yonder ring and uplift it as I bade thee." Alaeddin answered, "O
uncle mine, this ring is over heavy for me: I cannot raise it
single-handed, so do thou also come forward and lend me strength
and aidance towards uplifting it, for indeed I am young in
years." The Moorman replied, "O son of my brother, we shall find
it impossible to do aught if I assist thee, and all our efforts
would be in vain. But do thou set thy hand upon the ring and pull
it up, and thou shalt raise the slab forth-right, and in very
sooth I told thee that none can touch it save thyself. But whilst
haling at it cease not to pronounce thy name and the names of thy
father and mother, so 'twill rise at once to thee nor shalt thou
feel its weight." Thereupon the lad mustered up strength and girt
the loins of resolution and did as the Maroccan had bidden him,
and hove up the slab with all ease when he pronounced his name
and the names of his parents, even as the Magician had bidden
him. And as soon as the stone was raised he threw it aside.--And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night,

Quoth Dunyazad, "O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do
tell us some of thy pleasant tales," whereupon Shahrazad replied,
"With love and good will."--It hath reached me, O King of the
Age, that after Alaeddin had raised the slab from over the
entrance to the Hoard there appeared before him a Sardab, a
souterrain, whereunto led a case of some twelve stairs and the
Maghrabi said, "O Alaeddin, collect thy thoughts and do whatso I
bid thee to the minutest detail nor fail in aught thereof. Go
down with all care into yonder vault until thou reach the bottom