XCV NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a kind Vizier named Mohammed had a big wish. He wanted to find his nephew, Bedreddin.
Vizier Mohammed sat. A helper brought a cream tart. It looked very yummy. Bedreddin's Mother smiled. "My son, Bedreddin, made this tart," she said. "It is very special. Only he makes tarts like this. I am sure it is his." She felt very happy.
"I have a secret way to bake," she told Vizier Mohammed. "Only Bedreddin and I know it. No one else can make this tart. This tart is his. It must be his tart." She was very sure. Vizier Mohammed listened. He felt a big hope.
Vizier Mohammed had a clever plan. He wanted to find Bedreddin. He wanted to bring him home. Home to Cairo. It would be a big surprise. Bedreddin must not know. Not yet. He would wait for the right time.
Vizier Mohammed sent his helpers. They went to Bedreddin's shop. "Make a big mess there," he told them. "Ask about the special cream tart. Was it Bedreddin's tart? Find out for me." The helpers went quickly.
The helpers went into Bedreddin's shop. They moved things around. They made a big mess. Pots and pans fell down. Bedreddin's shop was very messy.
Bedreddin was very confused. He saw the big mess. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "What did I do?" He asked again and again. He did not understand. He felt very sad and lost.
The helpers asked him, "Did you make the special cream tart?" "Yes, I did!" Bedreddin said. "It was a very good tart. I am proud of my baking." He stood tall. He did not understand their game.
Then, the helpers took Bedreddin. He felt very sad. He was very confused. They led him out of his shop. He looked back at his messy shop. His heart felt heavy. He did not know where he went.
Bedreddin was taken away. He felt sad. He wondered where he was going. He did not know. He did not know it yet. But a big surprise waited. He would soon find his family. His journey had just begun.
Original Story
XCV NUIT.
«Quand le vizir Schemseddin Mohammed eut entendu dire à sa belle- soeur qu'il fallait que ce fût Bedreddin Hassan qui eût fait la tarte à la crème que l'eunuque venait d'apporter, il sentit une joie inconcevable: mais venant à faire réflexion que cette joie était sans fondement, et que, selon toutes les apparences, la conjecture de la veuve de Noureddin devait être fausse, il lui dit: «Mais, madame, pourquoi avez-vous cette opinion? Ne se peut- il pas trouver un pâtissier au monde qui sache aussi bien faire des tartes à la crème que votre fils? - Je conviens, répondit- elle, qu'il y a peut-être des pâtissiers capables d'en faire d'aussi bonnes; mais comme je les fais d'une manière toute singulière, et que nul autre que mon fils n'a ce secret, il faut absolument que ce soit lui qui ait fait celle-ci. Réjouissons- nous, mon frère, ajouta-t-elle avec transport, nous avons enfin trouvé ce que nous cherchons et désirons depuis si longtemps. - Madame, répliqua le vizir, modérez, je vous prie, votre impatience; nous saurons bientôt ce que nous devons en penser. Il n'y a qu'à faire venir ici le pâtissier. Si c'est Bedreddin Hassan, vous le reconnaîtrez bien, ma fille et vous. Mais il faut que vous vous cachiez toutes deux, et que vous le voyiez sans qu'il vous voie, car je ne veux pas que notre reconnaissance se fasse à Damas. J'ai dessein de la prolonger jusqu'à ce que nous soyons de retour au Caire, où je me propose de vous donner un avertissement très-agréable.»
«En achevant ces paroles, il laissa les dames sous leur tente et se rendit sous la sienne. Là, il fit venir cinquante de ses gens, et leur dit: «Prenez chacun un bâton et suivez Schaban, qui va vous conduire chez un pâtissier de cette ville. Lorsque vous y serez arrivés, rompez, brisez tout ce que vous trouverez dans sa boutique. S'il vous demande pourquoi vous faites ce désordre, demandez-lui seulement si ce n'est pas lui qui a fait la tarte à la crème qu'on a été prendre chez lui. S'il vous répond que oui, saisissez-vous de sa personne, liez-le bien et me l'amenez; mais gardez-vous de le frapper ni de lui faire le moindre mal. Allez, et ne perdez pas de temps.»
