THE THIEF'S STORY
by Unknown · from Tales from the Arabic — Volume 02
Adapted Version
Lily played in the sunny forest. She was happy. She saw a squirrel. The squirrel hopped up to her. "Come to a party!" said the squirrel. "It is in a cave. It will be fun!"
Lily followed the squirrel. They went into a dark cave. Inside, Lily saw many animals. There was a big bear. There were rabbits and foxes. They were not having a party.
"I am a friend," said Lily. "I can help you. I will stay and play." The big bear said, "Okay, you can stay."
Lily stayed for some days. She helped the animals. She shared her sweet berries. They played fun games together. The animals liked Lily very much.
One night, Lily made a special drink. It was warm milk with honey. "This is sleepy juice," she said. The animals drank it. Soon, they all fell asleep.
Lily took back her doll. The bear had taken it. She also took some shiny pebbles. They were her favorite pebbles.
Then Lily had a funny idea. She put silly hats on the sleeping animals. She drew funny faces on them. It was a harmless trick.
Lily tiptoed to the cave door. She opened it quietly. She ran back into the forest. She was safe and clever.
The animals woke up. They saw their silly hats. They saw the funny drawings on their faces. "Look at us!" laughed the bear. "Lily tricked us!" The rabbits and foxes laughed too. It was a very funny trick.
Lily walked home through the trees. She smiled. Being clever and kind can solve problems. It can also make friends laugh.
Original Story
THE THIEF'S STORY.
The woman who used to act as decoy for them once caught them a woman from a bride-feast, under pretence that she had a wedding toward in her own house, and appointed her for a day, whereon she should come to her. When the appointed day arrived, the woman presented herself and the other carried her into the house by a door, avouching that it was a privy door. When she entered [the saloon], she saw men and champions[FN#131] [and knew that she had fallen into a trap]; so she looked at them and said, "Harkye, lads![FN#132] I am a woman and there is no glory in my slaughter, nor have ye any feud of blood-revenge against me, wherefore ye should pursue me; and that which is upon me of [trinkets and apparel] ye are free to take." Quoth they, "We fear thy denunciation." But she answered, saying, "I will abide with you, neither coming in nor going out." And they said, "We grant thee thy life."
Then the captain looked on her [and she pleased him]; so he took her for himself and she abode with him a whole year, doing her endeavour in their service. till they became accustomed to her [and felt assured of her]. One night she plied them with drink and they drank [till they became intoxicated]; whereupon she arose and took her clothes and five hundred dinars from the captain; after which she fetched a razor and shaved all their chins. Then she took soot from the cooking-pots and blackening their faces withal, opened the doors and went out; and when the thieves awoke, they abode confounded and knew that the woman had practised upon them.'"'
The company marvelled at this story and the ninth officer came forward and said, 'I will tell you a right goodly story I heard at a wedding.
Story DNA
Moral
Cleverness and quick thinking can help one escape danger and even turn the tables on oppressors.
Plot Summary
A woman is tricked into a thieves' den by a decoy. Realizing her predicament, she cleverly pleads for her life, promising to stay and not denounce them, which the thieves accept. She lives among them for a year, gaining their trust. One night, she intoxicates the thieves, shaves their chins, blackens their faces, steals money, and escapes, leaving them humiliated and outsmarted.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is likely from 'One Thousand and One Nights' (Arabian Nights), a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The mention of 'dinars' and 'blood-revenge' are consistent with this origin.
Plot Beats (10)
- A decoy woman tricks a woman from a bride-feast into coming to a house under false pretenses.
- The lured woman enters a room and discovers she is in a den of thieves.
- She pleads for her life, promising not to report them and to stay with them.
- The thieves agree to spare her life, and the captain takes her as his own.
- The woman lives with the thieves for a year, diligently serving them and earning their trust.
- One night, she gets all the thieves intoxicated with drink.
- While they are unconscious, she takes her clothes and 500 dinars from the captain.
- She shaves all their chins with a razor and blackens their faces with soot from cooking pots.
- She opens the doors and makes her escape.
- The thieves awaken to find themselves shaven, blackened, robbed, and humiliated, realizing they were outsmarted.
Characters
The Decoy Woman
Of average height and build, with a non-descript appearance that allows her to blend into crowds and appear trustworthy. Her features are likely plain, designed not to draw undue attention.
Attire: Modest, unassuming clothing typical of a common woman in an Arabian town, perhaps a simple, dark-colored thobe or abaya, possibly with a head covering, to appear respectable and blend in.
Wants: To serve the thieves' interests by luring victims, likely for personal gain or to maintain her position within the group.
Flaw: Her loyalty is solely to herself and her immediate benefit, making her untrustworthy.
Remains unchanged, a consistent tool in the thieves' operations.
Deceptive, cunning, persuasive, opportunistic.
The Bride-Feast Woman
Likely of average height and slender build, adorned with the finest attire and jewelry befitting a guest at a wedding feast, suggesting a background of some wealth.
Attire: Richly adorned clothing, likely a fine silk or brocade dress (like a qamis or caftan) with intricate embroidery, possibly a matching head covering, and valuable jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings) appropriate for a wedding guest in an Arabian context. The story mentions 'trinkets and apparel'.
Wants: To survive the immediate threat, then to escape and exact revenge on her captors.
Flaw: Initially trusting, which leads her into the trap.
Transforms from a trusting victim into a cunning avenger, demonstrating remarkable resilience and strategic thinking.
Intelligent, quick-witted, resourceful, composed under pressure, vengeful.
The Captain of the Thieves
Likely a robust and imposing figure, reflecting his leadership role among a band of champions and thieves. He would possess a commanding presence.
Attire: Practical but perhaps slightly more ornate clothing than his men, indicating his status. Likely a sturdy thobe or tunic, possibly with a leather vest or belt, and a head covering like a keffiyeh or simple turban. He would carry a weapon.
Wants: To lead his band in thievery, accumulate wealth, and indulge in his desires.
Flaw: His overconfidence and susceptibility to the woman's charms and the effects of alcohol.
Begins as a powerful and feared leader, but ends up humiliated and outsmarted by his captive.
Authoritative, opportunistic, overconfident, susceptible to pleasure, ultimately humiliated.
The Thieves / Champions
A varied group of men, likely rugged and strong, accustomed to a life of crime and physical confrontation. They would appear formidable.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for thieves and fighters in an Arabian setting, such as simple tunics, trousers, and possibly vests or cloaks, in muted, earthy tones. They would carry weapons.
Wants: To steal and profit under the captain's leadership.
Flaw: Their lack of vigilance and susceptibility to drink.
Remain static in their criminal roles, serving as foils for the bride-feast woman's cunning.
Brutish, opportunistic, easily intoxicated, easily outsmarted.
Locations
The Decoy Woman's House
A house with a main entrance and a 'privy door' (likely a side or back entrance) leading into a saloon. The saloon is where the men and champions gather.
Mood: Initially deceptive and welcoming, quickly turning tense and threatening, then becoming a place of forced residence.
The bride-feast woman is lured here, realizes she's trapped, and is taken captive. Later, she drugs the thieves, shaves them, blackens their faces, steals from them, and escapes.