‘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 servant 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 the burial was finished, ‘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 servant.
While ‘Ali Baba took 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 fate 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, and disguised himself as a merchant selling silks. Under this assumed character he gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen from the cavern to his lodging, but with all the necessary precautions to conceal the place whence he brought them. In order to dispose of the merchandise, he rented a warehouse, and it happened to be opposite Kasim’s, which ‘Ali Baba’s son had occupied since the death of his uncle.
The robber took the name of Khoja Hoseyn. ‘Ali Baba’s son was from his vicinity, one of the first to converse with Khoja Hoseyn, and the robber strove to cultivate his friendship. Two or three days after Khoja Hoseyn was settled, ‘Ali Baba came to see his son and the captain of the robbers recognized him at once. After this he became more attentive than ever to ‘Ali Baba’s son, 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 continue under such obligation to Khoja Hoseyn; 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 Khoja Hoseyn in return.
‘Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat on himself. Son, said he, to-morrow get Khoja Hoseyn to accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and order Marjaneh to provide a supper.
The next day ‘Ali Baba’s son and Khoja Hoseyn met by appointment, took their walk, and as they returned, ‘Ali Baba’s son led Khoja Hoseyn 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 the home of my father. From the account I have given him of your friendship, he has 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.
‘Ali Baba received Khoja Hoseyn with a smiling countenance and in the most obliging manner one could wish. He thanked him for all the favors he had done his son; adding withal, the obligation was the greater as his son was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and that he might contribute to his information.
Khoja Hoseyn 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 to take his leave, when ‘Ali Baba, stopping him, said: Where are you going, sir, in so must haste? I beg you would 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 Khoja Hoseyn, 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.
‘Ali Baba went into the kitchen and ordered Marjaneh to put no salt to the meat which was to be served that night.
Marjaneh, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help being surprised at his strange order. Who is this man, said she, who eats no salt with his meat? Your supper will be spoiled.
Do not be angry, Marjaneh, replied ‘Ali Baba. He is an honest man. Therefore do as I bid you.
Marjaneh 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 the servant to carry up the dishes; and looking at Khoja Hoseyn, 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.
When the servant came for the dessert of fruit and had put it with the wine and glasses before ‘Ali Baba, Marjaneh retired, dressed herself neatly, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard with a hilt of the same metal, and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus arrayed herself she said to the servant, Take your tambourine, and let us go and divert our master and his son’s friend.
He took his tambourine and played all the way into the hall before Marjaneh, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill. Come in, Marjaneh, said ‘Ali Baba, and let Khoja Hoseyn see what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance.
Khoja Hoseyn, 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 purpose, to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly intercourse 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 expressed his satisfaction at what he saw.
As soon as ‘Ali Baba and Khoja Hoseyn had done talking, the servant commenced to play on the tambourine and at the same time sung an air, to which Marjaneh, 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. At last she snatched the tambourine from the servant with her left hand, and holding the dagger in her right, presented the other side of the tambourine, 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 tambourine, as did also his son; and Khoja Hoseyn 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 in the purse, Marjaneh 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 Marjaneh; for see here, continued she, opening the pretended Khoja Hoseyn’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 false oil merchant and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as you told me you had such a guest. You now find that my suspicion was not groundless.
‘Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Marjaneh for saving his life a second time, embraced her. Marjaneh, 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 Marjaneh for your wife. You see that Khoja Hoseyn sought your friendship with a 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 Marjaneh 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 buried the captain of the robbers with his comrades. A few days later, ‘Ali Baba celebrated the wedding of his son and Marjaneh with a great feast and the usual dancing, and had the satisfaction to see that his friends and neighbors whom he invited had no knowledge of the true motives of the marriage.
‘Ali Baba did not visit the robbers’ cave for a whole year, as he supposed the other two members of the troop, 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 to the place where the treasure was concealed in the forest. He mounted his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted and tied his horse to a tree. Then approaching the entrance he pronounced the words, Open, Simsim! 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. It was quite evident that all the robbers who knew of the cave were dead, and ‘Ali Baba believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of opening it, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. He put as much gold into his saddle-bags as his horse would carry, and returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave and taught him the secret of opening and shutting the door. The son handed the secret down to his posterity, who, using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and splendor.
Conclusion
Shahrazad, during this period, had borne the King three male children; and when she had ended these tales, she rose upon her feet, and kissed the ground before the King, and said to him, O King of the time, and incomparable one of the age and period, verily I am thy servant, and during a thousand and one nights I have related to thee the history of the preceding generations, and the admonitions of the people of former times: then have I any claim upon thy majesty, so that I may request of thee to grant me a wish? And the King answered her, Request: thou shalt receive, O Shahrazad. So thereupon she called out to the nurses, and said to them, Bring ye my children. Accordingly they brought them to her quickly; and they were three male children: one of them walked, and one crawled, and one was at the breast. And when they brought them, she took them and placed them before the King, and, having kissed the ground, said, O King of the age, these are thy children, and I request of thee that thou exempt me from slaughter, as a favor to these infants; for if thou slay me, these infants will become without a mother, and will not find among women one who will rear them well. And thereupon the King wept, and pressed his children to his bosom, and said, O Shahrazad, May God bless thee, and thy father and thy mother, and thy root and thy branch! I call God to witness against me that I have exempted thee from everything that might injure thee.—So she kissed his hands and his feet, and rejoiced with exceeding joy; and she said to him, May God prolong thy life, and increase thy dignity and majesty!
Joy spread through the palace of the King until it became diffused throughout the city, and it was a night not to be reckoned among lives: its color was whiter than the face of day. The King rose in the morning happy, and with prosperity inundated; and he sent to all the soldiers, who came; and he conferred upon his Wezir, the father of Shahrazad, a sumptuous and magnificent robe of honor, saying to him, May God protect thee, since thou hast married to me thy generous daughter, who hath been the cause of my repenting of slaying the daughters of the people. Moreover, God hath blessed me by her with three male children; and praise be to God for this abundant favor!—Then he conferred robes of honor upon all the wezirs and emirs and lords of the empire, and gave orders to decorate the city thirty days; and he caused not any one of the people of the city to expend aught of his wealth; for all the expense and disbursements were from the King’s treasury. So they decorated the city in a magnificent manner, the like of which had not been seen before, and the drums were beaten and the pipes were sounded, and all the performers of sports exhibited their arts, and the King rewarded them munificently with gifts and presents. He bestowed alms also upon the poor and needy, and extended his generosity to all his subjects, and all the people of his dominions. And he and the people of his empire continued in prosperity and joy and delight and happiness until they were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions.
Extolled be the perfection of Him whom the vicissitudes of times do not destroy, and to whom no change happeneth, whom no circumstance diverteth from another circumstance, and who is alone distinguished by the attributes of perfection! And blessing and peace be on the Imam of his Majesty, and the elect from among his creatures, our lord Mohammad, the lord among mankind, through whom we supplicate God for a happy end!
About the Author
PADRAIC COLUM (1881–1972) was a poet, a playwright, and a leader of the Irish Renaissance, but he is best known for his works for children, including The Children of Odin and The Golden Fleece (a Newbery Honor Book).
ALADDIN
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ALSO BY
PADRAIC COLUM
THE CHILDREN OF ODIN
THE CHILDREN’S HOMER
THE GOLDEN FLEECE
THE ISLAND OF THE MIGHTY
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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This title has previously been published with illustrations and slightly different text.
The Arabian Nights Page 25
