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+
+There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was
+named "One Eye," because she had only one eye in the middle of her
+forehead. The second had two eyes, like other people, and she was called
+"Two Eyes." The youngest had three eyes, two like her second sister, and
+one in the middle of her forehead, like the eldest, and she bore the
+name of "Three Eyes."
+
+Now because little Two Eyes looked just like other people, her mother
+and sisters could not endure her. They said to her, "You are not better
+than common folks, with your two eyes; you don't belong to us."
+
+So they pushed her about, and threw all their old clothes to her for her
+to wear, and gave her only the pieces that were left to eat, and did
+everything that they could to make her miserable. It so happened that
+little Two Eyes was sent into the fields to take care of the goats, and
+she was often very hungry, although her sisters had as much as they
+liked to eat. So one day she seated herself on a mound in the field, and
+began to weep and cry so bitterly that two little rivulets flowed from
+her eyes. Once, in the midst of her sorrow she looked up, and saw a
+woman standing near her who said, "What are you weeping for, little Two
+Eyes?"
+
+"I cannot help weeping," she replied; "for because I have two eyes, like
+other people, my mother and sisters cannot bear me; they push me about
+from one corner to another and make we wear their old clothes, and give
+me nothing to eat but what is left, so that I am always hungry. To-day
+they gave me so little that I am nearly starved."
+
+"Dry up your tears, little Two Eyes," said the wise woman; "I will tell
+you something to do which will prevent you from ever being hungry again.
+You have only to say to your own goat:
+
+  "'Little goat, if you're able,
+  Pray deck out my table,'
+
+"and immediately there will be a pretty little table before you full of
+all sorts of good things for you to eat, as much as you like. And when
+you have had enough, and you do not want the table any more, you need
+only say:
+
+  "'Little goat, when you're able,
+  Remove my nice table,'
+
+"and it will vanish from your eyes."
+
+Then the wise woman went away. "Now," thought little Two Eyes, "I will
+try if what she says is true, for I am very hungry," so she said:
+
+  "Little goat, if you're able,
+  Pray deck out my table."
+
+The words were scarcely spoken, when a beautiful little table stood
+really before her; it had a white cloth and plates, and knives and
+forks, and silver spoons, and such a delicious dinner, smoking hot as if
+it had just come from the kitchen. Then little Two Eyes sat down and
+said the shortest grace she knew--"Pray God be our guest for all time.
+Amen"--before she allowed herself to taste anything. But oh, how she did
+enjoy her dinner! and when she had finished, she said, as the wise woman
+had taught her:
+
+  "Little goat, when you're able,
+  Remove my nice table."
+
+In a moment, the table and everything upon it had disappeared. "That is
+a pleasant way to keep house," said little Two Eyes, and felt quite
+contented and happy. In the evening, when she went home with the goat,
+she found an earthenware dish with some scraps which her sisters had
+left for her, but she did not touch them. The next morning she went away
+with the goat, leaving them behind where they had been placed for her.
+The first and second times that she did so, the sisters did not notice
+it; but when they found it happened every day, they said one to the
+other, "There is something strange about little Two Eyes, she leaves her
+supper every day, and all that has been put for her has been wasted; she
+must get food somewhere else."
+
+So they determined to find out the truth, and they arranged that when
+Two Eyes took her goat to the field, One Eye should go with her to take
+particular notice of what she did, and discover if anything was brought
+for her to eat and drink.
+
+So when Two Eyes started with her goat, One Eye said to her, "I am going
+with you to-day to see if the goat gets her food properly while you are
+watching the rest."
+
+But Two Eyes knew what she had in her mind. So she drove the goat into
+the long grass, and said, "Come, One Eye, let us sit down here and rest,
+and I will sing to you."
+
+One Eye seated herself, and, not being accustomed to walk so far, or to
+be out in the heat of the sun, she began to feel tired, and as little
+Two Eyes kept on singing, she closed her one eye and fell fast asleep.
+
+When Two Eyes saw this, she knew that One Eye could not betray her, so
+she said:
+
+  "Little goat, if you are able,
+  Come and deck my pretty table."
+
+She seated herself when it appeared, and ate and drank very quickly, and
+when she had finished she said:
+
+  "Little goat, when you are able,
+  Come and clear away my table."
+
+It vanished in the twinkling of an eye; and then Two Eyes woke up One
+Eye, and said, "Little One Eye, you are a clever one to watch goats;
+for, while you are asleep, they might be running all over the world.
+Come, let us go home!"
+
+So they went to the house, and little Two Eyes again left the scraps on
+the dish untouched, and One Eye could not tell her mother whether little
+Two Eyes had eaten anything in the field; for she said to excuse
+herself, "I was asleep."
+
+The next day the mother said to Three Eyes, "You must go to the field
+this time, and find out whether there is anyone who brings food to
+little Two Eyes; for she must eat and drink secretly."
+
+So when little Two Eyes started with her goat, Three Eyes followed, and
+said, "I am going with you to-day, to see if the goats are properly fed
+and watched."
+
+But Two Eyes knew her thoughts; so she led the goat through the long
+grass to tire Three Eyes, and at last she said, "Let us sit down here
+and rest, and I will sing to you, Three Eyes."
+
+She was glad to sit down, for the walk and the heat of the sun had
+really tired her; and, as her sister continued her song, she was obliged
+to close two of her eyes, and they slept, but not the third. In fact,
+Three Eyes was wide awake with one eye, and heard and saw all that Two
+Eyes did; for poor little Two Eyes, thinking she was asleep, said her
+speech to the goat, and the table came with all the good things on it,
+and was carried away when Two Eyes had eaten enough; and the cunning
+Three Eyes saw it all with her one eye. But she pretended to be asleep
+when her sister came to wake her and told her she was going home.
+
+That evening, when little Two Eyes again left the supper they placed
+aside for her, Three Eyes said to her mother, "I know where the proud
+thing gets her good eating and drinking;" and then she described all she
+had seen in the field. "I saw it all with one eye," she said; "for she
+had made my other two eyes close with her fine singing, but luckily the
+one in my forehead remained open."
+
+Then the envious mother cried out to poor little Two Eyes, "You wish to
+have better food than we, do you? You shall lose your wish!" She took up
+a butcher's knife, went out, and stuck the good little goat in the
+heart, and it fell dead.
+
+When little Two Eyes saw this, she went out into the field, seated
+herself on a mound, and wept most bitter tears.
+
+Presently the wise woman stood again before her, and said, "Little Two
+Eyes, why do you weep?"
+
+"Ah!" she replied, "I must weep. The goat, who every day spread my table
+so beautifully, has been killed by my mother, and I shall have again to
+suffer from hunger and sorrow."
+
+"Little Two Eyes," said the wise woman, "I will give you some good
+advice. Go home, and ask your sister to give you the inside of the
+slaughtered goat, and then go and bury it in the ground in front of the
+house-door."
+
+On saying this the wise woman vanished.
+
+Little Two Eyes went home quickly, and said to her sister, "Dear sister,
+give me some part of my poor goat. I don't want anything valuable; only
+give me the inside."
+
+Her sister laughed, and said, "Of course you can have that, if you don't
+want anything else."
+
+So little Two Eyes took the inside; and in the evening, when all was
+quiet, buried it in the ground outside the house-door, as the wise woman
+had told her to do.
+
+The next morning, when they all rose and looked out of the window, there
+stood a most wonderful tree, with leaves of silver and apples of gold
+hanging between them. Nothing in the wide world could be more beautiful
+or more costly. They none of them knew how the tree could come there in
+one night, excepting little Two Eyes. She supposed it had grown up from
+the inside of the goat; for it stood over where she had buried it in the
+earth.
+
+Then said the mother to little One Eye, "Climb up, my child, and break
+off some of the fruit from the tree."
+
+One Eye climbed up, but when she tried to catch a branch and pluck one
+of the apples, it escaped from her hand, and so it happened every time
+she made the attempt, and, do what she would, she could not reach one.
+
+"Three Eyes," said the mother, "climb up, and try what you can do;
+perhaps you will be able to see better with your three eyes than One Eye
+can."
+
+One Eye slid down from the tree, and Three Eyes climbed up. But Three
+Eyes was not more skilful; with all her efforts she could not draw the
+branches, nor the fruit, near enough to pluck even a leaf, for they
+sprang back as she put out her hand.
+
+At last the mother was impatient, and climbed up herself, but with no
+more success, for, as she appeared to grasp a branch, or fruit, her hand
+closed upon thin air.
+
+"May I try?" said little Two Eyes; "perhaps I may succeed."
+
+"You, indeed!" cried her sisters; "you, with your two eyes, what can you
+do?"
+
+But Two Eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not fly back from her
+when she touched them, but almost laid themselves on her hand, and she
+plucked them one after another, till she carried down her own little
+apron full.
+
+The mother took them from her, and gave them to her sisters, as she said
+little Two Eyes did not handle them properly; but this was only from
+jealousy, because little Two Eyes was the only one who could reach the
+fruit, and she went into the house feeling more spiteful to her than
+ever.
+
+It happened that while all three sisters were standing under the tree
+together a young knight rode by. "Run away, quick, and hide yourself,
+little Two Eyes; hide yourself somewhere, for we shall be quite ashamed
+for you to be seen." Then they pushed the poor girl, in great haste,
+under an empty cask, which stood near the tree, and several of the
+golden apples that she had plucked along with her.
+
+As the knight came nearer they saw he was a handsome man; and presently
+he halted, and looked with wonder and pleasure at the beautiful tree
+with its silver leaves and golden fruit.
+
+At last he spoke to the sisters, and asked: "To whom does this beautiful
+tree belong? If a man possessed only one branch he might obtain all he
+wished for in the world."
+
+"This tree belongs to us," said the two sisters, "and we will break off
+a branch for you if you like." They gave themselves a great deal of
+trouble in trying to do as they offered; but all to no purpose, for the
+branches and the fruit evaded their efforts, and sprung back at every
+touch.
+
+"This is wonderful," exclaimed the knight, "that the tree should belong
+to you, and yet you are not able to gather even a branch."
+
+They persisted, however, in declaring that the tree was their own
+property. At this moment little Two Eyes, who was angry because her
+sisters had not told the truth, caused two of the golden apples to slip
+out from under the cask, and they rolled on till they reached the feet
+of the knight's horse. When he saw them, he asked in astonishment where
+they came from.
+
+The two ugly maidens replied that they had another sister, but they
+dared not let him see her, for she had only two eyes, like common
+people, and was named little Two Eyes.
+
+But the knight felt very anxious to see her, and called out, "Little Two
+Eyes, come here." Then came Two Eyes, quite comforted, from the empty
+cask, and the knight was astonished to find her so beautiful.
+
+Then he said, "Little Two Eyes, can you break off a branch of the tree
+for me?"
+
+"Oh yes," she replied, "I can, very easily, for the tree belongs to me."
+And she climbed up, and, without any trouble, broke off a branch with
+its silver leaves and golden fruit and gave it to the knight.
+
+He looked down at her as she stood by his horse, and said: "Little Two
+Eyes, what shall I give you for this?"
+
+"Ah!" she answered, "I suffer from hunger and thirst, and sorrow, and
+trouble, from early morning till late at night; if you would only take
+me with you, and release me, I should be so happy."
+
+Then the knight lifted the little maiden on his horse, and rode home
+with her to his father's castle. There she was given beautiful clothes
+to wear, and as much to eat and drink as she wished, and as she grew up
+the young knight loved her so dearly that they were married with great
+rejoicings.
+
+Now, when the two sisters saw little Two Eyes carried away by the
+handsome young knight, they were overjoyed at their good fortune. "The
+wonderful tree belongs to us now," they said; "even if we cannot break
+off a branch, yet everybody who passes will stop to admire it, and make
+acquaintance with us, and, who knows? we may get husbands after all."
+
+But when they rose the next morning, lo! the tree had vanished, and with
+it all their hopes. And on this very morning, when little Two Eyes
+looked out of her chamber window of the castle, she saw, to her great
+joy, that the tree had followed her.
+
+Little Two Eyes lived for a long time in great happiness; but she heard
+nothing of her sisters, till one day two poor women came to the castle,
+to beg for alms. Little Two Eyes saw them, and, looking earnestly in
+their faces, she recognised her two sisters, who had become so poor that
+they were obliged to beg their bread from door to door.
