"Princess," replied Aladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants
such an ornament; you shall see by the diligence which I use in
obtaining it, that there is nothing which I would not do for your
sake."
Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went up
into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his
bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to he
always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie
immediately appeared.
"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee, in the name of this lamp,
bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall
of the palace."
Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook as if
ready to fall; and the genie said, in a loud and terrible voice, "Is
it not enough that I and the other slaves of the lamp have done
everything for you, but you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, must
command me to bring my master, and hang him up in the midst of this
dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, and the palace
should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are spared because
this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is the
brother of the African magician, your enemy whom you have destroyed.
He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman
Fatima, whom he has murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this
pernicious demand. His design is to kill you; therefore take care of
yourself." After these words the genie disappeared.
Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess's
apartment, and without mentioning a word of what had happened, sat
down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his
head. On hearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the
holy Fatima to stay with her, and that she was now in the palace; and
at the request of the prince, ordered her to be summoned to her at
once.
When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good
mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am
tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your assistance,
and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you impart to
afflicted persons."
So saying, he arose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima
advanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed
in his girdle under his gown. Observing this, Aladdin snatched the
weapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dagger,
and then pushed him down on the floor.
"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess, in surprise.
"You have killed the holy woman!"
"No, my princess," answered Aladdin, with emotion, "I have not killed
Fatima, but a villain who would have assassinated me, if I had not
prevented him. This wicked man," added he, uncovering his face, "is
the brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled
the true Fatima, and disguised himself in her clothes with intent to
murder me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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