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"It happened, most unfortunately for Aladdin, that he was absent upon a
hunting expedition. This excursion was to last eight days, and only
three of them had elapsed. Of this the magician got information in the
following way. When he had finished the operation whose result had
afforded him so much joy, he went to see the master of the khan where
he had taken up his abode, and beginning to converse with him, soon
turned the talk into the desired channel. He told him that he had just
returned from the palace of Aladdin; and after giving him an
enthusiastic account of all the remarkable and surprising things he had
seen he continued: 'My curiosity goes still further, and I shall not be
satisfied till I have seen the fortunate owner of this wonderful
building.' 'That will not be at all a difficult matter,’ replied the
keeper of the khan, 'for hardly a day passes without affording you an
opportunity of seeing him when he is at home; but he has been gone
these three days on a grand hunting party, which is to last for some
days longer.’
"The magician did not want to know more: he hurriedly took leave of the master of the khan, and returned to his own apartment. 'This is the time for action,' said he to himself, 'and I must not let the opportunity escape.' He then went to the shop of a man who made and sold lamps. 'I want,' said he to the manufacturer, 'a dozen copper lamps.' The man replied that he had not quite so many in his shop, but if his customer would wait till the next day he would have them ready for him. The magician agreed to wait. He desired the dealer to be careful and have them very well polished.
"The next morning the magician received the twelve lamps, and paid the price demanded without asking for any abatement. He put them into a basket, which he had provided for the purpose, and went with this on his arm to the neighbourhood of Aladdin's palace. Here he walked to and fro, crying with a loud voice: 'Who will exchange old lamps for new ones?' As he continued thus calling, the children who were at play in the open square heard him. They ran and collected round him, hooting at him, as they took him for a madman. All who passed laughed at his apparent folly. 'That man,' said they, 'must surely have lost his senses, to offer to exchange new lamps for old ones.'
"The magician was not at all surprised at the shouts of the children, nor at the ridicule with which he was assailed. He seemed only intent on disposing of his merchandise, and continued to cry: 'Who will exchange old lamps for new ones?' He repeated this so often, while he walked to and fro on all sides of the palace, that at last the Princess Badroulboudour, who was in the saloon of the twenty-four windows, heard his voice; but as she could not distinguish what he said, she sent one of her female slaves to ascertain what was the reason of all the noise and bustle.
"The slave presently returned, and entered the saloon laughing very heartily. 'Well, thou silly one,' said the princess, 'why do you not tell me what you are laughing at?' 'O princess,' replied the slave, 'who can possibly help laughing at seeing yonder fool with a basket on his arm full of beautiful new lamps, which he will not sell, but offers to exchange for old ones.'
"Another of the female slaves hereupon said: 'Now you speak of old lamps, I know not whether the princess has noticed one that stands on the cornice; whoever the owner may be, he will not be very much displeased at finding a new lamp instead of that old one. If the princess will give me leave, she may have the pleasure of trying whether this fellow is fool enough to give me a new lamp for an old one.'
"This lamp of which the slave spoke was the very wonderful lamp which had been the cause of Aladdin's great success and fortune, and he had himself placed it upon the cornice, before he went to the chase, for fear of losing it. Except when he hunted, Aladdin always carried the lamp about him. His precaution, it may be said, was certainly insufficient, for he should have locked the lamp up.
"The princess, who was ignorant of the value of the lamp and of its importance both to Aladdin and to herself, consented to make the trial, and ordered an eunuch to go and get it exchanged. The eunuch accordingly went down from the saloon, and no sooner came out of the palace gate than he perceived the magician. He immediately called to him, and when he came showed him the old lamp, and said: 'Give me a new lamp for this.'
"The magician at once conjectured that this was the lamp he was seeking; because he thought there would not be any other such lamp in Aladdin's palace, where everything of the kind was of gold or silver. He eagerly took the lamp from the eunuch, and after having thrust it as far as he could into his bosom he presented his basket, and bade him take which he liked best. The eunuch chose one, and carried the new lamp to the princess.
"The magician at once stole quietly to a distance, ceased his calling, and no longer invited people to exchange old lamps for new ones.
"As soon as he had traversed the square between the two palaces, he went through the most unfrequented streets, and as he had no further occasion either for his purchased lamps or his basket, he put his load down in the middle of a street where he thought himself unobserved. He then made all the haste he could to get to one of the gates of the city. When he was at last in the open country, he turned down a by-road, and here he remained till he thought a good opportunity occurred to execute the design he had in view.
"The magician passed the remainder of the day in that retired spot, lingering there until the night was far advanced. He then drew the lamp out of his bosom, and rubbed it. The genie instantly obeyed the summons. 'What are thy commands?' cried the genie 'I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of those who have the lamp in their hands, both I, and the other slaves of the lamp.' 'I command you,' replied the magician,' instantly to take the palace which you and the other slaves of the lamp have erected in this city; take it, exactly as it is, with everything in it, both dead and alive, and transport it, and me also, into the utmost confines of Africa.' Without making any answer the genie, assisted by the other slaves of the lamp, took him and the whole palace, and transported both to the spot he had pointed out.