«Le vizir fut promptement obéi; ses gens, armés de bâtons et conduits par l'eunuque noir, se rendirent en diligence chez Bedreddin Hassan, où ils mirent en pièces les plats, les chaudrons, les casseroles, les tables et tous les autres meubles et ustensiles qu'ils trouvèrent, et inondèrent sa boutique de sorbet, de crème et de confitures. À ce spectacle, Bedreddin: Hassan, fort étonné, leur dit d'un ton de voix pitoyable: «Hé! bonnes gens, pourquoi me traitez-vous de la sorte? De quoi s'agit- il? Qu'ai-je fait? - N'est-ce pas vous, dirent-ils, qui avez fait la tarte à la crème que vous avez vendue à l'eunuque que vous voyez? - Oui, c'est moi-même, répondit-il: qu'y trouve-t-on à dire? Je défie qui que ce soit d'en faire une meilleure.» Au lieu de lui repartir, ils continuèrent de briser tout, et le four même ne fut pas épargné.
«Cependant les voisins étant accourus au bruit, et fort surpris de voir cinquante hommes armés commettre un pareil désordre, demandaient le sujet d'une si grande violence, et Bedreddin, encore une fois, dit à ceux qui la lui faisaient: «Apprenez-moi, de grâce, quel crime je puis avoir commis, pour rompre et briser ainsi tout ce qu'il y a chez moi? - N'est-ce pas vous, répondirent-ils, qui avez fait la tarte à la crème que vous avez vendue à cet eunuque? - Oui, oui, c'est moi, repartit-il; je soutiens qu'elle est bonne, et je ne mérite pas ce traitement injuste que vous me faites. Ils se saisirent de sa personne sans l'écouter, et après lui avoir arraché la toile de son turban, ils s'en servirent pour lui lier les mains derrière le dos, puis, le tirant par force de sa boutique, ils commencèrent à l'emmener.
«La populace qui s'était assemblée là, touchée de compassion pour Bedreddin, prit son parti et voulut s'opposer au dessein des gens de Schemseddin Mohammed; mais il survint en ce moment des officiers du gouverneur de la ville, qui écartèrent le peuple et favorisèrent l'enlèvement de Bedreddin, parce que Schemseddin Mohammed était allé chez le gouverneur de Damas, pour l'informer de l'ordre qu'il avait donné et pour lui demander main forte, et ce gouverneur, qui commandait sur toute la Syrie au nom du sultan d'Égypte, n'avait eu garde de rien refuser au vizir de son maître. On entraînait donc Bedreddin malgré ses cris et ses larmes.»
Scheherazade n'en put dire davantage à cause du jour qu'elle vit paraître. Mais le lendemain elle reprit sa narration, et dit au sultan des Indes:
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed and his sister-in-law are searching for her son, Bedreddin Hassan. When an eunuque brings a cream tart, the sister-in-law immediately recognizes it as her son's unique creation. To confirm this without revealing himself, the vizier sends fifty men to destroy the baker's shop and repeatedly ask if he made the tart. Bedreddin Hassan, bewildered, admits to making the tart, leading to his violent abduction by the vizier's men, who are supported by the city's governor, setting the stage for a dramatic family reunion.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confusion to potential triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This is an excerpt from One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights), a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The framing device of Scheherazade is central to its structure.
Plot Beats (10)
- The vizier Schemseddin Mohammed hears his sister-in-law's theory that Bedreddin Hassan made the cream tart brought by an eunuque.
- The sister-in-law explains her unique method of making tarts, which only her son knows, convincing the vizier that it must be Bedreddin.
- The vizier plans to confirm Bedreddin's identity by having him brought to him in Damascus, but without revealing himself to Bedreddin until they return to Cairo.
- The vizier dispatches fifty men, led by the eunuque, to the baker's shop with orders to destroy everything and inquire about the tart.
- The men violently ransack Bedreddin Hassan's shop, smashing all his goods and equipment.
- A bewildered Bedreddin Hassan repeatedly asks why he is being treated this way.
- The men repeatedly ask Bedreddin if he made the cream tart, which he affirms, defending its quality.
- Despite his protests and the gathering crowd, Bedreddin Hassan is seized, bound with his turban, and dragged from his shop.
- Officers of the governor of Damascus arrive to disperse the sympathetic crowd and facilitate Bedreddin's capture, as the vizier had secured the governor's support.
- Bedreddin Hassan is forcibly taken away, crying and protesting, as the scene ends with Scheherazade's narration being interrupted by dawn.
Characters
Vizir Schemseddin Mohammed
A man of authority, likely of a sturdy build befitting a vizier, with a commanding presence. His features would reflect his Middle Eastern heritage, possibly with a well-maintained beard.
Attire: Rich, flowing robes made of fine silk or brocade, possibly in deep jewel tones like sapphire or emerald, indicative of his high status as a vizier. He would wear a jeweled turban, perhaps with a feather or a prominent gem, and soft leather slippers.
Wants: To reunite his family, specifically to find his nephew, Bedreddin Hassan, and bring him back to Cairo.
