whether in might or in wealth, nor might the greatest king in the
world avail unto aught of the riches of this lamp and its
puissance and virtue. Moreover [FN#257] he saw that this treasure
was to be achieved by means of a lad of mean birth, by name
Alaeddin, who was of the city aforesaid, and that it was eath to
take and unarduous: so he tarried not, but equipped himself
forthright for the voyage to China, as we have said, and did that
which he did with Alaeddin, thinking to come by the lamp. But his
endeavour was baffled and his expectation baulked and his toil
wasted in vain; whereupon he sought to kill Alaeddin and closed
up the earth upon him by his sorcery, so he might die (and the
live hath no slayer [FN#258]); moreover, he purposed by this that
Alaeddin should not come forth and that the lamp should not be
brought up from under the earth. Then he went his ways and
returned to his country Africa, woeful and despairing of his
hope.

So much for the enchanter and as for what came of Alaeddin, after
the earth closed over him, he fell to calling upon the Maugrabin,
whom he thought his uncle, to give him his hand, so he might come
forth the underground to the surface of the earth; but, when he
found that none returned him an answer, he was ware of the cheat
which the Maugrabin had put upon him and knew that he was none of
his uncle, but a liar and a sorcerer. Therewith he despaired of
his life and knew, to his woe, that there was no more going forth
for him upon the face of the earth; so he fell to weeping and
lamenting over that which had befallen him. Then, after a little,
he arose and went down, that he might see if God the Most High
had vouchsafed him a door whereby he might go forth; and he went
seeking right and left, but saw nought save darkness and four