+
+But the good sister received them most kindly, and promised to take care
+of them and give them all they wanted. And then they did indeed repent
+and feel sorry for having treated her so badly in their youthful days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE MAGIC MIRROR
+
+
+One day in the middle of winter, when the snowflakes fell from the sky
+like feathers, a queen sat at a window netting. Her netting-needle was
+of black ebony, and as she worked, and the snow glittered, she pricked
+her finger, and three drops of blood fell into the snow. The red spots
+looked so beautiful in the white snow that the queen thought to herself:
+"Oh, if I only had a little child, I should like it to be as fair as
+snow, as rosy as the red blood, and with hair and eyes as black as
+ebony."
+
+Very soon after this the queen had a little daughter who was very fair,
+had rosy cheeks, and hair as black as ebony; and they gave her the name
+of Snow-white. But at the birth of the little child the queen died.
+
+When Snow-white was a year old, the king took another wife. She was very
+handsome, but so proud and vain that she could not endure that anyone
+should surpass her in beauty. She possessed a wonderful mirror, and when
+she stood before it to look at herself she would say:
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Am I most beautiful of all?"
+
+Then the mirror would reply:
+
+  "Young queen, thou are so wondrous fair,
+   None can with thee at all compare."
+
+Then she would go away quite contented, for she knew the magic mirror
+could speak only the truth.
+
+Years went by, and as Snow-white grew up, she became day after day more
+beautiful, till she reached the age of seven years, and then people
+began to talk about her, and say that she would be more lovely even than
+the queen herself. So the proud woman went to her magic looking-glass,
+and asked:
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Am I most beautiful of all?"
+
+But the mirror answered:
+
+  "Queen, thou are lovely still to see,
+   But Snow-white will be
+   A thousand times more beautiful than thee."
+
+Then the queen was terrified, and turned green and yellow with jealousy.
+If she had caught sight of Snow-white at that moment, she would have
+been ready to tear her heart out of her body, she hated the maiden so
+fiercely.
+
+And this jealousy and envy grew every day stronger and stronger in her
+heart, like a disease, till she had no rest day or night.
+
+At last she sent for a hunter, who lived near a forest, and said to him,
+"Hunter, I want to get rid of that child. Take her out into the wood,
+and if you bring me some proofs that she is dead, I will reward you
+handsomely. Never let her appear before my eyes again."
+
+So the hunter enticed the child into the wood; but when he took out his
+hunting-knife to thrust into Snow-white's innocent heart, she fell on
+her knees and wept, and said, "Ah, dear hunter, leave me my life; I will
+run away into the wild wood, and never, never come home any more."
+
+She looked so innocent and beautiful as she knelt, that the hunter's
+heart was moved with compassion: "Run away, then, thou poor child," he
+cried; "I cannot harm thee."
+
+Snow-white thanked him so sweetly, and was out of sight in a few
+moments.
+
+"She will be devoured by wild beasts," he said to himself. But the
+thought that he had not killed her was as if a stone-weight had been
+lifted from his heart.
+
+To satisfy the queen, he took part of the inside of a young fawn, which
+the wicked woman thought was poor little Snow-white, and was overjoyed
+to think she was dead.
+
+But the poor little motherless child, when she found herself alone in
+the wood, and saw nothing but trees and leaves, was dreadfully
+frightened, and knew not what to do. At last she began to run over the
+sharp stones and through the thorns, and though the wild beasts sprang
+out before her, they did her no harm. She ran on as long as she could
+till her little feet became quite sore; and towards evening she saw, to
+her great joy, a pretty little house. So she went up to it, and found
+the door open and no one at home.
+
+It was a tiny little house, but everything in it was so clean and neat
+and elegant that it is beyond description. In the middle of the room
+stood a small table, covered with a snow-white table-cloth, ready for
+supper. On it were arranged seven little plates, seven little spoons,
+seven little knives and forks, and seven mugs. By the wall stood seven
+little beds, near each other, covered with white quilts.
+
+Poor Snow-white, who was hungry and thirsty, ate a few vegetables and a
+little bread from each plate, and drank a little drop of wine from each
+cup, for she did not like to take all she wanted from one alone. After
+this, feeling very tired, she thought she would lie down and rest on one
+of the beds, but she found it difficult to choose one to suit her. One
+was too long, another too short; so she tried them all till she came to
+the seventh, and that was so comfortable that she laid herself down, and
+was soon fast asleep.
+
+When it was quite dark the masters of the house came home. They were
+seven little dwarfs, who dug and searched in the mountains for minerals.
+First they lighted seven little lamps, and as soon as the room was full
+of light they saw that some one had been there, for everything did not
+stand in the order in which they had left it.
+
+Then said the first, "Who has been sitting in my little chair?"
+
+The second exclaimed, "Who has been eating from my little plate?"
+
+The third cried, "Some one has taken part of my bread."
+
+"Who has been eating my vegetables?" said the fourth.
+
+Then said the fifth, "Some one has used my fork."
+
+The sixth cried, "And who has been cutting with my knife?"
+
+"And some one has been drinking out of my cup," said the seventh.
+
+Then the eldest looked at his bed, and, seeing that it looked tumbled,
+cried out that some one had been upon it. The others came running
+forward, and found all their beds in the same condition. But when the
+seventh approached his bed, and saw Snow-white lying there fast asleep,
+he called the others, who came quickly, and holding their lights over
+their heads, cried out in wonder as they beheld the sleeping child. "Oh,
+what a beautiful little child!" they said to each other, and were so
+delighted that they would not awaken her, but left her to sleep as long
+as she liked in the little bed, while its owner slept with one of his
+companions, and so the night passed away.
+
+In the morning, when Snow-white awoke, and saw all the dwarfs, she was
+terribly frightened. But they spoke kindly to her, till she lost all
+fear, and they asked her name.
+
+"I am called Snow-white," she replied.
+
+"But how came you to our house?" asked one.
+
+Then she related to them all that had happened; how her stepmother had
+sent her into the wood with the hunter, who had spared her life, and
+that, after wandering about for a whole day, she had found their house.
+
+The dwarfs talked a little while together, and then one said, "Do you
+think you could be our little housekeeper, to make the beds, cook the
+dinner, and wash and sew and knit for us, and keep everything neat and
+clean and orderly? If you can, then you shall stay here with us, and
+nobody shall hurt you."
+
+"Oh yes, I will try," said Snow-white. So they let her stay, and she was
+a clever little thing. She managed very well, and kept the house quite
+clean and in order. And while they were gone to the mountains to find
+gold, she got their supper ready, and they were very happy together.
+
+But every morning when they left her, the kind little dwarfs warned
+Snow-white to be careful. While the maiden was alone they knew she was
+in danger, and told her not to show herself, for her stepmother would
+soon find out where she was, and said, "Whatever you do, let nobody into
+the house while we are gone."
+
+After the wicked queen had proved, as she thought, that Snow-white was
+dead, she felt quite satisfied there was no one in the world now likely
+to become so beautiful as herself, so she stepped up to her mirror and
+asked:
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Who is most beautiful of all?"
+
+To her vexation the mirror replied:
+
+  "Fair queen, at home there is none like thee,
+   But over the mountains is Snow-white free,
+   With seven little dwarfs, who are strange to see;
+   A thousand times fairer than thou is she."
+
+The queen was furious when she heard this, for she knew the mirror was
+truthful, and that the hunter must have deceived her, and that
+Snow-white still lived. So she sat and pondered over these facts,
+thinking what would be best to do, for as long as she was not the most
+beautiful woman in the land, her jealousy gave her no peace. After a
+time, she decided what to do. First, she painted her face, and whitened
+her hair; then she dressed herself in old woman's clothes, and was so
+disguised that no one could have recognised her.
+
+Watching an opportunity, she left the castle, and took her way to the
+wood near the mountains, where the seven little dwarfs lived. When she
+reached the door, she knocked, and cried, "Beautiful goods to sell;
+beautiful goods to sell."
+
+Snow-white, when she heard it, peeped through the window, and said,
+"Good-day, old lady. What have you in your basket for me to buy?"
+
+"Everything that is pretty," she replied; "laces, and pearls, and
+earrings, and bracelets of every colour;" and she held up her basket,
+which was lined with glittering silk.
+
+"I can let in this respectable old woman," thought Snow-white; "she will
+not harm me." So she unbolted the door, and told her to come in. Oh, how
+delighted Snow-white was with the pretty things; she bought several
+trinkets, and a beautiful silk lace for her stays, but she did not see
+the evil eye of the old woman who was watching her. Presently she said,
+"Child, come here; I will show you how to lace your stays properly."
+Snow-white had no suspicion, so she placed herself before the old woman
+that she might lace her stays. But no sooner was the lace in the holes
+than she began to lace so fast and pull so tight that Snow-white could
+not breathe, and presently fell down at her feet as if dead.
+
+"Now you are beautiful indeed," said the woman, and, fancying she heard
+footsteps, she rushed away as quickly as she could.
+
+Not long after, the seven dwarfs came home, and they were terribly
+frightened to see dear little Snow-white lying on the ground without
+motion, as if she were dead. They lifted her up, and saw in a moment
+that her stays had been laced too tight Quickly they cut the stay-lace
+in two, till Snow-white began to breathe a little, and after a time was
+restored to life. But when the dwarfs heard what had happened, they
+said: "That old market-woman was no other than your wicked stepmother.
+Snow-white, you must never again let anyone in while we are not with
+you."
+
+The wicked queen when she returned home, after, as she thought, killing
+Snow-white, went to her looking-glass and asked:
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Am I most beautiful of all?"
+
+Then answered the mirror:
+
+  "Queen, thou art not the fairest now;
+   Snow-white over the mountain's brow
+   A thousand times fairer is than thou."
+
+When she heard this she was so terrified that the blood rushed to her
+heart, for she knew that after all she had done Snow-white was still
+alive. "I must think of something else," she said to herself, "to get
+rid of that odious child."
+
+Now this wicked queen had some knowledge of witchcraft, and she knew how
+to poison a comb, so that whoever used it would fall dead. This the
+wicked stepmother soon got ready, and dressing herself again like an old
+woman, but quite different from the last, she started off to travel over
+the mountains to the dwarfs' cottage.
+
+When Snow-white heard the old cry, "Goods to sell, fine goods to sell,"
+she looked out of the window and said:
+
+"Go away, go away; I must not let you in."
+
+"Look at this, then," said the woman; "you shall have it for your own if
+you like," and she held up before the child's eyes the bright
+tortoise-shell comb which she had poisoned.
+
+Poor Snow-white could not refuse such a present, so she opened the door
+and let the woman in, quite forgetting the advice of the dwarfs. After
+she had bought a few things, the old woman said, "Let me try this comb
+in your hair; it is so fine it will make it beautifully smooth and
+glossy."
+
+So Snow-white, thinking no wrong, stood before the woman to have her
+hair dressed; but no sooner had the comb touched the roots of her hair
+than the poison took effect, and the maiden fell to the ground lifeless.
+
+"You paragon of beauty," said the wicked woman, "all has just happened
+as I expected," and then she went away quickly.
+
+Fortunately evening soon arrived, and the seven dwarfs returned home.
+When they saw Snow-white lying dead on the ground, they knew at once
+that the stepmother had been there again; but on seeing the poisoned
+comb in her hair they pulled it out quickly, and Snow-white very soon
+came to herself, and related all that had passed.
+
+Again they warned her not to let anyone enter the house during their
+absence, and on no account to open the door; but Snow-white was not
+clever enough to resist her clever wicked stepmother, and she forgot to
+obey.
+
+The wicked queen felt sure now that she had really killed Snow-white; so
+as soon as she returned home she went to her looking-glass, and
+inquired:
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Who is most beautiful of all?"
+
+But the mirror replied:
+
+  "Queen, thou art the fairest here,
+   But not when Snow-white is near;
+   Over the mountains still is she,
+   Fairer a thousand times than thee."
+
+As the looking-glass thus replied, the queen trembled and quaked with
+rage. "Snow-white shall die," cried she, "if it costs me my own life!"
