_The room is a large oblong one, with a colonnade running along
the back, looking out on a colonnaded courtyard beyond. A large
double door to the left leads to the entrance hall. Opposite
it, in the right wall, a niche with a diwan, raised a step or
two. The tiles and carvings are of the richest._
_MANSUR is seated on the diwan, before him a chessboard._
_AFIFE is crouching to the right on the steps, his partner in
the game._
_KAFUR stands behind them watching._
_MANSUR is in a sullen humour, his mind not on the game._
AFIFE. (_Making a move, in a high squeaky voice._) Move, O master.
MANSUR. (_Moving a chess-man._) Now match me this move, O thou bundle of
misery.
AFIFE. Match it? (_He moves._) Thy turn, O my master.
MANSUR. (_Moving again._) So!
AFIFE. Check!
MANSUR. Check? Now cursed be Satan the Stoned! What Ifrit is at thine
elbow? This is the third game thou dost beat me.
AFIFE. Thy thoughts wander, O my Lord.
MANSUR. Dost thou wonder they wander, o thou misbegotten lump of
dough?—Wander? They gallop, they fly! Even though I myself must crawl at
other men’s heels these days.
KAFUR. (_To MANSUR._) There’s yet one more move for thee.
MANSUR. (_Studying the board._) One more?
KAFUR. So! (_He sweeps the chessboard clear with his sword._)
(_The door opens and an ATTENDANT enters._)
ATTENDANT. A Chamberlain from the Caliph, O my lord.
MANSUR. Admit him.
(_The ATTENDANT ushers in the CHAMBERLAIN from the CALIPH who
enters with a sealed scroll. He comes up to MANSUR and bows._)
CHAMBERLAIN. From the Commander of the Faithful to his Wazir Mansur.
(_KAFUR turns and takes the letter from the CHAMBERLAIN and
hands it to MANSUR. MANSUR rises and takes the letter, touches
the top of his head with it, then breaks the seals and scans
the contents. His lips contract. After a moment’s pause he says
to the CHAMBERLAIN._)
MANSUR. Harkening and obedience to the Prince of True Believers.
(_The CHAMBERLAIN bows and retires as he came._)
MANSUR. (_Springing up with great rage._) Hear! Hear! (_Reading from
right to left._) “In the name of Allah, the Compassionating the
Compassionate. From Abdallah, Caliph and King of Mankind to his Wazir of
Police. But after. We find all the moneys of our various departments of
state, complete and in account, saving those under thy control. Report
thou to us accordingly at our diwan this day. Though mine uncle the
King be dead, justice and order have not died with him.” (_He tears the
letter to bits, stuffs strips into his mouth, chews them and spits them
out again._) Wah! Now Allah damn the grammarian for this! This is _his_
handiwork, big-turban’d, bean-fed son of a sow! So I’m to end through
_him_? I who sat in his seat, hard by the side of the throne. By all
devils that kneel round hell, I swear this shall never be—do ye hear
me?—no, never! (_He strikes at AFIFE in his rage._)
KAFUR. What wilt thou do, O my lord?
MANSUR. I would I had him between my feet to rip the tongue from his
teeth.
AFIFE. A hundred grammatical tongues will not bring back one danik of the
moneys thou hast squandered.
MANSUR. Justice and order! (_He spits out a piece of the letter._) Pah!
Show me the Wazir of Police who hath crushed with a heavier hand, whose
sword made the execution ground as slippery. Recall ye not the merry
summer’s night when with mine own hand, in ten waves of the scymitar, I
carved my old jester into as many pieces?
AFIFE. The old jester! Ha! Ha! ’Twas his last quirk!
KAFUR. How we laughed!
(_THEY all laugh._)
MANSUR. Alas for the glorious drunken nights of passion and power. The
feasts of beauty and blood! Awah, awah, awah!
(_THEY all sigh._)
AFIFE. What’s to be done?
KAFUR. Were Prince Omar Caliph, never wouldst thou have lost thy seat of
honour.
AFIFE. Higher titles would have been thine. He loves thee as a brother.
KAFUR. He would have created thee Grand Wazir.
AFIFE. Yea, Grand Wazir of all the kingdom!
MANSUR. Were! Would! Had! The Caliph’s the Is! His letter the thing
alive! The spent moneys must be accounted for. ’Tis my death. Awah! Awah!
KAFUR. The guards are yet under thy orders.
MANSUR. For the moment. But to-night——
AFIFE. Use to-day.
KAFUR. (_Pointing to the chessboard._) One move—and the game is thine.
MANSUR. (_Realising KAFUR’S intention._) Yehh! Kill the Caliph? (_He
rises in thought._)
(_KAFUR and AFIFE nod and follow him, standing on either side
of him._)
KAFUR. ’Tis he——
AFIFE. Or thou.
MANSUR. (_Looking from AFIFE to KAFUR._) Yehh! But how? When? Who?
(_Turning to AFIFE._) Thou?
AFIFE. (_Grovelling at MANSUR’S feet._) Alas! I lack the strength.
MANSUR. (_Turning to KAFUR._) Thou?
KAFUR. (_Falling on his knees._) Am I not known by every servant in the
palace?
MANSUR. Then where shall I find him? This fellow strong enough, unknown
enough, to stab and stab to the soul?
KAFUR. Fear not. Fate hath written the deed in the lines of someone’s
forehead. And when the hour comes he will be ready.
MANSUR. Yehh!
(_The door opens and the ATTENDANT enters and bows. Outside
voices can be heard._)
MANSUR. What noise is that?
ATTENDANT. Some merchants in the hall, O my lord. They have caught a
thief and come for justice.
MANSUR. Justice—do they? Justice! By Allah! I’ll dispense them justice.
Have them enter. (_He goes back to the diwan and sits._)
(_KAFUR and AFIFE take their wonted positions by his side._)
(_The two shopkeepers, AMRU and ZAYD, enter, after them NASIR,
the CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH and FOUR ARCHERS. A crowd of loiterers
(six or eight) follow, who kneel or stand in the background.
AMRU and ZAYD approach and kneel. TWO NEGRO EUNUCHS enter and
stand at the back._)
AMRU. O Wazir of the Age, we come for protection against the roguery of
mankind.
ZAYD. O eye of uprightness! Let thy light shed judgment.
MANSUR. Speak your grievance.
AMRU. There came a man to my shop——
ZAYD. And mine——
AMRU. And he fanned a quarrel ’twixt me and my fondest friend.
ZAYD. And meantime off he stole with garments of both of us.
MANSUR. Where’s the thief?
(_HAJJ is brought through the door by TWO ARCHERS and
prostrates himself before MANSUR, the ARCHERS retiring._)
HAJJ. (_With great saintliness, on his knees._) O Wazir of wazirs,
O Wisdom of wisdom, O Clemency of clemencies! I seek refuge in thy
sanctity from these my foul-mouthed defamers. A thief—I? Allah forfend. I
am a man of religion and peace. They fell to fisticuffs and curses before
me, these two,—till mine ears were stung with their ungodliness and mine
eyes wounded. So I laid my moneys on the carpet of the shop and went my
silent ways.
ZAYD and AMRU. (_Together._) Liar!
AMRU. We’d not so much as fixed on a price.
HAJJ. Wilt thou swear I paid thee no earnest money?
AMRU. A miserable dinar or two to blind me.
HAJJ. Blind thee? What cause had I to blind thee?
ZAYD. Thou art a well-known beggar.
HAJJ. A beggar? Showed I thee not a swollen purse?
ZAYD. A stolen purse—thou meanest.
HAJJ. He lies, O my lord. ’Twas given me in charity.
MANSUR. Given thee? By whom?
HAJJ. By one Jawan—a highwayman.
MANSUR. A highwayman do charity? Now Allah pardon thee. Tell the truth.
HAJJ. May doomsday break if I lie.
MANSUR. How? A highwayman here in Baghdad? An exile with a price on his
neck? Thou art mad.
HAJJ. By mine honesty! There stands his guide Nasir. Ask him.
MANSUR. (_To NASIR._) O thou! Is this so?
NASIR. (_Coming forward and kneeling between HAJJ and the merchants._)
’Tis true such an one lodges at my Khan, O my lord. But he is come to the
city in repentance, to pray at the tombs of saints.
MANSUR. (_Furious._) Saints and repentance! His coming spits at the law!
(_To the CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH._) Go with yon fellow. Find the highwayman.
Take him to the royal diwan this mid-afternoon. The Caliph shall note
how I uphold justice and order.
(_The CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH moves to the door with TWO ARCHERS._)
HAJJ. (_Interrupting._) O my lord, a word! (_To NASIR._) Tell the Lord
Wazir, thou sawest the Sheikh throw me a purse.
NASIR. (_Copying HAJJ’S manner in the first scene._) I?—I saw no purse.
HAJJ. (_Producing the purse; pleading to him._) Nasir! Here it is.
NASIR. I saw no purse.
MANSUR. ’Tis well. Off!
(_NASIR goes with the CAPTAIN and ARCHERS._)
MANSUR. (_To HAJJ._) As for thee—Give me the purse!
HAJJ. Awah! (_He hands the purse to KAFUR, who hands it to MANSUR._)
MANSUR. (_Pocketing the purse in his sleeve._) Thou art a liar and a
thief. (_To KAFUR._) The sword and the cauldron of oil. (_KAFUR bows and
motions to the NEGROES who go off into the courtyard._)
MANSUR. Thy right hand is forfeit to the merchants.
HAJJ. (_Looking at his hand._) My hand?
MANSUR. (_To the shopkeepers, smilingly._) Two fingers to each. I pray
you quarrel not over the thumb. (_AMRU and ZAYD smile politely in
response._)
HAJJ. My hand! My hand! Thou’lt cut off my hand?
MANSUR. Says not Allah in His Holy Koran: “If a man steal, cut off his
hand”?
