XCVII NUIT
by Unknown · from Les mille et une nuits - Tome premier
Adapted Version
Once, in a far land, a Caliph loved to laugh. And today, he heard a very funny story! Caliph Haroun laughed. Vizir Giafar told him a tale. The boy was in very big trouble. He put no pepper in a cream tart. This made Caliph Haroun happy.
The boy felt very sad. He did not know. Why was he in trouble? It was for a small cream tart. He faced a very bad outcome. "This is not fair," he cried. He felt very confused.
The time for his bad thing came closer. The boy was very scared. He cried out loud. "I did nothing truly wrong!" he said. "No stealing, no killing!" He forgot the pepper.
Uncle Vizir came. He told them to put the boy back. The boy went into his box. "Stay there until morning," he said. The bad thing would happen next day.
They put the box on a camel. Uncle Vizir rode his horse. They went through the quiet city. All were sleeping. They came to a big house.
At the big house, they stopped. Uncle Vizir talked to two women. One was the boy's Mother. The other was Dame de Beauté. She was his daughter.
He told Dame de Beauté a thing. "Make your room look special," he said. "Just like your wedding night." She must know every detail.
The uncle watched carefully. Servants set up the big room. He used a special paper. It had many details. Everything must be perfect.
He went to his daughter's room. He put clothes there. They were the boy's clothes. He added a small bag of coins.
"Get ready for bed," he told her. "When the boy comes, act surprised." "Ask him why he
Original Story
XCVII NUIT.
Sire, le calife Haroun Alraschid, malgré sa gravité, ne put s'empêcher de rire quand le vizir Giafar lui dit que Schemseddin Mohammed menaçait de faire mourir Bedreddin pour n'avoir pas mis de poivre dans la tarte à la crème qu'il avait vendue à Schaban. «Hé quoi! disait Bedreddin, faut-il qu'on ait tout rompu et brisé dans ma maison, qu'on m'ait emprisonné dans une caisse, et qu'enfin on s'apprête à m'attacher à un poteau, et tout cela parce que je ne mets pas de poivre dans une tarte à la crème! Hé! grand Dieu, qui a jamais ouï parler d'une pareille chose? Sont-ce là des actions de musulmans, de personnes qui font profession de probité, de justice, et qui pratiquent toutes sortes de bonnes oeuvres?» En disant cela il fondait en larmes; puis, recommençant ses plaintes: «Non, reprenait-il, jamais personne n'a été traité si injustement ni si rigoureusement. Est-il possible qu'on soit capable d'ôter la vie à un homme pour n'avoir pas mis de poivre dans une tarte à la crème? Que maudites soient toutes les tartes à la crème, aussi bien que l'heure où je suis né! Plût à Dieu que je fusse mort en ce moment!»
Le désolé Bedreddin ne cessa de se lamenter, et lorsqu'on apporta le poteau et les clous pour l'y clouer, il poussa de grands cris à ce spectacle terrible. «Ô ciel, dit-il, pouvez-vous souffrir que je meure d'un trépas infâme et douloureux! et cela pour quel crime? Ce n'est pas pour avoir volé ni pour avoir tué, ni pour avoir renié ma religion: c'est pour n'avoir pas mis de poivre dans une tarte à la crème.»
Comme la nuit était alors déjà assez avancée, le vizir Schemseddin Mohammed fit remettre Bedreddin dans sa caisse et lui dit: «Demeure là jusqu'à demain; le jour ne se passera pas que je ne te fasse mourir.» On emporta la caisse et l'on en chargea le chameau qui l'avait apportée depuis Damas. On chargea en même temps tous les autres chameaux, et le vizir étant remonté à cheval, fit marcher devant lui le chameau qui portait son neveu, et entra dans la ville, suivi de tout son équipage. Après avoir passé plusieurs rues où personne ne parut parce que tout le monde s'était retiré, il se rendit à son hôtel, où il fit décharger la caisse, avec défense de l'ouvrir que lorsqu'il l'ordonnerait.
Tandis qu'on déchargeait les autres chameaux, il prit en particulier la mère de Bedreddin Hassan et sa fille, et s'adressant à la dernière: «Dieu soit loué, lui dit-il, ma fille, de ce qu'il nous a fait si heureusement rencontrer votre cousin et votre mari! Vous vous souvenez bien, apparemment, de l'état où était votre chambre la première nuit de vos noces. Allez, faites-y mettre toutes choses comme elles étaient alors. Si pourtant vous ne vous en souveniez pas, je pourrais y suppléer par l'écrit que j'en ai fait faire. De mon côté, je vais donner ordre au reste.»
