Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Ali Baba rose before daybreak andday, and, followed by his slave, went to the baths, followed by his slave. He knew nothingentirely ignorant of the important event at home.which had happened at home; for Morgiana had not thought it safe to wake him earlier,before, for fear of losing her chance to act. After her success, she thought there was no needopportunity; and after her successful exploit she thought it needless to disturb him.

When he returned from the baths, the sun had risen. Hewas risen; he was very much surprised to see the oil jars and find that the merchant hadthat the merchant was not gone with the mules. He asked Morgiana why. She had opened the door and left everything as it was so that he could see, who opened the door, and had let all things stand as they were, that he might see them, the reason of it. "My good master," answered she, "God preserve you and all your family; you will understand better when you seebe better informed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I have to show you. Please takeyou, if you will but give yourself the trouble to follow me."

MorgianaAs soon as Morgiana had shut the door, and door, Ali Baba followed her. She askedher; when she requested him to look ininto the first jar to see whetherand see if there was any oil. He did so, saw a man and jumpedAli Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, cryingand 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; "control your surprise, and do not make your neighbours curious.moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosity of your neighbours. Look into all the other jars."

Ali Baba examined all the other jars. In the one that held oil, he found the level had fallen enormously. He stood motionless for some time, looking from the jars to Morgiana, too surprised to say a word. At last, he recovered himself and asked: "And what hasjars, 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 a merchant as I am!one as I am; I will tell you who he is and what has become of him. Butis, and what is become of him: but you had better hear the story in your own room. For the sake of your health,chamber; for it is time to havefor your health that you had your broth after your bath.bathing."

Ali Baba went to his room, and Morgiana fetched the broth from the kitchen. Before drinking it, he beggedWhile Ali Baba retired to his chamber, Morgiana went into the kitchen to fetch the broth, but before he would drink it, he first entreated her to satisfy his impatienceimpatience, and tell him everything that had happened. She obeyed.what had happened, with all the circumstances; and she obeyed him.

"This," she said, when she had completed her story, "is the account you asked for. I am sure it follows from something I noticed a few days agoof me; and I am convinced it is the consequence of what I observed some days ago, but did not think I should tell you. Coming home early one morning,fit to acquaint you with; for when I came in one morning early I found our street door marked with white chalk; the next morning, with red. Each time,chalk, and the next morning with red; upon which, both times without knowing what the marks meant, I put matching marks onwas the intention of those chalks, I marked two or three neighbours’ doors on either side.neighbours' doors on each side in the same manner. If you think about thisreflect on this, and what has happened since, you will recognise a plot by the forest robbers. Two of their gang are missing, and now only three are left. Allsince happened, you will find it to be a plot of the robbers of the forest, of whose gang there are two wanting, and now they are reduced to three: all this shows that they had sworn to destroy you. You should be on your guard while evenyour destruction, and it is proper you should be upon your guard, while there is one of them is alive. Foralive: for my part, I shall do everything necessary to protect you, as is my dutyneglect nothing necessary to your preservation, as I am in duty bound."

When Morgiana finished speaking, Ali Baba realised what a great service she had done him. He said:had left off speaking, Ali Baba was so sensible of the great service she had done him, that he said to her: "I will not die without rewarding you as you deserve.; I owe my life to you, and as a first sign of my gratitude I set you free from this moment. I intend to reward you furtherfor the first token of my acknowledgment, give you your liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I intend. Like you, I am convinced that the forty robbers have set traps to destroy me.I am persuaded with you, that the forty robbers have laid snares for my destruction. Through you, God has savedGod, by your means, has delivered me from them so far. I hope he will go on protectingas yet, and I hope will continue to preserve me from their wicked plans and rid the world of their cruelty.designs, and deliver the world from their persecution. Now we mustAll that we have to do is to bury the bodies of these pests of mankind at once, in the greatest secrecy, so that no one suspects what hasimmediately, and with all the secrecy imaginable, that nobody may suspect what is become of them. them. But that labour Abdoollah and I will do that work.undertake."

Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a great number of large trees. Under these he and the slave dug a trench, long and wide enough to hold all the robbers. Afterward they lifted the bodies out of the jars, took away their weapons, carried them to the end of the garden, laid them in the trench, and levelled the ground again. When this was done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no needoccasion for the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by his slave.

