第2章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Shetoldhimthat,havingseenhim,shewillinglyobeyedherfatherinthismatter。Aftertheweddinghadtakenplace,Aladdinledherintothehall,whereafeastwasspread,andshesuppedwithhim,afterwhichtheydancedtillmidnight。

  NextdayAladdininvitedtheSultantoseethepalace。Onenteringthehallwiththefour—and—twentywindowswiththeirrubies,diamondsandemeralds,hecried,\"Itisaworld’swonder!

  Thereisonlyonethingthatsurprisesme。Wasitbyaccidentthatonewindowwasleftunfinished?\"\"No,sir,bydesign,\"

  returnedAladdin。\"IwishedyourMajestytohavethegloryoffinishingthispalace。\"TheSultanwaspleased,andsentforthebestjewelersinthecity。Heshowedthemtheunfinishedwindow,andbadethemfititupliketheothers。\"Sir,\"repliedtheirspokesman,\"wecannotfindjewelsenough。\"TheSultanhadhisownfetched,whichtheysoonused,buttonopurpose,forinamonth’stimetheworkwasnothalfdone。Aladdinknowingthattheirtaskwasvain,badethemundotheirworkandcarrythejewelsback,andthegeniefinishedthewindowathiscommand。TheSultanwassurprisedtoreceivehisjewelsagain,andvisitedAladdin,whoshowedhimthewindowfinished。TheSultanembracedhim,theenviousviziermeanwhilehintingthatitwastheworkofenchantment。

  Aladdinhadwontheheartsofthepeoplebyhisgentlebearing。

  HewasmadecaptainoftheSultan’sarmies,andwonseveralbattlesforhim,butremainedascourteousasbefore,andlivedthusinpeaceandcontentforseveralyears。

  ButfarawayinAfricathemagicianrememberedAladdin,andbyhismagicartsdiscoveredthatAladdin,insteadofperishingmiserablyinthecave,hadescaped,andhadmarriedaprincess,withwhomhewaslivingingreathonourandwealth。Heknewthatthepoortailor’ssoncouldonlyhaveaccomplishedthisbymeansofthelamp,andtravellednightanddaytillhereachedthecapitalofChina,bentonAladdin’sruin。Ashepassedthroughthetownheheardpeopletalkingeverywhereaboutamarvelouspalace。\"Forgivemyignorance,\"heasked,\"whatisthepalaceyouspeakof?\"HaveyounotheardofPrinceAladdin’spalace,\"wasthereply,\"thegreatestwonderintheworld?Iwilldirectyouifyouhaveamindtoseeit。\"Themagicianthankedhimwhospoke,andhavingseenthepalaceknewthatithadbeenraisedbytheGenieoftheLamp,andbecamehalfmadwithrage。Hedeterminedtogetholdofthelamp,andagainplungeAladdinintothedeepestpoverty。

  Unluckily,Aladdinhadgonea—huntingforeightdays,whichgavethemagicianplentyoftime。Heboughtadozenlamps,putthemintoabasket,andwenttothepalace,crying:\"Newlampsforold!\"

  followedbyajeeringcrowd。ThePrincess,sittinginthehalloffour—and—twentywindows,sentaslavetofindoutwhatthenoisewasabout,whocamebacklaughing,sothatthePrincessscoldedher。

  \"Madam,\"repliedtheslave,\"whocanhelplaughingtoseeanoldfoolofferingtoexchangefinenewlampsforoldones?\"Anotherslave,hearingthis,said,\"Thereisanoldoneonthecornicetherewhichhecanhave。\"Nowthiswasthemagiclamp,whichAladdinhadleftthere,ashecouldnottakeitouthuntingwithhim。ThePrincess,notknowingitsvalue,laughinglybadetheslavetakeitandmaketheexchange。

  Shewentandsaidtothemagician:\"Givemeanewlampforthis。\"

  Hesnatcheditandbadetheslavetakeherchoice,amidthejeersofthecrowd。Littlehecared,butleftoffcryinghislamps,andwentoutofthecitygatestoalonelyplace,whereheremainedtillnightfall,whenhepulledoutthelampandrubbedit。Thegenieappeared,andatthemagician’scommandcarriedhim,togetherwiththepalaceandthePrincessinit,toalonelyplaceinAfrica。

  NextmorningtheSultanlookedoutofthewindowtowardsAladdin’spalaceandrubbedhiseyes,foritwasgone。HesentfortheVizierandaskedwhathadbecomeofthepalace。TheVizierlookedouttoo,andwaslostinastonishment。Heagainputitdowntoenchantment,andthistimetheSultanbelievedhim,andsentthirtymenonhorsebacktofetchAladdinbackinchains。Theymethimridinghome,boundhim,andforcedhimtogowiththemonfoot。