+
+Then she went into a lonely forbidden chamber where no one was allowed
+to come, and poisoned a beautiful apple. Outwardly it looked ripe and
+tempting, of a pale green with rosy cheeks, so that it made everyone's
+mouth water to look at it, but whoever ate even a small piece must die.
+
+As soon as this apple was ready, the wicked queen painted her face,
+disguised her hair, dressed herself as a farmer's wife, and went again
+over the mountains to the dwarfs' cottage.
+
+When she knocked at the door, Snow-white stretched her head out of the
+window, and said, "I dare not let you in; the seven dwarfs have
+forbidden me."
+
+"But I am all right," said the farmer's wife. "Stay, I will show you my
+apples. Are they not beautiful? let me make you a present of one."
+
+"No, thank you," cried Snow-white; "I dare not take it."
+
+"What!" cried the woman, "are you afraid it is poisoned? Look here now,
+I will cut the apple in halves; you shall have the rosy-cheek side, and
+I will eat the other."
+
+The apple was so cleverly made that the red side alone was poisonous.
+Snow-white longed so much for the beautiful fruit as she saw the
+farmer's wife eat one half that she could not any longer resist, but
+stretched out her hand from the window and took the poisoned half. But
+no sooner had she taken one mouthful than she fell on the ground dead.
+
+Then the wicked queen glanced in at the window with a horrible look in
+her eye, and laughed aloud as she exclaimed:
+
+"White as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony; this time the dwarfs
+will not be able to awake thee."
+
+And as soon as she arrived at home, and asked her mirror who was the
+most beautiful in the land, it replied:
+
+  "Fair queen, there is none in all the land
+   So beautiful as thou."
+
+Then had her envious heart rest, at least such rest as a heart full of
+envy and malice ever can have.
+
+The little dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found poor
+Snow-white on the ground; but though they lifted her up, there were no
+signs of breath from her mouth, and they found she was really dead. Yet
+they tried in every way to restore her; they tried to extract the poison
+from her lips, they combed her hair, and washed it with wine and water,
+but all to no purpose: the dear child gave no signs of life, and at last
+they knew she was dead. Then they laid her on a bier, and the seven
+dwarfs seated themselves round her, and wept and mourned for three days.
+They would have buried her then, but there was no change in her
+appearance; her face was as fresh, and her cheeks and lips had their
+usual colour. Then said one, "We cannot lay this beautiful child in the
+dark, cold earth."
+
+So they agreed to have a coffin made entirely of glass, transparent all
+over, that they might watch for any signs of decay, and they wrote in
+letters of gold her name on the lid, and that she was the daughter of a
+king. The coffin was placed on the side of the mountain, and each of
+them watched it by turns, so that it was never left alone. And the birds
+of the air came near and mourned for Snow-white; first the owl, then the
+raven, and at last the dove. Snow-white lay for a long, long time in the
+glass coffin, but showed not the least signs of decay. It seemed as if
+she slept; for her skin was snow white, her cheeks rosy red, and her
+hair black as ebony.
+
+It happened one day that the son of a king, while riding in the forest,
+came by chance upon the dwarfs' house and asked for a night's lodging.
+As he left the next morning he saw the coffin on the mountain-side, with
+beautiful Snow-white lying in it, and read what was written upon the lid
+in letters of gold.
+
+Then he said to the dwarfs, "Let me have this coffin, and I will give
+you for it whatever you ask."
+
+But the elder dwarf answered, "We would not give it thee for all the
+gold in the world."
+
+But the prince answered, "Let me have it as a gift, then. I know not
+why, but my heart is drawn towards this beautiful child, and I feel I
+cannot live without her. If you will let me have her, she shall be
+treated with the greatest honour and respect as one dearly beloved."
+
+As he thus spoke the good little dwarfs were full of sympathy for him,
+and gave him the coffin. Then the prince called his servants, and the
+coffin was placed on their shoulders, and they carried it away, followed
+by the king's son, who watched it carefully. Now it happened that one of
+them made a false step and stumbled. This shook the coffin, and caused
+the poisoned piece of apple which Snow-white had bitten to roll out of
+her mouth. A little while after she suddenly opened her eyes, lifted up
+the coffin-lid, raised herself and was again alive.
+
+"Oh! where am I?" she cried.
+
+Full of joy, the king's son approached her, and said, "Dear Snow-white,
+you are safe; you are with me."
+
+Then he related to her all that had happened, and what the little dwarfs
+had told him about her, and said at last, "I love you better than all in
+the world besides, dear little Snow-white, and you must come with me to
+my father's castle and be my wife."
+
+Then was Snow-white taken out of the coffin and placed in a carriage to
+travel with the prince, and the king was so pleased with his son's
+choice that the marriage was soon after celebrated with great pomp and
+magnificence.
+
+Now it happened that the stepmother of Snow-white was invited, among
+other guests, to the wedding-feast. Before she left her house she stood
+in all her rich dress before the magic mirror to admire her own
+appearance, but she could not help saying;
+
+    "Mirror, mirror on the wall,
+     Am I most beautiful of all?"
+
+Then to her surprise the mirror replied:
+
+  "Fair queen, thou art the fairest here,
+     But at the palace, now,
+   The bride will prove a thousand times
+     More beautiful than thou."
+
+Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so dreadfully alarmed
+that she knew not what to do. At first she declared she would not go to
+this wedding at all, but she felt it impossible to rest until she had
+seen the bride, so she determined to go. But what was her astonishment
+and vexation when she recognised in the young bride Snow-white herself,
+now grown a charming young woman, and richly dressed in royal robes! Her
+rage and terror were so great that she stood still and could not move
+for some minutes. At last she went into the ballroom, but the slippers
+she wore were to her as iron bands full of coals of fire, in which she
+was obliged to dance. And so in the red, glowing shoes she continued to
+dance till she fell dead on the floor, a sad example of envy and
+jealousy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE ENCHANTED STAG
+
+
+There were once a brother and sister who loved each other dearly; their
+mother was dead, and their father had married again a woman who was most
+unkind and cruel to them. One day the boy took his sister's hand, and
+said to her, "Dear little sister, since our mother died we have not had
+one happy hour. Our stepmother gives us dry hard crusts for dinner and
+supper; she often knocks us about, and threatens to kick us out of the
+house. Even the little dogs under the table fare better than we do, for
+she often throws them nice pieces to eat. Heaven pity us! Oh, if our
+dear mother knew! Come, let us go out into the wide world!"
+
+So they went out, and wandered over fields and meadows the whole day
+till evening. At last they found themselves in a large forest; it began
+to rain, and the little sister said, "See, brother, heaven and our
+hearts weep together." At last, tired out with hunger and sorrow, and
+the long journey, they crept into a hollow tree, laid themselves down,
+and slept till morning.
+
+When they awoke the sun was high in the heavens, and shone brightly into
+the hollow tree, so they left their place of shelter and wandered away
+in search of water.
+
+"Oh, I am so thirsty!" said the boy. "If we could only find a brook or a
+stream." He stopped to listen, and said, "Stay, I think I hear a running
+stream." So he took his sister by the hand, and they ran together to
+find it.
+
+Now, the stepmother of these poor children was a wicked witch. She had
+seen the children go away, and, following them cautiously like a snake,
+had bewitched all the springs and streams in the forest. The pleasant
+trickling of a brook over the pebbles was heard by the children as they
+reached it, and the boy was just stooping to drink, when the sister
+heard in the babbling of the brook:
+
+    "Whoever drinks of me, a tiger soon will be."
+
+Then she cried quickly, "Stay, brother, stay! do not drink, or you will
+become a wild beast, and tear me to pieces."
+
+Thirsty as he was, the brother conquered his desire to drink at her
+words, and said, "Dear sister, I will wait till we come to a spring." So
+they wandered farther, but as they approached, she heard in the bubbling
+spring the words--
+
+    "Who drinks of me, a wolf will be."
+
+"Brother, I pray you, do not drink of this brook; you will be changed
+into a wolf, and devour me."
+
+Again the brother denied himself and promised to wait; but he said, "At
+the next stream I must drink, say what you will, my thirst is so great."
+
+Not far off ran a pretty streamlet, looking clear and bright; but here
+also in its murmuring waters, the sister heard the words--
+
+    "Who dares to drink of me,
+     Turned to a stag will be."
+
+"Dear brother, do not drink," she began; but she was too late, for her
+brother had already knelt by the stream to drink, and as the first drop
+of water touched his lips he became a fawn. How the little sister wept
+over the enchanted brother, and the fawn wept also.
+
+He did not run away, but stayed close to her; and at last she said,
+"Stand still, dear fawn; don't fear, I must take care of you, but I will
+never leave you." So she untied her little golden garter and fastened it
+round the neck of the fawn; then she gathered some soft green rushes,
+and braided them into a soft string, which she fastened to the fawn's
+golden collar, and then led him away into the depths of the forest.
+
+After wandering about for some time, they at last found a little
+deserted hut, and the sister was overjoyed, for she thought it would
+form a nice shelter for them both. So she led the fawn in, and then went
+out alone, to gather moss and dried leaves, to make him a soft bed.
+
+Every morning she went out to gather dried roots, nuts, and berries, for
+her own food, and sweet fresh grass for the fawn, which he ate out of
+her hand, and the poor little animal went out with her, and played about
+as happy as the day was long.
+
+When evening came, and the poor sister felt tired, she would kneel down
+and say her prayers, and then lay her delicate head on the fawn's back,
+which was a soft warm pillow, on which she could sleep peacefully. Had
+this dear brother only kept his own proper form, how happy they would
+have been together! After they had been alone in the forest for some
+time, and the little sister had grown a lovely maiden, and the fawn a
+large stag, a numerous hunting party came to the forest, and amongst
+them the king of the country.
+
+The sounding horn, the barking of the dogs, the holloa of the huntsmen,
+resounded through the forest, and were heard by the stag, who became
+eager to join his companions.
+
+"Oh dear," he said, "do let me go and see the hunt; I cannot restrain
+myself." And he begged so hard that at last she reluctantly consented.
+
+"But remember," she said, "I must lock the cottage door against those
+huntsmen, so when you come back in the evening, and knock, I shall not
+admit you, unless you say, 'Dear little sister let me in.'"
+
+He bounded off as she spoke, scarcely stopping to listen, for it was so
+delightful for him to breathe the fresh air and be free again.
+
+He had not run far when the king's chief hunter caught sight of the
+beautiful animal, and started off in chase of him; but it was no easy
+matter to overtake such rapid footsteps. Once, when he thought he had
+him safe, the fawn sprang over the bushes and disappeared.
+
+As it was now nearly dark, he ran up to the little cottage, knocked at
+the door, and cried, "Dear little sister, let me in." The door was
+instantly opened, and oh, how glad his sister was to see him safely
+resting on his soft pleasant bed!
+
+A few days after this, the huntsmen were again in the forest; and when
+the fawn heard the holloa, he could not rest in peace, but begged his
+sister again to let him go.
+
+She opened the door, and said, "I will let you go this time; but pray do
+not forget to say what I told you, when you return this evening."
+
+The chief hunter very soon espied the beautiful fawn with the golden
+collar, pointed it out to the king, and they determined to hunt it.
+
+They chased him with all their skill till the evening; but he was too
+light and nimble for them to catch, till a shot wounded him slightly in
+the foot, so that he was obliged to hide himself in the bushes, and,
+after the huntsmen were gone, limp slowly home.
+
+One of them, however, determined to follow him at a distance, and
+discover where he went. What was his surprise at seeing him go up to a
+door and knock, and to hear him say, "Dear little sister, let me in."
+The door was only opened a little way, and quickly shut; but the
+huntsman had seen enough to make him full of wonder, when he returned
+and described to the king what he had seen.
+
+"We will have one more chase to-morrow," said the king, "and discover
+this mystery."
+
+In the meantime the loving sister was terribly alarmed at finding the
+stag's foot wounded and bleeding. She quickly washed off the blood, and,
+after bathing the wound, placed healing herbs on it, and said, "Lie down
+on your bed, dear fawn, and the wound will soon heal, if you rest your
+foot."
+
+In the morning the wound was so much better that the fawn felt the foot
+almost as strong as ever, and so, when he again heard the holloa of the
+hunters, he could not rest. "Oh, dear sister, I must go once more; it
+will be easy for me to avoid the hunters now, and my foot feels quite
+well; they will not hunt me unless they see me running, and I don't mean
+to do that."
+
+But his sister wept, and begged him not to go: "If they kill you, dear
+fawn, I shall be here alone in the forest, forsaken by the whole world."
+
+"And I shall die of grief," he said, "if I remain here listening to the
+hunter's horn."
+
+So at length his sister, with a heavy heart, set him free, and he
+bounded away joyfully into the forest.
+
+As soon as the king caught sight of him, he said to the huntsmen,
+"Follow that stag about, but don't hurt him." So they hunted him all
+day, but at the approach of sunset the king said to the hunter who had
+followed the fawn the day before, "Come and show me the little cottage."
+
+So they went together, and when the king saw it he sent his companion
+home, and went on alone so quickly that he arrived there before the
+fawn; and, going up to the little door, knocked and said softly, "Dear
+little sister, let me in."
+
+As the door opened, the king stepped in, and in great astonishment saw a
+maiden more beautiful than he had ever seen in his life standing before
+him. But how frightened she felt to see instead of her dear little fawn
+a noble gentleman walk in with a gold crown on his head.
+
+However, he appeared very friendly, and after a little talk he held out
+his hand to her, and said, "Wilt thou go with me to my castle and be my
+dear wife?"
+
+"Ah yes," replied the maiden, "I would willingly; but I cannot leave my
+dear fawn: he must go with me wherever I am."
+
+"He shall remain with you as long as you live," replied the king, "and I
+will never ask you to forsake him."
+
+While they were talking, the fawn came bounding in, looking quite well
+and happy. Then his sister fastened the string of rushes to his collar,
+took it in her hand, and led him away from the cottage in the wood to
+where the king's beautiful horse waited for him.
+
+The king placed the maiden before him on his horse and rode away to his
+castle, the fawn following by their side. Soon after, their marriage was
+celebrated with great splendour, and the fawn was taken the greatest
+care of, and played where he pleased, or roamed about the castle grounds
+in happiness and safety.
+
+In the meantime the wicked stepmother, who had caused these two young
+people such misery, supposed that the sister had been devoured by wild
+beasts, and that the fawn had been hunted to death. Therefore when she
+heard of their happiness, such envy and malice arose in her heart that
+she could find no rest till she had tried to destroy it.
+
+She and her ugly daughter came to the castle when the queen had a little
+baby, and one of them pretended to be a nurse, and at last got the
+mother and child into their power.
+
+They shut the queen up in the bath, and tried to suffocate her, and the
+old woman put her own ugly daughter in the queen's bed that the king
+might not know she was away.
+
+She would not, however, let him speak to her, but pretended that she
+must be kept quite quiet.
+
+The queen escaped from the bath-room, where the wicked old woman had
+locked her up, but she did not go far, as she wanted to watch over her
+child and the little fawn.
+
+For two nights the baby's nurse saw a figure of the queen come into the
+room and take up her baby and nurse it. Then she told the king, and he
+determined to watch himself. The old stepmother, who acted as nurse to
+her ugly daughter, whom she tried to make the king believe was his wife,
+had said that the queen was too weak to see him, and never left her
+room. "There cannot be two queens," said the king to himself, "so
+to-night I will watch in the nursery." As soon as the figure came in and
+took up her baby, he saw it was his real wife, and caught her in his
+arms, saying, "You are my own beloved wife, as beautiful as ever."
+
+The wicked witch had thrown her into a trance, hoping she would die, and
+that the king would then marry her daughter; but on the king speaking to
+her, the spell was broken. The queen told the king how cruelly she had
+been treated by her stepmother, and on hearing this he became very
+angry, and had the witch and her daughter brought to justice. They were
+both sentenced to die--the daughter to be devoured by wild beasts, and
+the mother to be burnt alive.
+
+No sooner, however, was she reduced to ashes than the charm which held
+the queen's brother in the form of a stag was broken; he recovered his
+own natural shape, and appeared before them a tall, handsome young man.
+
+After this, the brother and sister lived happily and peacefully for the
+rest of their lives.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+
+Near the borders of a large forest dwelt in olden times a poor
+wood-cutter, who had two children--a boy named Hansel, and his sister,
+Grethel. They had very little to live upon, and once when there was a
+dreadful season of scarcity in the land, the poor wood-cutter could not
+earn sufficient to supply their daily food.
+
+One evening, after the children were gone to bed, the parents sat
+talking together over their sorrow, and the poor husband sighed, and
+said to his wife, who was not the mother of his children, but their
+stepmother, "What will become of us, for I cannot earn enough to support
+myself and you, much less the children? what shall we do with them, for
+they must not starve?"
+
+"I know what to do, husband," she replied; "early to-morrow morning we
+will take the children for a walk across the forest and leave them in
+the thickest part; they will never find the way home again, you may
+depend, and then we shall only have to work for ourselves."
+
+"No, wife," said the man, "that I will never do. How could I have the
+heart to leave my children all alone in the wood, where the wild beasts
+would come quickly and devour them?"
+
+"Oh, you fool," replied the stepmother, "if you refuse to do this, you
+know we must all four perish with hunger; you may as well go and cut the
+wood for our coffins." And after this she let him have no peace till he
+became quite worn out, and could not sleep for hours, but lay thinking
+in sorrow about his children.
+
+The two children, who also were too hungry to sleep, heard all that
+their stepmother had said to their father. Poor little Grethel wept
+bitter tears as she listened, and said to her brother, "What is going to
+happen to us, Hansel?"
+
+"Hush, Grethel," he whispered, "don't be so unhappy; I know what to do."
+
+Then they lay quite still till their parents were asleep.
+
+As soon as it was quiet, Hansel got up, put on his little coat,
+unfastened the door, and slipped out The moon shone brightly, and the
+white pebble stones which lay before the cottage door glistened like new
+silver money. Hansel stooped and picked up as many of the pebbles as he
+could stuff in his little coat pockets. He then went back to Grethel and
+said, "Be comforted, dear little sister, and sleep in peace; heaven will
+take care of us." Then he laid himself down again in bed, and slept till
+the day broke.
+
+As soon as the sun was risen, the stepmother came and woke the two
+children, and said, "Get up, you lazy bones, and come into the wood with
+me to gather wood for the fire." Then she gave each of them a piece of
+bread, and said, "You must keep that to eat for your dinner, and don't
+quarrel over it, for you will get nothing more."
+
+Grethel took the bread under her charge, for Hansel's pockets were full
+of pebbles. Then the stepmother led them a long way into the forest.
+They had gone but a very short distance when Hansel looked back at the
+house, and this he did again and again.
+
+At last his stepmother said, "Why do you keep staying behind and looking
+back so?"
+
+"Oh, mother," said the boy, "I can see my little white cat sitting on
+the roof of the house, and I am sure she is crying for me."
+
+"Nonsense," she replied; "that is not your cat; it is the morning sun
+shining on the chimney-pot."
+
+Hansel had seen no cat, but he stayed behind every time to drop a white
+pebble from his pocket on the ground as they walked.
+
+As soon as they reached a thick part of the wood, their stepmother said:
+
+"Come, children, gather some wood, and I will make a fire, for it is
+very cold here."
+
+Then Hansel and Grethel raised quite a high heap of brushwood and
+faggots, which soon blazed up into a bright fire, and the woman said to
+them:
+
+"Sit down here, children, and rest, while I go and find your father, who
+is cutting wood in the forest; when we have finished our work, we will
+come again and fetch you."
+
+Hansel and Grethel seated themselves by the fire, and when noon arrived
+they each ate the piece of bread which their stepmother had given them
+for their dinner; and as long as they heard the strokes of the axe they
+felt safe, for they believed that their father was working near them.
+But it was not an axe they heard--only a branch which still hung on a
+withered tree, and was moved up and down by the wind. At last, when they
+had been sitting there a long time, the children's eyes became heavy
+with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke it was dark
+night, and poor Grethel began to cry, and said, "Oh, how shall we get
+out of the wood?"
+
+But Hansel comforted her. "Don't fear," he said; "let us wait a little
+while till the moon rises, and then we shall easily find our way home."
+
+Very soon the full moon rose, and then Hansel took his little sister by
+the hand, and the white pebble stones, which glittered like newly-coined
+money in the moonlight, and which Hansel had dropped as he walked,
+pointed out the way. They walked all the night through, and did not
+reach their father's house till break of day.
+
+They knocked at the door, and when their stepmother opened it, she
+exclaimed: "You naughty children, why have you been staying so long in
+the forest? we thought you were never coming back," But their father was
+overjoyed to see them, for it grieved him to the heart to think that
+they had been left alone in the wood.
+
+Not long after this there came another time of scarcity and want in
+every house, and the children heard their stepmother talking after they
+were in bed. "The times are as bad as ever," she said; "we have just
+half a loaf left, and when that is gone all love will be at an end. The
+children must go away; we will take them deeper into the forest this
+time, and they will not be able to find their way home as they did
+before; it is the only plan to save ourselves from starvation." But the
+husband felt heavy at heart, for he thought it was better to share the
+last morsel with his children.
+
+His wife would listen to nothing he said, but continued to reproach him,
+and as he had given way to her the first time, he could not refuse to do
+so now. The children were awake, and heard all the conversation; so, as
+soon as their parents slept, Hansel got up, intending to go out and
+gather some more of the bright pebbles to let fall as he walked, that
+they might point out the way home; but his stepmother had locked the
+door, and he could not open it. When he went back to his bed he told his
+little sister not to fret, but to go to sleep in peace, for he was sure
+they would be taken care of.
+
+Early the next morning the stepmother came and pulled the children out
+of bed, and, when they were dressed, gave them each a piece of bread for
+their dinners, smaller than they had had before, and then they started
+on their way to the wood.
+
+As they walked, Hansel, who had the bread in his pocket, broke off
+little crumbs, and stopped every now and then to drop one, turning round
+as if he was looking back at his home.
+
+"Hansel," said the woman, "what are you stopping for in that way? Come
+along directly."
+
+"I saw my pigeon sitting on the roof, and he wants to say good-bye to
+me," replied the boy.
+
+"Nonsense," she said; "that is not your pigeon; it is only the morning
+sun shining on the chimney-top."
+
+But Hansel did not look back any more; he only dropped pieces of bread
+behind him, as they walked through the wood. This time they went on till
+they reached the thickest and densest part of the forest, where they had
+never been before in all their lives. Again they gathered faggots and
+brushwood, of which the stepmother made up a large fire. Then she said,
+"Remain here, children, and rest, while I go to help your father, who is
+cutting wood in the forest; when you feel tired, you can lie down and
+sleep for a little while, and we will come and fetch you in the evening,
+when your father has finished his work."
+
+So the children remained alone till mid-day, and then Grethel shared her
+piece of bread with Hansel, for he had scattered his own all along the
+road as they walked. After this they slept for awhile, and the evening
+drew on; but no one came to fetch the poor children. When they awoke it
+was quite dark, and poor little Grethel was afraid; but Hansel comforted
+her, as he had done before, by telling her they need only wait till the
+moon rose. "You know, little sister," he said, "that I have thrown
+breadcrumbs all along the road we came, and they will easily point out
+the way home."
+
+But when they went out of the thicket into the moonlight they found no
+breadcrumbs, for the numerous birds which inhabited the trees of the
+forest had picked them all up.
+
+Hansel tried to hide his fear when he made this sad discovery, and said
+to his sister, "Cheer up, Grethel; I dare say we shall find our way home
+without the crumbs. Let us try." But this they found impossible. They
+wandered about the whole night, and the next day from morning till
+evening; but they could not get out of the wood, and were so hungry that
+had it not been for a few berries which they picked they must have
+starved.
+
+At last they were so tired that their poor little legs could carry them
+no farther; so they laid themselves down under a tree and went to sleep.
+When they awoke it was the third morning since they had left their
+father's house, and they determined to try once more to find their way
+home; but it was no use, they only went still deeper into the wood, and
+knew that if no help came they must starve.
+
+About noon, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on the branch
+of a tree, and singing so beautifully that they stood still to listen.
+When he had finished his song, he spread out his wings and flew on
+before them. The children followed him, till at last they saw at a
+distance a small house; and the bird flew and perched on the roof.