While Ali Baba took these measures to prevent the public from knowing how he came by his riches in so short a time, the captain of the forty robbers returned to the forest humiliated beyond words. Confused by his failure,with inconceivable mortification; and in his confusion at his ill success, so contrary to his expectations, he entered the cave. Allwhat he had promised himself, entered the cave, not being able, all the way from the town, he had been unable to decide how to take revenge onto come to any resolution how to revenge himself of Ali Baba.

The loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him. "Where are you, my brave lads," cried he, "old companions of my night watches, raidswatchings, inroads, and labour? What can I do without you? Did I gather you only to lose you to such a shameful fate,collect you only to lose you by so base a fate, and so unworthy of your courage! Had you died with your sabres in your hands, like brave men, my regret would havehad been less! When shall I recruit such a gallant troop again? Evenenlist so gallant a troop again? And if I could, can I do it while leavingundertake it without exposing so much gold and treasure open to the man who hasto him who hath already enriched himself from it? I cannot—I must not think of it untilout of it? I cannot, I ought not to think of it, before I have taken hisaway his life. I will do alone whatundertake that alone, which I could not doaccomplish with your powerful help. Once I have secured this treasure against plunder, I will find new masters for this treasure to succeed me. Theyassistance; and when I have taken measures to secure this treasure from being pillaged, I will provide for it new masters and successors after me, who shall preserve and increase it for all future generations.augment it to all posterity." Once he had decided this, he knew how to carry out his plan. Full of hope, he slept very peacefully all night.This resolution being taken, he was not at a loss how to execute his purpose; but full of hopes, slept all that night very quietly.

When he awoke early next morning, he dressed according to the plan he had madehimself, agreeably to the project he had formed, went to town and took lodgings in a khan, an inn.the town, and took a lodging in a khan. He expected that the events at Ali Baba’s house might cause a great stir, soAs he expected what had happened at Ali Baba's might make a great noise, he asked his host for news of the city. Thewhat news there was in the city? Upon which the innkeeper told him a great many things thatcircumstances, which did not concern him at all.in the least. From this, he judged thatHe judged by this, that the reason why Ali Baba kept his affairs secret for fear that people would discover the treasure,so secret, was for fear people should know where the treasure lay; and because he knew they would try to kill him for it. That made the captain all the more determined to do everything he couldhis life would be sought on account of it. This urged him the more to neglect nothing to rid himself of such a cautiousso cautious an enemy.

The captain now pretended to be a merchant. Little by little, he brought many kinds of rich fabricassumed the character of a merchant, and conveyed gradually a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen from the cave to his lodgings, taking every possible care to conceal where they came from.to his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions imaginable to conceal the place whence he brought them. Once he had gathered these goods, he rented a warehouse to sell them. ItIn order to dispose of the merchandise, when he had amassed them together, he took a warehouse, which happened to be opposite Cassim’s warehouse. Since his uncle's death,to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied Cassim's premisessince the death of his uncle.

He took the name of Khaujeh Houssain, and as a newcomer, was extremely polite and helpful to the neighbouring merchants, as was the custom.was, according to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his neighbours. Ali Baba’s son, as a close neighbour, wasBaba's son was from his vicinity one of the first to talk with Khaujeh Houssain. Twoconverse with Khaujeh Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship more particularly when, two or three days after settling there, the impostorhe was settled, he recognised Ali Baba, who hadcame to see his son, and stopped to talk to his son as usual. He then tried especially hard to gain the son’s friendship.with him as he was accustomed to do. After Ali Baba left,When he was gone, the impostor learnt who he was from his son. He became even more attentive to the young man, flattered him charmingly, gave him small presents and often invited him to dinner and supper.from his son who he was. He increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, made him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with him.

Ali Baba’sBaba's son did not want to owe Khaujeh Houssain so much without returning his kindness. But his house was too small to entertain him aschoose to lie under such obligation to Khaujeh Houssain, without making the like return; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house, that he could not entertain him so well as he wished. He explained this towished; he therefore acquainted his father Ali Baba. ItBaba with his intention, and told him that it did not look right to accept such favours without inviting Khaujeh Houssainwell for him to receive such favours from Khaujeh Houssain without inviting him in return.

