Part 3

ÁLADDIN AND THÉ WŐNDERFUL LAMP

ÁLADDIN wáś^woś thé ônlý sőn of^uv a pōōr widôw whö livèd in Chîná; but insteàd of^uv helping hiś mőther tó^tö èàŕn their living, hê let her dö åll thé hard wòŕk, whîlè hê himself ônlý thøùght of^uv îdling and ámûśèmént.

One^wőnè day, aś hê wáś^woś plâying in thé streets, a strânĝer câmè up tó^tö him, sâying that hê wáś^woś hiś fāther's brőther, and claiming him aś hiś long-lost nephëw. Áladdin had never hèàŕd that hiś fāther had had a brőther; but aś thé strânĝer gâvè him mőnêy and promísèd tó^tö bùŷ him fînè clôthèś and set him up in buśìnėss^biś, hê wáś^woś qυîtè reàdý tó^tö bėlìêvè åll that hê tôld him. Thé man wáś^woś a máĝićián, whö wanted^wontéd tó^tö ûśè Áladdin for hiś ôwn purpósėś.

Thé next day thé strânĝer câmè ágãìn, brøùght Áladdin a bèàûtíful süìt of^uv clôthèś, gâvè him mãný gōōd thingś tó^tö eat, and tōōk him for a long wålk, telling him storìêś åll thé whîlè tó^tö ámûśè him. After they had wålkèd a long way, they câmè tó^tö a narrôw vallêy, boundėd on êìther sîdè bŷ tåll, glöömý-lōōking mountáìnś. Áladdin wáś^woś bėginning tó^tö feel tîrèd, and hê did not lîkè thé lōōk of^uv this plâçè at åll. Hê wanted^wontéd tó^tö turn back; but thé strânĝer wōūld not let him. Hê mâdè Áladdin follôw him still farther, until at length they reachèd thé plâçè wheŕè hê intendėd tó^tö carrý out hiś êvíl dėśîgn. Then hê mâdè Áladdin gather sticks tó^tö mâkè a fîŕè, and when they werè in a blâzè hê threw intö them sőmè powder, at thé sâmè tîmè sâying sőmè mẏsticál wòŕdś, which Áladdin cōūld not understand.

Immêdïátèlý they werè súrroundėd with a thick cloud of^uv smôkè. Thé èàŕth tremblèd, and burst ôpén at their feet—disclôśing a larĝè flat stônè with a brass ring fixèd in it. Áladdin wáś^woś sô terríblý frighténèd that hê wáś^woś ábout tó^tö run áway; but thé Máĝićián gâvè him such a blôw on thé ėàŕ that hê fell tó^tö thé ground.

Pōōr Áladdin rôśè tó^tö hiś feet with èŷèś fūll of^uv tėàŕś, and sãìd, rėproachfullý—

"Uñclè, whåt havè Î dőnè that yöü shōūld treat mê sô?"

"Yöü shōūld not havè trîèd tó^tö run áway fróm mê," sãìd thé Máĝićián, "when Î havè brøùght yöü hėŕè ônlý for yøùr ôwn advantáĝè. Under this stônè theŕè iś hiddén a treàŝurè which will mâkè yöü richer than thé richést monarch in thé wòŕld. Yöü álônè may tòuch it. If Î ássist yöü in ãný way thé spell will bê brôkén, but if yöü ôbey mê faithfullý, wê shall bôth bê rich for thé rest of^uv õυŕ lîvèś. Cőmè, tâkè hôld of^uv thé brass ring and lift thé stônè."

Áladdin fòŕgot hiś fėàŕś in thé hôpè of^uv gaining this wőnderful treàŝurè, and tōōk hôld of^uv thé brass ring. It yìêldėd at őnçè^wőnçè tó^tö hiś tòuch, and hê wáś^woś âblè tó^tö lift thé grèât stônè qυîtè eaśílý and mövè it áway, which disclôśèd a flight of^uv steps, leading down intö thé ground.

