ALADDIN'S LAMP

A long time ago, in
Persia, a poor boy
called Aladdin was
playing with his
friends in the
streets of his city.
A stranger came up
to him and asked
him if he was not
the son of
Mustapha the
Tailor. “I am, sir”
replied Aladdin;
“but he died a long
while ago.” When
the stranger heard
this, he embraced
Aladdin saying, “My
boy – I am your
long lost uncle.”
Aladdin ran home
and told his
mother all about
this newly found
relative, and she
prepared supper
for them all.
The next day, the
uncle led Aladdin
out far beyond the
city gates. They
journeyed
onwards until late
afternoon, but
Aladdin did not feel
tiered because his
uncle told him so
many interesting
stories. Eventually
they reached the
foot of a
mountain.
“We will go no
farther,” said the
false uncle – for in
truth he was not
Aladdin’s relative,
but an African
magician in
disguise. “I will
show you
something
wonderful”; he
said. The magician
lit a fire and threw
some powder on it
while saying some
magical words. The
earth trembled a
little and a large
bolder rolled to
one side. Aladdin
saw a flight of
steps leading
down into a dark
cave. The opening
was just large
enough for a boy
to pass through,
but plainly the
magician, who was
rather fat, would
not have managed
to enter the cave
himself. “Go down”,
commanded the
magician, “at the
foot of those
steps you will find
an open door
leading into three
large halls. Pass
through them
without touching
anything, or you
will die instantly.
These halls lead
into a garden of
fine fruit trees.
Walk on until you
come to table upon
which stands a
lighted lamp. Pour
out the oil it
contains, and bring
it to me.”
Aladdin was afraid
to disobey the
magician, and went
down the stares
into the cave On
the ground he
found a ring, and
despite the
magician’s order
not to touch
anything, he
picked it up and
slipped it onto his
finger. He did not
die. Then he
passed through
the garden where
he picked fruit
from the trees.
Later on, he found
the lamp, just as
the magician had
said, and he went
back up the stares
to the mouth of
the cave. The
magician cried out:
“Make haste and
give me the lamp.”
But Aladdin saw
through his trick
and understood
that as soon as he
handed over the
lamp, the magician
would replace the
stone and he
would be shut
inside the cave,
never to leave.
And so Aladdin
called out, “Let me
out first, and only
then will I give you
the lamp”. The
magician flew into
a terrible rage, and
throwing some
more powder on to
the fire, he said
some more magic
words, and the
stone rolled back
into its place.
For two days
Aladdin remained
trapped inside the
cave. At last he
clasped his hands
in prayer, and in so
doing rubbed the
ring that he had
picked off the
ground.
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
back at home.
“Alas! child,” said
his mother when
she noticed him, “I
have nothing to
eat in the house.
We will go hungry
tonight.” Aladdin
soothed her
saying he would
sell the lamp to get
some money for
food. As it was
very dirty his
mother 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:
“Where did you get
this splendid
feast?” “Ask not,
but eat,” replied
Aladdin.
One day the Sultan
who ruled the city
ordered 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
looked so
beautiful that
Aladdin fell in love
with her at first
sight. He went
home and told his
mother that he
loved the Princess
so deeply that he
could not live
without her. His
mother burst out
laughing, but
Aladdin at last
persuaded her to
go to the Sultan
and request his
daughter’s hand in
marriage for her
son. 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.
After waiting
several days at
the Palace, she
was admitted to
see the him. She
threw herself
down foot of the
thrown and waited
for several
minutes until the
Sultan said to her:
“Old woman, and
tell me what you
want.” She
hesitated, then
told him of her
son’s love for the
Princess, only at
the last moment
remembering to
open the napkin
that contained the
magical jewels.
When the Sultan
saw this wonderful
present he was
thunderstruck, and
turning to the his
chief adviser, the
grand Vizier, he
said: “Ought I not
to give the
Princess to one
who values her at
such a price?” The
Vizier, who was
hoping that his
own son would
marry the princess,
begged the Sultan
to delay the
wedding for three
months, during
which time he
hoped to make him
a richer present.
The Sultan agreed.
Aladdin waited
patiently for his
wedding day in
three months time,
but after two
months his mother,
going into the city
to buy oil, found
every one
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 to-
night?” Aladdin,
who was stunned
when he heard the
news. but
presently he took
down the lamp and
rubbed it. The
genie appeared,
saying, “What is
thy will?” Aladdin
replied: “The
Sultan has broken
his promise to me,
and the Vizier’s
son is to marry the
Princess. My
command is that
that you bring the
princess here so
that the scoundral
can’t have her.”
“Your wish is my
command” said the
Genie, and in an
instant the
princess was
sitting in Aladdin’s
room still wearing
her wedding dress.
