Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/139

97 opened and he could not go down into it himself, seeing he had opened it by my means and that it was in my name and not for him, he knew, being a foul sorcerer, that it might [only] be achieved through me and that this adventure was [reserved] for me. Accordingly he applied himself to make his peace with me, that he might send me down into the treasure, now it was opened, and attain his object by my means; and when he sent me down, he gave me a ring, which he had on his hand, and put it on my finger. So I descended into the treasure and found four chambers, all full of gold and silver and the like; but this all was nothing and the accursed one charged me take nought thereof. Thence I entered a magnificent garden, all full of high trees, whose fruits ravished the wits, O my mother, for that they were all of various-coloured crystal, and I fared on till I came to the pavilion wherein was this lamp; whereupon I took it forthright and quenching it, poured out that which was therein.”

[So saying,] he pulled out the lamp from his sleeve and

Rh