Page:Arabian Nights (Sterrett).djvu/242

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drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us and the palace to the capital of China.”

The princess obeyed her husband’s instructions. She assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and asked him to sup with her which he did most willingly. At the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave to the magician. He drank it out of compliment to the princess to the very last drop, when with a cry, he fell backward lifeless on the sofa.

The princess had so placed her women from the entrance of the great hall to the foot of the staircase, that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; but he stopped her, and said, “Princess, retire to your apartment; and let me be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you back to China as speedily as you were brought here.”

When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp which was carefully wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. “Genie,” said Aladdin, “I command

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