One of the most celebrated characters in the Arabian Nights, the son of Mustafa a poor tailor, of China, "obstinate, disobedient, and mischievous," wholly abandoned "to indolence and licentiousness." One day an African magician accosts him, pretending to be his uncle, and sends him to bring up the "wonderful lamp," at the same time giving him a "ring of safety." Aladdin secures the lamp, but will not hand it to the magician till he is out of the cave; whereupon the magician shuts him up in the cave, and departs for Africa.
Aladdin, wringing his hands in despair, happens to rub the magic ring. The genius of the ring appears before him, and asks his commands. Aladdin asks to be delivered from the cave, and he returns home. By means of this lamp, he obtains untold wealth, builds a superb palace, and marries Badroulboudour, the sultan's daughter. After a time, the African magician gets possession of the lamp, and causes the palace, with all its contents, to be transported into Africa. Ultimately Aladdin poisons the magician, regains the lamp, and has his palace retored to its original place in China.
Aladdin's lamp. The source of wealth and good fortune.
Aladdin's ring, given him by the African magician, was a "preservative against every evil."
Aladdin's window. To finish Aladdin's window-- i.e., to attempt to complete something begun by a great genius, but left imperfect. The palace built by the genius of the lamp had twenty-four windows, all but one being set in frames of precious stones; the last was left for the sultan to finish; but after exhausting his treasures, the sultan was obliged to abandon the task as hopeless.
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