HAJJ. Alas, O poor hand! Thou couldst have served the Wazir of Wazirs, a
courtier to his whims, a slave to his desires. (_The TWO EUNUCHS re-enter
from the courtyard bearing a boiling cauldron._)
MANSUR. Now by the dog, thy father, of what service to me were a rogue’s
hand like thine?
(_THE EUNUCHS place the boiling cauldron under HAJJ’S wrist._)
HAJJ. What service? There’s not a stronger—a prompter—a bolder in
Baghdad! Ready to plunder and pillage, to slash and stab, at thy least
command.
MANSUR. (_Starting at the word “stab”._) Stab?
KAFUR. (_To HAJJ._) Cease thy talk, bare thy wrist. (_He unsheathes the
sword._)
HAJJ. (_Turns and sees the sword, then says in a resigned voice._) There
is no majesty nor might save in Allah! The Causer of Causes! The Ordainer
of Fate and Fortune!
KAFUR. (_About to raise the sword._) Art thou prepared?
HAJJ. Even as the Fox for the Wolf. Strike!
(_KAFUR raises the sword._)
MANSUR. Hold!—The Fox and the Wolf?—What story is that?
HAJJ. O Wazir of the Age, ’twere too long to recount— (_looking round
slyly_) with yon sword in the air.
MANSUR. Then shall it first sever thy wrist.
HAJJ. (_With an eloquent gesture._) Who can tell a tale without his two
hands?
MANSUR. Knowest thou many histories?
HAJJ. Ask the beggars of my quarter. The teller of night-tales they call
me—one and all.
MANSUR. Away with the cauldron! (_To KAFUR._) Hither with the sword.
(_KAFUR hands MANSUR the sword; the EUNUCHS take the cauldron
into the courtyard._)
MANSUR. What is thy name?
HAJJ. (_Creeps nearer, on his knees._) Hajj, O my lord.
MANSUR. Thou shalt serve me, O Hajj. Thy wit shall shorten the weary
watches of my sleeplessness. Take this sword, the badge of thy new
dignity. (_He offers him the sword._)
HAJJ. O fountain of grace! My hand blesses thee for its salvation, my
lowly self for its elevation. (_He takes the sword and raises it to his
forehead._) I am thy mameluke, thy chattel. (_He touches the ground with
his head._)
MANSUR. Rise! Mansur’s servants do not kneel.
HAJJ. (_Rising proudly._) Is it thy pleasure that my first act should be
an act of clemency?
MANSUR. Do as thou wilt.
HAJJ. (_Turning ferociously on the shopkeepers._) Then down, O ye
calamities! Down, I say, and cry my mercy for lying as ye did, ye
false-of-faces!
(_The SHOPKEEPERS sink down in terror. HAJJ approaches them
flourishing his sword before them._)
HAJJ. Confess ye lied! Confess ye lied!
AMRU and ZAYD. (_Scarcely audible._) We lied! We lied!
HAJJ. Louder, by your garlic breaths, louder!
AMRU and ZAYD. We lied! Pardon! Pardon!
HAJJ. Pardon?—So ye send not my lord rich gifts of atonement none shall
answer for your lives. Up! Turn your faces and show the breadth of your
shoulder.
(_The SHOPKEEPERS rise and hurry out by the door, more dead
than alive. HAJJ prods their backs with his sword as they
vanish._)
HAJJ. (_Turning to MANSUR with a flourish._) Is it well, O my master?
MANSUR. ’Tis a beginning. Go now! Get thee to thy new quarters. (_To the
ATTENDANT._) Ho, Fazil! See Hajj be lodged and robed fittingly. Garb him
in the Persian garments of our jester deceased. Alas, poor fellow! He
died most sudden of a summer evening. (_With a reassuring smile._) Thou
shalt be his successor.
HAJJ. I am a tree thy bounty hath planted. May the fruit of my endeavour
be to thy taste ever. (_He bows._)
MANSUR. Thou shalt give us a smack of thy quality after the mid-day
meal. Go! Whoso loveth me let him show honour to Hajj! (_He waves his
handkerchief in sign of dismissal._)
HAJJ. (_Turns and with a heroic gesture motions the curious aside._) Room
for the Wazir’s Jester, O ye dogs!
(_The CROWD falls back before him._)
(_The ATTENDANT leads the way to the left._)
(_HAJJ struts out conducted by the ATTENDANT._)
MANSUR. (_To KAFUR and AFIFE._) Think ye I’ve pardoned this mountebank to
listen to foolish fables? (_With great emphasis._) He is the man.
KAFUR. What man?
MANSUR. The man to kill the Caliph.
(_Through the colonnade at the back HAJJ is seen to enter the
courtyard from the left and cross over to the right, preceded
by the ATTENDANT, MANSUR’S SERVANTS and TWO EUNUCHS, bending
low, the crowd following. HAJJ turns to the hall and seeing
MANSUR, bows again to him. MANSUR acknowledges his bow with a
grim smile. HAJJ, delighted, turns, twirling his moustachios
and with enormous swagger moves to the colonnade, right, the
ATTENDANT cringing to the new favourite._)
[CURTAIN]
_End of Act I_
ACT II
BEFORE THE CURTAIN
NOON
_The MAN enters from his house, seats himself and sings_:
Lo! Now the blazing banner of the sun
In noonday sky its victory hath won;
And even as on mighty battle plain
So lieth, stretched and stricken, everyone.
_The WOMAN enters from her house, seats herself and sings_:
Lo! Now in the harim I seek in vain
The shadowed cool of midnight to regain;
Yet though I burn, ’tis not the heaven’s eye
That dooms my senses to eternal pain!
_The MAN_:
Wah! That some wondrous wizard passing by
Would charm to silence this my misery.
_The WOMAN_:
Wah! Might some mystic spell invade me so
That all my yearning would for ever die!
_BOTH_:
O Thou, Bestower of all things, bestow
This benediction on Thy servants low.
_The SORCERER enters and first reveals the MAN to the WOMAN, and the
WOMAN to the MAN. When he has retired they rise and sing_:
At last thou openest the future’s wall,
Revealing my desire’s inmost call,
O Fate, thou greatest sorcerer of all!
_Then they draw together for an instant. But the hour is not yet ripe. So
they turn and enter their respective houses. They have seen each other._
ACT II
AFTERNOON
SCENE I. _The Hall in the Wazir Mansur’s Mansion._
_The same scene as the last, but richly embroidered curtains
have now been drawn between the columns to keep out the glare
of the afternoon sun. This gives the room a more intimate
feeling. Two large cushions have been placed on the floor and
between them a low wine-table with beakers of wine, drinking
bowls, fruits, sweetmeats, and a bunch of aromatic herbs._
_MANSUR is reclining on one cushion. AFIFE and KAFUR are on the
diwan. TWO SLAVES stand ready to replenish the cups._
_On the cushion to the left is seated HAJJ, in a brilliant
fantastic Persian robe and a gorgeous turband. He sits up very
erect, his eyes sparkling, his arms outstretched—evidently at
the climax of his story._
HAJJ. “Thereupon, O hearer, the fox saw his foe, the wolf, was slain;
and henceforth he abode alone in the vineyard, secure to the hour of his
death.” But Allah is all-knowing!
MANSUR. In sooth, a pleasing tale!
(_He drains his cup and holds it out to the SLAVE, who fills it
up again._)
KAFUR. Good! Good!
AFIFE. (_Clapping his hands._) More! More! More!
MANSUR. (_Signing to the slave behind HAJJ._) Nay, first another cup——
HAJJ. (_Putting his hand over his cup._) O my Lord, pardon me. I am not
wont to drink wine.
MANSUR. Tush! ’Tis nothing. Thin, red morning tipple. This night will
we robe us in robes of gold and flame-colour and fall to quaffing in
earnest; sweet Greek vintage that breeds gladness even to madness. (_He
holds out the cup, which the SLAVE fills. Then MANSUR passes it to
HAJJ._) May I never be afflicted with thy loss.
(_HAJJ, bowing to MANSUR, accepts the cup and kisses it._)
HAJJ. The slave to thy wishes revealed or concealed. (_He drains it and
returns it to MANSUR._)
MANSUR. (_Pointedly._) So thou sayest and hast said.
HAJJ. Put me to the test, O my master. What tale dost thou desire?
MANSUR. What tale? (_Confidentially to HAJJ._) Harkee, O Hajj. Thou hast
wasted thy years. Thou canst turn the ear inside out by thy talk. Long
ago thy wit should have won thee a wazirdom.
HAJJ. I? Wazir?
MANSUR. Yehh! Thou art marked for it by fate. Is this not so, O Kafur?
KAFUR. Thou hast said it.
MANSUR. (_To HAJJ._) Thou seest? There’s no escaping honours, O Hajj the
Wazir! O the Wazir Hajj!
HAJJ. (_Stroking his moustachios._) The Wazir Hajj! O my lord, what stair
will lead me to so high a minaret?
MANSUR. What stair?
(_The ATTENDANT enters by the door._)
ATTENDANT. ’Tis the hour of the diwan, O my lord.
MANSUR. The diwan! ’Tis well. (_Rises._) (_The ATTENDANT leaves._) I go
to robe myself. Await me but a handful of moments, O my friend. When I
return I shall open a gate undreamt of by thy dearest dream. Till then,
Allah increase thee, O Wazir to be.
(_MANSUR goes off followed by KAFUR, AFIFE, and the TWO
SLAVES._)
HAJJ. Wazir! Wazir! Another cup! A cup to thee, O Wazir Hajj, thou friend
of the great, thou of the great thyself. (_He drinks another cup and
struts across the room._) Wazir! (_He approaches the diwan._) Yehh! Why
not? (_He seats himself on the diwan._) Even such a seat was destined my
limbs from eternity! (_With a chuckle._) The Wazir Hajj!
(_MISKAH, a slave-girl, enters through the curtains at the
back. She is, of course, veiled. She looks about cautiously,
then glides to HAJJ’S side, and throws herself at his feet._)
MISKAH. O my master, my mistress bids me come kiss the dust of thy
slippers.