Dame de beauté alla exécuter avec joie ce que venait de lui ordonner son père, qui commença aussi à disposer toutes choses dans la salle, de la même manière qu'elles étaient lorsque Bedreddin Hassan s'y était trouvé avec le palefrenier bossu du sultan d'Égypte. À mesure qu'il lisait l'écrit, ses domestiques mettaient chaque meuble à sa place. Le trône ne fut pas oublié, non plus que les bougies allumées. Quand tout fut préparé dans la salle, le vizir entra dans la chambre de sa fille, où il posa l'habillement de Bedreddin avec la bourse de sequins. Cela étant fait, il dit à Dame de Beauté: «Déshabillez-vous, ma fille, et vous couchez. Dès que Bedreddin sera entré dans cette chambre, plaignez-vous de ce qu'il a été dehors longtemps, et lui dites que vous avez été bien étonnée en vous réveillant de ne pas le trouver auprès de vous. Pressez-le de se remettre au lit, et demain matin vous nous divertirez, madame votre belle-mère et moi, en nous rendant compte de ce qui se sera passé entre vous et lui cette nuit.» À ces mots, il sortit de l'appartement de sa fille, et lui laissa la liberté de se coucher.»
Scheherazade voulait poursuivre son récit, mais le jour, qui commença à paraître, l'en empêcha.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Bedreddin faces execution for not putting pepper in a cream tart, a situation that amuses Caliph Haroun Alraschid. Unbeknownst to Bedreddin, his uncle, Vizir Schemseddin Mohammed, has found him and, instead of executing him, orchestrates an elaborate plan. He has Bedreddin's wife and mother recreate their wedding chamber exactly as it was, intending to place Bedreddin there to reunite with his wife, thus resolving his long disappearance and the absurd predicament.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is part of the '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 telling stories to the Caliph is central to the collection.
Plot Beats (11)
- Caliph Haroun Alraschid laughs as Vizir Giafar recounts Bedreddin's absurd predicament: facing execution for not putting pepper in a cream tart.
- Bedreddin laments his fate, questioning the justice of being imprisoned and facing death for such a trivial offense.
- As the execution pole is brought, Bedreddin cries out to heaven, reiterating his innocence of any serious crime.
- Vizir Schemseddin Mohammed, Bedreddin's uncle, orders Bedreddin to be put back in his box for the night, promising execution in the morning.
- The box is loaded onto a camel, and the vizir, with his entourage, travels through the deserted city to his hotel.
- At the hotel, Schemseddin Mohammed takes Bedreddin's mother and his daughter (Bedreddin's wife) aside.
- He instructs his daughter, Dame de Beauté, to recreate their wedding chamber exactly as it was on their wedding night.
- The vizir meticulously oversees the arrangement of the main hall, using a written description to ensure every detail is perfect.
- He places Bedreddin's clothes and a purse of sequins in his daughter's room.
- He instructs Dame de Beauté to undress, get into bed, and complain about Bedreddin's long absence when he enters, then to press him to return to bed.
- The vizir leaves his daughter's room, anticipating the morning's entertainment from their reunion.
Characters
Haroun Alraschid
A man of mature age, likely of average height and build, with a dignified presence befitting his station as Caliph. His features would reflect his Arabian heritage, with a well-maintained beard.
Attire: Rich, flowing robes of fine silk, possibly in deep jewel tones like sapphire or emerald, with intricate gold embroidery. He would wear a jeweled turban, indicative of his high status. Likely a thobe or dishdasha with a bisht over it.
Wants: To govern justly and be entertained by the stories and events of his realm.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but perhaps a tendency to be swayed by the dramatic or unusual.
Does not change in this excerpt; he is an observer.
Grave, yet capable of amusement, possessing a sense of justice and a keen interest in the affairs of his subjects.
Giafar
A man of mature age, likely of average height and build, with a respectful but confident demeanor. His features would reflect his Arabian heritage.
Attire: Fine, but less ornate than the Caliph's. He would wear a flowing thobe or dishdasha of quality linen or silk, perhaps in a deep, respectable color like forest green or burgundy, with a simple, elegant turban.
