Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

In a Persian city, there once lived a poor tailor. He had a wife and a son named Aladdin. When Aladdin turned ten, his father wanted to teach him a trade. However, he had no money to pay for his education, so he decided to teach Aladdin how to sew clothes himself.

This Aladdin was a great idler. He didn’t want to learn anything, and as soon as his father left to visit a customer, Aladdin would run off to the streets to play with other boys, who were just as mischievous as he was. From morning till evening, they would run around the city, shooting sparrows with slingshots or sneaking into other people’s gardens and vineyards, stuffing themselves with grapes and peaches.

But what they loved most was teasing some fool or cripple—jumping around them and shouting, “Madman, madman!”—and throwing stones and rotten apples at them.

Aladdin’s father was so distressed by his son’s mischief that he fell ill from grief and died. Then his wife sold everything they had left and began spinning cotton and selling yarn to feed herself and her lazy son.

But Aladdin didn’t even think about helping his mother in any way and only came home to eat and sleep.

A long time passed. Aladdin turned fifteen. And one day, while he was, as usual, playing with the boys, a dervish—a wandering monk—approached them. He looked at Aladdin and said to himself:

“This is the one I’ve been looking for. I’ve endured many misfortunes before finding him.”

This dervish was a Maghrebi, a resident of the Maghreb. He beckoned one of the boys over and learned from him who Aladdin was and who his father was. Then he approached Aladdin and asked:

“Aren’t you the son of Hassan, the tailor?”

“I am,” replied Aladdin, “but my father died long ago.”

Hearing this, the Maghrebi embraced Aladdin and began to weep loudly, beating his chest and crying out:

“Know, my child, that your father was my brother. I came to this city after a long absence, hoping to see my brother Hassan, and now he is dead. I recognized you immediately because you look so much like your father.”

Then the Maghrebi gave Aladdin two dinars and said:

“My child, you are my only consolation now. Take this money to your mother and tell her that your uncle has returned and will come to dine with you tomorrow. Let her prepare a good meal.”

Aladdin ran to his mother and told her everything the Maghrebi had said, but his mother became angry:

“All you know how to do is laugh at me. Your father had no brother, so where did this uncle suddenly come from?”

“How can you say I have no uncle!” shouted Aladdin. “This man is my uncle. He hugged me, cried, and gave me these dinars. He’s coming to dine with us tomorrow.”

The next day, Aladdin’s mother borrowed dishes from the neighbors and, after buying meat, greens, and fruits at the market, prepared a fine meal.

This time, Aladdin stayed home all day, waiting for his uncle.

In the evening, there was a knock at the gate. Aladdin rushed to open it. It was the Maghrebi, accompanied by a servant carrying exotic Maghrebi fruits and sweets. The servant set his load down and left, while the Maghrebi entered the house, greeted Aladdin’s mother, and said:

“Please, show me the place where my brother used to sit during meals.”

They showed him, and the Maghrebi began to moan and weep so loudly that Aladdin’s mother believed this man truly was her husband’s brother. She tried to comfort the Maghrebi, and he soon calmed down and said:

“O wife of my brother, do not be surprised that you have never seen me. I left this city forty years ago. I have been to India, the Arab lands, the Far West, and Egypt, and spent thirty years traveling. When I decided to return home, I said to myself, ‘O man, you have a brother, and he may be in need, yet you have done nothing to help him. Find your brother and see how he lives.’ I set out on my journey and traveled for many days and nights, and finally, I found you. And now I see that my brother has died, but he has left behind a son who will work in his place and provide for himself and his mother.”

“If only that were true!” exclaimed Aladdin’s mother. “I’ve never seen such a lazy boy as this wretched child. He spends all day running around the city, shooting crows and stealing grapes and apples from the neighbors. If only you could make him help his mother.”

“Do not grieve, O wife of my brother,” replied the Maghrebi. “Tomorrow, Aladdin and I will go to the market, and I will buy him fine clothes. Let him see how people buy and sell—perhaps he will want to trade himself, and then I will apprentice him to a merchant. And when he learns the trade, I will open a shop for him, and he will become a merchant and grow rich. How does that sound, Aladdin?”

Aladdin sat there, red with joy, unable to utter a single word, only nodding his head: “Yes, yes!” When the Maghrebi left, Aladdin immediately went to bed, hoping morning would come quickly, but he couldn’t sleep and tossed and turned all night. As soon as dawn broke, he jumped out of bed and ran out the gate to meet his uncle. The Maghrebi didn’t keep him waiting long.

First, they went to the baths. There, Aladdin was washed, and his joints were rubbed so thoroughly that each one cracked loudly. Then his head was shaved, he was perfumed, and he was given rosewater with sugar to drink. After that, the Maghrebi took Aladdin to a shop, and Aladdin picked out the most expensive and beautiful items—a yellow silk robe with green stripes, a red cap embroidered with gold, and high leather boots lined with silver horseshoes. True, his feet felt tight in them—it was the first time Aladdin had ever worn boots—but he wouldn’t have taken them off for anything.

His head under the cap was dripping with sweat, and beads of perspiration rolled down Aladdin’s face, but everyone could see the beautiful silk handkerchief he used to wipe his forehead.

They walked all around the market and then headed to a large grove just outside the city. The sun was already high, and Aladdin hadn’t eaten anything since morning. He was very hungry and quite tired from walking in the tight boots, but he was too embarrassed to admit it and waited for his uncle to suggest eating and drinking. But the Maghrebi kept walking. They had long since left the city, and Aladdin was parched with thirst.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and asked:

“Uncle, when are we going to eat? There’s not a single shop or tavern here, and you didn’t bring anything from the city. All you have is an empty bag.”
- Do you see that tall mountain over there, ahead? - said the Maghrebi. - We're heading to that mountain, and I wanted to rest and have a snack at its foot. But if you're very hungry, we can have lunch here.

- But where will you get the food from? - Aladdin asked in surprise.

- You'll see, - said the Maghrebi.

