his mouth; and he still thought upon all this, bemoaning himself
and reviling Alaeddin of the excess of his anger against him; and
whiles he said in himself, "Since yonder whoreson is dead under
the earth, I am content withal and I have hopes of the lamp, that
I may yet achieve it, inasmuch as it is still safeguarded." Then,
one day of the days, he smote the sand and extracting the
figures, set them down after the most approved fashion [FN#545]
and adjusted [FN#546] them, so he might see and certify himself of
the death of Alaeddin and the safe keeping of the lamp under the
earth; and he looked well into [FN#547] the figures, both mothers
and daughters, [FN#548] but saw not the lamp, whereupon rage
overrode him and he smote the sand a second time, that he might
certify himself of Alaeddin's death, but saw him not in the
treasure; whereat he redoubled in wrath, and yet more when it was
certified to him that the lad was alive upon the surface of the
earth and he knew that he had come forth from under the ground
and had gotten the lamp, on account whereof he himself had
suffered toil and torment such as passeth man's power to endure.
So he said in himself, "I have suffered many hardships for the
sake of the lamp and have endured fatigues such as none but I
might brook, [FN#549] and now yonder accursed one taketh it
without stress and it is evident [FN#550] [that], an he have
learned the use thereof, there will be none in the world richer
than he."

Then, [FN#551] when he saw and was certified that Alaeddin had
come forth from under the earth and had happened upon the good of
the Lamp, [FN#552] he said in himself, "Needs must I go about to
kill him." So he smote the sand once more and examining its
figures, saw that Alaeddin had gotten him exceeding wealth and