HAJJ. Yehh! Who may be the mistress of so fair a messenger?
MISKAH. Hush! If we be heard ’tis death.
HAJJ. Speak low then. What is it?
MISKAH. ’Tis sooner told than mended. At noon-tide, lying within the
lattice of the harim, my lady saw thee cross the courtyard—the servants
bowing to earth before thy valiant stride.
HAJJ. (_Delighted._) Valiant stride! (_He strokes his moustachios._)
Yehh! Did she, forsooth?
MISKAH. O noble stranger, who art thou? Whence comest thou? What is the
measure of thy staying? Such and more would my mistress know. For from
noon till now is all her being become one yearning question.
HAJJ. And all my being from now to eternity one burning reply. So haste!
Bring us together that we may spell a sweet completeness.
MISKAH. Follow me, then. But by the life of thy head mark thy path. For
we must step over the sleeping door-keeper of the harim. I have plied him
with drugs. Three blessed hours will he lie thus in stupor—no longer.
After me!
HAJJ. Hold! I cannot leave. Any moment the Wazir may return. Might not
thy mistress favour me with her coming?
MISKAH. Hither?
HAJJ. (_Pointing to the door._) Thou couldst stand guard.
MISKAH. I’ll take thy message, O my master. But her consent means
madness. (_She disappears through the curtains._)
HAJJ. (_Left alone, smiles._) “Madness!” “Valiant stride!” (_He sits
erect._) “Noble stranger!” O Hajj! Thou wast not so mistaken in thyself.
There’s a something, a somehow about thee—no doubt of that!
(_He draws out his sword using the blade as a mirror by which
to arrange his moustachios._)
(_The curtains part again—MISKAH re-enters._)
MISKAH. She comes! (_She glides rapidly to the door left and sits
listening._)
(_KUT-AL-KULUB enters, a voluptuous woman of the ripe oriental
type—she is about eight and twenty. Her dress is very rich,
over it a gorgeous mantle. Her veil is of the thinnest._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Kneeling before him._) Welcome and well come to my
illustrious lord.
HAJJ. A thousand blessings on thy white forehead, O mistress of my days.
KUT-AL-K. Allah, forgive me! Only the wildness of despair could drive me
to break the bonds of my harim.
HAJJ. I am earth to thy treading.
KUT-AL-K. (_With a sigh and exaggerated emotion._) Now, by my life! I
knew mine eyes beheld a king the instant they lighted upon the grace of
thy being. Help me! Help me! I am oppressed beyond endurance.
HAJJ. Who art thou? One of Mansur’s wives?
KUT-AL-K. (_Springing up, indignantly._) One——? I am the Wife of wives!
MISKAH. S—sh!
HAJJ. His first? The great lady?
KUT-AL-K. First in fact. Yet might I be the least and lowest—a blackamoor
kitchen wench—were I to be ranked by his reckoning.
HAJJ. Never tell me he ceases adoring thee even for the wink of an
eye-lid.
KUT-AL-K. (_Shrilly._) Cease adoring! He!
MISKAH. (_Warningly._) S—sh!
KUT-AL-K. (_Turning to HAJJ, with appeal._) Behold this arm! (_She
produces a gorgeous arm from her cloak._) Is this arm shrivelled? Shrunk?
HAJJ. (_Admiringly._) Shrivelled? What dog says shrivelled?
KUT-AL-K. (_Opening her cloak._) This bosom yellow?
HAJJ. (_Overcome._) Yellow, this field of lilies?
KUT-AL-K. (_Turning back._) Now tell me, by thine honour: callest thou me
hump-backed?
(_She drops the cloak and turns round revealing her form,
provokingly clad in scanty splendour._)
HAJJ. O thou copious beauty! Am I a boy that thou shouldst mock me thus?
KUT-AL-K. (_Unveiling her face._) Or is my face pock-pitted? My nose
crooked? My mouth crumpled?
HAJJ. Allah help me! What art thou doing to me, O cruel one?
KUT-AL-K. (_With a gliding step as she approaches him languorously._)
And my gait? (_Making slow gestures._) Is my motion like a popinjay’s on
a perch? (_Coming close to him and sitting on the diwan below him._) My
glance the stare of a dead thing?
HAJJ. O sun of the age! Dazzle not my sight to blindness! Strike not my
senses to frenzy.
KUT-AL-K. (_Feigning surprise, veiling her face, and turning from him._)
Woe upon me! Hath my rage disrobed me?
HAJJ. O light of splendour, cloud not thy rays. Shut me not in blackest
darkness.
KUT-AL-K. (_Lifting her veil a little from her face, coquettishly._) So
much?
HAJJ. More.
KUT-AL-K. So much?
HAJJ. More.
KUT-AL-K. (_Dropping her veil completely._) O thou man among men! Why
must I obey thy bidding? (_She looks down provokingly._)
HAJJ. (_Drawing close._) What is thy name?
KUT-AL-K. Kut-al-Kulub, the food of hearts.
HAJJ. In very sooth, thou art the food of hearts. I could feast on thy
plenty for ever and yet be an-hungered still.
KUT-AL-K. Alas! Why have I never heard words like thine till now?
HAJJ. (_Coaxing._) Never till now?
KUT-AL-K. (_Coyly._) By my head, never! All day and all night I sit alone
under my silent dome, in the fever of my solitude; my tears my sole
consolers.
HAJJ. Tears! Thou must let me come to thee and kiss them away.
KUT-AL-K. (_Pretending horror._) Art thou mad?
HAJJ. Aye, maddened by the insolence of thy beauty.
KUT-AL-K. (_Rising and turning from him, provokingly._) Allah! Kiss me?
Thou? Out on thee! ’Tis easily seen thou art loved too much, by too many.
HAJJ. (_He follows her, comes close to her, and suddenly says in a very
businesslike way._) When shall it be?
KUT-AL-K. (_Dropping all artifice, eagerly._) This evening—early—with the
new risen moon.
HAJJ. How shall I reach thee?
KUT-AL-K. Come to this courtyard. My faithful slave of the firehole shall
await thy coming and lead thee by an unknown passage under the baths
straight to the heart of the harim.
MISKAH. (_Springing up, anxiously._) O mistress! (_She points to the
door._)
(_HAJJ kisses KUT-AL-K. on the lips. She tears herself away and
hurries off through the curtains followed by MISKAH._)
KUT-AL-K. (_With a final glance._) Allah!
HAJJ. (_Flinging his arms out in ecstacy._) Allah!
(_Hearing MANSUR, he quickly resumes the position on the floor,
in which MANSUR left him._)
(_MANSUR re-enters clad in armour, followed by KAFUR and
AFIFE._)
MANSUR. O Wazir Hajj—are thine eyes ready for me to open?
HAJJ. Ready, O my master.
MANSUR. Swear that thou wilt never reveal what I shall unveil. (_He
resumes his seat on the diwan._)
HAJJ. I give thee the bond of Allah, to whom belong honour and glory.
MANSUR. ’Tis well. How prompt art thou to do a deed?
HAJJ. (_Kneeling._) Order me do, and ’tis done.
MANSUR. (_After a pause._) Kill the Caliph.
HAJJ. (_Thunderstruck._) The—Caliph?
MANSUR. I said what I said.
HAJJ. The Caliph! The Viceroy of the Prophet! Shed his sacred blood?
MANSUR. Sacred? Abdallah? A toy to a tutor? Prince Omar should be
reigning in his stead.
HAJJ. Prince Omar!
MANSUR. Yehh! He’s no parchment-worm! He’s a man, a warrior, a king to
the core.
HAJJ. And were Prince Omar Caliph—how would that help my cause?
MANSUR. The hour he’s proclaimed Caliph, that hour am I Grand Wazir. Once
Grand Wazir, there’s no favour too lofty for thee to climb to.
HAJJ. Yehh! But why choose me for the deed? Me, from all the servants
that encircle thee as the white of the eye doth the black.
MANSUR. I wish to honour thee.
HAJJ. (_Not without humour._) Honour me less, I pray thee.
MANSUR. Wouldst thou have me pick a fool for such work? I tell thee, thou
art the man.
HAJJ. (_Confused._) Awah! The Caliph! To attempt to approach him
surrounded as he is ever by a body-guard of ready scymitars!
MANSUR. Nought so easy. He holds his diwan after mid-afternoon prayer,
dealing decrees to great and small, bidding and forbidding. Didst thou
not say erstwhile thou knewest how to juggle?
HAJJ. Trick on trick! Oft I play them at my corner! A wizard from Morocco
was my teacher.
MANSUR. The very device! Even such another Moorman shalt thou stand
to-day before the Caliph seeking protection as a stranger. I’ll turn it
so that he bids thee unfold these tricks of thine. Do thou, by thy skill,
draw him step by step from his throne, till he pass beyond the circle of
safety and stand unguarded, unheedful by thy side. Then sudden plunge thy
dagger.
HAJJ. The guards would cut me down.
MANSUR. Once the Caliph killed, the command of the guards falls unto me.
HAJJ. Ask aught else. This I cannot.
MANSUR. (_Half aloud as to himself temptingly._) Hajj, the Wazir! The
Wazir Hajj!
HAJJ. I cannot kill Allah’s messenger. Cut off my hand and let me go.
MANSUR. (_Rising._) Let thee go? Now? Thy hand to ransom thee with such a
secret in thy heart? By the Venger of villainy, thou shalt not leave this
house alive! ’Tis either my cup companion, or (_pointing_) down into the
vaults of oblivion.
HAJJ. Was it for this I was raised to favour?
MANSUR. (_Sneeringly._) For thy beauty—mayhap?
HAJJ. (_Clenching his hands._) The Caliph. I cannot! I cannot!
MANSUR. Thou art a coward.