+
+But how surprised were the boy and girl, when they came nearer, to find
+that the house was built of gingerbread, and ornamented with sweet cakes
+and tarts, while the window was formed of barley-sugar. "Oh!" exclaimed
+Hansel, "let us stop here and have a splendid feast. I will have a piece
+from the roof first, Grethel; and you can eat some of the barley-sugar
+window, it tastes so nice." Hansel reached up on tiptoe, and breaking
+off a piece of the gingerbread, he began to eat with all his might, for
+he was very hungry. Grethel seated herself on the doorstep, and began
+munching away at the cakes of which it was made. Presently a voice came
+out of the cottage:
+
+  "Munching, crunching, munching,
+   Who's eating up my house?"
+
+Then answered the children:
+
+    "The wind, the wind,
+     Only the wind,"
+
+and went on eating as if they never meant to leave off, without a
+suspicion of wrong. Hansel, who found the cake on the roof taste very
+good, broke off another large piece, and Grethel had just taken out a
+whole pane of barley-sugar from the window, and seated herself to eat
+it, when the door opened, and a strange-looking old woman came out
+leaning on a stick.
+
+Hansel and Grethel were so frightened that they let fall what they held
+in their hands. The old woman shook her head at them, and said, "Ah, you
+dear children, who has brought you here? Come in, and stay with me for a
+little while, and there shall no harm happen to you." She seized them
+both by the hands as she spoke, and led them into the house. She gave
+them for supper plenty to eat and drink--milk and pancakes and sugar,
+apples and nuts; and when evening came, Hansel and Grethel were shown
+two beautiful little beds with white curtains, and they lay down in them
+and thought they were in heaven.
+
+But although the old woman pretended to be friendly, she was a wicked
+witch, who had her house built of gingerbread on purpose to entrap
+children. When once they were in her power, she would feed them well
+till they got fat, and then kill them and cook them for her dinner; and
+this she called her feast-day. Fortunately the witch had weak eyes, and
+could not see very well; but she had a very keen scent, as wild animals
+have, and could easily discover when human beings were near. As Hansel
+and Grethel had approached her cottage, she laughed to herself
+maliciously, and said, with a sneer: "I have them now; they shall not
+escape from me again!"
+
+Early in the morning, before the children were awake, she was up,
+standing by their beds; and when she saw how beautiful they looked in
+their sleep, with their round rosy cheeks, she muttered to herself,
+"What nice tit-bits they will be!" Then she laid hold of Hansel with her
+rough hand, dragged him out of bed, and led him to a little cage which
+had a lattice-door, and shut him in; he might scream as much as he
+would, but it was all useless.
+
+After this she went back to Grethel, and, shaking her roughly till she
+woke, cried: "Get up, you lazy hussy, and draw some water, that I may
+boil something good for your brother, who is shut up in a cage outside
+till he gets fat; and then I shall cook him and eat him!" When Grethel
+heard this she began to cry bitterly; but it was all useless, she was
+obliged to do as the wicked witch told her.
+
+For poor Hansel's breakfast the best of everything was cooked; but
+Grethel had nothing for herself but a crab's claw. Every morning the old
+woman would go out to the little cage, and say: "Hansel, stick out your
+finger, that I may feel if you are fat enough for eating." But Hansel,
+who knew how dim her old eyes were, always stuck a bone through the bars
+of his cage, which she thought was his finger, for she could not see;
+and when she felt how thin it was, she wondered very much why he did not
+get fat.
+
+However, as the weeks went on, and Hansel seemed not to get any fatter,
+she became impatient, and said she could not wait any longer. "Go,
+Grethel," she cried to the maiden, "be quick and draw water; Hansel may
+be fat or lean, I don't care, to-morrow morning I mean to kill him, and
+cook him!"
+
+Oh! how the poor little sister grieved when she was forced to draw the
+water; and, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, she exclaimed: "It
+would have been better to be eaten by wild beasts, or to have been
+starved to death in the woods; then we should have died together!"
+
+"Stop your crying!" cried the old woman; "it is not of the least use, no
+one will come to help you."
+
+Early in the morning Grethel was obliged to go out and fill the great
+pot with water, and hang it over the fire to boil. As soon as this was
+done, the old woman said, "We will bake some bread first; I have made
+the oven hot, and the dough is already kneaded." Then she dragged poor
+little Grethel up to the oven door, under which the flames were burning
+fiercely, and said: "Creep in there, and see if it is hot enough yet to
+bake the bread." But if Grethel had obeyed her, she would have shut the
+poor child in and baked her for dinner, instead of boiling Hansel.
+
+Grethel, however, guessed what she wanted to do, and said, "I don't know
+how to get in through that narrow door."
+
+"Stupid goose," said the old woman, "why, the oven door is quite large
+enough for me; just look, I could get in myself." As she spoke she
+stepped forward and pretended to put her head in the oven.
+
+A sudden thought gave Grethel unusual strength; she started forward,
+gave the old woman a push which sent her right into the oven, then she
+shut the iron door and fastened the bolt.
+
+Oh! how the old witch did howl, it was quite horrible to hear her. But
+Grethel ran away, and therefore she was left to burn, just as she had
+left many poor little children to burn. And how quickly Grethel ran to
+Hansel, opened the door of his cage, and cried, "Hansel, Hansel, we are
+free; the old witch is dead." He flew like a bird out of his cage at
+these words as soon as the door was opened, and the children were so
+overjoyed that they ran into each other's arms, and kissed each other
+with the greatest love.
+
+And now that there was nothing to be afraid of, they went back into the
+house, and while looking round the old witch's room, they saw an old oak
+chest, which they opened, and found it full of pearls and precious
+stones. "These are better than pebbles," said Hansel; and he filled his
+pockets as full as they would hold.
+
+"I will carry some home too," said Grethel, and she held out her apron,
+which held quite as much as Hansel's pockets.
+
+"We will go now," he said, "and get away as soon as we can from this
+enchanted forest."
+
+They had been walking for nearly two hours when they came to a large
+sheet of water.
+
+"What shall we do now?" said the boy. "We cannot get across, and there
+is no bridge of any sort."
+
+"Oh! here comes a boat," cried Grethel, but she was mistaken; it was
+only a white duck which came swimming towards the children. "Perhaps she
+will help us across if we ask her," said the child; and she sung,
+"Little duck, do help poor Hansel and Grethel; there is not a bridge,
+nor a boat--will you let us sail across on your white back?"
+
+The good-natured duck came near the bank as Grethel spoke, so close
+indeed that Hansel could seat himself and wanted to take his little
+sister on his lap, but she said, "No, we shall be too heavy for the kind
+duck; let her take us over one at a time."
+
+The good creature did as the children wished; she carried Grethel over
+first, and then came back for Hansel. And then how happy the children
+were to find themselves in a part of the wood which they remembered
+quite well, and as they walked on, the more familiar it became, till at
+last they caught sight of their father's house. Then they began to run,
+and, bursting into the room, threw themselves into their father's arms.
+
+Poor man, he had not had a moment's peace since the children had been
+left alone in the forest; he was full of joy at finding them safe and
+well again, and now they had nothing to fear, for their wicked
+stepmother was dead.
+
+But how surprised the poor wood-cutter was when Grethel opened and shook
+her little apron to see the glittering pearls and precious stones
+scattered about the room, while Hansel drew handful after handful from
+his pockets. From this moment all his care and sorrow was at an end, and
+the father lived in happiness with his children till his death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP
+
+
+In one of the large and rich cities of China, there once lived a tailor
+named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labour,
+maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and a
+son.
+
+His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle fellow. He
+was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out early in the
+morning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and public places
+with idle children of his own age.
+
+When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father took him into his
+own shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father's
+endeavours to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his back
+turned, than he was gone for that day, Mustapha chastised him, but
+Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, was forced
+to abandon him to his idleness; and was so much troubled about him, that
+he fell sick and died in a few months.
+
+Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, gave
+himself entirely over to his idle habits, and was never out of the
+streets from his companions. This course he followed till he was fifteen
+years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or the least
+reflection on what would become of him. As he was one day playing,
+according to custom, in the street, with his evil associates, a stranger
+passing by stood to observe him.
+
+This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had
+been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country.
+
+The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something which
+assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name and
+history of some of his companions, and when he had learnt all he desired
+to know, went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, said,
+"Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?" "Yes, sir,"
+answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time."
+
+At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's neck,
+and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, and said, "I am
+your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at first
+sight, you are so like him." Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small
+money, saying, "Go, my son, to your mother, give my love to her, and
+tell her that I will visit her to-morrow, that I may see where my good
+brother lived so long, and ended his days."
+
+Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given
+him. "Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child," replied his
+mother, "you have no uncle by your father's side or mine." "I am just
+now come," said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my uncle and my
+father's brother. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father was
+dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, and promising to come
+and pay you a visit, that he may see the house my father lived and died
+in." "Indeed, child," replied the mother, "your father had no brother,
+nor have you an uncle."
+
+The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the
+town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand,
+and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother; tell her that I
+will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something for supper;
+but first show ms the house where you live."
+
+Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two
+pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; and
+considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of her
+neighbours. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at
+night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knows
+not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him."
+
+Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, and
+came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought for a
+dessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin's hands, he
+saluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place where his
+brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had so done, he
+fell down and kissed it several times, crying out, with tears in his
+eyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have come soon enough
+to give you one last embrace." Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down
+in the same place, but he declined. "No," said he, "I shall not do that;
+but give me leave to sit opposite to it, that although I see not the
+master of a family so dear to me, I may at least behold the place where
+he used to sit."
+
+When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began to
+enter into discourse with Aladdin's mother. "My good sister," said he,
+"do not be surprised at your never having seen me all the time you have
+been married to my brother Mustapha of happy memory. I have been forty
+years absent from this country, which is my native place, as well as my
+late brother's; and during that time have travelled into the Indies,
+Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and afterward crossed over into
+Africa, where I took up my abode. At last, as it is natural for a man, I
+was desirous to see my native country again, and to embrace my dear
+brother; and finding I had strength enough to undertake so long a
+journey, I made the necessary preparations, and set out. Nothing ever
+afflicted me so much as hearing of my brother's death. But God be
+praised for all things! It is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my
+brother in a son, who has his most remarkable features."
+
+The African magician perceiving that the widow wept at the remembrance
+of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning toward her son,
+asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you of any trade?"
+
+At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little
+abashed when his mother answered "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His father,
+when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but could not
+succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can say to him, he
+does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you saw him,
+without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do not make him
+ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. For my part, I
+am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of doors, and let him
+provide for himself."
+
+After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magician
+said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, and
+getting your livelihood. There are many sorts of trades; perhaps you do
+not like your father's, and would prefer another; I will endeavour to
+help you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I will take a
+shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and linens; and
+then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh goods, and
+live in an honourable way. Tell me freely what you think of my proposal;
+you shall always find me ready to keep my word."
+
+This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician he
+had a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that
+he should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Well then," said the
+African magician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you as
+handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will open
+a shop as I mentioned."
+
+The widow, after his promises of kindness to her son, no longer doubted
+that the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for his
+good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself
+worthy of his uncle's favour, served up supper, at which they talked of
+several indifferent matters; and then the magician took his leave and
+retired.
+
+He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with
+him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages and
+ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin choose
+those he preferred, which he paid for.
+
+When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his uncle
+thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a merchant, it is
+proper you should frequent these shops, and be acquainted with them." He
+then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the khans
+or inns where the merchants and travellers lodged, and afterward to the
+sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought him to
+his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become
+acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them
+and his pretended nephew acquainted.
+
+This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken
+leave of his uncle to go home; the magician would not let him go by
+himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him so
+well dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousand
+blessings upon the magician.
+
+Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said
+he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he
+would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of the
+city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful
+gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building he came to,
+he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth was ready to
+answer when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here is a finer
+house, uncle, than any we have yet seen," By this artifice, the cunning
+magician led Aladdin some way into the country; and as he meant to carry
+him farther, to execute his design, he took an opportunity to sit down
+in one of the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water, which
+discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin, pretending
+to be tired: "Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I;
+let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk."