  Thepeople,however,wholovedhim,followed,armed,toseethathecametonoharm。HewascarriedbeforetheSultan,whoorderedtheexecutionertocutoffhishead。TheexecutionermadeAladdinkneeldown,bandagedhiseyes,andraisedhisscimitartostrike。AtthatinstanttheVizier,whosawthatthecrowdhadforcedtheirwayintothecourtyardandwerescalingthewallstorescueAladdin,calledtotheexecutionertostayhishand。

  Thepeople,indeed,lookedsothreateningthattheSultangavewayandorderedAladdintobeunbound,andpardonedhiminthesightofthecrowd。Aladdinnowbeggedtoknowwhathehaddone。

  \"Falsewretch!\"saidtheSultan,\"comehither,\"andshowedhimfromthewindowtheplacewherehispalacehadstood。Aladdinwassoamazedhecouldnotsayaword。\"Whereisyourpalaceandmydaughter?\"demandedtheSultan。\"ForthefirstIamnotsodeeplyconcerned,butmydaughterImusthave,andyoumustfindherorloseyourhead。\"Aladdinbeggedforfortydaysinwhichtofindher,promisingifhefailedtoreturntosufferdeathattheSultan’spleasure。Hisprayerwasgranted,andhewentforthsadlyfromtheSultan’spresence。

  Forthreedayshewanderedaboutlikeamadman,askingeveryonewhathadbecomeofhispalace,buttheyonlylaughedandpitiedhim。

  Hecametothebanksofariver,andkneltdowntosayhisprayersbeforethrowinghimselfin。Indoingsoherubbedtheringhestillwore。Thegeniehehadseeninthecaveappeared,andaskedhiswill。\"Savemylife,genie,\"saidAladdin,\"andbringmypalaceback。\"Thatisnotinmypower,\"saidthegenie;

  \"IamonlytheSlaveoftheRing;youmustaskhimofthelamp。\"

  \"Evenso,\"saidAladdin,\"butthoucansttakemetothepalace,andsetmedownundermydearwife’swindow。\"HeatoncefoundhimselfinAfrica,underthewindowofthePrincess,andfellasleepoutofsheerweariness。

  Hewasawakenedbythesingingofthebirds,andhisheartwaslighter。

  Hesawplainlythatallhismisfortuneswereowningtothelossofthelamp,andvainlywonderedwhohadrobbedhimofit。

  ThatmorningthePrincessroseearlierthanshehaddonesinceshehadbeencarriedintoAfricabythemagician,whosecompanyshewasforcedtoendureonceaday。She,however,treatedhimsoharshlythathedarednotlivetherealtogether。Asshewasdressing,oneofherwomenlookedoutandsawAladdin。

  ThePrincessranandopenedthewindow,andatthenoiseshemade,Aladdinlookedup。Shecalledtohimtocometoher,andgreatwasthejoyoftheseloversatseeingeachotheragain。AfterhehadkissedherAladdinsaid:\"Ibegofyou,Princess,inGod’sname,beforewespeakofanythingelse,foryourownsakeandmine,tellmewhathasbecomeofanoldlampIleftonthecorniceinthehalloffour—and—twentywindowswhenIwenta—hunting。\"

  \"Alas,\"shesaid,\"Iamtheinnocentcauseofoursorrows,\"andtoldhimoftheexchangeofthelamp。\"NowIknow,\"criedAladdin,\"thatwehavetothanktheAfricanmagicianforthis!

  Whereisthelamp?\"\"Hecarriesitaboutwithhim,\"saidthePrincess。\"Iknow,forhepulleditoutofhisbreasttoshowme。

  Hewishesmetobreakmyfaithwithyouandmarryhim,sayingthatyouwerebeheadedbymyfather’scommand。Heisforeverspeakingillofyou,butIonlyreplybymytears。IfIpersist,Idoubtnotbuthewilluseviolence。\"Aladdincomfortedher,andleftherforawhile。Hechangedclotheswiththefirstpersonhemetinthetown,andhavingboughtacertainpowderreturnedtothePrincess,wholethiminbyalittlesidedoor。\"Putonyourmostbeautifuldress,\"hesaidtoher,\"andreceivethemagicianwithsmiles,leadinghimtobelievethatyouhaveforgottenme。

  Invitehimtosupwithyou,andsayyouwishtotastethewineofhiscountry。Hewillgoforsome,andwhileheisgoneIwilltellyouwhattodo。\"ShelistenedcarefullytoAladdinandwhenhelefther,arrayedherselfgailyforthefirsttimesincesheleftChina。Sheputonagirdleandhead—dressofdiamondsandseeinginaglassthatshewasmorebeautifulthanever,receivedthemagician,saying,tohisgreatamazement:\"IhavemadeupmymindthatAladdinisdead,andthatallmytearswillnotbringhimbacktome,soIamresolvedtomournnomore,andhavethereforeinvitedyoutosupwithme;butIamtiredofthewinesofChina,andwouldfaintastethoseofAfrica。\"Themagicianflewtohiscellar,andthePrincessputthepowderAladdinhadgivenherinhercup。WhenhereturnedsheaskedhimtodrinkherhealthinthewineofAfrica,handinghimhercupinexchangeforhis,asasignshewasreconciledtohim。Beforedrinkingthemagicianmadeheraspeechinpraiseofherbeauty,butthePrincesscuthimshort,saying:\"Letusdrinkfirst,andyoushallsaywhatyouwillafterwards。\"Shesethercuptoherlipsandkeptitthere,whilethemagiciandrainedhistothedregsandfellbacklifeless。