They sat down under a tall cypress tree, and the Maghrebi asked Aladdin:

- What would you like to eat right now?

Aladdin's mother cooked the same dish every day for lunch - boiled beans with hemp oil. Aladdin was so hungry that, without thinking, he replied:

- Just give me some boiled beans with oil.

- Wouldn't you like some roasted chicken? - asked the Maghrebi.

- I would, - Aladdin said impatiently.

- How about some rice with honey? - the Maghrebi continued.

- Yes, - Aladdin shouted, - I want everything! But where will you get all this, uncle?

- From the bag, - said the Maghrebi, and he untied the bag.

Aladdin curiously peered into the bag, but there was nothing inside.

- Where's the chicken? - Aladdin asked.

- Here, - said the Maghrebi, and, reaching into the bag, he pulled out a dish of roasted chicken. - And here's rice with honey, and boiled beans, and grapes, and pomegranates, and apples.

As he spoke, the Maghrebi pulled out one dish after another from the bag, and Aladdin, wide-eyed, stared at the magical bag.

- Eat, - the Maghrebi said to Aladdin. - This bag has every dish you could ever desire. Just put your hand in and say, 'I want lamb, or halva, or dates' - and it will all appear in the bag.

- That's amazing, - said Aladdin, stuffing a huge piece of bread into his mouth. - It would be great if my mother had a bag like this.

- If you obey me, - said the Maghrebi, - I'll give you many wonderful things. Now let's drink some pomegranate juice with sugar and move on.

- Where to? - asked Aladdin. - I'm tired, and it's late. Let's go home.

- No, nephew, - said the Maghrebi, - we must reach that mountain today. Obey me - after all, I'm your uncle, your father's brother. And when we return home, I'll give you this magical bag.

Aladdin really didn't want to go - he had eaten well, and his eyes were heavy with sleep. But hearing about the bag, he forced his eyelids open with his fingers, sighed heavily, and said:

- Alright, let's go.

The Maghrebi took Aladdin by the hand and led him toward the mountain, which was barely visible in the distance, as the sun had already set and it was almost dark. They walked for a long time and finally reached the foot of the mountain, in a dense forest. Aladdin could barely stand from exhaustion. He was scared in this remote, unfamiliar place and wanted to go home. He was almost crying.

- Oh, Aladdin, - said the Maghrebi, - gather some thin, dry twigs along the way - I need to build a fire. When the fire is burning, I'll show you something no one has ever seen before.

Aladdin was so eager to see what no one had ever seen that he forgot his fatigue and went to gather kindling. He brought back an armful of dry branches, and the Maghrebi built a large fire. When the flames rose, the Maghrebi took out a small wooden box and two tablets covered in tiny letters, as small as ant tracks.

- Oh, Aladdin, - he said, - I want to make you into a man and help you and your mother. Don't argue with me and do everything I tell you. Now, watch.

He opened the box and poured a yellowish powder into the fire. Immediately, huge pillars of flame shot up into the sky - yellow, red, and green.

- Listen, Aladdin, listen carefully, - said the Maghrebi. - I will now begin to chant spells over the fire, and when I finish, the ground before you will split open, and you will see a large stone with a copper ring. Grab the ring and move the stone aside. You will see a staircase leading down, underground. Descend it, and you will see a door. Open it and go forward. And no matter what threatens you - do not be afraid. You will be menaced by various beasts and monsters, but boldly walk straight toward them. As soon as they touch you, they will fall dead. This way, you will pass through three rooms. In the fourth, you will see an old woman who will speak kindly to you and try to embrace you. Do not let her touch you - otherwise, you will turn into a black stone. Beyond the fourth room, you will see a large garden. Walk through it and open the door at the other end of the garden. Behind that door will be a large room filled with gold, precious stones, weapons, and clothes. Take whatever you want for yourself, but bring me only the old copper lamp that hangs on the wall in the right corner. You will know the way to this treasure and become the richest man in the world. And when you bring me the lamp, I will give you the magical bag. On your way back, this ring will protect you from all harm.

And he placed a small, shiny ring on Aladdin's finger.

Aladdin turned pale with terror upon hearing about the fearsome beasts and monsters.
"Uncle," he asked the Maghrebi, "why don't you go down there yourself? Go get your lamp and take me home."

"No, Aladdin," said the Maghrebi. "No one but you can enter the treasure vault. This treasure has lain underground for hundreds of years, and it will only be claimed by a boy named Aladdin, the son of the tailor Hassan. I have waited a long time for this day, searched for you all over the world, and now that I have found you, you will not escape me. Do not argue with me, or you will regret it."

"What should I do?" thought Aladdin. "If I don't go, this terrible sorcerer might kill me. I'd better go down into the treasure vault and bring him his lamp. Maybe he really will give me the bag of food. Mother will be so happy!"

"Keep casting your spells!" Aladdin said to the Maghrebi. "I'll bring you the lamp, but make sure you give me the bag."

"I will, I will!" exclaimed the Maghrebi. He threw more powder into the fire and began chanting incantations in an unknown language. His voice grew louder and louder, and when he shouted the final word at the top of his lungs, a deafening rumble echoed, and the earth split open before them.

"Lift the stone!" the Maghrebi shouted in a terrifying voice.

Aladdin saw a large stone at his feet with a copper ring gleaming in the firelight. He grabbed the ring with both hands and pulled the stone toward him. The stone was surprisingly light, and Aladdin lifted it with ease. Beneath it was a large round hole, and deep within it spiraled a narrow staircase leading far underground. Aladdin sat on the edge of the hole and jumped onto the first step of the staircase.

"Go on, and return quickly!" the Maghrebi shouted. Aladdin began descending the stairs. The further he went, the darker it became. Aladdin pressed on, and whenever he felt afraid, he thought about the bag of food.