+
+
+
+
+The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and
+fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave off
+bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve by
+their conversation; "for," said he, "you will soon be at man's estate,
+and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example." When they had
+eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued their walk through
+gardens separated from one another only by small ditches, which marked
+out the limits without interrupting the communication; so great was the
+confidence the inhabitants reposed in each other. By this means the
+African magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossed
+the country, till they nearly reached the mountains.
+
+At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and equal
+size, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place where the magician
+intended to execute the design that had brought him from Africa to
+China. "We will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin; "I will show you
+here some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you will
+thank me for: but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry
+sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with."
+
+Aladdin found so many dried sticks, that he soon collected a great heap.
+The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a blaze,
+threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, which Aladdin
+did not understand.
+
+He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the magician,
+and discovered a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was so
+frightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught hold of
+him, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him down.
+Aladdin got up trembling, and with tears in his eyes said to the
+magician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe
+manner?" "I am your uncle," answered the magician; "I supply the place
+of your father, and you ought to make no reply. But child," added he,
+softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but
+that you obey me punctually, if you would reap the advantages which I
+intend you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a
+treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than the
+greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted to
+lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute what
+I may command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to you and
+me."
+
+Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and
+rising said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am ready to
+obey." "I am overjoyed, child," said the African magician, embracing
+him, "Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone." "Indeed, uncle,"
+replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must help me." "You have
+no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I help you,
+we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and lift it up;
+you will find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the magician bade
+him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one side.
+
+When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about three or
+four feet deep, leading to a door. "Descend, my son," said the African
+magician, "those steps, and open that door. It will lead you into a
+palace, divided into three great halls. In each of these you will see
+four large brass cisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver;
+but take care you do not meddle with them. Before you enter the first
+hall, be sure to tuck up your robe, wrap it about you, and then pass
+through the second into the third without stopping. Above all things,
+have a care that you do not touch the walls so much as with your
+clothes; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of the third
+hall, you will find a door which opens into a garden, planted with fine
+trees loaded with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to a terrace,
+where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp.
+Take the lamp down and put it out. When you have thrown away the wick
+and poured out the liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me.
+Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not
+oil, and the lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out."
+
+After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it on
+one of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so long as
+you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich all our
+lives."
+
+Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three
+halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them
+with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the
+garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out
+the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in his
+waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was perfectly
+dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which were loaded
+with extraordinary fruit of different colours on each tree. Some bore
+fruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as crystal; some
+pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and others
+yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colours. The white were pearls;
+the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red, rubies; the paler,
+balas rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the purple,
+amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. Aladdin, ignorant of their value,
+would have preferred figs, or grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his
+uncle's permission, he resolved to gather some of every sort. Having
+filled the two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes,
+he wrapped some up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as
+full as it could hold.
+
+Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not the
+value, returned through the three halls with the utmost precaution, and
+soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the African magician
+awaited him with the utmost impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he
+cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to help me out." "Give me
+the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be troublesome to you,"
+"Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now, but I will as soon as
+I am up." The African magician was determined that he would have the
+lamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered
+himself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused
+to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician,
+provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little
+of his incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the
+stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its place,
+with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the arrival of
+the magician and Aladdin.
+
+This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no
+uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had
+learnt from his magic books the secret and the value of this wonderful
+lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any earthly ruler,
+and hence his journey to China. His art had also told him that he was
+not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it as a voluntary
+gift from the hands of another person. Hence he employed young Aladdin,
+and hoped by a mixture of kindness and authority to make him obedient to
+his word and will. When he found that his attempt had failed, he set out
+to return to Africa, but avoided the town, lest any person who had seen
+him leave in company with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth.
+Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out to
+his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but in vain,
+since his cries could not be heard. He descended to the bottom of the
+steps, with a design to get into the palace, but the door, which was
+opened before by enchantment, was now shut by the same means. He then
+redoubled his cries and tears, sat down on the steps without any hopes
+of ever seeing light again, and in an expectation of passing from the
+present darkness to a speedy death. In this great emergency he said,
+"There is no strength or power but in the great and high God"; and in
+joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician had put
+on his finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect appeared, and
+said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee. I serve him who
+possesses the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of that ring."
+
+
+
+
+At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so
+extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer without
+hesitation, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." He had no
+sooner spoken these words, than he found himself on the very spot where
+the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or opening, nor
+disturbance of the earth. Returning God thanks to find himself once more
+in the world, he made the best of his way home. When he got within his
+mother's door, the joy to see her and his weakness for want of
+sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time as dead.
+As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that had happened
+to him, and they were both very vehement in their complaints of the
+cruel magician. Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning,
+when the first thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something
+to eat, and wished she would give him his breakfast. "Alas! child," said
+she, "I have not a bit of bread to give you; you ate up all the
+provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a little cotton
+which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread and something
+for our dinner." "Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for
+another time, and give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday; I
+will go and sell it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both
+for breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too."
+
+Aladdin's mother took the lamp and said to her son, "Here it is, but it
+is very dirty; if it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring
+something more." She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but had
+no sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of
+gigantic size appeared before her, and said to her in a voice of
+thunder, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave,
+and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I and the
+other slaves of the lamp."
+
+Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when
+Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp
+out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, "I am hungry,
+bring me something to eat." The genie disappeared immediately, and in an
+instant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes
+of the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six large
+white bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver
+cups. All these he placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was done
+before Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon.
+
+Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to recover
+her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, it was not
+long before she came to herself. "Mother," said Aladdin, "be not afraid:
+get up and eat; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same time
+satisfy my extreme hunger."
+
+His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, six
+loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savoury odour which
+exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for
+this great plenty and liberality? Has the sultan been made acquainted
+with our poverty, and had compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother,"
+said Aladdin, "let us sit down and eat; for you have almost as much need
+of a good breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you."
+Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better relish
+as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's mother
+could not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, though
+she could not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and the
+novelty more than the value attracted her attention.
+
+The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and then
+they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet, after
+this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two meals
+for the next day.
+
+When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she went
+and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now that you
+should satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what passed between
+the genie and you while I was in a swoon"; which he readily complied
+with.
+
+She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at the
+appearance of the genie; and said to him, "But, son, what have we to do
+with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seen
+one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you,
+to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" "Mother," answered Aladdin,
+"the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me. If you remember,
+he that I first saw called himself the slave of the ring on my finger;
+and this you saw, called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your
+hand; but I believe you did not hear him, for I think you fainted as
+soon as he began to speak."
+
+"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that
+cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son,
+take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had rather you
+would sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to death again by
+touching it; and if you would take my advice, you would part also with
+the ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, as our prophet
+has told us, are only devils."
+
+"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care how I
+sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That false
+and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey to
+secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed that
+of gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us make a
+profitable use of it, without making any great show, and exciting the
+envy and jealousy of our neighbours. However, since the genies frighten
+you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put it where I may
+find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part with; for
+without that you had never seen me again; and though I am alive now,
+perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments hence;
+therefore, I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear it
+always on my finger." Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he
+pleased; for her part, she would have nothing to do with genies, and
+never say anything more about them.
+
+By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had
+brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thoughts of
+hunger, putting one of the silver dishes tinder his vest, went out early
+to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the streets,
+took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he would buy it.
+The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found that
+it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who
+had never been used to such traffic, told him he would trust to his
+judgment and honour. The Jew was somewhat confounded at this plain
+dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the material or the
+full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of his
+purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth
+of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly, retired with so
+much haste, that the Jew, not content with the exorbitancy of his
+profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his ignorance, and was
+going to run after him, to endeavour to get some change out of the piece
+of gold; but he ran so fast, and had got so far, that it would have been
+impossible for him to overtake him.
+
+Before Aladdin went home, he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of
+bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his mother,
+who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some time. After
+this manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly,
+as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; who, after the
+first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of losing so good a
+bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray,
+which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried it
+to his old purchaser, but that it was too large and cumbersome;
+therefore he was obliged to bring him home with him to his mother's,
+where, after the Jew had examined the weight of the tray, he laid down
+ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very well satisfied.
+
+When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. He
+took it in his hands, looked for the part where his mother had rubbed it
+with the sand, rubbed it also, when the genie immediately appeared, and
+said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and
+the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the
+other slaves of the lamp." "I am hungry," said Aladdin, "bring me
+something to eat." The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a
+tray, the same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and
+vanished.
+
+As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he
+took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman; but
+passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him, called to
+him, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to sell to the
+Jew, whom I often see you visit; but perhaps you do not know that he is
+the greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the full worth
+of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other merchants who
+will not cheat you."
+
+This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from tinder his vest and
+show it to the goldsmith; who at first sight saw that it was made of the
+finest silver, and asked him if he had sold such as that to the Jew;
+when Aladdin told him that he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of
+gold each. "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But," added he, "my
+son, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this
+plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let you
+see how much the Jew has cheated you."
+
+The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him
+that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he
+offered to pay down immediately.
+
+Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any
+other person.
+
+Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in their
+lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with
+the same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that the
+money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to
+maintain them some time.
+
+During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principal
+merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk
+stuffs, and jewellery, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation,
+acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By
+his acquaintance among the jewellers, he came to know that the fruits
+which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of coloured
+glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to
+mention this to any one, not even to his mother.
+
+One day as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an order
+proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, and
+keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan's
+daughter, went to the bath and returned.
+
+This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see the
+princess's face, which he determined to gratify, by placing himself
+behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her face.
+
+Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She was
+attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked on
+each side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces of
+the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin an
+opportunity of a full view of her face.
+
+The princess was a noted beauty: her eyes were large, lively, and
+sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small;
+her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who had
+never before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and enchanted.
+
+After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin quitted
+his hiding-place, and went home. His mother perceived him to be more
+thoughtful and melancholy than usual; and asked what had happened to
+make him so, or if he was ill. He then told his mother all his
+adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the princess more than I
+can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in marriage of the
+sultan."
+
+Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her; but
+when he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed aloud.
+"Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You must be mad to
+talk thus."
+
+"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in my
+right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly and
+extravagance; but I must tell you once more, that I am resolved to
+demand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair of
+success. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, and
+you know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tell
+you: those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden of
+the subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable value, and fit fit
+for the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewellers have in
+Bagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am sure
+that the offer of them will secure the favour of the sultan. You have a
+large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how they
+will look, when we have arranged them according to their different
+colours."
+
+Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the jewels out of
+the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order,
+according to his fancy. But the brightness and lustre they emitted in
+the daytime, and the variety of the colours, so dazzled the eyes both of
+mother and son, that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin's
+mother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, and fearful lest
+her son should be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with his
+request, and promised to go early in the next morning to the palace of
+the sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing
+her to go to the sultan's palace, and to get admittance, if possible,
+before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great officers of
+state went in to take their seats in the divan, where the sultan always
+attended in person.
+
+Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewels
+the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for the
+sultan's palace. When she came to the gates, the grand vizier, the other
+viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just gone in;
+but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got into the
+divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very magnificent.
+She placed herself just before the sultan, grand vizier, and the great
+lords, who sat in council, on his right and left hand. Several causes
+were called, according to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until the
+time the divan generally broke up, when the sultan, rising, returned to
+his apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers and
+ministers of state then retired, as also did all those whose business
+had called them thither.
+
+Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart,
+judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to go
+home; and on her arrival said, with much simplicity, "Son, I have seen
+the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I placed
+myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those who
+attended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at his
+patience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up
+suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared to
+speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I
+began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so
+long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow; perhaps the
+sultan may not be so busy."
+
+The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present,
+as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the gates
+of the divan shut. She went six times afterward on the days appointed,
+placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with as little
+success as the first morning.
+
+On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the
+sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier; "I
+have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly
+every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin;
+she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of the
+audience, and affects to place herself just before me. If this woman
+comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may hear
+what she has to say." The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand,
+and then lifting it up above his head, signifying his willingness to
+lose it if he failed.
+
+On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and
+placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier
+immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her
+bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed the
+mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan bowed her head down to the
+carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that
+posture until he bade her rise, which she had no sooner done, than he
+said to her, "Good woman, I have observed you to stand many days from
+the beginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings you
+here?"
+
+After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time;
+and when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon
+the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and
+forgiveness." "Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it
+what it may, and no hurt shall come to you; speak boldly."
+
+When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of the
+sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son had
+sent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request in
+spite of all her remonstrances.
+
+The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least anger;
+but before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had brought tied
+up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had set down at the
+foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the sultan.
+
+The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so
+many large, beautiful and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He
+remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had
+recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's hand;
+saying, "How rich, how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled all
+the jewels one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and showing
+him the dish, said, "Behold, admire, wonder! and confess that your eyes
+never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before." The vizier was
+charmed. "Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a
+present? Is it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not
+to bestow her on one who values her at so great a price?" "I cannot but
+own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is worthy of the
+princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months before you
+come to a final resolution. I hope, before that time, my son, whom you
+have regarded with your favour, will be able to make a nobler present
+than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty."
+
+The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Good
+woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you have
+made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three months;
+at the expiration of that time come again."
+
+Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had
+expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she
+had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to
+the divan again that day three months.
+
+Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this news,
+and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, the
+good success of which was of so great importance to his peace, that he
+counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of the
+three months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in the
+house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing--the houses
+dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one striving to
+show their joy according to their ability. The streets were crowded with
+officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned,
+each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil
+merchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of public
+festivity. "Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know
+that the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor,
+the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the
+bath; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to
+the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnised."
+
+Aladdin's mother, on hearing these news, ran home very quickly. "Child,"
+cried she, "you are undone! the sultan's fine promises will come to
+nought. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess
+Buddir al Buddoor."
+
+At this account, Aladdin was thunderstruck, and he bethought himself of
+the lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without
+indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he
+determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage.
+
+When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it in
+the same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, and said
+to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave;
+I, and the other slaves of the lamp." "Hear me," said Aladdin; "thou
+hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am about to impose on thee a harder
+task. The sultan's daughter, who was promised me as my bride, is this
+night married to the son of the grand vizier. Bring them both hither to
+me immediately they retire to their bedchamber."
+
+"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you."
+
+Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his
+own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according to
+his commands.
+
+In the mean time the festivities in honour of the princess's marriage
+were conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. The
+ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and
+the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No
+sooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the
+genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and alarm
+of the bride and bridegroom, took up the bed, and by an agency invisible
+to them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's chamber, where he
+set it down. "Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and
+keep him a prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him here."
+On Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he endeavoured to assuage
+her fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by the
+sultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a drawn
+scimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure her
+safety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At break of
+day, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back the
+bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and entranced
+at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night, and at Aladdin's
+command transported the couch with the bride and bridegroom on it, by
+the same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan.
+
+At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride and
+bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to offer
+his good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's son, who was almost
+perished with cold, by standing in his thin under-garment all night, no
+sooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of bed, and ran
+into the robing-chamber, where he had undressed himself the night
+before.
+
+The sultan having opened the door, went to the bedside, kissed the
+princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her look so
+melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive of great
+affliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary in this
+silence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's apartment,
+told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she had received
+him. "Sire," said the sultaness, "I will go and see her; she will not
+receive me in the same manner."
+
+The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of deep
+dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of telling her all
+her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description of all
+that happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness enjoined
+on her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one would give
+credence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier's son, elated with the
+honour of being the sultan's son-in-law, kept silence on his part, and
+the events of the night were not allowed to cast the least gloom on the
+festivities on the following day, in continued celebration of the royal
+marriage.
+
+When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to their
+chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin,
+knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to the
+genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed was
+removed in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; and
+having passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in the
+morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they been
+replaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make his
+compliments to his daughter, when the princess could no longer conceal
+from him the unhappy treatment she had been subject to, and told him all
+that had happened as she had already related it to her mother. The
+sultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand
+vizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected to even
+worse treatment by an invisible agency, he determined to declare the
+marriage to be cancelled, and all the festivities, which were yet to
+last for several days, to be countermanded and terminated.
+
+This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various
+speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and he
+kept it with the most scrupulous silence; and neither the sultan nor the
+grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least
+thought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell the
+bride and bridegroom.
+
+On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's promise
+expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, and stood in
+the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her again, and directed his
+vizier to have her brought before him.
+
+After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to the
+sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the
+fulfillment of the promise you made to my son." The sultan little
+thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to him in earnest, or
+that he would hear any more of the matter. He therefore took counsel
+with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan should attach such
+conditions to the marriage that no one of the humble condition of
+Aladdin could possibly fulfill. In accordance with this suggestion of
+the vizier, the sultan replied to the mother of Aladdin: "Good woman, it
+is true sultans ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keep
+mine, by making your son happy in marriage with the princess my
+daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some further proof of your
+son being able to support her in royal state, you may tell him I will
+fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massy
+gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a present
+of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who shall be led by
+as many young and handsome white slaves, all dressed magnificently. On
+these conditions I am ready to bestow the princess my daughter upon him;
+therefore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I will wait till you
+bring me his answer."
+
+Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan's
+throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at her
+son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can he get so many large
+gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is altogether out
+of his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my embassy
+this time." When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin
+all the circumstances of her interview with the sultan, and the
+conditions on which he consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects
+your answer immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe
+he may wait long enough!"
+
+"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin, "This demand is
+a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the princess. I
+will prepare at once to satisfy his request."
+
+Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the lamp,
+and required him to prepare and present the gift immediately, before the
+sultan closed his morning audience, according to the terms in which it
+had been prescribed. The genie professed his obedience to the owner of
+the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very short time, a train of forty
+black slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, appeared opposite
+the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave carried on his head a
+basin of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.
+Aladdin then addressed his mother: "Madam, pray lose no time; before the
+sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace with
+this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may judge
+by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I have to
+procure myself the honour of this alliance."
+
+As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at its
+head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city was filled
+with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The graceful
+bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; their grave
+walk at an equal distance from each other, the lustre of their jewelled
+girdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious stones in their
+turbans, excited the greatest admiration in the spectators. As they had
+to pass through several streets to the palace, the whole length of the
+way was lined with files of spectators. Nothing, indeed, was ever seen
+so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's palace, and the richest robes
+of the emirs of his court were not to be compared to the costly dresses
+of these slaves, whom they supposed to be kings.
+
+As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given orders
+for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went into the
+divan in regular order, one part turning to the right and the other to
+the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a semicircle
+before the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on
+the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet with their
+foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the same. When they
+rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood with
+their arms crossed over their breasts.
+
+In the mean time, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne,
+and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, my son knows
+this present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; but
+hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make it
+agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he has
+endeavoured to conform to the conditions you were pleased to impose."
+
+The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such more than royal
+magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's
+mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace him;
+and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my daughter
+from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me." As soon as Aladdin's
+mother had retired, the sultan put an end to the audience; and rising
+from his throne ordered that the princess's attendants should come and
+carry the trays into their mistress's apartment, whither he went himself
+to examine them with her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves were
+conducted into the palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of their
+magnificent apparel, ordered them to be brought before her apartment,
+that she might see through the lattices he had not exaggerated in his
+account of them.
+
+In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her air and
+countenance the good news she brought to her son. "My son," said she,
+"you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your desires. The
+sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor.
+He waits for you with impatience."
+
+Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little reply,
+but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedient
+genie appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at once to a bath, and
+supply me with the richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by a
+monarch." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie
+rendered him, as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a
+bath of the finest marble of all sorts of colours; where he was
+undressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall.
+He was then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After he
+had passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite a
+different man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of a
+child, his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall,
+he found, instead of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence of
+which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he had
+done, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if he
+had any other commands. "Yes," answered Aladdin, "bring me a charger
+that surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan's stables;
+with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with his
+value. Furnish also twenty slaves, as richly clothed as those who
+carried the present to the sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and
+twenty more to go before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother
+six women slaves to attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the
+Princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for any
+sultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go,
+and make haste."
+
+As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but
+presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carried
+each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six women
+slaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for Aladdin's
+mother, wrapt up in a piece of silver tissue, and presented them all to
+Aladdin.
+
+He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were
+her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of
+the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, telling
+her, those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left in
+the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw them by
+handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. The six
+slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march before him,
+three on the right hand and three on the left.
+
+When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with the
+sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting his charger,
+began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, appeared
+with a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The innumerable
+concourse of people through whom he passed made the air echo with their
+acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried the
+purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace.
+
+On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find him
+more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, and
+was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which were so
+different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as Aladdin's
+mother. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy, and when he
+would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and made him sit
+near his throne. He shortly after led him amidst the sounds of trumpets,
+hautboys, and all kinds of music, to a magnificent entertainment, at
+which the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and the great lords of
+the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different tables.
+After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him
+to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al Buddoor
+and Aladdin. When the contract had been drawn, the sultan asked Aladdin
+if he would stay in the palace and complete the ceremonies of the
+marriage that day. "Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience
+to enter on the honour granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to
+permit me first to build a palace worthy to receive the princess your
+daughter. I pray you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, and
+I will have it completed with the utmost expedition." The sultan granted
+Aladdin his request, and again embraced him. After which he took his
+leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred up and had always
+lived at court.
+
+Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the acclamations
+of the people, who wished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon as
+he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, took the lamp, and
+summoned the genie as usual, who professed his allegiance. "Genie," said
+Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess Buddir al
+Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than porphyry,
+jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its walls be
+massive gold and silver bricks laid alternately. Let each front contain
+six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, which must be
+left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, so
+that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen in the world.
+Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the palace, and a
+spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe treasure-house,
+and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens and
+storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with their equerries and
+grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, attendants, and slaves, both men
+and women, to form a retinue for the princess and myself. Go and execute
+my wishes."
+
+When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The next
+morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having obtained
+Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace he had
+made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he found
+officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the services to
+which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the treasury, which
+was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large vases of different
+sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all round the chamber. The
+genie thence led him to the stables, where were some of the finest
+horses in the world, and the grooms busy in dressing them; from thence
+they went to the storehouses, which were filled with all things
+necessary, both for food and ornament.
+
+When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and particularly
+the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it far to exceed
+his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one thing wanting, a
+fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the sultan's palace to
+mine. Lay one down immediately." The genie disappeared, and Aladdin saw
+what he desired executed in an instant. The genie then returned, and
+carried him to his own home.
+
+When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed to
+find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent
+palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the
+sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, who
+informed the sultan, who exclaimed, "It must be Aladdin's palace, which
+I gave him leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us,
+and let us see what wonders can be done in only one night."
+
+Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requested
+his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that
+the palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went,
+attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding day.
+Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment, the sultan
+himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew as his
+suppliant at his divan in such humble guise, to be now more richly and
+sumptuously attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher
+opinion of Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her share
+his wealth and honours. Shortly after her departure, Aladdin, mounting
+his horse, and attended by his retinue of magnificent attendants, left
+his paternal home forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as on
+the day before. Nor did he forget to take with him the Wonderful Lamp,
+to which he owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the Ring which was
+given him as a talisman. The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmost
+magnificence, and at night, on the conclusion of the marriage
+ceremonies, the princess took leave of the sultan her father. Bands of
+music led the procession, followed by a hundred state ushers, and the
+like number of black mutes, in two files, with their officers at their
+head. Four hundred of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each
+side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's and
+Aladdin's palaces, made it as light as day. In this order the princess,
+conveyed in her litter, and accompanied also by Aladdin's mother,
+carried in a superb litter and attended by her women slaves, proceeded
+on the carpet which was spread from the sultan's palace to that of
+Aladdin. On her arrival Aladdin was ready to receive her at the
+entrance, and led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite
+number of wax candles, where a noble feast was served up. The dishes
+were of massy gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The vases,
+basins, and goblets were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and
+all the other ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable
+to this display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected
+in one place, said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, that nothing in the
+world was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but the sight
+of this hall alone is sufficient to show I was deceived."
+
+When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female dancers,
+who performed, according to the custom of the country, singing at the
+same time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. About midnight
+Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial apartment, and he
+soon after retired.
+
+The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to dress
+him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as that worn
+the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got ready,
+mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves to the
+sultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the princess's
+palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of his court. The
+sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, and, preceded by
+the principal officers of his palace, and followed by all the great
+lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin.