Wants: To serve the Caliph and manage the affairs of the realm.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown.
Does not change in this excerpt.
Loyal, observant, and a skilled communicator, capable of relaying complex or amusing stories to his Caliph.
Schemseddin Mohammed
A man of authority and wealth, likely of a robust build, reflecting his status as a vizier. His features would be Arabian, perhaps with a stern or imposing cast.
Attire: Rich, flowing robes of fine silk, perhaps in deep reds or purples, with subtle but expensive embroidery. He would wear a turban, indicative of his vizier status, possibly with a small jewel.
Wants: To enforce his will, maintain order (as he sees it), and execute his elaborate plan to reunite his daughter with Bedreddin.
Flaw: His rigid adherence to his plans and his willingness to use intimidation and threats.
He is the orchestrator of the events, driving the plot without significant personal change in this excerpt.
Authoritative, stern, vengeful, and meticulous, especially when it comes to his plans. He is capable of extreme measures for perceived slights.
Bedreddin Hassan
A young Arabian man, likely of average height and build, currently disheveled and distressed from his ordeal. His features would be handsome, but now marked by fear and tears.
Attire: Currently in simple, possibly soiled, clothing from his travels and imprisonment in the box. Likely a plain linen tunic and trousers, perhaps a simple head covering that is now askew.
Wants: To understand why he is being persecuted and to escape his impending doom.
Flaw: His emotional vulnerability and inability to comprehend the bizarre events unfolding around him.
In this excerpt, he is in a state of extreme distress and confusion, unaware of the true nature of his predicament. His arc is one of being manipulated towards a reunion.
Emotional, prone to lamentation and despair under duress, but fundamentally innocent and bewildered by his circumstances. He is a victim of circumstance.
Dame de Beauté
A beautiful young Arabian woman, likely of slender build, reflecting her name 'Lady of Beauty'. Her features would be delicate and graceful.
Attire: In this scene, she is preparing for bed, so she would be in fine, soft nightwear, perhaps a silk chemise or a light, embroidered sleeping gown. Earlier, she would wear elegant, flowing robes of fine silk, possibly in soft pastels or rich jewel tones, with delicate jewelry.
Wants: To reunite with her husband and fulfill her father's instructions, which she understands will lead to happiness.
Flaw: Her obedience to her father, which makes her a pawn in his elaborate scheme.
She is an active participant in her father's plan to reunite her with her husband, moving from separation to anticipated reunion.
Obedient, joyful, and eager to please her father, especially when it concerns her husband. She is a loving and dutiful daughter and wife.
Bedreddin Hassan's Mother
An older Arabian woman, likely of a respectable but not overly opulent appearance. Her features would show the wisdom and experience of age.
Attire: Modest but well-made traditional Arabian clothing, such as a simple abaya or a long, flowing dress of good quality linen or cotton, in muted colors. She would wear a head covering.
Wants: To see her son safe and reunited with his wife.
Flaw: Her vulnerability to the schemes of others.
She is a passive participant in the events, being led by Schemseddin Mohammed.
Concerned and likely bewildered by the events, but trusting of Schemseddin Mohammed.
Locations
Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed's Provisional Court
A temporary, makeshift court setting where Bedreddin is being interrogated and condemned. The atmosphere is tense and unjust, with the implements of execution brought in.
Mood: Tense, unjust, desperate, absurd
Bedreddin is being threatened with execution for not putting pepper in a cream tart, and is returned to his chest for the night.
Vizier Schemseddin Mohammed's Hotel (Mansion) in Cairo
A grand private residence in Cairo, likely an Abbasid-era mansion or 'riad' style house with multiple courtyards and richly decorated rooms. The specific focus is on a large hall and a private bedchamber, being meticulously restored to a previous state.
Mood: Anticipatory, mysterious, meticulously arranged
Schemseddin Mohammed orchestrates the precise re-creation of his daughter's wedding night chamber and the main hall, preparing for Bedreddin's arrival.
Dame de Beauté's Bedchamber
A private, luxurious bedchamber within the Vizier's mansion, being prepared for a reunion. It is furnished with a large bed and other accoutrements, set up exactly as it was on the wedding night.
Mood: Intimate, expectant, romantic, slightly mischievous
Dame de Beauté prepares for Bedreddin's unexpected return, following her father's instructions to feign surprise and draw him back into their marital bed.