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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS
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Illustrated by Edmund Dulac
Edmund Dulac
(born Edmond Dulac, October 22, 1882 – May 25, 1953)
was a French book illustrator prominent during the so called "Golden Age
of Illustration"
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
Sir Richard Burton, translator
1850
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ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP
IT hath reached me, O King of the Age, that there dwelt in a city of
the cities of China a man which was a tailor, withal a pauper, and he
had one son, Aladdin hight. Now this boy had been from his babyhood a
ne'er-do-well, a scapegrace. And when he reached his tenth year, his
father inclined to teach him his own trade, and, for that he was
overindigent to expend money upon his learning other work or craft or
apprenticeship, he took the lad into his shop that he might be taught
tailoring. But, as Aladdin was a scapegrace and a ne'er-do-well and wont
to play at all times with the gutter boys of the quarter, he would not
sit in the shop for a single day. Nay, he would await his father's
leaving it for some purpose, such as to meet a creditor, when he would
run off at once and fare forth to the gardens with the other scapegraces
and low companions, his fellows. Such was his case- counsel and
castigation were of no avail, nor would he obey either parent in aught
or learn any trade. And presently, for his sadness and, sorrowing
because of his son's vicious indolence, the tailor sickened and died.
Aladdin continued in his former ill courses, and when his mother saw
that her spouse had deceased and that her son was a scapegrace and good
for nothing at all, she sold the shop and whatso was to be found therein
and fell to spinning cotton yarn. By this toilsome industry she fed
herself and found food for her son Aladdin the scapegrace, who, seeing
himself freed from bearing the severities of his sire, increased in
idleness and low habits. Nor would he ever stay at home save at meal
hours while his miserable wretched mother lived only by what her hands
could spin until the youth had reached his fifteenth year. It befell one
day of the days that as he was sitting about the quarter at play with
the vagabond boys, behold, a dervish from the Maghrib, the Land of the
Setting Sun, came up and stood gazing for solace upon the lads. And he
looked hard at Aladdin and carefully considered his semblance, scarcely
noticing his companions the while. Now this dervish was a Moorman from
Inner Morocco, and he was a magician who could upheap by his magic hill
upon hill, and he was also an adept in astrology. So after narrowly
considering Aladdin, he said in himself, "Verily, this is the lad I need
and to find whom I have left my natal land." Presently he led one of the
children apart and questioned him anent the scapegrace saying, "Whose
son is he?" And he sought all information concerning his condition and
whatso related to him.
After this he walked up to Aladdin, and drawing him aside, asked, "O
my son, haply thou art the child of Such-a-one the tailor?" and the lad
answered, "Yes, O my lord, but 'tis long since he died." The Maghrabi,
the magician, hearing these words, threw himself upon Aladdin and wound
his arms around his neck and fell to bussing him, weeping the while with
tears trickling a-down his cheeks. But when the lad saw the Moorman's
case, he was seized with surprise thereat and questioned him, saying,
"What causeth thee weep, O my lord, and how camest thou to know my
father?" "How canst thou, O my son," replied the Moorman, in a soft
voice saddened by emotion, "question me with such query after informing
me that thy father and my brother is deceased? For that he was my
brother german, and now I come from my adopted country and after long
exile I rejoiced with exceeding joy in the hope of looking upon him once
more and condoling with him over the past. And now thou hast announced
to me his demise. But blood hideth not from blood, and it hath revealed
to me that thou art my nephew, son of my brother, and I knew thee
amongst all the lads, albeit thy father, when I parted from him, was yet
unmarried."
Then he again clasped Aladdin to his bosom, crying: "O my son, I have
none to condole with now save thyself. And thou standest in stead of thy
sire, thou being his issue and representative and 'whoso leaveth issue
dieth not,' O my child!" So saying, the magician put hand to purse, and
pulling out ten gold pieces, gave them to the lad, asking, "O my son,
where is your house and where dwelleth she, thy mother and my brother's
widow?" Presently Aladdin arose with him and showed him the way to their
home, and meanwhile quoth the wizard: "O my son, take these moneys and
give them to thy mother, greeting her from me, and let her know that
thine uncle, thy father's brother, hath reappeared from his exile and
that Inshallah- God willing- on the morrow I will visit her to salute
her with the salaam and see the house wherein my brother was homed and
look upon the place where he lieth buried." Thereupon Aladdin kissed the
Maghrabi's hand, and after running in his joy at fullest speed to his
mother's dwelling entered to her clean contrariwise to his custom,
inasmuch as he never came near her save at mealtimes only.
And when he found her, the lad exclaimed in his delight: "O my
mother, I give thee glad tidings of mine uncle who hath returned from
his exile, and who now sendeth me to salute thee." "O my son," she
replied, "meseemeth thou mockest me! Who is this uncle, and how canst
thou have an uncle in the bonds of life?" He rejoined: "How sayest thou,
O my mother, that I have no living uncles nor kinsmen, when this man is
my father's own brother? Indeed he embraced me and bussed me, shedding
tears the while, and bade me acquaint thee herewith." She retorted, "O
my son, well I wot thou haddest an uncle, but he is now dead, nor am I
ware that thou hast other eme."
The Moroccan magician fared forth next morning and fell to finding
out Aladdin, for his heart no longer permitted him to part from the lad.
And as he was to-ing and fro-ing about the city highways, he came face
to face with him disporting himself, as was his wont, amongst the
vagabonds and the scapegraces. So he drew near to him, and taking his
hand, embraced him and bussed him. Then pulled out of his poke two
dinars and said: "Hie thee to thy mother and give her these couple of
ducats and tell her that thine uncle would eat the evening meal with
you. So do thou take these two gold pieces and prepare for us a
succulent supper. But before all things, show me once more the way to
your home." "On my head and mine eyes be it, O my uncle," replied the
lad and forewent him, pointing out the street leading to the house. Then
the Moorman left him and went his ways and Aladdin ran home and, giving
the news and the two sequins to his parent, said, "My uncle would sup
with us."
So she arose straightway and, going to the market street, bought all
she required. Then, returning to her dwelling, she borrowed from the
neighbors whatever was needed of pans and platters, and so forth, and
when the meal was cooked and suppertime came she said to Aladdin: "O my
child, the meat is ready, but peradventure thine uncle wotteth not the
way to our dwelling. So do thou fare forth and meet him on the road." He
replied, "To hear is to obey," and before the twain ended talking a
knock was heard at the door. Aladdin went out and opened, when, behold,
the Maghrabi, the magician, together with a eunuch carrying the wine and
the dessert fruits. So the lad led them in and the slave went about his
business. The Moorman on entering saluted his sister-in-law with the
salaam, then began to shed tears and to question her, saying, "Where be
the place whereon my brother went to sit?" She showed it to him, whereat
he went up to it and prostrated himself in prayer and kissed the floor,
crying: how scant is my satisfaction and how luckless is my lot, for
that I have lost thee, O my brother, O vein of my eye!" And after such
fashion he continued weeping and wailing till he swooned away for excess
of sobbing and lamentation, wherefor Aladdin's mother was certified of
his soothfastness. So, coming up to him, she raised him from the floor
and said, "What gain is there in slaying thyself?"
As soon as he was seated at his ease, and before the food trays were
served up, he fell to talking with her and saying: "O wife of my
brother, it must be a wonder to thee how in all thy days thou never
sawest me nor learnst thou aught of me during the lifetime of my brother
who hath found mercy. Now the reason is that forty years ago I left this
town and exiled myself from my birthplace and wandered forth over all
the lands of Al-Hind and Al-Sind and entered Egypt and settled for a
long time in its magnificent city, which is one of the world wonders,
till at last I fared to the regions of the setting sun and abode for a
space of thirty years in the Moroccan interior. Now one day of the days,
O wife of my brother, as I was sitting alone at home, I fell to thinking
of mine own country and of my birthplace and of my brother (who hath
found mercy). And my yearning to see him waxed excessive and I bewept
and bewailed my strangerhood and distance from him. And at last my
longings drave me homeward until I resolved upon traveling to the region
which was the falling place of my head and my homestead, to the end that
I might again see my brother. Then quoth I to myself: 'O man, how long
wilt thou wander like a wild Arab from thy place of birth and native
stead? Moreover, thou hast one brother and no more, so up with thee and
travel and look upon him ere thou die, for who wotteth the woes of the
world and the changes of the days? 'Twould be saddest regret an thou lie
down to die without beholding thy brother. And Allah (laud be to the
Lord!) hath vouchsafed thee ample wealth, and belike he may be
straitened and in poor case, when thou wilt aid thy brother as well as
see him.'
"So I arose at once and equipped me for wayfare and recited the
fatihah. Then, whenas Friday prayers ended, I mounted and traveled to
this town, after suffering manifold toils and travails which I patiently
endured whilst the Lord (to Whom be honor and glory!) veiled me with the
veil of His protection. So I entered, and whilst wandering about the
streets the day before yesterday I beheld my brother's son Aladdin
disporting himself with the boys and, by God the Great, O wife of my
brother, the moment I saw him this heart of mine went forth to him (for
blood yearneth unto blood!), and my soul felt and informed me that he
was my very nephew. So I forgot all my travails and troubles at once on
sighting him, and I was like to fly for joy. But when he told me of the
dear one's departure to the ruth of Allah Almighty, I fainted for stress
of distress and disappointment. Perchance, however, my nephew hath
informed thee of the pains which prevailed upon me. But after a fashion
I am consoled by the sight of Aladdin, the legacy bequeathed to us by
him who hath found mercy for that 'whoso leaveth issue is not wholly
dead.'"
And when he looked at his sister-in-law, she wept at these his words,
so he turned to the lad, that he might cause her to forget the mention
of her mate, as a means of comforting her and also of completing his
deceit, and asked him, saying: "O my son Aladdin, what hast thou learned
in the way of work, and what is thy business? Say me, hast thou mastered
any craft whereby to earn a livelihood for thyself and for thy mother?"
The lad was abashed and put to shame and he hung down his head and bowed
his brow groundward. But his parent spake out: "How, forsooth? By Allah,
he knoweth nothing at all, a child so ungracious as this I never yet
saw- no, never! All the day long he idleth away his time with the sons
of the quarter, vagabonds like himself, and his father (O regret of me!)
died not save of dolor for him. And I also am now in piteous plight. I
spin cotton and toil at my distant night and day, that I may earn me a
couple of scones of bread which we eat together. This is his condition,
O my brother-in-law, and, by the life of thee, he cometh not near me
save at mealtimes, and none other. Indeed, I am thinking to lock the
house door, nor ever open to him again, but leave him to go and seek a
livelihood whereby he can live, for that I am now grown a woman in years
and have no longer strength to toil and go about for a maintenance after
this fashion. O Allah, I am compelled to provide him with daily bread
when I require to be provided!"
Hereat the Moorman turned to Aladdin and said: "Why is this, O son of
my brother, thou goest about in such ungraciousness? 'Tis a disgrace to
thee and unsuitable for men like thyself. Thou art a youth of sense, O
my son, and the child of honest folk, so 'tis for thee a shame that thy
mother, a woman in years, should struggle to support thee. And now that
thou hast grown to man's estate, it becometh thee to devise thee some
device whereby thou canst live, O my child. Look around thee and
Alhamdolillah- praise be to Allah- in this our town are many teachers of
all manner of crafts, and nowhere are they more numerous. So choose thee
some calling which may please thee to the end that I stablish thee
therein, and when thou growest up, O my son, thou shalt have some
business whereby to live. Haply thy father's industry may not be to thy
liking, and if so it be, choose thee some other handicraft which suiteth
thy fancy. Then let me know and I will aid thee with all I can, O my
son." But when the Maghrabi saw that Aladdin kept silence and made him
no reply, he knew that the lad wanted none other occupation than a
scapegrace life, so he said to him: "O son of my brother, let not my
words seem hard and harsh to thee, for if despite all I say thou still
dislike to learn a craft, I will open thee a merchant's store furnished
with costliest stuffs and thou shalt become famous amongst the folk and
take and give and buy and sell and be well known in the city."
Now when Aladdin heard the words of his uncle the Moorman, and the
design of making him a khwajah- merchant and gentleman- he joyed
exceedingly, knowing that such folk dress handsomely and fare
delicately. So he looked at the Maghrabi smiling and drooping his head
groundward and saying with the tongue of the case that he was content.
The Maghrabi the magician, looked at Aladdin and saw him smiling whereby
he understood that the lad was satisfied to become a trader. So he said
to him: "Since thou art content that I open thee a merchant's store and
make thee a gentleman, do thou, O son of my brother, prove thyself a man
and Inshallah- God willing- tomorrow I will take thee to the bazaar in
the first place have a fine suit of clothes cut out for thee, such gear
as merchants wear; and secondly, I will look after a store for thee and
keep my word."
Now Aladdin's mother had somewhat doubted the Moroccan being her
brother-in-law, but as soon as she heard his promise of opening a
merchant's store for her son and setting him up with stuffs and capital
and so forth, the woman decided and determined in her mind that this
Maghrabi was in very sooth her husband's brother, seeing that no
stranger man would do such goodly deed by her son. So she began
directing the lad to the right road and teaching him to cast ignorance
from out his head and to prove himself a man. Moreover, she bade him
ever obey his excellent uncle as though he were his son, and to make up
for the time he had wasted in frowardnes with his fellows. After this
she arose and spread the table, then served up supper, so all sat down
and fell to eating and drinking while the Maghrabi conversed with
Aladdin upon matters of business and the like, rejoicing him to such
degree that he enjoyed no sleep that night. But when the Moorman saw
that the dark hours were passing by, and the wine was drunken, he arose
and sped to his own stead. But ere going he agreed to return next
morning and take Aladdin and look to his suit of merchant's clothes
being cut out for him.
And as soon as it was dawn, behold, the Maghrabi rapped at the door,
which was opened by Aladdin's mother. The Moorman, however, would not
enter, but asked to take the lad with him to the market street.
Accordingly Aladdin went forth to his uncle and, wishing him good
morning, kissed his hand, and the Moroccan took him by the hand and
fared with him to the bazaar. There he entered a clothier's shop
containing all kinds of clothes, and called for a suit of the most
sumptuous, whereat the merchant brought him out his need, all wholly
fashioned and ready sewn, and the Moorman said to the lad, "Choose, O my
child, whatso pleaseth thee." Aladdin rejoiced exceedingly, seeing that
his uncle had given him his choice, so he picked out the suit most to
his own liking and the Moroccan paid to the merchant the price thereof
in ready money. Presently he led the lad to the hammam baths, where they
bathed. Then they came out and drank sherbets, after which Aladdin arose
and, donning his new dress in huge joy and delight, went up to his uncle
and kissed his hand and thanked him for his favors.
The Maghrabi, the magician, after leaving the hammam with Aladdin,
took him and trudged with him to the merchants' bazaar, and having
diverted him by showing the market and its sellings and buyings, and to
him: "O my son, it besitteth thee to become familiar with the folk,
especially with the merchants, so thou mayest learn of them merchant
craft, seeing that the same hath now become thy calling." Then he led
him forth and showed him the city and its cathedral mosques, together
with all the pleasant sights therein, and lastly made him enter a cook's
shop. Here dinner was served to them on platters of silver and they
dined well and ate and drank their sufficiency, after which they went
their ways. Presently the Moorman pointed out to Aladdin the pleasaunces
and noble buildings, and went in with him to the Sultan's palace and
diverted him with displaying all the apartments, which were mighty fine
and grand, and led him finally to the khan of stranger merchants, where
he himself had his abode. Then the Moroccan invited sundry traders which
were in the caravanserai, and they came and sat down to supper, when he
notified to them that the youth was his nephew, Aladdin by name. And
after they had eaten and drunken and night had fallen, he rose up, and
taking the lad with him, led him back to his mother, who no sooner saw
her boy as he were one of the merchants than her wits took flight and
she waxed sad for very gladness.
Then she fell to thanking her false connection, the Moorman, for all
his benefits and said to him: "O my brother-in-law, I can never say
enough though I expressed my gratitude to thee during the rest of thy
days and praised thee for the good deeds thou hast done by this my
child." Thereupon quoth the Moroccan: "O wife of my brother, deem this
not mere kindness of me, for that the lad is mine own son, and 'tis
incumbent on me to stand in the stead of my brother, his sire. So be
thou fully satisfied!" And quoth she: "I pray Allah by the honor of the
Hallows, the ancients and the moderns, that He preserve thee and cause
thee continue, O my brother-in-law, and prolong for me thy life. So
shalt thou be a wing overshadowing this orphan lad, and he shall ever be
obedient to thine orders, nor shall he do aught save whatso thou biddest
him thereunto."
The Maghrabi replied: "O wife of my brother, Aladdin is now a man of
sense and the son of goodly folk, and I hope to Allah that he will
follow in the footsteps of his sire and cool thine eyes. But I regret
that, tomorrow being Friday, I shall not be able to open his shop, as
'tis meeting day when all the merchants, after congregational prayer, go
forth to the gardens and pleasaunces. On the Sabbath, however,
Inshallah!- an it please the Creator- we will do our business. Meanwhile
tomorrow I will come to thee betimes and take Aladdin for a pleasant
stroll to the gardens and pleasaunces without the city, which haply he
may hitherto not have beheld. There also he shall see the merchants and
notables who go forth to amuse themselves, so shall he become acquainted
with them and they with him."
The Maghrabi went away and lay that night in his quarters, and early
next morning he came to the tailor's house and rapped at the door. Now
Aladdin (for stress of his delight in the new dress he had donned and
for the past day's enjoyment in the hammam and in eating and drinking
and gazing at the folk, expecting futhermore his uncle to come at dawn
and carry him off on pleasuring to the gardens) had not slept a wink
that night, nor-closed his eyelids, and would hardly believe it when day
broke. But hearing the knock at the door, he went out at once in hot
haste, like a spark of fire, and opened and saw his uncle, the magician,
who embraced him and kissed him. Then, taking his hand, the Moorman said
to him as they fared forth together, "O son of my brother, this day will
I show thee a sight thou never sawest in all thy life," and he began to
make the lad laugh and cheer him with pleasant talk. So doing, they left
the city gate, and the Moroccan took to promenading with Aladdin amongst
the gardens and to pointing out for his pleasure the mighty fine
pleasaunces and the marvelous high-builded pavilions. And whenever they
stood to stare at a garth or a mansion or a palace, the Maghrabi would
say to his companion, "Doth this please thee, O son of my brother?"
Aladdin was nigh to fly with delight at seeing sights he had never
seen in all his born days, and they ceased not to stroll about and
solace themselves until they waxed a-weary, then they entered a mighty
grand garden which was near-hand, a place that the heart delighted and
the sight belighted, for that its swift-running rills flowed amidst the
flowers and the waters jetted from the jaws of lions molded in yellow
brass like unto gold. So they took seat over against a lakelet and
rested a little while, and Aladdin enjoyed himself with joy exceeding
and fell to jesting with his uncle and making merry with him as though
the magician were really his father's brother.
Presently the Maghrabi arose, and loosing his girdle, drew forth from
thereunder a bag full of victual, dried fruits and so forth, saying to
Aladdin: "O my nephew, haply thou art become a-hungered, so come forward
and eat what thou needest." Accordingly the lad fell upon the food and
the Moorman ate with him, and they were gladdened and cheered by rest
and good cheer. Then quoth the magician: "Arise, O son of my brother, an
thou be reposed, and let us stroll onward a little and reach the end of
our walk." Thereupon Aladdin arose and the Moroccan paced with him from
garden to garden until they left all behind them and reached the base of
a high and naked hill, when the lad, who during all his days had never
issued from the city gate and never in his life had walked such a walk
as this, said to the Maghrabi: "O uncle mine, whither are we wending? We
have left the gardens behind us one and all and have reached the barren
hill country. And if the way be still long, I have no strength left for
walking. Indeed I am ready to fall with fatigue. There are no gardens
before us, so let us hark back and return to town." Said the magician:
"No, O my son. This is right road, nor are the gardens ended, for we are
going to look at one which hath ne'er its like amongst those of the
kings, and all thou hast beheld are naught in comparison therewith. Then
gird thy courage to walk. Thou art now a man, Alhamdolillah- praise be
to Allah!"
Then the Maghrabi fell to soothing Aladdin with soft words and
telling him wondrous tales, lies as well as truth, until they reached
the site intended by the African magician, who had traveled from the
sunset land to the regions of China for the sake thereof. And when they
made the place, the Moorman said to Aladdin: "O son of my brother, sit
thee down and take thy rest, for this is the spot we are now seeking
and, Inshallah, soon will I divert thee by displaying marvel matters
whose like not one in the world ever saw, nor hath any solaced himself
with gazing upon that which thou art about to behold. But when thou art
rested, arise and seek some wood chips and fuel sticks which be small
and dry, wherewith we may kindle a fire. Then will I show thee, O son of
my brother, matters beyond the range of matter." Now when the lad heard
these words, he longed to look upon what his uncle was about to do and,
forgetting his fatigue, he rose forthright and fell to gathering small
wood chips and dry sticks, and continued until the Moorman cried to him,
"Enough, O son of my brother!"
Presently the magician brought out from his breast pocker a casket,
which he opened, and drew from it all he needed of incense. Then he
fumigated and conjured and adjured, muttering words none might
understand. And the ground straightway clave asunder after thick gloom
and quake of earth and bellowings of thunder. Hereat Aladdin was
startled and so affrighted that he tried to fly, but when the African
magician saw his design, he waxed wroth with exceeding wrath, for that
without the lad his work would profit him naught, the hidden hoard which
he sought to open being not to be opened save by means of Aladdin. So,
noting this attempt to run away, the magician arose, and raising his
hand, smote Aladdin on the head a buffet so sore that well-nigh his back
teeth were knocked out, and he fell swooning to the ground. But after a
time he revived by the magic of the magician, and cried, weeping the
while: "O my uncle, what have I done that deserveth from thee such a
blow as this?" Hereat the Maghrabi fell to soothing him, and said: "O my
son, 'tis my intent to make thee a man. Therefore do thou not gainsay
me, for that I am thine uncle and like unto thy father. Obey me,
therefore, in all I bid thee, and shortly thou shalt forget all this
travail and toil whenas thou shalt look upon the marvel matters I am
about to show thee."
And soon after the ground had cloven asunder before the Moroccan, it
displayed a marble slab wherein was fixed a copper ring. The Maghrabi,
striking a geomantic table, turned to Aladdin and said to him: "An thou
do all I shall bid thee, indeed thou shalt become wealthier than any of
the kings. And for this reason, O my son, I struck thee, because here
lieth a hoard which is stored in thy name, and yet thou designedst to
leave it and to levant. But now collect thy thoughts, and behold how I
opened earth by my spells and adjurations. Under yon stone wherein the
ring is set lieth the treasure wherewith I acquainted thee. So set thy
hand upon the ring and raise the slab, for that none other amongst the
folk, thyself excepted, hath power to open it, nor may any of mortal
birth save thyself set foot within this enchanted treasury which hath
been kept for thee. But 'tis needful that thou learn of me all wherewith
I would charge thee, nor gainsay e'en a single syllable of my words. All
this, O my child, is for thy good, the hoard being of immense value,
whose like the kings of the world never accumulated, and do thou
remember that 'tis for thee and me."
So poor Aladdin forgot his fatigue and buffet and tear-shedding, and
he was dumbed and dazed at the Maghrabi's words and rejoiced that he was
fated to become rich in such measure that not even the sultans would be
richer than himself. Accordingly he cried: "O my uncle, bid me do all
thou pleasest, for I will be obedient unto thy bidding." The Maghrabi
replied: "O my nephew, thou art to me as my own child and even dearer,
for being my brother's son and for my having none other kith and kin
except thyself. And thou, O my child, art my heir and successor." So
saying, he went up to Aladdin and kissed him and said: "For whom do I
intend these my labors? Indeed, each and every are for thy sake, O my
son, to the end that I may leave thee a rich man and one of the very
greatest. So gainsay me not in all I shall say to thee, and now go up to
yonder ring and uplift it as I bade thee." Aladdin answered: "O uncle
mine, this ring is overheavy for me. I cannot raise it single-handed, so
do thou also come forward and lend me strength and aidance toward
uplifting it, for indeed I am young in years." The Moorman replied: "O
son of my brother, we shall find it impossible to do aught if I assist
thee, and all our efforts would be in vain. But do thou set thy hand
upon the ring and pull it up, and thou shalt raise the slab forthright,
and in very sooth I told thee that none can touch it save thyself. But
whilst haling at it cease not to pronounce thy name and the names of thy
father and mother, so 'twill rise at once to thee, nor shalt thou feel
its weight."
Thereupon the lad mustered up strength and girt the loins of
resolution and did as the Moroccan had bidden him, and hove up the slab
with all ease when he pronounced his name and the names of his parents,
even as the magician had bidden him. And as soon as the stone was raised
he threw it aside, and there appeared before him a sardab, a souterrain,
whereunto led a case of some twelve stairs, and the Maghrabi said: "O
Aladdin, collect thy thoughts and do whatso I bid thee to the minutest
detail, nor fail in aught thereof. Go down with all care into yonder
vault until thou reach the bottom, and there shalt thou find a space
divided into four halls, and in each of these thou shalt see four golden
jars and others of virgin or and silver. Beware, however, lest thou take
aught therefrom or touch them, nor allow thy gown or its skirts even to
brush the jars or the walls. Leave them and fare forward until thou
reach the fourth hall, without lingering for a single moment on the way.
And if thou do aught contrary thereto, thou wilt at once be transformed
and become a black stone. When reaching the fourth hall, thou wilt find
therein a door, which do thou open, and pronouncing the names thou
spakest over the slab, enter therethrough into a garden adorned
everywhere with fruit-bearing trees. This thou must traverse by a path
thou wilt see in front of thee measuring some fifty cubits long beyond
which thou wilt come upon an open saloon, and herein a ladder of some
thirty rungs. Thou shalt there find a lamp hanging from its ceiling, so
mount the ladder and take that lamp and place it in thy breast pocket
after pouring out its contents. Nor fear evil from it for thy clothes,
because its contents are not common oil. And on return thou art allowed
to pluck from the trees whoso thou pleasest, for all is thine so long as
the lamp is in thy hand."
Now when the Moorman ended his charge to Aladdin, he drew off a seal
ring and put it upon the lad's forefinger, saying: "O my son, verily
this signet shall free thee from all hurt and fear which may threaten
thee, but only on condition that thou bear in mind all I have told thee.
So arise straightway and go down the stairs, strengthening thy purpose
and girding the loins of resolution. Moreover, fear not, for thou art
now a man and no longer a child. And in shortest time, O my son, thou
shalt will thee immense riches and thou shalt become the wealthiest of
the world."
Accordingly, Aladdin arose and descended into the souterrain, where
he found the four jars, each containing four jars of gold, and these he
passed by as the Moroccan had bidden him, with the utmost care and
caution. Thence he fared into the garden and walked along its length
until he entered the saloon, where he mounted the ladder and took the
lamp, which he extinguished, pouring out the oil which was therein, and
placed it in his breast pocket. Presently, descending the ladder, he
returned to the garden, where he fell to gazing at the trees, whereupon
sat birds glorifying with loud voices their Great Creator. Now he had
not observed them as he went in, but all these trees bare for fruitage
costly gems. Moreover, each had its own kind of growth and jewels of its
peculiar sort and these were of every color, green and white, yellow,
red, and other such brilliant hues, and the radiance flashing from these
gems paled the rays of the sun in forenoon sheen. Furthermore the size
of each stone so far surpassed description that no King of the Kings of
the World owned a single gem equal to the larger sort, nor could boast
of even one half the size of the smaller kind of them. Aladdin walked
amongst the trees and gazed upon them and other things which surprised
the sight and bewildered the wits, and as he considered them, he saw
that in lieu of common fruits the produce was of mighty fine jewels and
precious stones, such as emeralds and diamonds, rubies, spinels, and
balases, pearls and similar gems, astounding the mental vision of man.
And forasmuch as the lad had never beheld things like these during
his born days, nor had reached those years of discretion which would
teach him the worth of such valuables (he being still but a little lad),
he fancied that all these jewels were of glass or crystal. So he
collected them until he had filled his breast pockets, and began to
certify himself if they were or were not common fruits, such as grapes,
figs, and suchlike edibles. But seeing them of glassy substance, he, in
his ignorance of precious stones and their prices, gathered into his
breast pockets every kind of growth the trees afforded, and having
failed of his purpose in finding them food, he said in his mind, "I will
collect a portion of these glass fruits for playthings at home." So he
fell to plucking them in quantities and cramming them in his pokes and
breast pockets till these were stuffed full. After which he picked
others which he placed in his waist shawl and then, girding himself
therewith, carried off all he availed to, purposing to place them in the
house by way of ornaments and, as hath been mentioned, never imagining
that they were other than glass.
Then he hurried his pace in fear of his uncle, the Maghrabi, until he
had passed through the four halls and lastly on his return reached the
souterrain, where he cast not a look at the jars of gold, albeit he was
able and allowed to take of the contents on his way back. But when he
came to the souterrain stairs and clomb the steps till naught remained
but the last, and finding this higher than an the others, he was unable
alone and unassisted, burthened moreover as he was, to mount it. So he
said to the Maghrabi, "O my uncle, lend me thy hand and aid me to
climb." But the Moorman answered: "O my son, give me the lamp and
lighten thy load. Belike 'tis that weighteth thee down." The lad
rejoined: "O my uncle, 'tis not the lamp downweigheth me at all, but do
thou lend me a hand, and as soon as I reached ground I will give it to
thee." Hereat the Moroccan, the magician, whose only object was the lamp
and none other, began to insist upon Aladdin giving it to him at once.
But the lad (forasmuch as he had placed it at the bottom of his breast
pocket and his other pouches, being full of gems, bulged outward) could
not reach it with his fingers to hand it over, so the wizard after much
vain persistency in requiring what his nephew was unable to give fell to
raging with furious rage and to demanding the lamp, whilst Aladdin could
not get at it. Yet had the lad promised truthfully that he would give it
up as soon as he might reach ground, without lying thought or ill
intent. But when the Moorman saw that he would not hand it over, he
waxed wroth with wrath exceeding and cut off all his hopes of winning
it. So he conjured and adjured and cast incense a-middlemost the fire,
when forthright the slab made a cover of itself, and by the might of
magic lidded the entrance. The earth buried the stone as it was
aforetime, and Aladdin, unable to issue forth, remained underground.