He told her not to
be afraid, but she
was utterly
confused and
quite terrified. The
next morning, the
genie took her
back to the palace.
The Princess told
her mother how
she had been
carried by magic to
some strange
house. Her mother
did not believe her
in the least, and
the Sultan ordered
that wedding
should take place
that evening
instead.
The following
night exactly the
same thing
happened. The
Sultan was furious
and even
considered having
his daughter’s
head cut off. He
summoned the
Vizier’s son.
“Plainly my
daughter his hiding
from you” he said.
“Do you still wish
to marry her?”
“Well” said the
young man who
was very proud
and arrogant, “If
the princess does
not obey her
father, the great
Sultan, what hope
is that she will
make me a good
wife? I give up my
claim over her.
Better that she
marry the poorest
beggar if that’s
what she wants.”
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, on seeing
her poverty felt
less inclined than
ever to keep his
word. The Vizier
advised him to set
so high a value on
the Princess that
no man living could
come up to it. The
Sultan then 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 full
of jewels. Tell him
that I await his
answer.”
When he heard
this, Aladdin
summoned up his
genie and soon
eighty slaves,
splendidly dressed,
were waiting in the
alleyway outside
his house. The
slaves were
carrying forty
golden basins,
brimming with
jewels.
Aladdin mounted
his horse and
passed through
the streets, the
slaves strewing
gold as they went.
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, with
four and twenty
windows set with
jasper, agate, and
other precious
stones.
At night the
Princess said good-
by to her father,
and set out 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.”
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.
But far away in
Africa the magician
remembered
Aladdin, and by his
magic arts
discovered that
instead of
perishing
miserably in the
cave, he had
escaped, and had
married a princess.
He traveled night
and day until he
reached the city of
Persia where
Aladdin lived. Half
mad with rage, he
was 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
copper lamps, put
them into a
basket, and went
to the palace,
crying: “New lamps
for old!” followed
by a jeering crowd,
laughing to see an
old fool offering to
exchange fine new
lamps for old
ones?” One of the
Palace slaves said
to the princess,
“There is an old
lamp 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, went and
said to the
magician: “Give me
a new lamp for
this.” He snatched
it amid the jeers of
the crowd. Little he
cared. He went out
of the city gates
to a lonely place
where 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 far
off Africa.
Next morning the
Sultan looked out
of the window
toward Aladdin’s
palace and rubbed
his eyes, for it was
gone. The Vizier
put the strange
disappearance of
the palace and his
daughter down to
black magic, and
this time the
Sultan believed
him. He and sent
thirty men on
horseback to fetch
Aladdin in chains.
“False wretch!”
said the Sultan,
“Where is my
palace and my
daughter?” Aladdin
had no answer, but
begged to be
given forty days
to discover the
cause of the
disaster. This the
Sultan granted. For
three days three
days Aladdin
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 so doing he
rubbed the magic
ring he still wore.
The genie , and
asked his will.
“Save my life,
genie,” said
Aladdin, “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.
That morning the
Princess rose early
and opened the
window, and at the
noise she made
Aladdin looked up.
She was
astonished and
delighted to see
her dear husband’s
face. After he had
kissed her, Aladdin
said: “I beg of you,
Princess, in God’s
name, tell me what
has become of my
old lamp. “Alas!”
she said, “I am the
innocent cause of
our sorrows,” and
she told him of the
exchange of the
lamp.
Aladdin comforted
her, and gave her a
small bottle
containing a
certain powder.
“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.”
That evening she
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 let us try
some wine of
Africa.” The
magician flew to
his cellar, and the
Princess put the
powder Aladdin
had given her into
his cup. When he
returned 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
afterward.” She
set her cup to her
lips and kept it
there, while the
magician drained
his to the dregs
and fell back
lifeless. Aladdin
came into the
room, went to the
dead magician,
took the lamp out
of his clothes, and
bade the genie
carry the palace
and all in it back to
Persia. This was
done in an instant.
The Sultan, who
was sitting in his
chamber, mourning
for his lost
daughter,
happened to look
up, and rubbed his
eyes, for there
stood the palace
as before! He
hastened over to
it, and Aladdin
received him with
the Princess at his
side. He 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 to be.
The African
magician had a
younger brother,
who was, if
possible, more
wicked and more
cunning than
himself. He
traveled to Persia
to avenge his
brother’s death,
and disguised
himself in skirts
and veils so that
he looked exactly
like a famous holy
woman called
Fatima. Then he
went toward the
palace of Aladdin,
and all the people,
thinking he was
the holy woman,
gathered round
him, kissing his
hands and begging
his blessing. The
Princess, who had
long desired to see
Fatima, sent for
her. She showed
Fatima the palace,
and asked what
she 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
mood. She told him
that all her
pleasure in the hall
was spoiled for the
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. 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.