When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw a wide iron door and pushed it open. The door creaked slowly, and Aladdin entered a large room illuminated by a faint light coming from somewhere far away. In the middle of the room stood a terrifying black man dressed in a tiger skin. Seeing Aladdin, the man silently rushed at him with a raised sword. But Aladdin remembered what the Maghrebi had told him—he stretched out his hand, and as soon as the sword touched Aladdin, the man fell lifeless to the ground. Aladdin continued forward, though his legs were shaking. He pushed open a second door and froze. Right in front of him, baring its terrible jaws, was a fierce lion. The lion crouched low and leaped straight at Aladdin, but as soon as its front paw brushed the boy's head, the lion fell dead. Aladdin was drenched in sweat from fear but kept going. He opened a third door and heard a terrible hissing: in the middle of the room, coiled up, were two enormous snakes. They raised their heads, flicking their long forked tongues, and slowly slithered toward Aladdin, hissing and writhing. Aladdin barely resisted the urge to run but remembered the Maghrebi's words and boldly walked straight toward the snakes. As soon as the snakes touched Aladdin's hand with their tongues, their glittering eyes dimmed, and they stretched out dead on the ground.

Aladdin pressed on and, reaching a fourth door, cautiously pushed it open. He peeked inside and breathed a sigh of relief—the room was empty except for a small old woman completely shrouded in a veil. Seeing Aladdin, she rushed toward him and cried out:

"At last, you have come, Aladdin, my boy! How long I have waited for you in this dark dungeon!"

Aladdin reached out to her—he thought it was his mother—and was about to embrace her when the room suddenly brightened, and in every corner appeared terrifying creatures—lions, snakes, and nameless monsters. They seemed to be waiting for Aladdin to make a mistake and allow the old woman to touch him—then he would turn into a black stone, and the treasure would remain in the vault forever. For no one but Aladdin could claim it.

Aladdin recoiled in horror and slammed the door shut. When he regained his composure, he opened it again and saw that the room was empty.

Aladdin passed through the room and opened a fifth door.

Before him was a beautiful, brightly lit garden with lush trees, fragrant flowers, and fountains spraying high above pools.

On the trees, small colorful birds chirped loudly. They couldn't fly far because a thin golden net stretched over the garden. All the paths were strewn with round, multicolored stones that sparkled brilliantly under the light of bright lamps and lanterns hanging from the branches.

Aladdin began collecting the stones. He stuffed them everywhere he could—into his belt, inside his shirt, into his hat. He loved playing with stones with the other boys and joyfully imagined how proud he would be to show off such a beautiful find.

The stones delighted Aladdin so much that he almost forgot about the lamp. But when he had no more room for stones, he remembered the lamp and headed to the treasure chamber. It was the last room in the dungeon—the largest one. There were piles of gold, stacks of expensive fabrics, precious swords, and goblets, but Aladdin didn't even glance at them—he didn't know the value of gold or fine things because he had never seen them before. Besides, his pockets were stuffed with stones, and he wouldn't have traded a single stone for a thousand gold dinars. He took only the lamp the Maghrebi had told him about—an old, tarnished copper lamp—and tried to put it in his deepest pocket, but there was no room: the pocket was full of stones. So Aladdin poured out the stones, stuffed the lamp into the pocket, and filled it again with as many stones as would fit. The rest he crammed into his other pockets.

Then he turned back and struggled up the staircase. When he reached the last step, he saw that the top was still far above.

"Uncle," he called, "give me your hand and take the hat I'm holding! Then pull me up. I can't get out on my own; I'm too heavy. And the stones I collected in the garden—you should see them!"

"Give me the lamp first!" said the Maghrebi.

"I can't get to it; it's under the stones," replied Aladdin. "Help me out, and I'll give it to you!"

But the Maghrebi had no intention of pulling Aladdin out. He wanted the lamp and planned to leave Aladdin in the dungeon so no one would discover the entrance to the treasure vault or reveal its secret. He began pleading with Aladdin to give him the lamp, but Aladdin refused—he was afraid of losing the stones in the dark and wanted to get back to the surface as soon as possible. When the Maghrebi realized Aladdin wouldn't give him the lamp, he became furious.

"So you won't give me the lamp?" he shouted. "Then stay in the dungeon and starve to death, and may even your own mother never know of your fate!"

He threw the last of the powder from the box into the fire and muttered some incomprehensible words—and suddenly the stone slid back into place, and the earth closed over Aladdin.

This Maghrebi was not Aladdin's uncle—he was an evil sorcerer and a cunning magician. He lived in the city of Ifriqiya in western Africa and had learned that somewhere in Persia lay a treasure guarded by the name of Aladdin, the son of the tailor Hassan. The most valuable item in the treasure was a magical lamp. It granted its possessor power and wealth beyond that of any king. No one but Aladdin could retrieve the lamp. Anyone else who tried would be killed by the treasure's guardians or turned into a black stone.

The Maghrebi had spent a long time divining in the sand before learning where Aladdin lived. He had endured many hardships and trials to travel from Ifriqiya to Persia, and now, with the lamp so close, this wretched boy refused to hand it over! If Aladdin escaped, he might bring others here! The Maghrebi hadn't waited so long to claim the treasure only to share it with others. Let the treasure remain unclaimed! Let Aladdin perish in the dungeon! He didn't even know the lamp was magical...

And so the Maghrebi returned to Ifriqiya, filled with rage and frustration. And that is all that happened with him.

As for Aladdin, when the earth closed over him, he cried out loudly:

"Uncle, help me! Uncle, get me out of here! I'll die here!"

But no one heard him or answered. Then Aladdin realized that the man who had called himself his uncle was a deceiver and a liar. Aladdin wept so hard that his clothes were soaked with tears. He rushed back down the stairs to see if there was another way out of the dungeon, but all the doors had vanished, and the exit to the garden was also closed.

Aladdin had no hope of escape and prepared to die.
He sat down on the steps of the staircase, lowered his head onto his knees, and in his grief began to wring his hands. By chance, he rubbed the ring that the Maghrebi had placed on his finger when he had lowered him into the dungeon.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and before Aladdin appeared a fearsome genie of enormous stature. His head was like a dome, his arms like pitchforks, his legs like roadside posts, his mouth like a cave, and his eyes sparkled with fire.