Now the sorcerer was a stranger and, as we have mentioned, no uncle
of Aladdin's, and he had misrepresented himself and preferred a lying
claim, to the end that he might obtain the lamp by means of the lad for
whom this hoard had been upstored. So the accursed heaped the earth over
him and left him to die of hunger. For this Maghrabi was an African of
Afrikiyah proper, born in the inner Sunset Land, and from his earliest
age upward he had been addicted to witchcraft and had studied and
practiced every manner of occult science, for which unholy lore the city
of Africa is notorious. And he ceased not to read and hear lectures
until he had become a past master in all such knowledge. And of the
abounding skill in spells and conjurations which he had acquired by the
perusing and the lessoning of forty years, one day of the days he
discovered by devilish inspiration that there lay in an extreme city of
the cities of China, named Al-Kal'as, an immense hoard, the like whereof
none of the kings in this world had ever accumulated. Moreover, that the
most marvelous article in this enchanted treasure was a wonderful lamp,
which whoso possessed could not possibly be surpassed by any man upon
earth, either in high degree or in wealth and opulence, nor could the
mightiest monarch of the universe attain to the all-sufficiency of this
lamp with its might of magical means. When the Maghrabi assured himself
by his science and saw that this hoard could be opened only by the
presence of a lad named Aladdin, of pauper family and abiding in that
very city, and learnt how taking it would be easy and without hardships,
he straightway and without stay or delay equipped himself for a voyage
to China (as we have already told), and be did what he did with Aladdin
fancying that he would become Lord of the Lamp. But his attempt and his
hopes were baffled and his work was clean wasted. Whereupon, determining
to do the lad die, he heaped up the earth over him by gramarye to the
end that the unfortunate might perish, reflecting that "The live man
hath no murtherer." Secondly, he did so with the design that, as Aladdin
could not come forth from underground, he would also be impotent to
bring out the lamp from the souterrain. So presently he wended his ways
and retired to his own land, Africa, a sadder man and disappointed of
all his expectations.
Such was the case with the wizard, but as regards Aladdin, when the
earth was heaped over him, he began shouting to the Moorman, whom he
believed to be his uncle, and praying him to lend a hand that he might
issue from the souterrain and return to earth's surface. But however
loudly he cried, none was found to reply. At that moment he comprehended
the sleight which the Moroccan had played upon him, and that the man was
no uncle, but a liar and a wizard. Then the unhappy despaired of life,
and learned to his sorrow that there was no escape for him, so he fell
to beweeping with sore weeping the calamity had befallen him. And after
a little while he stood up and descended the stairs to see if Allah
Almighty had lightened his grief load by leaving a door of issue. So he
turned him to the right and to the left, but he saw naught save darkness
and four walls closed upon him, for that the magician had by his magic
locked all the doors and had shut up even the garden wherethrough the
lad erst had passed, lest it offer him the means of issuing out upon
earth's surface, and that he might surely die. Then Aladdin's weeping
waxed sorer and his wailing louder whenas he found all the doors fast
shut, for he had thought to solace himself awhile in the garden. But
when he felt that all were locked, he fell to shedding tears and
lamenting like unto one who hath lost his every hope, and he returned to
sit upon the stairs of the flight whereby he had entered the souterrain.
But it is a light matter for Allah (be He exalted and extolled!)
whenas He designeth aught to say, "Be," and it becometh, for that He
createth joy in the midst of annoy. And on this wise it was with
Aladdin. Whilst the Maghrabi, the magician, was sending him down into
the souterrain, he set upon his finger by way of gift a seal ring and
said: "Verily this signet shall save thee from every strait an thou fall
into calamity and ill shifts of time, and it shall remove from thee all
hurt and harm, and aid thee with a strong arm whereso thou mayest be
set." Now this was by Destiny of God the Great, that it might be the
means of Aladdin's escape. For whilst he sat wailing and weeping over
his case and cast away all hope of life, and utter misery overwhelmed
him, he rubbed his hands together for excess of sorrow, as is the wont
of the woeful. Then, raising them in supplication to Allah, he cried, "I
testify that there is no God save Thou alone, the Most Great, the
Omnipotent, the All-conquering, Quickener of the dead, Creator of man's
need and Granter thereof, Resolver of his difficulties and duress and
Bringer of joy, not of annoy. Thou art my sufficiency and Thou art the
Truest of Trustees. And I bear my witness that Mohammed is Thy servant
and Thine Apostle, and I supplicate Thee, O my God, by his favor with
Thee to free me from this my foul plight."
And whilst implored the Lord and was chafing his hands in the
soreness of his sorrow for that had befallen him of calamity, his
fingers chanced to rub the ring, when, lo and behold! forthright its
familiar rose upright before him and cried: "Adsum! Thy slave between
thy hands is come! Ask whatso thou wantest, for that I am the thrall of
him on whose hand is the ring, the signet of my lord and master." Hereat
the lad looked at him and saw standing before him a Marid like unto an
Ifrit of our lord Solomon's Jinns. He trembled at the terrible sight,
but, hearing the Slave of the Ring say, "Ask whatso thou wantest.
Verily, I am thy thrall seeing that the signet of my lord be upon thy
finger," he recovered his spirits and remembered the Moorman's saying
when giving him the ring. So he rejoiced exceedingly and became brave
and cried, "Ho, thou slave of the Lord of the Ring, I desire thee to set
me upon the face of the earth." And hardly had he spoken this speech
when suddenly the ground clave asunder and he found himself at the door
of the hoard and outside it in full view of the world. Now for three
whole days he had been sitting in the darkness of the treasury
underground, and when the sheen of day and the shine of sun smote his
face he found himself unable to keep his eyes open; so he began to
unclose the lids a little and to close them a little until his eyeballs
regained force and got used to the light and were purged of the noisome
murk. Withal he was astounded at finding himself without the hoard door
whereby he had passed in when it was opened by the Maghrabi, the
magician, especially as the adit had been lidded and the ground had been
smoothed, showing no sign whatever of entrance.
Thereat his surprise increased until he fancied himself in another
place, nor was his mind convinced that the stead was the same until he
saw the spot whereupon they had kindled the fire of wood chips and dried
sticks, and where the African wizard had conjured over the incense. Then
he turned him rightward and leftward and sighted the gardens from afar
and his eyes recognized the road whereby he had come. So he returned
thanks to Allah Almighty, Who had restored him to the face of earth and
had freed him from death after he had cut off all hopes of life.
Presently he arose and walked along the way to the town, which now he
knew well, until he entered the streets and passed on to his own home.
Then he went in to his mother, and on seeing her, of the overwhelming
stress of joy at his escape and the memory of past affright and the
hardships he had borne and the pangs of hunger, he fell to the ground
before his parent in a fainting fit. Now his mother had been passing sad
since the time of his leaving her, and he found her moaning and crying
about him. However, on sighting him enter the house she joyed with
exceeding joy, but soon was overwhelmed with woe when he sank upon the
ground swooning before her eyes. Still, she did not neglect the matter
or treat it lightly, but at once hastened to sprinkle water upon his
face, and after she asked of the neighbors some scents which she made
him snuff up. And when he came round a little, he prayed her to bring
him somewhat of food saying, "O my mother, 'tis now three days since I
ate anything at all." Thereupon she arose and brought him what she had
by her, then, setting it before him, said: "Come forward, O my son. Eat
and be cheered, and when thou shalt have rested, tell me what hath
betided and affected thee, O my child. At this present I will not
question thee, for thou art aweary in very deed." Aladdin ate and drank
and was cheered, and after he had rested and had recovered spirits he
cried:
"Ah, O my mother, I have a sore grievance against thee for leaving me
to that accursed wight who strave to compass my destruction and designed
to take my life. Know thou that I beheld death with mine own eyes at the
hand of this damned wretch, whom thou didst to be my uncle, and had not
Almighty Allah rescued me from him, I and thou, O my mother, had been
cozened by the excess of this accursed's promises to work my welfare,
and by the great show of affection which he manifested to us. Learn, O
my mother, that this fellow is a sorcerer, a Moorman, an accursed, a
liar, a traitor, a hypocrite, nor deem I that the devils under the earth
are damnable as he. Allah abase him in his every book! Hear then, O my
mother, what this abominable one did, and all that I shall tell thee
will be soothfast and certain. See how the damned villain brake every
promise he made, certifying that he would soon work all good with me.
And do thou consider the fondness which he displayed to me and the deeds
which he did by me, and all this only to win his wish, for his design
was to destroy me. And Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord- for my
deliverance. Listen and learn, O my mother, how this accursed entreated
me."
Then Aladdin informed his mother of all that had befallen him,
weeping the for stress of gladness- how the Maghrabi had led him to a
hill wherein was hidden the hoard and how he had conjured and fumigated,
adding: "After which, O my mother, mighty fear gat hold of me when the
hill split and the earth gaped before me by his wizardry. And I trembled
with terror at the rolling of thunder in mine ears and the murk which
fell upon us when he fumigated and muttered spells. Seeing these
horrors, I in mine affright desiped to fly, but when he understood mine
intent, he reviled me and smote me a buffet so sore that it caused me
swoon. However, inasmuch as the treasury was to be opened only by means
of me, O my mother, he could not descend therein himself, it being in my
name and not in his. And for that he is an ill-omened magician, he
understood that I was necessary to him and this was his need of me."
Aladdin acquainted his mother with all that had befallen him from the
Maghrabi, the magician, and said:
"After he had buffeted me, he judged it advisable to soothe me in
order that he might send me down into the enchanted treasury, and first
he drew from his finger a ring, which he placed upon mine. So I
descended and found four halls all full of gold and silver, which
counted as naught, and the accursed had charged me not to touch aught
thereof. Then I entered a mighty fine flower garden everywhere bedecked
with tall trees whose foilage and fruitage bewildered the wits, for all,
O my mother, were of varicolored glass, and lastly I reached the hall
wherein hung this lamp. So I took it straightway and put it out and
poured forth its contents." And so saying, Aladdin drew the lamp from
his breast pocket and showed it to his mother, together with the gems
and jewels which he had brought from the garden. And there were two
large bag pockets full of precious stones, whereof not one was to be
found amongst the kings of the world. But the lad knew naught anent
their worth, deeming them glass or crystal. And presently he resumed:
"After this, O mother mine, I reached the hoard door carrying the
lamp and shouted to the accursed sorcerer which called himself my uncle
to lend me a hand and hale me up, I being unable to mount of myself the
last step for the overweight of my burthen. But he would not and said
only, 'First hand me the lamp!' As, however, I had placed it at the
bottom of my breast pocket and the other pouches bulged out beyond it, I
was unable to get at it and said, 'O my uncle, I cannot reach thee the
lamp, but I will give it to thee when outside the treasury.' His only
need was the lamp, and he designed, O my mother, to snatch it from me
and after that slay me, as indeed he did his best to do by heaping the
earth over my head. Such then is what befell me from this foul
sorcerer." Hereupon Aladdin fell to abusing the magician in hot wrath
and with a burning heart, and crying: "Wellaway! I take refuge from this
damned wight, the forswearer the wrongdoer, the forswearer, the lost to
all humanity, the archtraitor, the hyprocrite, the annihilator of ruth
and mercy." When Aladdin's mother heard his words and what had befallen
him from the Maghrabi, the magician, she said: "Yea, verily, O my son,
he is a miscreant, a hypocrite who murthereth the folk by his magic. But
'twas the grace of Allah Almighty, O my child, that saved thee from the
tricks and the treachery of this accursed sorcerer whom I deemed to be
truly thine uncle."
Then, as the lad had not slept a wink for three days and found
himself nodding, he sought his natural rest, his mother doing on like
wise, nor did he awake till about noon on the second day. As soon as he
shook off slumber he called for somewhat of food, being sore a-hungered,
but said his mother: "O my son, I have no victual for thee, inasmuch as
yesterday thou atest all that was in the house. But wait patiently a
while. I have spun a trifle of yarn which I will carry to the market
street and sell it and buy with what it may be worth some victual for
thee." "O my mother," said he, "keep your yarn and sell it not, but
fetch me the lamp I brought hither that I may go vend it, and with its
price purchase provaunt, for that I deem 'twill bring more money than
the spinnings." So Aladdin's mother arose and fetched the lamp for her
son, but while so doing she saw that it was dirty exceedingly, so that
said: "O my son, here is the lamp, but 'tis very foul. After we shall
have washed it and polished it 'twill sell better." Then, taking a
handful of sand, she began to rub therewith, but she had only begun when
appeared to her one of the Jann, whose favor was frightful and whose
bulk was horrible big, and he was gigantic as one of the Jababirah. And
forthright he cried to her: "Say whatso thou wantest of me. Here am I,
thy slave and slave to whoso holdeth the lamp, and not I alone, but all
the Slaves of the Wonderful Lamp which thou hendest in hand."
She quaked and terror was sore upon her when she looked at that
frightful form, and her tongue being tied, she could not return aught
reply, never having been accustomed to espy similar semblances. Now her
son was standing afar off, and he had already seen the Jinni of the ring
which he had rubbed within the treasury, so when he heard the slave
speaking to his parent, he hastened forward, and snatching the lamp from
her hand, said: "O Slave of the Lamp, I am a-hungered, and 'tis my
desire that thou fetch me somewhat to eat, and let it be something
toothsome beyond our means." The Jinni disappeared for an eye twinkle
and returned with a mighty fine tray and precious of price, for that
'twas all in virginal silver, and upon it stood twelve golden platters
of meats manifold and dainties delicate, with bread snowier than snow;
also two silvern cups and as many black jacks full of wine
clear-strained and long-stored. And after setting all these before
Aladdin, he vanished from vision.
Thereupon the lad went and sprinkled rose-water upon his mother's
face and caused her snuff up perfumes pure and pungent, and said to her
when she revived: "Rise, O mother mine, and let us eat of these meats
wherewith Almighty Allah hath eased our poverty." But when she saw that
mighty fine silvern tray she fell to marveling at the matter, and quoth
she: "O my son, who be this generous, this beneficent one who hath
abated our hunger pains and our penury? We are indeed under obligation
to him, and meseemeth 'tis the Sultan who, hearing of our mean condition
and our misery, hath sent us this food tray." Quoth he: "O my mother,
this be no time for questioning. Arouse thee and let us eat, for we are
both a-famished." Accordingly they sat down to the tray and fell to
feeding, when Aladdin's mother tasted meats whose like in all her time
she had never touched. So they devoured them with sharpened appetites
and all the capacity engendered by stress of hunger. And secondly, the
food was such that marked the tables of the kings. But neither of them
knew whether the tray was or was not valuable, for never in their born
days had they looked upon aught like it.
As soon as they had finished the meal (withal leaving victual enough
for supper and eke for the next day), they arose and washed their hands
and sat at chat, when the mother turned to her son and said: "Tell me, O
my child, what befell thee from the slave, the Jinni, now that
Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord!- we have eaten our full of the good
things wherewith He hath favored us and thou hast no pretext for saying
to me, 'I am a-hungered."' So Aladdin related to her all that took place
between him and the slave what while she had sunk upon the ground
a-swoon for sore terror, and at this she, being seized with mighty great
surprise, said: "'Tis true, for the Jinns do present themselves before
the sons of Adam, but I, O my son, never saw them in all my life, and
meseemeth that this be the same who saved thee when thou wast within the
enchanted hoard." "This is not he, O my mother. This who appeared before
thee is the Slave of the Lamp!" "Who may this be, O my son?" "This be a
slave of sort and shape other than he. That was the familiar of the
ring, and this his fellow thou sawest was the Slave of the Lamp thou
hendest in hand." And when his parent heard these words she cried:
"There! there! So this accursed, who showed himself to me and went nigh
unto killing me with affright, is attached to the lamp." "Yes," he
replied, and she rejoined: "Now I conjure thee, O my son, by the milk
wherewith I suckled thee, to throw away from thee this lamp and this
ring, because they can cause us only extreme terror, and I especially
can never a-bear a second glance at them. Moreover, all intercourse with
them is unlawful, for that the Prophet (whom Allah save and assain!)
warned us against them with threats."
He replied: "Thy commands, O my mother, be upon my head and mine
eyes, but as regards this saying thou saidest, 'tis impossible that I
part or with lamp or with ring. Thou thyself hast seen what good the
slave wrought us whenas we were famishing, and know, O my mother, that
the Maghrabi, the liar, the magician, when sending me down into the
hoard, sought nor the silver nor the gold wherewith the four halls were
fulfilled, but charged me to bring him only the lamp (naught else),
because in very deed he had learned its priceless value. And had he not
been certified of it, he had never endured such toil and trouble, nor
had he traveled from his own land to our land in search thereof, neither
had he shut me up in the treasury when he despaired of the lamp which I
would not hand to him. Therefore it besitteth us, O my mother, to keep
this lamp and take all care thereof, nor disclose its mysteries to any,
for this is now our means of livelihood and this it is shall enrich us.
And likewise as regards the ring, I will never withdraw it from my
finger, inasmuch as but for this thou hadst nevermore seen me on life-
nay, I should have died within the hoard underground. How then can I
possibly remove it from my finger? And who wotteth that which may betide
me by the lapse of time, what trippings or calamities or injurious
mishaps wherefrom this ring may deliver me? However, for regard to thy
feelings I will stow away the lamp, nor ever suffer it to be seen of
thee hereafter." Now when his mother heard his words and pondered them,
she knew they were true and said to him: "Do, O my son, whatso thou
willest. For my part, I wish never to see them nor ever sight that
frightful spectacle I erst saw."
Aladdin and his mother continued eating of the meats brought them by
the Jinni for two full told days till they were finished. But when he
learned that nothing of food remained for them, he arose and took a
platter of the platters which the slave had brought upon the tray. Now
they were all of the finest gold, but the lad knew naught thereof, so he
bore it to the bazaar and there, seeing a man which was a Jew, a viler
than the Satans, offered it to him for sale. When the Jew espied it, he
took the lad aside that none might see him, and he looked at the platter
and considered it till he was certified that it was of gold refined. But
he knew not whether Aladdin was acquainted with its value or he was in
such matters a raw laddie, so he asked him, "For how much, O my lord,
this platter?" and the other answered, "Thou wottest what be its worth."
The Jew debated with himself as to how much he should offer, because
Aladdin had returned him a craftsmanlike reply, and he thought of the
smallest valuation. At the same time he feared lest the lad, haply
knowing its worth, should expect a considerable sum. So he said in his
mind, "Belike the fellow is an ignoramus in such matters, nor is ware of
the price of the platter." Whereupon he pulled out of his pocket a
dinar, and Aladdin eyed the gold piece lying in his palm and, hastily
taking it, went his way, whereby the Jew was certified of his customer's
innocence of all such knowledge, and repented with entire repentance
that he had given him a golden dinar in lieu of a copper carat, a
bright-polished groat.
However, Aladdin made no delay, but went at once to the baker's,
where he bought him bread and changed the ducat. Then, going to his
mother, he gave her the scones and the remaining small coin and said, "O
my mother, hie thee and buy thee all we require." So she arose and
walked to the bazaar and laid in the necessary stock, after which they
ate and were cheered. And whenever the price of the platter was
expended, Aladdin would take another and carry it to the accursed Jew,
who brought each and every at a pitiful price; and even this he would
have minished but, seeing how he had paid a dinar for the first, he
feared to offer a lesser sum, lest the lad go and sell to some rival in
trade and thus he lose his usurious gains. Now when all the golden
platters were sold, there remained only the silver tray whereupon they
stood, and for that it was large and weighty, Aladdin brought the Jew to
his house and produced the article when the buyer, seeing its size, gave
him ten dinars, and these being accepted, went his ways.
Aladdin and his mother lived upon the sequins until they were spent,
then he brought out the lamp and rubbed it, and straightway appeared the
slave who had shown himself aforetime. And said the lad: "I desire that
thou bring me a tray of food like unto that thou broughtest me
erewhiles, for indeed I am famisht." Accordingly, in the glance of an
eye the slave produced a similar tray supporting twelve platters of the
most sumptuous, furnished with requisite cates, and thereon stood clean
bread and sundry glass bottles of strained wine. Now Aladdin's mother
had gone out when she knew he was about to rub the lamp, that she might
not again look upon the Jinni; but after a while she returned, and when
she sighted the tray covered with silvern platters and smelt the savor
of the rich meats diffused over the house, she marveled and rejoiced.
Thereupon quoth he: "Look, O my mother! Thou badest me throw away the
lamp. See now its virtues," and quoth she, "O my son, Allah increase his
weal, but I would not look upon him." Then the lad sat down with his
parent to the tray and they ate and drank until they were satisfied,
after which they removed what remained for use on the morrow.
As soon as the meats had been consumed, Aladdin arose and stowed away
under his clothes a platter of the platters and went forth to find the
Jew, purposing to sell it to him, but by fiat of Fate he passed by the
shop of an ancient jeweler, an honest man and a pious who feared Allah.
When the Sheikh saw the lad, he asked him, saying: "O my son, what dost
thou want? For that times manifold have I seen thee passing hereby and
having dealings with a Jewish man, and I have espied thee handing over
to him sundry articles. Now also I fancy thou hast somewhat for sale and
thou seekest him as a buyer thereof. But thou wottest not, O my child,
that the Jews ever hold lawful to them the good of Moslems, the
confessors of Allah Almighty's unity, and always defraud them,
especially this accursed Jew with whom thou hast relations and into
whose hands thou hast fallen. If then, O my son, thou have aught thou
wouldest sell, show the same to me and never fear, for I will give thee
its full price, by the truth of Almighty Allah."
Thereupon Aladdin brought out the platter, which when the ancient
goldsmith saw, he took and weighed it in his scales and asked the lad,
saying, "Was it the fellow of this thou soldest to the Jew?" "Yes, its
fellow and its brother," he answered, and quoth the old man, "What price
did he pay thee?" Quoth the lad, "One dinar." The ancient goldsmith,
hearing from Aladdin how the Jew used to give only one dinar as the
price of the platter, cried, "Ah! I take refuge from this accursed who
cozeneth the servants of Allah Almighty!" Then, looking at the lad, he
exclaimed: "O my son, verily yon tricksy Jew hath cheated thee and
laughed at thee, this platter being pure silver and virginal. I have
weighed it and found it worth seventy dinars, and, if thou please to
take its value,-take it." Thereupon the Sheikh counted out to him
seventy gold pieces, which he accepted, and presently thanked him for
his kindness in exposing the Jew's rascality.
And after this, whenever the price of a platter was expended, he
would bring another, and on such wise he and his mother were soon in
better circumstances. Yet they ceased not to live after their olden
fashion as middle-class folk, without spending on diet overmuch or
squandering money. But Aladdin had now thrown off the ungraciousness of
his boyhood. He shunned the society of scapegraces and he began to
frequent good men and true, repairing daily to the market street of the
merchants and there companying with the great and small of them, asking
about matters of merchandise and learning the price of investments and
so forth. He likewise frequented the bazaars of the goldsmiths and the
jewelers, where he would sit and divert himself by inspecting their
precious stones and by noting how jewels were sold and bought therein.
Accordingly, he presently became ware that the tree truits wherewith he
had filled his pockets what time he entered the enchanged treasury were
neither glass nor crystal, but gems rich and rare, and he understood
that he had acquired immense wealth such as the kings never can possess.
He then considered all the precious stones which were in the jewelers'
quarter, but found that their biggest was not worth his smallest.
On this wise he ceased not every day repairing to the bazaar and
making himself familiar with the folk and winning their loving will, and
inquiring anent selling and buying, giving and taking, the dear and the
cheap, until one day of the days when, after rising at dawn and donning
his dress he went forth, as was his wont, to the jewelers' bazaar and as
he passed along it he heard the crier crying as follows: "By command of
our magnificent master, the King of the Time and the Lord of the Age and
the Tide, let all the folk lock up their shops and stores and retire
within their houses, for that the Lady Badr al-Budur, daughter of the
Sultan, designeth to visit the hammam. And whoso gainsayeth the order
shall be punished with death penalty, and be his blood upon his own
neck!" But when Aladdin heard the proclamation, he longed to look upon
the King's daughter and said in his mind, "Indeed all the lieges talk of
her beauty and loveliness, and the end of my desires is to see her."
Then Aladdin fell to contriving some means whereby he might look upon
the Princess Badr al-Budur, and at last judged best to take his station
behind the hammam door, whence he might see her face as she entered.
Accordingly, without stay or delay he repaired to the baths before she
was expected and stood a-rear of the entrance, a place whereat none of
the folk happened to be looking.
Now when the Sultan's daughter had gone the rounds of the city and
its main streets and had solaced herself by sight-seeing, she finally
reached the hammam, and whilst entering she raised her veil and Aladdin
saw her favor, he said: "In very truth her fashion magnifieth her
Almighty Fashioner, and glory be to Him Who created her and adorned her
with this beauty and loveliness." His strength was struck down from the
moment he saw her and his thoughts were distraught. His gaze was dazed,
the love of her gat hold of the whole of his heart, and when he returned
home to his mother, he was as one in ecstasy. His parent addressed him,
but he neither replied nor denied, and, when she set before him the
morning meal he continued in like case, so quoth she: "O my son, what
is't may have befallen thee? Say me, doth aught ail thee? Let me know
what ill hath betided thee, for, unlike thy custom, thou speakest not
when I bespeak thee." Thereupon Aladdin (who used to think that all
women resembled his mother and who, albeit he had heard of the charms of
Badr al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan, yet knew not what "beauty" and
"loveliness" might signify) turned to his parent and exclaimed, "Let me
be!" However, she persisted in praying him to come forward and eat, so
he did her bidding, but hardly touched food. After which he lay at full
length on his bed all the night through in cogitation deep until morning
morrowed.
The same was his condition during the next day, when his mother was
perplexed for the case of her son and unable to learn what had happened
to him. So, thinking that belike he might be ailing, she drew near him
and asked him, saying: "O my son, an thou sense aught of pain or
suchlike, let me know, that I may fare forth and fetch thee the
physician. And today there be in this our city a leech from the land of
the Arabs whom the Sultan hath sent to summon, and the bruit abroad
reporteth him to be skillful exceedingly. So, an be thou ill, let me go
and bring him to thee." Aladdin, hearing his parent's offer to summon
the mediciner, said: "O my mother, I am well in body and on no wise ill.
But I ever thought that all women resembled thee until yesterday, when I
beheld the Lady Badr al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan, as she was faring
for the baths."
Then he related to her all and everything that had happened to him,
adding: "Haply thou also hast heard the crier a-crying: 'Let no man open
shop or stand in street that the Lady Badr al-Budur may repair to the
hammam without eye seeing her.' But I have looked upon her even as she
is, for she raised her veil at the door, and when I viewed her favor and
beheld that noble work of the Creator, a sore fit of ecstasy, O my
mother, fell upon me for love of her, and firm resolve to win her hath
opened its way into every limb of me, nor is repose possible for me
except I win her. Wherefor I purpose asking her to wife from the Sultan,
her sire, in lawful wedlock." When Aladdin's mother heard her son's
words, she belittled his wits and cried: "O my child, the name of Allah
upon thee! Meseemeth thou hast lost thy senses. But be thou rightly
guided, O my son, nor be thou as the men Jinn-maddened!" He replied:
"Nay, O mother of mine, I am not out of my mind, nor am I of the
maniacs, nor shall this thy saying alter one jot of what is in my
thoughts. For rest is impossible to me until I shall have won the
dearling of my heart's core, the beautiful Lady Badr al-Budur. And now I
am resolved to ask her of her sire the Sultan."
She rejoined: "O my son, by my life upon thee, speak not such speech,
lest any overhear thee and say thou be insane. So cast away from thee
such nonsense! Who shall undertake a matter like this, or make such
request to the King? Indeed, I know not how, supposing thy speech to be
soothfast, thou shalt manage to crave such grace of the Sultan, or
through whom thou desirest to propose it." He retorted: "Through whom
shall I ask it, O my mother, when thou art present? And who is there
fonder and more faithful to me than thyself? So my design is that thou
thyself shalt proffer this my petition." Quoth she: "O my son, Allah
remove me far therefrom! What! Have I lost my wits, like thyself? Cast
the thought away, and a long way, from thy heart. Remember whose son
thou art, O my child, the orphan boy of a tailor, the poorest and
meanest of the tailors toiling in this city; and I, thy mother, am also
come of pauper folk and indigent. How then durst thou ask to wife the
daughter of the Sultan, whose sire would not deign marry her with the
sons of the kings and the sovereigns, except they were his peers in
honor and grandeur and majesty, and were they but one degree lower, he
would refuse his daughter to them." Aladdin took patience until his
parent had said her say, when quoth he: "O my mother, everything thou
hast called to mind is known to me. Moreover, 'tis thoroughly well known
to me that I am the child of pauper parents, withal do not these words
of thee divert me from my design at all, at all. Nor the less do I hope
of thee, an I be thy son and thou truly love me, that thou grant me this
favor. Otherwise thou wilt destroy me, and present death hovereth over
my head except I win my will of heart's dearling. And I, O my mother, am
in every case thy child."
Hearing these words, his parent wept of her sorrow for him and said:
"O my child! Yes, in very deed I am thy mother, nor have I any son or
life's blood of my liver except thyself, and the end of my wishes is to
give thee a wife and rejoice in thee. But suppose that I would seek a
bride of our likes and equals, her people will at once ask an thou have
any land or garden, merchandise or handicraft, wherewith thou canst
support her, and what is the reply I can return? Then, if I cannot
possibly answer the poor like ourselves, how shall I be bold enough, O
my son, to ask for the daughter of the Sultan of China land, who hath no
peer or behind or before him? Therefore do thou weigh this matter in thy
mind. Also who shall ask her to wife for the son of a snip? Well indeed
I wot that my saying aught of this kind will but increase our
misfortunes, for that it may be the cause of our incurring mortal danger
from the Sultan- peradventure even death for thee and me.
"And, as concerneth myself, how shall I venture upon such rash deed
and perilous, O my son? And in what way shall I ask the Sultan for his
daughter to be thy wife, and indeed how ever shall I even get access to
him? And should I succeed therein, what is to be my answer an they ask
me touching thy means? Haply the King will hold me to be a madwoman. And
lastly, suppose that I obtain audience of the Sultan, what offering is
there I can submit to the King's majesty? 'Tis true, O my child, that
the Sultan is mild and merciful, never rejecting any who approach him to
require justice or ruth or protection, nor any who pray him for a
present, for he is liberal and lavisheth favor upon near and far. But he
dealeth his boons to those deserving them, to men who have done some
derring-do in battle under his eyes or have rendered as civilians great
service to his estate. But thou! Do thou tell me what feat thou hast
performed in his presence or before the public that thou meritest from
him such grace? And secondly, this boon thou ambitionest is not for one
of our condition, nor is it possible that the King grant to thee the
bourne of thine aspiration. For whoso goeth to the Sultan and craveth of
him a favor, him it besitteth to take in hand somewhat that suiteth the
royal majesty, as indeed I warned thee aforetime. How, then, shalt thou
risk thyself to stand before the Sultan and ask his daughter in marriage
when thou hast with thee naught to offer him of that which beseemeth his
exalted station?"
