The stories for Arabian Nights Entertainments were published by "Longmans, Green, and Co., London, in 1898, by Andrew Lang(1844-1912). The Color Illustrations are by Rene Bull(1870-1946) the lager Black & white imagesare by Henry Justice Ford(1872-1941) Public domain Via WIKIMEDIA COMMONS | |
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – A Classic Tale of Courage and Cleverness
(Summary for Blog Use – Public Domain Story)
“Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” is one of the most popular stories from the ancient collection of Arabian Nights (One Thousand and One Nights). It is a timeless tale that celebrates intelligence, courage, and the triumph of good over evil.
Ali Baba was a poor but honest woodcutter who lived in a small village with his wife. His brother, Cassim, on the other hand, was a rich merchant who looked down upon Ali Baba because of his poverty. One day, while cutting wood in the forest, Ali Baba noticed a group of forty fierce-looking men approaching on horses. Frightened, he quickly climbed a tree and hid among its branches.
From his hiding place, Ali Baba watched in amazement as the men stopped near a large rock. Their leader shouted the magical words, “Open, Sesame!” To Ali Baba’s astonishment, the rock opened like a door, revealing a huge cave filled with gold coins, precious jewels, and rich silks. After storing their stolen treasure inside, the thieves closed the cave by saying, “Close, Sesame!” and rode away.
When everything became quiet, Ali Baba climbed down from the tree and tried the magic words himself. The rock opened, and he cautiously entered the cave. He took only a few bags of gold coins — just enough to live a comfortable life — and returned home quietly without telling anyone.
However, Ali Baba’s brother, Cassim, soon discovered the source of Ali Baba’s new wealth. Greedy and ambitious, Cassim went to the cave alone. Inside, he became so excited by the treasure that he forgot the magic words needed to open the cave again. The thieves returned and found him inside. They killed him and left him there as a warning to others.
Ali Baba, worried about his brother, went searching and found Cassim’s body. With the help of a clever and brave servant girl named Morgiana, he secretly brought the body back and gave Cassim a proper burial without letting anyone suspect the truth.
The forty thieves, realizing that someone else knew their secret, plotted to kill Ali Baba. They tried various tricks — hiding inside oil jars and disguising themselves — but each time, Morgiana outsmarted them with her presence of mind and courage. Finally, she discovered their leader and killed him, putting an end to the danger.
Grateful for her bravery and loyalty, Ali Baba rewarded Morgiana by setting her free and giving her a place of honor in his family.
From that day on, Ali Baba lived peacefully and used his wealth wisely. He shared his good fortune with kindness and never allowed greed to rule his heart.
Moral of the Story:
Greed leads to ruin, but intelligence, courage, and gratitude bring lasting happiness.
Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost!🙏
