This action of the magician plunged Aladdin into the blackest despair; he cried, and called upon his uncle to help him, but all in vain. The earth had closed, and he was left buried alive. At last he remembered the ring his uncle had given him. He pulled it off his finger and cried: "I obey the master of the ring; let me out of this place." Instantly the earth opened, and he found himself where the magician had left him. He made the best of his way home, and told his mother all that had happened. She was overjoyed to see him again, after she had wept for him as dead. The next morning Aladdin sold one of the silver dishes the garden fruits were in, and with the money bought food for himself and his mother. In this way they lived until Aladdin had sold all the twelve silver dishes, and the tray. He then had recourse to the lamp. He took it in his hands, and looked for the part where his mother had rubbed it with the sand. This he also rubbed, and the genie immediately appeared, and said: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other slaves of the lamp."

"I am hungry," said Aladdin; "bring me something to eat." The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray and twelve silver dishes full of the most delicious meats, six large white loaves, two bottles of wine, and two silver cups. He set them all down, and disappeared before Aladdin's mother came back. She was greatly surprised, and asked him how he had obtained all this. Aladdin told her the whole story of the lamp, and she begged him never to rub it again, lest some harm should happen to him. He promised to be careful, and after they had feasted royally for several days, he sold the tray and dishes, except one which he kept to put his food on, and with the money he bought richer clothes for himself and his mother.

One day as Aladdin was walking in the city, he heard the criers ordering all the people to close their shops and hide in their houses while the Princess Badroulboudour, the Sultan's daughter, went to the bath. Aladdin was seized with a desire to see her face, and hid himself behind the door of the bath. When she was a few paces from the door, she removed her veil, and Aladdin saw the most beautiful countenance he had ever beheld. From that moment he was in love with the princess. When she had passed in, he returned home, and told his mother of his love and his resolve to ask the Sultan for his daughter's hand. His mother thought him mad, but he reminded her of the fruits of the magic garden, which he now knew to be jewels of enormous value. He asked her to take them in a dish covered with a napkin to the Sultan, and request the princess for her son. She consented at last, and taking the dish of jewels went to the palace, and stood before the divan with the other petitioners. The Sultan noticed her, but paid no attention to her. Day after day she went and stood in the same place. At last the Sultan grew curious, and ordered his vizier to bring her before him. She bowed down before him, and told him her errand. He laughed, and asked her what she had in her napkin. When he saw the jewels he was amazed, and took the dish into an inner room, where he showed the gems to the princess.

"Well, good woman," said the Sultan, "what does your son want for these jewels? I will give him their value in gold."

"Sire," she replied, "he wants neither gold nor silver, but the hand of the princess your daughter."

The Sultan was astonished, but after consulting with his vizier, he told the woman that if her son would send him forty basins of gold, carried by forty black slaves, led by forty white ones, all magnificently clothed, he would bestow the princess on him. Aladdin's mother returned and gave him this message. He summoned the genie of the lamp, and in half an hour the eighty slaves arrived, and filled the small house with their number. Aladdin sent them to the palace, four abreast, each carrying on his head a basin of pure gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The Sultan was amazed at such wealth, and began to believe that Aladdin was more than worthy to be his son-in-law. He embraced him, and ordered the marriage to be proclaimed at once.

The genie built Aladdin a palace of porphyry, jasper, agate, and other precious materials, with a great hall with twenty-four windows, the lattices of which were enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. It was finished in an incredibly short time, and Aladdin and the princess were married amid great rejoicings.

For some months they lived in great happiness, and Aladdin showed affection and generosity to all. But the African magician, who had supposed Aladdin would long ago have perished in the cave, learned of his good fortune, and resolved to destroy him. By his magic arts he discovered that Aladdin owed all his wealth and power to the lamp, and determined to get possession of it. He bought a number of new lamps, and disguised himself as a merchant. Going under the windows of the princess's apartment, he cried: "New lamps for old ones!" Some of the slaves, not knowing the value of the old lamp, showed it to the princess, who, thinking to surprise Aladdin, gave the magician the lamp and received a new one in exchange.

The magician, as soon as he had got the lamp, caused the genie to remove the palace, and all in it, to Africa. When Aladdin returned from hunting and found his palace gone and his wife lost, he was in despair. The Sultan, enraged at the loss of his daughter, would have had him executed, had not the people, who loved Aladdin, interceded for him. The Sultan gave him forty days in which to find the princess. Aladdin wandered far, and at last, worn out with grief, wrung his hands in despair. In doing so, he rubbed the ring the magician had given him. Instantly the genie of the ring appeared, and asked what he desired. Aladdin asked to be taken to his wife. In a moment he found himself in Africa, beneath his own palace. The princess received him joyfully, and told him of the trick by which the magician had obtained the lamp. Aladdin thereupon formed a plan to recover it. He left the princess, and disguising himself, went into the city and procured a powder which would cause instant sleep. The princess invited the magician to sup with her that evening, and Aladdin entered by a secret door and hid behind a curtain. The princess put the powder in the magician's cup of wine. No sooner had he drunk, than he fell back lifeless. Aladdin came from his hiding-place, took the lamp from the magician's bosom, and summoned the genie, who transported the palace and all it contained back to their place in the city.

The Sultan was filled with joy at the return of his daughter, and Aladdin and the princess lived long in peace and happiness.