Волшебная лампа Аладдина / The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Aladdin said, “O Slave of the Lamp, I am hungry. Bring me something to eat!” The Jinn brought him a magnificent tray, made of pure silver. On the tray there were twelve golden dishes of various delicious foods, and two silver cups of clear water.

So they began to eat. After that Aladdin said, “The false uncle didn’t want gold or silver. He ordered me to bring him the Lamp. He knew its great value. But he tried to kill me and he went away, so now this Lamp is mine. It will make us rich.”

When they ate all the food, Aladdin sold one of the golden plates. Then the Jinn gave him another set of plates. Thus they lived happily for many years.

And he learned that the “fruits” which he gathered in the Treasury were not of glass or crystal. These things were precious stones. And he knew that he was very rich.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan, “Let all the people close their stores and shops and stay home! The daughter of the Sultan will go to and from the bath.”

When Aladdin heard this order, he said, “All the people talk of her beauty. I want to see her face!” But this was very difficult, because she always went veiled.[18 - as she always went veiled – так как она всегда была под вуалью]

So Aladdin began to think about how to see the face of the daughter of the Sultan. It seemed best to him[19 - it seemed best to him – ему показалось, что будет лучше всего] to stand behind the door of the bath, so as to see her face when she came in. He went to the bath before her and stood behind the door. When the daughter of the Sultan appeared, she lifted her veil and Aladdin saw her face. It was like a sun or a pearl of great price.

He fell in love with her at first sight.[20 - fell in love with her at first sight – влюбился в неё с первого взгляда]

He returned to his mother. His mother spoke to him, but he did not reply and did not eat. So she asked, “O my son, what happened to you? Are you sick?”

Then Aladdin turned to his mother and said to her, “O my mother, I am well, and not sick at all. But I saw the daughter of the Sultan. I fell in love with her. I want to marry her!”

When his mother heard his words she feared, “O my son! You are mad. She is the Sultan’s daughter.”

Aladdin answered, “No, I’m not mad. I will win the lovely princess! I cannot live without her. I will marry her.”

His mother said to him, “But who will tell Sultan about it? You can not tell him yourself. You must find a right person.[21 - find a right person – найти подходящего человека]”

Aladdin answered, “I have you! Please, ask the Sultan about his daughter.”

His mother said, “Cast away[22 - cast away – отбрось, выбрось] this thought, and think whose son you are. You are the child of a poor tailor. And I am very poor, too. So how can you ask about marriage to a daughter of the Sultan?”

But at last she agreed to go.

His mother took a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the magical garden. They shone like the most beautiful jewels. She entered the palace hall. But the Sultan did not notice her.

She went every day and stood in the same place.

On the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizir: