Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/142

100 thou atest yesterday. But wait awhile; I have here a little yarn by me and I am going down to the market, so I may sell it and buy thee withal somewhat thou mayst eat.” “O my mother,” rejoined Alaeddin, “keep the yarn and sell it not; but give me the lamp which I brought home, so I may arise and sell it and with its price buy somewhat we may eat. Methinketh it will fetch more than the yarn.” So she arose and fetched the lamp; but, finding it exceeding dirty, she said to him, “O my son, this lamp is dirty, and if we wash it and furbish it, it will sell for a better price.” Accordingly she took a little sand and fell to scouring the lamp withal; but scarce had she begun to rub it when there appeared to her one of the Jinn, foul of favour and monstrous of make as he were of the giants, and said to her, “Say what thou wilt of me. Here am I, thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp; and not I alone, but all the slaves of the wonderful lamp that is in thy hand.” When she saw his frightful aspect, she trembled and fear gat hold upon her and her tongue was tied, nor could she return an answer, for that she was not used to look upon apparitions like unto this; so she fell down aswoon of her terror.

Now Alaeddin her son was standing afar off and he had