"Gô down thêśè steps," cómmandėd thé Máĝićián, "and at thé bottóm yöü will fînd a grèât cavern, divîdéd intö three hållś, fūll of^uv vessélś of^uv gôld and silver; but tâkè cãŕè yöü dö not meddlè with thêśè. If yöü tòuch ãnýthing in thé hållś yöü will meet with instánt deàth. Thé third håll will bring yöü intö a gardén, plantėd with fînè früìt treeś. When yöü havè crossèd thé gardén, yöü will cőmè tó^tö a terráçè, wheŕè yöü will fînd a nichè, and in thé nichè a lightėd lamp. Tâkè thé lamp down, and when yöü havè pūt out thé light and pøùrèd áway thé oil, bring it tó^tö mê. If yöü wōūld lîkè tó^tö gather ãný of^uv thé früìt of^uv thé gardén yöü may dö sô, próvîdėd yöü dö not liñger."

Then thé Máĝićián pūt a ring on Áladdin's fiñger, which hê tôld him wáś^woś tó^tö prėśervè him fróm êvíl, and sent him down intö thé cavern.

Áladdin found evèrýthing just aś thé Máĝićián had sãìd. Hê passèd thröügh thé three hållś, crossèd thé gardén, tōōk down thé lamp fróm thé nichè, pøùrèd out thé oil, pūt thé lamp intö hiś bōśóm, and turnèd tó^tö gô back.

Aś hê câmè down fróm thé terráçè, hê stoppèd tó^tö lōōk at thé treeś of^uv thé gardén, which werè lâdén with wőnderful früìts. Tó^tö Áladdin's èŷèś it áppėàŕèd aś if thêśè früìts werè ônlý bits of^uv cőlòŕèd glass, but in rêalítý they werè jëwélś of^uv thé rãrést qυalítý. Áladdin fillèd hiś pockéts fūll of^uv thé dazzling thingś, for thôùgh hê had nô îdêá of^uv their real valûè, yet hê wáś^woś áttractéd bŷ their dazzling brillĩánçè. Hê had sô loadėd himself with thêśè treàŝurèś that when at last hê câmè tó^tö thé steps hê wáś^woś unâblè tó^tö clîmb them without ássistánçè.

"Pray, Uñclè," hê sãìd, "givè mê yøùr hand tó^tö help mê out."

"Givè mê thé lamp first," rėplîèd thé Máĝićián.

"Rêallý, Uñclè, Î cannot dö sô until Î am out of^uv this plâçè," answerèd Áladdin, whöśè handś werè, indeed, sô fūll that hê cōūld not get at thé lamp.

But thé Máĝićián réfûśèd tó^tö help Áladdin up thé steps until hê had handėd ôver thé lamp. Áladdin wáś^woś êqυállý dėtermínèd not tó^tö givè it up until hê wáś^woś out of^uv thé cavern, and, at last, thé Máĝićián fell intö a fûrïòús râĝè. Thrôwing sőmè morè of^uv thé powder intö thé fîŕè, hê ágãìn sãìd thé maĝic wòŕdś. Nô sööner had hê dőnè sô than theŕè wáś^woś a trėmendòús thunder-clap, thé stônè rôllèd back intö its plâçè, and Áladdin wáś^woś a priśòner in thé cavern. Thé pōōr boy crîèd áloud tó^tö hiś suppôśèd uñclè tó^tö help him; but it wáś^woś åll in vain, hiś crîèś cōūld not bê hèàŕd. Thé dòorś in thé gardén werè clôśèd bŷ thé sâmè enchantmént, and Áladdin sat down on thé steps in dėspãir, knôwing that theŕè wáś^woś littlè hôpè of^uv hiś ever sêeing hiś Mőther ágãìn.

For twö terríblè dayś hê lay in thé cavern waiting for deàth. On thé third day, rêálîzing that it cōūld not now bê far off, hê claspèd hiś handś in añgυish, thiñking of^uv hiś Mőther's sorrôw; and in sô döing hê acçídéntlý rubbèd thé ring which thé Máĝićián had pūt upon hiś fiñger.

Immêdïátèlý a ĝênìê of^uv ėnormòús sîzè rôśè out of^uv thé èàŕth, and, aś Áladdin startėd back in fright and horròŕ, sãìd tó^tö him:

"Whåt wōūldst thou havè of^uv mê?"

