promised, and took Aladdin with
him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages
and ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin
choose those he preferred, which he paid for.

When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his
uncle thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a
merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and become
acquainted with them."

He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the
khans or inns where the merchants and travelers lodged, and afterward
to the sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought
him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become
acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them
and his pretended nephew acquainted.

This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken
leave of his uncle to go home. The magician would not let him go by
himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him
so well dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousand
blessings upon the magician.

Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said
he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he
would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of
the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged
beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building
he came to he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth
was ready to answer, when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here
is a finer house, uncle, than any we have yet seen."

By this artifice the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the
country; and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute his design,
pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of
the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water which
discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin.

"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I. Let us rest
ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk."

The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and
fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave
off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve
by their conversation. "For," said he, "you will soon be at man's
estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate t