 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
Information about Project Gutenberg - source of this e-text
There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a careless, idle
boy who would do nothing but play 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 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.
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. Then they journeyed onwards 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 lead him on in spite of
himself. At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. "We will
go no farther," said his 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 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 till you
come to niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it
contains, and bring it 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 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 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 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 could 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 everyone 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 tonight?" 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 will 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 refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head. She
then confessed all, bidding him 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 of 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 would come up to it. The Sultan than 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 to set out to the palace, two
by two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid
jewels, 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 then 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 side 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 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 honour. At night the princess said
good-bye 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 as
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 honour and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have
accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day till he
reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he passed through the
town he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace. "Forgive my
ignorance," he asked, "what is the palace you speak of?" Have you not heard of
Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the greatest wonder in 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 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 towards 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 back 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 hither," and showed him from the window the place where
his palace had stood. Aladdin was so amazed he could not say a word. "Where is
your 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 to 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 doing so
he rubbed the ring he still wore. The genie he had seen in the cave appeared,
and asked his will. "Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and 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 owning 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 what 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 forever 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 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 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 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 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.