death of the thirty-seven robbers and their captain, supposing
the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be alive.

At the year's end, when he found that they had not made any attempt to
disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey, taking the
necessary precautions for his safety. He mounted his horse, and when he
came to the cave, and saw no footsteps of men or beasts, looked upon it
as a good sign. He alighted, tied his horse to a tree, then approaching
the entrance and pronouncing the words, _Open, Sesame!_ the door opened.
He entered the cavern, and by the condition he found things in, judged
that nobody had been there since the false Khaujeh Houssain, when he had
fetched the goods for his shop; that the gang of forty robbers was
completely destroyed, and no longer doubted that he was the only person
in the world who had the secret of opening the cave, so that all the
treasure was at his sole disposal. Having brought with him a wallet, he
put into it as much gold as his horse would carry, and returned to town.

Afterward Ali Baba carried his son to the cave, and taught him the
secret, which they handed down to their posterity, who, using their good
fortune with moderation, lived in great honour and splendour.

THE HISTORY OF CODADAD AND HIS BROTHERS

There formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most magnificent and
potent sultan, who loved his subjects, and was equally beloved by them.
He was endued with all virtues, and wanted nothing to complete his
happiness but an heir. He continually prayed to Heaven for a child; and
one night in his sleep, a prophet appeared to him and said: "Your
prayers are heard; you have obtained what you have desired; rise as soon
as you awake, go to your prayers, and make two genuflexions; then walk
into the garden of your palace, call your gardener, and bid him bring
you a pomegranate; eat as many of the seeds as you please, and your
wishes shall be accomplished."

The sultan calling to mind his dream when he awoke, returned thanks to
Heaven, got up, prayed, made two genuflexions, and then went into his
garden, where he took fifty pomegranate seeds, which he counted, and
ate. Some time afterward forty-nine of his wives presented him with
sons, each one as vigorous as a young palm-tree, but Pirouze, the
fiftieth wife, remained childless. The sultan, therefore, took an
aversion to this lady and would have had her put to death had not his
vizier prev