Page:Lange - The Blue Fairy Book.djvu/108

 haste and give me the lamp.’ This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its place.

The magician left Persia for ever, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin’s, but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: ‘What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.’ Aladdin fearlessly replied: ‘Deliver me from this place!’ whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality precious stones. He then asked for some food. ‘Alas! child,’ she said, ‘I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and will go and sell it.’ Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it night fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: ‘Fetch me something to eat!’ The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin’s mother, when she came to herself, said: ‘Whence comes this splendid feast?’ ‘Ask not, but eat,’ replied Aladdin. So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils. ‘No,’ said Aladdin, ‘since chance hath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger.’ When they had eaten all the genie had brought Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on until none were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived for many years.