The magician threw on the fire a powder he had about him, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled and opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by.
This strange man was no uncle of Aladdin, nor was he related at all to him; but he was a wicked magician, who wanted to make use of the lad's services.
The forty thieves carried bags of treasure, and hid it in a cave, which opened for them in the solid rock on saying the words, ‘Open, Sesame.’
Beauty could not help shuddering when she saw the horrible face of the frightful creature, but she made a brave effort to overcome her fear.
‘Beauty, did you come here willingly to die in place of your father?’ ‘Willingly,’ she answered.
‘This small key belongs to one small room on the ground‑floor, and this you must not open, or you will repent it sore.’
The new wife brought two daughters home with her, and they were beautiful and fair in appearance, but at heart were black and ugly.
Her godmother simply touched her with her wand, and, at the same moment, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all decked with jewels.
The young Princess threw herself at the feet of the King her father and conjured him not to constrain her to consent to his unnatural desire.
The lassie set out on her way, and walked many, many days, till she came to a lofty rock. Under it sat an old hag, and played with a gold apple which she tossed about.
Her father was a very respectable farmer but misfortunes and persecutions ruined this worthy man, and was the source of all poor Margery’s troubles.
The old woman, although her behavior was so kind, was a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had built the little house on purpose to entice them.
He went up boldly, and knocked loudly at the gate; when, to his great terror and surprise, there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads.
‘Granny!’ Red Riding Hood cried, ‘What very long arms you have got!’ The Wolf answered, ‘The better to hug you, my child.’
The wolf thought to himself, ‘That tender young thing would be a delicious morsel, and would taste better than the old one.’
The poor child said to the Wolf: ‘I am going to see my grandmother, and carry her a custard and a little pot of butter from my mamma.’
There came a very bad year, and the famine was so great that these poor people resolved to rid themselves of their children.
The witch said, ‘You may have as much rampion as you like, on one condition—the child that will come into the world must be given to me.’