CII NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Once upon a time. There was a busy town. A man worked for the King.
The King's Helper carried many things. He walked in the dark. He pushed a man with a curved back. The man fell down. He was very still. The helper did not mean harm. It was a mistake.
The helper was scared. He felt very bad. He did not know what to do. He put the still man. It was by a shop wall. He did not want anyone to know. He ran away fast. He did not look back.
Later, a sleepy merchant walked by. It was very dark. He did not see the man. The man was against the shop. The merchant walked too close. He was very tired.
The merchant bumped into the man. The man fell over. The merchant was surprised. He thought someone pushed him! He pushed back hard. He hit the still man. The man did not move.
A guard came. He heard a loud noise. He saw the merchant. He saw the still man. The man was on the ground. The guard thought the merchant hurt the man. He took the merchant away. He put him in a jail. He was very firm.
The merchant went to the judge. The judge was a big man. He looked very bad. Judge said, "You must get big trouble!"
The merchant was almost in trouble. He was very sad. He did not do it. But the King's helper felt very bad. He knew the true story. He ran to them. He ran very fast. He called out loud.
The helper said, "Stop! It was me! I made the man fall earlier. I put him by the shop."
The bad thing stopped. All heard the helper's true story. The merchant was safe. He was not guilty. The King was happy. He was happy for the truth. He said, "The truth is good."
And so, the real truth came out. It is always best to be honest. Find the right person. Do not blame the easy one. The King was happy. The truth was told.
Original Story
CII NUIT.
Sire, le pourvoyeur du sultan de Casgar, en frappant le bossu, n'avait pas pris garde à sa bosse. Lorsqu'il s'en aperçut, il fit des imprécations contre lui. «Maudit bossu, s'écria-t-il, chien de bossu, plût à Dieu que tu m'eusses volé toutes mes graisses et que je ne t'eusse point trouvé ici! je ne serais pas dans l'embarras où je suis pour l'amour de toi et de ta vilaine bosse. Étoiles qui brillez aux cieux, ajouta-t-il, n'ayez de lumière que pour moi dans un danger si évident!» En disant ces paroles, il chargea le bossu sur ses épaules, sortit de sa chambre, alla jusqu'au bout de la rue, où, l'ayant posé debout et appuyé contre une boutique, il reprit le chemin de sa maison sans regarder derrière lui.
Quelques moments avant le jour, un marchand chrétien, qui était fort riche et qui fournissait au palais du sultan la plupart des choses dont on y avait besoin, après avoir passé la nuit en débauche, s'avisa de sortir de chez lui pour aller au bain. Quoiqu'il fût ivre, il ne laissa pas de remarquer que la nuit était fort avancée et qu'on allait bientôt appeler à la prière de la pointe du jour: c'est pourquoi, précipitant ses pas, il se hâtait d'arriver au bain, de peur que quelque musulman, en allant à la mosquée, ne le rencontrât et ne le menât en prison comme un ivrogne. Néanmoins, quand il fut au bout de la rue, il s'arrêta, pour quelque besoin, contre la boutique où le pourvoyeur du sultan avait mis le corps du bossu, lequel, venant à être ébranlé, tomba sur le dos du marchand, qui, dans la pensée que c'était un voleur qui l'attaquait, le renversa par terre d'un coup de poing qu'il lui déchargea sur la tête: il lui en donna beaucoup d'autres ensuite et se mit à crier au voleur.
Le garde du quartier vint à ses cris, et voyant que c'était un chrétien qui maltraitait un musulman (car le bossu était de notre religion): «Quel sujet avez-vous, lui dit-il, de maltraiter ainsi un musulman? - Il a voulu, me voler, répondit le marchand, et il s'est jeté sur moi pour me prendre à la gorge. - Vous vous êtes assez vengé, répliqua le garde en le tirant par le bras, ôtez-vous de là.» En même temps il tendit la main au bossu pour l'aider à se relever; mais remarquant qu'il était mort: «Oh! oh! poursuivit-il, c'est donc ainsi qu'un chrétien a la hardiesse d'assassiner un musulman!» En achevant ces mots, il arrêta le chrétien et le mena chez le lieutenant de police, où on le mit en prison jusqu'à ce que le juge fût levé et en état d'interroger l'accusé. Cependant le marchand chrétien revint de son ivresse, et plus il faisait de réflexions sur son aventure, moins il pouvait comprendre comment de simples coups de poing avaient été capables d'ôter la vie à un homme.