"What do you desire?" asked the genie in a voice like thunder. "Ask, and you shall receive."

"Who are you? Who are you?" cried Aladdin, covering his face with his hands to avoid seeing the terrifying genie. "Spare me, don’t kill me!"

"I am Dahnash, son of Kashkash, the chief of all genies," replied the genie. "I am the slave of the ring and the slave of whoever possesses the ring. I will fulfill whatever my master commands."

Aladdin remembered the ring and what the Maghrebi had said when he gave it to him. Gathering his courage, he spoke:

"I want you to bring me back to the surface of the earth!"

No sooner had he uttered these words than he found himself on the ground by the extinguished fire where he and the Maghrebi had been the night before. Day had already broken, and the sun was shining brightly. Aladdin thought that everything that had happened to him was just a dream. He ran home as fast as he could and, out of breath, entered to see his mother. Aladdin’s mother was sitting in the middle of the room, her hair disheveled, weeping bitterly. She thought her son was no longer alive. Aladdin, barely closing the door behind him, collapsed from hunger and exhaustion. His mother sprinkled water on his face, and when he came to, she asked:

"Oh, Aladdin, where have you been, and what happened to you? Where is your uncle, and why have you returned without him?"

"That man is not my uncle. He is an evil sorcerer," said Aladdin in a weak voice. "I will tell you everything, Mother, but first, give me something to eat."

His mother fed Aladdin boiled beans—she didn’t even have bread—and then said:

"Now, tell me what happened to you and where you spent the night?"

"I was in the dungeon and found some marvelous stones there."

And Aladdin told his mother everything that had happened. When he finished his story, he glanced into the bowl where the beans had been and asked:

"Do you have anything else to eat, Mother? I’m hungry."

"I have nothing, my child. You’ve eaten all I prepared for today and tomorrow," said Aladdin’s mother sadly. "I was so worried about you that I didn’t work, and I have no yarn to sell at the market."

"Don’t grieve, Mother," said Aladdin. "I have a lamp that I took from the dungeon. It’s old, but it can still be sold."

He took out the lamp and handed it to his mother. She took the lamp, examined it, and said:

"I’ll clean it and take it to the market. Perhaps they’ll give us enough for dinner."

She took a rag and a piece of chalk and went out into the yard. But as soon as she began to rub the lamp with the rag, the ground trembled, and before her appeared a genie of enormous size. Aladdin’s mother screamed and fainted. Aladdin heard the scream and noticed that the room had darkened. He ran out into the yard and saw his mother lying on the ground, the lamp beside her, and in the middle of the yard stood the genie, so enormous that his head was out of sight. He blocked the sun, and it became as dark as twilight.

Aladdin picked up the lamp, and suddenly a thunderous voice rang out:

"O master of the lamp, I am at your service."

Aladdin was beginning to get used to genies and so wasn’t too frightened. He raised his head and shouted as loudly as he could so the genie could hear him:

"Who are you, O genie, and what can you do?"

"I am Maymun, son of Shamhurash," replied the genie. "I am the slave of the lamp and the slave of whoever possesses it. Demand of me what you wish. If you desire me to destroy a city or build a palace—command me!"

As he spoke, Aladdin’s mother regained consciousness and, seeing the genie’s enormous foot near her face, resembling a large boat, screamed in terror. Aladdin cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted at the top of his voice:

"Bring us two roasted chickens and something else delicious, and then leave. My mother is afraid of you. She’s not used to talking to genies yet."

The genie vanished and in an instant returned with a table covered in a fine leather tablecloth. On it were twelve golden dishes filled with all kinds of delicious food and two pitchers of rosewater, sweetened with sugar and cooled with snow. The slave of the lamp set the table before Aladdin and disappeared, while Aladdin and his mother began to eat until they were satisfied. Aladdin’s mother cleared the leftovers from the table, and they began to talk, nibbling on pistachios and dried almonds.

"O Mother," said Aladdin, "we must keep this lamp safe and not show it to anyone. Now I understand why that cursed Maghrebi wanted only this lamp and refused everything else. This lamp, along with the ring I still have, will bring us happiness and wealth."

"Do as you see fit, my child," said his mother, "but I don’t want to see that genie again—he’s too terrifying and repulsive."

A few days later, the food the genie had brought ran out, and Aladdin and his mother were left with nothing to eat again. So Aladdin took one of the golden dishes and went to the market to sell it. A jeweler bought the dish immediately and gave him a hundred dinars for it.
Aladdin happily ran home. From that time on, whenever they ran out of money, Aladdin would go to the market and sell a dish, and he and his mother lived without any need. Aladdin often sat in the merchants' shops at the market and learned to buy and sell. He learned the value of all things and realized that he had come into a vast fortune and that every little stone he had picked up in the underground garden was worth more than any precious stone that could be found on earth.

One morning, while Aladdin was at the market, a herald came out to the square and shouted:

"O people, lock up your shops and go into your houses, and let no one look out of the windows! Princess Badr, the Sultan's daughter, is going to the bathhouse, and no one must see her!"

The merchants rushed to lock up their shops, and the crowd, pushing and shoving, ran from the square. Aladdin suddenly had a strong desire to see Princess Badr—everyone in the city said that there was no girl more beautiful than her in the world. Aladdin quickly made his way to the bathhouse and hid behind the door so that no one could see him.

The entire square suddenly became empty. And then, at the far end of the square, a group of girls appeared, riding on gray mules saddled with golden saddles. Each of them held a sharp sword in her hand. Among them, a girl dressed more splendidly and elegantly than all the others rode slowly. This was Princess Badr.

She lifted the veil from her face, and it seemed to Aladdin that a shining sun stood before him. He involuntarily closed his eyes.

The princess dismounted from her mule and, passing just two steps away from Aladdin, entered the bathhouse. Aladdin wandered home, sighing heavily. He could not forget the beauty of Princess Badr.

