Page:Aladdin, or, The wonderful lamp.pdf/23

WONDERFUL LAMP. gives an opportunity when he is tn town, but at present he is not at home, and has been gone these three days on a hunting-match, which will last eight. The magician wanted to know no more: he took his leave of the master of the khan, and went to a maker and seller of lamps, and asked for a dozen of copper lamps, which he got, and paid the man his full price for them, put them into a basket, then went directly to Aladdin’s palace; and when he came near it, he began crying. Who will change old lamps for new ones? As he went along, he repeated this so often, that the princess hearing a man cry something, and not being able to distinguish his words, by reason of the hooting of the children, sent one of her women slaves down to know what he cried. The slave returned, laughing so heartily, that the princess could not forbear herself. Well, giggler, said the princess, will you tell me what you laugh at? Madam, answered the slave, laughing still, who can forbear laughing to see a fool, with a basket on his arm, full of fine new lamps, ask to change them all for old ones? Another woman slave hearing this, said, there is an old one upon the cornice, and whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. The lamp this slave spoke of was Aladdin’s wonderful lamp, which he had laid upon the cornice before he went a hunting. The princess bid a eunuch take it, and go and make the exchange. The eunuch no sooner got to the palace gates, but he saw the African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said to him, Give me a new lamp for this.

The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. He snatched it eagerly out of the eunuch’s hand, and, thrusting it as far as be could into his breast, offered him his basket, and bid him choose which he liked best. The eunuch picked out one, and carried it to the princess; the African magician then went and passed the remainder of the day in a lonely place, till the darkest time of night, when he pulled the lamp out to his breast and rubbed it. At that summons the genius appeared, and said, What wouldst thou have? I command thee, replied the magician, to transport me immediately, and Aladdin’s palace to such a place in Africa. The genius made no reply, but transported him and the palace entire immediately to the place he appointed in Africa.

The confusion and grief of the sultan were indescribable, when he found the palace vanished and his daughter lost; and Aladdin, who had just returned from hunting, on hearing that his palace and his wife were gone, fainted away; but on recovering he began to reflect on the virtues of the ring which he still wore on his finger.—So he rubbed the gem, and the genius appeared, and said, what wouldst thou have? Oh, powerful genie! cried he, bring my palace back to the place where it first stood. What you command me, answered the genius, is not in my power; I am only the slave of the ring; you must address yourself to the slave of the lamp. If it be so, replied Aladdin, I command thee to transport me to the place where it now stands, and set me down under the princess Badroulboudour’s window. The genius immediately transported him into Africa, to the midst of a large meadow, where his palace stood, a small distance from a great city. Aladdin sat down at the foot of a large tree to rest himself, but not being able to resist the drowsiness which came upon him, fell fast asleep.