第2章

Shetoldhimthat，havingseenhim，shewillinglyobeyedherfatherinthismatter。Aftertheweddinghadtakenplace，Aladdinledherintothehall，whereafeastwasspread，andshesuppedwithhim，afterwhichtheydancedtillmidnight。

NextdayAladdininvitedtheSultantoseethepalace。Onenteringthehallwiththefour—and—twentywindowswiththeirrubies，diamondsandemeralds，hecried，"Itisaworld’swonder！

Thereisonlyonethingthatsurprisesme。Wasitbyaccidentthatonewindowwasleftunfinished？""No，sir，bydesign，"

returnedAladdin。"IwishedyourMajestytohavethegloryoffinishingthispalace。"TheSultanwaspleased，andsentforthebestjewelersinthecity。Heshowedthemtheunfinishedwindow，andbadethemfititupliketheothers。"Sir，"repliedtheirspokesman，"wecannotfindjewelsenough。"TheSultanhadhisownfetched，whichtheysoonused，buttonopurpose，forinamonth’stimetheworkwasnothalfdone。Aladdinknowingthattheirtaskwasvain，badethemundotheirworkandcarrythejewelsback，andthegeniefinishedthewindowathiscommand。TheSultanwassurprisedtoreceivehisjewelsagain，andvisitedAladdin，whoshowedhimthewindowfinished。TheSultanembracedhim，theenviousviziermeanwhilehintingthatitwastheworkofenchantment。

Aladdinhadwontheheartsofthepeoplebyhisgentlebearing。

HewasmadecaptainoftheSultan’sarmies，andwonseveralbattlesforhim，butremainedascourteousasbefore，andlivedthusinpeaceandcontentforseveralyears。

ButfarawayinAfricathemagicianrememberedAladdin，andbyhismagicartsdiscoveredthatAladdin，insteadofperishingmiserablyinthecave，hadescaped，andhadmarriedaprincess，withwhomhewaslivingingreathonourandwealth。Heknewthatthepoortailor’ssoncouldonlyhaveaccomplishedthisbymeansofthelamp，andtravellednightanddaytillhereachedthecapitalofChina，bentonAladdin’sruin。Ashepassedthroughthetownheheardpeopletalkingeverywhereaboutamarvelouspalace。"Forgivemyignorance，"heasked，"whatisthepalaceyouspeakof？"HaveyounotheardofPrinceAladdin’spalace，"wasthereply，"thegreatestwonderintheworld？Iwilldirectyouifyouhaveamindtoseeit。"Themagicianthankedhimwhospoke，andhavingseenthepalaceknewthatithadbeenraisedbytheGenieoftheLamp，andbecamehalfmadwithrage。Hedeterminedtogetholdofthelamp，andagainplungeAladdinintothedeepestpoverty。

Unluckily，Aladdinhadgonea—huntingforeightdays，whichgavethemagicianplentyoftime。Heboughtadozenlamps，putthemintoabasket，andwenttothepalace，crying:"Newlampsforold！"

followedbyajeeringcrowd。ThePrincess，sittinginthehalloffour—and—twentywindows，sentaslavetofindoutwhatthenoisewasabout，whocamebacklaughing，sothatthePrincessscoldedher。

"Madam，"repliedtheslave，"whocanhelplaughingtoseeanoldfoolofferingtoexchangefinenewlampsforoldones？"Anotherslave，hearingthis，said，"Thereisanoldoneonthecornicetherewhichhecanhave。"Nowthiswasthemagiclamp，whichAladdinhadleftthere，ashecouldnottakeitouthuntingwithhim。ThePrincess，notknowingitsvalue，laughinglybadetheslavetakeitandmaketheexchange。

Shewentandsaidtothemagician:"Givemeanewlampforthis。"

Hesnatcheditandbadetheslavetakeherchoice，amidthejeersofthecrowd。Littlehecared，butleftoffcryinghislamps，andwentoutofthecitygatestoalonelyplace，whereheremainedtillnightfall，whenhepulledoutthelampandrubbedit。Thegenieappeared，andatthemagician’scommandcarriedhim，togetherwiththepalaceandthePrincessinit，toalonelyplaceinAfrica。

NextmorningtheSultanlookedoutofthewindowtowardsAladdin’spalaceandrubbedhiseyes，foritwasgone。HesentfortheVizierandaskedwhathadbecomeofthepalace。TheVizierlookedouttoo，andwaslostinastonishment。Heagainputitdowntoenchantment，andthistimetheSultanbelievedhim，andsentthirtymenonhorsebacktofetchAladdinbackinchains。Theymethimridinghome，boundhim，andforcedhimtogowiththemonfoot。

