第1章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Thereoncelivedapoortailor,whohadasoncalledAladdin,acareless,idleboywhowoulddonothingbutplayalldaylonginthestreetswithlittleidleboyslikehimself。Thissogrievedthefatherthathedied;yet,inspiteofhismother’stearsandprayers,Aladdindidnotmendhisways。Oneday,whenhewasplayinginthestreetsasusual,astrangeraskedhimhisage,andifhewasnotthesonofMustaphathetailor。\"Iam,sir,\"repliedAladdin;

  \"buthediedalongwhileago。\"Onthisthestranger,whowasafamousAfricanmagician,fellonhisneckandkissedhimsaying:

  \"Iamyouruncle,andknewyoufromyourlikenesstomybrother。

  GotoyourmotherandtellherIamcoming。\"Aladdinranhomeandtoldhismotherofhisnewlyfounduncle。\"Indeed,child,\"shesaid,\"yourfatherhadabrother,butIalwaysthoughthewasdead。\"

  However,shepreparedsupper,andbadeAladdinseekhisuncle,whocameladenwithwineandfruit。HefelldownandkissedtheplacewhereMustaphausedtosit,biddingAladdin’smothernottobesurprisedatnothavingseenhimbefore,ashehadbeenfortyyearsoutofthecountry。HethenturnedtoAladdin,andaskedhimhistrade,atwhichtheboyhunghishead,whilehismotherburstintotears。OnlearningthatAladdinwasidleandwouldlearnnotrade,heofferedtotakeashopforhimandstockitwithmerchandise。NextdayheboughtAladdinafinesuitofclothesandtookhimalloverthecity,showinghimthesights,andbroughthimhomeatnightfalltohismother,whowasoverjoyedtoseehersonsofine。

  NextdaythemagicianledAladdinintosomebeautifulgardensalongwayoutsidethecitygates。Theysatdownbyafountainandthemagicianpulledacakefromhisgirdle,whichhedividedbetweenthem。Thentheyjourneyedonwardstilltheyalmostreachedthemountains。Aladdinwassotiredthathebeggedtogoback,butthemagicianbeguiledhimwithpleasantstoriesandleadhimoninspiteofhimself。Atlasttheycametotwomountainsdividedbyanarrowvalley。\"Wewillgonofarther,\"saidhisuncle。\"Iwillshowyousomethingwonderful;onlydoyougatherupstickswhileIkindleafire。\"Whenitwaslitthemagicianthrewonitapowderhehadabouthim,atthesametimesayingsomemagicalwords。Theearthtrembledalittleinfrontofthem,disclosingasquareflatstonewithabrassringinthemiddletoraiseitby。Aladdintriedtorunaway,butthemagiciancaughthimandgavehimablowthatknockedhimdown。

  \"WhathaveIdone,uncle?\"hesaidpiteously;whereuponthemagiciansaidmorekindly:\"Fearnothing,butobeyme。Beneaththisstoneliesatreasurewhichistobeyours,andnooneelsemaytouchit,soyoumustdoexactlyasItellyou。\"AtthewordtreasureAladdinforgothisfears,andgraspedtheringashewastold,sayingthenamesofhisfatherandgrandfather。Thestonecameupquiteeasily,andsomestepsappeared。\"Godown,\"saidthemagician;\"atthefootofthosestepsyouwillfindanopendoorleadingintothreelargehalls。Tuckupyourgownandgothroughthemwithouttouchinganything,oryouwilldieinstantly。

  Thesehallsleadintoagardenoffinefruittrees。Walkontillyoucometonicheinaterracewherestandsalightedlamp。Pourouttheoilitcontains,andbringitme。\"HedrewaringfromhisfingerandgaveittoAladdin,biddinghimprosper。

  Aladdinfoundeverythingasthemagicianhadsaid,gatheredsomefruitoffthetrees,and,havinggotthelamp,arrivedatthemouthofthecave。Themagiciancriedoutinagreathurry:

  \"Makehasteandgivemethelamp。\"ThisAladdinrefusedtodountilhewasoutofthecave。Themagicianflewintoaterriblepassion,andthrowingsomemorepowderontothefire,hesaidsomething,andthestonerolledbackintoitsplace。

