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Once upon
a time...
There lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a
careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play ball 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 presently 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.
The 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. They then journeyed onward 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 led him on in spite
of himself. At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow
valley. "We will go no farther," said the false 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 and opened 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 until you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a
lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to 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 magician left Persia for ever, 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 afterward.
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 and 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 for 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 that 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 till 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 frankly, 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 would 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 every one
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 to-night?" 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 shall 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 refusal to speak, the Sultan threatened
to cut off her head. She then confessed all, bidding him to 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 to 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 could come up to it. The Sultan then 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 set out to the palace, two
and two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, with
such splendid jewels in their girdles, 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 ho 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
than 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 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 by 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 honor.
At night the Princess
said good-by 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 jewellers 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 Sul- tan 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 modest and 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 honor 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 until he reached the capital of China, bent
on Aladdin's ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people
talking everywhere about a marvellous palace. "Forgive my
ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak Of?" "Have you
not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the greatest
wonder of 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 copper 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 toward 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 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 thither," and showed him from the window the place where his
palace had stood. Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a
word. "Where is my 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
and 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 so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. The
genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. "Save my
life, genie," said Aladdin, "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 owing 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 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." "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 for ever
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 she
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 afterward." 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 round his neck; but Aladdin put her
away, bidding her leave him, as he had more to do. He 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. This was done, and the
Princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and little
thought she was at 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 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, collared his
face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, that she might
tell no tales. Then 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. When 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.
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 spoiled for the 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.
Aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp
from the Blue Fairy Book
Story Edited
by Andrew Lang |
