Episode 2

"Fetch me something to eat!"The genie returned with a silverbowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups,and two bottles of wine.Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself,said:"Whence comes this splendid feast?""Ask not, but eat,"replied Aladdin.So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time,and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp.She begged him to sell it,and have nothing to do with devils."No," said Aladdin, "since chancehath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise,which I shall always wear on my finger."When they had eaten all thegenie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so onuntil none were left.He then had recourse to the genie, who gave himanother set of plates, and thus they lived many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed thateveryone was to stay at home and close his shutters while thePrincess his daughter went to and from the bath.Aladdin wasseized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult,as she always went veiled.He hid himself behind the door ofthe bath, and peeped through a chink.The Princess lifted her veilas she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in lovewith her at first sight.He went home so changed that his motherwas frightened.He told her he loved the Princess so deeply hecould not live without her, and meant to ask her in marriage ofher father.His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, butAladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan andcarry his request.She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magicfruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone likethe most beautiful jewels.She took these with her to please theSultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp.The Grand Vizier andthe lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall andplaced herself in front of the Sultan.He, however, took nonotice of her.She went every day for a week, and stood in thesame place.When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultansaid to his Vizier:"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamberevery day carrying something in a napkin.Call her next time,that I may find out what she wants."Next day, at a sign fromthe vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and remainedkneeling until the Sultan said to her:"Rise, good woman, andtell me what you want."She hesitated, so the Sultan sent awayall but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising toforgive her beforehand for anything she might say.She then toldhim of her son's violent love for the Princess."I prayed him toforget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do somedesperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for thehand of the Princess.Now I pray you to forgive not me alone,but my son Aladdin."The Sultan asked her kindly what she had inthe napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said:"Whatsayest thou?Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one whovalues her at such a price?"The Vizier, who wanted her for hisown son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, inthe course of which he hoped his son could contrive to make him aricher present.The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin'smother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must notappear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after twohad elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, foundeveryone rejoicing, and asked what was going on."Do you notknow," was the answer, "that the son of the Grand Vizier is tomarry the Sultan's daughter tonight?"Breathless she ran and toldAladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently bethoughthim of the lamp.He rubbed it and the genie appeared, saying:

"What is thy will?"Aladdin replied:"The Sultan, as thou knowest,has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to havethe Princess.My command is that to-night you bring hitherthe bride and bridegroom.""Master, I obey," said the genie.

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, atmidnight the genie transported the bed containing the vizier'sson and the Princess."Take this new-married man," he said, "andput him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak."Whereuponthe genie took the vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin withthe Princess."Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are mywife, promised to me by your unjust father, and no harm will cometo you."The Princess was too frightened to speak, and passedthe most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay downbeside her and slept soundly.At the appointed hour the geniefetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place,and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning.

The unhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while thePrincess would not say a word and was very sorrowful.The Sultansent her mother to her, who said:"How comes it, child, that youwill not speak to your father?What has happened?"The Princesssighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night,the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what hadpassed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least,but bade her rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and nextmorning, on the Princess's refusing to speak, the Sultanthreatened to cut off her head.She then confessed all, biddinghim ask the Vizier's son if it were not so.The Sultan told theVizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearlyas he loved the Princess, he had rather die than go throughanother such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her.

His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

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