  Themanleftthecountry,whichplainlyshowedthathewasnouncleofAladdin’sbutacunningmagician,whohadreadinhismagicbooksofawonderfullamp,whichwouldmakehimthemostpowerfulmanintheworld。Thoughhealoneknewwheretofindit,hecouldonlyreceiveitfromthehandofanother。HehadpickedoutthefoolishAladdinforthispurpose,intendingtogetthelampandkillhimafterwards。

  FortwodaysAladdinremainedinthedark,cryingandlamenting。

  Atlastheclaspedhishandsinprayer,andinsodoingrubbedthering,whichthemagicianhadforgottentotakefromhim。

  Immediatelyanenormousandfrightfulgenieroseoutoftheearth,saying:\"Whatwouldstthouwithme?IamtheSlaveoftheRing,andwillobeytheeinallthings。\"Aladdinfearlesslyreplied,\"Delivermefromthisplace!\"whereupontheearthopened,andhefoundhimselfoutside。Assoonashiseyescouldbearthelighthewenthome,butfaintedonthethreshold。Whenhecametohimselfhetoldhismotherwhathadpassed,andshowedherthelampandthefruitshehadgatheredinthegarden,whichwereinrealitypreciousstones。Hethenaskedforsomefood。\"Alas!

  child,\"shesaid,\"Ihavenothinginthehouse,butIhavespunalittlecottonandwillgosellit。\"Aladdinbadeherkeephercotton,forhewouldsellthelampinstead。Asitwasverydirty,shebegantorubit,thatitmightfetchahigherprice。

  Instantlyahideousgenieappeared,andaskedwhatshewouldhave。

  Shefaintedaway,butAladdin,snatchingthelamp,saidboldly:

  \"Fetchmesomethingtoeat!\"Thegeniereturnedwithasilverbowl,twelvesilverplatescontainingrichmeats,twosilvercups,andtwobottlesofwine。Aladdin’smother,whenshecametoherself,said:\"Whencecomesthissplendidfeast?\"\"Asknot,buteat,\"

  repliedAladdin。Sotheysatatbreakfasttillitwasdinner—time,andAladdintoldhismotheraboutthelamp。Shebeggedhimtosellit,andhavenothingtodowithdevils。\"No,\"saidAladdin,\"sincechancehathmadeusawareofitsvirtues,wewilluseit,andtheringlikewise,whichIshallalwayswearonmyfinger。\"Whentheyhadeatenallthegeniehadbrought,Aladdinsoldoneofthesilverplates,andsoonuntilnonewereleft。Hethenhadrecoursetothegenie,whogavehimanothersetofplates,andthustheylivedmanyyears。

  OnedayAladdinheardanorderfromtheSultanproclaimedthateveryonewastostayathomeandclosehisshutterswhilethePrincesshisdaughterwenttoandfromthebath。Aladdinwasseizedbyadesiretoseeherface,whichwasverydifficult,asshealwayswentveiled。Hehidhimselfbehindthedoorofthebath,andpeepedthroughachink。ThePrincessliftedherveilasshewentin,andlookedsobeautifulthatAladdinfellinlovewithheratfirstsight。Hewenthomesochangedthathismotherwasfrightened。HetoldherhelovedthePrincesssodeeplyhecouldnotlivewithouther,andmeanttoaskherinmarriageofherfather。Hismother,onhearingthis,burstoutlaughing,butAladdinatlastprevaileduponhertogobeforetheSultanandcarryhisrequest。Shefetchedanapkinandlaidinitthemagicfruitsfromtheenchantedgarden,whichsparkledandshonelikethemostbeautifuljewels。ShetookthesewithhertopleasetheSultan,andsetout,trustinginthelamp。TheGrandVizierandthelordsofcouncilhadjustgoneinassheenteredthehallandplacedherselfinfrontoftheSultan。He,however,tooknonoticeofher。Shewenteverydayforaweek,andstoodinthesameplace。WhenthecouncilbrokeuponthesixthdaytheSultansaidtohisVizier:\"Iseeacertainwomanintheaudience—chambereverydaycarryingsomethinginanapkin。Callhernexttime,thatImayfindoutwhatshewants。\"Nextday,atasignfromthevizier,shewentuptothefootofthethroneandremainedkneelinguntiltheSultansaidtoher:\"Rise,goodwoman,andtellmewhatyouwant。\"Shehesitated,sotheSultansentawayallbuttheVizier,andbadeherspeakfreely,promisingtoforgiveherbeforehandforanythingshemightsay。Shethentoldhimofherson’sviolentloveforthePrincess。\"Iprayedhimtoforgether,\"shesaid,\"butinvain;hethreatenedtodosomedesperatedeedifIrefusedtogoandaskyourMajestyforthehandofthePrincess。NowIprayyoutoforgivenotmealone,butmysonAladdin。\"TheSultanaskedherkindlywhatshehadinthenapkin,whereuponsheunfoldedthejewelsandpresentedthem。