+
+The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was
+struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, came into the hall, and
+saw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all large
+perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his son-in-law,
+"This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where in all the
+world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and silver, and
+diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But what most
+surprises me is, that a hall of this magnificence should be left with
+one of its windows incomplete and unfinished." "Sire," answered Aladdin,
+"the omission was by design, since I wished that you should have the
+glory of finishing this hall." "I take your intention kindly," said the
+sultan, "and will give orders about it immediately."
+
+After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, provided
+for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the jewellers
+and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, and showed
+them the window which was unfinished. "I sent for you," said he, "to fit
+up this window in as great perfection as the rest. Examine them well,
+and make all the dispatch you can."
+
+The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with
+great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what
+each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the
+sultan, whose principal jeweller undertaking to speak for the rest,
+said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry to
+obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great
+a work." "I have more than are necessary," said the sultan; "come to my
+palace, and you shall choose what may answer your purpose."
+
+When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to be
+brought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity, particularly those
+Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without making
+any great advance in their work. They came again several times for more,
+and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In short, they
+used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yet
+the work was not half done.
+
+Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavours to make this window
+like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and goldsmiths, and
+not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to
+undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the
+sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been
+six weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took
+the lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie
+appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the
+four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed
+my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the rest."
+The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and
+returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it to be, like the
+others.
+
+In the mean time, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace,
+and were introduced into the sultan's presence; where the chief jeweller
+presented the precious stones which he had brought back. The sultan
+asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, and they
+answering that he had given them none, he ordered a horse to be brought,
+which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, with some few
+attendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the completion of the
+window to be stopped. Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving
+any reply to his inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the
+sultan, to his great surprise, found the window, which was left
+imperfect, to correspond exactly with the others. He fancied at first
+that he was mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and
+afterward all the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the
+window which several workmen had been so long about was finished in so
+short a time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes. "My
+son," said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising things always
+in the twinkling of an eye! there is not your fellow in the world; the
+more I know, the more I admire you."
+
+The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently to the
+window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of his son-in-law.
+
+Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much state,
+sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, or to
+visit the grand vizier or the principal lords of the court. Every time
+he went out, he caused two slaves, who walked by the side of his horse,
+to throw handfuls of money among the people as he passed through the
+streets and squares. This generosity gained him the love and blessings
+of the people, and it was common for them to swear by his head. Thus
+Aladdin, while he paid all respect to the sultan, won by his affable
+behaviour and liberality the affections of the people.
+
+Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when the
+African magician, who had for some years dismissed him from his
+recollection, determined to inform himself with certainty whether he
+perished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or not. After he had
+resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had formed a
+horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, what was his surprise to
+find the appearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in the
+cave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendour, by the aid
+of the genie of the wonderful lamp!
+
+On the very next day, the magician set out and travelled with the utmost
+haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took up his
+lodgings in a khan.
+
+He then quickly learnt about the wealth, charities, happiness, and
+splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful fabric,
+he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, could have
+performed such wonders, and, piqued to the quick at Aladdin's high
+estate, he returned to the khan.
+
+On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out
+where the lamp was--whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or where
+he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his great
+joy, that the lamp was in the palace. "Well," said he, rubbing his hands
+in glee, "I shall have the lamp, and I shall make Aladdin return to his
+original mean condition."
+
+The next day the magician learnt, from the chief superintendent of the
+khan where he lodged, that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition,
+which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The
+magician wanted to know no more, He resolved at once on his plans. He
+went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps: the master of
+the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would have
+patience till the next day, he would have them ready. The magician
+appointed his time, and desired him to take care that they should be
+handsome and well polished.
+
+The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man his
+full price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went directly
+to Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began crying, "Who will
+exchange old lamps for new ones?" As he went along, a crowd of children
+collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who chanced to be
+passing by, a madman or a fool, to offer to change new lamps for old
+ones.
+
+The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all they
+could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will change old lamps
+for new ones?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and forward
+in front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the hall with
+the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and seeing a
+great mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to know what
+he cried.
+
+The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked her.
+"Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear laughing,
+to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new lamps,
+asking to change them for old ones? the children and mob crowding about
+him, so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise they can in derision
+of him."
+
+Another female slave hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I know
+not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an old one
+upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever owns it
+will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the princess
+chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man is so silly
+as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking anything for the
+exchange."
+
+The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the interest that
+Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry, and commanded
+a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out of
+the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the African
+magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, "Give me a
+new lamp for this."
+
+The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There could
+be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or silver.
+He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting it as far
+as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and bade him choose
+which he liked best. The slave picked out one and carried it to the
+princess; but the change was no sooner made than the place rung with the
+shouts of the children, deriding the magician's folly.
+
+The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried any
+more, "New lamps for old ones," but made the best of his way to his
+khan. His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of the
+children and the mob.
+
+As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces, he hastened down the
+least-frequented streets; and having no more occasion for his lamps or
+basket, set all down in a spot where nobody saw him; then going down
+another street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city gates,
+and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very extensive, at
+length reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till the darkness of the
+night, as the most suitable time for the design he had in contemplation.
+When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and
+rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldst
+thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all
+those who have that lamp in their hands, both I and the other slaves of
+the lamp." "I command thee," replied the magician, "to transport me
+immediately, and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp
+have built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." The
+genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, the
+slaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, entire,
+to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it.
+
+Early the next morning, when the sultan, according to custom, went to
+contemplate and admire Aladdin's place, his amazement was unbounded to
+find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not comprehend how so large
+a palace which he had seen plainly every day for some years, should
+vanish so soon, and not leave the least remains behind. In his
+perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition.
+
+The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin,
+intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that
+Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of his
+palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. He
+induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have
+Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state. On his son-in-law being brought
+before him, he would not hear a word from him, but ordered him to be put
+to death. The decree caused so much discontent among the people, whose
+affection Aladdin had secured by his largesses and charities, that the
+sultan, fearful of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life.
+When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan:
+"Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost the
+favour of thy countenance." "Your crime!" answered the sultan, "wretched
+man! do you not know it? Follow me, and I will show you." The sultan
+then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was wont to look at
+and admire his palace, and said, "You ought to know where your palace
+stood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of it." Aladdin did so,
+and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, was speechless. At
+last recovering himself, he said, "It is true, I do not see the palace.
+It is vanished; but I had no concern in its removal. I beg you to give
+me forty days, and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will offer my
+head to be disposed of at your pleasure." "I give you the time you ask,
+but at the end of the forty days, forget not to present yourself before
+me."
+
+Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of exceeding
+humiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendour,
+now declined to have any communication with him. For three days he
+wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of the
+multitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, or
+could tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into the
+country, and as he was approaching a river, he fell down the bank with
+so much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had given
+him so hard by holding on the rock to save himself, that immediately the
+same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the magician had
+left him. "What wouldst thou have?" said the genie, "I am ready to obey
+thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on
+their finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring."
+
+Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected,
+replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now
+stands, or transport it back where it first stood." "Your command,"
+answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am only the slave of
+the ring, and not of the lamp." "I command thee, then," replied Aladdin,
+"by the power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palace
+stands, in what part of the world soever it may be." These words were no
+sooner out of his mouth, than the genie transported him into Africa, to
+the midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, at no great distance
+from a city, and placing him exactly under the window of the princess's
+apartment, left him.
+
+Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported by
+the slave of the ring to the neighbourhood of his palace, that one of
+the attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through the
+window, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, who
+could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the window,
+and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of opening the
+window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving the princess,
+he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. "To lose no time,"
+said she to him, "I have sent to have the private door opened for you;
+enter and come up."
+
+The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was
+soon opened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is impossible
+to express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so cruel a
+separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down,
+and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell me what is become of
+an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing-chamber."
+
+"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might be
+owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is, that I have been the
+cause of it. I was foolish enough to change the old lamp for a new one,
+and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, which I am
+told is Africa."
+
+"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have explained all by
+telling me we are in Africa I desire you only to tell me if you know
+where the old lamp now is." "The African magician carries it carefully
+wrapt up in his bosom," said the princess; "and this I can assure you,
+because he pulled it out before me, and showed it to me in triumph."
+
+"Princess," said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to deliver you
+and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperity
+depends; to execute this design it is necessary for me to go to the
+town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be done
+by you to insure success. In the mean time, I shall disguise myself, and
+beg that the private door may be opened at the first knock."
+
+When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides,
+and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him; and
+when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him to change clothes,
+which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the countryman
+went about his business, and Aladdin entered the neighbouring city.
+After traversing several streets, he came to that part of the town where
+the merchants and artisans had their particular streets according to
+their trades. He went into that of the druggists; and entering one of
+the largest and best furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had a
+certain powder, which he named.
+
+The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told him he
+had it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin, penetrating his
+thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked for
+half a dram of the powder; which the druggist weighed and gave him,
+telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money into
+his hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by the
+private door. When he came into the princess's apartments, he said to
+her, "Princess, you must take your part in the scheme which I propose
+for our deliverance. You must overcome your aversion to the magician,
+and assume a most friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you
+by partaking of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves,
+ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honour you
+do him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing this
+powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will obtain
+the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us and the
+palace to the capital of China."
+
+The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She
+assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and asked
+him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. At the close
+of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she could to
+please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and giving the
+signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave to the
+magician. He drank it out of compliment to the princess to the very last
+drop, when he fell backward lifeless on the sofa.
+
+The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so
+placed her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase, that
+the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen
+backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall.
+The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; but
+he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to your apartment; and let
+me be left alone, while I endeavour to transport you back to China as
+speedily as you were brought from thence."
+
+When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall,
+Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the
+magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp which was carefully wrapped
+up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. "Genie," said
+Aladdin, "I command thee to transport this palace instantly to the place
+from whence it was brought hither." The genie bowed his head in token of
+obedience, and disappeared. Immediately the palace was transported into
+China, and its removal was only felt by two little shocks, the one when
+it was lifted up, the other when it was set down, and both in a very
+short interval of time.
+
+On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace, the sultan was
+looking out of his window, and mourning over the fate of his daughter,
+when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance of
+the palace to be again filled up.
+
+On looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of doubt
+that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded to
+sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which he
+mounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to the
+place.
+
+Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most
+magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of
+twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan approaching,
+and received him at the foot of the great staircase, helping him to
+dismount.
+
+He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father
+embraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, afforded
+similar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a short interval,
+devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the sultan
+restored Aladdin to his favour, and expressed his regret for the
+apparent harshness with which he had treated him. "My son," said he, "be
+not displeased at my proceedings against you; they arose from my
+paternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive the excesses to which
+it hurried me." "Sire," replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to
+complain of your conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty
+required. This infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause
+of my misfortune."
+
+The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavour to ruin
+Aladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skilful a magician as
+himself, and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. By mutual
+agreement they communicated with each other once a year, however widely
+separate might be their place of residence from each other. The younger
+brother not having received as usual his annual communication, prepared
+to take a horoscope and ascertain his brother's proceedings. He, as well
+as his brother, always carried a geomantic square instrument about him;
+he prepared the sand, cast the points, and drew the figures. On
+examining the planetary crystal, he found that his brother was no longer
+living, but had been poisoned; and by another observation, that he was
+in the capital of the kingdom of China; also, that the person who had
+poisoned him was of mean birth, though married to a princess, a sultan's
+daughter.
+
+When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate, he
+resolved immediately to revenge his death, and at once departed for
+China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, and a
+long tract of country without delay, he arrived after incredible
+fatigues. When he came to the capital of China, he took a lodging at a
+khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that Aladdin was the person who
+had been the cause of the death of his brother. He had heard, too, all
+the persons of repute in the city talking of a woman called Fatima, who
+was retired from the world, and of the miracles she wrought. As he
+fancied that this woman might be serviceable to him in the project he
+had conceived, he made more minute inquiries, and requested to be
+informed more particularly who that holy woman was, and what sort of
+miracles she performed.
+
+"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or heard
+of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her fasting, her
+austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays and Fridays, she
+never stirs out of her little cell; and on those days on which she comes
+into the town she does an infinite deal of good; for there is not a
+person who is diseased but she puts her hand on them and cures them."
+
+Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman was,
+the magician went at night, and, plunging a poniard into her heart,
+killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the same hue
+as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil, the large
+necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went straight to the
+palace of Aladdin.