Page 17 - Child's own book

10 a -l a d d i n ; o r , t h e

carved, that the excellency of the workmanship might be said
to surpass the value of the material. Aladdin conducted the
princess and his mother to their appropriate places in this
magaificent apartment; and as soon as they were seated, a
choir of the most melodious voices, accompanied by a hand of
the most exquisite performers, formed the most fascinating
concert diniog tbe whole of the repast. About midnight,
Aladdin presented his hand to the princess to dance with her :
and thus concluded the ceremonies and festivities of the day.
On the next morning, Aladdin, mounted on a horse richly
caparisoned, and attended by a troop of slaves, proceeded to the
sultan’s palace. The monarch received him with paternal
affection, and placed him beside the royal throne- Aladdin did
not limit himself to the two palaces, but went about the city,
and attended the different mosques. He visited aJso the grand
vizier, and other great personages : his manners, which had
become extremely pleasing, endeared lum to his superiors; and
his affability and liberality gained him the affection of the
people.
He might thus have been happy, had it not been for the
magician, who no sooner understood that Aladdin had arrived
at this eminent good fortune, than he exclaimed, “ This poor
tailors son has discovered the secret virtues of the lamp ! but
I will endeavour to prevent him in the enjoyment of it much
longer," The next morning he set forward, and soon afterwards
arrived at the town in Tartary where Aladdin resided. The
first object he had to attain, was a knowledge of the place in
which Aladdin kept the lamp: he soon, found by his art that
this inestimable treasure was in Aladdin's palace ; a discovery
which delighted him. He also learned that Aladdin was gone on
a hunting excursion, which would engage him from home eight
days. The magician then went to a manufacturer of lamps, and