A gifted tailor known for his exceptional work in Alexandria adores a sumptuous garment made for his master and, enchanted by its finery, becomes convinced he is destined for princely glory. Abandoning his humble existence, he seizes the garment and, with a brisk departure under cover of night, embarks on a journey to assume the identity of a lost prince. Along the way he meets a young man named Omar, who, unbeknownst to the impostor, is on a quest to reclaim his rightful royal heritage. Omar recounts how his guardian, on his dying bed, revealed that he was the true son of a noble lord and that upon reaching a sacred pillar at the prescribed time, he would present a token—a dagger—to be recognized by his father. Consumed by envy and ambition, the tailor secretly appropriates this dagger from a sleeping Omar and steals his swifter horse, setting off ahead to the pillar. Upon arrival at the holy site, the tailor boldly presents himself with the stolen token, and an aged noble, moved by the familiar words, momentarily accepts him as the missing son. However, the real prince soon appears, disavowing the impostor and exclaiming his true identity. Amid the ensuing confusion and public clamor, the assembled entourage debates the rightful claim. The aged sultan, who has long waited for his son, imposes a decisive trial: both the supposed prince and the tailor must demonstrate their worth by undertaking tasks that reveal their inner nature. While Omar’s skills lie in martial prowess, the tailor’s expertise is in the needle’s art. The sultana declares that a contest be held—a challenge to craft a caftan—and further supplements the trial with a divine test using two intricately decorated caskets. One casket bears the inscription HONOR AND FAME and the other FORTUNE AND WEALTH; the contents are fated to disclose the true heir. Omar, aware that no worldly riches can compensate for a lack of noble character, selects the chest of honor and is revealed to contain a golden crown and scepter, signifying his true royal lineage. In contrast, the tailor, whose nature is intertwined with his craft, chooses the other chest, which holds only a needle and a spool of thread—a symbol of his real vocation. Exposed and disgraced, the impostor is denounced by the sultan and publicly scorned. He is beaten by his former master when he returns to Alexandria and, realizing that his grand ambition was a mirage, accepts his true station. In an ironic twist, the needle he once coveted is imbued with a magical quality: it sews with unmatched skill and without human intervention. This enchanted tool brings him unexpected prosperity as a merchant tailor, and he gradually finds contentment in the humble dignity of his trade. Simultaneously, a secondary narrative unfolds. In the wake of these events, another traveler—a mysterious and masked stranger—enters the scene amid caravan festivities and turbulent encounters in Alexandria and beyond. This man, bearing the name the Robber Orbasan, recounts a life marred by betrayal and loss. Born of Christian parents in Alexandria, he is forced into exile during political upheaval, and his early years in France are shattered by familial treachery and the brutal execution of his kin. His bitter quest for vengeance against those who wronged his family drives him into a shadowy world. In Florence he plots retribution with an accomplice, the disaffected servant Pietro, targeting a noblewoman whose actions had sealed his family’s fate. Yet, as his conspiracy unfolds, the weight of guilt and remorse anchors him to an inescapable inner torment. His transformation into a feared outlaw is accompanied by a profound melancholy—a recognition that the vengeance he seeks has steeped his soul in perpetual sorrow. Both narratives examine themes of mistaken identity and the conflict between noble aspiration and inherent nature. The impostor, who once misperceived himself as celestial due to external ornamentation, ultimately recognizes that true honor lies not in mimicking regal garb but in honest labor and accepted station. Likewise, the outlaw’s saga underscores that the pursuit of revenge, though born of justified grief, ultimately transforms ambition into a self-destructive burden. In weaving these intertwined tales, the work explores how the allure of false glory can lead to ruin, while the recognition of one’s true self—however unpretentious—secures a more genuine, if modest, prosperity.
By Wilhelm Hauff · First published 1826 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure