It was now lunchtime. The slave girls laid the table, and the Princess invited her guest to eat with her. The magician, however, declined. He retired to his own room, where he ate by himself.
In the evening, Aladdin came home. Finding his wife thoughtful and anxious, he asked her the cause in some alarm.
‘It is nothing at all, dearest,’ she answered. ‘I always thought there was nothing missing or deficient in our palace. Yet… if only a roc’s egg were hung from the jeweled dome of the hall, our palace would be unrivaled in the world.’
‘If that is all,’ Aladdin replied, ‘there is nothing simpler. Cheer up, my sweet. Just name the thing you fancy and I will bring it to you upon the instant, even if it be hidden in the darkest caverns of the earth.’
Leaving his wife, Aladdin went into his room, took out the lamp, and rubbed it; and at once the jinnee appeared before him, saying, ‘Ask what you will!’
‘I wish you to bring me a roc’s egg,’ said Aladdin, ‘and to hang it in the dome of the palace.’
But the jinnee scowled on hearing these words.
‘Ungrateful human,’ he roared. ‘Are you not content to have me and all the other slaves of the lamp at your beck and call? Must you also command me to bring you the sacred egg of our mistress and hang it in the dome of the palace for your amusement? By heaven, you and your wife deserve to be burned alive this instant. But as you are both ignorant of this offense and have no knowledge of its consequences, I forgive you. You are not to blame. The real offender is that wicked magician, the Moor’s brother, who is now staying in your palace disguised as Holy Fatimah. He put on her clothes and killed her in her cave, then he came here to avenge his brother’s death. It was he who prompted our wife to make this request.’
And so saying, the jinnee vanished.
Aladdin was thunderstruck when he heard this, and all his limbs trembled with fear. But he soon recovered himself, thought of a plan, and went back to his wife, saying that his head ached; for he knew that the holy woman was renowned for her healing powers. The Princess sent at once for Fatimah, so that she might lay her hand on his head.
‘Fatimah will soon cure you of your pain,’ she said, and told him that she had invited the saintly woman to stay with her in the palace.
Presently the magician came in; Aladdin rose to receive him and, pretending to know nothing of his intent, welcomed him as he might have welcomed the holy woman herself.
‘Mistress Fatimah,’ he said, ‘I beg you to do me a kindness. I have long heard of your great skill in curing ailments. Now I have a violent pain in my head.’
The magician could scarcely believe his ears, for he wished for nothing better. He came near and, laying one hand on Aladdin’s head, stretched the other under his robe and drew out his dagger to kill him. But Aladdin was on his guard; he caught him by the wrist, wrenched the weapon from him, and thrust it into his heart.
‘Oh, what a woeful crime!’ exclaimed the terrified Princess. ‘Have you no fear of heaven to kill Fatimah, this virtuous and saintly woman, whose miracles are the wonder of our time?’
‘Know then,’ Aladdin replied, ‘that the villain whom I have killed was not Fatimah but the man who murdered her. This is the brother of the Moorish magician who carried you off by his magic to Africa. He came to this country and thought of this trick. He murdered the old woman, disguised himself in her habit, and came here to avenge his brother’s death on me. It was he who incited you to ask for a roc’s egg, for that was a sure way to destroy me. If you doubt my words, come and see who it is that I have slain.’
Aladdin lifted off the magician’s veil, and the Princess saw a man in disguise. At once the truth dawned upon her.
‘My love,’ she said, ‘this is the second time I have put you in danger of your life.’
‘Never mind, Badr-al-Budur,’ Aladdin replied, ‘I gladly accept whatever befalls me through you.’
He took her into his arms and kissed her, and they loved each other more than ever.
At that moment the Sultan arrived. They told him all that had happened and showed him the magician’s body. The Sultan ordered that the corpse be burned and the ashes scattered to the winds, like his brother’s.
Aladdin dwelt with the Princess in contentment and joy, and thereafter escaped all dangers. When the Sultan died, Aladdin inherited his throne and reigned justly over the kingdom. All his subjects loved him, and he lived happily with Badr-al-Budur until death overtook them.
