he knew the greatness of its virtues; [FN#302] and except he knew
it to be exceeding of might, he had not toiled and travailed and
come from his land to this in quest of it, nor had he shut the
treasure on me, whenas he failed of the lamp, seeing I gave it
him not. Wherefore, O my mother, it behoveth us keep this lamp
and guard it with all care, for that this is our support and this
it is shall enrich us; and it behoveth us show it not unto any.
On like wise, as for the ring, it may not be that I should put it
off from my finger, forasmuch as, but for this ring, thou hadst
not seen me again on life; nay, I had died under the earth within
the treasure; so how can I put it off from my hand and who
knoweth what may happen to me in time to come of error or
calamity or shift of the shifts of mischance, from which the ring
might deliver me? However, of regard for thy wish, I will lay up
the lamp and let thee not see it henceforth." When his mother
heard his words and pondered them, she saw them to be just and
true and said to him, "O my son, do what thou wilt. For my part,
I wish never to see them nor ever again to behold that loathsome
aspect [FN#303] which I saw [but now]."

Alaeddin [FN#304] and his mother abode two days eating of the food
which the genie had brought, and when it was finished and he knew
that there was left them nothing to eat, he arose and taking a
platter of those which the slave had brought on the tray (now
they were of fine gold, but Alaeddin knew it not) went with it to
the market, where a Jew, a man viler than devils themselves,
accosted [FN#305] him and he gave him the platter. When the Jew
saw it, he took Alaeddin aside, so none might see him, and
examining the platter, found it of fine gold, [FN#306] but knew
not if Alaeddin was ware of its worth or if he was ignorant