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.
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