XCVI NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a baker named Bedreddin. He made yummy cream tarts! Helpers came to his shop. They took Bedreddin away. He did not know why. He felt confused.
Bedreddin met The Vizier. The Vizier looked very, very grim. "You made a cream tart," The Vizier said. "Yes, I did," Bedreddin replied. "Your tart was not right," The Vizier said. "It was missing a big part."
Bedreddin felt sad. "Why?" he asked The Vizier. "What did I do wrong?" The Vizier looked grim. "You are in big trouble," he said. "Big trouble for your tart." Bedreddin did not know.
Bedreddin's Mother and Wife watched. They were hidden behind a screen. They saw Bedreddin. They were very, very happy. They wanted to run to him. But they must stay hidden. It was a special surprise.
The Vizier sent Bedreddin on a special trip. Bedreddin went into a big box. The box was safe and comfy. A strong camel carried the box. It was a very long ride.
The long ride ended at last. They came to a new, big place. The Vizier called a builder. "Please put up a tall pole," he said. "It is for a big surprise now."
Bedreddin was very worried. He saw the tall pole. "Why is that pole here?" he asked. The Vizier looked very, very grim. "It is for your tart," he said. "Your tart had no pepper. It was not quite right at all."
Bedreddin was very surprised! "No pepper?" he asked. "Is that why?" He thought it was funny. He started to laugh a little. "Just for no pepper?" he said. It was quite silly.
The Vizier smiled. "It was a trick!" he said. Bedreddin's Mother and Wife came out. They ran to Bedreddin. They were so very happy. All were very happy. Bedreddin hugged his folks tight. His folks hugged him back. They all laughed as one. They laughed about the missing pepper. It was a happy, happy day. Folks were as one again. They were all so glad. This was a fun surprise. No more worries. Just big smiles.
Original Story
XCVI NUIT.
Sire, le vizir Giafar continuant de parler au calife: «Bedreddin Hassan, dit-il, avait beau demander en chemin, aux personnes qui l'emmenaient, ce que l'on avait trouvé dans sa tarte à la crème, on ne lui répondait rien. Enfin il arriva sous les tentes, où on le fit attendre jusqu'à ce que Schemseddin Mohammed fût revenu de chez le gouverneur de Damas.
«Le vizir, étant de retour, demanda des nouvelles du pâtissier. On le lui amena. «Seigneur, lui dit Bedreddin, les larmes aux yeux, faites-moi la grâce de me dire en quoi je vous ai offensé. - Ah! malheureux, répondit le vizir, n'est-ce pas toi qui as fait la tarte à la crème que tu m'as envoyée? - J'avoue que c'est moi, repartit Bedreddin: quel crime ai-je commis en cela? - Je te châtierai comme tu le mérites, répliqua Schemseddin Mohammed, et il t'en coûtera la vie pour avoir fait une si méchante tarte. - Hé! bon Dieu, s'écria Bedreddin, qu'est-ce que j'entends! Est-ce un crime digne de mort d'avoir fait une méchante tarte à la crème? - Oui, dit le vizir, et tu ne dois pas attendre de moi un autre traitement.»
«Pendant qu'ils s'entretenaient ainsi tous deux, les dames, qui s'étaient cachées, observaient avec attention Bedreddin, qu'elles n'eurent pas de peine à reconnaître malgré le long temps qu'elles ne l'avaient vu. La joie qu'elles en eurent fut telle qu'elles en tombèrent évanouies. Quand elles furent revenues de leur évanouissement elles voulaient s'aller jeter au cou de Bedreddin; mais la parole qu'elles avaient donnée au vizir de ne se point montrer l'emporta sur les plus tendres mouvements de la nature.
«Comme Schemseddin Mohammed avait résolu de partir cette même nuit, il fit plier les tentes et préparer les voitures pour se mettre en marche, et à l'égard de Bedreddin, il ordonna qu'on le mît dans une caisse bien fermée et qu'on le chargeât sur un chameau. D'abord que tout fut prêt pour le départ, le vizir et les gens de sa suite se mirent en chemin. Ils marchèrent le reste de la nuit et le jour suivant sans se reposer. Ils ne s'arrêtèrent qu'à l'entrée de la nuit. Alors on tira Bedreddin Hassan de la caisse pour lui faire prendre de la nourriture; mais on eut soin de le tenir éloigné de sa mère et de sa femme, et pendant vingt jours que dura le voyage, on le traita de la même manière.
«En arrivant au Caire, on campa aux environs de la ville par ordre du vizir Schemseddin Mohammed, qui se fit amener Bedreddin, devant lequel il dit à un charpentier qu'il avait fait venir: «Va chercher du bois et dresse promptement un poteau. - Hé! seigneur, dit Bedreddin, que prétendez-vous faire de ce poteau? - T'y attacher, repartit le vizir, et te faire ensuite promener par tous les quartiers de la ville, afin qu'on voie en ta personne un indigne pâtissier qui fait des tartes à la crème sans y mettre de poivre.» À ces mots, Bedreddin Hassan s'écria d'une manière si plaisante, que Schemseddin Mohammed eut bien de la peine à garder son sérieux: «Grand Dieu, c'est donc pour n'avoir pas mis de poivre dans une tarte à la crème qu'on veut me faire souffrir une mort aussi cruelle qu'ignominieuse!»
