Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp from the Blue Fairy Book, Edited by Andrew Lang

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp From the Blue Fairy Book, Edited by Andrew Lang There once lived a poor trade, he offered to take a shop tailor, who had a son called for him and stock it with mer- Aladdin, a careless, idle boy chandise. Next day he bought who would do nothing but Aladdin a fine suit of clothes play ball all day long in the and took him all over the city, streets with little idle boys showing him the sights, and like himself. This so grieved brought him home at nightfall the father that he died; yet, to his mother, who was over- in spite of his mother’s tears joyed to see her son so fine. and prayers, Aladdin did not mend his ways. The next day the magician led Aladdin One day, when he was playing in the streets as into some beautiful gardens a long way out- usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he side the city gates. They sat down by a foun- was not the son of Mustapha the tailor. “I am, tain and the magician pulled a cake from his sir,” replied Aladdin; “but he died a long while girdle, which he divided between them. They ago.” On this the stranger, who was a famous then journeyed onward till they almost reached African magician, fell on his neck and kissed the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he him, saying, “I am your uncle, and knew you begged to go back, but the magician beguiled from your likeness to my brother. Go to your him with pleasant stories, and led him on mother and tell her I am coming.” Aladdin in spite of himself. At last they came to two ran home and told his mother of his newly mountains divided by a narrow valley. “We found uncle. “Indeed, child,” she said, “your will go no farther,” said the false uncle. “I will father had a brother, but I always thought he show you something wonderful; only do you was dead.” However, she prepared supper, gather up sticks while I kindle a fire.” When and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came it was lit the magician threw on it a powder laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell he had about him, at the same time saying down and kissed the place where Mustapha some magical words. The earth trembled a lit- used to sit, bidding Aladdin’s mother not to tle and opened in front of them, disclosing a be surprised at not having seen him before, square flat stone with a brass ring in the mid- as he had been forty years out of the country. dle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him but the magician caught him and gave him his trade, at which the boy hung his head, a blow that knocked him down. “What have while his mother burst into tears. On learn- I done, uncle?” he said piteously; whereupon ing that Aladdin was idle and would learn no the magician said more kindly: “Fear nothing, — — Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp Edited by Andrew Lang but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a trea- foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intend- sure which is to be yours, and no one else may ing to get the lamp and kill him afterward. touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you.” For two days Aladdin remained in the At the word treasure Aladdin forgot his fears, dark, crying and lamenting. At last he clasped and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed names of his father and grandfather. The stone the ring, which the magician had forgotten to came up quite easily, and some steps appeared. take from him. Immediately an enormous and “Go down,” said the magician; “at the foot of frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: those steps you will find an open door leading “What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.” go through them without touching anything, Aladdin fearlessly replied: “Deliver me from or you will die instantly. These halls lead into this place!” whereupon the earth opened, and a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on until you he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes come to a niche in a terrace where stands a could bear the light he went home, but fainted lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and on the threshold. When he came to himself he bring it to me.” He drew a ring from his finger told his mother what had passed, and showed and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper. her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered Aladdin found everything as the magi- in the garden, which were, in reality, precious cian had said, gathered some fruit off the stones. He then asked for some food. “Alas! trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the child,” she said, “I have nothing in the house, mouth of the cave. The magician cried out but I have spun a little cotton and will go and in a great hurry: “Make haste and give me sell it.” Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, the lamp.” This Aladdin refused to do until for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was he was out of the cave. The magician flew very dirty she began to rub it, that it might into a terrible passion, and throwing some fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous ge- more powder on to the fire, he said some- nie appeared, and asked what she would have. thing, and the stone rolled back into its place. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the The magician left Persia for ever, which lamp, said boldly: “Fetch me something to plainly showed that he was no uncle of Alad- eat!” The genie returned with a silver bowl, din’s, but a cunning magician, who had read twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two in his magic books of a wonderful lamp, silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Alad- which would make him the most powerful din’s mother, when she came to herself, said: man in the world. Though he alone knew “Whence comes this splendid feast?” “Ask not, where to find it, he could only receive it from but eat,” replied Aladdin. So they sat at break- the hand of another. He had picked out the fast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told — — Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp Edited by Andrew Lang his mother about the lamp. She begged him her. She went every day for a week, and stood to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils. in the same place. When the council broke up “No,” said Aladdin, “since chance hath made on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier: us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the “I see a certain woman in the audience-cham- ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my ber every day carrying something in a nap- finger.” When they had eaten all the genie had kin. Call her next time, that I may find out brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, what she wants.” Next day, at a sign from the and so on until none were left. He then had re- Vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne course to the genie, who gave him another set and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to of plates, and thus they lived for many years. her: “Rise, good woman, and tell me what you One day Aladdin heard an order from the want.” She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away Sultan proclaimed that everyone was to stay at all but the Vizier, and bade her speak frankly, home and close his shutters while the Princess, promising to forgive her beforehand for any- his daughter, went to and from the bath. Alad- thing she might say. She then told him of her din was seized by a desire to see her face, which son’s violent love for the Princess. “I prayed was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He him to forget her,” she said, “but in vain; he hid himself behind the door of the bath, and threatened to do some desperate deed if I re- peeped through a chink. The Princess lifted fused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful of the Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. me alone, but my son Aladdin.” The Sultan He went home so changed that his mother was asked her kindly what she had in the nap- frightened. He told her he loved the Princess kin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and so deeply that he could not live without her, presented them. He was thunderstruck, and and meant to ask her in marriage of her father. turning to the Vizier said: “What sayest thou? His mother, on hearing this, burst out laugh- Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one ing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to who values her at such a price?” The Vizier, go before the Sultan and carry his request.

Load more