Ali of "Arabian Nights"

Usage examples of baba.

It is the tale of a certain man, of humble bearing and modest occupation, named Ali Baba, and how a chance encounter led him to great wealth and even greater danger.

Perhaps you have even guessed that my name is indeed Ali Baba, and, especially you noisy lot in the back, perhaps you forget that I once was one of the most talented of woodcutters, and have retained a facility for the exacting use of exceedingly sharp instruments.

Ali Baba was the younger of two sons, and when his father had passed from this world, the elder bequeathed all of his earthly goods upon the older of the two, whose name was Kassim.

But still did Ali Baba keep silent, and continue to go about his menial business without complaint.

Ali Baba pursued his woodcutting, day in and day out, collecting vast and back-breaking quantities of wood in the wild forest beyond the city, receiving calluses upon his palms and splinters in his fingers, facing constant threats from wild bandits and wilder beasts, so that he might eke out the most meager of existences.

Ali Baba, his wife, and the one single servant that they could afford were crowded upon, and further that Kassim seemed to have loud and vociferous gatherings that lasted far into the night, depriving Ali Baba of much-needed sleep.

Therefore, when Ali Baba arose the next morning, even before the dawn, so that he might drive his mules the incredibly great distance into that portion of the dangerous forest where the best wood might be found, he discovered these twin disasters.

But was the humble Ali Baba embittered because his front walk was now heavily soiled and odoriferous?

Ali Baba, truly a prince among paupers, did indeed espy his brother, Kassim, traversing his nearby gate.

Ali Baba was uncertain whether he wished to make his brother busier still.

But was the righteous Ali Baba ready to take this earthenware cup that is now in his hands and smash it into bits against this nearby tent pole?

Ali Baba found himself chopping the most sturdy wood from the darkest part of the forest, a place so dense with undergrowth that it seemed to be twilight at noon, and every shadow appeared to produce a further shadow of its own.

Ali Baba was understandably disquieted by his surroundings, but he also knew that the wood that he cut would bring a good price at market, so that he might provide adequately for his wife and children.

Ali Baba redoubled his efforts, wondering if any amount of effort might be worth the loss of his life.

As they passed his hiding place within the dense forest thicket, Ali Baba further heard the sounds of coarse laughter and the sort of language one did not generally associate with the upper echelons of polite society.