The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Part II

Aladdin put them behind one of the cushions of the sofa, and
continued his story. When he had come to an end, Aladdin said
to his mother: "I need say no more! this is my adventure, and
the dangers I have been exposed to since you saw me."

His mother heard with much interest this surprising relation,
notwithstanding it could be no small affliction to a mother who
loved her son tenderly; but yet in the most moving part, which
discovered the perfidy of the African magician, she could not help
showing, by marks of the greatest indignation, how much she
detested him ; and when her son had finished his story, she broke
out into a thousand reproaches against that vile impostor. She
called him perfidious traitor, barbarian, assassin, deceiver,
magician, and an enemy and destroyer of mankind. "Without
doubt, child," added she, "he is a magician, and they are plagues
to the world, and by their enchantments and sorceries have
commerce with the devil. Bless God for preserving you from
his wicked designs; for your death would have been inevitable,
if you had not called upon Him, and implored His assistance."
She said a great deal more against the magician's treachery;
but finding that whilst she talked, Aladdin began to doze, she
left him to his repose, and retired.

Aladdin, who had not closed his eyes while he was in the
subterranean abode, slept very soundly till late the next morning;
when the first thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted
something to eat, and that she could not do him a greater kind-
ness than to give him his breakfast. "Alas! child," said she, "I
have not a bit of bread to give you, you ate up all the provisions
I had in the house yesterday; but have a little patience, and it
shall not be long before I will bring you some: I have a little
cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it, buy bread, and
something for our dinner." "^Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep
your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp I brought
home with me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the money I
shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and dinner, and per-
haps supper too."

Aladdin's mother took the lamp, and said to her son: "Here it
is, but it is very dirty ; if it was a little cleaner I believe it would
bring something more." She took some fine sand and water to
clean it; but had no sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a
hideous genie of gigantic size appeared before her, and said to
her in a voice like thunder: "What wouldst thou have? I am
ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have
that lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the lamp."
Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted;
when the lad, who had seen such another phantom in the cavern,
snatched the lamp out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie
boldly: "I am hungry, bring me something to eat." The genie
disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a large
silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal,
which contained the most delicious viands; six large white
bread-cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver
cups. All these he placed upon a carpet, and disappeared: this
was done before Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon.

Aladdin fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face, to
recover her: whether that or the smell of the meat brought her
to life again, it was not long before she came to herself.
"Mother," said Aladdin, "do not mind this; here is what will
put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme hunger :
do not let such delicious meat get cold."

His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve
dishes, six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the
savoury odour which exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said
she, "to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and liberality;
has the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and had
compassion on us.?" "It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin;
"let us sit down and eat, for you have almost as much need of
breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you." Ac-
cordingly, both mother and son sat down, and ate with the better
rehsh as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Alad-
din's mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the dishes,
though she could not judge whether they were silver or any other
metal, and the novelty more than the value attracted her attention.

The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time,
and then they thought it would be best to put the two meals
together; yet after this they found they should have enough left
for supper, and two meals for the next day.

When Aladdin's mother had taken away what was left, she
went and sat by her son on the sofa, saying: "I expect now
that you should satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what
passed between the genie and you while I was in a swoon;" which
he readily complied with.

She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at
the appearance of the genie; and said to him: "But, son, what
have we to do with genies ? I never heard that any of my ac-
quaintance had ever seen one. How came that vile genie to
address himself to me, and not to you, to whom he had appeared
before in the cave.?" "Mother," answered Aladdin, "the
genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me, though he re-
sembles him in size; no, they had quite different persons and
habits; they belong to different masters. If you remember, he
that I first saw called himself the slave of the ring on my finger;
and this you saw, called himself the slave of the lamp you had
in your hand: but I believe you did not hear him, for I think you
fainted as soon as he began to speak."

"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occa-
sion of that cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than
to you ? Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where
you please. I will never touch it. I had rather you would sell it,
than run the hazard of being frightened to death again by touch-
ing it: and if you would take my advice, you would part also
with the ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, as
our prophet has told us, are only devils."

