Aladdin and the Magic Lamp | Page 2

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