LIX NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Dinarzade looked at her sister, Scheherazade. "Please tell more!" Dinarzade asked her sister. Scheherazade smiled. She would tell more.
Scheherazade started her tale. She told about the Prince. He just finished his story. Forty kind ladies listened. They were in a big castle.
Some ladies stayed with the Prince. They talked to him. Other ladies went to get lights. They brought many bright candles. The ladies put candles all around.
More ladies brought yummy food. They had sweet fruits. There were nice drinks too. They made a big table of treats. All could eat and drink.
Then, ladies came with music. They had music things. All things were ready now. The ladies asked the Prince. "Please eat dinner with us," they said.
After dinner, ladies played music. Some ladies sang songs. Other ladies danced. They danced in pairs. It was a happy party. Everyone had fun.
It was late. A Kind Lady spoke. She said the Prince looked sleepy. "You need to rest now," she said. "Choose a lady. She will show you your special room."
The Prince was very polite. He said, "All ladies are kind." He chose none. He did not want to make others sad. He thought all ladies were good.
The Kind Lady smiled. She said, "It is our special game!" All get turns. She is the special helper. No one will be sad. Please choose freely.
The Prince knew. He took the hand. It was the Kind Lady's hand. She spoke for all.
The Kind Lady led the Prince. They went to a nice room. It was a quiet room. It was his special room.
Scheherazade stopped her story. The sun came up now. It was morning. The Prince was in his special room.
The Sultan liked the story. He liked it very much. He wanted to hear more. "Tell me more next day!" he said. Scheherazade smiled. "That is for tomorrow!" she said. The Sultan could not wait. He wanted to know.
Original Story
LIX NUIT.
Dinarzade ne fut pas plus diligente cette nuit que la dernière, et il était presque jour lorsqu'elle dit à la sultane: Ma chère soeur, si vous ne dormez pas, je vous supplie de m'apprendre ce qui se passa dans le beau château où vous nous laissâtes hier. - Je vais vous le dire, répondit Scheherazade, et s'adressant au sultan: Sire, poursuivit-elle, le prince calender reprit sa narration dans ces termes:
«Lorsque j'eus achevé de raconter mon histoire aux quarante dames, quelques-unes de celles qui étaient assises le plus près de moi demeurèrent pour m'entretenir, pendant que d'autres, voyant qu'il était nuit, se levèrent pour aller quérir des bougies. Elles en apportèrent une prodigieuse quantité, qui répara merveilleusement la clarté du jour; mais elles les disposaient avec tant de symétrie qu'il semblait qu'on n'en pouvait moins souhaiter.
«D'autres dames servirent une table de fruits secs, de confitures et d'autres mets propres à boire, et garnirent un buffet de plusieurs sortes de vins et de liqueurs, et d'autres enfin parurent avec des instruments de musique. Quand tout fut prêt, elles m'invitèrent à me mettre à table. Les dames s'y assirent avec moi, et nous y demeurâmes assez longtemps: celles qui devaient jouer des instruments et les accompagner de leurs voix se levèrent et firent un concert charmant. Les autres commencèrent une espèce de bal et dansèrent deux à deux, les unes après les autres, de la meilleure grâce du monde.
«Il était plus de minuit lorsque tous ces divertissements finirent. Alors une des dames prenant la parole, me dit: «Vous êtes fatigué du chemin que vous avez fait aujourd'hui: il est temps que vous vous reposiez. Votre appartement est préparé, mais avant de vous y retirer, choisissez de nous toutes celle qui vous plaira davantage, et la menez coucher avec vous.» Je répondis que je me garderais bien de faire le choix qu'elles me proposaient; qu'elles étaient toutes également belles, spirituelles, dignes de mes respects et de mes services, et que je ne commettrais pas l'incivilité d'en préférer une aux autres.
«La même dame qui m'avait parlé reprit: «Nous sommes très- persuadées de votre honnêteté, et nous voyons bien que la crainte de faire naître de la jalousie entre nous vous retient; mais que cette discrétion ne vous arrête pas: nous vous avertissons que le bonheur de celle que vous choisirez ne fera point de jalouses, car nous sommes convenues que tous les jours nous aurions l'une après l'autre le même honneur, et qu'au bout des quarante jours ce sera à recommencer. Choisissez donc librement, et ne perdez pas un temps que vous devez donner au repos, dont vous avez besoin.»
«Il fallut céder à leurs instances; je présentai la main à la dame qui portait la parole pour les autres, elle me donna la sienne, et on nous conduisit à un appartement magnifique. On nous y laissa seuls, et les autres dames se retirèrent dans les leurs……» Mais il est jour, sire, dit Scheherazade au sultan, et votre majesté voudra bien me permettre de laisser le prince calender avec sa dame. Schahriar ne répondit rien, mais il dit en lui-même en se levant. Il faut avouer que le conte est parfaitement beau: j'aurais le plus grand tort du monde de ne me pas donner le loisir de l'entendre jusqu'à la fin.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
After finishing his story, the Prince Calender is treated to an evening of lavish entertainment by forty mysterious ladies in a beautiful castle, complete with music, dancing, and a grand feast. As the night deepens, one of the ladies invites him to choose a companion for the night, an offer he initially declines out of politeness. However, she explains their unique custom where each lady takes a turn, ensuring no jealousy. Persuaded, the Prince chooses the lady who spoke, and they are led to a magnificent apartment, at which point Scheherazade pauses her tale as dawn breaks, leaving the Sultan eager for the continuation.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to contentment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This is a segment from 'One Thousand and One Nights' (Arabian Nights), a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The frame story of Scheherazade telling tales to Sultan Shahryar is central to its structure.
Plot Beats (13)
- Dinarzade prompts Scheherazade to continue the story of the Prince Calender.
- The Prince Calender resumes his narration, describing the scene after he finished telling his story to the forty ladies.
- Some ladies stay to converse, while others fetch a prodigious quantity of candles, arranging them symmetrically.
- Other ladies serve a table of dried fruits, preserves, and drinks, and prepare a buffet of wines and liqueurs.
- More ladies appear with musical instruments, and once everything is ready, they invite the Prince to dine with them.
- After dinner, some ladies perform a charming concert with instruments and voices, while others dance gracefully in pairs.
- After midnight, a lady suggests the Prince is tired and should rest, inviting him to choose one of them to accompany him to his apartment.
- The Prince politely declines, stating they are all equally beautiful and he would not commit the incivility of preferring one.
- The lady explains their custom: each lady will have the same honor in turn over forty days, so no jealousy will arise.
- Convinced, the Prince takes the hand of the lady who spoke for the others.
- They are led to a magnificent apartment and left alone.
- Scheherazade stops her story as dawn breaks, leaving the Prince with his chosen lady.
- Sultan Schahriar, captivated, decides he must hear the rest of the tale.
Characters
Dinarzade
Slender build, likely of Middle Eastern descent with smooth, olive-toned skin. Her exact height is not specified but she is presented as a delicate court lady.
Attire: Fine, flowing silk robes, likely a richly embroidered caftan or abaya in soft, muted colors, possibly adorned with delicate gold threadwork, reflecting her position as a royal sister/attendant.
Wants: To hear the continuation of Scheherazade's tales, driven by genuine interest and perhaps a desire to help her sister survive.
Flaw: Her role is largely passive; she relies on Scheherazade for entertainment and her own safety is tied to her sister's fate.
Remains largely static in this excerpt, serving as a catalyst for the story's continuation.
Curious, persistent, respectful, and attentive, always eager to hear the next part of Scheherazade's stories.
Scheherazade
Elegant and poised, likely of Middle Eastern descent with a graceful figure, reflecting her royal status and intellectual prowess.
Attire: Luxurious, flowing silk robes, such as a richly embroidered caftan or a two-piece ensemble of a fitted bodice and wide skirt, in rich jewel tones, indicative of a queen in a Persian court. Fabrics would be fine silk or brocade.
Wants: To survive by entertaining the Sultan and to educate him through her tales, ultimately hoping to end his cruel practice.
Flaw: Her life is constantly at risk, dependent on her ability to hold the Sultan's interest.
Continues her strategy of storytelling, demonstrating her enduring wit and resilience.
Intelligent, resourceful, captivating storyteller, resilient, and strategic.
Sultan Schahriar
Powerful and imposing, likely of Middle Eastern descent, with a strong build befitting a ruler. His exact height is not specified but he commands presence.
Attire: Opulent royal attire, such as a richly embroidered silk thobe or a brocade caftan, possibly in deep reds or purples, with a jeweled turban, signifying immense wealth and power.
Wants: Initially driven by a desire for vengeance against women due to his first wife's infidelity, but increasingly motivated by the desire to hear the end of Scheherazade's stories.
Flaw: His susceptibility to captivating stories and his inability to resist the cliffhangers Scheherazade presents.
In this excerpt, he shows a continued shift from a purely vengeful ruler to one who is deeply engaged and entertained by the stories, expressing an internal desire to hear the end.
Initially cruel and vengeful, but also curious, contemplative, and increasingly captivated by Scheherazade's tales, showing signs of softening.
The Prince Calender
A man of noble bearing, likely of Middle Eastern descent, with a dignified presence despite his current circumstances as a storyteller. His build is not specified but implies a healthy, active individual.
Attire: Though a prince, his attire as a 'Calender' (a type of dervish or mendicant) would be simpler than royal robes, perhaps a patched but clean tunic and trousers, possibly with a distinctive head covering that marks him as a traveler or religious figure, but still of good quality. For the context of the story, he is recounting his past, so his attire in the flashback would be more refined, perhaps a simple but elegant silk tunic and loose trousers, with a sash.
Wants: To share his incredible life story, driven by a need to unburden himself or simply to entertain his hosts.
Flaw: His past misfortunes and perhaps a certain naiveté or trust that led him into difficult situations.
In this excerpt, he continues his story, showing his courteous nature by refusing to choose among the ladies, then gracefully accepting their custom.
Courteous, honorable, respectful, adventurous, and a compelling storyteller.
The Lady Who Spoke
One of the forty beautiful ladies, likely of Middle Eastern descent, with a graceful and inviting presence. Her specific features are not detailed, but she is presented as a leader among her peers.
Attire: Luxurious and elegant attire, such as a richly embroidered silk caftan or a fitted bodice with a flowing skirt, in vibrant colors, typical of a wealthy lady in a Persian setting.
Wants: To ensure the Prince Calender's comfort and to uphold the customs of the household, which includes sharing companionship.
Flaw: None apparent in this excerpt, she is presented as capable and in control.
Remains static, fulfilling her role as a hostess and spokesperson.
Gracious, hospitable, persuasive, and charming, acting as the spokesperson for the group.
Locations
The Grand Hall of the Palace of Forty Ladies
A vast, opulent hall within a magnificent palace, illuminated by a prodigious quantity of symmetrically arranged candles, creating a brilliant, almost daylight-like glow. The space is set up for entertainment, with a table laden with dried fruits, preserves, and beverages, a buffet stocked with various wines and liqueurs, and ample space for musical performances and dancing.
Mood: Festive, elegant, lively, and somewhat mysterious due to the all-female inhabitants.
The prince calender recounts his story, followed by an evening of music, dancing, and feasting with the forty ladies.
The Magnificent Apartment
A lavish and private chamber within the palace, prepared for the prince calender's rest. It is described as 'magnificent,' implying luxurious furnishings and decor suitable for a royal guest.
Mood: Intimate, luxurious, and expectant.
The prince calender is led to this apartment with one of the ladies for the night.