Princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how,during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and whathad passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade herrise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on thePrincess’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 notso. The Sultan told the Vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, addingthat, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had rather die than go throughanother such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her. His wish wasgranted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultanof his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who hadforgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for her. On seeing herpoverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked hisVizier’s advice, who counselled him to set so high a value on thePrincess that no man living would come up to it. The Sultan than turned toAladdin’s mother, saying: “Good woman, a sultan must remember hispromises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me fortybasins of gold brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as manywhite ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer.” Themother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost. She gaveAladdin the message adding, “He may wait long enough for youranswer!” “Not so long, mother, as you think,” her sonreplied. “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, andfilled up the small house and garden. Aladdin made them to set out to thepalace, two by two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, withsuch splendid jewels, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of goldthey carried on their heads. They entered the palace, and, after kneelingbefore the Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their armscrossed, while Aladdin’s mother presented them to the Sultan. Hehesitated no longer, but said: “Good woman, return and tell your son thatI 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 ascented bath,” he said, “a richly embroidered habit, a horsesurpassing the Sultan’s, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this,six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousandpieces of gold in ten purses.” No sooner said then done. Aladdin mountedhis horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as theywent. Those who had played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grownso handsome. When the sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embracedhim, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry himto the Princess that very day. But Aladdin refused, saying, “I must builda palace fit for her,” and took his leave. Once home, he said to thegenie: “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 adome, 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 withdiamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; goand see about it!”

The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried him there andshowed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of avelvet carpet from Aladdin’s palace to the Sultan’s.Aladdin’s mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palacewith her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicianswith trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with musicand cheers. She was taken to the Princess, who saluted her and treated her withgreat honour. At night the princess said good-bye to her father, and set out onthe carpet for Aladdin’s palace, with his mother at her side, andfollowed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, whoran to receive her. “Princess,” he said, “blame your beautyfor my boldness if I have displeased you.” She told him that, having seenhim, she willingly obeyed her father in this matter. After the wedding hadtaken place, Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and shesupped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the hallwith the four-and-twenty windows with their rubies, diamonds and emeralds, hecried, “It is a world’s wonder! There is only one thing thatsurprises me. Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?”“No, sir, by design,” returned Aladdin. “I wished yourMajesty to have the glory of finishing this palace.” The Sultan waspleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He showed them theunfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the others. “Sir,”replied their spokesman, “we cannot find jewels enough.” The Sultanhad his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in amonth’s time the work was not half done. Aladdin knowing that their taskwas vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, and the geniefinished the window at his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive hisjewels again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him the window finished. TheSultan embraced him, the envious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the workof enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was madecaptain of the Sultan’s armies, and won several battles for him, butremained as courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and content forseveral years.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic artsdiscovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, hadescaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honourand wealth. He knew that the poor tailor’s son could only haveaccomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day till hereached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin’s ruin. As he passedthrough the town he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace.“Forgive my ignorance,” he asked, “what is the palace youspeak of?” “Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin’spalace,” was the reply, “the greatest wonder in the world? I willdirect you if you have a mind to see it.” The magician thanked him whospoke, and having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by the Genie ofthe 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 magicianplenty of time. He bought a dozen lamps, put them into a basket, and went tothe palace, crying: “New lamps for old!” followed by a jeeringcrowd. The Princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent aslave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so that thePrincess scolded her. “Madam,” replied the slave, “who canhelp laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for oldones?” Another slave, hearing this, said, “There is an old one onthe cornice there which he can have.” Now this was the magic lamp, whichAladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. ThePrincess, not knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make theexchange. She went and said to the magician: “Give me a new lamp forthis.” He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeersof the crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out ofthe city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when hepulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at themagician’s command carried him, together with the palace and the Princessin it, to a lonely place in Africa.

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin’s palaceand rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the Vizier and asked what hadbecome 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, andsent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin back in chains. They met himriding 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 wascarried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. Theexecutioner made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitarto strike. At that instant the Vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced theirway into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called tothe executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threateningthat the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him inthe sight of the crowd. Aladdin now begged to know what he had done.“False wretch!” said the Sultan, “come hither,” andshowed him from the window the place where his palace had stood. Aladdin was soamazed he could not say a word. “Where is your palace and mydaughter?” demanded the Sultan. “For the first I am not so deeplyconcerned, but my daughter I must have, and you must find her or lose yourhead.” Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising ifhe failed to return to suffer death at the Sultan’s pleasure. His prayerwas granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan’s presence.

For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had becomeof his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of ariver, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In doingso he rubbed the ring he still wore. The genie he had seen in the caveappeared, 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 thelamp.” “Even so,” said Aladdin, “but thou canst take meto the palace, and set me down under my dear wife’s window.” He atonce found himself in Africa, under the window of the Princess, and fell asleepout of sheer weariness.

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. He sawplainly that all his misfortunes were owning to the loss of the lamp, andvainly wondered who had robbed him of it.

That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had done since she had beencarried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced to endureonce a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared not live therealtogether. 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, Aladdinlooked up. She called to him to come to her, and great was the joy of theselovers 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 anythingelse, for your own sake and mine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I lefton the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty windows when I wenta-hunting.” “Alas,” she said, “I am the innocent causeof our sorrows,” and told him of the exchange of the lamp. “Now Iknow,” cried Aladdin, “that we have to thank the African magicianfor 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 showme. He wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying that you werebeheaded by my father’s command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but Ionly reply by my tears. If I persist, I doubt not but he will useviolence.” Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. He changedclothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certainpowder returned to the Princess, who let him in by a little side door.“Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said to her, “andreceive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you haveforgotten me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine ofhis country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what todo.” She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left her, arrayedherself gaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle andhead-dress of diamonds and seeing in a glass that she was more beautiful thanever, received the magician, saying, to his great amazement: “I have madeup my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him backto me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to supwith me; but I am tired of the wines of China, and would fain taste those ofAfrica.” The magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powderAladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink herhealth in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his, as asign she was reconciled to him. Before drinking the magician made her a speechin praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying: “Let usdrink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards.” She set her cupto her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs andfell back lifeless. The Princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung herarms around his neck; but Aladdin went to the dead magician, took the lamp outof 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, andlittle 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 thefour-and-twenty windows, with the Princess at his side. Aladdin told him whathad happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he mightbelieve. A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdinmight 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 wickedand more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge hisbrother’s death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinkingshe might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to herbreast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death. He changedclothes with her, coloured his face like hers, put on her veil, and murderedher, 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, kissinghis hands and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace there was such anoise going on round him that the Princess bade her slave look out the windowand ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curingpeople by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the Princess, who had longdesired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the Princess the magicianoffered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had done thePrincess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her always. The falseFatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down forfear of discovery. The princess showed him the hall, and asked him what hethought of it. “It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima.“In my mind it wants but one thing.” “And what isthat?” said the Princess. “If only a roc’s egg,”replied he, “were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be thewonder of the world.”

After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc’s egg, andwhen Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humour. He beggedto know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall wasspoilt for want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome. “If that isall,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.” He left herand rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring aroc’s egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hallshook.

“Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have doneeverything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him upin the midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to beburnt to ashes, but that this request does not come from you, but from thebrother of the African magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palacedisguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered. He it was who put that wish intoyour 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 thatthe holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magiciancame near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart. “Whathave you done?” cried the Princess. “You have killed the holywoman!” “Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wickedmagician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when hedied, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

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