Still taking him for her friend, she answered joyfully, ‘I hear and obey!’
She hurried to the lake, and took a few drops of water in her palm; then she muttered some secret words. The spell was broken. The fish wriggled in the water and, raising their heads, changed back into human shape. The lake was turned into a bustling city, with people buying and selling in the market place; and the mountains became four islands.
Then the witch ran back to the palace and said to the King, ‘Give me your hand, my master. Let me help you to your feet.’
‘Come closer,’ he murmured.
She drew near, and the King lifted his sword and thrust it into her breast, so that she fell down lifeless.
The King found the young man waiting for him at the palace gates. He congratulated him on his escape, and the youth kissed his hand and thanked him with all his heart. Then the King asked, ‘Do you wish to stay in your own city or will you return with me to my kingdom?’
‘Sir,’ replied the youth, ‘do you know how far your kingdom is from here?’
‘Why, it is two and a half days’ journey,’ the King answered.
The young man laughed and said, ‘If you are dreaming, Your Majesty, then you must wake. Know that you are at least a year’s journey from your capital. If you came here in two days and a half, that was because my kingdom was enchanted… But I will never leave you again, even for a moment.’
The King cried, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has brought us together in this way. From now on, you shall be my son, for I have no child of my own.’
The two Kings embraced one another and rejoiced.
Returning to his palace, the younger King told his courtiers he intended to set out on a long journey. When all preparations were completed, the King set forth from the Black Islands, together with fifty slaves and fifty mules laden with priceless treasure. They journeyed for a whole year, and when at last they reached the capital, the vizier and the troops, who had abandoned all hope of the King’s return, went out to meet their master and gave him a joyful welcome.
Seated upon the throne in his own palace, he summoned the vizier and his other courtiers, and told them about his adventure from beginning to end. Then he bestowed gifts on all who were present and said to the vizier, ‘Send for the fisherman who brought us the colored fishes.’
The fisherman, who had been the means of freeing the enchanted city, was brought into his presence, and the King vested him with a robe of honor and asked him about his manner of life and whether he had any children. The fisherman replied that he had one son and two daughters. The King took one of the daughters in marriage and the young Prince wedded the other, while the fisherman’s son was appointed royal treasurer. The vizier became Sultan of the Black Islands, and departed thither with fifty slaves and robes of honor for all the courtiers of that kingdom.
And so the King and the young Prince lived happily ever after. The fisherman became the richest man of his day, and his daughters were the wives of Kings until the end of their lives.
ALADDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP
Once upon a time, there lived in a certain city of China a poor tailor who had an only son called Aladdin.
From his earliest years, Aladdin was a disobedient, lazy boy. When he was ten, his father wanted him to learn a trade; but as he was too poor to have the boy taught any other business than his own, he took him into his shop to teach him tailoring. Aladdin used to pass his time playing in the streets with other idle boys, and never stayed in the shop a single day. Whenever his father went out, or was attending to a customer, he would run off to the parks and gardens with little ruffians of his own age. He thus persisted in his senseless ways until his father fell ill with grief and died.
Seeing that her husband was dead and her son good for nothing, Aladdin’s mother sold the shop with all its contents and took to cotton-spinning in order to support herself and her child. But the young rascal, no longer restrained even by the fear of a father, grew wilder than ever before. The whole day, except for meals, he spent away from home. And thus he carried on until he was fifteen years old.
One day, as he was playing in the street with his companions, a foreign-looking old man who was passing by stopped and watched Aladdin attentively. This stranger, who had come from the remotest parts of Morocco, in Africa, was a mighty enchanter, skilled in the science of the stars. He could, by the power of his magic, uproot a high mountain and hurl it down upon another. Having looked closely into Aladdin’s face, he muttered to himself, ‘This is the boy I have been seeking.’
He took one of the boys aside and asked him Aladdin’s name, who Aladdin’s father was, and where Aladdin lived. Then he went up to Aladdin and led him away from his friends.
‘My child,’ he said, ‘are you not the son of Hassan the tailor?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Aladdin replied, ‘but my father has been dead a long time.’
At these words the magician threw his arms around the boy’s neck and kissed him again and again, with tears running down his cheeks.
‘Why do you weep, sir?’ asked Aladdin in bewilderment. ‘Did you know my father?’
‘How can you ask such a question, my child?’ the magician replied in a sad, broken voice. ‘How can I help weeping when I suddenly hear of my own brother’s death? I have been traveling the world these many years, and now that I have returned in the hope of seeing him, you tell me, alas, that he is dead. But when I first saw you, your blood cried out that you were my brother’s son. I recognized you at once, although when I left this land your father was not yet married. But alas, no man can escape his fate. My son,’ he added, taking Aladdin again into his arms, ‘you are now my only comfort; you stand in your father’s place. Does not the proverb truly say: “He that leaves an heir does not die”?’
With that the magician took ten pieces of gold from his purse, gave them to Aladdin, and asked him where his mother lived. When the boy had directed him to the house, the magician said, ‘Give this money to your mother, my dear brother’s wife, with my kindest greetings. Tell her your uncle has returned from abroad and will visit her tomorrow. Say that I long to greet her, to see the house where my brother lived, and to look upon his grave.’
Aladdin was very glad to receive the money. He kissed the magician’s hand and ran home to his mother, arriving there long before suppertime.
‘Good news, Mother!’ he cried, bursting into the house. ‘My uncle has come back from his travels and sends you his greetings.’
‘Are you making fun of me, my child?’ she answered. ‘Who may this uncle be? And since when have you had a living relative?’
‘How can you say I have no uncle or relations?’ Aladdin protested. ‘The man is my father’s brother. He embraced me and kissed me, and wept bitterly when he heard that my father was dead. He has sent me to tell you of his arrival and of his wish to come and see you.’
‘It is true, my son, that your father had a brother. But he is dead, and I never heard your father speak of any other.’
Next morning the magician left his lodgings and wandered about the town in search of Aladdin. He found him playing in the streets with his companions. Hurrying up to him, he embraced and kissed him as before and gave him two pieces of gold.
‘Run along to your mother,’ he said, ‘and give her this money. Bid her prepare something for supper, and say that your uncle is coming to eat with you this evening. And now, my boy, show me the way to your house again.’
‘Gladly, sir,’ Aladdin replied; and after pointing out the road, he took the gold to his mother.
‘My uncle is coming to have dinner with us this evening,’ he told her.
Quickly she went to the market and bought all the food she needed. Then she borrowed pots and dishes from her neighbors and began to cook the meal. When evening came, she said to Aladdin, ‘Dinner is ready, my son. Perhaps your uncle does not know his way about the town. Go out and see if you can find him in the street.’
Although Aladdin had poin
ted out to the magician the exact whereabouts of his mother’s house, he was nevertheless very willing to go; but at that moment there came a knocking on the door. He ran to open it and found the magician standing on the doorstep and, with him, a porter laden with fruit and drink. Aladdin led him into the house, and after the porter was dismissed the magician greeted the boy’s mother and begged her, with tears in his eyes, to show him where her husband used to sit. She showed him the place. He knelt down before it and kissed the ground.
‘Alas, my poor brother!’ he lamented. ‘Oh, my sorrowful loss!’
His weeping convinced the woman that he really was her husband’s brother. She helped him gently from the ground and spoke comforting words to him. And when all three were seated the magician began:
‘Good sister, do not be surprised at not having seen or known me when my late brother was alive. It is now forty years since I left this land and began my wanderings in the far-flung regions of the earth. I traveled in India, Sind, and Arabia; then I went to Egypt and stayed for a short time in the city of Cairo, the wonder of the world. Finally I journeyed into the deep interior of Morocco, and there I dwelt for thirty years. One day, as I was sitting all alone, I began to think of my native land and my only brother, and I was seized with a great longing to see him. I resolved to travel back to the country of my birth. I said to myself, “Perhaps your brother is poor, whereas, thank God, you are a man of wealth. Go, visit him, and help him in his need.”
‘I got up at once and made preparations for the journey. After saying my prayers, I mounted my horse and set forth. I experienced many hardships and perils before the Almighty brought me to this city. When I saw Aladdin my heart leaped for joy, for I recognized my nephew. But when he told me of my poor brother’s death I nearly fainted from grief.’
Noticing that the poor woman was much affected by his words, the magician now changed the subject and, pursuing his plans, turned to the boy.
‘Aladdin, my son, what trade have you learned? What business do you follow to support yourself and your mother?’
Aladdin hung his head.
‘Oh, do not ask about Aladdin’s trade!’ his mother replied. ‘By Allah, he knows nothing at all, nor have I ever seen a more worthless child. He wastes all his days with the young vagabonds of the streets. It was he who sent his poor father to his grave, and I myself shall follow him soon. Day and night I toil at the spinning wheel to earn a couple of loaves for us. Why, he never comes home except for meals! That is all I see of him. I have a good mind to turn him out of doors and leave him to fend for himself; for I am getting old and have not the strength to wear myself out as I used to do.’
‘That is not right, my boy,’ the magician said; ‘such conduct is unworthy of a fine young man like yourself. It does you little credit to let your mother work to keep you, when you are old enough to support yourself. Learn a trade so that you will have the skill to earn a living. Perhaps you did not like your father’s trade; choose another that you fancy, and I will do all I can to help you.’
Aladdin remained silent, and the magician, realizing that he still preferred his idle life, went on, ‘Very well, my boy. If you have no mind to learn a trade, there is no harm in that. I will open a shop for you in the town and furnish it with silks and linens, so that you soon become a respected merchant.’
Aladdin was pleased with the prospect of being a merchant dressed in splendid clothes. He smiled at the magician and nodded his head in approval of this plan.
‘Now, nephew,’ the magician went on, ‘tomorrow I will take you, God willing, to the market and buy you a fine merchant’s suit. Then we will look for a suitable shop.’
Deeply impressed by all the good things the magician promised to do for her son, Aladdin’s mother thanked him heartily. She begged the boy to mend his ways and show obedience to his uncle. Then she got up and served the meal. As the three ate and drank, the magician chatted with Aladdin about trade and business affairs. When the night was far advanced, the magician departed, promising to return next morning.