"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin," I shall take care
how I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and
me. Have you not been an eye-witness of what it has procured
us? and it shall still continue to furnish us with subsistence.
My false and wicked uncle would not have taken so much pains,
and undertaken so long a journey, if it had not been to get into
his possession this wonderful lamp, which he preferred before all
the gold and silver which he knew was in the halls. He knew
too well the worth of this lamp, not to prefer it to so great a
treasure; and since chance hath discovered the virtue of it to us,
let us make a profitable use of it, without making any great show,
and exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbours. However,
since the genies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your
sight, and put it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I
cannot resolve to part with ; for without that you had never seen
me again; and though I am alive now, perhaps, if it was gone, I
might not be so some moments hence; therefore I hope you will
give me leave to keep it, and to wear it always on my finger.
Who knows what dangers you and I may be exposed to, which
neither of us can foresee, and from which it may deliver us.^'*
As Aladdin's arguments were just, his mother had nothing to
say against them; she only replied, that he might do what he
pleased ; for her part, she would have nothing to do with genies,
but would wash her hands of them.

By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie
had brought: and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the
thought of hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his
vest, went out early to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew
whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the
plate, asked him if he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the
dish, examined it, and as soon as he found that it was good silver,
asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who knew
not its value, and never had been used to such traffic, told him he
would trust to his judgment and honour. The Jew was some-
what confounded at this plain deahng; and doubting whether
Aladdin understood the material or the full value of what he
offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of his purse and gave it
to him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth of the
plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly, retired with so
much haste, that the Jew, not content with the exorbitancy of his
profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his ignorance, and
was going to run after him, to endeavour to get some change out
of the piece of gold; but the lad ran so fast, and had got so far,
that it would have been impossible for him to overtake him.

Before Aladdin w^ent home, he called at a baker's, bought
some cakes of bread, changed his money, and on his return gave
the rest to his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough
to last them some time. After this manner they lived, till
Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed,
to the Jew, for the same money; who, after the first time, durst
not offer him less, for fear of losing so good a bargain. When he
had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray, which weighed
ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried it to his
old purchaser, but that it was too large and cumbersome; there-
fore he w^as obliged to bring him home with him to his mother's,
where, after the Jew had examined the weight of the tray, he laid
down ten pieces of gold, with w^hich Aladdin was very w^ell satisfied.

They lived on these ten pieces in a frugal manner, for Aladdin,
though formerly used to an idle life, had left off playing with young
lads of his own age ever since his adventure with the African
magician. He spent his time in walking about, and conversing
with decent people, with whom he gradually got acquainted.
Sometimes he would stop at the principal merchants' shops,
where people of distinction met, and listen to their discourse,
by which he gained some little knowledge of the world.

When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again
to the lamp. He took it in his hand, looked for the part where
his mother had rubbed it with the sand, and rubbed it also, when
the genie immediately appeared, and said: "What wouldst thou
have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of
ail those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other
slaves of the lamp." "I am hungry," said Aladdin; "bring me
something to eat." The genie disappeared, and presently re-
turned with a tray, and the same number of covered dishes as
before, set them down, and vanished.

Aladdin's mother, knowing what her son was going to do,
went out about some business, on purpose to avoid being in the
way when the genie came ; and when she returned, was almost as
much surprised as before at the prodigious effect of the lamp.
However, she sat down with her son, and when they had eaten as
much as they liked, she set enough by to last them two or three days.

As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were ex-
pended, he took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew
again; but passing by the shop of a goldsmith, who had the
character of a very fair and honest man, the goldsmith perceiv-
ing him, called to him, and said : '' My lad, I have often observed
you go by, loaded as you are at present, and talk with such a Jew,
and then come back again empty-handed. I imagine that you
carry something which you sell to him; but perhaps you do not
know that he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews, and
that nobody of prudence will have anything to do with him. If
you will shew me what you now carry, and it is to be sold, I vvill
give you the full worth of it; or I will direct you to other mer-
chants who will not cheat you."

The hopes of getting more money for his plate induced Alad-
din to pull it from under his vest, and shew it to the goldsmith,
who at first sight saw that it was made of the finest silver and
asked him if he had sold such as that to the Jew, when Aladdin
told him that he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of gold
each. "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith; "but," added he,
"my son, what is past cannot be recalled. By shewing you the
value of this plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops^
I will let you see how much the Jew has cheated you."

The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and
after he had mentioned how much an ounce of fine silver was
worth, assured him that his plate would fetch by weight sixty
pieces of gold, which he offered to pay down immediately. "If
you dispute my honesty," said he, "you may go to any other of
our trade, and if he gives you more, I will be bound to forfeit
twice as much!"

Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, so greatly to his
advantage, took the gold, and never after went to- any other
person, but sold him all his dishes and the tray.

Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treas-
ure in their lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for,
yet they lived with the same frugality as before, except that Alad-
din dressed better; as for his mother, she wore no clothes but
what she earned by spinning cotton. After their manner of liv-
ing, it may easily be supposed that the money for which Aladdin
had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to maintain them for
some time.

During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the
principal merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver,
linens, silk stuffs, and jewelry, and oftentimes joining in their
conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world, and respectable
demeanour. By his acquaintance among the jewellers, he came
to know that the fruits which he had gathered when he took the
lamp were, instead of coloured glass, stones of inestimable value;
but he had the prudence not to mention this to any one, not even
to his mother.

One day as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard
an order proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their
shops and houses, and keep within doors, while the Princess
Badroulboudour, the sultan's daughter, went to the baths and
returned.

This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager curiosity to
see the princess's face, which he could not do without admission
into the house of some acquaintance, and then only through a
window; but to gratify his curiosity, he presently thought of a
scheme, which succeeded; it was to place himself behind the
door of the bath, which was so situated that he could not fail of
seeing her face.

Aladdin had not waited long before the princess came, and
he could see her plainly through a chink of the door without being
discovered. She was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves,
and eunuchs, who walked on each side, and behind her. When
she came within three or four paces of the door of the baths, she
took off her veil, and gave Aladdin an opportunity of a full view.

As soon as Aladdin had seen the princess, his heart could not
withstand those inclinations so charming an object always in-
spires. She was the most beautiful brunette in the world;
her eyes were large, lively, and sparkling; her looks sweet and
modest; her nose was of a just proportion and without a fault,
her mouth small, her lips of a vermilion red; in a word, all the
features of her face were perfectly regular. It is not therefore
surprising that Aladdin, who had never before seen such a blaze
of charms, was dazzled, and his senses ravished by such an as-
semblage. With all these perfections the princess had so majes-
tic an air, that the sight of her was sufficient to inspire love and
admiration.

After the princess had passed by, and entered the baths,
Aladdin remained some time astonished and in a kind of ecstasy,
retracing and imprinting the idea of so charming an object
deeply in his mind, but at last, he resolved to quit his hiding-
place and go home. He could not so far conceal his uneasiness
but that his mother perceived it, was surprised to see him so much
more thoughtful than usual; and asked if he were ill.? He re-
turned her no answer, but sat carelessly down on the sofa, and
remained silently musing on the image of the charming Badroul-
boudour.

After supper, his mother asked him again why he was so
melancholy, but could get no information, and he determined
to go to bed rather than give her the least satisfaction. As he
sat next day on the sofa, opposite his mother, however, as she
was spinning cotton, he spoke to her in these words: "I per-
ceive, mother, that my silence yesterday has much troubled you;
I was not, nor am I ill ; but I assure you, that what I felt then,
and now endure, is worse than any disease.

"It was not proclaimed in this quarter of the town, and
therefore you could know nothing of it, that the sultan's daughter
was yesterday to go to the baths. I had a great curiosity to see
her face; and as it occurred to me that when she came nigh the
bath, she would pull her veil off, I resolved to conceal myself
behind the door. She did so and I had the happiness of seeing
her lovely face with the greatest security. This, mother, was
the cause of my silence yesterday ; I love the princess with more
violence than I can express; and as my passion increases every
moment, I am resolved to ask her in marriage of the sultan, her
father."

Aladdin's mother listened with interest to what her son told
her; but when he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she
could not help bursting out into a loud laugh. He would
have gone on with his rhapsody, but she interrupted him:
"Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? you must be
mad to talk thus."

"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad,
but in my right senses ; I foresaw that you would reproach me with
folly and extravagance; but I must tell you once more, that I
am resolved to demand the princess in marriage!"

"Indeed, son," replied the mother seriously, "I cannot help
telling you that you have forgotten yourself, and I do not see who
will venture to make the proposal for you." "You yourself,"
replied he immediately. "I go to the sultan!" answered the
mother, amazed. "I shall be cautious how I engage in such an
errand. Why, who are you, son," continued she, "that you can
have the assurance to think of your sultan's daughter ? Have
you forgotten that your father was one of the poorest tailors in the
capital, and that I am of no better extraction; and do not you
know that sultans never marry their daughters but to sons of
sovereigns like themselves.^"

"Mother," answered Aladdin, "I foresaw all that you have
said, or can say: and tell you that neither your discourse nor
your remonstrances shall make me change my mind. I have
told you that you must ask the princess in marriage for me. I
beg of you not to refuse, unless you would rather see me in my
grave, than by your compliance give me new life."