En achevant ces mots, Scheherazade, remarquant qu'il était jour, se tut, et Schahriar se leva en riant de tout son coeur de la frayeur de Bedreddin, et fort curieux d'entendre la suite de cette histoire, que la sultane reprit de cette sorte le lendemain, avant le jour:
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Bedreddin Hassan is inexplicably arrested and brought before Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, who accuses him of making a 'wicked' cream tart and threatens him with death. Unbeknownst to Bedreddin, his mother and wife are secretly watching, having recognized him despite their long separation. The Vizier subjects Bedreddin to a terrifying journey in a sealed box and, upon arrival in Cairo, orders a public execution post. Finally, the Vizier reveals Bedreddin's 'crime' is merely not putting pepper in the tart, leading to Bedreddin's comical despair and the story's interruption at dawn.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confusion to terror to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This is a fragment from 'One Thousand and One Nights' (Arabian Nights), a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The frame story involves Scheherazade telling tales to King Shahryar to delay her execution.
Plot Beats (10)
- Bedreddin Hassan is taken by guards, confused about his offense regarding a cream tart.
- He is brought before Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, who angrily accuses him of making a 'wicked' cream tart.
- Bedreddin, in tears, pleads for an explanation, while the Vizier threatens him with death for the tart.
- Bedreddin's mother and wife, hidden, recognize him and faint from joy, but are bound by a promise not to reveal themselves.
- The Vizier orders Bedreddin to be sealed in a box and loaded onto a camel for a long journey.
- During the twenty-day journey, Bedreddin is kept isolated from his family.
- Upon reaching Cairo, the Vizier orders a carpenter to erect a post, implying Bedreddin's execution.
- Bedreddin, in terror, asks about the post, and the Vizier explains it's for public humiliation and execution for not putting pepper in the tart.
- Bedreddin cries out in comical despair at the absurdity of his supposed crime.
- The story is interrupted by dawn, leaving the Caliph and audience in suspense and amusement.
Characters
Bedreddin Hassan
Of average height and build, likely with features common to the Levant region, such as olive skin and dark hair. His appearance is not explicitly detailed, but he is recognizable to his family despite a long absence, suggesting no drastic changes.
Attire: Initially, he would wear practical, simple clothing suitable for a pâtissier, perhaps a light linen tunic and trousers. Later, as a prisoner, his clothes would be disheveled and plain, reflecting his distress and captivity.
Wants: To understand why he is being punished and to avoid what he perceives as a cruel and ignominious death.
Flaw: His naivety and inability to comprehend the true nature of his predicament, making him easily manipulated and terrified.
He is currently undergoing an ordeal of fear and confusion, unaware that it is a test or a prank orchestrated by his family. His arc is one of suffering through a misunderstanding.
Naive, easily frightened, bewildered, innocent, and somewhat dramatic in his expressions of despair. He is genuinely confused by the accusations against him.
Schemseddin Mohammed
A man of authority, likely of a mature age, with a commanding presence. His build would be substantial, reflecting his status as a vizier. His features would be sharp and intelligent, typical of a high-ranking official in a Middle Eastern court.
Attire: Richly embroidered robes of fine silk or brocade, possibly in deep blues, greens, or purples, indicative of his vizier status. He would wear a jeweled turban, and perhaps a wide sash with a decorative buckle.
Wants: To test and perhaps playfully torment Bedreddin Hassan, his son, as part of a larger, unrevealed family reunion or reconciliation plan.
Flaw: His enjoyment of the elaborate prank might border on cruelty, though it is ultimately for a good cause.
He is the orchestrator of the current events, and his arc will likely involve revealing the truth and reuniting with his son.
Stern, cunning, playful, and with a dry sense of humor. He enjoys orchestrating elaborate plans and maintaining a serious facade.
The Ladies (Bedreddin's Mother and Wife)
Their physical descriptions are not given, but as women of a vizier's household, they would likely be well-groomed and adorned. One is Bedreddin's mother, so she would be older, and the other his wife, likely younger.
Attire: Elegant, modest attire befitting women of high status in an Arabian court. They would wear flowing, richly colored dresses (like a thobe or similar garment) made of fine fabrics such as silk or brocade, possibly with delicate embroidery. Their heads would be covered with elegant veils or scarves, perhaps adorned with jewelry.
Wants: To be reunited with Bedreddin Hassan and to witness the resolution of the vizier's plan.
Flaw: Their strong emotions for Bedreddin, which almost cause them to break their promise to the vizier.
They are awaiting the moment of reunion and revelation, enduring the suspense of the vizier's plan.
Loving, emotional, patient, and obedient to the vizier's instructions. They are deeply devoted to Bedreddin.
Locations
Vizier's Encampment outside Damascus
A temporary camp set up with large, ornate canvas tents, likely in a desert or semi-arid landscape. The ground would be sandy or dusty. The atmosphere is tense and formal, with Bedreddin being brought before the Vizier.
Mood: Tense, formal, bewildering for Bedreddin.
Bedreddin Hassan is brought before Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed and accused of making a 'wicked' cream tart.
Road to Cairo
A long, arduous journey across a desert landscape, likely following ancient trade routes. The environment would be vast and open, with sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and occasional oases. The journey spans day and night.
Mood: Monotonous, harsh, disorienting for Bedreddin.
Bedreddin is confined in a box on a camel for twenty days as the Vizier's retinue travels from Damascus to Cairo.
Vizier's Encampment outside Cairo
Another temporary encampment, similar to the first, but now on the outskirts of Cairo. The ground would still be dusty, perhaps with more signs of civilization in the distance. The atmosphere is grim and foreboding as Bedreddin faces his supposed punishment.
Mood: Foreboding, absurd, with a hint of dark humor.
Bedreddin is brought out of his box, and the Vizier orders a carpenter to erect a pole for his public humiliation.