Le lieutenant de police, sur le rapport du garde, et ayant vu le cadavre qu'on avait apporté chez lui, interrogea le marchand chrétien, qui ne put nier un crime qu'il n'avait pas commis. Comme le bossu appartenait au sultan, car c'était un de ses bouffons, le lieutenant de police ne voulut pas faire mourir le chrétien sans avoir auparavant appris la volonté du prince. Il alla au palais, pour cet effet, rendre compte de ce qui se passait au sultan, qui lui dit: «Je n'ai point de grâce à accorder à un chrétien qui tue un musulman: allez, faites votre charge.» À ces paroles, le juge de police fit dresser une potence, envoya des crieurs par la ville pour publier qu'on allait pendre un chrétien qui avait tué un musulman.
Enfin on tira le marchand de prison, on l'amena au pied de la potence, et le bourreau, après lui avoir attaché la corde au cou, allait l'élever en l'air, lorsque le pourvoyeur du sultan, fendant la presse, s'avança en criant au bourreau: «Attendez, attendez, ne vous pressez pas; ce n'est pas lui qui a commis le meurtre, c'est moi.» Le lieutenant de police qui assistait à l'exécution, se mit à interroger le pourvoyeur, qui lui raconta de point en point de quelle manière il avait tué le bossu, et il acheva en disant qu'il avait porté son corps à l'endroit où le marchand chrétien l'avait trouvé. «Vous alliez, ajouta-t-il, faire mourir un innocent, puisqu'il ne peut pas avoir tué un homme qui n'était plus en vie. C'est bien assez pour moi d'avoir assassiné un musulman, sans charger encore ma conscience de la mort d'un chrétien qui n'est pas criminel.»
Le jour, qui commençait à paraître, empêcha Scheherazade de poursuivre son discours; mais elle en reprit la suite sur la fin de la nuit suivante:
Story DNA
Moral
True justice requires finding the actual culprit, not just a convenient one.
Plot Summary
A sultan's purveyor accidentally kills a hunchback and, to avoid trouble, props the body against a shop. A drunken Christian merchant later stumbles upon the body, mistakenly thinking it's an attacker, and strikes it. He is then falsely accused of murder by a guard and sentenced to execution. Just as he is about to be hanged, the purveyor, overcome by guilt, confesses to the original crime, saving the innocent merchant.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects a societal structure where religious identity could significantly impact legal outcomes, and justice was often administered publicly and swiftly.
Plot Beats (9)
- The sultan's purveyor accidentally kills a hunchback while striking him.
- Fearing repercussions, the purveyor props the hunchback's body against a shop in the street.
- A drunken Christian merchant, on his way to the bath, stumbles upon the body.
- Mistaking the falling body for an attacker, the merchant strikes the already dead hunchback.
- A guard arrives, sees a Christian assaulting a Muslim, and arrests the merchant for murder.
- The merchant is brought before the lieutenant of police, who, after seeing the body and consulting the Sultan, orders his execution.
- As the merchant is about to be hanged, the purveyor, overcome by guilt, rushes forward.
- The purveyor confesses to having killed the hunchback earlier and disposing of the body.
- The execution is stopped, and the purveyor's confession is heard.
Characters
The Hunchback
A man of average height with a prominent hump on his back. His build is likely slight or average, as he is easily moved and mistaken for a thief. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but as a jester for the Sultan, he would likely wear colorful, perhaps slightly eccentric, but still functional clothing suitable for entertainment, possibly made of cotton or linen, with some decorative elements.
Wants: To entertain the Sultan and earn his living.
Flaw: His physical deformity (the hump) which leads to his accidental death; his vulnerability to the actions of others.
He is accidentally killed at the beginning of the story, becoming the central object of a series of misunderstandings and accusations.
Playful, entertaining (as a jester), but ultimately a passive character in the events of his death.
The Sultan's Purveyor
A man of average build and height, likely strong enough to carry a body. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: As the Sultan's purveyor, he would wear practical but respectable clothing, perhaps a simple tunic and trousers made of sturdy cotton or linen, possibly with a vest or outer garment, in earthy or muted tones. He might wear a simple turban or cap.
Wants: To fulfill his duties to the Sultan, to avoid trouble, and later, to confess his crime and prevent an innocent man's execution.
Flaw: His temper and carelessness, which lead to the Hunchback's death.
He accidentally kills the Hunchback, attempts to conceal the body, but later, driven by conscience, confesses his crime to save an innocent man.
Impulsive, easily frustrated, remorseful, honest (eventually).
