desired to see Fatima, sent for her.  On coming to the Princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity.  When he had done the Princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her always.  The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery.  The Princess showed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it.  “It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima.  “In my mind it wants but one thing.”  “And what is that?” said the Princess.  “If only a roc’s egg,” replied he, “were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world.”

After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc’s egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor.  He begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoiled for the want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome.  “If that is all,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.”  He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc’s egg.  The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook.  “Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome?  You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician, whom you destroyed.  He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman—­whom he murdered.  He it was who put that wish into your wife’s head.  Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.”  So saying, the genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it.  But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart.  “What have you done?” cried the Princess.  “You have killed the holy woman!” “Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace.  He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.[1]

[1] Arabian Nights.

THE TALE OF A YOUTH WHO SET OUT TO LEARN WHAT FEAR WAS

A father had two sons, of whom the eldest was clever and bright, and always knew what he was about; but the youngest was stupid, and couldn’t learn or understand anything.  So much so that those who saw him exclaimed:  “What a burden he’ll be to his father!” Now when there was anything to be done, the eldest had always to do it; but if something was required later or in the night-time, and the way led through the churchyard or some such ghostly place, he always replied:  “Oh! no, father:  nothing will induce me to go there, it makes me shudder!” for he was afraid.  Or, when they sat of an evening around the fire telling stories which made one’s flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said:  “Oh! it makes one shudder,” the youngest sat in a corner, heard the exclamation, and could not understand what it meant.  “They are always saying it makes one shudder! it makes one shudder!  Nothing makes me shudder.  It’s probably an art quite beyond me.”