HAJJ. Not for myself. But I have others in my life. Affections that bind
me. I have a daughter. Awah! (_He grovels on the ground._)
MANSUR. (_With a sudden look at KAFUR._) Young? Unmarried?
HAJJ. Unmarried. Awah!
MANSUR. Fair?
HAJJ. Fairer than fair. With a voice like a nightingale’s. A thousand
songs are hers. When she dances—the gates of Paradise are opened.
MANSUR. (_Doubtfully._) Sayest thou so. (_He makes signs to AFIFE and
KAFUR, unobserved by HAJJ._)
HAJJ. I tell thee she is a slice of the moon! With lips tender, and waist
slender, and graces countless, no tongue can render.
MANSUR. By Allah! Thou hast set me afire. I’ll take her to wife.
HAJJ. (_Overcome._) Thou? The Wazir Mansur—my Marsinah?
MANSUR. Even so.
HAJJ. (_Rising—still doubting._) Wife?
MANSUR. Yea, wife—not concubine. My other wives will I put away from me.
She shall be first of them all.
HAJJ. Thou’lt swear it?
MANSUR. Swear it? (_He raises his right hand._) The Opening Chapter of
the Koran be between me and thee upon this. Afife, Kafur, be ye sponsors
to our compact before the Most High. (_He holds out his right palm._)
HAJJ. (_Putting his right palm against MANSUR’S._) Ye have heard.
AFIFE AND KAFUR. (_Together._) We have heard.
MANSUR. So be it. I’ll make her mine at sunset. The eunuchs of the harim
shall bring her hither this self-same hour.
HAJJ. Nay, let me go with them. Such tidings shall she learn from none
save her father. (_He moves to the door._)
MANSUR. Hold! A little question! How stand we as to the Caliph?
HAJJ. The Caliph? Now thou hast sworn to marry my daughter, by Him the
Most High, the One, the Omnipotent, here do I swear to stab the Caliph to
death this day.
MANSUR. (_To the others._) Ye have heard?
KAFUR AND AFIFE. (_Raising their right hands together._) Amin!
MANSUR. (_Raising his hand._) Amin!
HAJJ. (_Raising his hand._) Amin! (_A moment’s silence. From the distant
minaret comes the call to prayer._)
MANSUR. (_Sanctimoniously._) O my brothers, the call to prayer.
HAJJ. (_In the same tone._) Prayer!
(_With one accord they all kneel and bend devoutly to Meccah._)
[CURTAIN]
SCENE II
_The Courtyard of a poor House. (The same scene as Act I.
Scene III.). The hot sun of the afternoon is kept off by some
awnings. The birds in the cages hang on the wall._
_MARSINAH is seated on the bench, her lute in her lap. She sings_:—
I.
Under my veil
What hide I not?
Now cheeks so pale,
Now blushes hot:
Under my veil!
II.
Under my veil
What hold I not?
The sweetest tale
Of kisses got,
Under my veil!
NARJIS. (_Coming out of the house with a large water-jar and going to the
well._) Out upon thee, singing away thy day! An thou help me not in the
house, I’ll take away thy trinkets.
MARSINAH. Touch me, and my father shall hear of it!
NARJIS. Thy father! ’Twill be long ere thou seest thy father again.
MARSINAH. I’ll not believe it.
NARJIS. I tell thee this sudden wealth—(_With a gesture of
thieving._)—came but by way of his fingers. They’ve found him. They’ve
taken him.
(_A knock on the house door._)
MARSINAH. Yehh! ’Tis he!
NARJIS. Or the watch come for thy anklets.
MARSINAH. (_Hiding her anklets as she sits._) O Narjis!
(_Another knock._)
NARJIS. (_Hurries to the door calling out._) Here am I! Here am I! Who
knocks?
HAJJ. (_Outside._) I! Thy master. Open, O Narjis.
NARJIS. Allah! ’Tis thy father. (_She unlocks the house door._)
MARSINAH. (_Springing up._) What said I?
(_Enter HAJJ. He is, of course, in his brilliant Persian gown
with his silver sword in his belt._)
HAJJ. Where’s Marsinah? (_He enters the court._)
MARSINAH. (_Overcome by his appearance._) O my father! What fresh
magnificence is this? Did they set thee free?
HAJJ. (_Looking at NARJIS._) What hast thou been saying to her? Calling
me thief behind my heels?
NARJIS. Not a word, O my lord. I am thy slave of admiration.
HAJJ. O slippery mouth! Are thieves clad in robes of honour? Are thieves
given swords of office?
MARSINAH. By my youth! ’Tis all silver.
HAJJ. ’Twill be gold before night.
MARSINAH. Gold?
HAJJ. And before yet another night all jewels and gems.
MARSINAH. Gold! Jewels! O king of fathers! Hast thou discovered some
enchanted treasure?
HAJJ. Yea, a treasure for me and a treasure for thee! My dreams are
dreams no longer. They are alive as the breath of thy lips. (_To
NARJIS._) Go fetch me my bundle of magic.
NARJIS. All the tricks?
HAJJ. All, and the robes.
NARJIS. Hearing and obedience. (_She goes into the house at back._)
HAJJ. (_To MARSINAH._) Thy birds!
MARSINAH. My birds? Thou wilt have a care of them as ever? (_She brings
the bird cages to him._)
HAJJ. Care? Care matters not now, O my doe! Thou shalt have braver birds
than those ere long. Flocks of white ones and black ones to fly at thy
beck and call.
MARSINAH. White ones? Black ones?
HAJJ. (_Laughing._) Ha! Ha! My large-eyed wonder! Human birds; slaves!
Slaves!
MARSINAH. (_Amazed._) I—slaves?
HAJJ. (_Squats and looks into MARSINAH’S eyes._) Larger and larger! As
many as thy whims cry out for. O Marsinah, child of mine! Allah hath
poured blessings untold upon thee. Thou art to be wed to-night.
MARSINAH. (_Joyfully._) O my father! Thou hast seen him! (_She glances up
at the garden wall._)
HAJJ. Him? Whom?
MARSINAH. (_Confused._) Him!
HAJJ. Thy husband? Seen him? I am his cup-companion, the friend of his
bosom, his wazir to come.
MARSINAH. His wazir?
HAJJ. Indeed, how canst thou guess? There! I’ll play with thee no longer.
Know thy full happiness. Thou art to be wife to the Wazir Mansur.
MARSINAH. (_Breathless._) Mansur?
HAJJ. He! What sayest thou now! Has thy joy stifled thee quite?
MARSINAH. (_Blankly._) Mansur? (_She sinks down, staring before her._)
HAJJ. Yes, say it! Say it! Till thy heart learneth to hold it! To beat
to its measure! Mansur! Mansur! Mansur! Mighty now, mightier still ere
long! His wife! None above thee, none thine equal!
MARSINAH. (_Faintly, looking up._) O my father, I kiss the ground. Wed me
not to this man.
HAJJ. (_Rises._) Not? Not?
MARSINAH. Not to him, O my father. I pray Allah’s pardon, not to him.
HAJJ. ’Tis Mansur I speak of—the Wazir of Police. The favoured of
Fortune. Him thou art to wed, to be his great lady, his wife of wives.
MARSINAH. Alas, my long grief! Say it not again, I entreat thee.
HAJJ. Say it not again?
MARSINAH. O my father. Thou’lt not do this to me.
HAJJ. Not what?
MARSINAH. Not give me to him. Not to him.
HAJJ. Thou shalt be his by sundown.
MARSINAH. Sundown? Sundown? This night?
HAJJ. How oft must I say it!
MARSINAH. By the Ineffable! May I be thy ransom here and hereafter! But
this,—this,—by the warmth twixt my heart and thine, the sacred bond of
child and parent, do not this thing to me, O my father and lord, not this!
HAJJ. Art thou raving?
MARSINAH. O sweet my father! Gentle my father! Father of the true eyes
and tender! Thou didst love my mother! Thou wert her salvation, her
soul’s consolation in the hour of her need! By her memory, I conjure thee.
HAJJ. (_Gently._) O Marsinah, my gazelle, rise! What sudden fright is
thine? Has the might of Mansur’s name o’erwhelmed thee?
MARSINAH. O, ’tis not his name! ’Tis not fright! ’Tis—(_Sits up, with
sudden horror._) I cannot go to him! I will not!
HAJJ. Will not? Will not? Now woe to thee, O thou daughter of sin! May
Allah never bless thee! Is such my recompense for all the years of
toiling and moiling, of cark and care? Have I worked at my begging from
dawn to dusk, screamed myself hoarse for thy sake? And dost thou now cry
out, “I will not?” “Will not!” to me, thine own father?
MARSINAH. (_Quieter._) Pardon me, O my lord. I meant—I cannot. I cannot!
HAJJ. Cannot, forsooth? Cannot! Art thou all my soul holds dear on earth,
and come I here to thee with the tiding of tidings—and thou like the
hyena snarlest and bitest the hand that feedeth thee? Why canst thou not?
Why wilt thou not? What is the why of thy why? Speak!
MARSINAH. Awah! Awah! Awah! (_She weeps on the ground._)
HAJJ. (_Squatting by her side, imitating her._) “Awah! Awah!” By Allah!
Verily he was a suffering father who said: “a son is the lamp of a dark
house—a daughter a desolation.”
(_NARJIS comes out of the house, with a robe and a bright
kerchief._)
NARJIS. (_Seeing MARSINAH on the ground._) What’s here?
HAJJ. Comest thou too? A pretty child I have, indeed! A pretty spirit
thou hast fostered in her.
NARJIS. I—O my master?
HAJJ. Thou—O hell hag. Look on her! There she lieth grovelling and
howling like a kicked dog, so the whole quarter will wonder and come
rapping on the door. And what for? What for? Because the honour of
honours has fallen upon her and she is to be wife to the Wazir Mansur.
NARJIS. Mansur’s wife! By the prophet, is this so? (_She comes to
MARSINAH and kneels beside her._) O Marsinah! Hath thy star risen at last?