Ali Baba gladly offered to be the host, with great pleasure, took the treat upon himself. "Son," said he, "tomorrow is Friday, whento-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such great merchants as Khaujeh Houssain and yourself are shut. Ask, get him to take a walk with you. On your way back, passyou, and as you come back, pass by my door and call in. It will look better if it seems to happen by chanceto have it happen accidentally, than if you invite him formally. I will tell Morgiana to preparegave him a formal invitation. I will go and order Morgiana to provide a supper."

The next day, Ali Baba’sday Ali Baba's son and Khaujeh Houssain met as arranged and took their walk. On the way back, the young manby appointment, took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Khaujeh Houssain along his father’s street. At the house, he stopped and knocked.through the street where his father lived; and when they came to the house, stopped and knocked at the door. "This, sir," said he, "is my father's house. From what I have told him of your friendship, he asked me to give him the honour of meeting you; who, from the account I have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honour of your acquaintance."

Khaujeh Houssain’s only aim was to enter Ali Baba’s house andThough it was the sole aim of Khaujeh Houssain to introduce himself into Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without noise or risk to himself. Yet he made excuseshazarding his own life or making any noise; yet he excused himself, and offered to leave. A slavetake his leave. But a slave having opened the door, and Ali Baba’s son politely took his guest by the hand and practically forced him inside.Ali Baba's son took him obligingly by the hand, and in a manner forced him in.

Ali Baba welcomedreceived Khaujeh Houssain with a smile and the greatest kindness.smiling countenance, and in the most obliging manner. He thanked him for all his favours to his son. He was all the more grateful, he added, because his son was young and had little experience ofthe favours he had done his son; adding withal, the obligation was the greater, as he was a young man not much acquainted with the world.

Khaujeh Houssain returned the compliment. He assured Ali Baba that,compliment, by assuring Ali Baba, that though his son lackedmight not have acquired the experience of older men, his good sense equalledhe had good sense equal to the knowledge of many others. After a little more talk on different subjects, he again offered to leave. Ali Baba stopped him andconversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his leave; when Ali Baba, stopping him, said: "Where are you going in such a hurry, sir? Pleasegoing, sir, in so much haste? I beg you would do me the honour of having supper with me. What I can offer is not worthy of you,to sup with me, though what I have to give you is not worth your acceptance; but such as it is, I hope you will accept it as warmly as I offerheartily as I give it." "Sir," replied Khaujeh Houssain, "I am quite surethoroughly persuaded of your good will. Please do not take offence ifwill; and if I ask the favour of you not to take it ill that I do not accept your kind invitation. I begobliging invitation, I beg of you to believe that I mean no slight or insult: I haveit does not proceed from any slight or intention to affront, but from a reason which you would approve if you knew it."knew it.

"And what might that reason be, sir, if I may be so bold as to ask?" replied Ali Baba.may that reason be, sir," replied Ali Baba, "if I may be so bold as to ask you?" "It is," answered Khaujeh Houssain, "that I can eat no food that has any salt in itvictuals that have any salt in them; so imagine how I wouldtherefore judge how I should feel at your table." "If that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it should not robought not to deprive me of the honour of your company at supper. There is never any salt in my bread. I promise there willsupper; for, in the first place, there is no salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall have to-night, I promise you there shall be none in tonight’s meat either. So pleasethat. Therefore you must do me the favour of staying. I will be right back.to stay. I will return immediately."

Ali Baba went to the kitcheninto the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to addput no salt to that night’s meat. He told her to makethe meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two or three ragouts, or stews,ragouts quickly, besides the dishes already ordered, and tobesides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt in them.

Morgiana was always ready to obey her master, but could not hide her displeasure at thisMorgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help seeming somewhat dissatisfied at his strange order. "Who is this fussydifficult man," said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long." "Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba; "he is an honest man; so do as I ask.therefore do as I bid you."

Morgiana obeyed very reluctantly. Curiousobeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity to see this man who ate no salt,salt. To this end, when she had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdoollah Abdoollah to carry up the dishes when her kitchen work was done. As soon as she saw Khaujeh Houssain, she recognised the robbers’ captain despite his disguise. Looking very carefully, she noticeddishes; and looking at Khaujeh Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and examining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his clothes. By custom, a guest who ate his host’s salt was bound not to harm him.garment. "I am not at all surprisedin the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked wretch, who is my master's greatest enemy, will eat no salt with him: he plans to murder him. But I will stopwould eat no salt with him, since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him."

