In a town in Persia, there lived two brothers, one named Cassim, the other Ali Baba. Their father left them scarcely anything; but Cassim married a wealthy wife and prospered in life, becoming a famous merchant. Ali Baba, on the other hand, married a woman as poor as himself, and lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town to sell.
One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which seemed to be approaching. He observed it very attentively, and distinguished a body of horse.
Fearing that they might be robbers, he left his asses and climbed into a tree, from which place of concealment he could watch all that passed in safety.
The troop consisted of forty men, all well mounted, who, when they arrived, dismounted and tied up their horses and fed them. They then removed their saddle-bags, which seemed heavy, and followed the captain, who approached a rock that stood near Ali Baba’s hiding-place. When he was come to it, he said, in a loud voice: Open, Sesame! As soon as the captain had uttered these words, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of itself.
Although the robbers remained some time in the rock, Ali Baba did not dare to move until after they had filed out again, and were out of sight. Then, when he thought that all was safe, he descended, and going up to the door, said: Open, Sesame! as the captain had done, and instantly the door flew open.
Ali Baba, who expected a dark dismal cavern, was surprised to see it well lighted and spacious, receiving light from an opening at the top of the rock. He saw all sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk, brocades, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another; gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one another.
Ali Baba loaded his asses with gold coin, and then covering the bags with sticks he returned home. Having secured the door of his house, he emptied out the gold before his wife, who was dazzled by its brightness, and told her all, urging upon her the necessity of keeping the secret.
The wife rejoiced at their good fortune, and would count all the gold, piece by piece. Wife, said Ali Baba, you do not know what you undertake, when you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a hole, and bury it; there is no time to be lost. You are right, husband, replied she; but let us know, as nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure and measure it, while you dig the hole.
Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, and addressing herself to his wife, desired her to lend her a measure for a little while. The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba’s poverty, she was curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought it to her with an excuse, that she was sorry that she had made her stay so long, but that she could not find it sooner.
Ali Baba’s wife went home and continued to fill the measure from the heap of gold and empty it till she had done: when she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to as many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost finished digging the hole. While Ali Baba was burying the gold, his wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, carried the measure back again, but with- out taking notice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. Sister, said she, giving it to her again, you see that I have not kept your measure long; I am obliged to you for it, and return it with thanks.
As soon as Ali Baba’s wife was gone, Cassim’s looked at the bottom of the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a piece of gold stuck to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. What! said she, has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? When Cassim came home, his wife said to him, I know you think yourself rich but you are much mistaken; Ali Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money but measures it. Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling him the stratagem she had used to make the discovery, and showed him the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what prince’s reign it was coined.
Cassim was also envious when he heard this and slept so badly, that he rose early and went to his brother.
Ali Baba, said he, you pretend to be miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday.
Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife through his own wife’s folly, knew what they had so much reason to conceal; but what was done could not be recalled; therefore, without showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered him part of his treasure to keep the secret. I expect as much, replied Cassim haughtily; but I must know exactly where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose; otherwise I will go and inform against you, and then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for my information.
Ali Baba told him all he desired, and even the very words he was to use to gain admission into the cave.
Cassim rose the next morning, long before the sun, and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill. He was not long before he reached the rock, and found out the place by the tree and other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, Open, Sesame! The door immediately opened, and when he was in, closed upon him. He quickly entered, and laid as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern, but his thoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess, that he could not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead of Sesame, said, Open, Barley! and was much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but still the door would not open.
Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the danger he was in, that the more he endeavoured to remember the word Sesame, the more his memory was confounded, and he had as much forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down the bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were round him.
About noon the robbers chanced to visit their cave, and at some distance from it saw Cassim’s mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their backs. Alarmed at this novelty, they galloped full speed to the cave. Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses’ feet from the middle of the cave, never doubted of the arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort to escape from them. To this end he rushed to the door, and no sooner saw it open, than he ran out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, who with their sabers soon deprived him of life.
The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready to load his mules, and carried them again to their places, without missing what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a council, they agreed to cut Cassim’s body into four quarters, to hang two on one side and two on the other, within the door of the cave, to terrify any person who should attempt the same thing. This done, they mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and to attack the caravans they might meet.