MARSINAH. O Narjis, I wish not to be his wife.
HAJJ. (_Rises._) I wish not! I cannot! I will not! Whose wife then
wouldst thou be, O thou misery?
MARSINAH. I know not. No one’s. If our neighbour the gardener had a
son—his wife would I be.
NARJIS. I’ve told thee before—he hath no son.
HAJJ. Ha! The old man, the gardener, a son? He, with a face like a
cobbler’s apron? Ha! Ha! Thou art jesting. ’Tis well. Thou hast fooled me
long enough. Dry thy tears. Dry thy tears, I tell thee.
MARSINAH. I am not jesting. Sooner would I die than go to the Lord Mansur.
HAJJ. By my soul—sayst thou true?
MARSINAH. By thy soul. (_She holds up her right hand._)
HAJJ. (_With intense rage._) Now Allah damn the mother that bore thee,
and the father that begot thee! May thy bones rot and thy body be flung
on the ash-heaps beyond the gates of the city—thou child of abomination,
thou shame unforgettable! We shall see! (_He goes to the street door and
opens it—calling._) Ho, masters! Hither!
(_TWO EUNUCHS of the Guard of the Harim enter. MARSINAH veils
herself._)
HAJJ. (_To the EUNUCHS._) This way! Lead ye this maid to your Lord
Mansur! Her life be on your heads.
(_The EUNUCHS cross to MARSINAH and lay hands on her._)
MARSINAH. (_Making a final appeal to her father, kneeling._) O my father.
HAJJ. (_Sternly._) Away!
MARSINAH. Awah! Awah! Awah!
(_She is dragged off by the EUNUCHS._)
(_HAJJ and NARJIS look at each other and nod their heads with
utmost content._)
[CURTAIN]
SCENE III
_The Caliph’s Diwan (Audience Hall). On the lower left side,
raised by a few steps, stands the Caliph’s diwan or throne:
below it, to its left, a single gold cushion, the seat of
honour. At the back and to the right a lofty row of arches
opens onto a terrace from which can be seen the whole city
of Baghdad. To the right, benches for the dignitaries of the
court. At the end of the terrace left, behind the Caliph’s
throne, a great tower with a massive door which leads down into
the prisons. The architecture is of the finest Arabian. The
view of Baghdad is gorgeous and sun-lit._
_The young CALIPH is seen seated on his diwan, magnificently
robed. By his side stands a low table with a vase, from which
rises the single rose given him by MARSINAH. Now and again he
takes the rose and smells it. Above him stands the Wazir ABU
BAKR. Later on, he seats himself to the left of the CALIPH, in
the place of honour. Behind the throne stand ARCHERS with their
lances, and on its steps the GUARDS with scymitars drawn._
_THREE ELDERLY MEN in Egyptian costume kneel before the throne.
Behind them stands a mummy-case with FOUR BLACK SLAVES. In the
background kneel female MUSICIANS and DANCERS—eight in all._
_The CHAMBERLAIN approaches the throne and prostrates himself._
CHAMBERLAIN. O Prince of True Believers, the Ambassadors of Egypt stand
before thee bearing a petition and gifts for thy gracious acceptance.
CALIPH. Display the gifts.
(_The CHAMBERLAIN takes their petition to the CALIPH. Music
strikes up._)
(_The AMBASSADORS bow and sit on the bench, right. At a signal
the SLAVES open the mummy-case, and an Almah (a dancer) steps
out, who does a strange, peacock-like Egyptian dance, ending in
a seductive posture at the feet of the throne. The FOUR SLAVES
carry the mummy-case off to the right._)
CALIPH. (_Turning to the three Egyptian men._) O Wazirs of Cairo, return
ye to Egypt and tell our viceroy I accept his gifts of these slave-girls
and will consider his petition. (_To the CHAMBERLAIN._) See robes of
honour be bestowed on the Ambassadors.
CHAMBERLAIN. Hearkening and obeying.
THE THREE AMBASSADORS. (_Bowing low and speaking together._) Allah
increase thy glory, O Commander of the Faithful.
(_Conducted by the CHAMBERLAIN, who crosses to them, they
withdraw._)
CALIPH. (_To the dancers and musicians._) As for ye, O damsels, this hour
I grant you freedom and a purse of ten thousand dirhams to each of you.
(_To an attendant._) Conduct them in all honour from the palace.
(_The ATTENDANT leads the MAIDENS off by the terrace, the Almah
following them with a final appealing gesture to the CALIPH._)
ABU BAKR. (_Kneeling before the CALIPH._) O King of the Earth, may thy
tutor speak to his charge of many years?
CALIPH. Speak, O my father.
ABU BAKR. Of a truth, thou committest a wrong, O my lord, in despising
thus hourly the gifts of fair women. Hath Allah not created thee a man in
thy manhood?
CALIPH. Seest thou this rose? ’Tis holier to me than the red rose of the
Prophet! Now by its holiness do I swear to thee, to-night shall put an
end to my singleness.
ABU BAKR. Thou hast found what thou seekest?
CALIPH. The while thou didst ponder over the revenues of the kingdom, I
took my pleasure in thy garden. And lo! The Bestower sent what I prayed
for—a sweet maid of a thousand wonders. After sundown I will ride forth
to bring her home in full pomp, as she were a princess from a kingdom
afar.
ABU BAKR. And who might this Chosen of the chosen be, O my lord?
CALIPH. Who? (_Smelling of the rose._) The partner of my dreams, the half
of my heart, my first love and my last. (_He takes a golden bead and
throws it into a cup on the table: it rings like a gong._)
(_A HERALD with a trumpet enters from the terrace._)
CALIPH. Let the diwan begin!
(_The HERALD bows, and goes out onto the terrace again._)
(_ABU BAKR moves to the left of the throne, and sits on the
golden cushion._)
HERALD. (_Blows his trumpet, then speaks._) Whoso hath authority, let him
come to the Caliph’s Carpet of Justice!
(_SLAVES unroll a gorgeous carpet before the throne._)
(_Stately music begins._)
(_The CHAMBERLAIN enters with a volume of the law which he
brings to the throne, he then retires below the throne to the
furthest left corner, behind ABU BAKR._)
(_After him follow SIX DIGNITARIES of the Household, who bow to
the CALIPH, and seat themselves near the columns leading to the
terrace._)
(_Crowds gather outside on the terrace behind the arches._)
(_TEN WAZIRS and KAZIS enter, making their obeisance and going
to their seats at the right._)
(_Finally MANSUR arrives, followed by KAFUR and AFIFE. MANSUR
crosses and bows to the CALIPH, remaining before the throne._)
(_FOUR NEGRO ARCHERS follow and place themselves between the
columns at the back, drawing their scymitars and so forming a
barrier to keep the crowd from entering the hall._)
(_The music ceases._)
(_The CALIPH signs and all the WAZIRS sit._)
MANSUR. O Commander of the Faithful! Would heaven thou hadst not
wearied thyself by honouring thy slave with a letter. The accountings
of my treasuries are ready and in full tale. They shall be at thy feet
to-morrow before noon-prayer.
CALIPH. It is well.
(_MANSUR bows and goes to his seat right, in front of the other
WAZIRS._)
(_There is a murmur of conversation among the WAZIRS._)
(_The CALIPH throws the bead into the cup a second time._)
HERALD. (_Blows his trumpet again._) Whoso hath grievance, let him come
to the Caliph’s Carpet of Justice!
CHAMBERLAIN. (_At the foot of the throne, left, stepping forward and
unrolling a roll._) In the name of the Judge of Judges, peace and
silence. (_The crowd ceases murmuring._) The first case: Jawan the
highwayman. By command of the Wazir Mansur.
MANSUR. (_Rising._) O Gracious Sovereign! The mighty Monarch that
forewent thee, did banish all robbers from Baghdad both by writ and
proclamation. Yet this one is come to flaunt it in the white sunlight as
though the word of our beloved lord had been vain as a rain-shower in the
sea. Hence ordered I the outlaw before thee.
(_JAWAN approaches from the terrace, right, supported by TWO
ARCHERS._)
CALIPH. Canst thou not walk without aid?
JAWAN. (_Kneeling and bowing._) O Commander of the Faithful, Allah hath
smitten my limbs with a curse. Thou seest my hours are numbered. I came
not to Baghdad with evil intent. I came to pray for salvation at the
tombs of the saints, hoping that my gift of alms would somewhat wipe out
mine offending.
CALIPH. Thou hast given money to the poor?
JAWAN. Send to the high priest of the cathedral-mosque. I seek refuge in
him and his knowledge of my charities.
CALIPH. By all the laws of the realm thy life is forfeit. Yet ’tis
written “Better a generous sinner than a stingy saint.” Go one of you to
the high priest. (_To one of the KAZIS._) Kazi Shimas, thou. Inquire into
this. (_To JAWAN._) An thou sayest sooth, repentance and alms have won
for thee the kerchief of pardon. (_Gesture with handkerchief._)
(_One of the WAZIRS rises, bows, and goes off through the arch
right._)
JAWAN. Thy sentence is just as the scales of judgment day!
CALIPH. Nay, hear me out. Till word be brought, thou shalt to prison.
JAWAN. Prison?
CALIPH. A short penance for thy long list of sins. Take him away.
JAWAN. Allah preserve and prosper His regent on earth! (_JAWAN bows to
the CALIPH and is led off into the prison-tower._)
CALIPH. What is there to follow?
CHAMBERLAIN. (_Consulting his list._) The case of a Moorish juggler. By
command of the Wazir Mansur.
MANSUR. (_Rising._) O Prince of True Believers. This Moorman is a most
marvellous wizard. Yet by his very excellence has he roused the jealousy
of our native fellows of his craft, who would drive him out of the city.
Hence doth he come to kneel to thee for protection.
CALIPH. Baghdad never yet grudged hospitality to the stranger of worth.
Bring hither the Moor.