The good old woman was much embarrassed, when she
found Aladdin persisting in so wild a design. "My son," said
she again, "I am your mother, and there is nothing that is reason-
able but I would readily do for you. If I were to go and treat
about your marriage with some neighbour's daughter, I would do
it with all my heart ; and even then they would expect you should
have some little estate, or be of some trade. When such poor
folks as we are wish to marry, the first thing they ought to think
of, is how to live. But without reflecting on the meanness of
your birth, and the little fortune you have to recommend you,
you aim at the highest pitch of exaltation ; and your pretensions
are no less than to demand in marriage the daughter of your
sovereign, w^ho with one single word can crush you to pieces.
How could so extraordinary a thought come into your head, as
that I should go to the sultan and ask him to give his daughter
in marriage to you ? Suppose I had the impudence to present
myself before the sultan, to w^hom should I address myself to
be introduced to his majesty ? Do you not think the first person
I should speak to would take me for a mad woman, and chastise
me as I should deserve ? I know there is no difficulty to those
who go to petition for justice, which the sultan distributes equally
among his subjects; I know, too, that to those who ask a favour
he grants it with pleasure when he sees it is deserved. But do
you think you have merited the honour you w^ould have me ask ?
What have you done to claim such a favour, either for your
prince or country.? How can I open my mouth to make the
proposal to the sultan ? His majestic presence and the lustre of
his court would absolutely confound me. There is another reason,
my son, w^hich you do not think of, which is that nobody ever goes
to ask a favour of the sultan without a present. But what presents
have you to make ? and what proportion could they bear to the
favour you would ask ? Therefore, reflect well, and consider that
you aspire to an object which it is impossible for you to obtain.'*
Aladdin heard very calmly all that his mother could say to
dissuade him from his design, and after he had weighed her
representations replied: "I own, mother, it is great rashness in
me to presume to carry my pretensions so far; and a great
want of consideration to ask you to go and make the proposal to
the sultan, without first taking proper measures to procure a
favourable reception, and I therefore beg your pardon. But be
not surprised that I did not at first see every measure necessary
to procure me the happiness I seek. I love the princess, and
shall always persevere in my design of marrying her. I am
obliged to you for the hint you have given me, and look
upon it as the first step I ought to take to procure the happy
issue I promise myself.

"You say it is not customary to go to the sultan without a
present, and that I have nothing worthy of his acceptance.
Do not you think, mother, that what I brought home with me
the day on which I was delivered from death may be an ac-
ceptable present.^ I mean those things that you and I both
took for coloured glass: but now I can tell you that they are
jewels of inestimable value. I know the worth of them by fre-
quenting the shops; and you may take my word that all the
precious stones which I saw in the jewellers' shops were not
to be compared to those we have, either for size or beauty; I
am persuaded that they will be received very favourably by the
sultan: you have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch
it, and let us see how they will look, when we have arranged
them according to their different colours."

Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the
jewels out of the two purses in which he had kept them, and
placed them in order according to his fancy. But the brightness
and lustre they emitted in the daytime so dazzled the eyes both
of mother and son, that they were astonished beyond measure;
for they had only seen them by the light of a lamp; and though
the latter had beheld them pendent on the trees like fruit beau-
tiful to the eye, yet as he was then but a boy, he looked on them
only as glittering playthings.

After they had admired the beauty of the jewels some time,
Aladdin said to his mother: "Now you cannot excuse yourself
from going to the sultan, under pretext of not having a present
to make him, since here is one which will gain you a favourable
reception."

Though the good widow did not believe the precious stones
so valuable as her son estimated them, she thought such a present
might nevertheless be agreeable to the sultan, but she still hesi-
tated. " My son," said she, ''I cannot conceive that the sultan will
look upon me with a favourable eye ; I am sure, that if I attempt to
deliver your strange message, I shall have no power to open my
mouth ; therefore I shall not only lose my labour, but the present,
which you say is so valuable, and shall return home again in
confusion, to tell you that your hopes are frustrated. But,"
added she, "I will do my best to please you, though certainly the
sultan will either laugh at me, or be in so great a rage, as to
make us both the victims of his fury."