WhileMorgiana, while they were eating, Morgiana eating, made the necessary preparations for for executing one of the boldest acts ever planned. She had just made her decisionmeditated, and had just determined, when Abdoollah came for the dessert of fruit. She carried it up and set it on the table as soon as Abdoollah had cleared away the meat. After, which she carried up, and as soon as he had taken the meat away, set upon the table; after that, she placed three glasses by Ali Baba. As she went out, she took Abdoollah with her to have supper, leaving Ali Baba freer to talk, and going out, took Abdoollah with her to sup, and to give Ali Baba the more liberty of conversation with his guest.

Khaujeh Houssain, or rather the captain of the robbers, thought he now had a good chance to take revengehad now a favourable opportunity of being revenged on Ali Baba. "I will make bothwill," said he to himself, "make the father and son drunk," he thought. "I intend to spare the son’s life. He will be unable to stop meboth drunk: the son, whose life I intend to spare, will not be able to prevent my killing his father with my daggerstabbing his father to the heartExplanation: Exception for children: the captain still plans to kill Ali Baba with a dagger. The anatomical detail of stabbing his heart is omitted.. While the slaves eat supper or sleep; and while the slaves are at supper, or asleep in the kitchen, I can can make my escape over the gardens as before."

Instead of going to supper, Morgiana, who had understood the false Khaujeh Houssain's intentions, refused topenetrated the intentions of the counterfeit Khaujeh Houssain, would not give him time to carry out his wicked plan. She dressed neatly as a dancer,put his villainous design into execution, but dressed herself neatly with a suitable headdress. Round her waist, she fastened a gold-plated silver belt. A dagger hung from it,head-dress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal. Shemetal, and put a handsome mask overon her face. Once disguised,When she had thus disguised herself, she said to Abdoollah: "Take your tabor, your small drum, your tabor, and let us entertaingo and divert our master and his son’sson's guest, as we sometimes dodo sometimes when he is alone."

Abdoollah took his tabor and played as he led Morgiana into the hall. At the door, she made a slow, deep bow to draw attention and ask permission to show her skill. Seeingall the way into the hall before Morgiana, who when she came to the door made a low obeisance, with a deliberate air, in order to draw attention, and by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill. Abdoollah, seeing that his master wanted to speak, Abdoollah stoppedhad a mind to say something, left off playing. "Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Khaujeh Houssain see what you can do, so he canthat he may tell us what he thinks of you. But, sir," said he, turning toward his guest, "do not think I have spent anything on this entertainment:that I put myself to any expense to give you this diversion, since these are my slave and my cook and housekeeper.housekeeper; and I hope you will enjoy what they show us.not find the entertainment they give us disagreeable."

Khaujeh Houssain had not expected this entertainment after supper. HeHoussain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began to fear that he would lose the chancehe should not be able to improve the opportunity he thought he had found. Still, by staying friendly with father and son, he hoped to find another if he failed this time. Hefound: but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the father and son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba had refused the dance, but politely expressed his pleasure at what clearly delightedwould have declined the dance, he had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he saw pleased his host.

As soon as as Abdoollah saw that Ali Baba and Khaujeh Houssain finished talking, Abdoollahhad done talking, he began to play the taboron the tabor, and accompanied it with a tune. Morgiana,an air; to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced to it in a way that would have delighted any other audience. Perhaps onlyin such a manner as would have created admiration in any other company besides that before which she now exhibited, among whom, perhaps, none but the false Khaujeh Houssain paid her any attention, for the others hadwas in the least attentive to her, the rest having seen her so oftenfrequently.

After several dances, all equally elegant and graceful, Morgiana drew the dagger. Withshe had danced several dances with equal propriety and grace, she drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, she began a dancebegan a dance, in which she outdid herself: varied dance patterns, light movements,herself, by the many different figures, light movements, and the surprising leaps and wonderful feats.exertions with which she accompanied it. Sometimes she pointed the dagger at one person’s chest, sometimes at another’s, and oftenpresented the poniard to one person's breast, sometimes to another's, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, as if if she was out of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdoollah with her left hand. Holdinghand, and holding the dagger in her right, she offeredpresented the other side of the drum to collect money, as dancers do when they perform for a living.tabor, after the manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the liberality of the spectators.

