Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/148

104 fear and I could not endure to see them a second time; nay, their commerce is forbidden unto us, for that the prophet (whom God bless and keep) warneth us against them.” “O my mother,” answered Alaeddin, “thy speech is on my head and eyes; but, as for this that thou sayest, it may not be that I should cast away either the lamp or the ring; nay, thou seest that which it did with us of good, whenas we were anhungred, and know, O my mother, that the lying Maugrabin enchanter, what time I went down into the treasure, sought nought of gold nor of silver, whereof the four places were full, but charged me bring him the lamp and that only, for that he knew the greatness of its virtues; and except he knew it to be exceeding of might, he had not toiled and travailed and come from his land to this in quest of it, nor had he shut the treasure on me, whenas he failed of the lamp,