There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim
and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance
equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a
wealthy merchant. Ali Baba 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 and had just cut wood enough
to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which
seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and
distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might
be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save himself. He
climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were
thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that
passed without being discovered.
The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and
armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there
dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and
hung about his neck a bag of corn which they had brought behind them.
Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba
from its weight to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be
their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed;
and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced these words:
"Open, Sesame!"[49] As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus
spoken, 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.
[Footnote 49: "Sesame" is a small grain.]
The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba,
fearful of being caught, remained in the tree.
At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he
came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba
heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut,
Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened his
wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put
himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come.
Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; and
afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering
the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open
and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would
have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and
perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said,
"Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew wide open.
Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a
well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an
opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of
provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, 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 went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold
coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry.
When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such
a manner that they could not be seen. When he had passed in and out as
often as he wished, he stood before the door, and pronouncing the
words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of itself. He then made the
best of his way to town.
When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the
gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers,
carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his
wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold
as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure
from beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep it
secret.
The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune, and would count all
the gold piece by piece.
"Wife," replied 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 in the 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 that she lend her a measure
for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have
a great or a small one. The other asked for a small one. She bade her
stay a little, and she would readily fetch one.
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, set the measure upon the heap of gold,
filled it, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, when
she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to
so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost
finished digging the hole. When 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 without 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
sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast.
"What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it?
Whence has he all this wealth?"
Cassim, her husband, was at his counting house. When he came home his
wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but 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, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali
Baba as a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being
pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He
could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning before
sunrise.
"Ali Baba," said he, "I am surprised at you. You pretend to be
miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the
bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday."
By this discourse, 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 undone. Therefore, without
showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered
his brother 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, even to 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,
and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. 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. In
examining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more
riches than he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He quickly 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 endeavored 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
around him.
About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw
Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their
backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They
drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so far that they
were soon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabers in
their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the
proper words, immediately opened.
Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed the
arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life.
He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran
out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers,
who with their scimitars 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, but they
did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a
council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that
Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, but could not imagine
how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter.
They could not deny the fact of his being there; and to terrify any
person or accomplice who should attempt the same thing, 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. They had no sooner taken
this resolution than they put it in execution; and when they had
nothing more to detain them, left the place of their hoards well
closed. 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 uneasy when night came, and
her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and
said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim is gone to the
forest, and upon what account. It is now night, and he has not
returned. I am afraid some 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, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep
the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe her
brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till
midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more sensible
because she was forced to keep it to herself. She repented of her
foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of
her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and
as soon as it was day went to them, telling them, by her tears, the
cause of her coming.
Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to see
what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his three
asses, begging of her first to moderate her grief. He went to the
forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his
brother nor his mules on 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 body. He was
not long in determining how he should pay the last dues to his
brother; but without adverting to the little fraternal affection he
had shown for him, went into the cave, to find something to enshroud
his remains. Having loaded one of his asses with them, he 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, he came away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the
end of the forest, that he might not go into the 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 he
led the other to his sister-in-law's house.
Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever,
intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the most
difficult circumstances. When he came into the court he unloaded the
ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "You must observe an
inviolable secrecy. Your master's body is contained in these two
panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now
and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skillful
devices."
Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again recommended
to Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned with his ass.
Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist and asked for a
sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerous
disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied, with a
sigh, her good master Cassim himself; and that he could neither eat
nor speak.
In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist again, and with
tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to
sick people only when in the last extremity.
"Alas!" said she, taking it from the apothecary, "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 at daybreak,
Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always ready at
his stall, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his
hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you 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 seemed to hesitate 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 at the place she had mentioned, conveyed him to
her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had
entered the room where she had put the corpse together. "Baba
Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this
body together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece
of gold."
After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again,
gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and
recommending secrecy to him, carried him back 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.
Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, and at
the same time Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the
burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after the
proper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the
mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform
their duty, she told them it was done already. Shortly after this the
imaun and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors
carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who
recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbors, who
often relieved the others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground.
