The Arabian Nights

by Padraic Colum

The false Fatimeh surveyed the hall from one end to the other. When he had examined it well, he said to the princess: So far as such a solitary being as I, who am unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this hall is truly admirable. There wants but one thing.

  What is that, good mother? demanded the princess. Tell me, I conjure you. For my part, I always believed and have heard say it wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied.

  Princess, said the false Fatimeh, with great deceit, forgive me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, that if a rukh’s egg were hung up in the middle of the dome, this hall would have no equal in the four quarters of the world, and your palace would be the wonder of the universe.

  My good mother, said the princess, what is a rukh, and where may one get an egg?

  Princess, replied the pretended Fatimeh, it is a bird of prodigious size, which inhabits the summit of Mount Caucasus. The architect who built your palace can get you one of its eggs.

  After the princess had thanked the false Fatimeh for what she believed her good advice, she conversed with her on other matters; but could not forget the rukh’s egg, which she resolved to request of ‘Ala-ed-Din when next he should visit her apartments. He returned in the course of the evening, and shortly after he entered, the princess thus addressed him: ‘I always believed that our palace was the most superb, magnificent, and complete in the world; but I will tell you now what it wants, and that is a rukh’s egg hung up in the midst of the dome.

  Princess, replied ‘Ala-ed-Din, it is enough that you think it wants such an ornament; you shall see by the diligence I use in obtaining it that there is nothing which I would not do for your sake.

  ‘Ala-ed-Din left the Princess Bedr-el-Budur that moment, and went up into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to he always carried about him, he rubbed it, and the Jinni immediately appeared. Jinni, said ‘Ala-ed-Din, I command thee, in the name of this lamp, bring a rukh’s egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall of the palace.

  ‘Ala-ed-Din had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook as if ready to fall, and the Jinni said in a loud and terrible voice: Is it not enough that I and the other servants of the lamp have done everything for you; and yet you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, and the palace should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are spared because this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is the brother of the African magician. He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman Fatimeh, whom he has murdered. At his suggestion your wife makes this wicked demand. His design is to kill you. Therefore take care of yourself.

  After these words the Jinni disappeared.

  ‘Ala-ed-Din resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess’s apartment, and without mentioning a word of what had happened sat down and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his head. On hearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the holy Fatimeh to stay with her, and that she was now in the palace, and could no doubt cure him. At ‘Ala-ed-Din’s request the princess ordered Fatimeh to be summoned at once.

  When the pretended Fatimeh entered, ‘Ala-ed-Din said: Come hither, good mother. I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your assistance and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you impart to afflicted persons.

  So saying, he rose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatimeh advanced toward him with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed in his girdle under his gown. ‘Ala-ed-Din observed this, and snatched the weapon from the magician’s hand and pierced him to the heart with his own dagger.

  My dear prince, what have you done? cried the princess, in surprise. You have killed the holy woman!

  No, my princess, answered ‘Ala-ed-Din, with emotion, I have not killed Fatimeh, but a villain, who would have assassinated me if I had not prevented him. This wicked man, added he, uncovering his face, is the brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled the true Fatimeh and disguised himself in her clothes with intent to murder me.

  ‘Ala-ed-Din then informed her how the Jinni had told him these facts, and how narrowly she and the palace had escaped destruction through the treacherous suggestion which had led to her request.

  Thus was ‘Ala-ed-Din delivered from the persecution of the two brothers who were magicians. Within a few years afterward the Sultan died in a good old age, and as he left no sons, the Princess Bedr-el-Budur succeeded him, and she and ‘Ala-ed-Din reigned together many years.

  The Story of ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

  There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Kasim and the other ‘Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance equally between them. Kasim 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 on three donkeys into the town to sell.

  One day when ‘Ali Baba was in the forest, and had just cut wood enough to load his donkeys, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust which seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention and soon distinguished a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might be robbers. To save himself, he determined to leave his donkeys, and after driving them into a thicket out of sight he climbed a large tree, growing on a high rock. Its branches were thick enough to conceal him and yet enabled him to see all that passed.

  The horsemen numbered forty, and were all well mounted and armed. They came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood and there dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied it to a shrub, and gave it a feed of corn from a bag he had brought with him. Then each of them removed his saddle-bag, which seemed to ‘Ali Baba to be full of gold and silver from its weight. One, whom he took to be the captain, came under the tree in which ‘Ali Baba was hidden, and making his way through some bushes, pronounced these words, Open, Simsim!

  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 of itself.

  The robbers stayed some time within the rock, while ‘Ali Baba, fearful of being caught, remained in the tree.

  At last the door opened again, and the captain came out first and stood to see the troop all pass by him, when ‘Ali Baba heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, Shut, Simsim!

  Every man at once bridled his horse and mounted. 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 bushes, and perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it and said, Open, Simsim!