"Having thus seen the African Magician, the Princess Badroulboudour, and Aladdin's palace transported to Africa, let us notice what happened in the sultan's capital.
"When that monarch rose the next morning, he did not fail to go as usual to his cabinet and look out, that he might have the pleasure of contemplating and admiring Aladdin's palace. He cast his eyes in the direction where he was accustomed to see it, but saw only the open space that had been there before the palace was built. He thought he must be deceived. He rubbed his eyes, but still he could see nothing more than at first. His astonishment was so great that he remained for some time rooted to the spot. He could by no means comprehend in what manner so large a place should so suddenly and completely vanish that not the smallest vestige remained. 'I cannot be deceived,' he said to himself; 'it was in this very place that I beheld it. If it had fallen down, the materials at least would lie strewn around; and if the earth had swallowed it up, we should perceive some marks of the devastation.' The sultan returned to his apartment, and ordered the grand vizier to be summoned.
"The grand vizier quickly obeyed the sultan's call. He came, indeed, in so much haste, that neither he nor his attendants observed, as they passed, that the palace of Aladdin was no longer where it had stood.
"'O great king,' said the grand vizier, 'the eagerness and haste with which your majesty has sent for me leads me to suppose that something very extraordinary has happened.' 'What has happened is indeed very extraordinary,' replied the sultan. 'Tell me, where is Aladdin's palace?' 'I have just now passed it,' replied the vizier, with the utmost surprise, 'and it seemed to me to be where it stood before.' 'Go into my cabinet,' answered the sultan, 'and come and tell me if you can see the palace.'
"The grand vizier went as he was ordered, and was as much amazed as the sultan had been. When he was quite sure that the palace of Aladdin had really disappeared, he returned to the sultan. 'Tell me,' demanded the latter, 'have you seen Aladdin's palace?' 'Your majesty may remember,' replied the grand vizier, 'that I had the honour to tell you that this palace was the work of magic; but your majesty did not think fit to give heed to my words.'
"The sultan, who could not deny the former representations of the grand vizier, was the more angry against Aladdin, because he was also unable to answer the vizier's words. 'Where is this impostor, this wretch?' he exclaimed, 'that I may strike off his head.' 'It is some days since he came to take leave of your majesty,' answered the grand vizier; 'we must send to him, to inquire about the disappearance of his palace: he cannot be ignorant of it.' 'This would be treating him with too great indulgence I' exclaimed the monarch. 'Go, and order thirty of my horsemen to bring him before me in chains.' The grand vizier instantly gave the order, and instructed the officer how he should prevent Aladdin's escape. The horsemen set out, and met Aladdin, who was returning from the chase, about five or six leagues from the city. The officer, when he first accosted him, declared that the sultan was so impatient to see his son-in-law that he had sent this party of horse out to meet him, and to accompany him on his return.
"Aladdin had not the least suspicion of the true cause that had brought out this detachment of the sultan's guard. He continued hunting on his way home; but when he was within half a league from the city, the soldiers surrounded him, and the officer said: 'Prince Aladdin, it is with the greatest regret that I must inform you of the orders we have received from the sultan. We are to arrest you, and bring you to the palace like a state criminal. We entreat you not to be angry with us for doing our duty.' This declaration astonished Aladdin beyond measure. He felt himself innocent, and asked the officer if he knew of what crime he was accused; but the officer replied that neither he nor his men could give him any information.
"As Aladdin perceived that his own attendants were much inferior in number to the detachment of soldiers, he dismounted, and said to the officer: 'I submit: execute whatever orders you have received. I must, however, declare that I am guilty of no crime either towards the person of the sultan or the state.' His captors immediately put a large and long chain about his neck, binding it tightly round his body, so that he had not the use of his arms. When the officer had put himself at the head of the troop, one of the horsemen took hold of the end of the chain, and dragged forward Aladdin, who was obliged to follow on foot.
"When the guards entered the suburbs, all the people they met, and who saw Aladdin led along in this way like a state criminal, felt sure that he was going to lose his head. As he was generally beloved, some seized sabres, others whatever arms they could find, and those who had no weapons whatever took up stones and tumultuously followed the guards. The soldiers who rode in the rear wheeled about, as if they wished to disperse the crowd, but the people increased so fast in number that the guards thought it better to dissemble, well satisfied if they could conduct Aladdin safe to the palace without his being rescued. In due time they arrived in the open square before the palace, where the soldiers all formed into one line, and faced about to keep off the armed multitude, while the officer and guard who led Aladdin entered the palace.
"Aladdin was brought before the sultan, who waited for him, with the grand vizier by his side, in a balcony; and as soon as the prisoner appeared, the sultan angrily commanded the executioner, who was already present by his orders, to strike off his head, as he wished not to hear a word or any explanation whatever.
"The executioner accordingly seized Aladdin, took off the chain, and after laying down on the ground a large piece of leather stained with the blood of the many criminals he had executed, desired Aladdin to kneel down, and then tied a bandage over his eyes. Then he drew his sabre, and waited only for the sultan's signal, to separate Aladdin's head from his body.
"At that critical instant the grand vizier perceived how the populace, who had overpowered the guards and filled the square, were in the act of scaling the walls of the palace in many places, and had even begun to pull them down in order to open a passage. Before, therefore, the sultan could give the signal for Aladdin's death, he said to him: 'I beseech your majesty to think maturely of what you are going to do. You will run the risk of having your palace torn to the ground; and if this misfortune should happen, the consequences cannot but be dreadful.' 'My palace torn down!' replied the sultan, 'who will dare attempt it?' 'If your majesty will cast your eyes towards the walls yonder,' observed the vizier, 'you will acknowledge the truth of what I say.'
"When the sultan saw the eager and violent commotion among the people, his fear was very great. He instantly ordered the executioner to sheathe his sabre, to take the bandage off Aladdin's eyes, and set him at liberty. He also commanded an officer to proclaim that he pardoned Aladdin, and that every one might retire.
"As all those who had mounted on the walls of the palace could see what occurred in the sultan's cabinet, they gave over their design and almost directly descended; and highly delighted at having thus been the means of saving the life of one whom they really loved, they instantly published this news to those that were near them, and it quickly spread among all the populace. The justice the sultan had thus rendered Aladdin by pardoning him, disarmed the populace and quieted the tumult, so that presently every one returned home.
"When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he lifted up his head towards the balcony, and perceiving the sultan there, he addressed him with the most pathetic gestures. 'I entreat your majesty,' he said, ‘to add a new favour to the pardon you have just granted me by informing me of my crime!' ' Thy crime, O perfidious wretch!' replied the sultan, 'dost thou not know it? Come up hither, and I will show thee.'
"Aladdin ascended to the terrace, and when he presented himself, the sultan walked on before, saying: ' Follow me.' He led the way to the cabinet that opened towards the place where Aladdin's palace had stood. When they came to the door, 'Enter here,' the sultan said: 'assuredly you ought to know where your own palace is. Look around, and tell me what has become of it.' Aladdin looked, but saw nothing. He perceived the space which his palace had lately occupied; but as he could not conceive how it had disappeared, this extraordinary event so confused and astonished him, that he could not answer the sultan a single word. 'Tell me,' said the latter, 'where is your palace, and what has become of my daughter?' 'O mighty king,' replied Aladdin, 'I plainly see and must acknowledge that the palace which I built is no longer in the place where it stood. I see it has disappeared; but I can assure your majesty that I had no share whatever in removing it.'
"'I care not what has become of your palace; that gives me no concern,' replied the sultan; ' I esteem my daughter a million times beyond your palace; and unless you discover and bring her back to me, be assured that your head shall answer for it.' 'Great king,' said Aladdin, 'I entreat your majesty to grant me forty days to make the most diligent inquiries; and if I do not, within that period, succeed in my search, I give you my promise that I will lay my head at the foot of your throne, that you may dispose of me according to your pleasure.' 'I grant your request,' answered the sultan; 'but think not to abuse my favour, nor endeavour to escape my resentment. In whatever part of the world you are, I shall know how to find you.'
"Aladdin then left the sultan's presence, in the deepest humiliation. He passed, with downcast eyes, through the courts of the palace, and the principal officers of the court, not one of whom he had ever offended, instead of coming to console him or offer him a retreat at their house, turned their backs upon him, alike unwilling to make it appear that they saw him, or that he should recognize them. His mind seemed unhinged by his great calamity; and of this he gave evident proofs when he was out of the palace; for without thinking of what he did, he asked at every door, and of all he met, if they had seen his palace, or could give him any in intelligence concerning it.
"These questions made every one think that Aladdin had lost his senses. Some even laughed at him; but those who had been on friendly terms with him compassionated him most sincerely. He remained three days in the city, eating only what was given him in charity, and unable to come to any decision.
"At length, as Aladdin could not in his wretched condition remain any longer in a city where he had hitherto lived in splendour, he departed and bent his steps towards the country. He soon turned out of the high road, and after walking a great distance in the most dreadful state of mind, he came, towards the close of day, to the bank of a river. He now gave himself up entirely to despair. 'Whither shall I go to seek my palace?' he murmured to himself. 'In what part of the world shall I find either my dwelling, or my dear princess? Never shall I be able to succeed! It is much better, then, that I at once put an end to the woes that distract me.' He was going to throw himself into the river in pursuance of this resolution, but being faithful to his religion, he thought he ought not to quit life without first repeating his prayers. In performing this ceremony, he went close to the bank to wash his face and hands, as was the custom of his country; but as this spot was rather steep, he slipped down, and would have fallen into the river had he not been stopped by a piece of stone, or rock, that projected about two feet from the surface. Happy was it for him, too, that he still had on his finger the ring which the magician had given him when he made him go down into the subterranean cavern to bring away the precious lamp which had so nearly been buried with him. In grasping at the piece of rock, he rubbed the ring strongly, and the same genie instantly appeared whom he had before seen in the subterranean cavern. 'What are thy commands?' cried the genie.
"Aladdin was most agreeably surprised by the sight of this unexpected succour that came to him in his despair. He directly replied: 'Save my life, genie, a second time, by informing me where the palace is which I have built, or by replacing it where it was.' 'What you require of me,' answered the genie, 'is beyond my power; I am only the slave of the ring; you must address yourself to the slave of the lamp.' 'If that be the case then,' said Aladdin, 'at least transport me to the spot where my palace is, let it be in what part of the world it will; and place me under the window of the Princess Badroulboudour.' So soon as he said this, the genie took him up, and transported him to Africa, in the neighbourhood of a great city. In the midst of a large meadow in which the palace stood, he set him down directly under the windows of the apartment of the princess, and there left him.
"Notwithstanding the darkness of the night, Aladdin very readily recognized both his own palace and the apartment of the princess; but as the night was far advanced, and everything in the palace was still, he retired from before it, and seated himself at the foot of a tree. Full of hope, and reflecting on the good fortune which chance had procured him, he felt more calm and collected than he had been since he was arrested by the sultan's order, and placed in such imminent peril.
"The next morning, as soon as the sun appeared above the horizon, Aladdin was most agreeably awakened by the songs of the birds, which had perched for the night upon the tree under which he lay and also among the other thick trees in the garden of his palace. He feasted his eyes upon the beautiful building, and felt an inexpressible joy at the thought of being again master of it, and once more possessing his dear princess. He got up and approached the apartment of the Princess Badroulboudour. He walked to and fro under the window, waiting till she rose, in hopes that she might observe him. While he thus waited he tried to conjecture what could have been the cause of his misfortune; and after reflecting for some time, he felt convinced that this mishap arose from his having left his lamp about. He accused himself of negligence and carelessness in allowing the lamp to be out of his possession a single moment. He was, however, at a loss to conjecture who could be so jealous of his happiness. He would at once have understood the case if he had known that both he and his palace were in Africa; but the slave of the ring had not informed him of this fact. The very name of Africa would have brought to his recollection his declared enemy, the magician.
"The Princess Badroulboudour rose that morning much earlier than she had risen since she had been transported into Africa by the artifice of the magician, whose hated presence she was compelled to endure once every day, as he was master of the palace; but she constantly treated him so disdainfully that he had never yet had the boldness to remain there long. When she was dressed, one of her women, looking through the lattice, perceived Aladdin, and instantly ran and told her mistress who was there. The princess, who could scarcely believe the fact, immediately went to the window and saw him herself. She opened the lattice, and at the noise she made Aladdin raised his head. He saluted her with every demonstration of joy. 'Lose not a moment!' cried the princess: 'they are gone to open the secret door. Come to me instantly.' She then shut the lattice.
"This secret door was directly below the apartment of the princess. It was opened, and Aladdin entered his wife's apartment. It is impossible to express the joy they both felt at this meeting, after having concluded they were for ever separated. They embraced over and over again and gave way to transports of the tenderest affection. At length Aladdin said: 'Before you speak of anything else, my princess, tell me, in the name of Heaven, what has become of that old lamp, which I placed upon the cornice of the saloon of the twenty-four windows, before I went on the hunting party?' 'Alas! my dear husband,' replied the princess, 'I greatly fear that our misfortunes are connected with that lamp; and what the more distresses me is, that it was I who meddled with it.' 'Do not, my beautiful princess,' resumed Aladdin, 'attribute any fault to yourself; I only am to blame, for I ought to have been more careful in preserving it. But let us only think of how we may regain it; and for this purpose inform me, I beg of you, of everything that has happened, and tell me into whose hands the lamp has fallen.'
"The princess then gave Aladdin an account of all that had happened relative to the exchange of the old lamp for a new one. Then she told him how, on the following night, she had felt that the palace was flying through the air, and had found herself the next morning in the unknown country where she now was. She told him that this country was Africa, a fact she had learnt from the traitor who by his magic art had transported her thither.
"'O princess,' replied Aladdin, interrupting her, 'in telling me that we are in Africa, you have at once unmasked the wretch who has betrayed us. He is the most infamous of men. But this is neither the time nor the place to enter into a detail of his crimes. I entreat you only to tell me what he has done with the lamp and where he has put it.' 'He constantly carries it wrapped up in his bosom,' replied the princess: 'I am sure of this, because he once took it out in my presence, showing it as a sort of trophy.'