Hereto Aladdin replied: "O my mother, thou speakest to the point and
hast reminded me aright, and 'tis meet that I revolve in mind the whole
of thy remindings. But, O my mother, the love of Princess Badr al-Budur
hath entered into the core of my heart, nor can I rest without I win
her. However, thou hast also recalled to me a matter which I forgot, and
'tis this emboldeneth me to ask his daughter of the King. Albeit thou, O
my mother, declarest that I have no gift which I can submit to the
Sultan, as is the wont of the world, yet in very sooth I have an
offering and a present whose equal, O my mother, I hold none of the
kings to possess- no, even aught like it. Because verily that which I
deemed glass or crystal was nothing but precious stones, and I hold that
all the kings of the world have never possessed anything like one of the
smallest thereof. For by frequenting the jeweler folk I have learned
that they are the costliest gems, and these are what I brought in my
pockets from the hoard, whereupon, an thou please, compose thy mind.
"We have in our house a bowl of China porcelain, so arise thou and
fetch it, that I may fill it with these jewels, which thou shalt carry
as a gift to the King, and thou shalt stand in his presence and solicit
him for my requirement. I am certified that by such means the matter
will become easy to thee, and if thou be unwilling, O my mother, to
strive for the winning of my wish as regards the Lady Badr al-Budur,
know thou that surely I shall die. Nor do thou imagine that this gift is
of aught save the costliest of stones, and be assured, O my mother, that
in my many visits to the jewelers' bazaar I have observed the merchants
selling for sums man's judgment may not determine jewels whose beauty is
not worth one quarter-carat of what we possess, seeing which I was
certified that ours are beyond all price. So arise, O my mother, as I
bade thee, and bring me the porcelain bowl aforesaid, that I may arrange
therein some of these gems, and we will see what semblance they show."
So she brought him the china bowl, saying in herself, "I shall know
what to do when I find out if the words of my child concerning these
jewels be soothfast or not." And she set it before her son, who pulled
the stones out of his pockets and disposed them in the bowl, and ceased
not arranging therein gems of sorts till such time as he had filled it.
And when it was brimful, she could not fix her eyes firmly upon it; on
the contrary, she winked and blinked for the dazzle of the stones and
their radiance and excess of lightninglike glance, and her wits were
bewildered thereat. Only she was not certified of their value being
really of the enormous extent she had been told. Withal she reflected
that possibly her son might have spoken aright when he declared that
their like was not to be found with the kings. Then Aladdin turned to
her and said: "Thou hast-seen, O my mother, that this present intended
for the Sultan is magnificent, and I am certified that it will procure
for thee high honor with him, and that he will receive thee with all
respect. And now, O my mother, thou hast no excuse, so compose thy
thoughts and arise. Take thou this bowl, and away with it to the
palace."
His mother rejoined: "O my son, 'tis true that the present is
highpriced exceedingly and the costliest of the costly, also that
according to thy word none owneth its like. But who would have the
boldness to go and ask the Sultan for his daughter, the Lady Badr
al-Budur? I indeed dare not say to him, 'I want thy daughter!' when he
shall ask me, 'What is thy want?' For know thou, O my son, that my
tongue will be tied. And granting that Allah assist me and I embolden
myself to say to him, 'My wish is to become a connection of thine
through the marriage of thy daughter the Lady Badr al-Budur, to my son
Aladdin,' they will surely decide at once that I am demented and will
thrust me forth in disgrace and despised. I will not tell thee that I
shall thereby fall into danger of death, for 'twill not be I only, but
thou likewise. However, O my son, of my regard for thine inclination I
needs must embolden myself and hie thither. Yet, O my. child, if the
King receive me and honor me on account of the gift and inquire of me
what thou desirest, and in reply I ask of him that which thou desirest
in the matter of thy marriage with his daughter, how shall I answer him
and he ask me, as is man's wont, 'What estates hast thou, and what
income?' And perchance, O my son, he will question me of this before
questioning me of thee."
Aladdin replied: "'Tis not possible that the Sultan should make such
demand what time he considereth the jewels and their magnificence, nor
is it meet to think of such things as these, which may never occur. Now
do thou but arise and set before him this present of precious stones and
ask of him his daughter for me, and sit not yonder making much of the
difficulty in thy fancy. Ere this thou hast learned, O mother mine, that
the lamp which we possess hath become to us a stable income, and that
whatso I want of it the same is supplied to me. And my hope is that by
means thereof I shall learn how to answer the Sultan should he ask me of
that thou sayest." Then Aladdin and his mother fell to talking over the
subject all that night long, and when morning morrowed, the dame arose
and heartened her heart, especially as her son had expounded to her some
little of the powers of the lamp and the virtues thereof; to wit, that
it would supply all they required of it. Aladdin, however, seeing his
parent take courage when he explained to her the workings of the lamp,
feared lest she might tattle to the folk thereof, so he said to her: "O
my mother, beware how thou talk to any of the properties of the lamp and
its profit, as this is our one great good. Guard thy thoughts lest thou
speak overmuch concerning it before others, whoso they be. Haply we
shall lose it and lose the boon fortune we possess and the benefits we
expect, for that 'tis of him." His mother replied, "Fear not therefor, O
my son," and she arose and took the bowl full of jewels, which she
wrapped up in a fine kerchief, and went forth betimes that she might
reach the Divan ere it became crowded.
When she passed into the palace, the levee not being fully attended,
she saw the wazirs and sundry of the lords of the land going into the
presence room, and after a short time, when the Divan was made complete
by the Ministers and high officials and chieftains and emirs and
grandees, the Sultan appeared, and the wazirs made their obeisance and
likewise did the nobles and the notables. The King seated himself upon
the throne of his kingship, and all present at the levee stood before
him with crossed arms awaiting his commandment to sit, and when they
received it, each took his place according to his degree. Then the
claimants came before the Sultan, who delivered sentence, after his
wonted way, until the Divan was ended, when the King arose and withdrew
into the palace and the others all went their ways. And when Aladdin's
mother saw the throne empty and the King passing into his harem, she
also wended her ways and returned home. But as soon as her son espied
her, bowl in hand, he thought that haply something untoward had befallen
her, but he would not ask of aught until such time as she had set down
the bowl, when she acquainted him with that had occurred and ended by
adding: "Alhamdolillah- laud to the Lord!- O my child, that I found
courage enough and secured for myself standing place in the levee this
day. And, albe' I dreaded to bespeak the King yet (Inshallah!) on the
morrow I will address him. Even today were many who, like myself, could
not get audience of the Sultan. But be of good cheer, O my son, and
tomorrow needs must I bespeak him for thy sake, and what happened not
may happen." When Aladdin heard his parent's words, he joyed with
excessive joy, and, although he expected the matter to be managed hour
by hour, for excess of his love and longing to the Lady Badr al-Budur,
yet he possessed his soul in patience.
They slept well that night, and betimes next morning the mother of
Aladdin arose and went with her bowl to the King's Court, which she
found closed. So she asked the people and they told her that the Sultan
did not hold a levee every day, but only thrice in the sennight,
wherefor she determined to return home. And after this, whenever she saw
the Court open she would stand before the King until the reception
ended, and when it was shut she would go to make sure thereof, and this
was the case for the whole month. The Sultan was wont to remark her
presence at every levee, but on the last day when she took her station,
as was her wont, before the Council, she allowed it to close, and lacked
boldness to come forward and speak even a syllable. Now as the King,
having risen, was making for his harem accompanied by the Grand Wazir,
he turned to him and said: "O Wazir, during the last six or seven levee
days I see yonder old woman present herself at every reception, and I
also note that she always carrieth a something under her mantilla. Say
me, hast thou, O Wazir, any knowledge of her and her intention?" "O my
lord the Sultan," said the other, "verily women be weakly of wits, and
haply this goodwife cometh hither to complain before thee against her
goodman or some of her people." But this reply was far from satisfying
the Sultan- nay, he bade the Wazir, in case she should come again, set
her before him, and forthright the Minister placed hand on head and
exclaimed, "To hear is to obey, O our lord the Sultan!"
Now one day of the days, when she did according to her custom, the
Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him and said to his
Grand Wazir: "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee yesterday,
so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may see what be her
suit and fulfill her need." Accordingly the Minister at once introduced
her, and when in the presence she saluted the King by kissing her finger
tips and raising them to her brow, and, praying for the Sultan's glory
and continuance and the permanence of his prosperity, bussed ground
before him. Thereupon quoth he: "O woman, for sundry days I have seen
thee attend the levee sans a word said, so tell me an thou have any
requirement I may grant." She kissed ground a second time and after
blessing him, answered: "Yea, verily, as thy head liveth, O King of the
Age, I have a want. But first of all do thou deign grant me a promise of
safety, that I may prefer my suit to the ears of our lord the Sultan,
for haply thy Highness may find it a singular." The King, wishing to
know her need, and being a man of unusual mildness and clemency, gave
his word for her immunity and bade forthwith dismiss all about him,
remaining without other but the Grand Wazir. Then he turned toward his
suppliant and said: "Inform me of thy suit. Thou hast the safeguard of
Allah Almighty." "O King of the Age," replied she, "I also require of
thee pardon," and quoth he, "Allah pardon thee even as I do."
Then quoth she: "O our lord the Sultan, I have a son, Aladdin hight,
and he, one day of the days, having heard the crier commanding all men
to shut shop and shun the streets for that the Lady Badr al-Budur,
daughter of the Sultan, was going to the hammam, felt an uncontrollable
longing to look upon her, and hid himself in a stead whence he could
sight her right well, and that place was behind the door of the baths.
When she entered, he beheld her and considered her as he wished, and but
too well, for since the time he looked upon her, O King of the Age, unto
this hour, life hath not been pleasant to him. And he hath required of
me that I ask her to wife for him from thy Highness, nor could I drive
this fancy from his mind, because love of her hath mastered his vitals
and to such degree that he said to me, 'Know thou, O mother mine, that
an I win not my wish surely I shall die.' Accordingly I hope that thy
Highness will deign be mild and merciful and pardon this boldness on the
part of me and my child and refrain to punish us therefor."
When the Sultan heard her tale, he regarded her with kindness and,
laughing aloud, asked her, "What may be that thou carriest, and what be
in yonder kerchief?" And she, seeing the Sultan laugh in lieu of waxing
wroth at her words, forthright opened the wrapper and set before him the
bowl of jewels, whereby the audience hall was illumined as it were by
lusters and candelabra. And he was dazed and amazed at the radiance of
the rare gems, and he fell to marveling at their size and beauty and
excellence and cried: "Never at all until this day saw I anything like
these jewels for size and beauty and excellence, nor deem I that there
be found in my Treasury a single one like them." Then he turned to his
Minister and asked: "What sayest thou, O Wazir? Tell me, hast thou seen
in thy time such mighty fine jewels as these?" The other answered:
"Never saw I such, O our lord the Sultan, nor do I think that there be
in the treasures of my lord the Sultan the fellow of the least thereof."
The King resumed: "Now indeed whoso hath presented to me such jewels
meriteth to become bridegroom to my daughter, Badr al-Budur, because, as
far as I see, none is more deserving of her than he." When the Wazir
heard the Sultan's words, he was tongue-tied with concern, and he
grieved with sore grief, for the King had promised to give the Princess
in marriage to his son. So after a little while he said: "O King of the
Age, thy Highness deigned promise me that the Lady Badr al-Budur should
be spouse to my son, so 'tis but right that thine Exalted Highness
vouchsafe us a delay of three months, during which time, Inshallah! my
child may obtain and present an offering yet costlier than this."
Accordingly the King, albeit he knew that such a thing could not be
done, or by the Wazir or by the greatest of his grandees, yet of his
grace and kindness granted him the required delay.
Then he turned to the old woman, Aladdin's mother, and said: "Go to
thy son and tell him I have pledged my word that my daughter shall be in
his name. Only 'tis needful that I make the requisite preparations of
nuptial furniture for her use, and 'tis only meet that he take patience
for the next three months." Receiving this reply, Aladdin's mother
thanked the Sultan and blessed him, then, going forth in hottest haste,
as one flying for joy, she went home. And when her son saw her entering
with a smiling face, he was gladdened at the sip of good news,
especially because she had returned without delay, as on the past days,
and had not brought back the bowl. Presently he asked her saying:
"Inshallah, thou bearest me, O my mother, glad tidings, and peradventure
the jewels and their value have wrought their work, and belike thou hast
been kindly received by the King and he hath shown thee grace and hath
given ear to thy request?" So she told him the whole tale, how the
Sultan had entreated her well and had marveled at the extraordinary size
of the gems and their surpassing water, as did also the Wazir, adding:
"And he promised that his daughter should be thine. Only, O my child,
the Wazir spake of a secret contract made with him by the Sultan before
he pledged himself to me and, after speaking privily, the King put me
off to the end of three months. Therefore I have become fearful lest the
Wazir be evilly disposed to thee, and perchance he may attempt to change
the Sultan's mind."
When Aladdin heard his mother's words and how the Sultan had promised
him his daughter, deferring, however, the wedding until after the third
month, his mind was gladdened and he rejoiced exceedingly and said:
Inasmuch as the King hath given his word after three months (well, it is
a long time!), at all events my gladness is mighty great." Then he
thanked his parent, showing her how her good work had exceeded her toil
and travail, and said to her: "By Allah, O my mother, hitherto I was as
'twere in my grave and therefrom thou hast withdrawn me. And I praise
Allah Almighty because I am at this moment certified that no man in the
world is happier than I, or more fortunate." Then he took patience until
two of the three months had gone by.
Now one day of the days his mother fared forth about sundown to the
bazaar that she might buy somewhat of oil, and she found all the market
shops fast shut and the whole city decorated, and the folk placing waxen
tapers and flowers at their casements. And she beheld the soldiers and
household troops and agas riding in procession, and flambeaux and
lusters flaming and flaring, and she wondered at the marvelous sight and
the glamour of the scene. So she went in to an ouman's store which stood
open still and bought her need of him and said: "By thy life, O uncle,
tell me what be the tidings in town this day, that people have made all
these decorations and every house and market street are adorned and the
troops all stand on guard?" The oilman asked her, "O woman, I suppose
thou art a stranger, and not one of this city?" and she answered, "Nay,
I am thy townswoman." He rejoined: "Thou a townswoman, and yet wottest
not that this very night the son of the Grand Wazir goeth in to the Lady
Badr al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan! He is now in the hammam, and all
this power of soldiery is on guard and standing under arms to await his
coming forth, when they will bear him in bridal procession to the
palace, where the Princess expecteth him."
As the mother of Aladdin heard these words, she grieved and was
distraught in thought and perplexed how to inform her son of this
sorrowful event, well knowing that the poor youth was looking, hour by
hour, to the end of the three months. But she returned straightway home
to him, and when she entered she said, "O my son, I would give thee
certain tidings, yet hard to me will be the sorrow they shall occasion
thee." He cried, "Let me know what be thy news," and she replied:
"Verily the Sultan hath broken his promise to thee in the matter of the
Lady Badr al-Budur, and this very night the Grand Wazir's son goeth in
to her. And for some time, O my son, I have suspected that the Minister
would change the King's mind, even as I told thee how he had spoken
privily to him before me." Aladdin asked: "How learnedst thou that the
Wazir's son is this night to pay his first visit to the Princess?" So
she told him the whole tale, how when going to buy oil she had found the
city decorated and the eunuch officials and lords of the land with the
troops under arms awaiting the bridegroom from the baths, and that the
first visit was appointed for that very night.
Hearing this, Aladdin was seized with a fever of jealousy brought on
by his grief. However, after a short while he remembered the lamp and,
recovering his spirits, said: "By thy life, O my mother, do thou believe
that the Wazir's son will not enjoy her as thou thinkest. But now leave
we this discourse, and arise thou and serve up supper, and after eating
let me retire to my own chamber and all will be well and happy." After
he had supped Aladdin retired to his chamber and, locking the door,
brought out the lamp and rubbed it, whenas forthright appeared to him
its familiar, who said: "Ask whatso thou wantest, for I am thy slave and
slave to him who holdeth the lamp in hand, I and all the Slaves of the
Lamp." He replied: "Hear me! I prayed the Sultan for his daughter to
wife and he plighted her to me after three months, but he hath not kept
his word- nay, he hath given her to the son of the Wazir, and this very
night the bridegroom will go in to her. Therefore I command thee (an
thou be a trusty servitor to the lamp), when thou shalt see bride and
bridegroom bedded together this night, at once take them up and bear
them hither abed. And this be what I want of thee." The Marid replied,
"Hearing and obeying, and if thou have other service but this, do thou
demand of me all thou desirest." Aladdin rejoined, "At the present time
I require naught save that I bade thee do."
Hereupon the slave disappeared and Aladdin returned to pass the rest
of the evening with his mother. But at the hour when he knew that the
servitor would be coming, he arose and retired to his chamber, and after
a little while, behold, the Marid came, bring to him the newly wedded
couple upon their bridal bed. Aladdin rejoiced to see them with
exceeding joy, then he cried to the slave, "Carry yonder gallowsbird
hence and lay him at full length in the privy." His bidding was done
straightway, but before leaving him, the slave blew upon the bridegroom
a blast so cold that it shriveled him, and the plight of the Wazir's son
became piteous. Then the servitor, returning to Aladdin, said to him,
"An thou require aught else, inform me thereof," and said the other,
"Return a-morn, that thou mayest restore them to their stead," whereto,
"I hear and obey," quoth the Marid, and evanished.
Presently Aladdin arose, hardly believing that the affair had been
such a success for him, but whenas he looked upon the Lady Badr al-Budur
lying under his own roof, albeit he had long burned with her love, yet
he preserved respect for her and said: "O Princess of fair ones, think
not that I brought thee hither to minish thy honor. Heaven forfend! Nay,
'twas only to prevent the wrong man enjoying thee, for that thy sire,
the Sultan, promised thee to me. So do thou rest in peace." When the
Lady Badr al-Budur, daughter of the Sultan, saw herself in that mean and
darksome lodging, and heard Aladdin's words, she was seized with fear
and trembling and waxed clean distraught, nor could she return aught of
reply. Presently the youth arose, and stripping off his outer dress,
placed a scimitar between them and lay upon the bed beside the Princess.
And he did no villain deed, for it sufficed him to prevent the
consummation of her nuptials with the Wazir's son. On the other hand,
the Lady Badr al-Budur passed a night the evilest of all nights, nor in
her born days had she seen a worse. And the same was the case with the
Minister's son, who lay in the chapel of ease and who dared not stir for
the fear of the Jinni which overwhelmed him.
As soon as it was morning the slave appeared before Aladdin without
the lamp being rubbed, and said to him: "O my lord, an thou require
aught, command me therefor, that I may do it upon my head and mine
eyes." Said the other: "Go, take up and carry the bride and bridegroom
to their own apartment." So the servitor did his bidding in an eye
glance and bore away the pair and placed them in the palace as whilom
they were and without their seeing anyone. But both died of affright
when they found themselves being transported from stead to stead. And
the Marid had barely time to set them down and wend his ways ere the
Sultan came on a visit of congratulation to his daughter. And when the
Wazir's son heard the doors thrown open, he sprang straightway from his
couch and donned his dress, for he knew that none save the King could
enter at that hour. Yet it was exceedingly hard for him to leave his
bed, wherein he wished to warm himself a trifle after his cold night in
the watercloset which he had lately left. The Sultan went in to his
daughter, Badr al-Budur, and, kissing her between the eyes, gave her
good morning and asked her of her bridegroom and whether she was pleased
and satisfied with him. But she returned no reply whatever and looked at
him with the eye of anger, and although he repeated his words again and
again, she held her peace, nor bespake him with a single syllable.
So the King quitted her and, going to the Queen, informed her of what
had taken place, between him and his daughter, and the mother, unwilling
to leave the Sultan angered with their child, said to him: "O King of
the Age, this be the custom of most newly married couples, at least
during their first days of marriage, for that they are bashful and
somewhat coy. So deign thou excuse her, and after a little while she
will again become herself and speak with the folk as before, whereas now
her shame, O King of the Age, keepeth her silent. However, 'tis my wish
to fare forth and see her." Thereupon the Queen arose and donned her
dress, then, going to her daughter, wished her good morning and kissed
her between the eyes. Yet would the Princess make no answer at all,
whereat quoth the Queen to herself: "Doubtless some strange matter hath
occurred to trouble her with such trouble as this." So she asked her,
saying: "O my daughter, what hath caused this thy case? Let me know what
hath betided thee that when I come and give thee good morniing, thou
hast not a word to say to me." Thereat the Lady Badr al-Budur raised her
head and said: "Pardon me, O my mother, 'twas my duty to meet thee with
all respect and worship, seeing that thou hast honored me by this visit.
However, I pray thee to hear the cause of this my condition and see how
the night I have just spent hath been to me the evilest of the nights.
Hardly had we lain down, O my mother, than one whose form I wot not
uplifted our bed and transported it to a darksome place, fulsome and
mean."
Then the Princess related to the Queen Mother all that had befallen
her that night- how they had taken away her bridegroom, leaving her lone
and lonesome, and how after a while came another youth who lay beside
her in lieu of her bridegroom, after placing his scimitar between her
and himself. "And in the morning," she continued, "he who carried us off
returned and bore us straight back to our own stead. But at once when he
arrived hither he left us, and suddenly my sire, the Sultan, entered at
the hour and moment of our coming and I had nor heart nor tongue to
speak him withal, for the stress of the terror and trembling which came
upon me. Haply such lack of duty may have proved sore to him, so I hope,
O my mother, that thou wilt acquaint him with the cause of this my
condition, and pardon me for not answering him and blame me not, accept
my excuses."
When the Queen heard these words of Princess Badr al-Budur, she said
to her: "O my child, compose thy thoughts. An thou tell such tale before
any, haply shall he say, 'Verily, the Sultan's daughter hath lost her
wits.' And thou hast done right well in not choosing to recount thine
adventure to thy father, and beware, and again I say beware, O my
daughter, lest thou inform him thereof." The Princess replied: "O my
mother, I have spoken to thee like one sound in senses, nor have I lost
my wits. This be what befell me, and if thou believe it not because
coming from me, ask my bridegroom." To which the Queen replied: "Rise up
straightway, O my daughter, and banish from thy thoughts such fancies as
these. And robe thyself and come forth to glance at the bridal feasts
and festivities they are making in the city for the sake of thee and thy
nuptials, and listen to the drumming and the singing and look at the
decorations all intended to honor thy marriage, O my daughter."
So saying, the Queen at once summoned the tirewoman, who dressed and
prepared the Lady Badr al-Budur, and presently she went in to the Sultan
and assured him that their daughter had suffered during all her wedding
night from swevens and nightmare, and said to him, "Be not severe with
her for not answering thee." Then the Queen sent privily for the Wazir's
son and asked of the matter, saying, "Tell me, are these words of the
Lady Badr al-Budur soothfast or not?" But he, in his fear of losing his
bride out of hand, answered, "O my lady, I have no knowledge of that
whereof thou speakest." Accordingly the mother made sure that her
daughter had seen visions and dreams. The marriage feasts lasted
throughout that day with almes and singers and the smiting of all manner
instruments of mirth and merriment, while the Queen and the Wazir and
his son strave right strenuously to enhance the festivities that the
Princess might enjoy herself. And that day they left nothing of what
exciteth to pleasure unrepresented in her presence, to the end that she
might forget what was in her thoughts and derive increase of joyance.
Yet did naught of this take any effect upon her- nay, she sat in
silence, sad of thought, sore perplexed at what had befallen her during
the last night. It is true that the Wazir's son had suffered even more
he had passed his sleeping hours lying in the watercloset. He, however
had falsed the story and had cast out remembrance of the night, in the
first place for his fear of losing his bride and with her the honor of a
connection which brought him such excess of consideration and for which
men envied him so much, and secondly, on account of the wondrous
loveliness of the Lady Badr al-Budur and her marvelous beauty.
Aladdin also went forth that day and looked at the merrymakings,
which extended throughout the city as well as the palace, and he fell
a-laughing, especially when he heard the folk prating of the high honor
which had accrued to the son of the Wazir and the prosperity of his
fortunes in having become son-in-law to the Sultan, and the high
consideration shown by the wedding fetes. And he said in his mind:
"Indeed ye wot not, O ye miserables, what befell him last night, that ye
envy him!" But after darkness fell and it was time for sleep, Aladdin
arose and, retiring to his chamber, rubbed the lamp, whereupon the slave
incontinently appeared and was bidden to bring him the Sultan's
daughter, together with her bridegroom, as on the past night, ere the
Wazir's son could abate her maidenhead. So the Marid without stay or
delay evanished for a little while until the appointed time, when he
returned carrying the bed whereon lay the Lady Badr al-Budur and the
Wazir's son. And he did with the bridegroom as he had done before; to
wit, he took him and laid him at full length in the jakes and there left
him dried-up for excess of fear and trembling. Then Aladdin arose and,
placing the scimitar between himself and the Princess, lay down beside
her, and when day broke the slave restored the pair to their own place,
leaving Aladdin filled with delight at the state of the Minister's son.
Now when the Sultan woke up a-morn, he resolved to visit his daughter
and see if she would treat him as on the past day. So, shaking off his
sleep, he sprang up and arrayed himself in his raiment, and going to the
apartment of the Princess, bade open the door. Thereat the son of the
Wazir arose forthright and came down from his bed and began donning his
dress whilst his ribs were wrung with cold. For when the King entered
the slave had but just brought him back. The Sultan, raising the arras,
drew near his daughter as she lay abed and gave her good morning. Then,
kissing her between the eyes, he asked her of her case. But he saw her
looking sour and sad, and she answered him not at all only glowering at
him as one in anger, and her plight was pitiable. Hereat the Sultan
waxed wroth with her for that she would not reply, and he suspected that
something evil had befallen her, whereupon he bared his blade and cried
to her, brand in hand, saying: "What be this hath betided thee? Either
acquaint me with what happened or this very moment I will take thy life!
Is such conduct the token of honor and respect I expect of thee, that I
address thee and thou answerest me not a word?"
When the Lady Badr al-Budur saw her sire in high dudgeon and the
naked glaive in his grip, she was freed from her fear of the past, so
she raised her head and said to him: "O my beloved father, be not wroth
with me, nor be hasty in thy hot passion, for I am excusable in what
thou shalt see of my case. So do thou lend an ear to what occurred to
me, and well I wot that after hearing my account of what befell to me
during these two last nights, thou wilt pardon me, and thy Highness will
be softened to pitying me even as I claim of thee affection for thy
child." Then the Princess informed her father of all that had betided
her, adding: "O my sire, an thou believe me not, ask my bridegroom and
he will recount to thy Highness the whole adventure. Nor did I know
either what they would do with him when they bore him away from my side
or where they would place him." When the Sultan heard his daughter's
words, he was saddened and his eyes brimmed with tears, then he sheathed
his saber and kissed her, saying: "O my daughter, wherefore didst thou
not tell me what happened on the past night, that I might have guarded
thee from this torture and terror which visited thee a second time? But
now 'tis no matter. Rise and cast out all such care, and tonight I will
set a watch to ward thee, nor shall any mishap again make thee
miserable."
Then the Sultan returned to his palace and straightway bade summon
the Grand Wazir and asked him as he stood before him in his service: "O
Wazir, how dost thou look upon this matter? Haply thy son hath informed
thee of what occurred to him and to my daughter." The Minister replied,
"O King of the Age, I have not seen my son or yesterday or today."
Hereat the Sultan told him all that had afflicted the Princess, adding:
"'Tis my desire that thou at once seek tidings of thy son concerning the
facts of the case. Peradventure of her fear my daughter may not be fully
aware of what really befell her, withal I hold all her words to be
truthful." So the Grand Wazir arose, and going forth, bade summon his
son and asked him anent all his lord had told him whether it be true or
untrue. The youth replied: "O my father the Wazir, Heaven forbid that
the Lady Badr al-Budur speak falsely. Indeed all she said was sooth, and
these two nights proved to us the evilest of our nights instead of being
nights of pleasure and marriage joys. But what befell me was the greater
evil, because instead of sleeping abed with my bride, I lay in the
wardrobe, a black hole, frightful, noisome of stench, truly damnable,
and my ribs were bursten with cold." In fine, the young man told his
father the whole tale, adding as he ended it: "O dear father mine, I
implore thee to speak with the Sultan that he may set me free from this
marriage. Yes, indeed 'tis a high honor for me to be the Sultan's
son-in-law, and especially the love of the Princess hath gotten hold of
my vitals, but I have no strength left to endure a single night like
unto these two last."
The Wazir, hearing the words of his son, was saddened and sorrowful
exceedingly, for it was his desire to advance and promote his child by
making him son-in-law to the Sultan. So he became thoughtful and
perplexed about the affair and the device whereby to manage it, and it
was sore grievous for him to break off the marriage, it having been a
rare enjoyment to him that he had fallen upon such high good fortune.
Accordingly he said: "Take patience, O my son, until we see what may
happen this night, when we will set watchmen to ward you. Nor do thou
give up the exalted distinction which hath fallen to none save to
thyself." Then the Wazir left him and, returning to the sovereign,
reported that all told to him by the Lady Badr al-Budur was a true tale.
Whereupon quoth the Sultan, "Since the affair is on this wise, we
require no delay," and he at once ordered all the rejoicings to cease
and the marriage to be broken off. This caused the folk and the citizens
to marvel at the matter, especially when they saw the Grand Wazir and
his son leaving the palace in pitiable plight for grief and stress of
passion, and the people fell to asking, "What hath happened, and what is
the cause of the wedding being made null and void?"
Nor did any know aught of the truth save Aladdin, the lover who
claimed the Princess's hand, and he laughed in his sleeve. But even
after the marriage was dissolved, the Sultan forgot nor even recalled to
mind his promise made to Aladdin's mother, and the same was the case
with the Grand Wazir, while neither had any inkling of whence befell
them that which had befallen. So Aladdin patiently awaited the lapse of
the three months after which the Sultan had pledged himself to give him
to wife his daughter. But soon as ever the term came, he sent his mother
to the Sultan for the purpose of requiring him to keep his covenant. So
she went to the palace, and when the King appeared in the Divan and saw
the old woman standing before him, he remembered his promise to her
concerning the marriage after a term of three months, and he turned to
the Minister and said: "O Wazir, this be the ancient dame who presented
me with the jewels and to whom we pledged our word that when the three
months had elapsed we would summon her to our presence before all
others." So the Minister went forth and fetched her, and when she went
in to the Sultan's presence she saluted him and prayed for his glory and
permanence of prosperity. Hereat the King asked her if she needed aught,
and she answered: "O King of the Age, the three months' term thou
assignedst to me is finished, and this is thy time to my son Aladdin
with thy daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur."
