<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></SPAN>CHAPTER V</h2>
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<h3>THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP</h3>
<p>In one of the large and rich cities of China, there once lived a tailor named
Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labour, maintain himself
and his family, which consisted only of his wife and a son.</p>
<p>His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle fellow. He was
disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out early in the morning and stay
out all day, playing in the streets and public places with idle children of his own
age.</p>
<p>When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father took him into his own shop,
and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father's endeavours to keep him to
his work were vain, for no sooner was his back turned, than he was gone for that day,
Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great
grief, was forced to abandon him to his idleness; and was so much troubled about him,
that he fell sick and died in a few months.</p>
<p>Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, gave himself
entirely over to his idle habits, and was never out of the streets from his
companions. This course he followed till he was fifteen years old, without giving his
mind to any useful pursuit, or the least reflection on what would become of him. As
he was one day playing, according to custom, in the street, with his evil associates,
a stranger passing by stood to observe him.<!-- Page 64 --><SPAN name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></SPAN></p>
<p>This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had been but
two days arrived from Africa, his native country.</p>
<p>The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something which assured
him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name and history of some of
his companions, and when he had learnt all he desired to know, went up to him, and
taking him aside from his comrades, said, "Child, was not your father called Mustapha
the tailor?" "Yes, sir," answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time."</p>
<p>At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's neck, and
kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, and said, "I am your uncle. Your
worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at first sight, you are so like him."
Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to your mother,
give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her to-morrow, that I may see
where my good brother lived so long, and ended his days."</p>
<p>Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given him.
"Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child," replied his mother, "you have no
uncle by your father's side or mine." "I am just now come," said Aladdin, "from a man
who says he is my uncle and my father's brother. He cried and kissed me when I told
him my father was dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, and promising to
come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house my father lived and died in."
"Indeed, child," replied the mother, "your father had no brother, nor have you an
uncle."<!-- Page 65 --><SPAN name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></SPAN></p>
<p>The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the town, and
embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand, and said to him,
"Carry this, child, to your mother; tell her that I will come and see her to-night,
and bid her get us something for supper; but first show ms the house where you
live."</p>
<p>Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two pieces of gold
to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; and considering she wanted various
utensils, borrowed them of her neighbours. She spent the whole day in preparing the
supper; and at night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knows
not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him."</p>
<p>Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, and came in
loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought for a dessert. After he
had given what he brought into Aladdin's hands, he saluted his mother, and desired
her to show him the place where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and
when she had so done, he fell down and kissed it several times, crying out, with
tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have come soon enough
to give you one last embrace." Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down in the same
place, but he declined. "No," said he, "I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit
opposite to it, that although I see not the master of a family so dear to me, I may
at least behold the place where he used to sit."<!-- Page 66 --><SPAN name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></SPAN></p>
<p>When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began to enter into
discourse with Aladdin's mother. "My good sister," said he, "do not be surprised at
your never having seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha
of happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, which is my native
place, as well as my late brother's; and during that time have travelled into the
Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and afterward crossed over into Africa,
where I took up my abode. At last, as it is natural for a man, I was desirous to see
my native country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had strength
enough to undertake so long a journey, I made the necessary preparations, and set
out. Nothing ever afflicted me so much as hearing of my brother's death. But God be
praised for all things! It is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a
son, who has his most remarkable features."</p>
<p>The African magician perceiving that the widow wept at the remembrance of her
husband, changed the conversation, and turning toward her son, asked him, "What
business do you follow? Are you of any trade?"</p>
<p>At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little abashed when
his mother answered "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His father, when alive, strove all he
could to teach him his trade, but could not succeed; and since his death,
notwithstanding all I can say to him, he does nothing but idle away his time in the
streets, as you saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do
not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. For my part, I
am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of doors, and let him provide for
himself."<!-- Page 67 --><SPAN name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></SPAN></p>
<p>After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magician said, "This
is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, and getting your livelihood.
There are many sorts of trades; perhaps you do not like your father's, and would
prefer another; I will endeavour to help you. If you have no mind to learn any
handicraft, I will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and
linens; and then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh goods, and live
in an honourable way. Tell me freely what you think of my proposal; you shall always
find me ready to keep my word."</p>
<p>This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician he had a
greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that he should be much
obliged to him for his kindness. "Well then," said the African magician, "I will
carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you as handsomely as the best merchants in the
city, and afterward we will open a shop as I mentioned."</p>
<p>The widow, after his promises of kindness to her son, no longer doubted that the
magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for his good intentions; and
after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself worthy of his uncle's favour, served
up supper, at which they talked of several indifferent matters; and then the magician
took his leave and retired.<!-- Page 68 --><SPAN name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></SPAN></p>
<p>He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with him to a
merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages and ranks, ready made, and
a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin choose those he preferred, which he paid
for.</p>
<p>When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his uncle thanks,
who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a merchant, it is proper you should
frequent these shops, and be acquainted with them." He then showed him the largest
and finest mosques, carried him to the khans or inns where the merchants and
travellers lodged, and afterward to the sultan's palace, where he had free access;
and at last brought him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had
become acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them and his
pretended nephew acquainted.</p>
<p>This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken leave of his
uncle to go home; the magician would not let him go by himself, but conducted him to
his mother, who, as soon as she saw him so well dressed, was transported with joy,
and bestowed a thousand blessings upon the magician.</p>
<p>Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said he would
take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he would purchase the
shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of the city, to some magnificent
palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter.