The Christian Merchant
A wealthy man, likely well-fed and of average build. His ethnicity is Christian in a Muslim-majority Casgar, suggesting he might be a Syrian Christian or Armenian merchant, with fair to olive skin.
Attire: As a rich merchant supplying the Sultan, he would wear fine, but not necessarily ostentatious, clothing. Perhaps a long, flowing robe (thobe or similar) made of fine wool or silk in a deep color, possibly with intricate embroidery, and a well-made turban. He might wear soft leather slippers or boots.
Wants: To avoid public shame and punishment for his drunkenness, to clear his name, and ultimately, to survive.
Flaw: His indulgence in debauchery and his initial drunken state, which leads to the misunderstanding.
He is wrongly accused of murder due to a series of unfortunate events, faces execution, but is saved at the last moment by the true culprit's confession.
Debauched (initially), fearful (of being caught drunk), confused, innocent (of murder), resigned.
The Quarter Guard
A man of strong build, typical of a guard. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: As a guard, he would wear practical, sturdy clothing, possibly a uniform of some kind. This might include a tunic and trousers made of thick cotton or wool, perhaps with a leather belt and a simple cap or turban. His attire would be functional for patrolling the streets.
Wants: To uphold the law and protect the Muslim community.
Flaw: His prejudice against Christians, leading to a hasty judgment.
He discovers the 'crime' and arrests the Christian Merchant, setting the legal process in motion.
Duty-bound, quick to judge (especially against a Christian harming a Muslim), observant.
The Lieutenant of Police
A man of authority, likely well-maintained and of a respectable build. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: As a high-ranking official, he would wear more formal and refined clothing than a guard. This might include a long, flowing robe of fine wool or silk in a dark, dignified color, perhaps with a more elaborate turban or headwear, signifying his position.
Wants: To administer justice according to the law and the Sultan's will.
Flaw: His reliance on the Sultan's decree, which initially leads to a wrongful conviction.
He presides over the case of the Hunchback's murder, initially condemns the Christian Merchant, but then re-evaluates the case upon the Purveyor's confession.
Judicial, duty-bound, cautious (seeking the Sultan's will), stern.
The Sultan of Casgar
A figure of regal bearing, likely well-maintained and possibly robust, befitting a ruler. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: As Sultan, he would wear the most opulent and regal attire. This would include flowing robes of rich silk or brocade, possibly embroidered with gold thread and precious stones, in vibrant colors like crimson, emerald, or royal blue. A jeweled turban or crown would be essential.
Wants: To maintain order and justice in his realm, to uphold the perceived sanctity of a Muslim's life over a Christian's.
Flaw: His initial prejudice and lack of mercy towards the Christian Merchant.
He makes a swift judgment based on initial reports, but his role is primarily to set the legal wheels in motion rather than to change.
Authoritative, unyielding (initially regarding the Christian), decisive.
The Executioner
A man of strong, imposing build, necessary for his profession. His skin tone would be consistent with someone from Casgar, likely olive to light brown.
Attire: Practical and somber, perhaps a dark, heavy tunic and trousers, possibly with a hood or a simple head covering. His clothing would be functional for his grim task.
Wants: To carry out the sentences of the court.
Flaw: None shown, as he is merely an instrument of justice.
He is about to execute the Christian Merchant when he is stopped.
Stoic, professional, unfeeling (in the performance of his duty).
Locations
Street in Casgar
A narrow, unlit street in the city of Casgar, lined with shops. The ground is likely unpaved or cobbled, typical of an ancient city. It is very dark before dawn.
Mood: Eerie, tense, desolate, with a sense of impending doom.
The purveyor disposes of the bossu's body against a shop, and later, the Christian merchant stumbles upon it, leading to the misunderstanding and his arrest.
Sultan's Palace - Lieutenant of Police's Quarters
The official quarters within the Sultan's palace where the lieutenant of police conducts interrogations and holds prisoners. It would feature Abbasid-era architectural elements like geometric tile mosaics, possibly muqarnas vaults, and a formal, austere atmosphere.
Mood: Formal, authoritative, grim, with a sense of injustice.
The Christian merchant is interrogated and imprisoned here, and the lieutenant of police consults the Sultan regarding the execution.
Public Execution Square
A public square in Casgar, likely unpaved and dusty, where executions are carried out. A wooden gallows stands prominently. The square is filled with a crowd of onlookers.
Mood: Tense, somber, crowded, with a sense of spectacle and impending tragedy.
The Christian merchant is brought to be hanged, but the purveyor intervenes, confessing his own guilt.