Thepeople，however，wholovedhim，followed，armed，toseethathecametonoharm。HewascarriedbeforetheSultan，whoorderedtheexecutionertocutoffhishead。TheexecutionermadeAladdinkneeldown，bandagedhiseyes，andraisedhisscimitartostrike。AtthatinstanttheVizier，whosawthatthecrowdhadforcedtheirwayintothecourtyardandwerescalingthewallstorescueAladdin，calledtotheexecutionertostayhishand。

Thepeople，indeed，lookedsothreateningthattheSultangavewayandorderedAladdintobeunbound，andpardonedhiminthesightofthecrowd。Aladdinnowbeggedtoknowwhathehaddone。

"Falsewretch！"saidtheSultan，"comehither，"andshowedhimfromthewindowtheplacewherehispalacehadstood。Aladdinwassoamazedhecouldnotsayaword。"Whereisyourpalaceandmydaughter？"demandedtheSultan。"ForthefirstIamnotsodeeplyconcerned，butmydaughterImusthave，andyoumustfindherorloseyourhead。"Aladdinbeggedforfortydaysinwhichtofindher，promisingifhefailedtoreturntosufferdeathattheSultan’spleasure。Hisprayerwasgranted，andhewentforthsadlyfromtheSultan’spresence。

Forthreedayshewanderedaboutlikeamadman，askingeveryonewhathadbecomeofhispalace，buttheyonlylaughedandpitiedhim。

Hecametothebanksofariver，andkneltdowntosayhisprayersbeforethrowinghimselfin。Indoingsoherubbedtheringhestillwore。Thegeniehehadseeninthecaveappeared，andaskedhiswill。"Savemylife，genie，"saidAladdin，"andbringmypalaceback。"Thatisnotinmypower，"saidthegenie;

"IamonlytheSlaveoftheRing;youmustaskhimofthelamp。"

"Evenso，"saidAladdin，"butthoucansttakemetothepalace，andsetmedownundermydearwife’swindow。"HeatoncefoundhimselfinAfrica，underthewindowofthePrincess，andfellasleepoutofsheerweariness。

Hewasawakenedbythesingingofthebirds，andhisheartwaslighter。

Hesawplainlythatallhismisfortuneswereowningtothelossofthelamp，andvainlywonderedwhohadrobbedhimofit。

ThatmorningthePrincessroseearlierthanshehaddonesinceshehadbeencarriedintoAfricabythemagician，whosecompanyshewasforcedtoendureonceaday。She，however，treatedhimsoharshlythathedarednotlivetherealtogether。Asshewasdressing，oneofherwomenlookedoutandsawAladdin。

ThePrincessranandopenedthewindow，andatthenoiseshemade，Aladdinlookedup。Shecalledtohimtocometoher，andgreatwasthejoyoftheseloversatseeingeachotheragain。AfterhehadkissedherAladdinsaid:"Ibegofyou，Princess，inGod’sname，beforewespeakofanythingelse，foryourownsakeandmine，tellmewhathasbecomeofanoldlampIleftonthecorniceinthehalloffour—and—twentywindowswhenIwenta—hunting。"

"Alas，"shesaid，"Iamtheinnocentcauseofoursorrows，"andtoldhimoftheexchangeofthelamp。"NowIknow，"criedAladdin，"thatwehavetothanktheAfricanmagicianforthis！

Whereisthelamp？""Hecarriesitaboutwithhim，"saidthePrincess。"Iknow，forhepulleditoutofhisbreasttoshowme。

Hewishesmetobreakmyfaithwithyouandmarryhim，sayingthatyouwerebeheadedbymyfather’scommand。Heisforeverspeakingillofyou，butIonlyreplybymytears。IfIpersist，Idoubtnotbuthewilluseviolence。"Aladdincomfortedher，andleftherforawhile。Hechangedclotheswiththefirstpersonhemetinthetown，andhavingboughtacertainpowderreturnedtothePrincess，wholethiminbyalittlesidedoor。"Putonyourmostbeautifuldress，"hesaidtoher，"andreceivethemagicianwithsmiles，leadinghimtobelievethatyouhaveforgottenme。

Invitehimtosupwithyou，andsayyouwishtotastethewineofhiscountry。Hewillgoforsome，andwhileheisgoneIwilltellyouwhattodo。"ShelistenedcarefullytoAladdinandwhenhelefther，arrayedherselfgailyforthefirsttimesincesheleftChina。Sheputonagirdleandhead—dressofdiamondsandseeinginaglassthatshewasmorebeautifulthanever，receivedthemagician，saying，tohisgreatamazement:"IhavemadeupmymindthatAladdinisdead，andthatallmytearswillnotbringhimbacktome，soIamresolvedtomournnomore，andhavethereforeinvitedyoutosupwithme;butIamtiredofthewinesofChina，andwouldfaintastethoseofAfrica。"Themagicianflewtohiscellar，andthePrincessputthepowderAladdinhadgivenherinhercup。WhenhereturnedsheaskedhimtodrinkherhealthinthewineofAfrica，handinghimhercupinexchangeforhis，asasignshewasreconciledtohim。Beforedrinkingthemagicianmadeheraspeechinpraiseofherbeauty，butthePrincesscuthimshort，saying:"Letusdrinkfirst，andyoushallsaywhatyouwillafterwards。"Shesethercuptoherlipsandkeptitthere，whilethemagiciandrainedhistothedregsandfellbacklifeless。