"Whö arè yöü?" gaspèd Áladdin.

"Î am thé slâvè of^uv thé ring. Î am reàdý tó^tö ôbey thŷ cómmandś," câmè thé answer.

Áladdin wáś^woś still trembling; but thé dânĝer hê wáś^woś in ålreàdý mâdè him answer without heśítâtion:

"Then, if yöü arè âblè, dėliver mê, Î bėseech yöü, fróm this plâçè."

Scãŕçèlý had hê spôkén, when hê found himself lŷing on thé ground at thé plâçè tó^tö which thé Máĝićián had first brøùght him.

Hê hâsténèd hômè tó^tö hiś Mőther, whö had møùrnèd him aś deàd. Aś söön aś hê had tôld her åll hiś advenťurèś, hê beggèd her tó^tö get him sőmè fööd, for hê had now bėèn-been three dayś without eating.

"Álas, chîld!" rėplîèd hiś Mőther, "Î havè not a bit of^uv breàd tó^tö givè yöü."

"Never mînd, Mőther," sãìd Áladdin, "Î will gô and sell thé ôld lamp which Î brøùght hômè with mê. Doubtléss Î shall get a littlè mőnêy for it."

Hiś Mőther reachèd down thé lamp; but sêeing how dirtý it wáś^woś, shê thøùght it wōūld sell better if shê cleanèd it. But nô sööner had shê bėgun tó^tö rub it than a hidêòús ĝênìê áppėàŕèd bėforè her, and sãìd in a voiçè lîkè thunder:

"Whåt wōūldst thou havè of^uv mê? Î am reàdý tó^tö ôbey thŷ cómmandś, Î and åll thé őther slâvèś of^uv thé lamp."

Áladdin's Mőther faintėd áway at thé sight of^uv this creaťurè; but Áladdin, having seen thé ĝênìê of^uv thé ring, wáś^woś not sô frighténèd, and sãìd bôldlý:

"Î am huñgrý, bring mê sőmèthing tó^tö eat."

Thé ĝênìê disáppėàŕèd, but rėturnèd in an instánt with twelvè silver dishėś, fillèd with diffèrént kîndś of^uv sâvòŕý meats, six larĝè whîtè loavèś, twö bottlèś of^uv wînè, and twö silver driñking cups. Hê plâçèd thêśè thingś on thé tâblè and then vanishèd.

Áladdin fetchèd wåter, and spriñkling sőmè on hiś Mőther's fâçè söön brøùght her back tó^tö lîfè ágãìn.

When shê ôpénèd her èŷèś and saw åll thé gōōd thingś thé ĝênìê had próvîdėd, shê wáś^woś ôvercőmè with ástonishmént.

"Tó^tö whöm arè wê indebtėd for this feast?" shê crîèd. "Haś thé Sultán hèàŕd of^uv õυŕ povertý and sent us thêśè fînè thingś fróm hiś ôwn tâblè?"

"Never mînd now how they câmè hėŕè," sãìd Áladdin. "Let us first eat, then Î will tell yöü."

Mőther and sőn mâdè a hèartý meal, and then Áladdin tôld hiś Mőther that it wáś^woś thé ĝênìê of^uv thé lamp whö had brøùght them thé fööd. Hiś Mőther wáś^woś grèâtlý álarmèd, and beggèd him tó^tö havè nőthing further tó^tö dö with ĝênìêś, advîśing him tó^tö sell thé lamp at őnçè^wőnçè. But Áladdin wōūld not part with such a wőnderful póśśeŝŝìòn, and rėśolvèd tó^tö keep bôth thé ring and thé lamp sâfèlý, in câsè hê shōūld ever need them ágãìn. Hê shôwèd hiś Mőther thé früìts which hê had gatherèd in thé gardén, and hiś Mőther ádmîrèd their bright cőlòŕś and dazzling râdïánçè, thôùgh shê had nô îdêá of^uv their real valûè.

