Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a

careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play ball 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 presently

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.

The 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. They then

journeyed onward 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 led him on in spite of himself. At last they came

to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. “We will go no farther,”

said the false 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 and opened 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 until you come to a niche in a terrace where

stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to

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 magician left Persia for ever, 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 afterward.

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 and 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 for 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 that 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 till

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 frankly, 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 would

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 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?” 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 shall 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 refusal to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her

head. She then confessed all, bidding him to 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 to 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 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 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

set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his mother. They were

so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their girdles, 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 than 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

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 by 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 honor. At night the Princess said good-by 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 modest and 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 honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor’s son could only

have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and traveled night and day

until he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin’s ruin. As he

passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a

marvellous palace. “Forgive my ignorance,” he asked, “what is this

palace you speak Of?” “Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin’s palace,”

was the reply, “the greatest wonder of 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 copper 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 toward 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

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

thither,” and showed him from the window the place where his palace had

stood. Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. “Where is my

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 and 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 so doing he rubbed the magic ring

he still wore. The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, 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, 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 owing 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

that 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 for ever 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

she 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 afterward.” 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 round his neck; but Aladdin put her away,

bidding her leave him, as he had more to do. He then 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 only felt two little shocks, and little thought she was at

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 to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more

wicked and more cunning than himself. He traveled 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, colored his face like hers, put on her veil,

and murdered her, that she might tell no tales. 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. When

he got to the palace there was such a noise going on round him that

the Princess bade her slave look out of 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 humor. He

begged to know what was amiss, and 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--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.(1)

(1) Arabian Nights.