"'Do not be offended, my princess,' resumed Aladdin, ‘at the questions I put to you; they are of the highest importance to us both. But to come at once to the point that most interests me, tell me, I conjure you, how have you been treated by this infamous wretch.' 'Since I have been in this place,' answered the princess, 'he has presented himself before me only once each day; and I am convinced that the disdain with which I have received his visits makes him repeat them less often. He has on many occasions tried to persuade me to be faithless to you, and to take him for my husband; striving to convince me that I ought never to expect to see you again; asserting that you were no longer alive, and that the sultan my father had caused your head to be cut off. He tried, moreover, to prove to me that you were an ungrateful wretch, and said that you owed all your good fortune to him. But he never had any answer from me but complaints and tears, and was therefore obliged to retire. I feel certain, nevertheless, that he means to suffer my first affliction to subside, with the hope and expectation that I shall change my mind with respect to him. What might have been the result of my continued resistance I know not; but your presence, my dear husband, at once dissipates all my fears.'
"'My princess,' interrupted Aladdin, 'I trust I am not deceived when I tell you I have discovered the means of delivering you from our enemy. For this purpose, however, I must go into the town; I will return about noon, and communicate to you the nature of my design. Let me, however, warn you not to be astonished if you see me return in a disguise; and be sure you give orders that I may not be kept waiting at the private door, but cause me to be admitted the instant I knock.' The princess promised that a slave should be ready to open the door on his arrival.
"When Aladdin left the palace he looked about on all sides, and at last discovered a peasant, who was going into the country. Aladdin hastened to overtake him; and when he came up with the peasant, proposed that they should exchange clothes, accompanying his offer with such a gift that the peasant readily agreed. The exchange was effected, and Aladdin took the road that led to the town. When he got there he went into a lane appropriated to druggists, and entering the shop which appeared the best supplied, he asked the owner if he could sell him a certain powder.
"The merchant, who, from Aladdin's dress, conceived that his customer had not money enough to pay for the powder, replied that he kept it, but that it was very dear. Aladdin readily divined what was passing in the dealer's mind; he therefore took out his purse, and showing him the gold it contained, desired to have half a dram of the powder. The merchant weighed it, wrapped it up, and, giving it to Aladdin, demanded a piece of gold as the price. Aladdin immediately paid him, and without stopping any longer in the town, returned to the palace. He had no occasion to wait at the secret door. It was instantly opened, and he went up to the apartment of the Princess Badroulboudour. 'My beloved princess,' said Aladdin as soon as he came in, 'the natural aversion you have expressed for this wicked magician may probably occasion you some pain in complying with the instructions I am going to give you. But permit me, in the first place, to tell you that it is absolutely necessary you should dissemble, and even offer some violence to your own feelings, if you wish to be delivered from his persecution, and if the sultan your father is to have the satisfaction of again beholding you.
"'But if you follow my advice,' continued Aladdin, 'you will this moment proceed to attire yourself in one of your most elegant dresses; and when the magician comes, make no difficulty in receiving him with all the affability you can assume, without appearing to act a part. Try to speak to him with an appearance of frankness, yet still with some remains of grief, which he may easily conceive will soon be entirely dissipated. In your conversation with him give him to understand that you are making the greatest efforts to forget me; and that he may be the more convinced of your sincerity, invite him even to sup with you, and tell him that you wish to taste some of the best wine this country can produce. On hearing this, he will leave you for a time in order to procure some. In his absence, you must go to the sideboard, and put this powder into one of the cups from which you usually drink. Put the cup on one side, and tell one of your women to fill it and bring it to you at a certain signal on which you must agree. On the magician's return, when you are again seated at table, after having eaten and drunk as much as you think proper, make your women bring you the particular goblet in which the powder has been put, and then exchange cups with the magician. He will find the flavour of the wine you give him so excellent that he will not refuse it, but drink up the last drop. Scarcely shall he have emptied the cup when you will see him fall backwards.'
"When Aladdin had thus proposed his plan, the princess answered: ' I must confess that I shall do great violence to my own feelings in agreeing to make these advances to the magician, although I am aware they are absolutely necessary. But what would I not resolve to undertake against such a cruel enemy? I will do as you direct, since your happiness, as well as mine, depends upon it.' Aladdin took his leave, and passed the remainder of the day in the neighbourhood of the palace; and when the night came on, he presented himself at the secret door.
"The princess, who had been inconsolable, not only at her separation from her husband, whom, from the very first, she had loved more through inclination than duty, but also at being separated from the sultan her father, had hitherto completely neglected her personal appearance from the first moment of this distressful separation. She had not felt in spirits to dress with anything like care, particularly since the first visit of the magician, and when she had learnt from her women that he was the person who had exchanged the old lamp for a new one; for, after the infamous deception he had practised, she could not look upon him without horror. But the opportunity of taking that vengeance upon him he so justly deserved, made her resolve to satisfy Aladdin.
