Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp · page 31 2 3201“Even so,” said Aladdin, “but thou canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife’s window.”202He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the Princess, and fell asleep out of sheer weariness.203He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter.204He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it.205That 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.206She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared not live there altogether.207As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw Aladdin.208The Princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up.209She called to him to come to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again.210After 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 that has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting.”211“Alas!” she said, “I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,” and told him of the exchange of the lamp.212“Now I know,” cried Aladdin, “that we have to thank the African magician for this!213Where is the lamp?”214“He carries it about with him,” said the Princess.215“I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me.216He wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father’s command.217He is for ever speaking ill of you but I only reply by my tears.218If I persist, I doubt not but he will use violence.”219Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while.220He 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.221“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.222Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country.223He will go for some and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”224She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left she arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she left China.225She 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.”226The magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup.227When 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.228Before 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 afterward.”229She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless.230The Princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round his neck; but Aladdin put her away, bidding her leave him, as he had more to do.231He then 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.232This was done, and the Princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and little thought she was at home again.233The 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!234He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the Princess at his side.235Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe.236A 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 to be.237The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself.238He traveled 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.239He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death.240He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, that she might tell no tales.241Then he went toward the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing.242When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on round him that the Princess bade her slave look out of the window and ask what was the matter.243The 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.244On coming to the Princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity.245When he had done the Princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her always.246The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery.247The Princess showed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it.248“It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima.249“In my mind it wants but one thing.”250“And what is that?” said the Princess.251“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.”252After 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 humor.253He begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoiled for the want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome.checked by a teacher254“If that is all,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.”255He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc’s egg.256The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook.257“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?258You 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.259He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered.260He it was who put that wish into your wife’s head.261Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.”262So saying, the genie disappeared.263Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it.264But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart.265“What have you done?” cried the Princess.266“You have killed the holy woman!”267“Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.268After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace.269He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.270(1)271(1) Arabian Nights.1 2 3← previousCinderella, or the Little Glass Slippernext →The Tale of a Youth Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was↑ back to The Blue Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/12/page/3/