At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer without hesitation, “Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place.”  He had no sooner spoken these words, than he found himself on the very spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or opening, nor disturbance of the earth.  Returning God thanks to find himself once more in the world, he made the best of his way home.  When he got within his mother’s door, the joy to see her and his weakness for want of sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time as dead.  As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that had happened to him, and they were both very vehement in their complaints of the cruel magician.  Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the first thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, and wished she would give him his breakfast.  “Alas! child,” said she, “I have not a bit of bread to give you; you ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a little cotton which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread and something for our dinner.”  “Mother,” replied Aladdin, “keep your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too.”

Aladdin’s mother took the lamp and said to her son, “Here it is, but it is very dirty; if it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring something more.”  She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but had no sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic size appeared before her, and said to her in a voice of thunder, “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.”

Aladdin’s mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp out of his mother’s hand, and said to the genie boldly, “I am hungry, bring me something to eat.”  The genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups.  All these he placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was done before Aladdin’s mother recovered from her swoon.

Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to recover her.  Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, it was not long before she came to herself.  “Mother,” said Aladdin, “be not afraid:  get up and eat; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme hunger.”