Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Another female slave hearing this, said: "Now you speak of lamps, I know
not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an old one
upon a shelf of the prince's robing-room. If the princess chooses, she
may have the pleasure of trying if this fool is so silly as to give a
new lamp for an old one, without taking anything for the exchange."
The lamp this slave spoke of was the wonderful lamp, which Aladdin had
laid upon the shelf before he departed for the chase: this he had done
several times before; but neither the princess, the slaves, nor the
eunuchs had ever taken notice of it. At all other times except when
hunting he carried it about his person.
The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the interest that
Aladdin, not to mention herself, had to keep it safe, entered into the
pleasantry, and commanded a eunuch to take it and make the exchange. The
eunuch obeyed, went out of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace
gates than he saw the African magician, called to him, and showing him
the old lamp, said: "Give me a new lamp for this?"
The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There could
be no other such in the palace, where every utensil was gold or silver.
He snatched it eagerly out of the eunuch's hand, and thrusting it as far
as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and bade him choose
which he liked best. The eunuch picked out one, and carried it to the
princess; but the exchange was no sooner made than the place rang with
the shouts of the children, deriding the magician's folly.
The African magician gave everybody leave to laugh as much as they
pleased; he stayed not long near the palace, but made the best of his
way, without crying any longer; "New lamps for old ones." His end was
answered, and by his silence he got rid of the children and the mob.
As soon as he was out of the square between the two palaces, he hastened
down the streets which were the least frequented; and having no more
occasion for his lamps or basket, set all down in an alley where nobody
saw him: then going down another street or two, he walked till he came
to one of the city gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs,
which were very extensive, at length reached a lonely spot, where he
stopped for a time to execute the design he had in contemplation, never
caring for his horse which he had left at the khan; but thinking himself
perfectly compensated by the treasure he had acquired.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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