In the meantime, Cassim’s wife was very un- easy when night came, and her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in alarm, and said, I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim, your brother, is gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and he is not returned; I am afraid soma misfortune has happened to him, Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for that certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the town till the night should be pretty far advanced.
Cassim’s wife passed a miserable night, and bitterly repented of her curiosity. As soon as daylight appeared, she went to Ali Baba, weeping profusely.
Ali Baba departed immediately with his three asses to seek for Cassim, begging of her first to moderate her affliction. He went to the forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his brother nor the mules in his way, was seriously alarmed at finding some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother’s quarters. He loaded one of his asses with them, and covered them over with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering them with wood also as before; and then bidding the door shut, came away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the end of the forest, that he might not go into town before night. When he came home, he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, while led the other to his sister-in-law’s house.
Ai Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, an intelligent slave, whose tact was to be relied upon. When he came into the court, he unloaded the ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, Mention what I say to no one; your master’s body is contained in these two bundles, and our business is to bury him as if he had died a natural death. I can trust you to manage this for me.
Ali Baba consoled the widow as best he could, and having deposited the body in the house returned home.
Morgiana went out at the same time to an apothecary, and asked for a sort of lozenge very efficacious in the most dangerous disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied with a sigh, My good master Cassim himself: he can neither eat nor speak. After these words Morgiana carried the lozenges home with her, and the next morning went at the same apothecary’s again, and with tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to sick people only when at the last extremity. Alas! said she, I am afraid that this remedy will have no better effect than the lozenges; and that I shall lose my good master.
On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go between Cassim’s and their own house all that day, and to seem melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable shrieks and cries of Cassim’s wife and Morgiana, who gave out everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning Morgiana betook herself early to the stall of a cobbler named Mustapha, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand, saying: Baba Mustapha, you must take your sewing tackle, and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you when you come to such a place.
Baba Mustapha hesitated a little at these words. Oh! oh! replied he, you would have me do something against my conscience, or against my honor? God forbid! said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his hand, that I should ask anything that is contrary to your honor; only come along with me, and fear nothing.
Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes with a handkerchief, conveyed him to her deceased master’s house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had entered the room, where he put the corpse together. Baba Mustapha, said she, you must make haste and sew these quarters together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece of gold.
After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she once more blindfolded him, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and recommending secrecy to him, conducted him back again to the place where she first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he was quite out of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return and dodge her; she then went home.
The ceremony of washing and dressing the body was hastily performed by Morgiana and Ali Baba, after which it was sewn up ready to be placed in the mausoleum. While Ali Baba and other members of the household followed the body, the women of the neighborhood came, according to custom, and joined their mourning with that of the widow, so that the whole quarter was filled with the sound of their weeping. Thus was Cassim’s horrible death successfully concealed.
Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba removed his goods openly to the widow’s house; but the money he had taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. When at length the robbers came again to their retreat in the forest, great was their surprise to find Cassim’s body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. We are certainly discovered, said the captain, and if we do not find and kill the man who knows our secret, we shall gradually lose all the riches.
The robbers unanimously approved of the captain’s speech.
The only way in which this can be discovered said the captain, is by spying in the town. And lest any treachery may be practiced, I suggest that whoever undertakes the task shall pay dearly if he fails—even with his life.
One of the robbers immediately started up and said, I submit to this condition, and think it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop.
The robber’s courage was highly commended by the captain and his comrades, and when he had disguised himself so that nobody would know him, he went into the town and walked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha’s stall.
Baba Mustapha was seated, with an awl beside him, on the bench, just going to work. The robber saluted him, and perceiving that he was old, said. Honest man, you begin to work very early: is it possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch.
Why, replied Baba Mustapha, I sewed a dead body together in a place where I had not so much light as I have now.
A dead body! cried the robber, with affected amazement. It is so, replied Baba Mustapha; but I will tell you no more. Indeed, answered the robber, I do not want to learn your secret, but I would fain see the house in which this strange thing was done. To further impress the cobbler, he gave him a piece of gold.
If I were disposed to do you that favor, replied Baba Mustapha, I assure you I cannot, for I was led both to and from the house blindfolded.