The Sultan was distraught at this demand, especially when he saw the
old woman's pauper condition, one of the meanest of her kind, and yet
the offering she had brought to him was of the most magnificent, far
beyond his power to pay the price. Accordingly he turned to the Grand
Wazir and said: "What device is there with thee? In very sooth I did
pass my word, yet meseemeth that they be pauper folk, and not persons of
high condition." The Grand Wazir, who was dying of envy and who was
especially saddened by what had befallen his son, said to himself, "How
shall one like this wed the King's daughter and my son lose this
highmost honor?" Accordingly he answered his sovereign, speaking
privily: "O my lord, 'tis an easy matter to keep off a poor devil such
as this, for he is not worthy that thy Highness give his daughter to a
fellow whom none knoweth what he may be." "By what means," inquired the
Sultan, "shall we put off the man when I pledged my promise, and the
word of the kings is their bond?" Replied the Wazir: "O my lord, my rede
is that thou demand of him forty platters made of pure sand gold and
full of gems (such as the woman brought thee aforetime), with forty
white slave girls to carry the platters and forty black eunuch slaves."
The King rejoined: "By Allah, O Wazir, thou hast spoken to the purpose,
seeing that such thing is not possible, and by this way we shall be
freed."
Then quoth he to Aladdin's mother: "Do thou go and tell thy son that
I am a man of my word even as I plighted it to him, but on condition
that he have power to pay the dower of my daughter. And that which I
require of him is a settlement consisting of twoscore platters of virgin
gold, all brimming with gems the like of those thou broughtest to me,
and as many white handmaids to carry them and twoscore black eunuch
slaves to serve and escort the bearers. An thy son avail hereto, I will
marry him with my daughter." Thereupon she returned home wagging her
head and saying in her mind: "Whence can my poor boy procure these
platters and such jewels? And granted that he return to the enchanted
treasury and pluck them from the trees- which, however, I hold
impossible- yet given that he bring them, whence shall he come by the
girls and the blacks?" Nor did she leave communing with herself till she
reached her home, where she found Aladdin awaiting her, and she lost no
time in saying: "O my son, did I not tell thee never to fancy that thy
power would extend to the Lady Badr al-Budur, and that such a matter is
not possible to folk like ourselves?"
"Recount to me the news," quoth he, so quoth she: "O my child, verily
the Sultan received me with all honor according to his custom, and
meseemeth his intentions toward us be friendly. But thine enemy is that
accursed Wazir, for after I addressed the King in thy name as thou
badest me say, 'In very sooth the promised term is past,' adding, "Twere
well an thy Highness would deign issue commandment for the espousals of
thy daughter the Lady Badr al-Budur to my son Aladdin,' he turned to and
addressed the Minister, who answered privily, after which the Sultan
gave me his reply." Then she enumerated the King's demand and said: "O
my son, he indeed expecteth of thee an instant reply, but I fancy that
we have no answer for him." When Aladdin heard these words, he laughed
and said: "O my mother, thou affirmest that we have no answer and thou
deemest the case difficult exceedingly, but compose thy thoughts and
arise and bring me somewhat we may eat. And after we have dined, an the
Compassionate be willing, thou shalt see my reply. Also the Sultan
thinketh like thyself that he hath demanded a prodigious dower in order
to divert me from his daughter, whereas the fact is that he hath
required of me a matter far less than I expected. But do thou fare forth
at once and purchase the provision and leave me to procure thee a
reply."
So she went out to fetch her needful from the bazaar and Aladdin
retired to his chamber and, taking the lamp, rubbed it, when forthright
appeared to him its slave and said, "Ask, O my lord, whatso thou
wantest." The other replied: "I have demanded of the Sultan his daughter
to wife, and he hath required of me forty bowls of purest gold each
weighing ten pounds and all to be filled with gems such as we find in
the gardens of the hoard; furthermore, that they be borne on the heads
of as many white handmaids, each attended by her black eunuch slave,
also forty in full rate. So I desire that thou bring all these into my
presence." "Hearkening and obeying, O my lord," quoth the slave and,
disappearing for the space of an hour or so, presently returned bringing
the platters and jewels, handmaids and eunuchs. Then, setting them
before him, the Marid cried: "This be what thou demandest of me. Declare
now an thou want any matter or service other than this." Aladdin
rejoined: "I have need of naught else, but an I do, I will summon thee
and let thee know."
The slave now disappeared, and after a little while, Aladdin's mother
returned home, and on entering the house, saw the blacks and the
handmaids. Hereat she wondered and exclaimed, "All this proceedeth from
the lamp which Allah perpetuate to my son!" But ere she doffed her
mantilla Aladdin said to her: "O my mother, this be thy time. Before the
Sultan enter his seraglio palace do thou carry to him what he required,
and wend thou with it at once, so may he know that I avail to supply all
he wanteth and yet more. Also that he is beguiled by his Grand wazir,
and the twain imagined vainly that they would baffle me." Then he arose
forthright and opened the house door, when the handmaids and blackamoors
paced forth in pairs, each girl with her eunuch besider her, until they
crowded the quarter, Aladdin's mother foregoing them. And when the folk
of that ward sighted such mighty fine sight and marvelous spectacle, all
stood at gaze and they considered the forms and figures of the
handmaids, marveling at their beauty and loveliness, for each and every
wore robes inwrought with gold and studded with jewels, no dress being
worth less than a thousand dinars. They stared as intently at the bowls,
and albeit these were covered with pieces of brocade, also orfrayed and
dubbed with precious stones, yet the sheen outshot from them dulled the
shine of sun.
Then Aladdin's mother walked forward and all the handmaids and
eunuchs paced behind her in the best of ordinance and disposition, and
the citizens gathered to gaze at the beauty of the damsels, glorifying
God the Most Great, until the train reached the palace and entered it
accompanied by the tailor's widow. Now when the agas and chamberlains
and army officers beheld them, all were seized with surprise, notably by
seeing the handmaids, who each and every would ravish the reason of an
anchorite. And albeit the royal chamberlains and officials were men of
family, the sons of grandees and emirs, yet they could not but
especially wonder at the costly dresses of the girls and the platters
borne upon their heads, nor could they gaze at them open-eyed by reason
of the exceeding brilliance and radiance. Then the nabobs went in and
reported to the King, who forthright bade admit them to the presence
chamber, and Aladdin's mother went in with them.
When they stood before the Sultan, all saluted him with every sign of
respect and worship and prayed for his glory and prosperity. Then they
set down from their heads the bowls at his feet and, having removed the
brocade covers, rested with arms crossed behind them. The Sultan
wondered with exceeding wonder, and was distraught by the beauty of the
handmaids and their loveliness, which passed praise. And his wits were
wildered when he considered the golden bowls brimful of gems which
captured man's vision, and he was perplexed at the marvel until he
became like the dumb, unable to utter a syllable for the excess of his
wonder. Also his sense was stupefied the more when he bethought him that
within an hour or so all these treasures had been collected. Presently
he commanded the slave girls to enter, with what loads they bore, the
dower of the Princess, and when they had done his bidding, Aladdin's
mother came forward and said to the Sultan: "O my lord, this be not much
wherewith to honor the Lady Badr al-Budur, for that she meriteth these
things multiplied times manifold."
Hereat the sovereign turned to the Minister and asked: "What sayest
thou, O Wazir? Is not he who could produce such wealth in a time so
brief, is he not, I say, worthy to become the Sultan's son-in-law and
take the King's daughter to wife?" Then the Minister (although he
marveled at these riches even more than did the Sultan), whose envy was
killing him and growing greater hour by hour, seeing his liege lord
satisfied with the moneys and the dower and yet being unable to fight
against fact, made answer, "'Tis not worthy of her." Withal he fell to
devising a device against the King, that he might withhold the Lady Badr
al-Budur from Aladdin, and accordingly he continued: "O my liege, the
treasures of the universe all of them are not worth a nail paring of thy
daughter. Indeed thy Highness hath prized these things overmuch in
comparison with her."
When the King heard the words of his Grand Wazir, he knew that the
speech was prompted by excess of envy, so, turning to the mother of
Aladdin, he said: "O woman, go to thy son and tell him that I have
accepted of him the dower and stand to my bargain, and that my daughter
be his bride and he my son-in-law. Furthermore, bid him at once make act
of presence that I may become familiar with him. He shall see naught
from me save all honor and consideration, and this night shall be the
beginning of the marriage festivities. Only, as I said to thee, let him
come to me and tarry not." Thereupon Aladdin's mother returned home with
the speed of the storm winds that she might hasten her utmost to
congratulate her son, and she flew with joy at the thought that her boy
was about to become son-in-law to the Sultan.
After her departure the King dismissed the Divan and, entering the
palace of the Princess, bade them bring the bowls and the handmaids
before him and before her, that she also might inspect them. But when
the Lady Badr al-Budur considered the jewels, she waxed distraught and
cried: "Meseemeth that in the treasuries of the world there be not found
one jewel rivaling these jewels." Then she looked at the handmaids and
marveled at their beauty and loveliness, and knew that all this came
from her new bridegroom, who had sent them in her service. So she was
gladdened, albeit she had been grieved and saddened on account of her
former husband, the Wazir's son, and she rejoiced with exceeding joy
when she gazed upon the damsels and their charms. Nor was her sire, the
Sultan, less pleased and inspirited when he saw his daughter relieved of
an her mourning and melancholy, and his own vanished at the sight of her
enjoyment. Then he asked her: "O my daughter, do these things divert
thee? Indeed I deem that this suitor of thine be more suitable to thee
than the son of the Wazir, and right soon, Inshallah! O my daughter,
thou shalt have fuller joy with him."
Such was the case with the King, but as regards Aladdin, as soon as
he saw his mother entering the house with face laughing for stress of
joy he rejoiced at the sign of glad tidings and cried: "To Allah alone
be lauds! Perfected is an I desired." Rejoined his mother: "Be gladdened
at my good news, O my son, and hearten thy heart and cool thine eyes for
the winning of thy wish. The Sultan hath accepted thine offering- I mean
the moneys and the dower of the Lady Badr al-Budur, who is now thine
affianced bride. And this very night, O my child, is your marriage and
thy first visit to her, for the King, that he might assure me of his
word, hath proclaimed to the world thou art his son-in-law, and promised
this night to be the night of going in. But he also said to me, 'Let thy
son come hither forthright that I may become familiar with him and
receive him with all honor and worship.' And now here am I, O my son, at
the end of my labors. Happen whatso may happen, the rest is upon thy
shoulders."
Thereupon Aladdin arose and kissed his mother's hand and thanked her,
enhancing her kindly service. Then he left her and, entering his
chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it, when, lo and behold! its slave
appeared and cried: "Adsum! Ask whatso thou wantest." The young man
replied: "'Tis my desire that thou take me to a hammam whose like is not
in the world. Then fetch me a dress so costly and kingly that no royalty
ever owned its fellow." The Marid replied, "I hear and I obey," and
carried him to baths such as were never seen by the Kings of the
Chosroes, for the building was all of alabaster and camelian, and it
contained marvelous limnings which captured the sight, and the great
hall was studded with precious stones. Not a soul was therein, but when
Aladdin entered, one of the Jann in human shape washed him and bathed
him to the best of his desire. Aladdin after having been washed and
bathed, left the baths and went into the great hall, where he found that
his old dress had been removed and replaced by a suit of the most
precious and princely. Then he was served with sherbets and ambergrised
coffee, and after drinking he arose and a party of black slaves came
forward and clad him in the costliest of clothing, then perfumed and
fumigated him. It is known that Aladdin was the son of a tailor, a
pauper, yet now would none deem him to be such- nay, all would say:
"This be the greatest that is of the progeny of the kings. Praise be to
Him Who changeth and Who is not changed!"
Presently came the Jinni and, lifting him up, bore him to his home,
and asked, "O my lord, tell me, hast thou aught of need?" He answered:
"Yes, 'tis my desire that thou bring me eight and forty Mamelukes, of
whom two dozen shall forego me and the rest follow me, the whole number
with their war chargers and clothing and accouterments. And all upon
them and their steeds must be of naught save of highest worth and the
costliest, such as may not be found in treasuries of the kings. Then
fetch me a stallion fit for the riding of the Chosroes and let his
furniture, all thereof, be of gold crusted with the finest gems. Fetch
me also eight and forty thousand dinars, that each white slave may carry
a thousand gold pieces. 'Tis now my intent to fare to the, Sultan, so
delay thou not, for that without an these requisites whereof I bespake
thee I may no visit him. Moreover, set before me a dozen slave girls
unique in beauty and dight with the most magnificent dresses, that they
wend with my mother to the royal palace, and let every handmaid be robed
in raiment that befitteth Queen's wearing." The slave replied, "To hear
is to obey," and, disappearing for an eye twinkling, brought all he was
bidden bring, and led by hand a stallion whose rival was not amongst the
Arabian Arabs, and its saddlecloth was of splendid brocade
gold-in-wrought.
Thereupon, without stay or delay, Aladdin sent for his mother and
gave her the garments she should wear and committed to her charge the
twelve slave girls forming her suite to the palace. Then he sent one of
the Mamelukes whom the Jinni had brought to see if the Sultan had left
the seraglio or not. The white slave went forth lighter than the
lightning and, returned in like haste, said, "O my lord, the Sultan
awaiteth thee!" Hereat Aladdin arose and took horse, his Mamelukes
riding a-van and arear of him, and they were such that all must cry,
"Laud to the Lord Who created them and clothed them with such beauty and
loveliness!" And they scattered gold amongst the crowd in front of their
master, who surpassed them all in comeliness and nor needest thou ask
concerning the sons of the kings- praise be to the Bountiful, the
Eternal! All this was of the virtues of the wonderful lamp, which whoso
possessed, him it gifted with fairest favor and finest figure, with
wealth and with wisdom. The folk admired Aladdin's liberality and
exceeding generosity, and all were distraught seeing his charms and
elegance, his gravity and his good manners. They glorified the Creator
for this noble creation, they blessed him each and every, and albeit
they knew him for the son of Such-a-one, the tailor, yet no man envied
him- nay, all owned that he deserved his great good fortune.
Now the Sultan had assembled the lords of the land and, informing
them of the promise he had passed to Aladdin touching the marriage of
his daughter, had bidden them await his approach and then go forth, one
and all, to meet him and greet him. Hereupon the emirs and wazirs, the
chamberlains, the nabobs and the army officers, took their stations
expecting him at the palace gate. Aladdin would fain have dismounted at
the outer entrance, but one of the nobles, whom the King had deputed for
such duty, approached him and said, "O my lord, 'tis the royal command
that thou enter riding thy steed, nor dismount except at the Divan
door." Then they all forewent him in a body and conducted him to the
appointed place, where they crowded about him, these to hold his stirrup
and those supporting him on either side whilst others took him by the
hands and helped him dismount. After which all the emirs and nobles
preceded him into the Divan and led him close up to the royal throne.
Thereupon the Sultan came down forthright from his seat of estate
and, forbidding him to buss the carpet, embraced and kissed and seated
him to the right of and beside himself. Aladdin did whatso is suitable
in the case of the kings of salutation and offering of blessings, and
said: "O our lord the Sultan, indeed the generosity of thy Highness
demanded that thou deign vouchsafe to me the hand of thy daughter, the
Lady Badr al-Budur, albeit I undeserve the greatness of such gift, I
being but the humblest of thy slaves. I pray Allah grant thee prosperity
and perpetuance, but in very sooth, O King, my tongue is helpless to
thank thee for the fullness of the favor, passing all measure, which
thou hast bestowed upon me. And I hope of thy Highness that thou wilt
give me a piece of ground fitted for a pavilion which shall besit thy
daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur." The Sultan was struck with admiration
when he saw Aladdin in his princely suit and looked upon him and
considered his beauty and loveliness, and noted the Mamelukes standing
to serve him in their comeliness and seemlihed. And still his marvel
grew when the mother of Aladdin approached him in costly raiment and
sumptuous, clad as though she were a queen, and when he gazed upon the
twelve handmaids standing before her with crossed arms and with all
worship and reverence doing her service. He also considered the
eloquence of Aladdin and his delicacy of speech, and he was astounded
thereat, he and all his who were present at the levee.
Thereupon fire was kindled in the Grand Wazir's heart for envy of
Aladdin until he was like to die. And it was worse when the Sultan,
after hearing the youth's succession of prayers and seeing his high
dignity of demeanor, respectful withal, and his eloquence and elegance
of language, clasped him to his bosom and kissed him and cried, "Alas, O
my son, that I have not enjoyed thy converse before this day!" He
rejoiced in him with mighty great joy and straightway bade the music and
the bands strike up. Then he arose and taking the yotith, led him into
the palace, where supper had been prepared, and the eunuchs at once laid
the tables. So the sovereign sat down and seated his son-in-law on his
right side, and the wazirs and high officials and lords of the land took
places each according to his degree, whereupon the bands played and a
mighty fine marriage feast was dispread in the palace. The King now
applied himself to making friendship with Aladdin and conversed with the
youth, who answered him with all courtesy and eloquence, as though he
had been bred in the palaces of the kings or he had lived with them his
daily life. And the more the talk was prolonged between them, the more
did the Sultan's pleasure and delight increase, hearing his son-in-law's
readiness of reply and his sweet flow of language.
But after they had eaten and drunken and the trays were removed, the
King bade summon the kazis and witnesses, who presently attended and
knitted the knot and wrote out the contract writ between Aladdin and the
Lady Badr al-Budur. And presently the bridegroom arose and would have
fared forth, when his father-in-law withheld him and asked: "Whither
away, O my child? The bride fetes have begun and the marriage is made
and the tie is tied and the writ is written." He replied: "O my lord the
King, 'tis my desire to edify, for the Lady Badr al-Budur, a pavilion
befitting her station and high degree, nor can I visit her before so
doing. But, Inshallah! the building shall be finished within the
shortest time, by the utmost endeavor of thy slave and by the kindly
regard of thy Hihgness. And although I do (yes indeed!) long to enjoy
the society of the Lady Badr al-Budur, yet 'tis incumbent of me first to
serve her, and it becometh me to set about the work forthright." "Look
around thee, O my son," replied the Sultan, "for what ground thou
deemest suitable to thy design, and do thou take all things into thy
hands. But I deem the best for thee will be yonder broad plain facing my
palace, and if it please thee, build thy pavilion thereupon." "And
this," answered Aladdin, "is the sum of my wishes, that I may be
near-hand to thy Highness.
So saying, he farewelled the King and took horse, with his Mamelukes
riding before him and behind him, and all the world blessed him and
cried, "By Allah he is deserving," until such time as he reached his
home. Then he alighted from his stallion and repairing to his chamber,
rubbed the lamp and behold, the slave stood before him and said, "Ask, O
my lord, whatso thou wantest," and Aladdin rejoined: "I require thee of
a service grave and important which thou must do for me, and 'tis that
thou build me with all urgency a pavillion fronting the palace of the
Sultan. And it must be a marvel for it shall be provided with every
requisite, such as royal furniture and so forth." The slave replied, "To
hear is to Obey," and evanished, and before the next dawn brake returned
to Aladdin and said: "O my lord, the pavilion is finished to the fullest
of thy fancy, and if thou wouldst inspect it, arise forthright and fare
with me."
Accordingly he rose up, and the slave carried him in the space of an
eye glance to the pavilion, which when looked upon it struck him with
surprise at such building, all its stones being of jasper and alabaster,
Sumaki marble and mosaicwork. Then the slave led him into the treasury,
which was full of all manner of gold and silver and costly gems, not to
be counted or computed, priced or estimated. Thence to another place,
where Aladdin saw all requisites for the table, plates and dishes,
spoons and ladles, basins and covers, cups and tasses, the whole of
precious metal. Thence to the kitchen, where they found the kitcheners
provided with their needs and cooking batteries, likewise golden and
silvern. Thence to a warehouse piled up with chests full-packed of royal
raiment, stuffs that captured the reason, such as gold-wrought brocades
from India and China and kimcobs or orfrayed cloths. Thence to many
apartments replete with appointments which beggar description. Thence to
the stables containing coursers whose like was not to be met with
amongst the kings of the universe. And lastly they went to the harness
rooms all hung with housings, costly saddles, and other furniture,
everywhere studded with pearls and precious stones. And all this was the
work of one night.
Aladdin was wonder-struck and astounded by that magnificent display
of wealth, which not even the mightiest monarch on earth could produce,
and more so to see his pavilion fully provided with eunuchs and
handmaids whose beauty would reduce a saint. Yet the Prime marvel of the
pavilion was an upper kiosque or belvedere of four and twenty windows
all made of emeralds and rubies and other gems, and one window remained
unfinished at the requirement of Aladdin, that the Sultan might prove
him impotent to complete it. When the youth had inspected the whole
edifice, he was pleased and gladdened exceedingly. Then, turning to the
slave, he said: "I require of thee still one thing which is yet wanting
and whereof I had forgotten to tell thee." "Ask, O my lord, thy want,"
quoth the servitor, and quoth the other: "I demand of thee a carpet of
the primest brocade all gold-inwrought which, when unrolled and
outstretched, shall extend hence to the Sultan's palace, in order that
the Lady Badr al-Budur may, when coming hither, pace upon it and not
tread common earth." The slave departed for a short while and said on
his return, "O my lord, verily that which thou demandest is here." Then
he took him and showed him a carpet, which wildered the wits, and it
extended from palace to pavillion. And after this the servitor bore off
Aladdin and set him down in his own home.
Now day was brightening, so the Sultan rose from his sleep and
throwing open the casement, looked out and espied opposite his palace a
palatial pavilion ready edified. Thereupon he fell to rubbing his eyes
and opening them their widest and considering the scene, and he soon was
certified that the new edifice was mighty fine, and grand enough to
bewilder the wits. Moreover, with amazement as great he saw the carpet
dispread between palace and pavilion. Like their lord, also the royal
doorkeepers and the household, one and all, were dazed and amazed at the
spectacle. Meanwhile the Wazir came in, and as he entered, espied the
newly builded pavilion and the carpet, whereat he also wondered. And
when he went in to the Sultan, the twain fell to talking on this
marvelous matter with great surprise at a sight which distracted the
gazer and attracted the heart. They said finally, "In very truth, of
this pavilion we deem that none of the royalties could build its
fellow," and the King, turning to the Minister, asked him: "Hast thou
seen now that Aladdin is worthy to be the husband of the Princess, my
daughter? Hast thou looked upon and considered this right royal
building, this magnificence of opulence, which thought of man cannot
contain?" But the Wazir in his envy of Aladdin replied: "O King of the
Age, indeed this foundation and this building and this opulence may not
be save by means of magic, nor can any man in the world, be he the
richest in good or the greatest in governance, avail to found and finish
in a single night such edifice as this." The Sultan rejoined: "I am
surprised to see in thee how thou dost continually harp on evil opinion
of Aladdin, but I hold that 'tis caused by thine envy and jealousy. Thou
wast present when I gave him the ground at his own prayer for a place
whereon he might build a pavilion wherein to lodge my daughter, and I
myself favored him with a site for the same, and that too before thy
very face. But however that be, shall one who could send me as dower for
the Princess such store of such stones whereof the kings never obtained
even a few, shall he, I say, be unable to edify an edifice like this?"
When the Wazir heard the Sultan's words, he knew that his lord loved
Aladdin exceedingly, so his envy and malice increased. only, as he could
do nothing against the youth, he sat silent, and impotent to return a
reply.
But Aladdin, seeing that it was broad day and the appointed time had
come for his repairing to the Place (where his wedding was being
celebrated and the emirs and wazirs and grandees were gathered together
about the Sultan to be present at the ceremony), arose and rubbed the
lamp, and when its slave appeared and said, "O my lord, ask whatso thou
wantest, for I stand before thee and at thy service," said he: "I mean
forthright to seek the palace, this day being my wedding festival, and I
want thee to supply me with ten thousand dinars." The slave evanished
for an eye twinkling and returned bringing the moneys, when Aladdin took
horse with his Mamelukes a-van and arear and passed on his way,
scattering as he went gold pieces upon the lieges until all were fondly
affected toward him and his dignity was enhanced. But when he drew near
the palace, and the emirs and agas and army officers who were standing
to await him noted his approach, they hastened straightway to the King
and gave him the tidings thereof, whereupon the Sultan rose and met his
son-in-law and, after embracing and kissing him, led him, still holding
his hand, into his own apartment, where he sat down and seated him by
his right side.
The city was all decorated and music rang through the palace and the
singers sang until the King bade bring the noon meal, when the eunuchs
and Mamelukes hastened to spread the tables and trays which are such as
are served to the kings. Then the Sultan and Aladdin and the lords of
the land and the grandees of the realm took their seats and ate and
drank until they were satisfied. And it was a mighty fine wedding in
city and palace, and the high nobles all rejoiced therein and the
commons of the kingdom were equally gladdened, while the governors of
provinces and nabobs of districts flocked from far regions to witness
Aladdin's marriage and its processions and festivities. The Sultan also
marveled in his mind to look at Aladdin's mother and recall to mind how
she was wont to visit him in pauper plight while her son could command
an this opulence and magnificence. And when the spectators who crowded
the royal palace to enjoy the wedding feasts looked upon Aladdin's
pavilion and beauties of the building, they were seized with an immense
surprise, that so vast an edifice as this could be reared on high during
a single night, and they blessed the youth and cried: "Allah gladden
him: By Allah, he deserveth all this! Allah bless his days!"
When dinner was done, Aladdin rose and, farewelling the Sultan, took
horse with his Mamelukes and rode to his own pavilion, that he might
prepare to receive therein his bride, the Lady Badr al-Budur. And as he
passed, all the folk shouted their good wishes with one voice and their
words were: "Allah gladden thee! Allah increase thy glory! Allah grant
thee length of life!" while immense crowds of people gathered to swell
the marriage procession, and they conducted him to his new home, he
showering gold upon them during the whole time. When he reached his
pavilion, he dismounted and walked in and sat him down on the divan,
whilst his Mamelukes stood before him with arms afolded. Also after a
short delay they brought him sherbets, and when these were drunk, he
ordered his white slaves and handmaids and eunuchs and all who were in
the pavilion to make ready for meeting the Lady Badr al-Budur. Moreover,
as soon as midafternoon came and the air had cooled and the great heat
of the sun was abated, the Sultan bade his army officers and emirs and
wazirs go down into the maydan plain, whither he likewise rode. And
Aladdin also took horse with his Mamelukes, he mounting a stallion whose
like was not among the steeds of the, Arab al-Arba, and he showed his
horsemanship in the hippodrome, and so played with the jarid that none
could withstand him, while his bride sat gazing upon him from the
latticed balcony of her bower and, seeing in him such beauty and
cavalarice, she fell headlong in love of him and was like to fly for
joy. And after they had ringed their horses on the maydan and each had
displayed whatso he could of horsemanship, Aladdin proving himself the
best man of all, they rode in a body to the Sultan's palace and the
youth also returned to his own pavilion.
But when it was evening, the wazirs and nobles took the bridegroom
and, falling in, escorted him to the royal hamman (known as the
Sultani), when he was bathed. and perfumed. As soon as he came out he
donned a dress more magnificent than the former and took horse with the
emirs and the soldier officers riding before him and forming a grand
cortege, wherein four of the wazirs bore naked swords round about him.
All the citizens and the strangers and the troops marched before him in
ordered throng carrying wax candles and kettledrums and pipes and other
instruments of mirth and merriment, until they conducted him to his
pavilion. Here he alighted and, walking in, took his seat and seated the
wazirs and emirs who had escorted him, and the Mamelukes brought
sherbets and sugared drinks, which they also passed to the people who
had followed in his train. It was a world of folk whose tale might not
be told. Withal Aladdin bade his Mamelukes stand without the pavilion
doors and shower gold upon the crowd.
When the Sultan returned from the maydan plain to his palace, he
ordered the household, men as well as women, straightway to form a
cavalcade for his daughter, with all ceremony, and bear her to her
bridegroom's pavilion. So the nobles and soldier officers who had
followed and escorted the bridegroom at once mounted, and the handmaids
and eunuchs went forth with wax candles and made a mighty fine
procession for the Lady Badr al-Budur, and they paced on preceding her
till they entered the pavilion of Aladdin, whose mother walked beside
the bride. In front of the Princess also fared the wives of the wazirs
and emirs, grandees and notables, and in attendance on her were the
eight and forty slave girls presented to her aforetime by her
bridegroom, each hending in hand a huge cierge scented with camphor and
ambergris and set in a candlestick of gem-studded gold. And reaching
Aladdin's pavilion, they led her to her bower in the upper story and
changed her robes and enthroned her. Then, as soon as the displaying was
ended, they accompanied her to Aladdin's apartments, and presently he
paid her the first visit. Now his mother was with the bride, and when
the bridegroom came up and did off her veil, the ancient dame fell to
considering the beauty of the Princess and her loveliness, and she
looked around at the pavilion, which was all litten up by gold and gems
besides the manifold candelabra of precious metals encrusted with
emeralds and jacinths, so she said in her mind: "Once upon a time I
thought the Sultan's palace mighty fine, but this pavilion is a thing
apart. Nor do I deem that any of the greatest kings of Chosroes attained
in his day to aught like thereof. Also am I certified that all the world
could not build anything evening it." Nor less did the Lady Badr
al-Budur fall to gazing at the pavilion and marveling for its
magnificence.
Then the tables were spread and they all ate and drank and were
gladdened after which fourscore damsels came before them, each holding
in hand an instrument of mirth and merriment. Then they deftly moved
their finger tips and touched the strings, smiting them into song most
musical most melancholy, till they rent the hearts of the hearers.
Hereat the Princess increased in marvel, and quoth she to herself, "In
all my life ne'er heard I songs like these," till she forsook food, the
better to listen. And at last Aladdin poured out for her wine and passed
it to her with his own hand. So great joy and jubilee went round amongst
them, and it was a notable night, such a one as Iskandar, Lord of the
Two Horns, had never spent in his time. When they had finished eating
and drinking and the tables were removed from before them, Aladdin arose
and went in to his bride.
As soon as morning morrowed he left his bed, and the treasurer
brought him a costly suit and a mighty fine, of the most sumptuous robes
worn by the kings. Then, after drinking coffee flavored with ambergris,
he ordered the horses be saddled and, mounting with his Mamelukes before
and behind him, rode to the Sultan's palace, and on his entering its
court the eunuchs went in and reported his coming to their lord. When
the Sultan heard of Aladdin's approach, he rose up forthright to receive
him and embraced and kissed him as though he were his own son. Then,
seating him on his right, he blessed and prayed for him, as did the
wazirs and emirs, the lords of the land and the grandees of the realm.
Presently the King commanded bring the morning meal, which the
attendants served up, and all broke their fast together, and when they
had eaten and drunken their sufficiency and the tables were removed by
the eunuchs, Aladdin turned to the Sultan and said: "O my lord, would
thy Highness deign honor me this day at dinner in the house of the Lady
Badr al-Budur, thy beloved daughter, and come accompanied by all thy
Ministers and grandees of the reign?" The King replied (and he was
delighted with his son-in-law), "Thou art surpassing in liberality, O my
son!"
Then he gave orders to all invited and rode forth with them (Aladdin
also riding beside him) till they reached the pavilion, and as he
entered it and considered its construction, its architecture and its
stonery, all jasper and camelian, his sight was dazed and his wits were
amazed at such grandeur and magnificence of opulence. Then, turning to
the Minister, he thus addressed him: "What sayest thou? Tell me, hast
thou seen in all thy time aught like this amongst the mighties of
earth's monarchs for the abundance of gold and gems we are now
beholding?" The Grand Wazir replied: "O my lord the King, this be a feat
which cannot be accomplished by might of monarch amongst Adam's sons,
nor could the collected peoples of the universal world build a palace
like unto this,- nay, even builders could not be found to make aught
resembling it, save (as I said to thy Highness) by force of sorcery."
These words certified the King that his Minister spake not except in
envy and jealousy of Aladdin, and would stablish in the royal mind that
all this splendor was not made of man, but by means of magic and with
the aid of the black art. So quoth he to him: "Suffice thee so much, O
Wazir. Thou hast none other word to speak, and well I know what cause
urgeth thee to say this say."
Then Aladdin preceded the Sultan till he conducted him to the upper
kiosque, where he saw its skylights, windows, and latticed casements and
jalousies wholly made of emeralds and rubies and other costly gems,
whereat his mind was perplexed and his wits were bewildered and his
thoughts were distraught. Presently he took to strolling round the
kiosque and solacing himself with these sights which captured the
vision, till he chanced to cast a glance at the window which Aladdin by
design had left unwrought and not finished like the rest. And when he
noted its lack of completion, he cried, "Woe and wellaway for thee, O
window, because of thine imperfection," and, turning to his Minister, he
asked, "Knowest thou the reason of leaving incomplete this window and
its framework?" The Wazir said: "O my lord, I conceive that the want of
finish in this window resulteth from thy Highness having pushed on
Aladdin's marriage, and he lacked the leisure to complete it." Now at
that time Aladdin had gone in to his bride, the Lady Badr al-Budur, to
inform her of her father's presence, and when he returned, the King
asked him: "O my son, what is the reason why the window of this kiosque
was not made perfect?" "O King of the Age, seeing the suddenness of my
wedding," answered he, "I failed to find artists for finishing it."
Quoth the Sultan, "I have a mind to complete it myself," and quoth
Aladdin: "Allah perpetuate thy glory, O thou the King. So shall thy
memory endure in thy daughter's pavilion."
The Sultan forthright bade summon jewelers and goldsmiths, and
ordered them he supplied from the treasury with all their needs of gold
and gems and noble ores, and when they were gathered together, he
commanded them to complete the work still wanting in the kiosque window.
Meanwhile the Princess came forth to meet her sire, the Sultan, who
noticed as she drew near her smiling face, so he embraced her and kissed
her, then led her to the pavilion, and all entered in a body. Now this
was the time of the noonday meal and one table had been spread for the
sovereign, his daughter, and his son-in-law and a second for the wazirs,
the lords of the land, the grandees of the realm, the chief officers of
the host, the chamberlains and the nabobs. The King took seat between
the Princess and her husband, and when he put forth his hand to the food
and tasted it, he was struck with surprise by the flavor of the dishes
and their savory and sumptuous cooking. Moreover, there stood before him
the fourscore damsels, each and every saying to the full moon, "Rise
that I may seat myself in thy stead!" All held instruments of mirth and
merriment, and they tuned the same and deftly moved their finger tips
and smote the srings into song most musical, most melodious, which
expanded the mourner's heart. Hereby the Sultan was gladdened, and time
was good to him, and for high enjoyment he exclaimed, "In very sooth the
thing is beyond the compass of King and Caesar."
Then they fell to eating and drinking, and the cup went round until
they had drunken enough, when sweetmeats and fruits of sorts and other
such edibles were served, the dessert being laid out in a different
salon, whither they removed and enjoyed of these pleasures their
sufficiency. Presently the Sultan arose that he might see if the produce
of his jewelers and goldsmiths favored that of the pavilion. So he went
upstairs to them and inspected their work and how they had wrought, but
he noted a mighty great difference, and his men were far from being able
to make anything like the rest of Aladdin's pavilion. They informed him
how all the gems stored in the lesser Treasury had been brought to them
and used by them, but that the whole had proved insufficient. Wherefor
he bade open the greater Treasury, and gave the workmen all they wanted
of him. Moreover, he allowed them, an it sufficed not, to take the
jewels wherewith Aladdin had gifted him. They carried off the whole and
pushed on their labors, but they found the gems fail them, albeit had
they not finished half the part wanting to the kiosque window. Herewith
the King commanded them to seize all the precious stones owned by the
wazirs and grandees of the realm, but although they did his bidding, the
supply still fell short of their requirements.
Next morning Aladdin arose to look at the jewelers' work and remarked
that they had not finished a moiety of what was wanting to the kiosque
window. So he at once ordered them to undo all they had done and restore
the jewels to their owners. Accordingly they pulled out the precious
stones and sent the Sultan's to the Sultan and the wazirs' to the
wazirs. Then the jewelers went to the King and told him of what Aladdin
had bidden, so he asked them: "What said he to you, and what was his
reason, and wherefore was he not content that the window be finished,
and why did he undo the work ye wrought?" They answered, "O our lord, we
know not at all, but he bade us deface whatso we had done." Hereupon the
Sultan at once called for his horse, and mounting, took the way
pavillonward, when Aladdin, after dismissing the goldsmiths and jewelers
had retired into his closet and had rubbed the lamp. Hereat straightway
its servitor appeared to him and said: "Ask whatso thou wantest. Thy
slave is between thy hands," and said Aladdin, "'Tis my desire that thou
finish the window which was left unfinished." The Marid replied, "On my
head be it, and also upon mine eyes!" Then he vanished, and after a
little while returned, saying, "O my lord, verily that thou commandedst
me do is completed." So Aladdin went upstairs to the kiosque and found
the whole window in wholly finished state, and whilst he was he was
still considering it, behold, a castrato came in to him and said: "O my
lord, the Sultan hath ridden forth to visit thee and is passing through
the pavilion gate."
So Aladdin at once went down and received his father-in-law. The
Sultan, on sighting his son-in-law, cried to him: "Wherefore, O my
child, hast thou wrought on this wise and sufferedst not the jewelers to
complete the kiosque window, leaving in the pavilion an unfinished
place?" Aladdin replied: "O King of the Age, I left it not imperfect
save for a design of mine own, nor was I incapable of perfecting it, nor
could I purpose that thy Highness should honor me with visiting a
pavilion wherein was aught of deficiency. And that thou mayest know I am
not unable to make it perfect, let thy Highness deign walk upstairs with
me and see if anything remain to be done therewith or not." So the
Sultan went up with him and, entering the kiosque, fell to looking right
and left, but he saw no default at all in any of the windows- nay, he
noted that all were perfect. So he marveled at the sight and embraced
Aladdin and kissed him, saying: "O my son, what be this singular feat?
Thou canst work in a single night what in months the jewelers could not
do. By Allah, I deem thou hast nor brother nor rival in this world."
Quoth Aladdin: "Allah prolong thy life and preserve thee to perpetuity!
Thy slave deserveth not this encomium." And quoth the King: "By Allah, O
my child, thou meritest all praise for a feat whereof all the artists of
the world were incapable." Then the Sultan came down and entered the
apartments of his daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur, to take rest beside
her, and he saw her joyous exceedingly at the glory and grandeur wherein
she was. Then, after reposing awhile, he returned to his palace.
Now Aladdin was wont every day to thread the city streets with his
Mamelukes riding a-van and arear of him showering rightward and leftward
gold upon the folk, and all the world, stranger and neighbor, far and
near, were fulfilled of his love for the excess of his liberality and
generosity. Moreover, he increased the pensions of the poor Religious
and the paupers, and he would distribute alms to them with his own hand,
by which good deed he won high renown throughout the realm and most of
the lords of the land and emirs would eat at his table, and men swore
not at all save by his precious life. Nor did he leave faring to the
chase and the maydan plain and the riding of horses and playing at
javelin play in presence of the Sultan. And whenever the Lady Badr
al-Budur beheld him disporting himself on the backs of steeds, she loved
him much the more, and thought to herself that Allah had wrought her
abundant good by causing to happen whatso happened with the son of the
Wazir and by preserving her virginity intact for her true bridegroom,
Aladdin. Aladdin won for himself day by day a fairer fame and a rarer
report, while affection for him increased in the hearts of all the
lieges and he waxed greater in the eyes of men.
Moreover, it chanced that in those days certain enemies took horse
and attacked the Sultan, who armed and accoutered an army to repel them
and made Aladdin commander thereof. So he marched with his men, nor
ceased marching until he drew near the foe, whose forces were exceeding
many, and presently when the action began, he bared his brand and
charged home upon the enemy. Then battle and slaughter befell and
violent was the hurly-burly, but at last Aladdin broke the hostile host
and put all to flight, slaying the best part of them and pillaging their
coin and cattle, property and possessions, and he despoiled them of
spoils that could not be counted nor computed. Then he returned
victorious after a noble victory and entered the capital, which had
decorated herself in his honor, of her delight in him. And the Sultan
went forth to meet him and giving him joy, embraced him and kissed him.
And throughout the kingdom was held high festival with great joy and
gladness. Presently the sovereign and his son-in-law repaired to the
pavilion, where they were met by the Princess Badr al-Budur, who
rejoiced in her husband and, after kissing him between the eyes, led him
to her apartments. After a time the Sultan also came and they sat down
while the slave girls brought them sherbets and confections, which they
ate and drank. Then the Sultan commanded that the whole kingdom be
decorated for the triumph of his son-in-law and his victory over the
invader, and the subjects and soldiery and all the people knew only
Allah in Heaven and Aladdin on earth, for that their love, won by his
liberality, was increased by his noble horsemanship and his successful
battling for the country and putting to flight the foe.
Such then was the high fortune of Aladdin, but as regards the
Maghrabi, the magician, after returning to his native country he passed
all this space of time in bewailing what he had borne of toil and
travail to will the lamp, and mostly that his trouble had gone vain and
that the morsel when almost touching his lips had flown from his grasp.
He pondered all this and mourned and reviled Aladdin for the excess of
his rage against him, and at times he would exclaim: "For this bastard's
death underground I am well satisfied, and hope only that some time or
other I may obtain the lamp, seeing how 'tis yet safe." Now one day of
the days he struck a table of sand and dotted down the figures and
carefully considered their consequence, then he transferred them to
paper that he might study them and make sure of Aladdin's destruction
and the safety of the lamp preserved beneath the earth. Presently he
firmly stablished the sequence of the figures, mothers as well as
daughters, but still he saw not the lamp. Thereupon rage overrode him
and he made another trial to be assured of Aladdin's death, but he saw
him not in the enchanted treasure.
Hereat his wrath still grew, and it waxed greater when he ascertained
that the youth had issued from underground and was now upon earth's
surface alive and alert. Furthermore, that he had become owner of the
lamp, for which he had himself endured such toil and travail and
troubles as man may not bear save for so great an object. Accordingly
quoth he to himself: "I have suffered sore pains and penalties which
none else could have endured for the lamp's sake in order that other
than that I may carry it off, and this accursed hath taken it without
difficulty. And who knoweth an he wot the virtues of the lamp, than
whose owner none in the world should be wealthier? There is no help but
that I work for his destruction." He then struck another geomantic table
and, examining the figures, saw that the lad had won for himself
unmeasurable riches and had wedded the daughter of his King, so of his
envy and jealousy he was fired with the flame of wrath, and rising
without let or stay, he equipped himself and set forth for China land,
where he arrived in due season.
Now when he had reached the King's capital wherein was Aladdin, he
alighted at one of the khans, and when he had rested from the weariness
of wayfare, he donned his dress and went down to wander about the
streets, where he never passed a group without hearing them prate about
the pavilion and its grandeur and vaunt the beauty of Aladdin and his
lovesomeness, his liberality and generosity, his fine manners and his
good morals. Presently he entered an establishment wherein men were
drinking a certain warm beverage, and going up to one of those who were
loud in their lauds, he said to him, "O fair youth, who may be the man
ye describe and commend?" "Apparently thou art a foreigner, O man,"
answered the other, "and thou comest from a far country. But even this
granted, how happeneth it thou hast not heard of the Emir Aladdin, whose
renown, I fancy, hath filled the universe, and whose pavilion, known by
report to far and near, is one of the wonders of the world? How, then,
never came to thine ears aught of this or the name of Aladdin (whose
glory and enjoyment Our Lord increase!) and his fame?" The Moorman
replied: "The sum of my wishes is to look upon this pavilion, and if
thou wouldest do me a favor, prithee guide me thereunto, for I am a
foreigner." The man rejoined, "To hear is to obey," and, foregoing him,
pointed out Aladdin's pavilion, whereupon the Moroccan fell to
considering it, and at once understood that it was the work of the lamp.
So he cried: "Ah! Ah! needs must I dig a pit for this accursed, this son
of a snip, who could not earn for himself even an evening meal. And if
the Fates abet me, I will assuredly destroy his life and send his mother
back to spinning at her wheel, e'en as she was wont erewhiles to do."
So saying, he returned to his caravanserai in a sore state of grief
and melancholy and regret bred by his envy and hate of Aladdin. He took
his astrological gear and geomantic table to discover where might he the
lamp, and he found that it was in the pavilion and not upon Aladdin's
person. So he rejoiced thereat with joy exceeding and exclaimed: "Now
indeed 'twill he an easy task to take the life of this accursed and I
see my way to getting the lamp." Then he went to a coppersmith and said
to him: "Do thou make me a set of lamps, and take from me their full
price and more, only I would have thee hasten to finish them." Replied
the smith, "Hearing and obeying," and fell a-working to keep his word.
And when they were ready, the Moorman paid him what price he required,
then, taking them, he carried them to the khan and set them in a basket.
Presently he began wandering about the highways and market streets of
the capital crying aloud: "Ho! Who will exchange old lamps for new
lamps?" But when the folk heard him cry on this wise, they derided him
and said, "Doubtless this man is Jinnmad, for that he goeth about
offering new for old." And a world followed him, and the children of the
quarter caught him up from place to place, laughing at him the while,
nor did he forbid them or care for their maltreatment. And he ceased not
strolling about the streets till he came under Aladdin's pavilion, where
he shouted with his loudest voice, and the boys screamed at him: "A
madman! A madman!"
Now Destiny had decreed that the Lady Badr al-Budur be sitting in her
kiosque, whence she heard one crying like a crier, and the children
bawling at him. Only she understood not what was going on, so she gave
orders to one of her slave girls, saying, "Go thou and see who 'tis that
crieth, and what be his cry." The girl fared forth and looked on, when
she beheld a man crying, "Ho! Who will exchange old lamps for new
lamps?" and the little ones pursuing and laughing at him. And as loudly
laughed the Princess when this strange case was told to her. Now Aladdin
had carelessly left the lamp in his pavilion without hiding it and
locking it up in his strongbox, and one of the slave girls who had seen
it said: "O my lady, I think to have noticed in the apartment of my lord
Aladdin an old lamp, so let us give it in change for a new lamp to this
man, and see if his cry he truth or lie." Whereupon the Princess said to
the slave girl, "Bring the old lamp which thou saidst to have seen in
thy lord's apartment."
Now the Lady Badr al-Budur knew naught of the lamp and of the
specialities thereof which had raised Aladdin, her spouse, to such high
degree and grandeur, and her only end and aim was to understand by
experiment the mind of a man who would give in exchange the new for the
old. So the handmaid fared forth and went up to Aladdin's apartment and
returned with the lamp to her lady, who, like all the others, knew
nothing of the Maghrabi's cunning tricks and his crafty device. Then the
Princess bade an aga of the eunuchry go down and barter the old lamp for
a new lamp. So he obeyed her bidding and, after taking a new lamp from
the man, he returned and laid it before his lady, who looking at it and
seeing that it was brand-new, fell to laughing at the Moorman's wits.
But the Moroccan, when he held the article in hand and recognized it
for the lamp of the enchanted treasury, at once placed it in his breast
pocket and left all the other lamps to the folk who were bartering, of
him. Then he went forth running till he was clear of the city, when he
walked leisurely over the level grounds, and he took patience until
night fell on him in desert ground, where was none other but himself.
There he brought out the lamp, when suddenly appeared to him the Marid,
who said: "Adsum! Thy slave between thy hands is come. Ask of me whatso
thou wantest." "'Tis my desire," the Moorman replied, "that thou upraise
from its present place Aladdin's pavilion, with its inmates and all that
be therein, not forgetting myself, and set it down upon my own land,
Africa. Thou knowest my town, and I want the building placed in the
gardens hard by it." The Marid slave replied: "Hearkening and obedience.
Close thine eyes and open thine eyes, whenas thou shalt find thyself
together with the pavilion in thine own country." This was done, and in
an eye twinkling the Moroccan and the pavilion, with all therein, were
transported to the African land.
Such then was the work of the Maghrabi, the magician, but now let us
return to the Sultan and his son-in-law. It was the custom of the King,
because of his attachment to and his affection for his daughter, every
morning when he had shaken off sleep to open the latticed casement and
look out therefrom, that he might catch sight of her abode. So that day
he arose and did as he was wont. But when he drew near the latticed
casement of his palace and looked out at Aladdin's pavilion, he saw
naught- nay, the site was smooth as a well-trodden highway and like unto
what it had been aforetime, and he could find nor edifice nor offices.
So astonishment clothed him as with a garment, and his wits were
wildered and he began to rub his eyes, lest they he dimmed or darkened,
and to gaze intently. But at last he was certified that no trace of the
pavilion remained, nor sign of its being, nor wist he the why and the
wherefore of its disappearance. So his surprise increased and he smote
hand upon hand and the tears trickled down his cheeks over his beard,
for that he knew not what had become of his daughter.
Then he sent out officials forthright and summoned the Grand Wazir,
who at once attended, and seeing him in this piteous plight, said:
"Pardon, O King of the Age, may Allah avert from thee every ill!
Wherefore art thou in such sorrow?" Exclaimed the sovereign, "Methinketh
thou wettest not my case." And quoth the Minister: "Oh no wise, O our
lord. By Allah, I know of it nothing at all." "Then," resumed the
Sultan, "'tis manifest thou hast not looked this day in the direction of
Aladdin's pavilion." "True, O my lord," quoth the Wazir. "It must still
be locked and fast shut," and quoth the King: "Forasmuch as thou hast no
inkling of aught, arise and look out at the window and see Aladdin's
pavilion, whereof thou sayest 'tis locked and fast shut." The Minister
obeyed his bidding, but could not see anything, or pavilion or other
place. So with mind and thoughts sore perplexed he returned to his liege
lord, who asked him: "Hast now learned the reason of my distress, and
noted yon locked-up palace and fast shut?" Answered the Wazir: "O King
of the Age, erewhile I represented to thy Highness that this pavilion
and these matters be all magical." Hereat the Sultan, fired with wrath,
cried, "Where be Aladdin?" and the Minister replied, "He hath gone
a-hunting," when the King commanded without stay or delay sundry of his
agas and army officers to go and bring to him his son-in-law chained and
with pinioned elbows.
So they fared forth until they found Aladdin, when they said to him:
"O our lord Aladdin, excuse us, nor be thou wroth with us, for the King
hath commanded that we carry thee before him pinioned and fettered, and
we hope pardon from thee, because we are under the royal orders which we
cannot gainsay." Aladdin, hearing these words, was seized with surprise,
and not knowing the reason of this, remained tonguetied for a time,
after which he turned to them and asked: "O assembly, have you naught of
knowledge concerning the motive of the royal mandate? Well I wot my soul
to be innocent, and that I never sinned against King or against
kingdom." "O our lord," answered they, "we have no inkling whatever." So
Aladdin alighted from his horse and said to them: "Do ye whatso the
Sultan bade you do, for that the King's command is upon the head and the
eyes." The agas, having bound Aladdin in bonds and pinioned his elbows
behind his back, haled him in chains and carried him into the city. But
when the lieges saw him pinioned and ironed, they understood that the
Sultan purposed to strike off his head, and forasmuch as he was loved of
them exceedingly, all gathered together and seized their weapons, then,
swarming out of their houses, followed the soldiery to see what was to
do. And when the troops arrived with Aladdin at the palace, they went in
and informed the Sultan of this, whereat he forthright commanded the
sworder to cut off the head of his son-in-law.
Now as soon as the subjects were aware of this order, they barricaded
the gates and closed the doors of the palace and sent a message to the
King saying: "At this very moment we will level thine abode over the
heads of all it containeth, and over thine own, if the least hurt or
harm befall Aladdin." So the Wazir went in and reported to the Sultan:
"O King of the Age, thy commandment is about to seal the roll of our
lives, and 'twere more suitable that thou pardon thy son-in-law, lest
there chance to us a sore mischance, for that the lieges do love him far
more than they love us." Now the Sworder had already dispread the carpet
of blood and, having seated Aladdin thereon, had bandaged his eyes.
Moreover, he had walked round him three several times awaiting the last
orders of his lord, when the King looked out of the window and saw his
subjects, who had suddenly attacked him, swarming up the walls intending
to tear them down. So forthright he bade the Sworder stay his hand from
Aladdin and commanded the crier fare forth to the crowd and cry aloud
that he had pardoned his son-in-law and received him back into favor.
But when Aladdin found himself free and saw the Sultan seated on his
throne, he went up to him and said: "O my lord, inasmuch as thy Highness
hath favored me throughout my life, so of thy grace now deign let me
know the how and the wherein I have sinned against thee." "O traitor,"
cried the King, "unto this present I knew not any sin of thine." Then,
turning to the Wazir, he said: "Take him and make him look out at the
window, and after let him tell us where be his pavilion." And when the
royal order was obeyed, Aladdin saw the place level as a well-trodden
road, even as it had been ere the base of the building was laid, nor was
there the faintest trace of edifice. Hereat he was astonished and
perplexed, knowing not what had occurred. But when he returned to the
presence, the King asked him: "What is it thou hast seen? Where is thy
pavilion, and where is my daughter, the core of my heart, my only child,
than whom I have none other?" Aladdin answered, "O King of the Age, I
wot naught thereof nor aught of what hath befallen," and the Sultan
rejoined: "Thou must know, O Aladdin, I have pardoned thee only that
thou go forth and look into this affair and inquire for me concerning my
daughter. Nor do thou ever show thyself in my presence except she be
with thee, and if thou bring her not, by the life of my head I will cut
off the head of thee." The other replied: "To hear is to obey. Only
vouchsafe me a delay and respite of some forty days, after which, an I
produce her not, strike off my head and do with me whatso thou wishest."
The Sultan said to Aladdin: "Verily, I have granted thee thy request, a
delay of forty days. But think not thou canst fly from my hand, for I
would bring thee back even if thou wert above the clouds instead of
being only upon earth's surface." Replied Aladdin: "O my lord the
Sultan, as I said to thy Highness, an I fail to bring her within the
term appointed, I will present myself for my head to he stricken off."
Now when the folk and the lieges all saw Aladdin at liberty, they
rejoiced with joy exceeding and were delighted for his release, but the
shame of his treatment and bashfulness before his friends and the
envious exultation of his foes had bowed down Aladdin's head. So he went
forth a wandering through the city ways, and he was perplexed concerning
his case and knew not what had befallen him. He lingered about the
capital for two days, in saddest state, wotting not what to do in order
to find his wife and his pavilion, and during this time sundry of the
folk privily brought him meat and drink. When the two days were done, he
left the city to stray about the waste and open lands outlying the
walls, without a notion as to whither he should wend. And he walked on
aimlessly until the path led him beside a river, where, of the stress of
sorrow that overwhelmed him, he abandoned himself to despair and thought
of casting himself into the water. Being, however, a good Moslem who
professed the unity of the Godhead, he feared Allah in his soul, and
standing upon the margin, he prepared to perform the wuzu ablution.
But as he was bailing up the water in his right hand and rubbing his
fingers, it so chanced that he also rubbed the ring. Hereat its Marid
appeared, and said to him: "Adsum! Thy thrall between thy hands is come.
Ask of me whatso thou wantest." Seeing the Marid, Aladdin rejoiced with
exceeding joy and cried: "O Slave, I desire of thee that thou bring
before me my pavilion and therein my wife, the Lady Badr al-Budur,
together with all and everything it containeth." "O my lord," replied
the Marid, "'tis right hard upon me that thou demandest a service
whereto I may not avail. This matter dependeth upon the Slave of the
Lamp, nor dare I even attempt it." Aladdin rejoined: "Forasmuch as the
matter is beyond thy competence, I require it not of thee, but at least
do thou take me up and set me down beside my pavilion in what land
soever that may be." The slave exclaimed, "Hearing and obeying, O my
lord," and uplifting him high in air, within the space of an eye glance
set him down beside his pavilion in the land of Africa, and upon a spot
facing his wife's apartment.
Now this was at fall of night, yet one look enabled him to recognize
his home, whereby his cark and care were cleared away and he recovered
trust in Allah after cutting off all his hope to look upon his wife once
more. Then he fell to pondering the secret and mysterious favors of the
Lord (glorified he His omnipotence!), and how after despair had mastered
him the ring had come to gladden him, and how when all his hopes were
cut off, Allah had deigned bless him with the services of its slave. So
he rejoiced and his melancholy left him. Then, as he had passed four
days without sleep for the excess of his cark and care and sorrow and
stress of thought, he drew near his pavilion and slept under a tree hard
by the building, which (as we mentioned) had been set down amongst the
gardens outlying the city of Africa. He slumbered till morning showed
her face, and when awakened by the warbling of the small birds, he arose
and went down to the bank of the river which flowed thereby into the
city, and here he again washed hands and face and after finished his
wuzu ablution. Then he prayed the dawn prayer, and when he had ended his
orisons he returned and sat down under the windows of the Princess's
bower.
Now the Lady Badr al-Budur, of her exceeding sorrow for severance
from her husband and her sire, the Sultan, and for the great mishap
which had happened to her from the Maghrabi, the magician, the accursed,
was wont to rise during the murk preceding dawn and to sit in tears,
inasmuch as she could not sleep o' nights and had forsworn meat and
drink. Her favorite slave girl would enter her chamber at the hour of
prayer salutation in order to dress her, and this time, by decree of
Destiny, when she threw open the window to let her lady comfort and
console herself by looking upon the trees and rills, and she herself
peered out of the lattice, she caught sight of her master sitting below,
and informed the Princess of this, saying: "O my lady! O my lady! Here's
my lord Aladdin seated at the foot of the wall!" So her mistress arose
hurriedly and gazing from the casement, saw him, and her husband,
raising his head, saw her, so she saluted him and he saluted her, both
being like to fly for joy. Presently quoth she, "Up and come in to me by
the private postern, for now the accursed is not here," and she gave
orders to the slave girl, who went down and opened for him. Then Aladdin
passed through it and was met by his wife, when they embraced and
exchanged kisses with all delight until they wept for overjoy.
After this they sat down, and Aladdin said to her: "O my lady, before
all things 'tis my desire to ask thee a question. 'Twas my wont to place
an old copper lamp in such a part of my pavilion. What became of that
same?" When the Princess heard these words, she sighed and cried, "O my
dearling, 'twas that very lamp which garred us fall into this calamity!"
Aladdin asked her, "How befell the affair?" and she answered by
recounting to him all that passed, first and last, especially how they
had given in exchange an old lamp for a new lamp, adding: "And next day
we hardly saw one another at dawn before we found ourselves in this
land, and he who deceived us and took the lamp by way of barter informed
me that he had done the deed by might of his magic and by means of the
lamp; that he is a Moorman from Africa; and that we are now in his
native country."
When the Lady Badr al-Budur ceased speaking, Aladdin resumed: "Tell
me the intent of this accursed in thy respect, also what he sayeth to
thee and what he his will of thee." She replied: "Every day he cometh to
visit me once and no more. He would woo me to his love, and he sueth
that I take him to spouse in lieu of thee and that I forget thee and he
consoled for the loss of thee. And he telleth me that the Sultan, my
sire, hath cut off my husband's head, adding that thou, the son of
pauper parents, wast by him enriched. And he sootheth me with talk, but
he never seeth aught from me save weeping and wailing, nor hath he heard
from me one sugar-sweet word." Quoth Aladdin: "Tell me where he hath
placed the lamp, an thou know anything thereof," and quoth she: "He
beareth it about on his body alway, nor is it possible that he leave it
for a single hour. Moreover, once when he related what I have now
recounted to thee, he brought it out of his breast pocket and allowed me
to look upon it." When Aladdin heard these words, he joyed with
exceeding joy and said: "O my lady, do thou lend ear to me. 'Tis my
design to go from thee forthright and to return only after doffing this
my dress, so wonder not when thou see me changed, but direct one of thy
women to stand by the private postern alway, and whenever she espy me
coming, at once to open. And now I will devise a device whereby to slay
this damned loon."
Herewith he arose and, issuing from the pavilion door, walked till he
met on the way a fellah, to whom he said, "O man, take my attire and
give me thy garments." But the peasant refused, so Aladdin stripped him
of his dress perforce and donned it, leaving to the man his own rich
gear by way of gift. Then he followed the highway leading to the
neighboring city and entering it, went to the perfumers' bazaar, where
he bought of one some rarely potent bhang, the son of a minute, paying
two dinars for two drachms thereof, and he returned in disguise by the
same road till he reached the pavilion. Here the slave girl opened to
him the private postern, wherethrough he went in to the Lady Badr
al-Budur, and said: "Hear me! I desire of thee that thou dress and dight
thyself in thy best and thou cast off all outer show and semblance of
care. Also when the accursed, the Maghrabi, shall visit thee, do thou
receive him with a 'Welcome and fair welcome,' and meet him with smiling
face and invite him to come and sup with thee. Moreover, let him note
that thou hast forgotten Aladdin, thy beloved, likewise thy father, and
that thou hast learned to love him with exceeding love, displaying to
him all manner joy and pleasure. Then ask him for wine, which must be
red, and pledge him to his secret in a significant draught. And when
thou hast given him two or three cups full and hast made him wax
careless, then drop these drops into his cup and fill it up with wine.
No sooner shall he drink of it than he will fall upon his back senseless
as one dead." Hearing these words, the Princess exclaimed: "'Tis
exceedingly sore to me that I do such deed, withal must I do it that we
escape the defilement of this accursed who tortured me by severance from
thee and from my sire. Lawful and right therefore is the slaughter of
this accursed."