ThePrincessthenopenedthedoortoAladdin，andflungherarmsaroundhisneck;butAladdinwenttothedeadmagician，tookthelampoutofhisvest，andbadethegeniecarrythepalaceandallinitbacktoChina。Thiswasdone，andthePrincessinherchamberfeltonlytwolittleshocks，andlittlethoughtshewashomeagain。

TheSultan，whowassittinginhiscloset，mourningforhislostdaughter，happenedtoolookup，andrubbedhiseyes，fortherestoodthepalaceasbefore！Hehastenedthither，andAladdinreceivedhiminthehallofthefour—and—twentywindows，withthePrincessathisside。Aladdintoldhimwhathadhappened，andshowedhimthedeadbodyofthemagician，thathemightbelieve。

Atendays’feastwasproclaimed，anditseemedasifAladdinmightnowlivetherestofhislifeinpeace;butitwasnotmeanttobe。

TheAfricanmagicianhadayoungerbrother，whowas，ifpossible，morewickedandmorecunningthanhimself。HetravelledtoChinatoavengehisbrother’sdeath，andwenttovisitapiouswomancalledFatima，thinkingshemightbeofusetohim。Heenteredhercellandclappedadaggertoherbreast，tellinghertoriseanddohisbiddingonpainofdeath。Hechangedclotheswithher，colouredhisfacelikehers，putonherveil，andmurderedher，thatshemighttellnotales。ThenhewenttowardsthepalaceofAladdin，andallthepeople，thinkinghewastheholywoman，gatheredroundhim，kissinghishandsandbegginghisblessing。

WhenhegottothepalacetherewassuchanoisegoingonroundhimthatthePrincessbadeherslavelookoutthewindowandaskwhatwasthematter。Theslavesaiditwastheholywoman，curingpeoplebyhertouchoftheirailments，whereuponthePrincess，whohadlongdesiredtoseeFatima，sentforher。OncomingtothePrincessthemagicianofferedupaprayerforherhealthandprosperity。WhenhehaddonethePrincessmadehimsitbyher，andbeggedhimtostaywithheralways。ThefalseFatima，whowishedfornothingbetter，consented，butkepthisveildownforfearofdiscovery。Theprincessshowedhimthehall，andaskedhimwhathethoughtofit。"Itistrulybeautiful，"saidthefalseFatima。"Inmyminditwantsbutonething。"Andwhatisthat？"saidthePrincess。"Ifonlyaroc’segg，"repliedhe，"werehungupfromthemiddleofthisdome，itwouldbethewonderoftheworld。"

AfterthisthePrincesscouldthinkofnothingbuttheroc’segg，andwhenAladdinreturnedfromhuntinghefoundherinaveryillhumour。Hebeggedtoknowwhatwasamiss，andshetoldhimthatallherpleasureinthehallwasspoiltforwantofaroc’segghangingfromthedome。"Ifthatisall，"repliedAladdin，"youshallsoonbehappy。"Heleftherandrubbedthelamp，andwhenthegenieappearedcommandedhimtobringaroc’segg。Thegeniegavesuchaloudandterribleshriekthatthehallshook。

"Wretch！"hecried，"isitnotenoughthatIhavedoneeverythingforyou，butyoumustcommandmetobringmymasterandhanghimupinthemidstofthisdome？Youandyourwifeandyourpalacedeservetobeburnttoashes，butthatthisrequestdoesnotcomefromyou，butfromthebrotheroftheAfricanmagician，whomyoudestroyed。Heisnowinyourpalacedisguisedastheholywoman，whomhemurdered。Heitwaswhoputthatwishintoyourwife’shead。

Takecareofyourself，forhemeanstokillyou。"Sosaying，thegeniedisappeared。

AladdinwentbacktothePrincess，sayinghisheadached，andrequestingthattheholyFatimashouldbefetchedtolayherhandsonit。Butwhenthemagiciancamenear，Aladdin，seizinghisdagger，piercedhimtotheheart。

"Whathaveyoudone？"criedthePrincess。"Youhavekilledtheholywoman！""Notso，"repliedAladdin，"butawickedmagician，"andtoldherofhowshehadbeendeceived。

AfterthisAladdinandhiswifelivedinpeace。

HesucceededtheSultanwhenhedied，andreignedformanyyears，leavingbehindhimalonglineofkings。