Well, replied the robber, you may, however, remember a little of the way that you were led blindfolded. Come, let me bind your eyes at the same place. We will walk together; and as everybody ought to be paid for their trouble, there is another piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you.
The two pieces of gold were too great a temptation to Baba Mustapha, who said: I am not sure that I remember the way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do. At these words Baba Mustapha rose up. and led the robber to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. It was here, said Baba Mustapha. I was blindfolded; and I turned as you see me. The robber, who had his handkerchief ready, tied it over his eyes, walked by him till he stopped, partly leading, and partly guided by him. I think, said Baba Mustapha. I went no farther, and he had now stopped directly at Cassim’s house, where Ali Baba then lived. The thief before he pulled off the band, marked the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready in his hand; and then asked him if he knew whose house that was, to which Baba Mustapha replied, that, as he did not live in that neighborhood, he could not tell.
The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should be very well received.
A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana went out of Ali Baba’s house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. What can be the meaning of this mark? said she to herself; somebody intends my master no good: however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the worst. Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three doors on each side, in the same manner, without saying a word to her master or mistress.
When the robber reached the camp, he reported the success of his expedition; and it was at once decided that they should very quietly enter the city and watch for an opportunity of slaying their enemy. To the utter confusion of the guide, several of the neighboring doors were found to be marked in a similar manner. Come, said the captain, this will not do; we must return, and you must die. They returned to the camp, and the false guide was promptly slain.
Then another volunteer came forward, and he in like manner was led by Baba Mustapha to the spot. He more cautiously marked the door with red chalk, in a place not likely to be seen. But the quick eye of Morgiana detected this likewise, and she repeated her previous action, with equal effectiveness, for when the robbers came they could not distinguish the house. Then the captain, in great anger, led his men back to the forest, when the second offender was immediately put to death.
The captain, dissatisfied by this waste of time and loss of men, decided to undertake the task himself. And so having been led to the spot by Baba Mustapha, he walked upland down before the house until it was impressed upon his mind. He then returned to the forest; and when he came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said: Now, comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge. He then told them his contrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil, and the others empty.
In two days all preparations were made, and the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets till he came to Ali Baba’s, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but was prevented, as Ali Baba was sitting there after supper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, and said: I have brought some oil great way, to sell at to-morrow’s market; and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge. Will you allow me to pass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality.
Ali Baba, not recognizing the robber, bade him welcome, and gave directions for his entertainment, and after they had eaten he retired to rest.
The captain, pretending that he wished to see how his jars stood, slipped into the garden, and passing from one to the other he raised the lids of the jars and spoke: As soon as I throw some stones out of my window, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you. After this he retired to his chamber; and to avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise.
While Morgiana was preparing the food for breakfast, the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth must be made. Abdalla seeing her very uneasy, said: Do not fret, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of the jars.
Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil-pot, and went into the yard; when as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within said softly: Is it time?
Morgiana naturally was much surprised at finding a man in a jar instead of the oil she wanted, but she at once made up her mind that no time was to be lost, if a great danger was to be averted, so she passed from jar to jar, answering at each: Not yet, but presently.
At last she came to the oil jar, and made what haste she could to fill her oil-pot, and returned into her kitchen; where, as soon as she had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood-fire, and as soon as it boiled went and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy the robber within.
When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed without any noise, as she had projected, she returned to the kitchen with the empty kettle; and having just put out the great fire she had made to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out the lamp also, and remained silent; resolving not to go to rest till she had observed what might follow through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard.
She had not wait long before the captain gave his signal, by throwing the stones. Receiving no response he repeated it several time, until becoming alarmed he descended into the yard and discovered that all the gang were dead; and by the oil he missed out of the last jar guessed the means and manner of their death. Enraged to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls, made his escape.
Morgiana then went to bed, feeling happy at the success of her design.
Ali Baba rose before day, and followed by his slave, went to the baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at home. When he returned from the baths, the sun was risen; he was very much surprised to see the oil-jars, and that the merchant was not gone with the mules. He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. My good master, answered she, God preserve you and all your family; you will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I have to show you, if you will but give yourself the trouble to follow me.