"As soon, therefore, as he was gone, she went to her toilet, and made her women dress her in the most becoming manner. She put on some of her richest attire, choosing those ornaments which set off her beauty to the best advantage.
"The magician did not fail to make his appearance at his usual hour. As soon as the princess saw him come into the saloon of the twenty-four windows, where she was waiting to receive him, she rose up in all the splendour of her beauty and her gorgeous array. She pointed to the most honourable seat, and remained standing while he approached it, that she might sit down at the same time with him. Altogether she treated him with a civility she had never before shown him.
"The magician, more dazzled by the splendid lustre of her eyes than by the brilliancy of the jewels she wore, was struck with admiration. Her majestic air, and the gracious manner she put on, so opposite to the disdain he had hitherto met with from her, absolutely confused him.
"When he had taken his seat, the princess, in order to free him from the embarrassment which oppressed him, looked at him with an air of kindness which made him suppose she no longer beheld him with the aversion she had till now evinced, and then said to him: 'You are doubtless astonished at seeing me appear to-day so different from what I have been; but you will no longer be surprised at it, when I tell you that my natural disposition is so much averse to grief, melancholy, vexation, and distress, that I endeavour to drive them from me by every means in my power as soon as the cause of them has departed. I have reflected upon what you said respecting the fate of Aladdin, and from the disposition of the sultan my father, which I well know, I agree with you that my late husband could not possibly escape the terrible effects of the sultan's rage. I concluded, therefore, that even if I were to weep and lament for the rest of my life, my tears would not bring Aladdin to life. Accordingly, after having paid him, even to the tomb, every respect and duty which my affection required, I thought I ought at length to admit feelings of comfort and consolation. These are the thoughts which have produced the change you see. In order, then, to drive away all sorrow, and being convinced that you will assist me in these endeavours, I have ordered a supper to be prepared; but as the only wine I have is the produce of China, and as I am now in Africa, I have a great desire to taste what is made here, and I thought that, if there were any good wine to be had, you would be most likely to have the best.'
"The magician, who had never flattered himself that he should so soon and so easily acquire the good graces of the princess, hastened to tell her that he was unable sufficiently to express his sense of her goodness; he adverted to the wine of Africa, and told her that among the many advantages which that country possessed, the principal boast was that of producing excellent wine. He told her he had some wine seven years old that was not yet broached, and it was not saying too much to aver that it surpassed the produce of the whole world. 'If my princess,' added he, 'will permit me, I will go and bring two bottles of this wine, and will return immediately.' 'The longer you are gone, the more impatient shall I be to see you again,' replied the princess: 'remember that we sit down to table on your return.'
"Full of the anticipation of his expected happiness, the magician hastened to bring the wine, and was back almost instantly. The princess felt sure that he would make haste, and therefore at once threw the powder which Aladdin had given her into a goblet, and set it aside until she should call for it. They then sat down opposite to each other, the magician's back being towards the sideboard. The princess helped him with her own hands to what appeared the best on the table, and said to him: 'If you have any inclination for music, I will give you some; but as we are by ourselves, I think conversation will afford us more pleasure.' The magician regarded this speech as a fresh mark of her favour, and was almost intoxicated with delight.
"After they had feasted for some little time, the princess called for wine, and drank to the magician's health. 'You are right,' she cried, when she had drunk, 'in praising your wine; I have never tasted any so delicious.' 'O charming princess,' replied the magician, holding in his hand the goblet they had given him, ' my wine acquires a fresh flavour by the approbation you have bestowed upon it.' 'Drink to my health,' resumed the princess; 'you must confess I can appreciate good wine.' He did as she ordered him.
"When they had continued eating some time longer, and had taken three cups each, the princess, who had most completely fascinated the magician, gave the signal to her woman to bring some wine, at the same time desiring her to bring her a goblet full, and also to fill the cup of the magician. When they had received the goblets, 'I know not,' the princess said to the magician, 'what is your custom here, when two good friends drink together as we are doing now. At home in China, the gentleman presents his own goblet to the lady, who at the same time presents hers to the gentleman, and the lovers then drink to each other's health.' With these words she presented to her companion the goblet she held, and put out her other hand to receive his. The magician hastened to make the exchange, with which he was the more delighted as he looked upon this favour as the surest token that he had made an entire conquest of the heart of the princess; and this thought completed his happiness. 'O lovely princess,' he exclaimed, holding the goblet in his hand before he drank, 'never shall I forget that in drinking out of your goblet I have regained that life which your cruelty, had it continued, would most infallibly have destroyed.'
"The Princess Badroulboudour was almost worn out with the magician's absurd and tiresome compliments. 'Drink,' she cried, interrupting him, 'you may then say what you please to me.' At the same time she carried the goblet she held to her mouth, but barely suffered it to touch her lips, while the magician emptied his to the last drop. In draining the cup, he held his head quite back, and remained in that position till the princess, who kept the goblet to her lips, observed that his eyes were turned up, and presently he fell upon his back dead, without the least struggle.