  Hewasthunderstruck,andturningtothevizier,said:\"Whatsayestthou?OughtInottobestowthePrincessononewhovaluesheratsuchaprice?\"TheVizier,whowantedherforhisownson,beggedtheSultantowithholdherforthreemonths,inthecourseofwhichhehopedhissoncouldcontrivetomakehimaricherpresent。TheSultangrantedthis,andtoldAladdin’smotherthat,thoughheconsentedtothemarriage,shemustnotappearbeforehimagainforthreemonths。

  Aladdinwaitedpatientlyfornearlythreemonths,butaftertwohadelapsed,hismother,goingintothecitytobuyoil,foundeveryonerejoicing,andaskedwhatwasgoingon。\"Doyounotknow,\"wastheanswer,\"thatthesonoftheGrandVizieristomarrytheSultan’sdaughtertonight?\"BreathlesssheranandtoldAladdin,whowasoverwhelmedatfirst,butpresentlybethoughthimofthelamp。Herubbeditandthegenieappeared,saying:

  \"Whatisthywill?\"Aladdinreplied:\"TheSultan,asthouknowest,hasbrokenhispromisetome,andthevizier’ssonistohavethePrincess。Mycommandisthatto—nightyoubringhitherthebrideandbridegroom。\"\"Master,Iobey,\"saidthegenie。

  Aladdinthenwenttohischamber,where,sureenough,atmidnightthegenietransportedthebedcontainingthevizier’ssonandthePrincess。\"Takethisnew—marriedman,\"hesaid,\"andputhimoutsideinthecold,andreturnatdaybreak。\"Whereuponthegenietookthevizier’ssonoutofbed,leavingAladdinwiththePrincess。\"Fearnothing,\"Aladdinsaidtoher;\"youaremywife,promisedtomebyyourunjustfather,andnoharmwillcometoyou。\"ThePrincesswastoofrightenedtospeak,andpassedthemostmiserablenightofherlife,whileAladdinlaydownbesideherandsleptsoundly。Attheappointedhourthegeniefetchedintheshiveringbridegroom,laidhiminhisplace,andtransportedthebedbacktothepalace。

  PresentlytheSultancametowishhisdaughtergood—morning。

  TheunhappyVizier’ssonjumpedupandhidhimself,whilethePrincesswouldnotsayawordandwasverysorrowful。TheSultansenthermothertoher,whosaid:\"Howcomesit,child,thatyouwillnotspeaktoyourfather?Whathashappened?\"ThePrincesssigheddeeply,andatlasttoldhermotherhow,duringthenight,thebedhadbeencarriedintosomestrangehouse,andwhathadpassedthere。Hermotherdidnotbelieveherintheleast,butbadeherriseandconsideritanidledream。

  Thefollowingnightexactlythesamethinghappened,andnextmorning,onthePrincess’srefusingtospeak,theSultanthreatenedtocutoffherhead。Shethenconfessedall,biddinghimasktheVizier’ssonifitwerenotso。TheSultantoldtheViziertoaskhisson,whoownedthetruth,addingthat,dearlyashelovedthePrincess,hehadratherdiethangothroughanothersuchfearfulnight,andwishedtobeseparatedfromher。

  Hiswishwasgranted,andtherewasanendoffeastingandrejoicing。

  Whenthethreemonthswereover,AladdinsenthismothertoremindtheSultanofhispromise。Shestoodinthesameplaceasbefore,andtheSultan,whohadforgottenAladdin,atoncerememberedhim,andsentforher。OnseeingherpovertytheSultanfeltlessinclinedthanevertokeephisword,andaskedhisVizier’sadvice,whocounselledhimtosetsohighavalueonthePrincessthatnomanlivingwouldcomeuptoit。TheSultanthanturnedtoAladdin’smother,saying:\"Goodwoman,asultanmustrememberhispromises,andIwillremembermine,butyoursonmustfirstsendmefortybasinsofgoldbrimfulofjewels,carriedbyfortyblackslaves,ledbyasmanywhiteones,splendidlydressed。TellhimthatIawaithisanswer。\"ThemotherofAladdinbowedlowandwenthome,thinkingallwaslost。

  ShegaveAladdinthemessageadding,\"Hemaywaitlongenoughforyouranswer!\"\"Notsolong,mother,asyouthink,\"hersonreplied。

  \"IwoulddoagreatdealmorethanthatforthePrincess。\"

  Hesummonedthegenie,andinafewmomentstheeightyslavesarrived,andfilledupthesmallhouseandgarden。Aladdinmadethemtosetouttothepalace,twobytwo,followedbyhismother。Theyweresorichlydressed,withsuchsplendidjewels,thateveryonecrowdedtoseethemandthebasinsofgoldtheycarriedontheirheads。

  Theyenteredthepalace,and,afterkneelingbeforetheSultan,stoodinahalf—circleroundthethronewiththeirarmscrossed,whileAladdin’smotherpresentedthemtotheSultan。Hehesitatednolonger,butsaid:\"Goodwoman,returnandtellyoursonthatI

  waitforhimwithopenarms。\"ShelostnotimeintellingAladdin,biddinghimmakehaste。ButAladdinfirstcalledthegenie。

  \"Iwantascentedbath,\"hesaid,\"arichlyembroideredhabit,ahorsesurpassingtheSultan’s,andtwentyslavestoattendme。

  Besidesthis,sixslaves,beautifullydressed,towaitonmymother;

  andlastly,tenthousandpiecesofgoldintenpurses。\"Nosoonersaidthendone。Aladdinmountedhishorseandpassedthroughthestreets,theslavesstrewinggoldastheywent。Thosewhohadplayedwithhiminhischildhoodknewhimnot,hehadgrownsohandsome。

  Whenthesultansawhimhecamedownfromhisthrone,embracedhim,andledhimintoahallwhereafeastwasspread,intendingtomarryhimtothePrincessthatveryday。ButAladdinrefused,saying,\"Imustbuildapalacefitforher,\"andtookhisleave。

  Oncehome,hesaidtothegenie:\"Buildmeapalaceofthefinestmarble,setwithjasper,agate,andotherpreciousstones。Inthemiddleyoushallbuildmealargehallwithadome,itsfourwallsofmassygoldandsilver,eachsidehavingsixwindows,whoselattices,allexceptonewhichistobeleftunfinished,mustbesetwithdiamondsandrubies。Theremustbestablesandhorsesandgroomsandslaves;

  goandseeaboutit!\"

  Thepalacewasfinishedthenextday,andthegeniecarriedhimthereandshowedhimallhisordersfaithfullycarriedout,eventothelayingofavelvetcarpetfromAladdin’spalacetotheSultan’s。

  Aladdin’smotherthendressedherselfcarefully,andwalkedtothepalacewithherslaves,whilehefollowedheronhorseback。

  TheSultansentmusicianswithtrumpetsandcymbalstomeetthem,sothattheairresoundedwithmusicandcheers。

  ShewastakentothePrincess,whosalutedherandtreatedherwithgreathonour。Atnighttheprincesssaidgood—byetoherfather,andsetoutonthecarpetforAladdin’spalace,withhismotheratherside,andfollowedbythehundredslaves。ShewascharmedatthesightofAladdin,whorantoreceiveher。\"Princess,\"hesaid,\"blameyourbeautyformyboldnessifIhavedispleasedyou。\"

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