, the earth opened, and discovered a cave, which led to an
inestimable treasure. He did not forget the blow the magician had given
him, and in what manner he softened again, and engaged him by great
promises, and putting a ring on his finger, to go down into the cave. He
did not omit the least circumstance of what he saw in crossing the three
halls and the garden, and his taking the lamp, which he pulled out of
his bosom and shewed to his mother: as well as the transparent fruit of
different colours, which he had gathered in the garden as he returned.
But, though these fruits were precious stones, brilliant as the sun, she
was as ignorant of their worth as her son. She had been bred in a low
rank of life, and her husband's poverty prevented his being possessed of
jewels, nor had she, her relations, or neighbours ever seen any; so that
we must not wonder that she regarded them as things of no value.

Aladdin put them behind one of the cushions of the sofa, and continued
his story. When he had come to an end, Aladdin said to his mother: "I
need say no more! this is my adventure, and the dangers I have been
exposed to since you saw me."

His mother heard with much interest this surprising relation,
notwithstanding it could be no small affliction to a mother who loved
her son tenderly; but yet in the most moving part, which discovered the
perfidy of the African magician, she could not help showing, by marks of
the greatest indignation, how much she detested him; and when her son
had finished his story, she broke out into a thousand reproaches against
that vile impostor. She called him perfidious traitor, barbarian,
assassin, deceiver, magician, and an enemy and destroyer of mankind.
"Without doubt, child," added she, "he is a magician, and they are
plagues to the world, and by their enchantments and sorceries have
commerce with the devil. Bless God for preserving you from his wicked
designs; for your death would have been inevitable, if you had not
called upon Him, and implored His assistance." She said a great deal
more against the magician's treachery; but finding that whilst she
talked, Aladdin began to doze, she left him to his repose, and retired.

Aladdin, who had not closed his eyes while he was in the subterranean
abode, 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
that she could not do him a greater kindness than to give him his