Flaw: His desire to prolong the reunion for dramatic effect, potentially causing unnecessary distress to his nephew.
In this excerpt, he is in the process of confirming his nephew's identity and orchestrating his return. His arc is about the successful execution of his plan.
Calculating, strategic, somewhat manipulative, but ultimately driven by familial affection. He is patient and enjoys orchestrating events.
Noureddin's Widow
A woman of mature age, likely still possessing a graceful bearing despite her widowhood. Her features would be consistent with her Middle Eastern heritage.
Attire: Modest but fine attire, perhaps a flowing abaya or a richly embroidered dress, appropriate for a woman of her former husband's status, even in widowhood. Her clothing would be made of quality fabrics, possibly silk or fine cotton, in muted but elegant colors.
Wants: To be reunited with her son, Bedreddin Hassan, whom she has been searching for.
Flaw: Her impatience and emotional nature, which the Vizier has to temper.
In this excerpt, she is on the verge of reuniting with her son, her long search seemingly coming to an end.
Intuitive, emotional, impatient, and deeply maternal. She is quick to believe in her son's identity and expresses joy openly.
Bedreddin Hassan
A young man, likely of average height and build, perhaps slightly lean from his work as a pâtissier. His features would be typical of a Middle Eastern man, perhaps with a youthful, innocent quality.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a pâtissier in Damascus. A light linen tunic, possibly white or cream, with wide sleeves, and loose trousers. He would wear a simple turban, likely made of plain white or off-white cotton, which is later torn off for bindings.
Wants: To run his pâtisserie successfully and live his life, unaware of his true lineage or the search for him.
Flaw: His naivety and lack of power against the Vizier's men. He is easily overwhelmed.
His life is abruptly disrupted as he is forcibly taken from his shop, unaware of the true reason. His arc is one of forced relocation and impending revelation.
Skilled, proud of his craft, innocent, bewildered, and ultimately helpless against authority. He is quick to defend his work.
Schaban (The Black Eunuch)
A man of African descent, likely of a strong, imposing build, as he leads fifty armed men. His features would be distinct, reflecting his heritage.
Attire: Practical, dark clothing suitable for a servant of a vizier, perhaps a dark tunic and trousers, possibly with a simple sash. His attire would be less ornate than the Vizier's but still of good quality.
Wants: To faithfully execute the Vizier's commands.
Flaw: Lacks independent thought or compassion, simply follows orders.
He serves as an instrument of the Vizier's will, his arc is static within this excerpt.
Obedient, efficient, unfeeling in carrying out orders, loyal to the Vizier.
Governor of Damascus
A man of authority, likely of a dignified and imposing stature, reflecting his high position in Syria.
Attire: Rich, formal robes, perhaps of silk or brocade, but slightly less ornate than the Vizier's, in colors like deep green or maroon. He would wear a turban, possibly with a less prominent jewel than the Vizier's, signifying his regional authority under the Sultan.
Wants: To maintain order and cooperate with the Vizier of the Sultan of Egypt.
Flaw: His deference to the Vizier's authority, which allows the Vizier's men to act with impunity.
His role is to facilitate the Vizier's plan, remaining static in his position of power.
Pragmatic, respectful of higher authority, efficient in carrying out requests from superiors.
Locations
Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed's Tent
A private, luxurious tent, likely made of rich fabrics, serving as a temporary dwelling for the vizier and his family during their travels. It offers a secluded space for important discussions and strategic planning.
Mood: Anticipatory, strategic, private, with an underlying current of hope and excitement.
The vizier and Bedreddin's mother discuss the cream tart and devise a plan to identify Bedreddin Hassan without revealing themselves immediately.
Bedreddin Hassan's Pâtisserie in Damascus
A bustling bakery shop in Damascus, filled with the tools and products of a pastry chef. It contains dishes, cauldrons, saucepans, tables, ovens, and various utensils, along with sorbet, cream, and preserves. The shop is later described as being in complete disarray, with everything broken and scattered.
Mood: Initially industrious and aromatic, then chaotic, destructive, and bewildering.
Fifty of the vizier's men, led by the eunuch, ransack Bedreddin's shop, destroying everything and ultimately seizing him after he confirms he made the cream tart.
Street of Damascus outside the Pâtisserie
A lively street in Damascus, where neighbors and the general populace gather. It's a public space where commotion attracts attention, and people express compassion for Bedreddin. Officers of the city governor intervene to disperse the crowd.
Mood: Initially curious and concerned, then compassionate and rebellious, finally authoritative and forceful.
The populace attempts to defend Bedreddin, but city officers, acting on the vizier's orders, clear the street and facilitate Bedreddin's abduction.