  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. In the chamber were all sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk, brocade, and valuable carpeting piled on 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 as he thought his three donkeys could carry. The gold was in bags, and when he had loaded the donkeys, he laid wood over the bags 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 said, Shut, Simsim! the door closed of itself. He then made his way to town.

>   When ‘Ali Baba got home, he drove his donkeys into his 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 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 wanted to count all the gold, piece by piece. Wife, said ‘Ali Baba, you do not know what you undertake when you speak of counting the money. You will never get 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 quickly as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a measure and measure it while you dig the hole.

  Away the wife ran to the house of her brother-in-law, Kasim, who lived just by, and addressing herself to his wife, desired the loan of a measure for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have a great or a small one, and she asked for a small one.

  The sister-in-law fetched it, but as she knew ‘Ali Baba’s poverty, she was curious to learn what 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 she had made her stay so long, but that she could not find it sooner.

  ‘Ali Baba’s wife went home, set the measure on the heap of gold, filled it, and emptied it, till she had done. She was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to so many as they did, as was also her husband, who had now finished digging the hole. While ‘Ali Baba was burying the gold, his wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, carried the measure back, but without taking notice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. Sister, said she, giving it to her, 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, Kasim’s wife looked at the bottom of the measure and was surprised 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?

  Kasim her husband was at his counting-house. When he came home, his wife said to him: Kasim, I know you think yourself rich, but ‘Ali Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money, but measures it.

  Kasim 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 when it was coined.

  Kasim 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 Kasim and his wife knew what he 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 the treasure to keep the secret.

  I must know exactly where this treasure is, replied Kasim haughtily; and how I may visit it myself when I want. Otherwise I will go and inform against you. Then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall receive a share for my information.

  ‘Ali Baba told him all he desired to know, even to the very words he was to use to gain admission into the cave.

  Kasim rose the next morning long before the sun and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he planned to fill with gold. He followed the road ‘Ali Baba had pointed out to him, and it was not long before he reached the rock and found the place by the tree and other marks of which his brother had told him. When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he said the words, Open, Simsim!

  The door immediately opened, and when he was in, closed on him. In examining the cave, he was greatly astonished to find much more riches than he had expected from ‘Ali Baba’s relation. He quickly laid at the door of the cavern as many bags of gold as his ten mules could carry; but his thought were now so full of the great riches he should possess, that he could not think of the necessary word to make the door open. Instead of Open, Simsim! he 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.

  Kasim 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 Simsim 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. As they approached they saw Kasim’s mules straggling near 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. Then the robbers, with their naked sabers in their hands, went directly to the door, which, when their captain pronounced the proper words, immediately opened.

  Kasim, 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 it open than he ran out and threw the robber captain down, but could not escape the other robbers, who, with their swords, cut off his head.

  The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They found all the bags which Kasim had brought to the door, ready to load on his mules, and carried them to their places, but they did not miss what ‘Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a council, and deliberating on the occurrence, they guessed that Kasim, when he was in, had not been able to get out, 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 Kasim’s body into four quarters and 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, and went to beat the roads again and attack the caravans they might meet.

  In the meantime Kasim’s wife was very uneasy when night came and her husband had not returned. She ran to ‘Ali Baba in great alarm and said: I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Kasim has gone to the forest and on what account. It is now night, and he has not come back. I am afraid some misfortune had happened to him.

  ‘Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for Kasim would certainly not think it proper to come into the town till the night was pretty far advanced.

  Kasim’s wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep the business secret, was easily persuaded to believe her brother-in-law. She went home and waited patiently till midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more marked because she was forced to keep it to herself. She repented her foolish curiosity and cursed her desire to pry into the affairs of other people. She spent all the night in weeping; and as soon as it was day, went to her brother- and sister-in-law, telling them by her tears the cause of her coming.

  Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to ask him to go to see what was become of Kasim, but begging her to moderate her affliction, departed immediately with his three donkeys. He went to the forest, and when he came to the rock, having seen neither his brother nor the mules on the way, was seriously alarmed at finding some blood near the door. He took this for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced t
he proper words, 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, and having loaded one of his donkeys with the body, covered it over with wood. The other two donkeys he loaded with bags of gold, covering them with wood also as before. Then he bid the door shut and 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 reached home he drove the two donkeys 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 Marjaneh, a clever, intelligent servant, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the most difficult circumstances. When he came into the court, he unloaded the donkey, and taking Marjaneh aside said to her: You must observe close secrecy. I have brought your master’s body. 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 Kasim’s house and then returned with his donkey.

  Marjaneh 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, My good master Kasim himself, and he can neither eat nor speak.

  In the evening Marjaneh 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 at 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.

  Moreover, as ‘Ali Baba and his wife were often seen going between Kasim and their own house all that day, and seemed melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable shrieks and cries of Kasim’s wife and of Marjaneh, who gave out everywhere that Kasim was dead. The next morning at daybreak, Marjaneh went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always early at his stall, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand, saying, Baba Mustapha, bring with you your sewing tackle and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you when you come to a certain place.