"The princess had no occasion to order her people to go and open the secret door to admit Aladdin. Her women, who were stationed at different parts of the staircase, gave the word one to the other from the saloon; so that directly after the African Magician had fallen backwards, the door was opened.
"Aladdin went up to the saloon; and as soon as he saw the African Magician extended on the sofa, he stopped Princess Badroulboudour, who had risen to congratulate him on the joyful event. 'My princess,' he cried, 'there is at this moment no time for rejoicing. Do me the favour to retire to your apartment, and to leave me alone, while I prepare to carry you back to China as quickly as you departed thence.' So soon as the princess, her women, and the eunuchs had quitted the hall, Aladdin shut the door; and then going up to the body of the African Magician, he opened his vest, and took out the lamp, which was wrapped up exactly in the manner the princess had described. He took it out and rubbed it. The genie instantly presented himself, and made his usual profession of service. ‘O genie,' said Aladdin, 'I have called you, to command you in the name of this lamp, your mistress, immediately to take this palace, and transport it to the same spot in China whence it was brought.' The genie testified his obedience by an inclination of his head, and forthwith vanished. The journey was made immediately, and only two slight shocks were perceptible; one, when the palace was taken up from the place where it stood in Africa, and the other when it was set down in China, opposite to the sultan's palace: and this was all the work of an instant.
"Aladdin then went down to the apartment of the Princess Badroulboudour. 'O my princess,' he exclaimed, embracing her, 'our joy will be complete by to-morrow morning. As the princess had not finished her supper, and as Aladdin was greatly in want of refreshment, she ordered the attendants to bring the banquet from the saloon of the twenty-four windows, where the supper had been served. The princess and Aladdin drank together, and found the old wine of the magician most excellent. Then, full of the pleasure of this meeting, they retired to their apartment.
"Since the disappearance of Aladdin's palace, and the loss of the Princess Badroulboudour, whom he did not hope to see again, the sultan had been inconsolable. He slept neither night nor day; and instead of avoiding everything that could increase his affliction, he, on the contrary, cherished every thought that was likely to remind him of it. Thus not only did he go every morning to the cabinet to indulge his grief by gazing on the spot where the vanished palace had stood, but he went several times during the day to renew his tears. The sun had not yet risen when the sultan entered his cabinet as usual on the very morning on which Aladdin's palace had been brought back to its place. When he first came in his mind was so much absorbed by his own feelings, and so penetrated with sorrow, that he cast his eyes towards the accustomed spot with the expectation of beholding nothing but a vacant space. But when he first found this void filled up, he conjectured that it was only a deluding vision. He then looked with greater attention, and at length could no longer doubt that it was the palace of Aladdin which he saw. Grief and sorrow were succeeded in his heart by the most delightful sensations of joy. He instantly ordered his attendants to saddle him a horse. Directly it came he mounted it and rode away, thinking he could not arrive soon enough at Aladdin's palace.
"Aladdin, who conjectured that such a thing might happen, had risen at daybreak; and as soon as he had dressed himself in one of his most magnificent robes, he went up to the hall of the twenty-four windows. Looking through the casement he perceived the sultan as he came along. He descended, and was just in time to receive the monarch at the foot of the grand staircase, 'O Aladdin cried the sultan, 'I cannot speak to you till I have seen and embraced my dear daughter.'
"Aladdin accordingly conducted the sultan to the apartment of the princess, whom Aladdin had informed when he rose that she was no longer in Africa, but in China, at the capital of the sultan her father, and close to his palace. She had just finished dressing when the sultan entered. He eagerly embraced her, bathing her face with his tears, while the princess, on her part, showed the greatest delight at again beholding him. For some time the sultan could not utter a syllable, so great was his emotion at recovering his daughter, while the princess shed tears of joy at the sight of her beloved father. 'My dear daughter,' exclaimed the sultan 'I am glad to perceive that the joy you feel at again seeing me makes you appear so little changed that no one would imagine what sorrows you have had. No one could have been suddenly transported with a whole palace, as you have been, without feeling the greatest alarm and most dreadful anxiety. Relate to me every circumstance exactly as it happened, and do not conceal anything from me.'
"The princess felt a pleasure in satisfying the affectionate curiosity of the sultan. 'O my father,' said she, 'if I appear so little altered, I beg your majesty to consider that my expectations and hopes were raised yesterday morning by the appearance of my dear husband and liberator, Aladdin, whom I had till then mourned as for ever lost to me. The happiness I experienced in again embracing him restored me to my former state. Strictly speaking, my whole sorrow consisted in finding myself torn from your majesty and my husband; not only out of my affection for him, but lest he should perish from the dreadful effects of your majesty's rage, to which I did not doubt that he would be exposed, however innocent he might be; and no one could be less guilty than he in this matter. Aladdin himself had not the least share in my removal, of which I was alone the cause, although the innocent one.'
