CXL NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Once there was a young man. He lived in a big city. He needed a shave very fast! He had an important place to go. He went to The Barber. "Please shave me quickly," he said. "I must leave now."
The Barber did not shave. He started to talk. "My dear friend," he said. "Be calm. I know many things. Your father came to me. Your grandfather came to me. I gave them good advice. They liked my talks. I can help you too. I know what is best." He talked and talked.
The Young Man was not happy. "Please stop talking!" he said. "Shave me now. Or please go away." He tapped his foot. He felt very cross. He needed to leave. The Barber did not listen.
The Barber saw The Young Man was upset. "Do not be angry," he said. "I will shave you." He started to shave. He made four quick cuts. Then he stopped. He stopped very fast.
The Barber talked again. "You are too quick," he said. "Do not be angry. I am an old man. I am very smart. I know many things. You should listen to me. I know what is good. I have much wisdom."
The Young Man spoke. "Please stop talking!" he said. "Shave me now. I need to go. I have an important place. I must be there." He waited.
The Barber did not shave. He asked, "Where do you go? Your plan?" I can help you. I give good advice. You have much time. Do not worry." The Barber talked more.
The Young Man said, "No! I do not have time. You talk too much. You talk and talk. Please shave me now. I must go." He felt very cross.
The Young Man said, "Hurry, hurry!" He wanted to leave. But The Barber did not hurry. He talked more. He liked to talk. He did not shave.
The Barber put down his razor. He picked up a star-toy. It was an astrolabe. He looked at the star-toy. He looked at it for a long time. Then he put it down. He picked up his razor again. He still did not shave.
The sun came up. It was morning now. The story stopped. The Young Man was still not shaved. Oh dear! What happened next?
Original Story
CXL NUIT.
«Je crus, dit le jeune boiteux de Bagdad, que je réussirais mieux en prenant le barbier par la douceur. «Au nom de Dieu, lui dis-je, laissez là tous vos beaux discours, et m'expédiez promptement; une affaire de la dernière importance m'appelle hors de chez moi, comme je vous l'ai déjà dit.» À ces mots il se mit à rire: «Ce serait une chose bien louable, dit-il, si notre esprit demeurait toujours dans la même situation, si nous étions toujours sages et prudents: je veux croire néanmoins que si vous vous êtes mis en colère contre moi, c'est votre maladie qui a causé ce changement dans votre humeur: c'est pourquoi vous avez besoin de quelques instructions, et vous ne pouvez mieux faire que de suivre l'exemple de votre père et de votre aïeul. Ils venaient me consulter dans toutes leurs affaires, et je puis dire sans vanité qu'ils se louaient fort de mes conseils. Voyez-vous, seigneur, on ne réussit presque jamais dans ce qu'on entreprend si l'on n'a recours aux avis des personnes éclairées: on ne devient point habile homme, dit le proverbe, qu'on ne prenne conseil d'un habile homme; je vous suis tout acquis, et vous n'avez qu'à me commander.»
- «Je ne puis donc gagner sur vous, interrompis-je, que vous abandonniez tous ces longs discours, qui n'aboutissent à rien qu'à me rompre la tête et qu'à m'empêcher de me trouver où j'ai affaire? Rasez-moi donc, ou retirez-vous.» En disant cela, je me levai de dépit en frappant du pied contre terre.
«Quand il vit que j'étais fâché tout de bon: «Seigneur, me dit-il, ne vous fâchez pas, nous allons commencer.» Effectivement, il me lava la tête et se mit à me raser; mais il ne m'eut pas donné quatre coups de rasoir, qu'il s'arrêta pour me dire: «Seigneur, vous êtes prompt; vous devriez vous abstenir de ces emportements qui ne viennent que du démon. Je mérite d'ailleurs que vous ayez de la considération pour moi à cause de mon âge, de ma science et de mes vertus éclatantes.»
- Continuez de me raser, lui dis-je en l'interrompant encore, et ne parlez plus. - C'est-à-dire, reprit-il, que vous avez quelque affaire qui vous presse; je vais parier que je ne me trompe pas. - Et il y a deux heures, lui repartis-je, que je vous le dis. Vous devriez déjà m'avoir rasé. - Modérez votre ardeur, répliqua-t-il; vous n'avez peut-être pas bien pensé à ce que vous allez faire: quand on fait les choses avec précipitation, on s'en repent presque toujours. Je voudrais que vous me dissiez quelle est cette affaire qui vous presse si fort, je vous en dirais mon sentiment: vous avez du temps de reste, puisque l'on ne vous attend qu'à midi et qu'il ne sera midi que dans trois heures. - Je ne m'arrête point à cela, lui dis-je; les gens d'honneur et de parole préviennent le temps qu'on leur a donné. Mais je ne m'aperçois pas qu'en m'amusant à raisonner avec vous je tombe dans les défauts des barbiers babillards; achevez vite de me raser.»
