CIV NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
A good Doctor was in trouble. He was very sad. The Judge thought the Doctor hurt the Visitor. The Judge said Doctor must be punished. He let the first man go free. The Doctor was scared. He did not do it.
A Guard put a rope on the Doctor. The Doctor was almost taken away. Then, a man shouted. It was the Tailor. "Stop!" the Tailor cried. He ran to the Guard. He wanted to speak.
The Tailor stood before the Judge. "Sir," he said. "You almost hurt three good people. I know what happened. I will tell you the truth. Listen to me, please. I know who hurt the Visitor."
Yesterday, the Visitor came to my shop. He sang happy songs. I asked him to come home with me. We would eat dinner. He said yes. We went to my house.
We sat at the table. I gave him some fish. The Visitor ate too fast. Something got stuck. He got very sick. My wife and I tried to help. But he did not wake up. We were very sad.
We were scared. We did not want trouble. We took the Visitor. We carried him to the Doctor's house. We put him at the Doctor's door. We hoped no one would know. We were very afraid.
I knocked on the door. A helper opened it. I gave her some coins. "Please tell your master," I said. "A sick man is here. Ask him to come down. He needs help now."
The helper went inside. She went upstairs. We put the Visitor on the step. It was the first step. Then we left fast. We went home.
The Doctor came down the stairs. He did not see the Visitor. He tripped over the Visitor. He thought he hurt the Visitor. He was very sad. He felt bad.
"So, Judge," the Tailor said. "Let the Doctor go. He is good. He did nothing wrong. Punish me instead. I am telling the truth now. It is fair."
The Judge heard the story. All the people listened. They were very surprised. This was a strange story.
The Judge looked at the Guard. "Let the Doctor go," he said. "He is free. Take the Tailor away. He told the truth."
And so, the truth came out. It is always good to tell the truth. Even if it is hard.
Original Story
CIV NUIT.
Sire, dit-elle, dès que le juge de police lut persuadé que le médecin juif était le meurtrier, il ordonna au bourreau de se saisir de sa personne et de mettre en liberté le pourvoyeur du sultan. Le médecin avait déjà la corde au cou et allait cesser de vivre, quand on entendit la voix du tailleur, qui priait le bourreau de ne pas passer plus avant, et qui faisait ranger le peuple pour s'avancer vers le lieutenant de police, devant lequel étant arrivé: «Seigneur, lui dit-il, peu s'en est fallu que vous n'ayez fait perdre la vie à trois personnes innocentes; mais si vous voulez bien avoir la patience de m'entendre, vous allez connaître le véritable assassin du bossu. Si sa mort doit être expiée par une autre, c'est par la mienne. Hier, vers la fin du jour, comme je travaillais dans ma boutique et que j'étais en humeur de me réjouir, le bossu, à demi ivre, arriva et s'assit. Il chanta quelque temps, et je lui proposai de venir passer la soirée chez moi. Il y consentit, et je l'emmenai. Nous nous mîmes à table, je lui servis un morceau de poisson: en le mangeant, une arête ou un os s'arrêta dans son gosier, et quelque chose que nous pûmes faire, ma femme et moi, pour le soulager, il mourut en peu de temps. Nous fûmes fort affligés de sa mort, et, de peur d'en être repris, nous portâmes le cadavre à la porte du médecin juif. Je frappai, et je dis à la servante qui vint ouvrir de remonter promptement et de prier son maître, de notre part, de descendre pour voir un malade que nous lui amenions; et, afin qu'il ne refusât pas de venir, je la chargeai de lui remettre en main propre une pièce d'argent que je lui donnai. Dès qu'elle fut remontée, je portai le bossu au haut de l'escalier, sur la première marche, et nous sortîmes aussitôt, ma femme et moi, pour nous retirer chez nous. Le médecin, en voulant descendre, fit rouler le bossu, ce qui lui a fait croire qu'il était cause de sa mort. Puisque cela est ainsi, ajouta-t-il, laissez aller le médecin et me faites mourir.»
Le lieutenant de police et tous les spectateurs ne pouvaient assez admirer les étranges événements dont la mort du bossu avait été suivie. «Lâche donc le médecin juif, dit le juge au bourreau, et pends le tailleur puisqu'il confesse son crime. Il faut avouer que cette histoire est bien extraordinaire et qu'elle mérite d'être écrite en lettres d'or.» Le bourreau ayant mis en liberté le médecin, passa une corde au cou du tailleur. Mais, sire, dit Scheherazade en s'interrompant en cet endroit, je vois qu'il est déjà jour; il faut, s'il vous plaît, remettre la suite de cette histoire à demain. Le sultan des Indes y consentit, et se leva pour aller à ses fonctions ordinaires.
Story DNA
Moral
Truth, however convoluted, will eventually come to light, and those who confess their wrongs may find a measure of peace.
Plot Summary
As a Jewish doctor faces execution for the murder of a hunchback, a tailor dramatically intervenes, confessing to the crime. He explains that the hunchback accidentally choked on a fishbone at his home. Fearing punishment, the tailor and his wife secretly placed the body at the doctor's door, tricking his servant into believing they brought a patient. The doctor then tripped over the body, leading to his false accusation. The tailor offers himself for execution, and the judge, astonished by the tale, orders the tailor to be hanged instead, as Scheherazade pauses her story at dawn.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confusion to clarity
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is part of 'One Thousand and One Nights' (Arabian Nights), a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The framing device of Scheherazade telling stories to the Sultan is central to the collection.
Plot Beats (13)
- The police judge orders the execution of the Jewish doctor, believing him to be the murderer of the hunchback, releasing the sultan's purveyor.
- As the doctor is about to be hanged, a tailor interrupts, asking the executioner to stop.
- The tailor addresses the lieutenant of police, claiming he is the true killer and that three innocent people were nearly executed.
- The tailor recounts how the hunchback, half-drunk, came to his shop and was invited to his home for the evening.
- At the tailor's home, the hunchback choked on a fishbone and died, despite the tailor and his wife's efforts.
- Fearing blame, the tailor and his wife decided to dispose of the body at the Jewish doctor's door.
- The tailor knocked, gave the doctor's servant money, and asked her to tell her master to come down for a patient.
- While the servant went upstairs, the tailor placed the hunchback's body on the first step of the doctor's staircase and left with his wife.
- The doctor, coming down, tripped over the body, leading him to believe he caused the death.
- The tailor concludes his confession by asking for the doctor to be freed and for himself to be executed instead.
- The police lieutenant and spectators are astonished by the bizarre turn of events.
- The judge orders the executioner to release the doctor and hang the tailor.
- Scheherazade interrupts her story as dawn breaks, promising to continue the next day.
Characters
The Tailor
A man of average height and build, likely with hands calloused from his trade. His movements are quick and precise, reflecting his profession.
Attire: Practical, simple tunic and trousers made of sturdy, undyed linen or cotton, possibly with a leather apron over his tunic, stained with threads and fabric scraps. His clothing would be functional for his trade, not luxurious.
Wants: Initially, to avoid punishment for the accidental death of the Hunchback. Later, driven by a sense of justice and guilt, to confess his true role and save innocent lives.
Flaw: Fear of legal repercussions, which led him to dispose of the body in a deceptive manner.
He transforms from a man driven by fear and deception into one who prioritizes truth and justice, willing to sacrifice himself to correct a wrong.
Honest, remorseful, quick-thinking, responsible (eventually), and somewhat fearful of consequences.
The Hunchback
A man of short stature with a pronounced hump on his back, giving him a distinctive, uneven silhouette. He is described as being 'half-drunk' and singing, suggesting a lively but perhaps unrefined demeanor.
Attire: Simple, worn clothing typical of a common entertainer or street performer in a Middle Eastern city, perhaps a loose tunic and baggy trousers made of coarse fabric, possibly colorful but faded.
Wants: To enjoy himself, sing, and socialize.
Flaw: His love for drink and perhaps a lack of caution while eating.
His death is the central inciting incident of the story, leading to a chain of accusations and confessions.
Jovial, prone to drink, enjoys singing and company, somewhat boisterous.
The Jewish Doctor
A man of average height and build, likely appearing somewhat scholarly or professional, perhaps a bit frail from his studies or late-night calls.
Attire: A long, dark, simple robe (thobe) made of fine wool or linen, indicating his profession and status, perhaps a small cap (kippah) or a simple turban on his head. His clothing would be practical for his work, not overly ornate.
Wants: To practice medicine and live peacefully. Later, to survive the false accusation.
Flaw: Vulnerable to false accusations due to his position and the circumstances of the Hunchback's body.
He is unjustly accused and nearly executed, only to be saved by the Tailor's confession, highlighting the theme of false accusation and eventual justice.
Professional, likely compassionate (as a doctor), easily frightened when unjustly accused, innocent.
The Lieutenant of Police
A man of authority, likely of robust build, indicating his position and power. His demeanor would be stern and commanding.
Attire: Formal, well-made robes (qamis or thobe) of fine wool or silk, possibly in dark, rich colors, with a wide sash. He would wear a distinctive turban, perhaps with a jewel or intricate wrapping, signifying his rank. A dagger might be visible at his waist.
Wants: To maintain order and administer justice, even if initially misguided.
Flaw: Prone to making swift judgments based on circumstantial evidence.
He learns the importance of thorough investigation and not rushing to judgment, as he nearly executes innocent people.
Authoritative, decisive, initially quick to judgment, but open to hearing new evidence and correcting injustice, impressed by extraordinary events.
The Executioner
A large, imposing man, likely with a muscular build from his grim profession. His presence is intimidating.
Attire: Dark, heavy, practical clothing, possibly a thick leather tunic or vest over a simple linen shirt and trousers, designed for ease of movement and protection. He might wear a hood or a simple head covering. His attire would be devoid of ornamentation.
Wants: To carry out the orders of the Lieutenant of Police.
Flaw: Lacks independent judgment, simply follows orders.
He simply performs his duties as commanded, releasing one and preparing to execute another.
Obedient, stoic, unfeeling, professional in his grim duties.
Locations
Tailor's Shop
A bustling workshop filled with fabrics, threads, and the tools of a tailor's trade, likely open to the street with a wide entrance.
Mood: Lively, industrious, later becoming convivial and then anxious.
The tailor is working when the half-drunk hunchback arrives, sings, and is invited to the tailor's home.
Tailor's Home Dining Area
A modest dining area within the tailor's home, likely with low seating around a central table, typical of an Arabian dwelling.
Mood: Initially convivial, quickly turning to panic and despair.
The hunchback chokes on a fishbone and dies, leading to the tailor and his wife's desperate attempt to dispose of the body.
Jewish Doctor's House Entrance
The exterior entrance of the Jewish doctor's house, featuring an outdoor staircase leading up to the main door, likely within a narrow, winding street of an Arabian city.
Mood: Tense, secretive, foreboding.
The tailor and his wife place the hunchback's body on the first step of the staircase, framing the doctor for his death.
Public Execution Square
A bustling public square in an Arabian city, filled with spectators, where a gallows or execution platform is set up for public justice.
Mood: Tense, expectant, dramatic, with a large crowd.
The tailor confesses his crime just as the doctor is about to be executed, leading to a dramatic turn of events.