Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp [6]
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 too 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
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 too 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