The Jew was somewhat confounded at
this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the
material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of
gold out of his purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth
part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very
eagerly, retired with so much haste that the Jew, not content with the
exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his
ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some
change out of the piece of gold. But the boy ran so fast, and had got
so far, that it would have been impossible to overtake him.
Before Aladdin went home he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of
bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his
mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some
time. After this manner they lived, until Aladdin had sold the twelve
dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money;
who, after the first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of
losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had
recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes,
and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but that it was too
large and cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to bring him home with
him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of
the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very
well satisfied.
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