Then Aladdin ate and drank with his wife what hindered his hunger,
then, rising without stay or delay, fared forth the pavilion. So the
Lady Badr al-Budur summoned the tirewoman, who robed and arrayed her in
her finest raiment and adorned her and perfumed her. And as she was
thus, behold, the accursed Maghrabi entered. He joyed much seeing her in
such case and yet more when she confronted him, contrary to her custom,
with a laughing face, and his love longing increased, and his desire to
have her. Then she took him and, seating him beside her, said: "O my
dearling, do thou (an thou be willing) come to me this night and let us
sup together. Sufficient to me hath been my sorrow, for were I to sit
mourning through a thousand years or even two thousand, Aladdin would
not return to me from the tomb. And I depend upon thy say of yesterday;
to wit, that my sire, the Sultan, slew him in his stress of sorrow for
serverance from me.
"Nor wonder thou an I have changed this day from what I was
yesterday, and the reason thereof is I have determined upon taking thee
to friend and playfellow in lieu of and succession to Aladdin, for that
now I have none other man but thyself. So I hope for thy presence this
night, that we may sup together and we may carouse and drink somewhat of
wine each with other, and especially 'tis my desire that thou cause me
taste the wine of thy natal soil, the African land, because belike 'tis
better than aught of the wine of China we drink. I have with me some
wine, but 'tis the growth of my country and I vehemently wish to taste
the wine produced by thine."
When the Maghrabi saw the love lavisht upon him by the Lady Badr
al-Budur, and noted her change from the sorrowful, melancholy woman she
was wont to be, he thought that she had cut off her hope of Aladdin, and
he joyed exceedingly and said to her: "I hear and obey, O my lady,
whatso thou wishest and all thou biddest. I have at home a jar of our
country wine, which I have carefully kept and stored deep in earth for a
space of eight years, and I will now fare and fill from it our need and
will return to thee in all haste." But the Princess, that she might
wheedle him the more and yet more, replied: "O my darling, go not thou,
leaving me alone, but send one of the eunuchs to fill for us thereof,
and do thou remain sitting beside me, that I may find in thee my
consolation." He rejoined: "O my lady, none wotteth where the jar be
buried save myself, nor will I tarry from thee." So saying, the Moorman
went out, and after a short time he brought back as much wine as they
wanted, whereupon quoth the Princess to him: "Thou hast been at pains
and trouble to serve me, and I have suffered for thy sake, O my
beloved." Quoth he: "On no wise, O eyes of me. I hold myself enhonored
by thy service."
Then the Lady Badr al-Budur sat with him at table, and the twain fell
to eating, and presently the Princess expressed a wish to drink, when
the handmaid filled her a cup forthright and then crowned another for
the Moroccan. So she drank to his long life and his secret wishes, and
he also drank to her life. Then the Princess, who was unique in
eloquence and delicacy of speech, fell to making a cup companion of him
and beguiled him by addressing him in the sweetest terms of hidden
meaning. This was done only that he might become more madly enamored of
her, but the Maghrabi thought that it resulted from her true inclination
for him, nor knew that it was a snare set up to slay him. So his longing
for her increased, and he was dying of love for when he saw her address
him in such tenderness of words and thoughts, and his head began to swim
and an the world seemed as nothing in his eyes. But when they came to
the last of the supper and the wine had mastered his brains and the
Princess saw this in him, she said: "With us there be a custom
throughout our country, but I know not an it be the usage of yours or
not." The Moorman replied, "And what may that be?" So she said to him:
"At the end of supper each lover in turn taketh the cup of the beloved
and drinketh it off." And at once she crowned one with wine and bade the
handmaid carry to him her cup, wherein the drink was blended with the
bhang.
Now she had taught the slave girl what to do, and all the handmaids
and eunuchs in the pavilion longed for the sorcerer's slaughter and in
that matter were one with the Princess. Accordingly the damsel handed
him the cup and he, when he heard her words and saw her drinking from
his cup and passing hers to him and noted all that show of love, fancied
himself Iskandar, Lord of the Two Horns. Then said she to him, the while
swaying gracefully to either side and putting her hand within his hand:
"O my life, here is thy cup with me and my cup with thee, and on this
wise do lovers drink from each other's cups." Then she bussed the brim
and drained it to the dregs, and again she kissed its lip and offered it
to him. Thereat he flew for joy and, meaning to do the like, raised her
cup to his mouth and drank off the whole contents, without considering
whether there was therein aught harmful or not. And forthright he rolled
upon his back in deathlike condition and the cup dropped from his grasp,
whereupon the Lady Badr al-Budur and the slave girls ran hurriedly and
opened the pavilion door to their lord Aladdin, who, disguised as a
fellah, entered therein.
He went up to the apartment of his wife, whom he found still sitting
at table, and facing her lay the Maghrabi as one slaughtered. So he at
once drew near to her and kissed her and thanked her for this. Then,
rejoicing with joy exceeding, he turned to her and said: "Do thou with
thy handmaids betake thyself to the inner rooms and leave me alone for
the present, that I may take counsel touching mine affair." The Princess
hesitated not but went away at once, she and her women. Then Aladdin
arose, and after locking the door upon them, walked up to the Moorman
and put forth his hand to his breast pocket and thence drew the lamp,
after which he unsheathed his sword and slew the villain. Presently he
rubbed the lamp and the Marid slave appeared and said: "Adsum, O my
lord! What is it thou wantest?" "I desire of thee," said Aladdin, "that
thou take up my pavilion from this country and transport it to the land
of China and there set it down upon the site where it was whilom,
fronting the palace of the Sultan." The Marid replied, "Hearing and
obeying, O my lord."
Then Aladdin went and sat down with his wife and throwing his arms
round her neck, kissed her and she kissed him, and they set in converse
what while the Jinni transported the pavilion and all therein to the
place appointed. Presently Aladdin bade the handmaids spread the table
before him, and he and the Lady Badr al-Budur took seat thereat and fell
to eating and drinking, in all joy and gladness, till they had their
sufficiency, when, removing to the chamber of wine and cup converse,
they sat there and caroused in fair companionship and each kissed other
with all love liesse. The time had been long and longsome since they
enjoyed aught of pleasure, so they ceased not doing, thus until the wine
sun arose in their heads and sleep gat hold of them, at which time they
went to their bed in all ease and comfort. Early on the next morning
Aladdin woke and awoke his wife, and the slave girls came in and donned
her dress and prepared her and adorned her whilst her husband arrayed
himself in his costliest raiment, and the twain were ready to fly for
joy at reunion after parting. Moreover, the Princess was especially
joyous and gladsome because on that day she expected to see her beloved
father.
Such was the case of Aladdin and the Lady Badr al-Budur, but as
regards the Sultan, after he drove away his son-in-law he never ceased
to sorrow for the loss of his daughter, and every hour of every day he
would sit and weep for her as women weep, because she was his only child
and he had none other to take to heart. And as he shook off sleep
morning after morning he would hasten to the window and throw it open
and peer in the direction where formerly stood Aladdin's pavilion and
pour forth tears until his eyes were dried up and their lids were
ulcered. Now on that day he arose at dawn and, according to his custom,
looked out, when lo and behold! he saw before him an edifice, so he
rubbed his eyes and considered it curiously, when he became certified
that it was the pavilion of his son-in-law. So he called for a horse
without let or delay, and as soon as his beast was saddled, he mounted
and made for the place, and Aladdin, when he saw his father-in-law
approaching, went down and met him halfway, then, taking his hand, aided
him to step upstairs to the apartment of his daughter. And the Princess,
being as earnestly desirous to see her sire, descended and greeted him
at the door of the staircase fronting the ground-floor hall. Thereupon
the King folded her in his arms and kissed her, shedding tears of joy,
and she did likewise, till at last Aladdin led them to the upper saloon,
where they took seats and the Sultan fell to asking her case and what
had betided her.
The Lady Badr al-Budur began to inform the Sultan of all which had
befallen her, saying: "O my father, I recovered not life save yesterday
when I saw my husband, and he it was who freed me from the thraldom of
that Maghrabi, that magician, that accursed, than whom I believe there
be none viler on the face of earth. And but for my beloved, I had never
escaped him, nor hadst thou seen me during the rest of my days. But
mighty sadness and sorrow gat about me, O my father, not only for losing
thee but also for the loss of a husband under whose kindness I shall be
all the length of my life, seeing that he freed me from that fulsome
sorcerer." Then the Princess began repeating to her sire everything that
happened to her, and relating to him how the Moorman had tricked her in
the guise of a lamp-seller who offered in exchange new for old, how she
had given him the lamp whose worth she knew not, and how she had
bartered it away only to laugh at the lampman's folly.
"And next morning, O my father," she continued, "we found ourselves
and whatso the pavilion contained in Africa land, till such time as my
husband came to us and devised a device whereby we escaped. And had it
not been for Aladdin's hastening to our aid, the accursed was determined
to enjoy me perforce." Then she told him of the bhang drops administered
in wine to the African and concluded: "Then my husband returned to me,
and how I know not, but we were shifted from Africa land to this place."
Aladdin in his turn recounted how, finding the wizard dead-drunken, he
had sent away his wife and her women from the poluted place into the
inner apartments; how he had taken the lamp from the sorcerer's breast
pocket, whereto he was directed by his wife; how he had slaughtered the
villain; and finally how, making use of the lamp, he had summoned its
slave and ordered him to transport the pavilion back to its proper site,
ending his tale with: "And, if thy Highness have any doubt anent my
words, arise with me and look upon the accursed magician." The King did
accordingly and, having considered the Moorman, bade the carcass be
carried away forthright and burned and its ashes scattered in air.
Then he took to embracing Aladdin and, kissing him, said: "Pardon me,
O my son, for that I was about to destroy thy life through the foul
deeds of this damned enchanter, who cast thee into such pit of peril.
And I may be excused, O my child, for what I did by thee, because I
found myself forlorn of my daughter, my only one, who to me is dearer
than my very kingdom. Thou knowest how the hearts of parents yearn unto
their offspring, especially when like myself they have but one and none
other to love." And on this wise the Sultan took to excusing himself and
kissing his son-in-law. Aladdin said to the Sultan: "O King of the time,
thou didst naught to me contrary to Holy Law, and I also sinned not
against thee, but all the trouble came from that Maghrabi, the impure,
the magician." Thereupon the Sultan bade the city be decorated, and they
obeyed him and held high feast and festivities. He also commanded the
crier to cry about the streets saying: "This day is a mighty great fate,
wherein public rejoicings must be held throughout the realm, for a full
month of thirty days, in honor of the Lady Badr al-Budur and her husband
Aladdin's return to their home."
On this wise befell it with Aladdin and the Maghrabi, but withal the
King's son-in-law escaped not wholly from the accursed, albeit the body
had been burnt and the ashes scattered in air. For the villain had a
brother yet more villainous than himself, and a greater adept in
necromancy, geomancy, and astromancy. And even as the old saw saith, "A
bean and 'twas split," so each one dwelt in his own quarter of the globe
that he might fill it with his sorcery, his fraud, and his treason. Now
one day of the days it fortuned that the Moorman's brother would learn
how it fared with him, so he brought out his sandboard and dotted it and
produced the figures which, when he had considered and carefully studied
them, gave him to know that the man he sought was dead and housed in the
tomb. So he grieved and was certified of his disease, but he dotted a
second time seeking to learn the manner of the death and where it bad
taken place. So he found that the site was the China land and that the
mode was the foulest of slaughter. Furthermore, that he who did him die
was a young man Aladdin hight. Seeing this, he straightway arose and
equipped himself for wayfare, then he set out and cut across the wilds
and wolds and heights for the space of many a month until he reached
China and the capital of the Sultan wherein was the slayer of his
brother.
He alighted at the so-called strangers' khan and, hiring himself a
cell, took rest therein for a while, then he fared forth and wandered
about the highways that he might discern some path which would aid him
unto the winning of his ill-minded wish; to wit, of wreaking upon
Aladdin blood revenge for his brother. Presently he entered a
coffeehouse, a fine building which stood in the market place and which
collected a throng of folk to play, some at the mankalah, others at the
backgammon, and others at the chess and what not else. There he sat down
and listened to those seated beside him, and they chanced to be
conversing about an ancient dame and a holy, by name Fatimah, who dwelt
away at her devotions in a hermitage without the town, and this she
never entered save only two days each month. They mentioned also that
she had performed many saintly miracles, which when the Maghrabi, the
necromancer, heard he said in himself: "Now have I found that which I
sought. Inshallah- God willing- by means of this crone will I will to my
wish."
The necromancer went up to the folk who were talking of the miracles
performed by the devout old woman and said to one of them: "O my uncle,
I heard you an chatting about the prodigies of a certain saintess named
Fatimah. Who is she, and where may be her abode?" "Marvelous!" exclaimed
the man. "How canst thou be in our city and yet never have heard about
the miracles of the Lady Fatimah? Evidently, O thou poor fellow, thou
art a foreigner, since the fastings of this devotee and her asceticism
in worldly matters and the beauties of her piety never came to thine
ears." The Moorman rejoined: "'Tis true, O my lord. Yes, I am a
stranger, and came to this your city only yesternight. And I hope thou
wilt inform me concerning the saintly miracles of this virtuous woman
and where may be her wone, for that I have fallen into a calamity, and
'tis my wish to visit her and crave her prayers, so haply Allah (to Whom
be honor and glory!) will, through her blessings, deliver me from mine
evil." Hereat the man recounted to him the marvels of Fatimah, the
devotee, and her piety and the beauties of her worship, then, taking him
by the hand, went with him without the city and showed him the way to
her abode, a cavern upon a hillock's head. The necromancer acknowledged
his kindness in many words and, thanking him for his good offices,
returned to his cell in the caravanserai.
Now by the fiat of Fate on the very next day Fatimah came down to the
city, and the Maghrabi, the necromancer, happened to leave his hostelry
a-morn, when he saw the folk swarming and crowding. Wherefore he went up
to discover what was to do, and found the devotee standing a-middlemost
the throng, and all who suffered from pain or sickness flocked to her
soliciting a blessing, and praying for her prayers, and each and every
she touched became whole of his illness. The Moroccan, the necromancer,
followed her about until she returned to her antre. Then, awaiting till
the evening evened, he arose and repaired to a vintner's store, where he
drank a cup of wine. After this he fared forth the city, and finding the
devotee's cavern, entered it and saw her lying prostrate with her back
upon a strip of matting. So he came forward and mounted upon her belly,
then he drew his dagger and shouted at her, and when she awoke and
opened her eyes, she espied a Moorish man with an unsheathed poniard
sitting upon her middle as though about to kill her.
She was troubled and sore terrified, but he said to her: "Hearken!
And thou cry out or utter a word, I will slay thee at this very moment.
Arise now and do all I bid thee." Then he sware to her an oath that if
she obeyed his orders, whatever they might be, he would not do her die.
So saying, he rose up from off her and Fatimah also arose, when he said
to her, "Give me thy gear and take thou my habit," whereupon she gave
him her clothing and head fillets, her face kerchief and her mantilla.
Then quoth he, "'Tis also requisite that thou anoint me with somewhat
shall make the color of my face like unto thine." Accordingly she went
into the inner cavern, and bringing out a gallipot of ointment, spread
somewhat thereof upon her palm and with it besmeared his face until its
hue favored her own. Then she gave him her staff and, showing him how to
walk and what to do when he entered the city, hung her rosary around his
neck. Lastly she handed to him a mirror and said, "Now look! Thou
differest from me in naught," and he saw himself Fatimah's counterpart
as thou she had never gone or come. But after obtaining his every object
he falsed his oath and asked for a cord, which she brought to him. Then
he seized her and strangled her in the cavern, and presently, when she
was dead, haled the corpse outside and threw it into a pit hard by and
went back to sleep in her cavern. And when broke the day, he rose, and
repairing to the town, took his stand under the walls of Aladdin's
pavilion.
Hereupon flocked the folk about him, all being certified that he was
Fatimah, the devotee, and he fell to doing whatso she was wont to do. He
laid hands on these in pain and recited for those a chapter of the Koran
and made orisons for a third. Presently the thronging of the folk and
the clamoring of the crowd were heard by the Lady Badr al-Budur, who
said to her handmaidens. "Look what is to do, and what he the cause of
this turmoil!" Thereupon the aga of the eunuchry fared forth to see what
might be the matter and, presently returning, said: "O my lady, this
clamor is caused by the Lady Fatimah, and if thou be pleased to command,
I will bring her to thee. So shalt thou gain through her a blessing."
The Princess answered: "Go bring her, for since many a day I am always
hearing of her miracles and her virtues, and I do long to see her and
get a blessing by her intervention, for the folk recount her
manifestations in many cases of difficulty."
The aga went forth and brought in the Moroccan, the necromancer,
habited in Fatimah's clothing, and when the wizard stood before the Lady
Badr al-Budur, he began at first sight to bless her with a string of
prayers, nor did any one of those present doubt at all but that he was
the devotee herself. The Princess arose and salaamed to him, then,
seating him beside her, said: "O my Lady Fatimah, 'tis my desire that
thou abide with me alway, so might I be blessed through thee, and also
learn of thee the paths of worship and piety and follow thine example
making for salvation." Now all this was a foul deceit of the accursed
African, and he designed furthermore to complete his guile, so he
continued: "O my Lady, I am a poor woman and a religious that dwelleth
in the desert, and the like of me deserveth not to abide in the palaces
of the kings." But the Princess replied: "Have no care whatever, O my
Lady Fatimah. I will set apart for thee an apartment of my pavilion that
thou mayest worship therein, and none shall ever come to trouble thee.
Also thou shalt avail to worship Allah in my place better than in thy
cavern." The Moroccan rejoined: "Hearkening and obedience, O my lady. I
will not oppose thine order, for that the commands of the children of
the kings may not be gainsaid nor renounced. Only I hope of thee that my
eating and my drinking and sitting may be within my own chamber, which
shall be kept wholly private. Nor do I require or desire the delicacies
of diet, but do thou favor me by sending thy handmaid every day with a
bit of bread and a sup of water, and, when I feel fain of food, let me
eat by myself in my own room."
Now the accursed hereby purposed to avert the danger of haply raising
his face kerchief at mealtimes, when his intent might be baffled by his
beard and mustachios discovering him to be a man. The Princess replied:
"O my Lady Fatimah, be of good heart, naught shall happen save what thou
wishest. But now arise and let me show thee the apartment in the palace
which I would prepare for thy sojourn with us." The Lady Badr al-Budur
arose, and taking the necromancer who had disguised himself as the
devotee, ushered him in to the place which she had kindly promised him
for a home, and said: "O my Lady Fatimah, here thou shalt dwell with
every comfort about thee and in all privacy and repose, and the place
shall be named after thy name." Whereupon the Maghrabi acknowledged her
kindness and prayed for her. Then the Princess showed him the jalousies
and the jeweled kiosque with its four and twenty windows, and said to
him, "What thinkest thou, O my Lady Fatimah, of this marvelous
pavilion?" The Moorman replied: "By Allah, O my daughter, 'tis indeed
passing fine and wondrous exceedingly, nor do I deem that its fellow is
to be found in the whole universe. But alas for the lack of one thing
which would enhance its beauty and decoration!" The Princess asked her:
"O my Lady Fatimah, what lacketh it, and what be this thing would add to
its adornment? Tell me thereof, inasmuch as I was wont to believe it
wholly perfect." The Moroccan answered: "O my lady, all it wanteth is
that there he hanging from the middle of the dome the egg of a fowl
called the roc, and were this done, the pavilion would lack its peer all
the world over." The Princess asked, "What he this bird, and where can
we find her egg?" and the Moroccan answered, "O my lady, the roc is
indeed a giant fowl which carrieth off camels and elephants in her
pounces and flieth away with them, such is her stature and strength.
Also this fowl is mostly found in Mount Kaf, and the architect who built
this pavilion is able to bring thee one of her eggs."
They then left such talk, as it was the hour for the noonday meal,
and when the handmaid had spread the table, the Lady Badr alBudur sent
down to invite the accursed African to eat with her. But he accepted
not, and for a reason he would on no wise consent- nay, he rose and
retired to the room which the Princess had assigned to him and whither
the slave girls carried his dinner. Now when evening evened, Aladdin
returned from the chase and met his wife, who salaamed to him, and he
clasped her to his bosom and kissed her. Presently, looking at her face,
he saw thereon a shade of sadness, and he noted that, contrary to her
custom, she did not laugh, so he asked her: "What hath betided thee, O
my dearling? Tell me, hath aught happened to trouble thy thoughts?"
"Nothing whatever," answered she. "But, O my beloved, I fancied that our
pavilion lacked naught at all. However, O eyes of me, O Aladdin, were
the dome of the upper story hung with an egg of the fowl called roc,
there would be naught like it in the universe." Her husband rejoined:
"And for this trifle thou art saddened, when 'tis the easiest of all
matters to me! So cheer thyself, and whatever thou wantest, 'tis enough
thou inform me thereof, and I will bring it from the abysses of the
earth in the quickest time and at the earliest hour."
Aladdin, after refreshing the spirits of his Princess by promising
her all she could desire, repaired straightway to his chamber and taking
the lamp, rubbed it, when the Marid appeared without let or delay
saying, "Ask whatso thou wantest." Said the other: "I desire thee to
fetch me an egg of the bird roc, and do thou hang it to the dome crown
of this my pavilion." But when the Marid heard these words, his face
waxed fierce and he shouted with a mighty loud voice and a frightful,
and cried: "O denier of kindly deeds, sufficeth it not for thee that I
and all the Slaves of the Lamp are ever at thy service, but thou must
also require me to bring thee our Liege Lady for thy pleasure, and hang
her up at thy pavilion dome for the enjoyment of thee and thy wife? Now,
by Allah, ye deserve, thou and she, that I reduce you to ashes this very
moment and scatter you upon the air. But inasmuch as ye twain be
ignorant of this matter, unknowing its inner from its outer
significance, I will pardon you, for indeed ye are but innocents. The
offense cometh from that accursed necromancer, brother to the Maghrabi,
the magician, who abideth here representing himself to be Fatimah, the
devotee, after assuming her dress and belongings and murthering her in
the cavern. Indeed he came hither seeking to slay thee by way of blood
revenge for his brother, and 'tis he who taught thy wife to require this
matter of me."
So saying, the Marid evanished. But when Aladdin heard these words,
his wits fled his head and his joints trembled at the Marid's terrible
shout. But he empowered his purpose and, arising forthright, issued from
his chamber and went into his wife's. There he affected an ache of head,
for that he knew how famous was Fatimah for the art and mystery of
healing all such pains. And when the Lady Badr alBudur saw him sitting
hand to head and complaining of unease, she asked him the cause and he
answered, "I know of none other save that my head acheth exceedingly."
Hereupon she straightway bade summon Fatimah, that the devotee might
impose her hand upon his head, and Aladdin asked her, "Who may this
Fatimah be?" So she informed him that it was Fatimah, the devotee, to
whom she had given a home in the pavilion. Meanwhile the slave girls had
fared forth and summoned the Maghrabi, and when the accursed made act of
presence, Aladdin rose up to him and, acting like one who knew naught of
his purpose, salaamed to him as though he had been the real Fatimah and,
kissing the hem of his sleeve, welcomed him and entreated him with
honor, and said: "O my Lady Fatimah, I hope thou wilt bless me with a
boon, for well I wot thy practice in the healing of pains. I have gotten
a mighty ache in my head." The Moorman, the accursed, could hardly
believe that he heard such words, this being all that he desired. The
necromancer, habited as Fatimah, the devotee, came up to Aladdin that he
might place hand upon his head and heal his ache. So he imposed one hand
and, putting forth the other under his gown, drew a dagger wherewith to
slay him. But Aladdin watched him and, taking patience till he had
wholly unsheathed the weapon, seized him with a forceful grip and,
wrenching the dagger from his grasp, plunged it deep into his heart.
When the Lady Badr al-Budur saw him do on this wise, she shrieked and
cried out: "What hath this virtuous and holy woman done that thou hast
charged thy neck with the heavy burthen of her blood shed wrongfully?
Hast thou no fear of Allah that thou killest Fatimah, this saintly
woman, whose miracles are far-famed?" "No," replied Aladdin, "I have not
killed Fatimah. I have slain only Fatimah's slayer, he that is the
brother of the Maghrabi, the accursed, the magician, who carried thee
off by his black art and transported my pavilion to the Africa land. And
this damnable brother of his came to our city and wrought these wiles,
murthering Fatimah and assuming her habit, only that he might avenge
upon me his brother's blood. And he also 'twas who taught thee to
require of me a roc's egg, that my death might result from such
requirement. But an thou doubt my speech, come forward and consider the
person I have slain." Thereupon Aladdin drew aside the Moorman's face
kerchief and the Lady Badr al-Budur saw the semblance of a man with a
full heard that well-nigh covered his features.
She at once knew the truth, and said to her husband, "O my beloved,
twice have I cast thee into death risk!" But he rejoined: "No harm in
that, O my lady. By the blessing of your loving eyes, I accept with all
joy all things thou bringest me." The Princess, hearing these words,
hastened to fold him in her arms and kissed him, saying: "O my dearling,
all this is for my love to thee and I knew naught thereof, but indeed I
do not deem lightly of thine affection." So Aladdin kissed her and
strained her to his breast, and the love between them waxed but greater.
At that moment the Sultan appeared, and they told him all that had
happened, showing him the corpse of the Maghrabi, the necromancer, when
the King commanded the body to be burned and the ashes scattered on air,
even as had befallen the wizard's brother.
And Aladdin abode with his wife, the Lady Badr al-Budur, in all
pleasure and joyaunce of life, and thenceforward escaped every danger,
and after a while, when the Sultan deceased, his son-in-law was seated
upon the throne of the kingdom. And he commanded and dealt justice to
the lieges so that all the folk loved him, and he lived with his wife in
all solace and happiness until there came to him the Destroyer of
delights and the Severer of societies.
And a tale is also told about
|
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES
IN days of yore and in times and tides long gone before, there dwelt
in a certain town of Persia two brothers, one named Kasim and the other
Ali Baba, who at their father's demise had divided the little wealth he
had left to them with equitable division, and had lost no time in
wasting and spending it all. The elder, however, presently took to
himself a wife, the daughter of an opulent merchant, so that when his
father-in-law fared to the mercy of Almighty Allah, he became owner of a
large shop filled with rare goods and costly wares and of a storehouse
stocked with precious stuffs, likewise of much gold that was buried in
the ground. Thus was he known throughout the city as a substantial man.
But the woman whom Ali Baba had married was poor and needy. They lived,
therefore, in a mean hovel, and Ali Baba eked out a scanty livelihood by
the sale of fuel which he daily collected in the jungle and carried
about the town to the bazaar upon his three asses.
Now it chanced one day that Ali Baba had cut dead branches and dry
fuel sufficient for his need, and had placed the load upon his beasts,
when suddenly he espied a dust cloud spiring high in air to his right
and moving rapidly toward him, and when he closely considered it, he
descried a troop of horsemen riding on amain and about to reach him. At
this sight he was sore alarmed, and fearing lest perchance they were a
band of bandits who would slay him and drive off his donkeys, in his
affright he began to run. But forasmuch as they were near-hand and he
could not escape from out the forest, he drove his animals laden with
the fuel into a byway of the bushes and swarmed up a thick trunk of a
huge tree to hide himself therein. And he sat upon a branch whence he
could descry everything beneath him whilst none below could catch a
glimpse of him above, and that tree grew close beside a rock which
towered high abovehead.
The horsemen, young, active, and doughty riders, came close up to the
rock face and all dismounted, whereat Ali Baba took good note of them,
and soon he was fully persuaded by their mien and demeanor that they
were a troop of highwaymen who, having fallen upon a caravan, had
despoiled it and carried off the spoil and brought their booty to this
place with intent of concealing it safely in some cache. Moreover, he
observed that they were forty in number. Ali Baba saw the robbers, as
soon as they came under the tree, each unbridle his horse and hobble it.
Then all took off their saddlebags, which proved to he full of gold and
silver. The man who seemed to he the captain presently pushed forward,
load on shoulder, through thorns and thickets, till he came up to a
certain spot, where he uttered these strange words: "Open, Sesame!" And
forthwith appeared a wide doorway in the face of the rock. The robbers
went in, and last of all their chief, and then the portal shut of
itself.
Long while they stayed within the cave whilst Ali Baba was
constrained to abide perched upon the tree, reflecting that if he came
down, peradventure the band might issue forth that very moment and seize
him and slay him. At last he had determined to mount one of the horses
and driving on his asses, to return townward, when suddenly the portal
flew open. The robber chief was first to issue forth, then, standing at
the entrance, he saw and counted his men as they came out, and lastly he
spake the magical words, "Shut, Sesame!" whereat the door closed of
itself. When all had passed muster and review, each slung on his
saddlebags and bridled his own horse, and as soon as ready they rode
off, led by the leader, in the direction whence they came. Ali Baba
remained still perched on the tree and watched their departure, nor
would he descend until what time they were clean gone out of sight, lest
perchance one of them return and look around and descry him.
Then he thought within himself: "I too will try the virtue of those
magical words and see if at my bidding the door will open and close." So
he called out aloud, "Open, Sesame!" And no sooner had he spoken than
straightway the portal flew open and he entered within. He saw a large
cavern and a vaulted, in height equaling the stature of a full-grown
man, and it was hewn in the live stone and, lighted up with light that
came through air holes and bull's-eyes in the upper surface of the rock
which formed the roof. He had expected to find naught save outer gloom
in this robbers' den, and he was surprised to see the whole room filled
with bales of all manner stuffs, and heaped up from sole to ceiling with
camelloads of silks and brocades and embroidered cloths and mounds on
mounds of varicolored carpetings. Besides which, he espied coins golden
and silvern without measure or account, some piled upon the ground and
others bound in learthern bags and sacks. Seeing these goods and moneys
in such abundance, Ali Bab determined in his mind that not during a few
years only but for many generations thieves must have stored their gains
and spoils in this place.
When he stood within the cave, its door had closed upon him, yet he
was not dismayed, since he had kept in memory the magical words, and he
took no heed of the precious stuffs around him, but applied himself only
and wholly to the sacks of ashrafis. Of these he carried out as many as
he judged sufficient burthen for the beasts, then he loaded them upon
his animals, and covered his plunder with sticks and fuel, so none might
discern the bags but might think that he was carrying home his usual
ware. Lastly he called out, "Shut, Sesame!" and forthwith the door
closed, for the spell so wrought that whensoever any entered the cave,
its portal shut of itself behind him, and as he issued therefrom, the
same would neither open nor close again till he had pronounced the words
"Shut, Sesame!" Presently, having laden his asses, Ali Baba urged them
before him with all speed to the city and reaching home, he drove them
into the yard, and, shutting close the outer door, took down first the
sticks and fuel and after the bags of gold, which he carried in to his
wife.
She felt them, and finding them full of coin, suspected that Ali Baba
had been robbing, and fell to berating and blaming him for that he
should do so ill a thing. Quoth Ali Baba to his wife, "Indeed I am no
robber, and rather do thou rejoice with me at our good fortune."
