Dream Treasure Turns to Filth

tales of Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 1645B
edited by

D. L. Ashliman
© 2016

A Man Who Found Gold During His Sleep (Poggio Bracciolini).
The Hodja Dreams That He Had Found a Treasure (Attributed to Nasreddin Hodja).

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A Man Who Found Gold During His Sleep

Poggio Bracciolini

A friend of ours related, at a party, that one night he had found gold in a dream.

"Mind," said someone, "mind the same thing does not befall you, that befell one of my neighbors, whose gold was turned into muck."

Being asked to relate that dream, he said:

My neighbor one night dreamt that the devil had led him into a field to dig out gold.
When he had found a good lot: "You are not allowed to carry it away now," quoth the demon; "but mark the place, that you may be alone to know it again."
The man enquired what sign he could well use: "Cack here," replied the devil. "It is the best way that nobody should suspect there is gold. None but you will have cognizance of the matter."
The man thought that a good plan, and, awaking forthwith, became aware that he had abominably loosened his bowels in the bed. Rising amid the muck and stench to leave the house, he set on the crown of his head a cap wherein the cat had just done its needs. Enraged at the horrible smell, he had to go and wash the filth off his head and hair. Thus the golden dream had turned to turd.

Source: Poggio Bracciolini, The facetiae or Jocose Tales, volume 2 (Paris: Isidore Liseux, 1879), no. 130, pp. 14-15.
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The Hodja Dreams That He Had Found a Treasure

Attributed to Nasreddin Hodja

One night the Hodja dreamed that while traveling he had found a treasure. To mark its location he relieved himself on the spot. Upon awakening he discovered that only the last part of his dream had come true.

Then he cried out, "Lord, why did you leave the mess here for me while taking away the gold? You would have had as much use for the one as for the other!"

Source: Albert Wesselski Der Hodscha Nasreddin, volume 1 (Weimar: Alexander Duncker Verlag, 1911), no. 314, p. 178.
Link to additional tales about Nasreddin Hodja, the Turkish trickster.
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