"To convince the sultan that she spoke the truth, the princess gave him a detailed account of how the African Magician had disguised himself like a seller of lamps, and offered to exchange new lamps for old ones. She related the jest she had intended to practise in exchanging Aladdin's lamp, the important and secret qualities of which she did not know. Then she told of the instant removal of the palace and herself in consequence of this exchange, and their being transported into Africa with the magician himself, who had been recognized by two of her women and also by the eunuch who had made the exchange, and she spoke of the proposal he made to marry her. She then informed him of the persecution she continued to suffer until the arrival of Aladdin; of the measures they conjointly took to get possession of the lamp which the magician constantly carried about him; in what manner they had succeeded with everything that happened till she presented to him the goblet in which she had privately put the powder Aladdin had given her. 'With respect to the rest,' added she, 'I leave Aladdin to inform you of it.'
"Aladdin had but little to add to this account. 'When they opened the private door, he said, 'I immediately went up to the hall of the twenty-four windows and saw the traitor lying dead on the sofa from the effects of the powder. As it was not proper that the princess should remain there any longer, I requested her to go to her apartment with her women and eunuchs. When I was alone I took the lamp out of the magician's bosom and made use of the same secret he had employed to remove the palace and steal away the princess. I have brought the palace back to its place, and have had the happiness of restoring the princess to your majesty as you commanded me. I have not deceived your majesty in this matter; and if you will take the trouble to go up to the saloon you will see the magician has been punished as he deserved.'
"In pursuance of this invitation the sultan rose and went up; and when he had seen the dead body of the magician, whose face had already become livid from the strength of the poison, he embraced Aladdin with the greatest tenderness. ‘Do not be angry with me, my son,' cried he, 'for having used you harshly; paternal affection drove me to it, and I deserve to be pardoned for my fault, in consideration of the cause.' 'O great king,' replied Aladdin, 'I have not the least reason to complain of your majesty's conduct; you have done only what was your duty. This magician was the sole cause of my disgrace. When your majesty has leisure to hear me, I will give you an account of another piece of treachery, not less infamous than this, which he practised towards me, from which the peculiar providence of Heaven has preserved me.' 'I will take care to find an opportunity,' said the sultan, 'and that quickly. But let us now only think of rejoicing in this happy change.'
"Aladdin ordered that the magician's body should be thrown out as a prey for the beasts and birds. In the meantime the sultan had a festival of ten days' continuance proclaimed in honour of the return of the Princess Badroulboudour and Aladdin, and of the restoration of the palace.
" It was thus that Aladdin a second time escaped an almost inevitable death.
"A few years after, the sultan died at a good old age, and as he left no male issue, the Princess Badroulboudour succeeded to the throne as his legitimate heir, and of course shared the supreme power with Aladdin. They reigned together many years and left an illustrious and numerous posterity.
"O great king," said the Sultana Scheherazade, when she had finished the account of the adventures of Aladdin with the wonderful lamp, "your majesty has doubtless remarked in the African Magician the character of a man who has abandoned himself to the inordinate passion of acquiring wealth by the most unjustifiable methods, and one who, though he had the cleverness to gain wealth, was not suffered to enjoy it, because he was unworthy. In Aladdin, on the contrary, you see a man who from the lowest origin rose to a throne, by making use of the treasures which he had accidentally acquired, as they were intended to be used, namely, as means to attain the end he had in view. In the sultan you must have observed that even a good, just and equitable monarch runs the risk of being dethroned when, by an act of injustice, and contrary to every rule of equity, he dares with unreasonable haste to condemn an innocent man without pausing to hear his defence. Your majesty must feel horror, too, at the crimes of the infamous magician, who sacrificed his life in the attempt to acquire treasures, a villain who received the reward due to his crimes.
The Sultan of the Indies gave Scheherazade to understand that he was very much pleased with the marvellous adventures of the fortunate Aladdin, and that the other stories she had each morning told him afforded him equal satisfaction. In fact, these stories were always diverting, and each contained a good lesson. It was very evident that the sultana made them succeed each other so skilfully that the sultan was not sorry to have this excuse for delaying the fulfilment of the oath he had so solemnly taken, namely, to have a wife for but one night, and the next morning to cause her to be put to death. He now only thought whether he should not in the end absolutely exhaust the sultana's store. With this intention, after hearing the conclusion of the history of Aladdin and the Princess Badroulboudour, which was very different from any tale he had yet heard, he even got the start of Dinarzade, and himself awoke the sultana with the inquiry if she had exhausted her supply of tales. ~
"O my lord," replied Scheherazade, smiling at this question, "I have many yet in store: the number of my tales is so great that it would be almost impossible to give your majesty a list of them. But I fear that your majesty will grow tired of hearing me much sooner that I shall want materials to go on with."
"Do not be afraid of that," replied Schahriar, "but let me hear what you have next to relate."
Encouraged by this speech, the sultana immediately began-
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