She used many other arguments to endeavour to make
Aladdin change his mind; but he persisted in importuning his
mother to execute his resolution, and she, out of tenderness,
complied with his request.

As it was now late, and the time for admission to the palace
was passed, the visit was put off till the next day. The mother
and son talked of different matters the remaining hours; and
Aladdin strove to encourage her in the task she had undertaken ;
while she could not persuade herself she should succeed ; and it
must be confessed she had reason enough to doubt. "Child,"
said she to Aladdin, "if the sultan should hear my proposal
calmness, and after this should think of asking me where
lie your riches and your estate, what answer would you have me
return him ?"

''Let us not be uneasy, mother," replied Aladdin, "about
what may never happen. First, let us see how the sultan re-
ceives, and what answer he gives you. If he desires to be in-
formed of what you mention, I am confident that the lamp
will not fail me in time of need."

The tailor's widow reflected that the lamp might be capable
of doing greater wonders than just providing victuals for them,
and this removed all the difficulties which might have prevented
her from undertaking the service she had promised. Aladdin,
who penetrated into his mother's thoughts, said to her: "Above
all things, mother, be sure to keep secret our possession of the
lamp, for thereon depends the success we have to expect;" and
after this caution they parted to go to rest. Aladdin rose before
daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to get herself
dressed to go to the sultan's palace, and to get admittance,
if possible, before the great officers of state went in to take
their seats in the divan, where the sultan always assisted in
person.

Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put
the jewels the day before, wrapped in two napkins, one finer
than the other, which was tied at the four corners for more easy
carriage, and set out for the palace. When she came to the
gates, the grand vizier, the other viziers, and most distinguished
lords of the court, were just gone in; but, notwithstanding the
great crowd of people who had business there, she got into the
divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very magnifi-
cent. She placed herself just before the sultan, grand vizier,
and the great lords, who sat in council, on his right and left hand.

Several causes were called, according to their order, pleaded and
adjudged, until the time the divan generally broke up, when
the sultan rising, returned to his apartment, attended by the
grand vizier; the other viziers and ministers of state then retired,
as also did all those whose business had called them thither;
some pleased with gaining their causes, others dissatisfied at
the sentences pronounced against them, and some in expecta-
tion of being heard the next sitting.

Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people
depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and
resolved to go home. When Aladdin saw her return with the
present, he knew not what to think, and in fear lest she should
bring him some ill news, had not courage to ask her any ques-
tions; but she, who had never set foot into the sultan's palace
before, and knew not what was every day practised there, freed
him from his embarrassment, and said to him: *'Son,I have seen
the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me too; for
I placed myself just before him; but he was so much taken up
with those who attended on all sides of him, that I pitied him,
and wondered at his patience. At last I believe he was heartily
tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would not hear a great many
who were ready prepared to speak to him, but went away, at
which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose all patience,
and was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But there is
no harm done; I will go again to-morrow; perhaps the sultan
may not be so busy."

Though his passion was very violent, Aladdin was forced
to be satisfied, and to fortify himself with patience. He had
at least the satisfaction to find that his mother had got over the
greatest diflSculty, which was to procure access to the sultan,
and hoped that the example of those she saw speak to him would
embolden her to acquit herself better of her commission when a
favourable opportunity might offer.

The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with
the present, as early as the day before, but when she came there,
she found the gates of the divan shut, and understood that the
council sat but every other day, therefore she must come again
the next. This news she carried to her son, whose only relief
was to guard himself with patience. She went six times after-
ward on the days appointed and placed herself always directly
before the sultan, but with as little success as the first morning, and
might have perhaps come a thousand times to as little purpose, if
luckily the sultan himself had not taken particular notice of her.

On the sixth day, after the divan was broken up, when the
sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier :
^'I have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends
constantly every day that I give audience, with something
wrapped up in a napkin: she always stands up from the begin-
ning to the breaking up of the audience, and affects to place her-
self just before me. Do you know what she wants ?"

"Sir," replied the grand vizier, who knew no more than the
sultan what she wanted, but did not wish to seem uninformed,
"your majesty knows that women often make complaints on
trifles; perhaps she may come to complain that somebody has
sold her some bad flour, or some such trifling matter." The
sultan was not satisfied with this answer, but repHed: "If this
woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that
I may hear what she has to say." The grand vizier made
answer by lowering his hand, and then Hfting it up above his
head, signifying his wilHngness to lose it if he failed.