The History of Ali Baba, and of the
Forty Robbers Killed by One Slave
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 rich wife, and became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba, who married a woman as poor as himself, lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town to sell.
One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, cutting 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 a body of horsemen, who he suspected might be robbers. He determined to hide his asses and to save himself. He climbed a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were thick enough to conceal
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