Morgiana, a slave to the deceased, followed in the procession,
weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife
stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of
the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral,
and joining their lamentations with hers filled the quarter far and
near with sounds of sorrow.
In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed up
between Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana his slave, with so much
contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or
suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral,
Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister's house, in which
it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had
taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim's
warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the management of his eldest
son.
While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited
their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to find
Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are
certainly discovered," said the captain. "The removal of the body and
the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we
killed had an accomplice: and for our own lives' sake we must try to
find him. What say you, my lads?"
All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal.
"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skillful
among you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveler and a
stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have
killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he lived. This
is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery I
propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even
though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer
death."
Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the
robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think
it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop."
After this robber had received great commendations from the captain
and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would take him
for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, he went
into the town just at daybreak. He walked up and down, till
accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open
before any of the shops.
Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work.
The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; 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."
"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I have
extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you
that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had
not so much light as I have now."
"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement.
"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha. "I see you want me to speak out,
but you shall know no more."
The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled
out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to
him, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you you
might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to
show me the house where you stitched up the dead body."
"If I were disposed to do you that favor," replied Baba Mustapha, "I
assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led
blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back in the same manner.
You see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire."
"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of
the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at
the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognize some
part, and as every one should be paid for his trouble here is another
piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you." So saying, he
put another piece of gold into his hand.
The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He
looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but at
last he pulled out his purse and put them in.
"I cannot promise," said he to the robber, "that I can remember the
way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do."
At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber,
and led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes.
"It was here," said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned
this way."
The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked by him till
he 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 that 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.
In the meantime the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and
recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in
meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he
wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost
satisfaction. Then the captain, after commending his diligence,
addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time to
lose. Let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; but
that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the
town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great
square. In the meantime, our comrade who brought us the good news and
I will go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best be
done."
This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready.
They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time,
and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The
captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came
in the last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked
Ali Baba's residence; and when they came to the first of the houses
which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed
that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same
place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was,
that, or the first. The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what
answer to make; but he was still more puzzled when he and the captain
saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with
an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had
chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the
cobbler had stopped at.
The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went
directly to their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they
had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set
them the example, and they all returned as they had come.
When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason
of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all
worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to
have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from
him who was appointed to cut off his head.
But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second
intruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself that
he should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer being
accepted he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha as the other had done;
and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from
sight, with red chalk.
Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out,
and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done
before, marked the other neighbors' houses in the same place and
manner.
The robber, on his return to his company, valued himself much on the
precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way of
distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and
all of them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the
town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his
captain came to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which
the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his
predecessor.
Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time,
and much more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author
of the mistake underwent the same punishment, which he willingly
submitted to.
The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of
diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of
the residence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their
heads were not so good as their hands on such occasions; and therefore
resolved to take upon himself the important commission.
Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did
him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did not set
any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so
carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to
mistake it.
The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he
wanted to know, 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, as I am certain of the house; and on my
way hither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one
can form a better expedient, let him communicate it."
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 or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and
jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his
purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put
one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit,
leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them room to
breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full
vessel.
Things being thus prepared, when 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 by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh
air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and said, "I have
brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market; and it is
now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be
troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with
you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality."
Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, and
had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of
an oil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediately
opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time
he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded,
to put them into the stable, and to feed them; and then went to
Morgiana, to bid her get a good supper for his guest.
After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging Morgiana afresh to
take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morning I design to go
to the bath before day; take care my bathing linen be ready, give them
to Abdalla (which was the slave's name), and make me some good broth
against I return." After this he went to bed.
In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and
took off the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to do.
Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each
man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I
lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you."
After this he returned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a
light, conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, 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.
Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen ready,
and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she was
preparing it 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 and
tease yourself, 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?"
Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of
the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keeping
silence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger;
and collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she
answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly in this manner to
all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil.