CHAMBERLAIN. The Moor!
(_An ATTENDANT echoes the Chamberlain’s call and voices are
heard without repeating: “The Moor! The Moor!”_)
(_HAJJ enters from the right through the columns. On his
shoulders like a pair of scales, he balances a pole, the two
bird cages at either end,—his magic cloth in his hand._)
HAJJ. (_Coming forward and kneeling._) O Light of Islam—here lies thy
slave between thy hands!
CALIPH. Art thou this famous Moorish magician?
HAJJ. O King, I am as famous as I am Moorish, as Moorish as I am magician.
CALIPH. An thou prove thy repute, thou shalt remain unmolested within our
walls.
HAJJ. Try me and be thy judgment my doom.
CALIPH. Allah granteth thee this. Begin.
(_HAJJ bows to the CALIPH, slips off his cloak and waves his
magic cloth in a circle._)
HAJJ.
Round is the sky!
Round is the eye!
Round is nought!
Round is wrought!
(_Throwing the cloth over his shoulder mysteriously._)
By Iblis curst;
By devils worst;
By every name:—
Flame, fire, flame!
(_He produces a bowl of flaming fire from his cloth._)
CALIPH. (_Coming down the steps a little._) Allah! Good.
(_HAJJ sets the bowl on the floor._)
(_The CROWD murmurs approval._)
HAJJ. (_Pointing to the bird-cages._) O King of glorious degree and never
ending! Look thou next on these two cages; one harbouring a fair bird
of maiden whiteness; the other a bird black as the royal banner of thy
house. Now even as yon flame of fire, so doth the flame of longing scorch
the hearts of these hapless lovers, caged apart. Say me then, shall I
invoke a kindlier lot upon the two, bringing them breast to breast?
CALIPH. (_Who during the speech has come down from his throne; eagerly._)
Is’t easily done?
HAJJ. Most easily. (_He waves his magic cloth with his left hand and
quickly draws his dagger with his right._) As easily, O my lord, as this!
(_He gives the CALIPH a violent thrust._)
CALIPH. (_Sinking backwards on the steps of the throne._) Awah!
ABU BAKR. (_Throwing himself between HAJJ and the CALIPH._) O villain! O
hound! Seize him! Pinion him!
(_HAJJ is surrounded in an instant by the GUARD. Indescribable
confusion ensues. The WAZIRS start from their seats. The crowd
breaks through the guards. All shout and try to get at HAJJ.
Cries such as these are heard_: “Tear out his eyes!” “Rip
out his heart!” “O son of Satan!” “Crucify him over the city
gate!” “Scorch his eyes to blindness!” “Chop off his accursed
fingers!” “Cut out his tongue!” “Into the flames with him!” “O
dog!” “O hell hound!” “O son of perdition!” “Down with him!”
“Down!”)
ABU BAKR. (_Bending over the CALIPH._) How is’t with thee?
CALIPH. (_Recovering himself and mounting the throne._) Silence! Silence!
(_He throws the bead into the cup._)
CALIPH. Silence! (_Comparative silence._) Touch not the man. Touch him
not, I say.—I am safe! Allah hath shielded me by the grace of my coat of
mail. (_He displays it._)
(_Gradually absolute silence is restored._)
MANSUR. (_With unction._) Praise Eternal to the Preserver of our King.
ALL. “Praise to the Preserver!” “Amin!” “A thousand years to the Caliph!”
“Life forever to Abdallah” etc.
(_The cup is struck again. All regain their respective places._)
(_HAJJ is brought forward, held by FOUR BLACK ARCHERS. His
whole appearance is dishevelled. He looks deathly pale._)
(_Outside the day begins to wane._)
CALIPH. Why didst thou this?
HAJJ. (_After a moment._) I know not. The crime was foredoomed me by Fate.
CALIPH. Before the whole world, in the place of places, in front of my
palace, there shall thy soul be stripped from thee, shred by shred. Into
the Prison of Wrath with him.
HAJJ. Nay, hear me! Hear me! I was tempted beyond measure.
CALIPH. How’s this? Who tempted thee?
HAJJ. I have sworn silence.
CALIPH. By my holy office of Imam, I absolve thee of thine oath. Speak.
HAJJ. (_Half looking round at MANSUR._) I—cannot.
CALIPH. The key of torture shall soon unlock thy lips.
HAJJ. Torture! Nay, by the Pardoner, since thou dost absolve me, there
sits he who tempted me! The Wazir Mansur.
ALL. (_In amazement._) “Mansur?” “The Wazir?” “He?” “What says he?”
CALIPH. Mansur?
MANSUR. (_Rises, glibly._) The man’s be-devilled, O my lord. Bewitched by
fiends. I know him not.
HAJJ. Know me not? I have shared my salt with him. He swore to make my
daughter his bride, would I but end thy days. Kafur, Afife! Bear ye
witness!
CALIPH. (_With surprise to MANSUR._) How’s this? He calls thy men by name?
MANSUR. What of that? Mayhap the villain has frequented my halls in
search of some favour. Nay, now I look on him—true. I’ve done the dog a
kindness. He came indeed to offer me his daughter, and I accepted of her.
Yet not for myself, O King, but to serve my scavenger blackamoors.
HAJJ. (_With a cry of horror, trying to throw himself on MANSUR._) Ah!
(_The ARCHERS restrain him, he struggles madly._)
CALIPH. (_Calling out at once._) Silence him!
(_One of the Archers from behind slips a black cloth over
HAJJ’S mouth._)
(_The sky is lighted with the blaze of sunset._)
MANSUR. Yet though the drab be now in my harim, by the Koran I swear, O
King, even as this day ends red so shall she end red this day.
CALIPH. This matter is too full for the crowded course of the Diwan. I
shall examine into it apart—after sundown. No! (_He takes up the rose
half unconsciously._) Not after sundown. To-morrow. (_With a significant
look._) O Mansur, fail thou me not. Thy words do far from hush my doubts
in thee.
MANSUR. Hearkening and obedience.
CALIPH. I shall sit in my scarlet of anger. Let the executioner be
notified. Off with the wretch. Not a crust, not a drop to him. No
hospitality shall bind us. He shall be made a warning to all, the
blackest death in Islam! Away!
(_HAJJ is dragged off through the prison-door, impotent and
bound._)
(_A general murmur among the crowd._)
(_The CALIPH puts down the rose and throws the bead into the
cup._)
(_Silence._)
CALIPH. What case have we to come?
CHAMBERLAIN. (_Taking up the list._) The case of Kabirah, the widow.
(_The little old woman of the Bazaar appears and totters
forward, kneeling before the throne._)
[CURTAIN]
SCENE IV. _The Prison of the Palace._
_The place is dark except for a small barred window in the
right wall, high up. Through this come the red rays of the
setting sun, which fall on the wall, left—a brilliant patch
creeping slowly higher and higher._
_Under the window in the shadow lies JAWAN, the highwayman, an
unrecognisable heap._
_A moment of silence. Then the door is unlocked and unbolted
and creaking loudly, to the rattle of keys, it admits KUTAYT,
the Gaoler, a huge, dark-skinned man of brute force. He pushes
open the door, and crosses to some chains fixed to an angle
that juts out, left, under the patch of sunlight._
_Outside is heard the shuffle of feet and blows. HAJJ appears
directly, pushed and driven by the FOUR BLACK ARCHERS. His
mouth is still covered with the black bandage. The ARCHERS drag
him to the wall, left, where KUTAYT stands ready to clap the
chains on his wrists._
KUTAYT. (_Turning HAJJ round._) What outlandish garments have we here?
Not Arabian. How? (_HAJJ gives a muffled reply._) (_KUTAYT pulling the
bandage from his mouth._) How?
HAJJ. (_Breathless._) Moorish, O my master.
KUTAYT. Moorish! Hoo! Hoo! Wilt thou buy straw from me?
HAJJ. I have no money.
KUTAYT. No money?
HAJJ. Not a danik.
KUTAYT. (_Shouting._) Nothing? Shall I waste my breath sucking of an
empty bottle? Here with thy paws, O misery! (_He claps the chains on
HAJJ._) Yehh, what a life is mine, crushing lice! (_He throws HAJJ down
on the ground._) Lie there, thou vermin. Moorish! (_He spits on HAJJ,
then follows the others banging the door to behind him, bolting and
locking it from without._)
(_A moment of silence._)
HAJJ. (_Groaning._) There is no majesty nor might save Allah! Is it this
I have come to? (_Rattling the chains, he sinks down beating palm on palm
in despair._) O thou purse! Thou little purse flung me at sunrise! Thou
hast been mine undoing! Thou wast from Satan! From him, mine enemy. O
Jawan! Jawan! As Allah is my witness, may thy soul be cast down into the
fires of hell to burn and boil to infinity without end.
(_Out of the gloom of the opposite wall comes JAWAN’S sharp
voice, half mockingly._)
JAWAN. Who calls me? Can it be thou, O Hajj?
HAJJ. (_Amazed._) Allah! (_He sits up._) Art thou an Ifrit speaking?
JAWAN. No Ifrit, O brother. No spirit of air or fire. But thy
flesh-and-bones enemy, whom thou dost curse so sweetly.
HAJJ. Jawan—thyself—here?
JAWAN. Even as thou, O my friend of long ago.
HAJJ. (_He laughs._) Ha! Ha! By Allah! Thou here! And through me! For
’twas I who told Mansur of thee! My prayer is answered. We shall end side
by side. ’Tis well. I die content.
JAWAN. Why art thou here?
HAJJ. For attempting the Caliph’s days.
JAWAN. The Caliph’s? Thou? Then art thou indeed dead.
HAJJ. Even as thou art.
