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
have a little patience, and it shall not be long before I will bring you
some: I have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it,
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 was 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 like
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 the
lad, who had seen such another 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 fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face, to recover
her: whether that or the smell of the meat brought her to life again, it
was not long before she came to herself. "Mother," said Aladdin, "do not
mind this; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same time
satisfy my extreme hunger: do not let such delicious meat get cold."

His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, six
loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savoury odour which
exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for
this great plenty and liberality; has the sultan been made acquainted
with our poverty, and had compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother,"
said Aladdin; "let us sit down and eat,