By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted
thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil
merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her
oil pot, and returned into the 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 into the kitchen
with the empty kettle; and having 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,
through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard, she had
seen what might follow.
She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up,
opened the window, and, finding no light and hearing no noise or any
one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing
little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the
sound they gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving
anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began
to grow very uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third
time, and could not comprehend the reason that none of them should
answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard,
and going to the first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought
alive, if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent
forth a steam out of the jar. Hence he knew that his plot to murder
Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars,
one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, 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.
When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased
to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family.
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 he was very much surprised to see the
oil jars, and to learn 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 follow me."
As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, 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 it, 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; but you had better hear the
story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had
your broth after your bathing."
Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing the
mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flight
of their captain.
On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba
said to her--"God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares of
these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to
you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, I give you your
liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I
intend."
Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a
great number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug a
trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and as
the earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was
done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for
the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by
his slave.
While Ali Baba was taking these measures the captain of the forty
robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He
did not stay long; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became
frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the death of his
companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose
he returned to the town, and took a lodging in a khan, disguising
himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed character he
gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to
his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions to
conceal the place whence he brought them. In order to dispose of the
merchandise, when he had thus amassed them together, he took a
warehouse, which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's
son had occupied since the death of his uncle.
He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a newcomer, was, according
to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his
neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, one of the first to
converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship
more particularly. Two or three days after he was settled, Ali Baba
came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at
once, and soon learned from his son who he was. After this 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, when he treated him very handsomely.
Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to Cogia
Houssain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house
that he could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his father,
Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him in return.
Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son," said
he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such
great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to
accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and
order Morgiana to provide a supper."
The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment,
took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia
Houssain 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, who, from the account I
have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor
of your acquaintance; and I desire you to add this pleasure to those
for which I am already indebted to you."
Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself into
Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own
life or making any noise, yet he excused himself, and offered to take
his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took him
obligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, forced him in.
Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in
the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the
favors he had done his son; adding, withal, the obligation was the
greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and
that he might contribute to his information.
Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that
though his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he
had good sense equal to the experience of many others. After a little
more conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his
leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where are you going, sir,
in so much haste? I beg you will do me the honor to sup with me,
though my entertainment may not be worthy your acceptance. Such as it
is, I heartily offer it."
"Sir," replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good
will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt in
them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table."
"If that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive
me of the honor of your company; 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 that. Therefore you
must do me the favor to stay. I will return immediately."
[Illustration: _She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand,
began a dance Page 242_]
Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt to
the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two or
three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt
in them.
Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help
being surprised at his strange order.
"Who is this strange 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,
therefore do as I bid you."
Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity
to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished
what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the
dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, she 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
garment.
"I am not in the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked
man, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him,
since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him."
Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to
execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came for
the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses before
Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself neatly with a suitable
headdress 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,
and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised
herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabor, and let us go and
divert our master and his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is
alone."
Abdalla took his tabor, and played all the way into the hall before
Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way
of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing.
"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Houssain see what
you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance."
Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began
to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the opportunity he
thought he had found; 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 would
have declined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and
had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which
pleased his host.
As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done
talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an
air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such
a manner as would have created admiration in any company.
After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the
poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance in which she outdid
herself by the many different figures, light movements, and the
surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompanied
it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to
another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, she
snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and holding the
dagger in her right presented the other side of the 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, as did also his son; and
Cogia 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 a courage and resolution worthy of
herself, plunged the poniard into his heart.
Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud.
"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "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? Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as
you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and you now find that my
suspicion was not groundless."
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 you, son, to
be so dutiful a child, 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; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also
because it was agreeable to his inclination. 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 afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his
son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the
usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his
friends and neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true
motives of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with
Morgiana's good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of
heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robber's cave for a whole year, as
he supposed the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be
alive.
At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt to
disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He mounted
his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to
a tree, and approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, "Open,
Sesame!" and the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the
condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since
the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he
believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of
opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal.
He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and
returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave, and
taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who,
using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and
splendor.
[Illustration]