e was much surprised not to
find the earth open, and could not comprehend how he had got so soon out
of its bowels. There was nothing to be seen but the place where the fire
had been, by which he could nearly judge the situation of the cave. Then
turning himself toward the town, he perceived it at a distance in the
midst of the gardens that surrounded it, and saw the way by which the
magician had brought him. 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 of seeing her and his weakness for want of food
for three days made him faint, and he remained for a long time as dead.
His mother, who had given him over for lost, seeing him in this
condition, omitted nothing to bring him to himself. As soon as he
recovered, the first words he spoke were: "Pray, mother, give me
something to eat, for I have not put a morsel of anything into my mouth
these three days." His mother brought what she had, and set it before
him. "My son," said she, "be not too eager, for it is dangerous; eat but
little at a time, and take care of yourself. Besides, I would not have
you talk; you will have time enough to tell me what has happened to you
when you are recovered. It is a great comfort to me to see you again,
after the affliction I have been in since Friday, and the pains I have
taken to learn what was become of you."

Aladdin took his mother's advice, and ate and drank moderately. When he
had done, "Mother," said he to her, "I cannot help complaining of you,
for abandoning me so easily to the discretion of a man who had a design
to kill me, and who at this very moment thinks my death certain. You
believed he was my uncle, as well as I; and what other thoughts could we
entertain of a man who was so kind to me? but I must tell you, mother,
he is a rogue and a cheat, and only made me those promises to accomplish
my death; but for what reason neither you nor I can guess. You shall
judge yourself, when you have heard all that passed from the time I left
you, till he came to the execution of his wicked design."

Aladdin then related to his mother all that had happened to him, from
the Friday when the magician took him to see the palaces and gardens
about the town, till they came to the place between the two mountains
where the great deed was to be performed; how, with incense which the
magician threw into the fire, and some magical words which he
pronounced