not for him, he knew, being a foul sorcerer, that it might [only] be achieved through me and that this adventure was [reserved] for me. [FN#274] Accordingly [FN#275] he applied himself to make his peace with me, that he might send me down into the treasure, now it was opened, and attain his object by my means; and when he sent me down, he gave me a ring, which he had on his hand, and put it on my finger.  So I descended into the treasure and found four chambers, all full of gold and silver and the like; but this all was nothing and the accursed one charged me take nought thereof.  Thence I entered a magnificent garden, [FN#276] all full of high trees, whose fruits ravished the wits, O my mother, for that they were all of various-coloured crystal, [FN#277] and I fared on till I came to the pavilion [FN#278] wherein was this lamp; whereupon I took it forthright and quenching it, poured out that which was therein.”

[So saying,] he pulled out the lamp from his sleeve and showed it to his mother.  Moreover, he showed her the jewels which he had brought from the garden.  Now there were two great purses [FN#279] full of these jewels, whereof not one was to be found with the kings of mankind; and Alaeddin knew not their value, but thought that they were glass or crystal.  “Then, O my mother,” continued he, “after I had fetched the lamp and had gone forth [the garden] and came to the door of the treasure, I cried out to the accursed Maugrabin, who feigned himself my uncle, to give me his hand and pull me up, for I was laden with things which weighed me down, so that it was not possible for me to mount alone.  However, he would not give me his hand, but said to me, ’Reach me the lamp that is with thee, and after I will give thee my hand and pull thee up.’  I, seeing that I had put the lamp within my sleeve and the purses atop [FN#280] of it, could not reach it to give it to him and said to him, ’O my-uncle, I cannot give thee the lamp.  When I come up, I will give it to thee.’  But he would not help me up; nay, he would e’en have the lamp, and his intent was to take it from me and turn back the earth over me and destroy me, even as he did with me in the end.  This, then, O my mother, was what befell me from that foul wizard.”  And he told her all that had passed between them from first to last and fell to reviling the Maugrabin with all rancour and heat of heart, saying, “Out on this accursed one, this foul sorcerer, this hard-hearted oppressor, this inhuman, perfidious, hypocritical villain, lacking [FN#281] all mercy and ruth!”

When [FN#282] Alaeddin’s mother heard her son’s speech and that which the accursed Maugrabin did with him, she said to him, “Yea, verily, O my son, he is a misbeliever and a hypocrite, who destroyeth folk with his sorcery; but glory [FN#283] to God the Most High, who hath delivered thee from the perfidy and guile of this accursed sorcerer, of whom I thought that he was in very deed thine uncle.”  Now, Alaeddin had passed three days without sleep