JAWAN. Nay, I shall be free. I tell thee I shall live, live to see my
son. Yehh! As clearly as I see him now with the eyes of the heart. As
clearly as I saw him last with the eyes of the head. (_In an exalted
strain._) There he stood, my Yusuf, in the wold and wild, by my tent, the
dust-cloud of the coming foe walling the horizon. I made him kneel before
me and blessed and kissed him. And as I did so an amulet hung forth from
my breast. I broke it in half—a hand of Fatimah. (_He taps his chest._)
Half I kept for myself, here. The other I fixed on the chain round his
neck. By that broken half shall I find him again. I know it.
HAJJ. (_Laughing derisively._) Ha! Ha! After twenty-five years? Thou art
in thy dotage.
JAWAN. Allah will give him back to me. I have gone to Mecca thrice. All
my moneys have I spent in charity.
HAJJ. Charity? Will charity quicken my little son, whom thou didst
slaughter? Charity restore the wife thou didst rob me of? I tell thee
thou shalt surely die to-morrow. Thy blood and mine shall mingle together
on the thirsty ground. That is my sole consolation, the honey in this my
bitterness.
(_The lock is heard to turn and the door is unbolted. KUTAYT
reappears with a document in his hand._)
(_The sunlight begins to fade._)
KUTAYT. (_Going to JAWAN, holding out the document._) The Commander of
the Faithful has lent ear to the pleadings of the High Priest. Thou art
pardoned and released.
JAWAN. Allah prolong the Caliph’s days of Glory!
KUTAYT. Canst thou climb the stairs unaided?
JAWAN. Where are my slaves?
KUTAYT. Thy slaves? Alas! When they saw thee prisoner they turned and
fled!
JAWAN. Whoreson knaves! How shall I get me from here? (_Chinking a
purse._) This purse of fifty dinars, an thou canst find me a litter.
KUTAYT. (_Obsequiously._) O my lord, there is a stretcher above to carry
away the dead. Will that suffice thy graciousness?
JAWAN. Anything, so I need no longer weary thine hospitality. He! He! He!
KUTAYT. (_Laughing politely._) Hoo, Hoo! Hearing is obeying.
HAJJ. (_Eagerly._) Am I pardoned too? Am I free?
KUTAYT. Hoo! Hoo! Pardoned? Free? Wait till thy tongue’s torn out, thine
eyes scorched to blindness, thy body nailed to the dome over the Gate of
Destruction. Then wilt thou be free—indeed—at last! Hoo! Hoo!
HAJJ. (_Tugging at his chains._) Allah damn thee for thy mocking!
KUTAYT. Hoo? Curse me, O thou? That for thee, thou offal, thou stench.
(_He strikes HAJJ over the head with the huge door-key. HAJJ with a cry
totters, then sinks on his knees and faints._) How? Fainted? Hoo! Hoo!
Fainted. Rose-water for the Princess! Rose-water and fumes and ambergris!
Fainted! (_Turning and bowing obsequiously to JAWAN._) O my lord, thy
litter shall be with thee on the instant.
(_He goes off and slams the door, bolts and locks it._)
(_Silence._)
HAJJ. (_After some groans, slowly returning to consciousness, in the
whining tone of the beggar, not realising where he is._) Alms for the
love of Allah! For the love of—— (_He awakes slowly to his surroundings;
with a cry of horror._) Ah! I am here! I am here. ’Tis over—is it? Is it
over?
JAWAN. He! He! He! ’Tis not yet begun.
HAJJ. ’Tis not? (_Coming to the full realisation of things._) Thou! Now
I know. Thou! Oh! The sun is setting! Red! Red! (_With a sudden cry._)
Mansur!—Thou fiend of lowest hell! “Even as the day ends red, so shall
she end red this day!” O Marsinah! O Marsinah! And I in prison—in chains!
JAWAN. He! He! He!
HAJJ. Laugh! Thou canst laugh? Thou the beginning—thou the end of my
sufferings! (_Tugging at the chains._) O Allah! Give me strength.
Make these strong arms doubly, trebly strong! Put all the power of a
lifetime into these sinews; only for once, O Allah, that I may snap these
maddening chains in twain!
JAWAN. Never! Never! (_He laughs jeeringly._) He! He! He!
HAJJ. Once! Only once! (_He tugs, he twists, then with a wild cry of
delight he has broken himself free._) Free! Free! The Granter hath
granted!
JAWAN. (_With terror—breathless._) Wah——
HAJJ. (_Sitting up, very quietly._) At last!
JAWAN. (_Trembling._) What—what art thou thinking?
HAJJ. (_Rises._) What—what? (_He crouches slightly and slowly, step by
step, like a wild beast, creeps over to JAWAN’S corner._)
JAWAN. No nearer! I have a knife.
HAJJ. A knife—hast thou?
JAWAN. ’T has served me a thousand times. Luck’s written on the blade.
HAJJ. Luck? I take my luck. (_With a cry._) Allah is all great! (_He
springs into the dark at JAWAN._)
(_A fierce struggle as of two panthers fighting. Groans,
hisses, heavings and cries. After a minute—silence. Then HAJJ
emerges from the dark._)
HAJJ. (_Breathless and fervently._) O Allah mine, thou hast given me
this hour. Behold my sacrifice to thee. At last, at last, I am avenged!
Avenged! (_Laughing bitterly._) But my Marsinah!—Oh spare her, O Lord of
justice, spare her from Mansur and the horror of his harim. (_A thought
striking him._) The harim! Kut-al-Kulub! The Wife of wives! Even now she
is waiting for me! If I could reach her! She’d help me to save Marsinah!
She’d— (_He goes to the door pounding on it desperately._) Free! Free!
Free!—(_He stops and turns hopelessly._) Madness! (_Looking at JAWAN’S
body._) They’ll find him the moment the litter comes, and then—(_With
sudden inspiration._) The litter! Allah! Dost Thou open the door of
escape? Dost Thou? (_Wildly._) Ha! Ha! Ha! If it succeed! If it succeed!
(_He goes into the corner to the body._) The cloak! The turband! The
purse! In his sleeve,—his breast? (_He comes across the chain on his
breast._) The chain! The broken hand of Fatimah! (_Imitating JAWAN._) “I
shall see my son again! I shall find him!” Wilt thou? (_He takes off the
chain._) Wilt thou? (_Putting it over his own neck._) Hang thou here on
my neck now thou broken hand of Fatimah! I shall find him, so Allah will
it. I shall! Ha! (_He finds the purse and chinks it._) Fifty dinars! For
the gaoler! Good! Now off with thy cloak. What? (_He stops and listens._)
Nothing. Nothing. Keep thine eyes cool and clear, O Hajj. Cool and clear.
(_He returns to the body._) So! So! _Thou_ shalt play the Moorman now,
O my king. Dead. Ha! Ha! Thou art dead, dost thou hear? And yet, O dead
one, ’tis thou shalt draw me out of my grave—me thy slayer! (_He drags
the body to where he lay fainting when the gaoler went out and covers
it with his own cloak._) So! Lie thou there! Quiet! Budge not, I pray
thee. Faint! (_He turns to JAWAN’S cloak and turband._) Now for mine own
beautifying! (_As he picks up the garments he sees the knife which he
discarded._) The knife! Luck’s written on the blade. (_He puts the knife
into his belt._) Luck! So be it. Luck shall carry me into the street.
Luck let me leap from the litter! Luck bring me to the harim and to thee,
O my Marsinah, O my——(_The door outside is unlocked._)
(_HAJJ throwing the cloak over himself, hurries into JAWAN’S
dark corner and lies down. KUTAYT reappears with a lanthorn,
followed by two men with a rough stretcher._)
KUTAYT. The stretcher, O my lord.
HAJJ. (_Coughing and imitating JAWAN’S voice._) Here! (_He throws the
purse._)
KUTAYT. (_Picking it up and examining it by the light of the lanthorn._)
Allah bless thy journey. (_To the men as they lift up HAJJ._) Carefully.
Lift the Sheikh of sheikhs carefully. (_He chinks the purse and turns to
the dead body._) How? Still fainted! Hoo! Hoo! Look, O my lord—(_He goes
to the body and raises up an arm._) Still fainted!
HAJJ. (_As the litter is lifted up and carried out, imitating JAWAN’S
laugh._) He! He! He! (_He is carried through the door._)
KUTAYT. (_Dropping the arm._) Rose water! (_Kicking the body._) Rose
water! Hoo! Hoo!
HAJJ. (_From the staircase, without._) He! He! He!
(_KUTAYT turns slowly and follows the litter, slamming the door
behind him._)
[CURTAIN]
_End of Act II_
ACT III
BEFORE THE CURTAIN
NIGHT
_The MAN enters from his house, seats himself and sings_:
Lo! Now the night lies on the city’s breast,
And thousand thousand lovers rise from rest
To seek in truth, what day unveiled in dream:—
The one, the all, the maiden manifest.
_The WOMAN enters from her house, seats herself and sings_:
Lo! Now the heav’n pours down its silver stream
Into the lattice of my heart’s harim!
The hour comes, the night of nights is nigh,
That bindeth soul to soul in bond supreme.
_The MAN_:
Yehh! That some flaming dance might glorify
The moments of my sweet expectancy!
_The WOMAN_:
Yehh! That some liquid Almah’s ebb and flow
The ocean of my love might amplify!
_BOTH_:
O Thou, Bestower of all things, bestow
This benediction on Thy servants low!
_The DANCER enters and weaves the spell of Destiny about the MAN and the
WOMAN. They rise and approach each other singing_:
The day belongs to man, to woman night:—
HE: { And so I give to thee thy lawful right, }
SHE: { And so I claim in thee my lawful right. }
Sealing our compact of eternal plight,
O thou, my longing, and my soul’s delight!