Aladdin could scarcely sleep for joy. In the morning there was a knocking on the door and Aladdin ran out to meet the magician. He greeted him and kissed his hand, and they went off together to the market place. Entering a shop, stocked with clothes of every description, the magician asked to be shown the most expensive suits and told Aladdin to choose the one he fancied. The boy picked out a magnificent outfit, for which the magician paid without haggling. From there they went to the city baths, and after they had washed and refreshed themselves, Aladdin put on his new clothes and rejoiced to see himself so finely dressed. Beaming with delight, he kissed his uncle’s hand and thanked him with all his heart.
Then the magician led Aladdin to the merchant’s bazaar, where he saw the traders buying and selling in their stores.
‘My son,’ he said, ‘as you are soon to be a merchant like these men, it is but proper that you should frequent this market and get acquainted with the people.’
He showed him the sights of the city, the great buildings and the mosques, and at midday took him to an inn, where they were served a meal on plates of silver. They ate and drank until they were satisfied; and then the magician took Aladdin to see the Sultan’s palace and the surrounding parks. After that he took him to the foreign merchants’ inn where he himself was staying, and invited a number of his friends to dinner. When they came he introduced Aladdin to them as his brother’s son.
At nightfall he took him back to his mother. The poor woman was transported with joy when she saw her son dressed like a merchant, and called down a thousand blessings on the magician.
‘Brother,’ she said, ‘I do not know how to thank you for your kindness. May Allah prolong your life for both our sakes.’
‘Dear sister-in-law,’ the magician replied, ‘I have done nothing to deserve your thanks. Aladdin is my son; I am in duty bound to be a father to him. He is no longer a child but a man of sense. It is my dearest wish that he should do well and be a joy to you in your old age. I am very sorry, however, that, tomorrow being Friday, the market will be closed and I will not be able to open a shop for him as I promised. But, God willing, we shall do that the day after. I will come here tomorrow to take Aladdin with me and show him the parks and gardens beyond the city.’
The magician then said good-by and went back to his lodgings.
Aladdin thought of his good fortune and the delights that were in store for him. For he had never been out of the city gates before, or seen the countryside beyond. Next morning he got up early, and as soon as he heard a knocking on the door, he ran to receive his uncle. The magician took him into his arms and kissed him.
‘Today, dear nephew,’ he said, ‘I will show you some fine things, the like of which you have never seen in all your life.’
Hand in hand they walked along until they came out of the city gates and reached the fine parks and tall palaces that lay beyond. Aladdin exclaimed for joy as they came in sight of each different building. When they had walked a long way from the city and were tired out, they entered a beautiful garden and sat down to rest beside a fountain of crystal water, surrounded by bronze lions as bright as gold. Here the magician untied a bundle that hung from his belt and took out of it various fruits and pastries.
‘Eat, nephew, for you must be hungry,’ he said. After they had eaten and rested they walked on through the gardens until they reached the open country and came to a high mountain.
‘Where are we going, uncle?’ asked Aladdin, who had never walked so far in all his days. ‘We have now passed all the gardens, and there is nothing before us except that mountain. Please let us go home, for I am worn out with walking.’
‘Be a man, my boy,’ the magician replied. ‘I want to show another garden more beautiful than any you have yet seen. No king has the like of it in the whole world.’
And to engage Aladdin’s attention, he told him strange stories, until they reached the goal that the magician had set himself. To see th
at spot he had come all the way from Morocco to China.
‘Here I am going to show you strange and wondrous things such as the eyes of man have never seen before,’ he said to Aladdin.
He allowed the boy to rest awhile and then said to him, ‘Rise now and gather up some dry sticks and fragments of wood so that we may light a fire. Then you shall see the marvel that I have brought you here to witness.’
Wondering what his uncle was about to do, Aladdin forgot how tired he was and went into the bushes in search of dry twigs. He gathered up a great armful and carried them to the old man. Presently the magician set fire to the wood and, when it was ablaze, opened a small box he had with him and threw a pinch of incense from it into the flame, muttering a secret charm. At once the sky was overcast with darkness and the earth shook and opened before him, revealing a marble slab with a copper ring fixed in the center. The boy was terrified at these happenings and wanted to run away; but the magician, who could never hope to achieve his aim without Aladdin’s help, caught hold of him and, raising his fist, gave him a mighty blow on the head that almost knocked out some of his teeth. Aladdin fell back fainting; nor did he recover his senses until the magician revived him by magic.
‘What have I done to deserve this, uncle?’ Aladdin sobbed, trembling in every limb.
‘I struck you to make a man of you, my child,’ replied the magician in a gentle tone. ‘I am your uncle, your father’s brother, and you must obey me. If you do as I tell you, you will be richer than all the monarchs of the world. Now listen carefully to my instructions. You have just seen how I opened the earth by my magic. Below this marble slab there is a treasure house that none but yourself may enter. Only you can lift the stone and go down the stairs that lie beneath. Do as I tell you, and we will divide the hidden riches between us.’
Aladdin was amazed at the magician’s words. He forgot his tears and the smarting blow he had received.
Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights Page 4
