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Arabian Nights: 282nd Night: Ali Baba & Forty Thieves - 5

The following night Shahrazad said: A little after Baba Mustafa and the robber had parted, Marjaneh went out of Ali Baba's house upon an errand, and upon her return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it.  "What can be the meaning of this marks?" she said to herself; somebody intends my master no good; however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the worst."  Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk and marked two or three doors on each side, in the same manner without saying a word to her master or mistress. In the meantime the robber joined his troop in the forest; and recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he wanted to know.  All the robbers listened to him attentively, and the captain after commenting his diligence, said to all, "Comrades, "We have no time to lose; let us set off well armed, but in disgui...
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Arabian Nights: 281st Night: Ali Baba & Forty Thieves - 4

The following night Shahrazad said: The Captain of the robbers said to his followers, "Well, one of you, the boldest and the highly skilled must go into the town, disguised as a traveller and a stranger, and try to get any piece of information about the man we killed, try to find out who he was, and where he lived.  This is a matter of urgency; whoever undertakes this task without success shall suffer death." Without consulting his companions, one of the robbers started up and said, "I submit to this condition, and deem it an honour to expose my life to the cause of my troop." He then disguised himself and went to the town. It was daybreak when he reached the town, and he walked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustafa's stall which used to be open at the early hours. Baba Mustafa was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work.  The robber greeted him, and seeing that he is an old man, said, "Uncle, you begin to work very early.  Is it...
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Arabian Nights: 280th Night: Ali Baba & Forty Thieves - 3: Marjaneh, the deligent slave girl

The following night Shahrazad said: Kasim's wife was uneasy.  Her husband did not return.  Alarmed, she ran to Ali Baba. "Brother-in-law," she said, "You know, Kasim has gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and he has not returned; I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him." After midnight Ali Baba departed to the forest with his three asses.  When he came near the rock, having seen neither his brother nor his mules in his way, was alarmed at finding some blood split near the door, which he took for an ill-omen; but when he pronounced the words, and she door had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's body.  He went into the cave, however, to find something to enshroud the remains; and having loaded one of his asses with them, covered them over with wood.  The other two asses he loaded with gold, covering them also with wood; then bidding the door shut came away.  When he came home, he drove two as...
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Arabian Nights: 279th Night: Ali Baba & Forty Thieves - 2

The following night Shahrazad said: When Ali Baba got his home, he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the gates carefully, threw off the wood, carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his wife.  He then emptied the bags which raised such a heap of gold as dazzled his wife's eyes.  He told her the whole adventure from beginning to end, and recommended to keep it a secret.  The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune and began to count all the pieces one by one.  "Wife," said Ali Baba, you do not know what you are doing, you pretend to count the money, a job you have never done in your life.  I will dig a hole and bury it.  There is no time to be lost." "You are right, husband," replied she, but let us know as soon as possible how much we have.  I will borrow a small measure and measure it while you dig the hole." The wife ran to their brother-in-law Kasim, who lived hard by and addressing his wife asked to lend a measur...
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One Thousand and One Nights: A Metaphor

The title "One Thousand and One" the the alternative to Arabian Nights is a metaphor.  Alfa Layla wa Layla is not to be taken literally. 1001 is symbolic representation of a vast number.  A hyperbole to emphasize large volume of stories.  The addition of one gives it a poetic touch, implying something even more than complete. A story that never ends.  So it is metaphor for infinity, continuity, or the eternal act of storytelling. Shahrazad use it to keep away death by never concluding.  It has an Indian parallel in Panchatantra and Kadhasaritsagara.  The latter claims itself to be a part of a greater collection of seven hundred thousand stories, the idea of an inexhaustible treasury of tales. The Sanskrit number Sahasra is a poetic exaggeration - a way to say innumerable or countless.  So, the Indian model also presents the structural idea of stories that never end.  A pastime to keep the listeners engaged forever.  When these stories reached...
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Arabian Nights: 278th Night: Alibaba and Forty Thieves - 1

The following night Shahrazad said: The town of Persia. There lived two brothers. One was Kasim. The other was Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance equally between them.  Kasim married a rich girl. He became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a poor girl, as poor as himself. He became a wood cutter. He would go to thick forest, find out old and decayed tree, cut it and  bring the logs on the back of asses to the market for sale.  One day, in the forest, Ali Baba had been cutting the wood and loading the logs on the back of his asses.  He saw at a distance, a great cloud of dust approaching him.  He observed it with attention, and discerned a body of horsemen. He thought them as robbers.  In order to save himself, he left the asses and his axe, climbed upon a tree and sat on a branch, concealed by twigs and leaves so that he could well observe the movement of the horsemen, and at the same time hide his presence.  There were forty horseme...
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Arabian Nights: 277th Night: Sindbad's Voyages - 6

The following night Shahrazad said: Sindbad the sailor continued his story: After my last voyage I had decided that I should no more embark upon a voyage.  In my advanced years I appreciate a quiet life, and I no more want to take risk of untoward incidents.  However, one day I had an unexpected visitor. When I spent my time among my friends, I was told that an officer of Caliph wished to talk to me.  When he was admitted to my presence he bade me to follow him to the presence of Caliph Harun-al-Rashid, which I accordingly did, and saluted the Caliph.  The Caliph said, "I have sent for you to assign you a special task.  You are to bear a letter and a gift to the king of Serendib in return for his message of friendship." It fell on me like a thunderbolt.  I was not in a mood to undertake a long and hazardous travel leaving the evening company of my friends. "Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do all that your Majesty commands, but I humbly...
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