Ali Baba followed her; when she requested him to look into the first jar and see if there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and cried out. Do not be afraid, said Morgiana, the man you see there can neither do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead. Ah, Morgiana! said Ali Baba, what is it you show me? Explain yourself. I will, replied Morgiana; moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it is of great importance to keep this affair secret. Look into all the other jars.
Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another: and when he came to that which had the oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, and stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his surprise. At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, And what is become of the merchant?
Merchant! answered she, he is as much one as I am; I will tell you who he is, and what is become of him. She then told the whole story from the beginning to end; from the marking of the house to the destruction of the robbers.
Ali Baba was overcome by this account, and he cried: you have saved my life, and in return I give you your liberty—but this shall not be all.
Ali Baba and his slave Abdalla then dug a long deep trench at the farther end of the garden, in which the robbers were buried. Afterward the jars and weapons were hidden, and by degrees Ali Baba managed to sell the mules for which he had no use.
Meanwhile the captain, who had returned to the forest, found life very miserable; the cavern became too frightful to be endured. But, resolved to be revenged upon Ali Baba, he laid new plans, and having taken a shop which happened to be opposite Cassim’s, where Ali Baba now lived, he transported many rich stuffs thither. And, disguised as a silk mercer, he set up in business, under the name of Cogia Houssain.
Having by chance discovered whose son his opposite neighbor was, he often made him presents and invited him to dinner, and did everything to win his good opinion.
Ali Baba’s son, who did not like to be indebted to any man, told his father that he desired to ask him to dinner in return, and requested him to do so. Ali Baba readily complied with his wishes, and it was arranged that on the following day he should bring Cogia Houssain with him to dinner.
At the appointed time Ali Baba’s son conducted Cogia Houssain to his father’s house. And strange to say, when the robber found himself at the door, he would have liked to withdraw, though he had now gained access to the very man he wanted to kill. But at that moment Ali Baba came forward to receive him and thank him for his goodness to his son. And now said Ali Baba, you will do me the honor of dining with me. Sir, replied Cogia Houssan, I would gladly, but that I have vowed to abstain from salt, and I scarcely like to sit at your table under such conditions. Trouble not yourself about that, answered Ali Baba I will go and bid the cook put no salt in the food.
When Ali Baba went to the kitchen to give this order Morgiana was much surprised, and desired to see this strange man. Therefore she helped Abdalla to carry up the dishes, and directly she saw Cogia Houssain, she recognized him as the captain of the robbers.
Morgiana decided at once to rescue Ali Baba from this fresh danger, and resolved upon a very daring expedient, by which to frustrate the robber’s designs; for she guessed that he intended no good. In order to carry out her plan she went to her room and put on the garments of a dancer, hid her face under a mask and fastened a handsome girdle round her waist, from which hung a dagger. Then she said to Abdalla: Fetch your tabor, that we may divert our master and his guest.
Ali Baba bade her dance, and she commenced to move gracefully about, while Abdalla played on his tabor. Cogia Houssain watched, but feared that he would have no opportunity of executing his fell purpose.
After Morgiana had danced for some time, she seized the dagger with her right hand and danced wildly, pretending to stab herself the while. As she swept round, she buried the dagger deep in Cogia Houssain’s breast and killed him.
Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud: Unhappy wretch I what have you done to ruin me and my family? It was to preserve, not to ruin you, answered Morgiana; for see here, continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain’s garment, and showing the dagger, what an enemy you had entertained! Look well at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil-merchant and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more to persuade you of his wicked design?
Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her: Morgiana, said he, I gave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude should not stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law. Then addressing himself to his son, he said: I believe, son, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous design to take away my life; and, if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, that by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and your own.
The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the marriage; and a few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancing and spectacles.
Ali Baba, fearing that the other two robbers might be alive still, did not visit the cave for a full year. Finding, however, that they did not seek to disturb him he went to the cave, and, having pronounced the words, Open, Sesame, entered and saw that no one had been there recently. He then knew that he alone in the world knew the secret of the cave; and he rejoiced to think of his good fortune. When he returned to the city he took as much gold as his horse could carry from his inexhaustible storehouse.
Afterward Ali Baba took his son to the cave, taught him the secret, which they handed down to their posterity, who, using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and splendor.