Not mãný dayś after this, Áladdin wáś^woś wålking in thé streets of^uv thé çitý, when hê hèàŕd a fanfãrè of^uv trumpéts ánnounçing thé passing of^uv thé Prinçess Badroulboudour, thé Sultán's ônlý daughter. Áladdin stoppèd tó^tö see her gô bŷ, and wáś^woś sô struck bŷ her grèât bèàûtý that hê fell in lővè with her on thé spot and mâdè up hiś mînd tó^tö win her for hiś brîdè.

"Mőther," hê sãìd, "Î cannot livè without thé Prinçess Badroulboudour. Yöü must gô tó^tö thé Sultán and dėmand her hand in marriàĝè for mê."

Áladdin's Mőther burst out laughing^lāfing at thé îdêá of^uv her sőn wishing tó^tö bê thé sőn-in-law of^uv thé Sultán, and tôld him tó^tö pūt such thøùghts out of^uv hiś heàd at őnçè^wőnçè. But Áladdin wáś^woś not tó^tö bê lāùghèd^lāùfèd out of^uv hiś fançý. Hê knew bŷ this tîmè that thé früìts which hê had gatherèd fróm thé maĝic gardén werè jëwélś of^uv grèât valûè, and hê insistėd upon hiś Mőther tâking them tó^tö thé Sultán for a preśént, and asking thé hand of^uv thé Prinçess in marriàĝè for her sőn.

Thé pōōr wōmán wáś^woś terríblý frighténèd, fėáring lest thé Sultán shōūld punish her for her impüdénçè; but Áladdin wōūld hėàŕ of^uv nô ėxcûsėś, and at last shê set forth in fėàŕ and trembling, beáring thé jëwélś on a chîná dish cőverèd with a napkin.

When shê câmè bėforè thé Sultán, shê tôld him, with mãný ápolóĝìêś and pleaś for fòŕgivènéss, of^uv her sőn's mad lővè for thé Prinçess Badroulboudour. Thé Sultán smîlèd at thé îdêá of^uv thé sőn of^uv a pōōr ôld wōmán asking for thé hand of^uv hiś daughter, and askèd her whåt shê had under thé napkin. But when thé wōmán uncóverèd thé jëwélś, hê startėd up fróm hiś thrônè in ámâzèmént, for hê had never bėforè seen sô mãný larĝè and magnifíçént jëwélś cóllectéd tógether. Hê thøùght Áladdin must bê a verý unûŝυál and extráordínãrý persón tó^tö bê âblè tó^tö mâkè him such a valûàblè preśént, and hê bėgan tó^tö wőnder whether it might not bê wòŕth whîlè tó^tö bėstôw thé Prinçess's hand upon him. However, hê thøùght hê wōūld ask for sőmè further prööf of^uv hiś weàlth and põwer; sô, turning tó^tö thé wōmán, hê sãìd:

"Gōōd Mőther, tell yøùr sőn hê shall havè thé Prinçess Badroulboudour for hiś wîfè aś söön aś hê sendś mê fortý bâsínś of^uv gôld, fillèd with jëwélś aś valûàblè aś thêśè, and bornè bŷ fortý black and fortý whîtè slâvèś. Hâstén now and carrý him mŷ messáĝè. Î will áwait yøùr rėturn."

Áladdin's Mőther wáś^woś dismayèd at this rėqυest.

"Wheŕè can Áladdin get such bâsínś and jëwélś and slâvèś?" shê thøùght, aś shê húrrìêd hômè tó^tö him. But Áladdin ônlý smîlèd when hiś Mőther gâvè him thé Sultán's messáĝè. Hê rubbèd thé lamp, and at őnçè^wőnçè thé ĝênìê stōōd bėforè him, asking him whåt wáś^woś hiś pleàŝurè.

"Gô," sãìd Áladdin, "fetch mê fortý bâsínś åll of^uv massivè gôld, fūll of^uv jëwélś, bornè bŷ fortý black and fortý whîtè slâvèś."

Thé ĝênìê brøùght thêśè thingś at őnçè^wőnçè, and Áladdin then sent hiś Mőther with them tó^tö thé Sultán.

