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
to 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 at
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 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 or 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.