THE DONKEY
Two rogues once saw a simple-looking fellow leading a donkey on the end of a long rope on a deserted road.
‘Watch this,’ said one to the other. ‘I will take that beast and make a fool of its master. Come along and you will see.’
He crept up behind the simple fellow without a sound, unfastened the rope from the donkey, and put it around his own neck. He then jogged along in the donkey’s place, while his friend made off with the beast.
Suddenly the thief, with the donkey’s rope around his neck, stopped in his tracks and would go no farther. The silly fellow, feeling the pull on the rope, looked over his shoulder, and was utterly amazed to find his donkey changed into a human being.
‘Who in heaven’s name are you?’ he cried.
‘Sir,’ the thief replied, ‘I am your donkey; but my story is quite extraordinary. It all happened one day when I came home very drunk – as I always did. My poor old mother scolded me terribly and begged me to mend my ways. But I took my stick and beat her. In her anger she called down Allah’s curse upon me, and I was at once changed into the donkey that has served you faithfully all these years. My mother must have taken pity on me and prayed today to the Almighty to change me back into human shape.’
‘Good Heavens!’ cried the simpleton, who believed every word of the rascal’s story. ‘Please forgive all that I have done to you and all the hardships you put up with in my service.’
He let the robber go and returned home, bewildered and upset.
‘What has come over you, and where is your donkey?’ asked his wife when she saw him.
He told her the strange story.
‘Allah will be angry with us,’ the woman cried, wringing her hands, ‘for having used a human being so cruelly.’
And she fell down on her knees, praying for forgiveness.
For several days afterward the simple fellow stayed idle at home. At last his wife told him to go and buy another donkey, so that he could do some useful work again. He went off to the market, and as he was taking a look at the animals on sale, he was astonished to see his own donkey among them. When he had identified the beast beyond all doubt, he whispered in its ear, ‘Well, you old scoundrel! Have you been drinking and beating your mother again? Upon my life, I will not buy you this time!’
THE TALE OF KHALIFAH THE FISHERMAN
Once upon a time, in the reign of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, there lived in the city of Baghdad a poor fisherman called Khalifah.
It so happened one morning that he took his net upon his back and went down to the river Tigris before the other fishermen arrived. When he reached the bank he rolled up his sleeves and tucked his robe into his belt; then he spread his net and cast it into the water. He cast his net ten times, but did not catch a single fish. In despair, he waded knee-deep into the river and threw his net as far as he could. He waited patiently for a long time, and then pulled hard on the cords. When at last he managed to haul the heavy net ashore, he was astonished to find in it a lame, one-eyed monkey. His astonishment quickly changed to frustration and anger. Tying the beast to a tree, he was on the point of lashing it with his whip when the monkey spoke in the voice of a human.
‘Stay your hand, Khalifah,’ it pleaded. ‘Do not whip me. Cast your net again and you will soon have what you desire.’
The fisherman once more spread his net and cast it into the water. After some time he felt the net grow heavy, but on bringing it to land, he was vexed to find in it another monkey, even more strange-looking than
the first. Its eyelids were black and long, its hands were dyed with red, and it wore a tattered vest about the middle. Its front teeth, set wide apart, gleamed as it stared at the fisherman with an awkward grin.
‘Praise be to Allah, who has changed the fishes of the river into monkeys!’ exclaimed Khalifah. Then, running toward the first animal, he cried, ‘So this is the result of your advice! I began my day with the sight of your monstrous face and I shall doubtless end it in starvation and ruin.’
He brandished his whip high above his head and was about to fall again upon the one-eyed monkey when it begged him for mercy.
‘Spare me, Khalifah, in the name of Allah!’ it cried. ‘Go to my brother. He will give you good advice.’
The bewildered fisherman flung away his whip and turned to the second monkey.
‘If you mark my words and do as I tell you, Khalifah,’ said the second monkey, ‘you shall prosper.’
‘Well, what do you want me to do?’ the fisherman asked.
‘Leave me on this bank,’ came the reply, ‘and once more cast your net.’
The fisherman spread his net again and cast it into the water. He waited patiently, and when he felt the net grow heavy, he gently drew it in, only to land yet another monkey, which had red hair and wore a blue vest about its middle.
‘Surely this is a cursed day from first to last!’ exclaimed the fisherman when he saw the third monkey. ‘There is surely not a single fish left in the river and we shall have nothing today but monkeys!’
Then, turning to the red-haired beast, he cried, ‘In heaven’s name, what are you?’
‘Do you not know who I am, Khalifah?’ the monkey replied.
‘Indeed I do not!’ protested the fisherman.
‘Know, then, that I am the monkey of Abu Ahmad, chief of the money-changers. To me he owes his good fortune and all his wealth. When I bless him in the morning he gains five pieces of gold, and when I say good night to him he gains five more.’
‘Mark that,’ the fisherman said, turning to the first beast. ‘You cannot boast of such blessings. Seeing your face this morning has brought me nothing but bad luck!’
‘Leave my brother in peace, Khalifah,’ said the red-haired monkey, ‘and cast your net once more into the river. After that, come back and show me your catch. I will teach you how to use it to your best advantage.’
‘I hear and obey, King of all monkeys!’ the fisherman answered.
Khalifah did as the monkey told him, and when he drew in his net he rejoiced to find a splendid fish with a large head, broad fins, and eyes that glittered like gold coins. Marveling at the quaintness of his prize, he took it and showed it to the red-haired animal.
‘Now gather some fresh grass,’ said the monkey, ‘and spread it at the bottom of your basket; lay the fish upon it and cover it with more grass. Then carry the basket to Baghdad. Should anyone speak to you on your way, you must not answer, but go directly to the market of the money-changers. In the middle of it stands the shop of Abu Ahmad, their chief. You will find him sitting on a mattress with an embroidered cushion at his back, surrounded by his slaves and servants. In front of him you will see two boxes, one for gold and one for silver. Go up to him, set your basket before him, and say, “Sir, I went down to the river Tigris this morning and in your name cast my net. I caught this fish.” He will ask, “Have you shown it to any other man?” “No,” you must answer.
‘Then he will take the fish and offer you one piece of gold. You must refuse to sell it for that price. He will offer you two gold pieces, but you must still refuse. Whatever he offers, you must not accept, though it be the fish’s weight in gold. He will ask, “What, then, do you want?” And you will reply, “I will exchange this fish for nothing more than a few simple words.” “What are they?” he will ask, and you will answer, “Stand up and say, Bear witness, all who are present in this market, that I give Khalifah the fisherman my monkey in exchange for his monkey, and that I barter my fortune for his fortune. That is the price of my fish: I demand no gold.”
‘If he agrees to this,’ went on the red-haired beast, ‘you will become my master; I will bless you every morning and every evening, and you will gain ten pieces of gold every day. As for Abu Ahmad, he will be plagued with the sight of my lame, one-eyed brother, and will suffer heavy losses. Bear in mind what I have told you, Khalifah, and you will prosper.’
‘I will obey you in every particular, royal monkey!’ the fisherman replied. He untied the three animals, who leaped into the water and disappeared
Khalifah washed the fish, placed it in his basket upon some fresh grass, and covered it over. Then he set out for the city, singing merrily.
As he made his way through the streets, many people greeted him and asked if he had any fish to sell. But he walked on without a word until he reached the market of the money-changers and stopped before Abu Ahmad’s shop. The fisherman saw Abu Ahmad surrounded by numerous servants who waited upon him with such ceremony as can be found only in the courts of kings. He went up to the money-changer.
‘Fisherman, what can we do for you?’ Abu Ahmad asked.
‘Chief of the money-changers,’ Khalifah replied, ‘this morning I went down to the Tigris, and in your name cast my net. I caught this fish.’
‘What a strange coincidence!’ cried the delighted money-changer. ‘A holy man appeared to me in a dream last night, saying, “You will receive a present from me tomorrow.” This must surely be the present. Only tell me, on your life, have you shown this fish to any other man?’
‘No,’ the fisherman replied. ‘No one else has seen it.’
The money-changer turned to one of his slaves and said, ‘Take this fish to my house and ask my daughter to have it dressed for dinner. Tell her to fry one half and to grill the other.’
‘I hear and obey,’ answered the slave, and departed with the fish to his master’s house.
Abu Ahmad took a piece of gold from one of his coffers and offered it to the fisherman.
‘Spend this on your family,’ he said.
Now, Khalifah, who had never before earned such money for a single day’s labor, instinctively held out his hand and took the coin. But as he was about to leave the shop, he remembered the monkey’s instructions.
‘Take this and give me back my fish,’ he cried, throwing down the coin. ‘Would you make a fool of me?’
Thinking that the fisherman was jesting, Abu Ahmad smiled, then handed him three gold pieces; but Khalifah refused the gold.
‘Since when have you known me to sell my fish for such a trifle?’ he asked.
Abu Ahmad then gave him five pieces. ‘Take these,’ he said, ‘and do not be greedy.’
The fisherman took the gold and left the shop, scarcely believing his eyes. ‘Glory be to God!’ he thought. ‘The Caliph himself has not so much gold in his coffers as I have in my purse today!’
It was not until he reached the end of the market place that he recalled the monkey’s advice. He hurried back to the money-changer and again threw down the coins before him.
‘What has come over you, Khalifah?’ asked Abu Ahmad. ‘Would you rather have the money in silver?’
‘I want neither your gold nor your silver,’ the fisherman retorted. ‘Give me back my fish.’
‘I have given you five pieces of gold for a fish that is hardly worth ten coppers,’ exclaimed the money-changer angrily, ‘and yet you are not satisfied.’ Then, turning to his slaves, he cried, ‘Take hold of this rascal and thrash him soundly!’
The slaves immediately set upon the fisherman and beat him until their master called, ‘Enough!’ But as soon as they let go of him, Khalifah rose to his feet as though he had felt no pain at all. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you should have known that I can take more blows than ten donkeys put together.’
At this Abu Ahmad laughed.
‘Enough of this fooling,’ he said. ‘How much do you want?’
‘Only a few simple words,’ the fisherman replied. ‘I just want you to
get up and say: “Bear witness, all who are present in this market, that I give Khalifah the fisherman my monkey in exchange for his monkey, and that I barter my fortune for his fortune.” ’
‘Nothing could be easier than that,’ Abu Ahmad said and, rising to his feet, made the declaration. Then, turning to the fisherman, he asked, ‘Is that all?’
‘It is.’
‘Then I bid you good day.’
Khalifah put the empty basket on his shoulder and hurried back to the river. As soon as he reached the bank he spread his net and cast it into the water. When he drew it in, he found it filled with fish of every kind. Presently a woman came up to him with a basket and bought a gold piece’s worth of fish. Then a slave passed by and also bought a gold piece’s worth. When the day was done, Khalifah had earned ten pieces of gold. And he continued to earn this sum day after day until he had a hundred pieces of gold.
Now, the fisherman lived in a hovel of a house at the end of the Lane of the Merchants. One night, as he lay in his lodging overcome with drink, he said to himself, ‘All your neighbors, Khalifah, think you are a penniless old fisherman. They have not seen your hundred pieces of gold. But they will soon hear of your wealth; and before long the Caliph himself will get to know of it. One day, when his treasury is empty, he will send for you and say, “I need some money. I hear you have a hundred gold pieces. You must lend them to me.” “Sire,” I will answer, “your slave is a poor, humble fisherman. The man who told you that is a wicked liar.” The Caliph, of course, will not believe me. He will hand me over to the governor, who will strip me naked and whip me mercilessly. My best course, therefore, is to get my body used to the whip. I will get up now and prepare myself.’
Khalifah took off all his clothes. He placed beside him an old leather cushion, took up his whip, and began lashing himself, aiming every other stroke at the cushion and yelling out, ‘A wicked lie! Oh, oh! I have no money!’
Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights Page 11
