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.