Thé Sultán wáś^woś ámâzèd at this wőnderful shôw of^uv weàlth and at thé qυicknéss with which it had bėèn-been brøùght, and hê sent for Áladdin tó^tö cőmè tó^tö thé Cøùrt.

Áladdin first summónèd thé ĝênìê tó^tö bring him fînè clôthèś and a splendíd horsè, and a retínüè fit for thé fûťurè sőn-in-law of^uv thé Sultán; and then, with a train of^uv slâvèś beáring magnifíçént preśénts for thé Prinçess, hê set out for thé Paláçè.

Thé Sultán wōūld havè marrìêd him tó^tö hiś daughter at őnçè^wőnçè; but Áladdin askèd him tó^tö wait until thé next morning, when hê hôpèd tó^tö havè a Paláçè wòŕthý tó^tö réçêìvè hiś wîfè.

Őnçè^wőnçè ágãìn hê summónèd thé ĝênìê tó^tö hiś aid, and cómmandėd him tó^tö bùild a Paláçè that in bèàûtý and magnifiçençè shōūld surpass ãný that had ever bėèn-been bùilt on thé èàŕth bėforè.

Thé next morning when thé Sultán áwôkè and lōōkèd out of^uv hiś windôw, hê saw, oppóśítè tó^tö hiś ôwn, thé môst wőnderful Paláçè hê had ever seen. Thé wållś werè bùilt of^uv gôld and silver, and encrustėd with dîàmóndś, rübìêś and emèráldś, and őther rãŕè and prećìòús stônèś. Thé stâblèś werè fillèd with thé fînést horsėś; bèàûtíful gardénś súrroundėd thé bùilding, and evèrýwheŕè werè hundrédś of^uv slâvèś and servánts tó^tö wait on thé Prinçess.

Thé Sultán wáś^woś sô ôvercőmè with åll this magnifiçençè, that hê insistėd upon marrýing hiś daughter tó^tö Áladdin that verý day, and thé yòung còuplè tōōk up their reśidénçè in thé Paláçè thé ĝênìê had bùilt.

For a tîmè they livèd verý happílý, but thé Máĝićián, whö had gonè tó^tö Afrícá after hê had left Áladdin tó^tö perish in thé cavern, at length happénèd tó^tö hėàŕ of^uv Áladdin's fâmè and richėś; and gùessing at őnçè^wőnçè thé søùr0çè of^uv åll this weàlth, hê rėturnèd őnçè^wőnçè morè tó^tö Chîná, dėtermínèd tó^tö gain póśśeŝŝìòn of^uv thé maĝic lamp.

Hê bøùght a number of^uv new and bèàûtíful lamps, disgùîśèd himself aś an ôld beggàŕ-man, and then, waiting until Áladdin wáś^woś out hunting, hê câmè tó^tö thé windôwś of^uv thé Paláçè, crŷing out:

"New lamps for ôld; new lamps for ôld."

When thé Prinçess hèàŕd this strânĝè crŷ shê wáś^woś verý much ámûśèd.

"Let us see," shê sãìd tó^tö her lâdìêś, "whether this föölish fellôw meanś whåt hê sãyś; theŕè iś an uglý ôld lamp in Áladdin's rööm," and tâking thé prećìòús lamp, which Áladdin ålwayś kept bŷ hiś bedsîdè, shê sent it out tó^tö thé ôld man bŷ one^wőnè of^uv thé slâvèś, sâying—

"Givè mê a new lamp for this!"

Thé Máĝićián wáś^woś ôverjoyèd. Hê saw at őnçè^wőnçè that it wáś^woś thé verý lamp hê wanted^wontéd, and giving thé Prinçess thé best of^uv thé new ones^wőnèś in ėxchânĝè, hê húrrìêd áway with hiś treàŝurè. Aś söön aś hê found himself álônè, hê summónèd thé slâvè of^uv thé lamp, and tôld him tó^tö carrý himself, thé Paláçè, and thé Prinçess Badroulboudour tó^tö thé farthést corner of^uv Afrícá. This order thé ĝênìê at őnçè^wőnçè ôbeyèd.

When Áladdin rėturnèd fróm hunting and found that hiś wîfè and hiś Paláçè had vanishèd, hê wáś^woś ôvercőmè with añgυish, gùessing that hiś enémý, thé Máĝićián, had bŷ sőmè meanś got póśśeŝŝìòn of^uv thé lamp. Thé Sultán, whöśè grìêf and añger at thé loss of^uv hiś daughter werè terríblè, orderèd him tó^tö leavè thé Cøùrt at őnçè^wőnçè, and tôld him that unless hê rėturnèd in fortý dayś with thé Prinçess sâfè and well, hê wōūld havè him bėheàdėd.

Áladdin went out fróm thé Sultán's preśénçè, not knôwing whåt tó^tö dö or wheŕè tó^tö turn. But after hê had wānderèd^wonderèd ábout for sőmè tîmè in dėspãir, hê rėmemberèd thé ring which hê still worè on hiś fiñger. Hê rubbèd it, and in a mômént thé ĝênìê stōōd bėforè him. But when Áladdin cómmandėd him tó^tö bring back thé Paláçè and thé Prinçess, thé ĝênìê answerèd—

"Whåt yöü cómmand iś not in mŷ põwer. Yöü must ask thé slâvè of^uv thé lamp. Î am ônlý thé slâvè of^uv thé ring."

"Then," sãìd Áladdin, "if yöü cannot bring mŷ Paláçè tó^tö mê, Î cómmand yöü tó^tö tâkè mê tó^tö mŷ Paláçè." Nô sööner werè thé wòŕdś out of^uv hiś mouth than hê found himself standing in Afrícá, clôsè tó^tö thé missing Paláçè.

Thé Prinçess Badroulboudour, whö, sinçè thé mômént when thé Máĝićián had had her in hiś põwer, had not çeasèd tó^tö weep and láment for her föölishnéss in ėxchânĝing thé lamp, happénèd tó^tö bê lōōking out of^uv thé windôw; and when shê saw Áladdin shê nėàŕlý faintėd with joy, and sent a slâvè tó^tö bring him sêcrėtlý intö thé Paláçè.

Then shê and Áladdin mâdè a plan tó^tö get thé better of^uv thé Máĝićián and tó^tö rėcőver thé lost lamp. Áladdin summónèd thé ĝênìê of^uv thé ring, whö prôcûrèd for him a verý põwerful sleeping-powder, which hê gâvè tó^tö thé Prinçess. Then Áladdin hid himself bėhînd sőmè curtáìnś in thé rööm, and thé Prinçess sent a messáĝè tó^tö thé Máĝićián asking him tó^tö tâkè supper with her.

Thé Máĝićián wáś^woś dėlightėd at thé Prinçess's invitâtion, and acçeptėd it joyfullý, never dreaming that Áladdin had found hiś way tó^tö Afrícá.

Aś they werè eating and driñking tógether, thé Prinçess pūt thé sleeping-powder intö thé Máĝićián's cup of^uv wînè—and nô sööner had hê tâstėd it than hê fell down in a deep sleep aś if deàd.

This wáś^woś Áladdin's chançè. Hâstílý cőming out fróm bėhînd thé curtáìnś, hê snatchèd thé lamp fróm thé Máĝićián's bōśóm, and cållèd thé ĝênìê tó^tö cőmè tó^tö hiś ássistánçè.

Thé ĝênìê, having first thrôwn out thé Máĝićián, then carrìêd thé Paláçè with thé Prinçess and Áladdin back tó^tö thé spot fróm which it had bėèn-been tâkén.

Grèât wáś^woś thé Sultán's joy at rėçêìving back hiś daughter. Thé whôlè çitý wáś^woś givén ôver tó^tö rėjoiçingś, and for ten dayś nőthing wáś^woś hèàŕd but thé sound of^uv drumś and trumpéts and çẏmbálś, and nőthing wáś^woś seen but illümínâtionś and gorĝeòús entertainménts in honòŕ of^uv Áladdin's sâfè rėturn.

Áladdin and thé Prinçess áscendéd thé thrônè after thé Sultán dîèd and they livèd long and happílý and had mãný bèàûtíful childrén.