At every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the
youth was ready to answer when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here is a finer
house, uncle, than any we have yet seen," By this artifice, the cunning magician led
Aladdin some way into the country; and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute
his design, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of the gardens, on the brink of
a fountain of clear water, which discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a
basin, pretending to be tired: "Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as
I; let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk."
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<p>The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and fruit, and
during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave off bad company, and to seek
that of wise and prudent men, to improve by their conversation; "for," said he, "you
will soon be at man's estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their
example." When they had eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued their
walk through gardens separated from one another only by small ditches, which marked
out the limits without interrupting the communication; so great was the confidence
the inhabitants reposed in each other. By this means the African magician drew
Aladdin insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly
reached the mountains.<!-- Page 70 --><SPAN name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></SPAN></p>
<p>At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and equal size,
divided by a narrow valley, which was the place where the magician intended to
execute the design that had brought him from Africa to China. "We will go no farther
now," said he to Aladdin; "I will show you here some extraordinary things, which,
when you have seen, you will thank me for: but while I strike a light, gather up all
the loose dry sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with."</p>
<p>Aladdin found so many dried sticks, that he soon collected a great heap. The
magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a blaze, threw in some
incense, pronouncing several magical words, which Aladdin did not understand.</p>
<p>He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the magician, and
discovered a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was so frightened that he
would have run away, but the magician caught hold of him, and gave him such a box on
the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin got up trembling, and with tears in his
eyes said to the magician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe
manner?" "I am your uncle," answered the magician; "I supply the place of your
father, and you ought to make no reply. But child," added he, softening, "do not be
afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but that you obey me punctually, if you
would reap the advantages which I intend you. Know, then, that under this stone there
is hidden a treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than the
greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted to lift this
stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute what I may command, for it
is a matter of great consequence both to you and me."<!-- Page 71 --><SPAN name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></SPAN></p>
<p>Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and rising said,
"Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am ready to obey." "I am overjoyed,
child," said the African magician, embracing him, "Take hold of the ring, and lift up
that stone." "Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must help
me." "You have no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I help you,
we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and lift it up; you will find
it will come easily." Aladdin did as the magician bade him, raised the stone with
ease, and laid it on one side.</p>
<p>When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about three or four feet
deep, leading to a door. "Descend, my son," said the African magician, "those steps,
and open that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great halls.
In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed on each side, full of
gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle with them. Before you enter the
first hall, be sure to tuck up your robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through
the second into the third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do
not touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will die
instantly. At the end of the third hall, you will find a door which opens into a
garden, planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to
a terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp.
Take the lamp down and put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out
the liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the
liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the lamp will be dry as soon
as it is thrown out."<!-- Page 72 --><SPAN name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></SPAN></p>
<p>After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it on one of
Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so long as you obey me. Go,
therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich all our lives."</p>
<p>Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three halls just as
the African magician had described. He went through them with all the precaution the
fear of death could inspire, crossed the garden without stopping, took down the lamp
from the niche, threw out the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired,
put it in his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was
perfectly dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which were loaded with
extraordinary fruit of different colours on each tree. Some bore fruit entirely
white, and some clear and transparent as crystal; some pale red, and others deeper;
some green, blue, and purple, and others yellow; in short, there was fruit of all
colours. The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red,
rubies; the paler, balas rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the
purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would
have preferred figs, or grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's
permission, he resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new
purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some up in the
skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it could hold.<!-- Page 73 --><SPAN name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></SPAN></p>
<p>Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not the value,
returned through the three halls with the utmost precaution, and soon arrived at the
mouth of the cave, where the African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience.
As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to help me
out." "Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be troublesome to
you," "Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now, but I will as soon as I am
up." The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before he would
help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much with his fruit that he
could not well get at it, refused to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The
African magician, provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a
little of his incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the stone
which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its place, with the earth over
it in the same manner as it lay at the arrival of the magician and Aladdin.</p>
<p>This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no uncle of
his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had learnt from his magic
books the secret and the value of this wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be
made richer than any earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also
told him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it as a
voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he employed young Aladdin, and
hoped by a mixture of kindness and authority to make him obedient to his word and
will. When he found that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but
avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him leave in company with Aladdin
should make inquiries after the youth. Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness,
cried, and called out to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but
in vain, since his cries could not be heard. He descended to the bottom of the steps,
with a design to get into the palace, but the door, which was opened before by
enchantment, was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and tears,
sat down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing light again, and in an
expectation of passing from the present darkness to a speedy death. In this great
emergency he said, "There is no strength or power but in the great and high God"; and
in joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician had put on his
finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect appeared, and said, "What wouldst
thou have? I am ready to obey thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger;
I, and the other slaves of that ring."<!-- Page 74 --><SPAN name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></SPAN></p>
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