«Plus je témoignais d'empressement, et moins il en avait à m'obéir. Il quitta son rasoir pour prendre son astrolabe, puis, laissant son astrolabe, il reprit son rasoir.».
Scheherazade voyant paraître le jour, garda le silence. La nuit suivante, elle poursuivit ainsi l'histoire commencée:
Story DNA
Moral
null
Plot Summary
A young man in Baghdad, in a desperate hurry for an important appointment, tries to get his barber to quickly shave him. However, the barber is excessively talkative, self-important, and constantly interrupts the shaving process to offer unsolicited, lengthy advice, despite the man's increasing frustration and pleas for speed. The barber's delays escalate to the point where he puts down his razor to consult an astrolabe, leaving the man's shave unfinished as the story breaks off at dawn.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to exasperation
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. The framing device of Scheherazade is central to its structure.
Plot Beats (11)
- A young, limping man from Baghdad, in a hurry, attempts to persuade his barber to shave him quickly.
- The barber, instead of shaving, launches into a long, self-important speech about wisdom, advice, and his past consultations with the man's father and grandfather.
- The young man, growing impatient, interrupts the barber, demanding to be shaved or for the barber to leave, even stamping his foot in frustration.
- Seeing the man's anger, the barber finally begins to shave him, but stops after only four strokes.
- The barber then criticizes the young man's quick temper and extols his own age, knowledge, and virtues.
- The young man again tries to silence the barber and urge him to continue shaving, reiterating his urgent appointment.
- The barber insists on knowing the nature of the man's urgent business, claiming he can offer valuable advice and that the man has plenty of time.
- The young man dismisses the barber's claims about time and points out the barber's own garrulous nature.
- The more the young man expresses urgency, the less the barber seems inclined to obey.
- The barber puts down his razor to consult an astrolabe, then picks up the razor again, further delaying the shave.
- Scheherazade stops her narration as day breaks, leaving the story unfinished.
Characters
The Young Lame Man of Baghdad
A young man of average height and build, distinguished by a noticeable limp or 'lameness' that affects his gait. His movements, though perhaps hampered, are capable of expressing impatience and frustration, such as striking his foot against the ground.
Attire: Given his status as a client of a barber, he would likely wear practical but respectable clothing for a young man of Baghdad, perhaps a simple thobe or tunic made of linen or cotton, possibly with a light outer robe, suitable for daily errands and appointments.
Wants: To be promptly shaved so he can attend an important appointment on time.
Flaw: Short temper, inability to control his frustration, easily drawn into arguments despite his desire for speed.
He starts by attempting politeness but quickly devolves into open frustration and anger, failing to achieve his goal of a quick shave.
Impatient, direct, easily exasperated, honorable (values punctuality), tries to be polite but quickly loses his temper.
The Barber of Baghdad
An adult man, likely of average build, with a presence that suggests a comfortable, perhaps slightly portly, figure from years of sedentary work and conversation. His movements are deliberate and unhurried, emphasizing his control over the situation.
Attire: He would wear the typical attire of a barber in historical Baghdad: a clean, practical tunic or thobe, possibly with a vest or outer garment, made of cotton or linen. His clothing would be neat, reflecting his profession, perhaps with a small, embroidered cap or turban.
Wants: To share his wisdom, assert his importance, and prolong conversations, perhaps out of habit or a desire for company.
Flaw: Excessive talkativeness, inability to perceive or respect others' urgency, vanity regarding his own wisdom.
He remains unchanged throughout the interaction, steadfast in his verbose and unhurried nature, successfully frustrating his client without altering his own behavior.
Verbose, self-important, philosophical, unhurried, patronizing, manipulative, enjoys giving unsolicited advice, easily distracted.
Locations
The Young Man's House in Baghdad
A private room within a traditional Baghdadi house, likely with cool, plastered walls and possibly a small window looking onto a courtyard. The atmosphere is initially one of anticipation and then growing frustration.
Mood: Frustrated, tense, yet with an underlying sense of the mundane ritual being disrupted.
The young man's increasingly desperate attempts to get the garrulous barber to finish shaving him, highlighting the barber's incessant talking and delays.