"It's true what they say, that she is the most beautiful in the world," he thought. "I swear by my head—may I die the most terrible death if I do not marry her!"

He entered his house, threw himself onto his bed, and lay there until evening. When his mother asked him what was wrong, he just waved her off. Finally, she pressed him so much with questions that he couldn't hold back and said:

"O mother, I want to marry Princess Badr, or else I will perish. If you do not want me to die, go to the Sultan and ask him to give Badr to me in marriage."

"What are you saying, my child!" exclaimed the old woman. "The sun must have baked your head! Has it ever been heard that the sons of tailors marry the daughters of sultans! Here, eat some lamb and go to sleep. Tomorrow you won't even think of such things!"

"I don't want lamb! I want to marry Princess Badr!" shouted Aladdin. "For the sake of my life, O mother, go to the Sultan and propose to Princess Badr on my behalf."

"O my son," said Aladdin's mother, "I haven't lost my mind to go to the Sultan with such a request. I haven't forgotten who I am and who you are."

But Aladdin kept pleading with his mother until she grew tired of saying "no."

"Alright, my son, I will go," she said. "But you know that one does not come to the Sultan empty-handed. What can I bring that would be suitable for his royal majesty?"

Aladdin jumped out of bed and cheerfully cried:

"Don't worry about that, mother! Take one of the golden dishes and fill it with the precious stones I brought from the garden. That will be a gift worthy of the Sultan. He certainly doesn't have stones like mine!"

Aladdin grabbed the largest dish and filled it to the brim with precious stones. His mother looked at them and covered her eyes with her hand—the stones sparkled so brightly, shimmering with all colors.

"With such a gift, perhaps it's not shameful to go to the Sultan," she said.

"I just don't know if I'll have the courage to say what you're asking. But I will gather my strength and try."

"Try, mother, and quickly. Go and don't delay."

Aladdin's mother covered the dish with a thin silk scarf and went to the Sultan's palace.

"Oh, they'll throw me out of the palace and beat me, and take the stones," she thought.

"Or maybe they'll even throw me in prison."

Finally, she arrived at the divan and stood in the farthest corner. It was still early, and there was no one in the divan. But gradually it filled with emirs, viziers, nobles, and dignitaries of the kingdom in colorful robes of all colors, and it began to resemble a blooming garden.

The Sultan arrived last, surrounded by black servants with swords in their hands. He sat on the throne and began to settle matters and receive complaints, while the tallest servant stood beside him, waving a large peacock feather to shoo away the flies.

When all the matters were finished, the Sultan waved his handkerchief—this signified the end—and left, leaning on the shoulders of his servants.

Aladdin's mother returned home and said to her son:

"Well, my son, I gathered my courage. I entered the divan and stayed until it ended. Tomorrow I will speak to the Sultan, don't worry, but today I didn't have the time."

The next day, she went to the divan again and left when it ended without saying a word to the Sultan. She went the following day as well and soon became accustomed to going to the divan daily. She stood in the corner all day, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell the Sultan her request.

Finally, the Sultan noticed that an old woman with a large dish in her hands came to the divan every day. And one day he said to his vizier:

"O vizier, I want to know who this old woman is and why she comes here. Ask her what her business is, and if she has any request, I will fulfill it."
- "I hear and obey," said the vizier. He approached Aladdin's mother and shouted:
- "Hey, old woman, speak to the sultan! If you have any request, the sultan will grant it."

When Aladdin's mother heard these words, her knees trembled, and she almost dropped the tray from her hands. The vizier led her to the sultan, and she kissed the ground before him. The sultan then asked her:
- "Oh, old woman, why do you come to the divan every day and say nothing? Tell me, what do you need?"

- "Hear me, oh sultan, and do not be surprised by my words," said the old woman. "Before I tell you, promise me mercy."
- "You shall have mercy," said the sultan. "Speak."

Aladdin's mother kissed the ground before the sultan once more and said:
- "Oh, mighty sultan! My son Aladdin sends you these stones as a gift and asks you to give him your daughter, Princess Badr, in marriage."

She removed the cloth from the tray, and the entire divan lit up as the stones sparkled. The vizier and the sultan were stunned at the sight of such treasures.
- "Oh vizier," said the sultan, "have you ever seen such stones before?"
- "No, oh mighty sultan, I have not," replied the vizier. The sultan then said:
- "I believe that a man who possesses such stones is worthy of being my daughter's husband. What is your opinion, oh vizier?"

When the vizier heard these words, his face turned yellow with envy. He had a son whom he wished to marry to Princess Badr, and the sultan had already promised to give Badr to his son. But the sultan loved jewels dearly, and there was not a single stone in his treasury like those that lay before him on the tray.
- "Oh mighty sultan," said the vizier, "it is not fitting for your majesty to give the princess to a man you do not even know. Perhaps he has nothing but these stones, and you would be giving your daughter to a beggar. In my opinion, the best course is to demand that he present you with forty more trays filled with precious stones, forty maidens to carry the trays, and forty slaves to guard them. Then we will know if he is truly wealthy or not."

And the vizier thought to himself: "It is impossible for anyone to obtain all this. He will be powerless to do so, and I will be rid of him."

- "You have thought well, oh vizier!" exclaimed the sultan, and he said to Aladdin's mother:
- "You have heard what the vizier said? Go and tell your son: if he wishes to marry my daughter, let him send forty golden trays filled with such stones, forty maidens, and forty slaves."

Aladdin's mother kissed the ground before the sultan and went home. As she walked, she shook her head and muttered to herself:
- "Where will Aladdin get all this? Suppose he goes to the underground garden and gathers more stones, but where will the slaves and maidens come from?" She talked to herself like this all the way home. She entered Aladdin's house sad and confused. Seeing that his mother no longer held the tray, Aladdin exclaimed:
- "Oh mother, I see you spoke with the sultan today. What did he say to you?"

- "Oh my child, it would have been better if I had not gone to the sultan or spoken with him," replied the old woman. "Just listen to what he told me."