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, and his son did the same. Seeing Morgiana approach, Khaujeh Houssain took his purse from inside his clothes to give her a present. But as he reachedas did also his son: and Khaujeh Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with courage and determinationa courage and resolution worthy of herself, stabbed and killed him with the dagger.plunged the poniard into his heart.Explanation: Exception for children: Morgiana still stabs and kills the captain with her dagger. The explicit detail of the blade entering his heart is omitted. Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. "Unhappy wretch!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to ruin me and my family?" "It was to save you,preserve, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana. "Look!" she continued, opening the false Khaujeh Houssain’s clothesMorgiana; "for see here," continued she (opening the pretended Khaujeh Houssain's garment, and showing the dagger. "See whatdagger), "what an enemy you had welcomed!entertained! Look well at him, and you will find him to be both the false oil merchant and the captain of thefictitious oil-merchant, and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt with you; and what more could you need to convince you of his wicked planwould you have more to persuade you of his wicked design? Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as you told me you had such a guest. I recognised him, and now you see that I had reason to suspect him.knew him, and you now find that my suspicion was not groundless."

Ali Baba immediately felt how much he owed Morgiana for saving his life a second time. HeBaba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her: "Morgiana," said he, "I set you free and promisedgave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude would not stop there.should not stop there, but that I would soon give you greater proof of it. Now I do sohigher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law." Then he turned to his son andaddressing himself to his son, he said: "Son, I believe you are too dutiful a child to refuse to marry Morgiana.I believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Khaujeh Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous plan to kill me. Had he succeeded, he would surelydesign to take away my life; and, if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you to his revenge too.also to his revenge. Consider, that by marrying Morgiana you marry the woman who savedpreserver of my family and your own."

The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also because he wished to marry herit was agreeable to his inclination.

Then they decided to bury the robbers’ captain with his comrades. They did so in such secrecy that the bones were not discovered until many years later, when telling this remarkable story could no longer affect anyone involved.After this, they thought of burying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it so privately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, when no one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable history.

A few days later,afterward, Ali Baba celebrated his son’s marriage tothe nuptials of his son and Morgiana with great ceremony, a sumptuous feastsolemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancing and shows. He was pleased that the friends and neighbours he invited knew nothingspectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his friends and neighbours, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true reasons for the marriage. Those who knew Morgiana’s good qualities praisedmotives of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with Morgiana's good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of heart.

After this marriage, Ali Baba still avoided the robbers' caveAli Baba forbore, after this marriage, from going again to the robbers' cave, as he had done, for fear of being caught there. He had stayed away ever since bringing backsurprised, from the time he had brought away his brother Cassim’s remainsCassim's mangled remainsExplanation: Exception for children: Cassim’s remains are still brought home. The graphic adjective describing his mutilated body is omitted.. He had kept away after the death of the thirty-seven robbers and their captain, supposing the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be alive.

At the year’s end, no one had tried to disturb him. Curious, he decidedyear's end, when he found that they had not made any attempt to disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey, taking the necessary careprecautions for his safety. He mounted his horse. At the cave, he found no tracks of people or animals, which he tookhorse, and when he came to the cave, and saw no footsteps of men or beasts, looked upon it as a good sign. He dismounted and tied his horse to a tree. Then he approached the entrance and said Open, Sesame! Thealighted, tied his horse to a tree, then approaching the entrance and pronouncing the words, Open, Sesame! the door opened. He entered the cave. From the way things stood, hecavern, and by the condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since the false Khaujeh Houssain fetched his shop’s goods, andHoussain, when he had fetched the goods for his shop; that the gang of forty robbers had been completely destroyed. Hewas completely destroyed, and no longer doubted that he was the only person in the world who knewhad the secret of opening the cave, so the whole treasure was his to use. He had brought a bag, and filled it withthat all the treasure was at his sole disposal. Having brought with him a wallet, he put into it as much gold as his horse could carry. Then hewould carry, and returned to town.

Later, Ali Baba tookAfterward Ali Baba carried his son to the cavecave, and taught him the secret. They passed itsecret, which they handed down to their descendants, who usedposterity, who, using their good fortune with moderation andmoderation, lived in great honour and splendour.