Hereupon he told her of his adventure, and began to pour the gold from
the bags in heaps before her, and her sight was dazzled by the sheen and
her heart delighted at his recital and adventures. Then she began
counting the gold, whereat quoth Ali Baba: "O silly woman, how long wilt
thou continue turning over the coin? Now let me dig a hole wherein to
hide this treasure, that none may know its secret." Quoth she: "Right is
thy rede! Still would I weigh the moneys and have some inkling of their
amount," and he replied, "As thou pleasest, but see thou tell no man."
So she went off in haste to Kasim's home to borrow weights and scales
wherewith she might balance the ashrafis and make some reckoning of
their value. And when she could not find Kasim, she said to his wife,
"Lend me, I pray thee, thy scales for a moment." Replied her
sister-in-law, "Hast thou need of the bigger balance or the smaller?"
and the other rejoined, "I need not the large scales, give me the
little," and her sister-in-law cried, "Stay here a moment whilst I look
about and find thy want."
With this pretext Kasim's wife went aside and secretly smeared wax
and suet over the pan of the balance, that she might know what thing it
was Ali Baba's wife would weigh, for she made sure that whatso it be,
some bit thereof would stick to the wax and fat. So the woman took this
opportunity to satisfy her curiosity, and Ali Baba's wife, suspecting
naught thereof, carried home the scales and began to weigh the gold,
whilst Ali Baba ceased not digging. And when the money was weighed, they
twain stowed it into the hole, which they carefully filled up with
earth. Then the good wife took back the scales to her kinswoman, all
unknowing that an ashrafi had adhered to the cup of the scales. But when
Kasim's wife espied the gold coin, she fumed with envy and wrath, saying
to herself: "So ho! They borrowed my balance to weigh out ashrafis?" And
she marveled greatly whence so poor a man as Ali Baba had gotten such
store of wealth that he should he obliged to weigh it with a pair of
scales.
Now after long pondering the matter, when her husband returned home
at eventide, she said to him: "O man, thou deemest thyself a wight of
wealth and substance, but lo! thy brother Ali Baba is an emir by the
side of thee, and richer far than thou art. He hath such heaps of gold
that he must needs weigh his moneys with scales, whilst thou, forsooth,
art satisfied to count thy coin." "Whence knowest thou this?" asked
Kasim. And in answer his wife related all anent the pair of scales, and
how she found an ashrafi stuck to them, and shewed him the gold coin,
which bore the mark and superscription of some ancient king. No sleep
had Kasim all that night by reason of his envy and jealousy and
covetise, and next morning he rose betimes and going to Ali Baba, said:
"O my brother, to all appearance thou art poor and needy, but in effect
thou hast a store of wealth so abundant that perforce thou must weigh
thy gold with scales." Quoth Ali Baba: "What is this thou sayest? I
understand thee not. Make clear thy purport." And quoth Kasim, with
ready rage: "Feign not that thou art ignorant of what I say, and think
not to deceive me." Then, showing him the ashrafi, he cried: "Thousands
of gold coins such as these thou hast put by, and meanwhile my wife
found this one stuck to the cup of the scales." Then Ali Baba understood
how both Kasim and his wife knew that he had store of ashrafis, and said
in his mind that it would not avail him to keep the matter hidden, but
would rather cause ill will and mischief, and thus he was induced to
tell his brother every whit concerning the bandits and also of the
treasure trove in the cave.
When he had heard the story, Kasim exclaimed: "I would fain learn of
thee the certainty of the place where thou foundest the moneys, also the
magical words whereby the door opened and closed. And I forewarn thee,
an thou tell me not the whole truth, I will give notice of those
ashrafis to the wah, then shalt thou forfeit all thy wealth and he
disgraced and thrown into gaol." Thereupon Ali Baba told him his tale,
not forgetting the magical words, and Kasim, who kept careful heed of
all these matters, next day set out, driving ten mules he had hired, and
readily found the place which Ali Baba had described to him. And when he
came to the aforesaid rock and to the tree whereon Ali Baba had hidden
himself, and he had made sure of the door he cried in great joy, "Open,
Sesame!" The portal yawned wide at once and Kasim went within and saw
the piles of jewels and treasures lying ranged all around, and as soon
as he stood amongst them the door shut after him, as wont to do. He
walked about in ecstasy marveling at the treasures, and when weary of
admiration, he gathered together bags of ashrafis, a sufficient load for
his ten mules, and placed them by the entrance in readiness to he
carried outside and set upon the beasts. But by the will of Allah
Almighty he had clean forgotten the cabalistic words, and cried out,
"Open, Barley!" Whereat the door refused to move. Astonished and
confused beyond measure, he named the names of all manner of grains save
sesame, which had slipped from his memory as though he had never heard
the word, whereat in his dire distress he heeded not the ashrafis that
lay heaped at the entrance, and paced to and fro, backward and forward,
within the cave, sorely puzzled and perplexed. The wealth whose sight
had erewhile filled his heart with joy and gladness was now the cause of
bitter grief and sadness.
It came to pass that at noontide the robbers, returning by that way,
saw from afar some mules standing beside the entrance, and much they
marveled at what had brought the beasts to that place, for inasmuch as
Kasim by mischance had faded to tether or hobble them, they had strayed
about the jungle and were browsing hither and thither. However, the
thieves paid scant regard to the estrays, nor cared they to secure them,
but only wondered by what means they had wandered so far from the town.
Then, reaching the cave, the captain and his troop dismounted, and going
up to the door, repeated the formula, and at once it flew open.
Now Kasim had heard from within the cave the horse hoofs drawing nigh
and yet nigher, and he fell down to the ground in a fit of fear, never
doubting that it was the clatter of the banditti who would slaughter him
without fail. Howbeit, he presently took heart of grace, and at the
moment when the door flew open he rushed out hoping to make good his
escape. But the unhappy ran full tilt against the captain, who stood in
front of the band, and felled him to the ground, whereupon a robber
standing near his chief at once bared his brand and with one cut clave
Kasim clean in twain. Thereupon the robbers rushed into the cavern, and
put back as they were before the bags of ashrafis which Kasim had heaped
up at the doorway ready for taking away, nor recked they aught of those
which Ali Baba had removed, so dazed and amazed were they to discover by
what means the strange man had effected an entrance. All knew that it
was not possible for any to drop through the skylights, so tall and
steep was the rock's face, withal slippery of ascent, and also that none
could enter by the portal unless he knew the magical words whereby to
open it. However, they presently quartered the dead body of Kasim and
hung it to the door within the cavern, two parts to the right jamb and
as many to the left, that the sight might be a warning of approaching
doom for all who dared enter the cave. Then, coming out, they closed the
hoard door and rode away upon their wonted work.
Now when night fell and Kasim came not home, his wife waxed uneasy in
mind, and running round to Ali Baba, said: "O my brother, Kasim hath not
returned. Thou knowest whither he went, and sore I fear me some
misfortune hath betided him." Ali Baba also divined that a mishap had
happened to prevent his return. Not the less, however, he strove to
comfort his sister-in-law with words of cheer, and said: "O wife of my
brother, Kasim haply exerciseth discretion and, avoiding the city,
cometh by a roundabout road and will he here anon. This I do believe is
the reason why he tarrieth." Thereupon, comforted in spirit, Kasim's
wife fared homeward and sat awaiting her husband's return, but when half
the night was spent and still he came not, she was as one distraught.
She feared to cry aloud for her grief, lest haply the neighbors, hearing
her, should come and learn the secret, so she wept in silence and
upbraiding herself, fell to thinking: "Wherefore did I disclose this
secret to him and beget envy and jealousy of Ali Baba? This be the fruit
thereof, and hence the disaster that hath come down upon me."
She spent the rest of the night in bitter tears, and early on the
morrow hied in hottest hurry to Ali Baba and prayed that he would go
forth in quest of his brother. So he strove to console her, and
straightway set out with his asses for the forest. Presently, reaching
the rock, he wondered to see stains of blood freshly shed, and not
finding his brother or the ten mules, he forefelt a calamity from so
evil a sign. He then went to the door and saying, "Open, Sesame!" he
pushed in and saw the dead body of Kasim, two parts hanging to the right
and the rest to the left of the entrance. Albeit he was affrighted
beyond measure of affright, he wrapped the quarters in two cloths and
laid them upon one of his asses, hiding them carefully with sticks and
fuel that none might see them. Then he placed the bags of gold upon the
two other animals and likewise covered them most carefully, and when all
was made ready he closed the cave door with the magical words, and set
him forth wending homeward with all ward and watchfulness. The asses
with the load of ashrafis he made over to his wife, and bade her bury
the bags with diligence, but he told her not the condition in which he
had come upon his brother Kasim. Then he went with the other ass- to
wit, the beast whereon was laid the corpse- to the widow's house and
knocked gently at the door.
Now Kasim had a slave girl shrewd and sharp-witted, Morgiana hight.
She as softly undid the bolt and admitted Ali Baba and the ass into the
courtyard of the house, when he let down the body from the beast's back
and said: "O Morgiana, haste thee and make thee ready to perform the
rites for the burial of thy lord. I now go to tell the tidings to thy
mistress, and I will quickly return to help thee in this matter." At
that instant Kasim's widow, seeing her brother-in-law, exclaimed: "O Ali
Baba, what news bringest thou of my spouse? Alas! I see grief tokens
written upon thy countenance. Say quickly what hath happened." Then he
recounted to her how it had fared with her husband and how he had been
slain by the robbers and in what wise he had brought home the dead body.
Ali Baba pursued: "O my lady, what was to happen hath happened, but it
behooveth us to keep this matter secret, for that our lives depend upon
privacy." She wept with sore weeping and made answer: "It hath fared
with my husband according to the fiat of Fate, and now for thy safety's
sake I give thee my word to keep the affair concealed." He replied:
"Naught can avail when Allah hath decreed. Rest thee in patience until
the days of thy widowhood be accomplisht, after which time I will take
thee to wife, and thou shalt live in comfort and happiness. And fear not
lest my first spouse vex thee or show aught of jealousy, for that she is
kindly and tender of heart." The widow, lamenting her loss noisily,
cried, "Be it as e'en thou please."
Then Ali Baba farewelled her, weeping and wailing for her husband,
and joining Morgiana, took counsel with her how to manage the burial of
his brother. So, after much consultation and many warnings, he left the
slave girl and departed home driving his ass before him. As soon as Ali
Baba had fared forth Morgiana went quickly to a druggist's shop, and
that she might the better dissemble with him and not make known the
matter, she asked of him a drug often administered to men when diseased
with dangerous distemper. He gave it saying: "Who is there in thy house
that lieth so in as to require this medicine?" and said she: "My master
Kasim is sick well nigh unto death. For many days he hath nor spoken nor
tasted aught of food, so that almost we despair of his life." Next day
Morgiana went again and asked the druggist for more of medicine and
essences such as are adhibited to the sick when at door of death, that
the moribund may haply rally before the last breath. The man gave the
potion and she, taking it, sighed aloud and wept, saying: "I fear me he
may not have strength to drink this draught. Methinks all will be over
with him ere I return to the house."
Meanwhile Ali Baba was anxiously awaiting to hear sounds of wailing
and lamentation in Kasim's home, that he might at such signal hasten
thither and take part in the ceremonies of the funeral. Early on the
second day Morgiana went with veiled face to one Baba Mustafa, a tailor
well shotten in years whose craft was to make shrouds and cerecloths,
and as soon as she saw him open his shop she gave him a gold piece and
said, "Do thou bind a bandage over thine eyes and come along with me."
Mustafa made as though he would not go, whereat Morgiana placed a second
gold coin in his palm and entreated him to accompany her. The tailor
presently consented for greed of gain, so, tying a kerchief tightly over
his eyes, she led him by the hand to the house wherein lay the dead body
of her master. Then, taking off the bandage in the darkened room, she
bade him sew together the quarters of the corpse, limb to its limb, and
casting a cloth upon the body, said to the tailor: "Make haste and sew a
shroud according to the size of this dead man, and I will give thee
therefor yet another ducat." Baba Mustafa quickly made the cerecloth of
fitting length and breadth, and Morgiana paid him the promised ashrafi,
then, once more bandaging his eyes, led him back to the place whence she
had brought him. After this she returned hurriedly home and with the
help of Ali Baba washed the body in warm water and donning the shroud,
laid the corpse upon a clean place ready for burial.
This done, Morgiana went to the mosque and gave notice to an imam
that a funeral was awaiting the mourners in a certain household, and
prayed that he would come to read the prayers for the dead, and the imam
went back with her. Then four neighbors took up the bier and bore it on
their shoulders and fared forth with the imam and others who were wont
to give assistance at such obsequies. After the funeral prayers were
ended four other men carried off the coffin, and Morgiana walked before
it bare of head, striking her breast and weeping and wailing with
exceeding loud lament, whilst Ali Baba and the neighbors came behind. In
such order they entered the cemetery and buried him, then, leaving him
to Munkar and Nakir- the Questioners of the Dead- all wended their ways.
Presently the women of the quarter, according to the custom of the city,
gathered together in the house of mourning and sat an hour with Kasim's
widow comforting and condoling, presently leaving her somewhat resigned
and cheered. Ali Baba stayed forty days at home in ceremonial
lamentation for the loss of his brother, so none within the town save
himself and his wife (Kasim's widow) and Morgiana knew aught the secret.
And when the forty days of mourning were ended Ali Baba removed to his
own quarters all the property belonging to the deceased and openly
married the widow. Then he appointed his nephew, his brother's eldest
son, who had lived a long time with a wealthy merchant and was perfect
of knowledge in all matters of trade, such as selling and buying, to
take charge of the defunct's shop and to carry on the business.
It so chanced one day when the robbers, as was their wont, came to
the treasure cave that they marveled exceedingly to find nor sign nor
trace of Kasim's body, whilst they observed that much of gold had been
carried off. Quoth the captain: "Now it behooveth us to make inquiry in
this matter, else shall we suffer much of loss, and this our treasure,
which we and our forefathers have amassed during the course of many
years, will little by little be wasted and spoiled." Hereto all assented
and with single mind agreed that he whom they had slain had knowledge of
the magical words whereby the door was made to open; moreover, that
someone besides him had cognizance of the spell and had carried off the
body, and also much of gold. Wherefore they needs must make diligent
research and find out who the man ever might be. They then took counsel
and determined that one amongst them, who should be sagacious and deft
of wit, must don the dress of some merchant from foreign parts, then,
repairing to the city, he must go about from quarter to quarter and from
street to street and learn if any townsman had lately died, and if so
where he wont to dwell, that with this clue they might be enabled to
find the wight they sought. Hereat said one of the robbers: "Grant me
leave that I fare and find out such tidings in the town and bring thee
word anon, and if I fail of my purpose I hold my life in forfeit."
Accordingly that bandit, after disguising himself by dress, pushed at
night into the town, and next morning early he repaired to the market
square and saw that none of the shops had yet been opened save only that
of Baba Mustafa, the tailor, who, thread and needle in hand, sat upon
his working stool. The thief bade him good day and said: "'Tis yet dark.
How canst thou see to sew?" Said the tailor: "I perceive thou art a
stranger. Despite my years, my eyesight is so keen that only yesterday I
sewed together a dead body whilst sitting in a room quite darkened."
Quoth the bandit thereupon to himself, "I shall get somewhat of my want
from this snip," and to secure a further clue he asked: "Meseemeth thou
wouldst jest with me, and thou meanest that a cerecloth for a corpse was
stitched by thee and that thy business is to sew shrouds." Answered the
tailor: "It mattereth not to thee. Question me no more questions."
Thereupon the robber placed an ashrafi in his hand and continued: "I
desire not to discover aught thou hidest, albeit my breast, like every
honest man's, is the grave of secrets, and this only would I learn of
thee- in what house didst thou do that job? Canst thou direct me
thither, or thyself conduct me thereto?" The tailor took the gold with
greed and cried: "I have not seen with my own eyes the way to that
house. A certain bondswoman led me to a place which I know right well,
and there she bandaged my eyes and guided me to some tenement and lastly
carried me into a darkened room where lay the dead body dismembered.
Then she unbound the kerchief and bade me sew together first the corpse
and then the shroud, which having done, she again blindfolded me and led
me back to the stead whence she had brought me and left me there. Thou
seest then I am not able to tell thee where thou shalt find the house."
Quoth the robber: "Albeit thou knowest not the dwelling whereof thou
speakest, still canst thou take me to the place where thou wast
blindfolded. Then I will bind a kerchief over thine eyes and lead thee
as thou wast led. On this wise perchance thou mayest hit upon the site.
An thou wilt do this favor by me, see, here another golden ducat is
thine." Thereupon the bandit slipped a second ashrafi into the tailor's
palm, and Baba Mustafa thrust it with the first into his pocket. Then,
leaving his shop as it was, he walked to the place where Morgiana had
tied the kerchief around his eyes, and with him went the robber, who,
after binding on the bandage, led him by the hand.
Baba Mustafa, who was clever and keen-witted, presently striking the
street whereby he had fared with the handmaid, walked on counting step
by step, then, halting suddenly, he said, "Thus far I came with her,"
and the twain stopped in front of Kasim's house, wherein now dwelt his
brother Ali Baba. The robber then made marks with white chalk upon the
door, to the end that he might readily find it at some future time, and
removing the bandage from the tailor's eyes, said: "O Baba Mustafa, I
thank thee for this favor, and Almighty Allah guerdon thee for thy
goodness. Tell me now, I pray thee, who dwelleth in yonder house?" Quoth
he: "In very sooth I wot not, for I have little knowledge concerning
this quarter of the city." And the bandit, understanding that he could
find no further clue from the tailor, dismissed him to his shop with
abundant thanks, and hastened back to the tryst place in the jungle
where the band awaited his coming.
Not long after, it so fortuned that Morgiana, going out upon some
errand, marveled exceedingly at seeing the chalk marks showing white in
the door. She stood awhile deep in thought, and presently divined that
some enemy had made the signs that he might recognize the house and play
some sleight upon her lord. She therefore chalked the doors of all her
neighbors in like manner and kept the matter secret, never entrusting it
or to master or to mistress. Meanwhile the robber told his comrades his
tale of adventure and how he had found the clue, so the captain and with
him all the band went one after other by different ways till they
entered the city, and he who had placed the mark on Ali Baba's door
accompanied the chief to point out the place. He conducted him
straightway to the house and shewing the sign exclaimed, "Here dwelleth
he of whom we are in search!" But when the captain looked around him, he
saw that all the dwellings bore chalk marks after like fashion, and he
wondered, saying: "By what manner of means knowest thou which house of
all these houses that bear similar signs is that whereof thou spokest?"
Hereat the robber guide was confounded beyond measure of confusion, and
could make no answer. Then with an oath he cried: "I did assuredly set a
sign upon a door, but I know not whence came all the marks upon the
other entrances, nor can I say for a surety which it was I chalked."
Thereupon the captain returned to the market place and said to his men:
"We have toiled and labored in vain, nor have we found the house we went
forth to seek. Return we now to the forest, our rendezvous. I also will
fare thither."
Then all trooped off and assembled together within the treasure cave,
and when the robbers had all met, the captain judged him worthy of
punishment who had spoken falsely and had led them through the city to
no purpose. So he imprisoned him in presence of them all, and then said
he: "To him amongst you will I show special favor who shall go to town
and bring me intelligence whereby we may lay hands upon the plunderer of
our property." Hereat another of the company came forward and said, "I
am ready to go and inquire into the case, and 'tis I who will bring thee
to thy wish." The captain, after giving him presents and promises,
dispatched him upon his errand, and by the decree of Destiny, which none
may gainsay, this second robber went first to the house of Baba Mustafa
the tailor, as had done the thief who had foregone him. In like manner
he also persuaded the snip with gifts of golden coin that he be led
hood-winked, and thus too he was guided to Ali Baba's door. Here, noting
the work of his predecessor, he affixed to the jamb a mark with red
chalk, the better to distinguish it from the others, whereon still
showed the white. Then hied he back in stealth to his company.
But Morgiana on her part also descried the red sign on the entrance,
and with subtle forethought marked all the others after the same
fashion, nor told she any what she had done. Meanwhile the bandit
rejoined his band and vauntingly said: "O our captain, I have found the
house and thereon put a mark whereby I shall distinguish it clearly from
all its neighbors." But, as aforetime, when the troop repaired thither,
they saw each and every house marked with signs of red chalk. So they
returned disappointed and the captain, waxing displeased exceedingly and
distraught, clapped also this spy into gaol. Then said the chief to
himself: "Two men have failed in their endeavor and have met their
rightful meed of punishment, and I trow that none other of my band will
essay to follow up their research. So I myself will go and find the
house of this wight."
Accordingly he fared along, aided by the tador Baba Mustafa, who had
gained much gain of golden pieces in this matter, he hit upon the house
of Ali Baba. And here he made no outward show or sign, but marked it on
the tablet of his heart and impressed the picture upon the page of his
memory. Then, returning to the jungle, he said to his men: "I have full
cognizance of the place and have limned it clearly in my mind, so now
there will be no difficulty in finding it. Go forth straightway and buy
me and bring hither nineteen mules, together with one large leathern jar
of mustard oil and seven and thirty vessels of the same kind clean
empty. Without me and the two locked up in gaol ye number thirty-seven
souls, so I will stow you away armed and accoutered each within his jar
and will load two upon each mule, and upon the nineteenth mule there
shall be a man in an empty jar on one side and on the other the jar full
of oil. I for my part, in guise of an oil merchant, will drive the mules
into the town, arriving at the house by night, and will ask permission
of its master to tarry there until morning. After this we shall seek
occasion during the dark hours to rise up and fall upon him and slay
him." Furthermore, the captain spake, saying: "When we have made an end
of him we shall recover the gold and treasure whereof he robbed us and
bring it back upon the mules."
This counsel pleased the robbers, who went forthwith and purchased
mules and huge leathern jars, and did as the captain had bidden them.
And after a delay of three days, shortly before nightfall they arose,
and oversmearing all the jars with oil of mustard, each hid him inside
an empty vessel. The chief then disguised himself in trader's gear and
placed the jars upon the nineteen mules; to wit, the thirty-seven
vessels, in each of which lay a robber armed and accoutered, and the one
that was full of oil. This done, he drove the beasts before him, and
presently he reached Ali Baba's place at nightfall, when it chanced that
the housemaster was strolling after supper to and fro in front of his
home. The captain saluted him with the salaam and said: "I come from
such-and-such a village with oil, and ofttimes have I been here
a-selling oil, but now to my grief I have arrived too late and I am sore
troubled and perplexed as to where I shall spend the night. An thou have
pity on me, I pray thee grant that I tarry here in thy courtyard and
ease the mules by taking down the jars and giving the beasts somewhat of
fodder." Albeit Ali Baba had heard the captain's voice when perched upon
the tree and had seen him enter the cave, yet by reason of the disguise
he knew him not for the leader of the thieves, and granted his request
with hearty welcome and gave him full license to halt there for the
night. He then pointed out an empty shed wherein to tether the mules,
and bade one of the slave boys go fetch grain and water. He also gave
orders to the slave girl Morgiana, saying: "A guest hath come hither and
tarrieth here tonight. Do thou busy thyself with all speed about his
supper and make ready the guest bed for him."
Presently, when the captain had let down all the jars and had fed and
watered his mules, Ali Baba received him with all courtesy and kindness,
and summoning Morgiana, said in his presence: "See thou fail not in
service of this our stranger, nor suffer him to lack for aught. Tomorrow
early I would fare to the hammam and bathe, so do thou give my slave boy
Abdullah a suit of clean white clothes which I may put on after washing.
Moreover, make thee ready a somewhat of broth overnight, that I may
drink it after my return home." Replied she, "I will have all in
readiness as thou hast bidden." So Ali Baba retired to his rest, and the
captain, having supped, repaired to the shed and saw that all the mules
had their food and drink for the night, and finding utter privacy,
whispered to his men who were in ambush: "This night at midnight, when
ye hear my voice, do you quickly open with your sharp knives the
leathern jars from top to bottom, and issue forth without delay." Then,
passing through the kitchen, he reached the chamber wherein a bed had
been dispread for him, Morgiana showing the way with a lamp. Quoth she,
"An thou need aught beside, I pray thee command this thy slave, who is
ever ready to obey thy say!" He made answer, "Naught else need I." Then,
putting out the light, he lay down on the bed to sleep awhile ere the
time came to rouse his men and finish off the work.
Meanwhile Morgiana did as her master had bidden her. She first took
out a suit of clean white clothes and made it over to Abdullah, who had
not yet gone to rest. Then she placed the pigskin upon the hearth to
boil the broth and blew the fire till it burnt briskly. After a short
delay she needs must see an the broth be boiling, but by that time all
the lamps had gone out and she found that the oil was spent and that
nowhere could she get a light. The slave boy Abdullah observed that she
was troubled and perplexed hereat, and quoth he to her: "Why make so
much ado? In yonder shed are many jars of oil. Go now and take as much
soever as thou listest." Morgiana gave thanks to him for his suggestion,
and Abdullah, who was lying at his ease in the hall, went off to sleep
so that he might wake betimes and serve Ali Baba in the bath. So the
handmaiden rose, and with oil can in hand walked to the shed where stood
the leathern jars all ranged in rows.
Now as she drew nigh unto one of the vessels, the thief who was
hidden therein, hearing the tread of footsteps, bethought him that it
was of his captain, whose summons he awaited, so he whispered, "Is it
now time for us to sally forth?" Morgiana started back affrighted at the
sound of human accents, but inasmuch as she was bold and ready of wit,
she replied, "The time is not yet come," and said to herself: "These
jars are not full of oil, and herein I perceive a manner of mystery.
Haply the oil merchant hatcheth some treacherous plot against my lord,
so Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate, protect us from his
snares!" Wherefore she answered in a voice made like to the captain's,
"Not yet, the time is not come." Then she went to the next jar and
returned the same reply to him who was within, and soon to all the
vessels, one by one. Then said she in herself: "Laud to the Lord! My
master took this fellow in believing him to he an oil merchant, but lo!
he hath admitted a band of robbers, who only await the signal to fall
upon him and plunder the place and do him die."
Then passed she on to the furthest jar and, finding it brimming with
oil, filled her can. and returning to the kitchen, trimmed the lamp and
lit the wicks. Then, bringing forth a large caldron, she set it upon the
fire, and filling it with oil from out the jar, heaped wood upon the
hearth and fanned it to a fierce flame, the readier to boil its
contents. When this was done, she bailed it out in potfuls and poured it
seething hot into the leathern vessels, one by one, while the thieves,
unable to escape, were scalded to death and every jar contained a
corpse. Thus did this slave girl by her subtle wit make a clean end of
all, noiselessly and unknown even to the dwellers in the house. Now when
she had satisfied herself that each and every of the men had been slain,
she went back to the kitchen and, shutting to the door, sat brewing Ali
Baba's broth.
Scarce had an hour passed before the captain woke from sleep and,
opening wide his window, saw that all was dark and silent. So he clapped
his hands as a signal for his men to come forth, but not a sound was
heard in return. After a while he clapped again and called aloud, but
got no answer, and when he cried out a third time without reply, he was
perplexed and went out to the shed wherein stood the jars. He thought to
himself: "Perchance all are fallen asleep, whenas the time for action is
now at hand, so I must e'en awaken them without stay or delay." Then,
approaching the nearest jar, he was startled by a smell of oil and
seething flesh, and touching it outside, he felt it reeking hot. Then,
going to the others one by one, he found all in like condition. Hereat
he knew for a surety the fate which had betided his band and, fearing
for his own safety, he clomb onto the wall, and thence dropping into a
garden, made his escape in high dudgeon and sore disappointment.
Morgiana awaited awhile to see the Captain return from the shed but he
came not, whereat she knew that he had scaled the wall and had taken to
flight, for that the street door was double-locked. And the thieves
being all disposed of on this wise, Morgiana laid her down to sleep in
perfect solace and ease of mind.
When two hours of darkness yet remained, Ali Baba awoke and went to
the hammam, knowing naught of the night adventure, for the gallant slave
girl had not aroused him, nor indeed had she deemed such action
expedient, because had she sought an opportunity of reporting to him her
plan, she might haply have lost her chance and spoiled the project. The
sun was high over the horizon when Ali Baba walked back from the baths,
and he marveled exceedingly to see the jars still standing under the
shed, and said: "How cometh it that he, the oil merchant, my guest, hath
not carried to the market his mules and jars of oil?" She answered:
"Allah Almighty vouchsafe to thee sixscore years and ten of safety! I
will tell thee in privacy of this merchant." So Ali Baba went apart with
his slave girl, who, taking him without the house, first locked the
court door, then, showing him a jar, she said, "Prithee look into this
and see if within there be oil or aught else."
Thereupon, peering inside it, he perceived a man, at which sight he
cried aloud and fain would have fled in his fright. Quoth Morgiana:
"Fear him not. This man hath no longer the force to work thee harm, he
lieth dead and stone-dead." Hearing such words of comfort and
reassurance, Ali Baba asked: "O Morgiana, what evils have we escaped,
and by what means hath this wretch become the quarry of Fate?" She
answered: "Alhamdolillah- praise be to Almighty Allah!- I will inform
thee fully of the case. But hush thee, speak not aloud, lest haply the
neighbors learn the secret and it end in our confusion. Look now into
all the jars, one by one from first to last." So Ali Baba examined them
severally and found in each a man fully armed and accoutered, and all
lay scalded to death. Hereat, speechless for sheer amazement, he stared
at the jars, but presently, recovering himself, he asked, "And where is
he, the oil merchant?" Answered she: "Of him also I will inform thee.
The villain was no trader, but a traitorous assassin whose honeyed words
would have ensnared thee to thy doom. And now I will tell thee what he
was and what hath happened, but meanwhile thou art fresh from the hammam
and thou shouldst first drink somewhat of this broth for thy stomach's
and thy health's sake." So Ali Baba went within and Morgiana served up
the mess, after which quoth her master: "I fain would hear this wondrous
story. Prithee tell it to me, and set my heart at ease." Hereat the
handmaid fell to relating whatso had betided in these words:
"O my master, when thou badest me boil the broth and retiredst to
rest, thy slave in obedience to thy command took out a suit of clean
white clothes and gave it to the boy Abdullah, then kindled the fire and
set on the broth. As soon as it was ready I had need to light a lamp so
that I might see to skim it, but all the oil was spent, and, learning
this, I told my want to the slave boy Abdullah, who advised me to draw
somewhat from the jars which stood under the shed. Accordingly I took a
can and went to the first vessel, when suddenly I heard a voice within
whisper with all caution, 'Is it now time for us to sally forth?' I was
amazed thereat, and judged that the pretended merchant had laid some
plot to slay thee, so I replied, 'The time is not yet come.' Then I went
to the second jar and heard another voice, to which I made the like
answer, and so on with all of them. I now was certified that these men
awaited only some signal from their chief, whom thou didst take to guest
within thy walls supposing him to he a merchant in oil, and that after
thou receivedst him hospitably the miscreant had brought these men to
murther thee and to plunder thy good and spoil thy house.
