command me all thou wilt, for I will be obedient unto thy
commandment." And the Maugrabin said to him, "O son of my
brother, thou art as my very son, nay, dearer, for being my
brother's son. I have no kindred other than thyself and thou art
my natural heir and successor, O my son."

Therewith he came up to Alaeddin and kissed him. saying, "All
these my toils, whom do they concern? [FN#223] They are all for
thy sake, O my son, that I may make [FN#224] thee a man rich and
great [FN#225] exceedingly; so gainsay me not in aught that I
shall tell thee; but go up to yonder ring and raise it, as I bade
thee." "O my uncle," quoth Alaeddin, "this stone is heavy; I
cannot raise it of myself, [FN#226] so come thou also and help me
raise it, for I am little of years." "O son of my brother,"
replied the Maugrabin, "it will not be possible for us to do
aught, an I help thee, and our toil will be wasted in vain; but
do thou put thy hand to the ring and raise it and it will
immediately come up with thee; for, as I said to thee, none may
handle it but thou. But, when thou raisest it, name thine own
name and those of thy father and mother and it will straightway
rise with thee, nor shalt thou feel its weight."

Accordingly, Alaeddin took courage and summoning his resolution,
did as the Maugrabin bade him and raised the slab with all ease,
whenas he pronounced his own name and those of his father and his
mother. So the stone came up and he threw it aside;
whereupon [FN#227] there appeared to him an underground place and
its door, whereas one entered by a stair of some dozen steps, and
the Maugrabin said to him, "O Alaeddin, give heed [FN#228] and do
punctually that which I shall tell thee, neither fail of aught