  ThePrincessthenopenedthedoortoAladdin,andflungherarmsaroundhisneck;butAladdinwenttothedeadmagician,tookthelampoutofhisvest,andbadethegeniecarrythepalaceandallinitbacktoChina。Thiswasdone,andthePrincessinherchamberfeltonlytwolittleshocks,andlittlethoughtshewashomeagain。

  TheSultan,whowassittinginhiscloset,mourningforhislostdaughter,happenedtoolookup,andrubbedhiseyes,fortherestoodthepalaceasbefore!Hehastenedthither,andAladdinreceivedhiminthehallofthefour—and—twentywindows,withthePrincessathisside。Aladdintoldhimwhathadhappened,andshowedhimthedeadbodyofthemagician,thathemightbelieve。

  Atendays’feastwasproclaimed,anditseemedasifAladdinmightnowlivetherestofhislifeinpeace;butitwasnotmeanttobe。

  TheAfricanmagicianhadayoungerbrother,whowas,ifpossible,morewickedandmorecunningthanhimself。HetravelledtoChinatoavengehisbrother’sdeath,andwenttovisitapiouswomancalledFatima,thinkingshemightbeofusetohim。Heenteredhercellandclappedadaggertoherbreast,tellinghertoriseanddohisbiddingonpainofdeath。Hechangedclotheswithher,colouredhisfacelikehers,putonherveil,andmurderedher,thatshemighttellnotales。ThenhewenttowardsthepalaceofAladdin,andallthepeople,thinkinghewastheholywoman,gatheredroundhim,kissinghishandsandbegginghisblessing。

  WhenhegottothepalacetherewassuchanoisegoingonroundhimthatthePrincessbadeherslavelookoutthewindowandaskwhatwasthematter。Theslavesaiditwastheholywoman,curingpeoplebyhertouchoftheirailments,whereuponthePrincess,whohadlongdesiredtoseeFatima,sentforher。OncomingtothePrincessthemagicianofferedupaprayerforherhealthandprosperity。WhenhehaddonethePrincessmadehimsitbyher,andbeggedhimtostaywithheralways。ThefalseFatima,whowishedfornothingbetter,consented,butkepthisveildownforfearofdiscovery。Theprincessshowedhimthehall,andaskedhimwhathethoughtofit。\"Itistrulybeautiful,\"saidthefalseFatima。\"Inmyminditwantsbutonething。\"Andwhatisthat?\"saidthePrincess。\"Ifonlyaroc’segg,\"repliedhe,\"werehungupfromthemiddleofthisdome,itwouldbethewonderoftheworld。\"

  AfterthisthePrincesscouldthinkofnothingbuttheroc’segg,andwhenAladdinreturnedfromhuntinghefoundherinaveryillhumour。Hebeggedtoknowwhatwasamiss,andshetoldhimthatallherpleasureinthehallwasspoiltforwantofaroc’segghangingfromthedome。\"Ifthatisall,\"repliedAladdin,\"youshallsoonbehappy。\"Heleftherandrubbedthelamp,andwhenthegenieappearedcommandedhimtobringaroc’segg。Thegeniegavesuchaloudandterribleshriekthatthehallshook。

  \"Wretch!\"hecried,\"isitnotenoughthatIhavedoneeverythingforyou,butyoumustcommandmetobringmymasterandhanghimupinthemidstofthisdome?Youandyourwifeandyourpalacedeservetobeburnttoashes,butthatthisrequestdoesnotcomefromyou,butfromthebrotheroftheAfricanmagician,whomyoudestroyed。Heisnowinyourpalacedisguisedastheholywoman,whomhemurdered。Heitwaswhoputthatwishintoyourwife’shead。

  Takecareofyourself,forhemeanstokillyou。\"Sosaying,thegeniedisappeared。

  AladdinwentbacktothePrincess,sayinghisheadached,andrequestingthattheholyFatimashouldbefetchedtolayherhandsonit。Butwhenthemagiciancamenear,Aladdin,seizinghisdagger,piercedhimtotheheart。

  \"Whathaveyoudone?\"criedthePrincess。\"Youhavekilledtheholywoman!\"\"Notso,\"repliedAladdin,\"butawickedmagician,\"andtoldherofhowshehadbeendeceived。

  AfterthisAladdinandhiswifelivedinpeace。

  HesucceededtheSultanwhenhedied,andreignedformanyyears,leavingbehindhimalonglineofkings。

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