thereof. Go down with all circumspection into yonder vault till
thou come to the bottom thereof and thou wilt find there a place
divided into four chambers, [FN#229] in each of which thou wilt
see four jars of gold and others of native ore and silver. Beware
lest thou handle them or take aught therefrom, but pass them by
till thou come to the fourth chamber, and let not thy clothes or
thy skirts touch the jars, no, nor the walls, and stay not one
moment; for, an thou do contrary to this, thou wilt forthright be
transformed and wilt become a black stone. When thou comest to
the fourth chamber, thou wilt find there a door; open it and
speak the names which thou spokest over the slab; then enter and
thou wilt find thyself in a garden, all adorned with trees and
fruits. Thence do thou fare on some fifty cubits in the path thou
wilt find before thee and thou wilt come to a dais, [FN#230]
with [FN#231] a stair of some thirty steps. Above the dais
thou [FN#232] wilt find a lamp hung up; take it and pour out the
oil that is therein and put it in thy sleeve; [FN#233] and fear
not for thy clothes therefrom, for that it [FN#234] is not oil.
And as thou returnest, thou mayst pluck from the trees what thou
wilt, for that it is thine, what while the lamp abideth in thy
hand."

When the Maugrabin had made an end of his speech, he drew from
his finger a ring and putting it on Alaeddin's finger, said to
him, "And this ring, O, my son, shall deliver thee from all hurt
and all fear that may betide thee, provided thou observe all that
I have said to thee. So now arise and go down; gird thy loins and
summon up thy resolution and fear not, for that thou art a man
and not a child; and after this, O my son, thou shalt in a little
time become the richest of mankind." So Alaeddin arose and going