Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp [1]
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
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