And she relayed the sultan's words to Aladdin, who laughed with joy.
- "Calm yourself, mother," he said. "This is the easiest thing."

He took the lamp and rubbed it, and when his mother saw this, she ran to the kitchen so as not to see the genie. The genie appeared at once and said:
- "Oh master, I am at your service. What do you desire? Ask, and you shall receive."

- "I need forty golden trays filled with precious stones, forty maidens to carry the trays, and forty slaves to guard them," said Aladdin.
- "It shall be done, oh master," replied Maymun, the slave of the lamp. "Perhaps you would like me to destroy a city or build a palace? Command me."
- "No, do as I have told you," replied Aladdin, and the genie vanished.

In the shortest time, he reappeared, followed by forty beautiful maidens, each carrying a golden tray filled with precious stones. The maidens were accompanied by tall, handsome slaves with drawn swords.
- "Here is what you requested," said the genie, and he disappeared.

Then Aladdin's mother came out of the kitchen, inspected the slaves and maidens, and arranged them in pairs. Proudly, she led the way to the sultan's palace.
The entire populace gathered to witness this unprecedented procession, and the palace guards were struck dumb with amazement when they saw the slaves and slave-girls.

Aladdin's mother led them directly to the Sultan, and they all kissed the ground before him, then removed the trays from their heads and placed them in a row. The Sultan was utterly overwhelmed with joy and could not utter a word. When he regained his composure, he said to the vizier:

"O Vizier, what is your opinion? Is not the one who possesses such wealth worthy to become the husband of my daughter, Princess Badr?"

"He is worthy, O Master," replied the vizier, sighing heavily. He dared not say "no," though envy and vexation were killing him.

"O woman," said the Sultan to Aladdin's mother, "go and tell your son that I have accepted his gift and agree to give him Princess Badr in marriage. Let him come to me—I wish to see him."

Aladdin's mother hastily kissed the ground before the Sultan and ran home as fast as her legs could carry her—so swiftly that the wind could not keep up with her. She rushed to Aladdin and cried:

"Rejoice, my son! The Sultan has accepted your gift and agrees for you to become the husband of the Princess. He said this in front of everyone. Go to the palace at once—the Sultan wishes to see you. I have fulfilled my task; now finish the matter yourself."

"Thank you, Mother," said Aladdin. "I will go to the Sultan now. But leave me—I need to speak with the genie."

Aladdin took the lamp and rubbed it, and immediately Maymun, the slave of the lamp, appeared. Aladdin said to him:

"O Maymun, bring me forty-eight white slaves—they shall be my retinue. Let twenty-four slaves walk ahead of me, and twenty-four behind. And also bring me a thousand dinars and the finest horse."

"It shall be done," said the genie, and he vanished. He brought everything Aladdin had commanded and asked:

"What else do you desire? Would you like me to destroy a city or build a palace? I can do anything."

"No, not yet," said Aladdin.

He mounted the horse and rode to the Sultan, and all the townsfolk gathered to see the handsome youth riding with such a splendid retinue. In the marketplace, where the crowd was thickest, Aladdin took a handful of gold from his bag and threw it. Everyone scrambled to catch and pick up the coins, and Aladdin kept throwing until the bag was empty.

He approached the palace, and all the viziers and emirs met him at the gates and escorted him to the Sultan. The Sultan rose to greet him and said:

"Welcome, Aladdin. It is a pity I did not meet you sooner. I hear you wish to marry my daughter. I agree. Today shall be your wedding. Have you prepared everything for this celebration?"

"Not yet, O Master Sultan," replied Aladdin. "I have not built a palace for Princess Badr that befits her status."

"Then when will the wedding be?" asked the Sultan. "A palace cannot be built so quickly."

"Do not worry, O Master Sultan," said Aladdin. "Wait a little longer."

"And where do you intend to build the palace, O Aladdin?" asked the Sultan.

"Would you like it built in front of my windows, on this empty lot?"

"As you wish, O Master," replied Aladdin.

He bid farewell to the Sultan and rode home with his retinue.

At home, he took the lamp, rubbed it, and when the genie Maymun appeared, he said to him:

"Now, build a palace, but one unlike any other on earth. Can you do this?"

"I can!" exclaimed the genie in a voice like thunder. "By tomorrow morning, it will be ready. You will be satisfied."

And indeed, the next morning, a magnificent palace stood on the empty lot. Its walls were made of gold and silver bricks, and its roof was of diamonds. To get a glimpse of it, Aladdin had to climb onto Maymun's shoulders—so tall was the palace. Aladdin walked through all the rooms of the palace and said to Maymun:

"O Maymun, I have thought of a jest. Break this column here, and let the Sultan think we forgot to build it. He will want to build it himself but will not be able to, and then he will see that I am stronger and wealthier than he."

"Very well," said the genie, and with a wave of his hand, the column vanished as if it had never been. "Would you like to destroy anything else?"

"No," said Aladdin. "Now I will go and bring the Sultan here."

In the morning, the Sultan approached his window and saw the palace, which sparkled and shone so brightly in the sun that it hurt to look at it. The Sultan hastily called for the vizier and showed him the palace.

"Well, what do you say, O Vizier?" he asked. "Is the one who built such a palace in a single night worthy to be the husband of my daughter?"
- O mighty Sultan, - cried the vizier, - do you not see that this Aladdin is a sorcerer! Beware, lest he take your kingdom from you!

- You are an envious man, O vizier, - said the Sultan. - I have nothing to fear, and you speak these words out of jealousy.

At that moment, Aladdin entered and, kissing the ground at the Sultan's feet, invited him to see the palace.

The Sultan and the vizier toured the entire palace, and the Sultan could not stop marveling at its beauty and splendor. Finally, Aladdin led the guests to the spot where Maymun had destroyed the column. The vizier immediately noticed that one column was missing and cried out:

- The palace is unfinished! One column is missing here!

- It is no trouble, - said the Sultan. - I will erect this column myself. Summon the chief builder!

- It is better not to try, O Sultan, - the vizier whispered to him. - This is beyond your power. Look: the columns are so tall that their tops cannot be seen, and they are adorned with precious stones from top to bottom.

- Be silent, O vizier, - the Sultan said proudly. - Am I not capable of building one column?

He ordered all the stonemasons in the city to be summoned and gave all his precious stones. But they were not enough. Upon learning this, the Sultan grew angry and shouted:

- Open the main treasury, take all the precious stones from my subjects! Surely all my wealth is enough for one column!

But after a few days, the builders came to the Sultan and reported that the stones and marble were only enough for a quarter of the column. The Sultan ordered their heads to be cut off, but the column was still not erected. Upon hearing this, Aladdin said to the Sultan:

- Do not grieve, O Sultan. The column is already in place, and I have returned all the precious stones to their owners.

That same evening, the Sultan held a magnificent celebration in honor of Aladdin and Princess Badr's wedding, and Aladdin and his wife began to live in the new palace.

This is all that has happened to Aladdin so far.

As for the Maghrebi, he returned to his homeland in Ifriqiya and mourned for a long time. He endured many hardships and sufferings in his quest to obtain the magic lamp, but it still eluded him, even though it was so close. The Maghrebi found solace in one thought: "If this Aladdin perished in the dungeon, then the lamp must still be there. Perhaps I can obtain it without Aladdin."

He pondered this day after day. Then one day, he wanted to confirm that the lamp was intact and still in the dungeon. He cast a divination in the sand and saw that everything in the treasure chamber remained as it was, but the lamp was no longer there. His heart sank. He continued to divine and learned that Aladdin had escaped the dungeon and was living in his hometown. The Maghrebi quickly prepared for the journey and traveled across seas, mountains, and deserts to distant Persia. Once again, he endured hardships and misfortunes, and finally, he arrived in the city where Aladdin lived.

The Maghrebi went to the market and listened to what people were saying. At that time, the war between the Persians and the nomads had just ended, and Aladdin, who led the army, returned to the city as a victor. The market was abuzz with talk of Aladdin's exploits.

The Maghrebi wandered around, listening, and then approached a seller of cold water and asked him:

- Who is this Aladdin that everyone is talking about?

- It is clear you are not from here, - replied the seller. - Otherwise, you would know who Aladdin is. He is the richest man in the world, and his palace is a true wonder.

The Maghrebi handed the water seller a dinar and said:

- Take this dinar and do me a favor. I am indeed a stranger in your city, and I would like to see Aladdin's palace. Take me there.

- No one can show you the way better than I, - said the water seller. - Let us go. He led the Maghrebi to the palace and left, blessing the foreigner for his generosity. The Maghrebi walked around the palace, examining it from all sides, and said to himself:

- Such a palace could only have been built by a jinn, a slave of the lamp. Surely, it must be inside this palace.

For a long time, the Maghrebi devised a trick to obtain the lamp, and finally, he came up with a plan.

He went to a coppersmith and said:

- Make me ten copper lamps and charge whatever price you wish, but hurry. Here are five dinars as a deposit.

- I hear and obey, - replied the coppersmith. - Come back by evening, the lamps will be ready.

In the evening, the Maghrebi received ten shiny new lamps that gleamed like gold. He spent the night sleepless, thinking about the trick he would play, and at dawn, he rose and walked through the city, shouting:

- Who wants to exchange old lamps for new ones? Who has old copper lamps? I will exchange them for new ones!

People followed the Maghrebi in crowds, and children jumped around him, shouting:
- "Madman, madman!"

But the Maghrebi paid no attention to them and shouted:

- "Who has old lamps? I’ll exchange them for new ones!"

Finally, he arrived at the palace. Aladdin himself was not home at the time—he had gone hunting—and only his wife, Princess Badr, remained in the palace. Hearing the Maghrebi’s cries, Badr sent the chief gatekeeper to find out what was happening. The gatekeeper returned and said to her:

- "It’s some mad dervish. He has new lamps in his hands and promises to give a new lamp for every old one."

Princess Badr laughed and said:

- "It would be good to check whether he’s telling the truth or deceiving us. Is there an old lamp in the palace?"

- "Yes, my lady," said one of the maids. "I saw a copper lamp in our master Aladdin’s room. It’s all green and useless now."

When Aladdin had left for the hunt, he needed supplies and summoned the jinn Maymun to bring what was required. When the jinn brought the supplies, the sound of a horn was heard, and Aladdin hurriedly threw the lamp on the bed and ran out of the palace.

- "Bring that lamp," ordered Badr to the maid, "and you, Kafur, take it to the Maghrebi and let him give us a new one."

The gatekeeper Kafur went out into the street and handed the magic lamp to the Maghrebi, receiving a shiny new copper lamp in return. The Maghrebi was overjoyed that his trick had succeeded and hid the lamp in his robe. He bought a donkey at the market and rode away.

Once outside the city, making sure no one could see or hear him, the Maghrebi rubbed the lamp, and the jinn Maymun appeared before him. The Maghrebi shouted:

- "I want you to move Aladdin’s palace and everyone inside it to Ifriqiya and place it in my garden, near my house. And take me there as well."

- "It will be done," said the jinn. "Close your eyes and open them, and the palace will be in Ifriqiya. Or perhaps you want me to destroy the city?"

- "Do as I commanded," said the Maghrebi, and before he could finish speaking, he found himself in his garden in Ifriqiya, beside the palace. And so that was all that happened to him.

As for the sultan, he woke up in the morning and looked out the window—only to see that the palace had disappeared, and in its place was a flat, empty space. The sultan rubbed his eyes, thinking he was dreaming, and even pinched his arm to wake up, but the palace did not reappear.

The sultan was at a loss and began to weep and moan loudly. He realized that something terrible had happened to Princess Badr. Hearing the sultan’s cries, the vizier rushed in and asked:

- "What has happened to you, O Sultan? What calamity has befallen you?"

- "Don’t you know anything?" shouted the sultan. "Then look out the window. What do you see? Where is the palace? You are my vizier and responsible for everything in the city, yet palaces vanish under your nose, and you know nothing about it. Where is my daughter, the fruit of my heart? Speak!"

- "I do not know, O Sultan," replied the frightened vizier. "I told you that this Aladdin was an evil sorcerer, but you did not believe me."

- "Bring Aladdin here," shouted the sultan, "and I will cut off his head!" At that moment, Aladdin was returning from the hunt. The sultan’s servants went out into the street to find him and, seeing him, ran to meet him.

- "Do not blame us, O Aladdin, our master," said one of them. "The sultan has ordered us to bind your hands, chain you, and bring you to him. It pains us to do this, but we are servants and cannot disobey the sultan’s command."

- "Why is the sultan angry with me?" asked Aladdin. "I have done nothing wrong, nor have I plotted anything against him or his subjects."

A blacksmith was called, and he shackled Aladdin’s legs. As this was happening, a crowd gathered around Aladdin. The people of the city loved Aladdin for his kindness and generosity, and when they learned that the sultan intended to behead him, they all rushed to the palace. The sultan ordered Aladdin to be brought before him and said:

- "My vizier was right when he said you were a sorcerer and a deceiver. Where is your palace, and where is my daughter Badr?"

- "I do not know, O Sultan," replied Aladdin. "I am guilty of nothing before you."

- "Cut off his head!" shouted the sultan, and Aladdin was taken back outside, followed by the executioner.

When the people of the city saw the executioner, they surrounded Aladdin and sent a message to the sultan:

"If you, O Sultan, do not spare Aladdin, we will overthrow your palace and kill everyone inside it. Release Aladdin and show him mercy, or you will suffer greatly."

- "What should I do, O Vizier?" asked the sultan, and the vizier replied:

- "Do as they say. They love Aladdin more than they love us, and if you kill him, we will all be in trouble."

- "You are right, O Vizier," said the sultan, and he ordered Aladdin to be unchained and told him on behalf of the sultan:
"I spared you because the people love you, but if you do not find my daughter, I will still cut off your head. I give you forty days for this."

"I hear and obey," said Aladdin, and he left the city.

He did not know where to go or where to search for Princess Badr, and his grief weighed so heavily on him that he decided to drown himself. He reached a large river and sat on the bank, sad and sorrowful.

Lost in thought, he dipped his right hand into the water and suddenly felt something slipping off his little finger. Aladdin quickly pulled his hand out of the water and saw a ring on his little finger, which the Maghrebi had given him and which he had completely forgotten about.

Aladdin rubbed the ring, and immediately the jinn Dahnash, son of Kashkash, appeared before him and said:

"O master of the ring, I am before you. What do you desire? Command."

"I want you to return my palace to its original place," said Aladdin.

But the jinn, servant of the ring, bowed his head and replied:

"O master, it pains me to admit this, but I cannot do that. The palace was built by the slave of the lamp, and only he can move it. Ask me for something else."

"If that is so," said Aladdin, "carry me to where my palace is now."

"Close your eyes and open your eyes," said the jinn.

And when Aladdin closed and then opened his eyes, he found himself in a garden, in front of his palace.

He ran up the stairs and saw his wife Badr, who was weeping bitterly. Upon seeing Aladdin, she cried out and wept even louder—this time with joy. After calming down a little, she told Aladdin everything that had happened to her and then said:

"That cursed Maghrebi comes to me and tries to persuade me to marry him and forget you. He says that the Sultan, my father, has cut off your head and that you were the son of a poor man, so there is no need to grieve for you. But I do not listen to the words of this evil Maghrebi and have been crying for you all this time."

"Where does he keep the magic lamp?" asked Aladdin, and Badr replied:

"He never parts with it and always keeps it with him."

"Listen to me, O Badr," said Aladdin. "When that cursed one comes to you again, be kind and welcoming to him and promise him that you will marry him. Ask him to dine with you, and when he begins to eat and drink, sprinkle this sleeping powder into his wine. And when the Maghrebi falls asleep, I will enter the room and kill him."

"It will not be easy for me to speak kindly to him," said Badr, "but I will try. He should come soon. Go, I will hide you in a dark room, and when he falls asleep, I will clap my hands, and you will enter."

No sooner had Aladdin hidden himself than the Maghrebi entered Badr's room. This time, she greeted him cheerfully and said warmly:

"O my lord, wait a little, I will dress up, and then we will dine together."

"With pleasure and delight," said the Maghrebi and left, while Badr put on her finest dress and prepared food and wine.

When the Maghrebi returned, Badr said to him:

"You were right, O my lord, when you said that Aladdin is not worth loving or remembering. My father has cut off his head, and now I have no one but you. I will marry you, but today you must do everything I say."

"Command me, O my lady," said the Maghrebi, and Badr began to treat him and pour him wine. When he became a little drunk, she said to him:

"In our country, there is a custom: when the groom and bride eat and drink together, the last sip of wine is drunk from each other's cup. Give me your cup, I will take a sip from it, and you will drink from mine."

And Badr handed the Maghrebi a cup of wine into which she had previously mixed the sleeping powder. The Maghrebi drank it and immediately fell as if struck by lightning, and Badr clapped her hands. Aladdin had been waiting for this moment. He rushed into the room and, with a swing of his sword, cut off the Maghrebi's head. Then he took the lamp from his bosom, rubbed it, and immediately Maymun, the slave of the lamp, appeared.

"Take the palace back to its original place," Aladdin commanded him.

In an instant, the palace stood opposite the Sultan's palace, and the Sultan, who was sitting by the window weeping bitterly for his daughter, nearly fainted from astonishment and joy. He immediately ran to the palace where his daughter Badr was. And Aladdin and his wife greeted the Sultan, weeping with joy.

The Sultan asked Aladdin for forgiveness for wanting to cut off his head, and from that day on, Aladdin's misfortunes ceased, and he lived long and happily in his palace with his wife and mother.

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Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

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