"But I gave him no opportunity to will his wish. The last jar I found
full of od, and taking somewhat therefrom, I lit the lamp. Then, putting
a large caldron upon the fire, I filled it up with oil which I brought
from the jar and made a fierce blaze under it, and when the contents
were seething hot, I took out sundry cansful with intent to scald them
all to death, and going to each jar in due order, I poured within them,
one by one, boiling oil. On this wise having destroyed them utterly, I
returned to the kitchen, and having extinguished the lamps, stood by the
window watching what might happen, and how that false merchant would act
next. Not long after I had taken my station, the robber captain awoke
and ofttimes signaled to his thieves. Then, getting no reply, he came
downstairs and went out to the jars, and finding that all his men were
slain, he fled through the darkness, I know not whither. So when he had
clean disappeared I was assured that, the door being double-locked, he
had scaled the wall and dropped into the garden and made his escape.
Then with my heart at rest I slept."
And Morgiana, after telling her story to her master, presently added:
"This is the whole truth I have related to thee. For some days indeed
have I had inkling of such matter, but withheld it from thee, deeming it
inexpedient to risk the chance of its meeting the neighbors' ears. Now,
however, there is no help but to tell thee thereof. One day as I came to
the house door I espied thereon a white chalk mark, and on the next day
a red sign beside the white. I knew not the intent wherewith the marks
were made, nevertheless I set others upon the entrances of sundry
neighbors, judging that some enemy had done this deed, whereby to
encompass my master's destruction. Therefore I made the marks on all the
other doors in such perfect conformity with those I found that it would
be hard to distinguish amongst them. Judge now and see if these signs
and all this villainy be not the work of the bandits of the forest, who
marked our house that on such wise they might know it again. Of these
forty thieves there yet remain two others concerning whose case I know
naught, so beware of them, but chiefly of the third remaining robber,
their captain, who fled hence alive. Take good heed and be thou cautious
of him, for shouldst thou fall into his hands, he will in no wise spare
thee, but will surely murther thee. I will do all that lieth in me to
save from hurt and harm thy life and property, nor shall thy slave be
found wanting in any service to my lord."
Hearing these words, Ali Baba rejoiced with exceeding joyance and
said to her: "I am well pleased with thee for this thy conduct, and say
me what wouldst thou have me do in thy behalf. I shall not fail to
remember thy brave deed so long as breath in me remaineth." Quoth she:
"It behooveth us before all things forthright to bury these bodies in
the ground, that so the secret be not known to anyone." Hereupon Ali
Baba took with him his slave boy Abdullah into the garden and there
under a tree they dug for the corpses of the thieves a deep pit in size
proportionate to its contents, and they dragged the bodies (having
carried off their weapons) to the fosse and threw them in. Then,
covering up the remains of the seven and thirty robbers, they made the
ground appear level and clean as it wont to be. They also hid the
leathern jars and the gear and arms, and presently Ali Baba sent the
mules by ones and twos to the bazaar and sold them all with the able aid
of his slave boy Abdullah. Thus the matter was hushed up, nor did it
reach the ears of any. However, Ali Baba ceased not to be ill at ease,
lest haply the captain or the surviving two robbers should wreak their
vengeance on his head. He kept himself private with all caution, and
took heed that none learn a word of what had happened and of the wealth
which he had carried off from the bandits' cave.
Meanwhile the captain of the thieves, having escaped with his life,
fled to the forest in hot wrath and sore irk of mind, and his senses
were scattered and the color of his visage vanished like ascending
smoke. Then he thought the matter over again and again, and at last he
firmly resolved that he needs must take the life of Ali Baba, else he
would lose all the treasure which his enemy, by knowledge of the magical
words, would take away and turn to his own use. Furthermore, he
determined that he would undertake the business singlehanded; and that
after getting rid of Ali Baba, he would gather together another band of
banditti and would pursue his career of brigandage, as indeed his
forebears had done for many generations. So he lay down to rest that
night, and rising early in the morning, donned a dress of suitable
appearance, then, going to the city, alighted at a caravanserai,
thinking to himself: "Doubtless the murther of so many men hath reached
the wali's ears, and Ali Baba hath been seized and brought to justice,
and his house is leveled and his good is confiscated. The townfolk must
surely have heard tidings of these matters." So he straightway asked of
the keeper of the khan, "What strange things have happened in the city
during the last few days?" And the other told him all that he had seen
and heard, but the captain could not learn a whit of that which most
concerned him. Hereby he understood that Ali Baba was ware and wise, and
that he had not only carried away such store of treasure, but he had
also destroyed so many lives and withal had come off scatheless.
Furthermore, that he himself must needs have all his wits alert not to
fall into the hands of his foe and perish.
With this resolve the captain hired a shop in the bazaar, whither he
bore whole bales of the finest stuffs and goodly merchandise from his
forest treasure house, and presently he took his seat within the store
and fell to doing merchant's business. By chance his place fronted the
booth of the defunct Kasim, where his son, Ali Baba's nephew, now
traded, and the captain, who called himself Khwajah Hasan, soon formed
acquaintance and friendship with the shopkeepers around about him and
treated all with profuse civilities. But he was especially gracious and
cordial to the son of Kasim, a handsome youth and a well-dressed, and
ofttimes he would sit and chat with him for a long while. A few days
after, it chanced that Ali Baba, as he was sometimes wont to do, came to
see his nephew, whom he found sitting in his shop. The captain saw and
recognized him at sight, and one morning he asked the young man, saying,
"Prithee tell me, who is he that ever and anon cometh to thee at thy
place of sale?" Whereto the youth made answer, "He is my uncle, the
brother of my father." Whereupon the captain showed him yet greater
favor and affection, the better to deceive him for his own devices, and
gave him presents and made him sit at meat with him and fed him with the
daintiest of dishes.
Presently Ali Baba's nephew bethought him it was only right and
proper that he also should invite the merchant to supper, but whereas
his own house was small, and he was straitened for room and could not
make a show of splendor, as did Khwajah Hasan, he took counsel with his
uncle on the matter. Ali Baba replied to his nephew: "Thou sayest well.
It behooveth thee to entreat thy friend in fairest fashion even as he
hath entreated thee. On the morrow, which is Friday, shut thy shop, as
do all merchants of repute. Then, after the early meal, take Khwajah
Hasan to smell the air, and as thou walkest lead him hither unawares.
Meanwhile I will give orders that Morgiana shall make ready for his
coming the best of viands and all necessaries for a feast. Trouble not
thyself on any wise, but leave the matter in my hands." Accordingly on
the next day- to wit, Friday- the nephew of Ali Baba took Khwajah Hasan
to walk about the garden, and as they were returning he led him by the
street wherein his uncle dwelt. When they came to the house, the youth
stopped at the door and knocking, said: "O my lord, this is my second
home. My uncle hath heard much of thee and of thy goodness meward, and
desireth with exceeding desire to see thee, so shouldst thou consent to
enter and visit him, I shall be truly glad and thankful to thee." Albeit
Khwajah Hasan rejoiced in heart that he had thus found means whereby he
might have access to his enemy's house and household, and although he
hoped soon to attain his end by treachery, yet he hesitated to enter in
and stood to make his excuses and walk away.
But when the door was opened by the slave porter, Ali Baba's nephew
seized his companion's hand and after abundant persuasion led him in,
whereat he entered with great show of cheerfulness as though much
pleased and honored. The housemaster received him with all favor and
worship and asked him of his welfare, and said to him: "O my lord, I am
obliged and thankful to thee for that thou hast shewn favor to the son
of my brother, and I perceive that thou regardest him with an affection
even fonder than my own." Khwajah Hasan replied with pleasant words and
said: "Thy nephew vastly taketh my fancy and in him I am well pleased,
for that although young in years yet he hath been endued by Allah with
much of wisdom."
Thus they twain conversed with friendly conversation, and presently
the guest rose to depart and said: "O my lord, thy slave must now
farewell thee, but on some future day- Inshallah- he will again wait
upon thee." Ali Baba, however, would not let him leave, and asked:
"Whither wendest thou, O my friend? I would invite thee to my table, and
I pray thee sit at meat with us and after hie thee home in peace.
Perchance the dishes are not as delicate as those whereof thou art wont
to eat, still deign grant me this request, I pray thee, and refresh
thyself with my victual." Quoth Khwajah Hasan: "O lord, I am beholden to
thee for thy gracious invitation, and with pleasure would I sit at meat
with thee, but for a special reason must I needs excuse myself. Suffer
me therefore to depart, for I may not tarry longer, nor accept thy
gracious offer." Hereto the host made reply: "I pray thee, O my lord,
tell me what may be the reason so urgent and weighty." And Khwajah Hasan
answered: "The cause is this. I must not, by order of the physician who
cured me lately of my complaint, eat aught of food prepared with salt."
Quoth Ali Baba: "An this be all, deprive me not, I pray thee, of the
honor thy company will confer upon me. As the meats are not yet cooked,
I will forbid the kitchener to make use of any salt. Tarry here awhile,
and I will return anon to thee." So saying, Ali Baba went in to Morgiana
and bade her not put salt into any one of the dishes, and she, while
busied with her cooking, fell to marveling greatly at such order and
asked her master, "Who is he that eateth meat wherein is no salt?" He
answered: "What to thee mattereth it who he may be? Only do thou my
bidding." She rejoined: "'Tis well. All shall be as thou wishest." But
in mind she wondered at the man who made such strange request, and
desired much to look upon him.
Wherefore, when all the meats were ready for serving up, she helped
the slave boy Abdullah to spread the table and set on the meal, and no
sooner did she see Khwajah Hasan than she knew who he was, albeit he had
disguised himself in the dress of a stranger merchant. Furthermore, when
she eyed him attentively, she espied a dagger hidden under his robe. "So
ho!" quoth she to herself. "This is the cause why the villain eateth not
of salt, for that he seeketh an opportunity to slay my master, whose
mortal enemy he is. Howbeit I will be beforehand with him and dispatch
him ere he find a chance to harm my lord." Now when Ali Baba and Khwajah
Hasan had eaten their sufficiency, the slave boy Abdullah brought
Morgiana word to serve the dessert, and she cleared the table and set on
fruit fresh and dried in salvers, then she placed by the side of Ali
Baba a small tripod for three cups with a flagon of wine, and lastly she
went off with the slave boy Abdullah into another room, as though she
would herself eat supper. Then Khwajah Hasan- that is, the captain of
the robbers- perceiving that the coast was clear, exulted mightily,
saying to himself: "The time hath come for me to take full vengeance.
With one thrust of my dagger I will dispatch this fellow, then escape
across the garden and wend my ways. His nephew will not adventure to
stay my hand, for an he do but move a finger or toe with that intent,
another stab with settle his earthly account. Still must I wait awhile
until the slave boy and the cookmaid shall have eaten and lain down to
rest them in the kitchen."
Morgiana, however, watched him wistfully and divining his purpose,
said in her mind: "I must not allow this villain advantage over my lord,
but by some means I must make void his project and at once put an end to
the life of him." Accordingly the trusty slave girl changed her dress
with all haste and donned such clothes as dancers wear. She veiled her
face with a costly kerchief, around her head she bound a fine turban,
and about her middle she tied a waistcloth worked with gold and silver,
wherein she stuck a dagger whose hilt was rich in filigree and jewelry.
Thus disguised, she said to the slave boy Abdullah: "Take now thy
tambourine, that we may play and sing and dance in honor of our master's
guest." So he did her bidding and the twain went into the room, the lad
playing and the lass following. Then, making a low congee, they asked
leave to perform and disport and play, and Ali Baba gave permission,
saying, "Dance now and do your best that this our guest may he mirthful
and merry." Quoth Khwajah Hasan, "O my lord, thou dost indeed provide
much pleasant entertainment."
Then the slave boy Abdullah, standing by, began to strike the
tambourine whilst Morgiana rose up and showed her perfect art and
pleased them vastly with graceful steps and sportive motion. And
suddenly, drawing the poniard from her belt, she brandished it and paced
from side to side, a spectacle which pleased them most of all. At times
also she stood before them, now clapping the sharp-edged dagger under
armpit and then setting it against her breast. Lastly she took the
tambourine from the slave boy Abdullah, and still holding the poniard in
her right, she went round for largess as is the custom amongst
merrymakers. First she stood before Ali Baba, who threw a gold coin into
the tambourine, and his nephew likewise put in an ashrafi. Then Khwajah
Hasan, seeing her about to approach him, fell to pulling out his purse,
when she heartened her heart, and quick as the blinding levin she
plunged the dagger into his vitals, and forthwith the miscreant fell
back stone-dead.
Ali Baba was dismayed, and cried in his wrath: "O unhappy, what is
this deed thou hast done to bring about my ruin?" But she replied: "Nay,
O my lord, rather to save thee and not to cause thee harm have I slain
this man. Loosen his garments and see what thou wilt discover
thereunder." So Ali Baba searched the dead man's dress and found
concealed therein a dagger.
Then said Morgiana: "This wretch was thy deadly enemy. Consider him
well. He is none other than the oil merchant, the captain of the band of
robbers. Whenas he came hither with intent to take thy life, he would
not eat thy salt, and when thou toldest me that he wished not any in the
meat, I suspected him, and at first sight I was assured that he would
surely do thee die. Almighty Allah he praised, 'tis even as I thought."
Then Ali Baba lavished upon her thanks and expressions of gratitude,
saying, "Lo, these two times hast thou saved me from his hand," and
falling upon her neck, he cried: "See, thou art free, and as reward for
this thy fealty I have wedded thee to my nephew." Then, turning to the
youth, he said: "Do as I bid thee and thou shalt prosper. I would that
thou marry Morgiana, who is a model of duty and loyalty. Thou seest now
yon Khwajah Hasan sought thy friendship only that he might find
opportunity to take my life, but this maiden with her good sense and her
wisdom hath slain him and saved us."
Ali Baba's nephew straightway consented to marry Morgiana. After
which the three, raising the dead body, bore it forth with all heed and
vigilance and privily buried it in the garden, and for many years no one
know aught thereof. In due time Ali Baba married his brother's son to
Morgiana with great pomp, and spread a bride feast in most sumptuous
fashion for his friends and neighbors, and made merry with them and
enjoyed singing and all manner of dancing and amusements. He prospered
in every undertaking and Time smiled upon him and a new source of wealth
was opened to him.
For fear of the thieves he had not once visited the jungle cave
wherein lay the treasure since the day he had carried forth the corpse
of his brother Kasim. But some time after, he mounted his hackney one
morning and journeyed thither, with all care and caution, till finding
no signs of man or horse, and reassured in his mind, he ventured to draw
near the door. Then, alighting from his beast, he tied it up to a tree,
and going to the entrance, pronounced the words which he had not
forgotten, "Open, Sesame!" Hereat, as was its wont, the door flew open,
and entering thereby he saw the goods and hoard of gold and silver
untouched and lying as he had left them. So he felt assured that not one
of all the thieves remained alive, and that save himself there was not a
soul who knew the secret of the place. At once he bound in his
saddlecloth a load of ashrafis such as his horse could bear and brought
it home, and in after days he showed the hoard to his sons and sons'
sons and taught them how the door could he caused to open and shut. Thus
Ali Baba and his household lived all their lives in wealth and joyance
in that city where erst he had been a pauper, and by the blessing of
that secret treasure he rose to high degree and dignities.
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CONCLUSION
NOW during this time Scheherazade had borne the King three boy
children, so when she had made an end of the story, she rose to her feet
and kissing ground before him, said, "O King of the Time and unique one
of the Age and the Tide, I am thine handmaid, and these thousand nights
and a night have I entertained thee with stories of folk gone before and
admonitory instances of the men of yore. May I then make bold to crave a
boon of thy Highness?" He replied, "Ask, O Scheherazade, and it shall be
granted to thee." Whereupon she cried out to the nurses and the eunuchs,
saying, "Bring me my children." So they brought them to her in haste,
and they were three boy children, one walking, one crawling, and one
suckling. She took them, and setting them before the King, again kissed
the ground and said: "O King of the Age, these are thy children, and I
crave that thou release me from the doom of death, as a dole to these
infants. For an thou kill me, they will become motherless and will find
none among women to rear them as they should he reared."
When the King heard this, he wept, and straining the boys to his
bosom, said: "By Allah, O Scheherazade, I pardoned thee before the
coming of these children, for that I found thee chaste, pure, ingenuous,
and pious! Allah bless thee and thy father and thy mother and thy root
and thy branch! I take the Almighty to witness against me that I exempt
thee from aught that can harm thee." So she kissed his hands and feet
and rejoiced with exceeding joy, saying, "The Lord make thy life long
and increase thee in dignity and majesty!" presently adding: "Thou
marveledst at that which befell thee on the part of women; yet there
betided the Kings of the Chosroes before thee greater mishaps and more
grievous than that which hath befallen thee; and indeed I have set forth
unto thee that which happened to caliphs and kings and others with their
women, but the relation is longsome and hearkening groweth tedious, and
in this is all-sufficient warning for the man of wits and admonishment
for the wise."
Then she ceased to speak, and when King Shahryar heard her speech and
profited by that which she said, he summoned up his reasoning powers and
cleansed his heart and caused his understanding revert and turned to
Allah Almighty and said to himself: "Since there befell the Kings of the
Chosroes more than that which hath befallen me, never whilst I live
shall I cease to blame myself for the past. As for this Scheherazade,
her like is not found in the lands, so praise be to Him who appointed
her a means for delivering His creatures from oppression and slaughter!"
Then he arose from his seance and kissed her head, whereat she rejoiced,
she and her sister Dunyazade, with exceeding joy.
When the morning morrowed, the king went forth and sitting down on
the throne of the kingship, summoned the lords of his land, whereupon
the chamberlains and nabobs and captains of the host went in to him and
kissed ground before him. He distinguished the Wazir, Scheherazade's
sire, with special favor and bestowed on him a costly and splendid robe
of honor and entreated him with the utmost kindness, and said to him:
"Allah protect thee for that thou gavest me to wife thy noble daughter,
who hath been the means of my repentance from slaying the daughters of
folk. Indeed I have found her pure and pious, chaste and ingenuous, and
Allah hath vouchsafed me by her three boy children, wherefore praised be
He for his passing favor." Then he bestowed robes of honor upon his
wazirs and emirs and chief officers, and he set forth to them briefly
that which had betided him with Scheherazade and how he had turned from
his former ways and repented him of what he had done and purposed to
take the Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade, to wife and let draw up the
marriage contract with her. When those who were present heard this, they
kissed the ground before him and blessed him and his betrothed
Scheherazade, and the Wazir thanked her. Then Shahryar made an end of
his sitting in all weal, whereupon the folk dispersed to their dwelling
places and the news was bruited abroad that the King purposed to marry
the Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade.
Then he proceeded to make ready the wedding gear, and presently he
sent after his brother, King Shah Zaman, who came, and King Shahryar
went forth to meet him with the troops. Furthermore, they decorated the
city after the goodliest fashion, and diffused scents from censers and
burnt aloes wood and other perfumes in all the markets and
thoroughfares, and rubbed themselves with saffron, what while the drums
beat and the flutes and pipes sounded and mimes and mountebanks played
and plied their arts and the King lavished on them gifts and largess.
And in very deed it was a notable day. When they came to the palace,
King Shahryar commanded to spread the tables with beasts roasted whole
and sweetmeats and all manner of viands, and bade the crier cry to the
folk that they should come up to the Divan and eat and drink, and that
this should be a means of reconciliation between him and them. So high
and low, great and small, came up unto him, and they abode on that wise,
eating and drinking seven days with their nights.
Then the King shut himself up with his brother and related to him
that which had betided him with the Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade,
during the past three years, and told him what he had heard from her of
proverbs and parables, chronicles and pleasantries, quips and jests,
stories and anecdotes, dialogues and histories and elegies and other
verses. Whereat King Shah Zaman marveled with the uttermost marvel and
said: "Fain would I take her younger sister to wife, so we may be two
brothers german to two sisters german, and they on like wise be sisters
to us; for that the calamity which befell me was the cause of our
discovering that which befell thee, and all this time of three years
past I have taken no delight in woman, save that I lie each night with a
damsel of my kingdom, and every morning I do her to death. But now I
desire to marry thy wife's sister, Dunyazade."
When King Shahryar heard his brother's words, he rejoiced with joy
exceeding and arising forthright, went in to his wife, Scheherazade, and
acquainted her with that which his brother purposed, namely that he
sought her sister, Dunyazade in wedlock, whereupon she answered: "O King
of the Age, we seek of him one condition; to wit, that he take up his
abode with us, for that I cannot brook to be parted from my sister an
hour, because we were brought up together and may not endure separation
each from other. If he accept this pact, she is his handmaid." King
Shahryar returned to his brother and acquainted him with that which
Scheherazade had said, and he replied: "Indeed, this is what was in my
mind, for that I desire nevermore to be parted from thee one hour. As
for the kingdom, Allah the Most High shall send to it whomso He
chooseth, for that I have no longer a desire for the kinship." When King
Shahryar heard his brother's words, he rejoiced exceedingly and said:
"Verily, this is what I wished, O my brother. So Alhamdolillah- praised
be Allah- who hath brought about union between us."
Then he sent after the kazis and ulema, captains and notables, and
they married the two brothers to the two sisters. The contracts were
written out and the two Kings bestowed robes of honor of silk and satin
on those who were present, whilst the city was decorated and the
rejoicings were renewed. The King commanded each emir and wazir and
chamberlain and nabob to decorate his palace, and the folk of the city
were gladdened by the presage of happiness and contentment. King
Shahryar also bade slaughter sheep and set up kitchens and made bride
feasts and fed all comers, high and low; and he gave alms to the poor
and needy and extended his bounty to great and small. Then the eunuchs
went forth, that they might perfume the hammam for the brides, so they
scented it with rose-water and willow-flower water and pods of musk and
fumigated it with Kakili eagle wood and ambergris. Then Scheherazade
entered, she and her sister Dunyazade, and they cleansed their heads and
clipped their hair.
When they came forth of the hammam bath, they donned raiment and
ornaments such as men were wont prepare for the Kings of the Chosroes;
and among Scheherazade's apparel was a dress purfled with red gold and
wrought with counterfeit presentments of birds and beasts. And the two
sisters encircled their necks with necklaces of jewels of price, in the
like whereof Iskandar rejoiced not, for therein were great jewels such
as amazed the wit and dazzled the eye. And the imagination was
bewildered at their charms, for indeed each of them was brighter than
the sun and the moon. Before them they lighted brilliant flambeaux of
wax in candelabra of gold, but their faces outshone the flambeaux, for
that they had eyes sharper than unsheathed swords and the lashes of
their eyelids bewitched all hearts. Their cheeks were rosy red and their
necks and shapes gracefully swayed and their eyes wantoned like the
gazelle's. And the slave girls came to meet them with instruments of
music. Then the two Kings entered the hammam bath, and when they came
forth, they sat down on a couch set with pearls and gems, whereupon the
two sisters came up to them and stood between their hands, as they were
moons, bending and leaning from side to side in their beauty and
loveliness.
Presently they brought forward Scheherazade and displayed her, for
the first dress, in a red suit, whereupon King Shahryar rose to look
upon her and the wits of all present, men and women, were bewitched for
that she was even as saith of her one of her describers:
A sun on wand in knoll of sand she showed,
Clad in her cramoisy-hued chemisette.
Of her lips' honeydew she gave me drink
And with her rosy cheeks quencht fire she set.
Then they attired Dunyazade in a dress of blue brocade and she became
as she were the full moon when it shineth forth. So they displayed her
in this, for the first dress, before King Shah Zaman, who rejoiced in
her and well-nigh swooned away for love longing and amorous desire. Yea,
he was distraught with passion for her whenas he saw her, because she
was as saith of her one of her describers in these couplets:
She comes appareled in an azure vest,
Ultramarine as skies are deckt and dight.
I view'd th' unparalleled sight, which showed my eyes
A summer moon upon a winter night.
Then they returned to Scheherazade and displayed her in the second
dress, a suit of surpassing goodliness, and veiled her face with her
hair like a chin veil. Moreover, they let down her side locks, and she
was even as saith of her one of her describers in these couplets:
O hail to him whose locks his cheeks o'ershade,
Who slew my life by cruel hard despite.
Said I, "Hast veiled the morn in night?" He said,
"Nay I but veil moon in hue of night."
Then they displayed Dunyazade in a second and a third and a fourth
dress, and she paced forward like the rising sun, and swayed to and fro
in the insolence of beauty, and she was even as saith the poet of her in
these couplets:
The sun of beauty she to all appears
And, lovely coy, she mocks all loveliness.
And when he fronts her favor and her smile
A-morn, the sun of day in clouds must dress.
Then they displayed Scheherazade in the third dress and the fourth
and the fifth, and she became as she were a ban branch snell or a
thirsting gazelle, lovely of face and perfect in attributes of grace,
even as saith of her one in these couplets:
She comes like fullest moon on happy night,
Taper of waist with shape of magic might.
She hath an eye whose glances quell mankind,
And ruby on her cheeks reflects his light.
Enveils her hips the blackness of her hair-
Beware of curls that bite with viper bite!
Her sides are silken-soft, that while the heart
Mere rock behind that surface 'scapes our sight.
From the fringed curtains of her eyne she shoots
Shafts that at furthest range on mark alight.
Then they returned to Dunyazade and displayed her in the fifth dress
and in the sixth, which was green, when she surpassed with her
loveliness the fair of the four quarters of the world, and outvied with
the brightness of her countenance the full moon at rising tide, for she
was even as saith of her the poet in these couplets:
A damsel 'twas the tirer's art had decked with snare and sleight,
And robed with rays as though the sun from her had borrowed light.
She came before us wondrous clad in chemisette of green,
As veiled by his leafy screen Pomegranate hides from sight.
And when he said, "How callest thou the fashion of thy dress?"
She answered us in pleasant way with double meaning dight:
"We call this garment crevecoeur, and rightly is it hight,
For many a heart wi' this we brake and harried many a sprite."
Then they displayed Scheherazade in the sixth and seventh dresses and
clad her in youth's clothing, whereupon she came forward swaying from
side to side and coquettishly moving, and indeed she ravished wits and
hearts and ensorceled all eyes with her glances. She shook her sides and
swayed her haunches, then put her hair on sword hilt and went up to King
Shahryar, who embraced her as hospitable host embraceth guest, and
threatened her in her ear with the taking of the sword, and she was even
as saith of her the poet in these words:
Were not the murk of gender male,
Than feminines surpassing fair,
Tirewomen they had grudged the bride,
Who made her beard and whiskers wear!
Thus also they did with her sister Dunyazade, and when they had made
an end of the display, the King bestowed robes of honor on all who were
present and sent the brides to their own apartments. Then Scheherazade
went in to King Shahryar and Dunyazade to King, Shah Zaman, and each of
them solaced himself with the company of his beloved consort and the
hearts of the folk were comforted.
When morning morrowed, the Wazir came in to the two Kings and kissed
ground before them, wherefore they thanked him and were large of bounty
to him. Presently they went forth and sat down upon couches of kingship,
whilst all the wazirs and emirs and grandees and lords of the land
presented themselves and kissed ground. King Shahryar ordered them
dresses of honor and largess, and they prayed for the permanence and
prosperity of the King and his brother.
Then the two sovereigns appointed their sire-in-law, the Wazir, to be
Viceroy in Samarkand, and assigned him five of the chief emirs to
accompany him, charging them attend him and do him service. The Minister
kissed the ground and prayed that they might be vouchsafed length of
life. Then he went in to his daughters, whilst the eunuchs and ushers
walked before him, and saluted them and farewelled them. They kissed his
hands and gave him joy of the kingship and bestowed on him immense
treasures, after which he took leave of them and setting out, fared days
and nights till he came near Samarkand, where the townspeople met him at
a distance of three marches and rejoiced in him with exceeding joy. So
he entered the city and they decorated the houses, and it was a notable
day. He sat down on the throne of his kingship and the wazirs did him
homage and the grandees and emirs of Samarkand, and all prayed that he
might be vouchsafed justice and victory and length of continuance. So he
bestowed on them robes of honor and entreated them with distinction, and
they made him Sultan over them.
As soon as his father-in-law had departed for Samarkand, King
Shahryar summoned the grandees of his realm and made them a stupendous
banquet of all manner of delicious meats and exquisite sweetmeats. He
also bestowed on them robes of honor and guerdoned them, and divided the
kingdoms between himself and his brother in their presence, whereat the
folk rejoiced. Then the two Kings abode, each ruling a day in turn, and
they were ever in harmony each with other, while on similar wise their
wives continued in the love of Allah Almighty and in thanksgiving to
Him. And the peoples and the provinces were at peace and the preachers
prayed for them from the pulpits, and their report was bruited abroad
and the travelers bore tidings of them to all lands.
In due time King Shahryar summoned chroniclers and copyists and bade
them write all that had betided him with his wife, first and last. So
they wrote this and named it The Stories of the Thousand Nights and a
Night. The book came to thirty volumes, and these the King laid up in
his treasury. And the two brothers abode with their wives in all
pleasaunce and solace of life and its delights, for that indeed Allah
the Most High had chanced their annoy into joy, and on this wise they
continued till there took them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer
of societies, the Desolator of dwelling places and Gamerer of
graveyards, and they were translated to the ruth of Almighty Allah.
Their houses fell waste and their palaces lay in ruins and the kings
inherited their riches.
Then there reigned after them a wise ruler, who was just,
keen-witted, and accomplished, and loved tales and legends, especially
those which chronicle the doings of sovereigns and sultans, and he found
in the treasury these marvelous stories and wondrous histories,
contained in the thirty volumes aforesaid. So he read in them a first
book and a second and a third and so on to the last of them, and each
book astounded and delighted him more than that which preceded it, till
he came to the end of them. Then he admired whatso he had read therein
of description and discourse and rare traits and anecdotes and moral
instances and reminiscences, and bade the folk copy them and dispread
them over all lands and climes, wherefore their report was bruited
abroad and the people named them The Marvels and Wonders of the Thousand
Nights and a Night. This is all that hath come down to us of the origin
of this book, and Allah is All-knowing. So Glory he to Him Whom the
shifts of Time waste not away, nor doth aught of chance or change affect
His sway, Whom one case diverteth not from other case and Who is sole in
the attributes of perfect grace. And prayer and peace he upon the Lord's
Pontiff and Chosen One among His creatures, our lord MOHAMMED, the
Prince of mankind, through whom we supplicate Him for a goodly and a
godly
FINIS
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