_The DANCER smiles in triumph and vanishes._
_The MAN and the WOMAN embrace and go out hand in hand through the
Curtains of Fate._
ACT III
EVENING
SCENE I. _The Hammam in the Wazir Mansur’s Harim._
_The scene represents a colonnaded courtyard, the centre of
which is occupied by a large, marble swimming pool. The front
part of the scene is under the portico of the colonnade. At the
back may be seen three large arched windows screened from the
outer world by elaborate traceries. The main entrance is an
arch or double door, left. A grated trap to the right, partly
concealed by a rug, leads to a secret passage below. There is
a couch to the left; behind it stands a brazier of burning
incense._
_The court is of the most delicate architecture; white marble
with green and azure traceries._
_It is early evening; the moonlight floods the courtyard from
the right, and finds its way into the portico, from the ceiling
of which hang several lamps, shedding dim light._
_KUT-AL-KULUB, in gorgeous robes, lies reclining on the
couch, a slave holding up a mirror before her. Another one is
sprinkling perfumes, and a third blackening her eyelids._
_Various groups of women are seen reclining by the pool; some
are robing, others combing their hair._
_To the right sit FOUR FEMALE MUSICIANS with lutes, harps and
tambourines. One of them is singing_:—
O lute within my lap, o’er thee I bend
My sobbing child of love, thy cry to tend
With mother’s breast. Yet still as I do give
Thy yearning groweth ever without end. Ah—!
O sweetest loss! O milk of melody!
What though my heart go forth in yielding thee!
Thus would I die a thousand deaths, than live
Frozen and barren to infinity! Ah!
(_During the song a YOUNG GIRL, wrapped in a long garment,
enters followed by a NEGRESS. She steps to the swimming pool.
The NEGRESS takes the cloak from her and she plunges into the
water._)
(_MISKAH enters from the door, left, and glides to
KUT-AL-KULUB’S couch._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Turning impatiently._) Thy news! Yet answer me nought but he
is come; he is waiting; he has mistook the secret entrance!
MISKAH. O my mistress, would my tongue might say yes. Alas! He’s nowhere
to be seen. But thy slave of the fires is watching for him with burning
eyes.
KUT-AL-K. I could have thee whipped for thy words.
MISKAH. No stranger hath passed the door-keeper, nor man nor woman,
saving a weeping damsel the eunuchs brought this mid-afternoon.
KUT-AL-K. Damsel? What damsel?
MISKAH. She is destined for thy lord, they say. They are guarding her in
the first hall of the harim.
KUT-AL-K. What fresh intruder is this? Bring hither the slut!
MISKAH. Hearkening and obedience.
(_She hurries off through the door._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Looking at herself in the mirror._) Another? By the days
of my beauty! And he—— (_To the slave dressing her hair._) O thou
fat-fingered fool. Art thou not done yet? Take thy hot hands from my head!
(_The women near the pool have splashed the girl in the water.
She suddenly turns and pulls one of them into the pool. There
is a loud scream and much splashing and laughter._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Irritated, sits erect on her couch, claps her hands and
shouts at the top of her voice._) Cease your noise! Cease your noise, I
say! (_Claps her hands again._) Allah! Must I call the guard? (_The WOMEN
are gradually silenced._) Out on ye, ye shameless ones! Get ye to your
couches, each and all. The hour grows late.
(_The WOMEN in the bath are seen to swim towards the right end
of the bath. Others in the arcades go off to the right as well.
Suppressed laughter and whisperings._)
(_KUT-AL-K watches them impatiently._)
KUT-AL-K. (_To the MUSICIANS._) Go ye as well!
(_The MUSICIANS rise and follow the others._)
(_KUT-AL-K sinks down on the couch._)
(_MISKAH re-enters with the TWO EUNUCHS, conducting MARSINAH,
who is veiled._)
KUT-AL-K. (_To the EUNUCHS._) Leave her with me. She shall be safe in
my keeping. (_The TWO EUNUCHS bow and retire._) What have we here?
(_Sarcastically._) Peace be upon thee, O wonder of loveliness concealed.
MARSINAH. And upon thee peace, O my lady, and Allah’s benediction.
KUT-AL-K. (_Half aside to her women._) A voice like unto choking honey.
(_Pointedly to MARSINAH._) Wilt thou not favour us by revealing the
fountain of so much sweetness?
(_She leans forward toward MARSINAH._)
MARSINAH. (_Unveils and kneels, bowing low._) O my lady, I am thy slave.
KUT-AL-K. (_Annoyed by MARSINAH’S beauty._) My slave, art thou? My slaves
come not before me with no henna on their hands, eyes unkohled, cheeks
riddled and raddled with tears. Who art thou? Who sent thee hither?
MARSINAH. My father. The Wazir Mansur has chosen me to be his wife.
KUT-AL-K. Wife—thou? O thou cotton-refuse! O thou pickings! Thou his
wife? A handmaid to his wife perchance, or handmaid to the handmaid, more
likely.
MARSINAH. ’Tis not of my seeking! Allah is my witness! I longed not for a
harim of glitter and gold. Mine was a far different dream.
KUT-AL-K. (_Sarcastically._) Sayst thou so?
MARSINAH. O mistress dear, thou art the high lady here, thy lord’s love
of loves. Turn thou thy white hand of pleading towards Mansur for me. Win
thou my freedom, and thou wilt give life not to me alone, who am a nought
and a nothing, but also to one who is waiting and watching this night,
waiting and watching in vain.
KUT-AL-K. Yehh! What light do I see in the lattice? So thy little heart
is caught in the mighty net of love. (_The SLAVE GIRLS giggle._)
MARSINAH. Why should I answer no? Thou art a woman. To thee I need not
hide what I dared not confess to my father. Yehh! I love a youth, to the
very core of my bosom do I love him; a youth fair of face, and rich in
grace; none gentler, none nobler in all our race.
KUT-AL-K. A pretty verse, forsooth. And surely there are further rhymes
to follow, such as “enlace” and “embrace.” (_She smiles at her SLAVES,
who giggle at her gibe._)
MARSINAH. He hath kissed me, ’tis true.
KUT-AL-K. (_With a sarcastic laugh._) Ah! Ah!
MARSINAH. Oh, but in all honour. This sunset he was coming to beg my
father’s consent to husband me.
KUT-AL-K. Was he! Was he!
MARSINAH. By the life of my youth, he was. I should be bespoken by now,
had not sudden fate doomed me to become Mansur’s wife.
KUT-AL-K. Wife! Say thou wife again and I’ll have thee slippered till
thou liest fainting at my feet. Wife thou! A thing kissed and clasped
by another! What devil hath blown conceit into thy nostrils? (_Calling
out._) Ho Kádim! Ho Taváshi! Hither! Take her away to the kitchens!
(_MARSINAH veils herself._)
(_The TWO EUNUCHS return and approach MARSINAH, laying hands on
her._)
KUT-AL-K. I’ll soon “wife” thee, thou scum of the slave market, thou
baggage of ill-omen and insolent!
MARSINAH. O spare me these cruel hands, O sweet lady, spare me, spare me!
(_At that moment MANSUR enters through the courtyard from the
right. He is sullen and his manner shows, though only slightly,
that he has been drinking. He has a cup in his hand. KAFUR
follows him. All the WOMEN crouch at MANSUR’S approach._)
MANSUR. Hold! What to do is here?
KUT-AL-K. (_Rises on her knees and turns to him in her most seductive
manner._) O my lord—thou? What blessed fate brings thee at this unwonted
hour?
MANSUR. (_Ignoring her._) Who is yon woman?
KUT-AL-K. A nought! A slave girl! An offering of ugliness some friend
hath sent thee in sport. Wilt thou not smile on thy Kut-al-Kulub, O my
king?
MARSINAH. (_Crying out._) Ho Mansur!
KUT-AL-K. (_To the EUNUCHS holding MARSINAH._) To the kitchens with her!
And at once!
MARSINAH. (_Breaking away from the EUNUCHS, she kneels before MANSUR,
calling out._) To my aid, O my lord; I lay hold upon thy skirt, in this
my calamity.
(_The EUNUCHS are about to seize her again but MANSUR stops
them with a gesture._)
MANSUR. (_Coming to her._) Who art thou?
MARSINAH. I am Marsinah, the daughter of Hajj—thy cup-companion.
MANSUR. Hajj’s daughter, art thou? (_Sneeringly._) Now Allah requite thee
that thou art come! His daughter! Ha! (_To KUT-AL-K._) And ugly to boot,
sayst thou? Yehh! The liar, the son of filth! Juggle this trick besides,
would he? ’Tis well!
KUT-AL-K. (_Sarcastically._) She swears thou hast chosen her thy wife.
MANSUR. Doth she?
KUT-AL-K. (_Indignantly._) And that, after confessing she hath been loved
by another.
MANSUR. Yehh!
MARSINAH. (_To KUT-AL-K._) By Allah, this is not allowed! To betray what
I have told thee between mine eyes and thine.
MANSUR. So she has been loved, has she—this (_with a great sneer_) maid!
I am to eat broken bread from other men’s tables! Broken bread!
MARSINAH. (_Rises._) ’Tis a lie! My loved one’s loving is not of the
colour of thy loathsome lusting. ’Tis white as the turband of the
Prophet. Nor can thy villainous tongue spot its purity.
MANSUR. Ha! Ha! So great a fire in so small an oven? Yehh! Here will be a
pleasing thing to rake and quench.
MARSINAH. (_Kneeling, pleading._) Oh, as thou art powerful, be merciful.
Forgive my fury. My lips know not what they say. Thou seest I am alone
here, helpless as the fly in the tent of the spider. Have thou pity on
me, so Allah have pity on thee.
MANSUR. And how can Allah have pity on me before I yet have sinned? Oh,
my hidden delight, I beseech thee unveil first, that I may learn the hell
I am to fall to, through the curse of thy comeliness. Unveil, I tell thee.
MARSINAH. Never!
MANSUR. Never! Thou’lt not? (_He flings away his wine-cup._) Thus to thy
likes! (_He goes up to her and seizing her roughly, tears the veil from
her face._)
MARSINAH. Awah! (_She bows her head in shame, her long black hair
uncoiling about her._)
MANSUR. By the Creator—she is beautiful—exceedingly!
KUT-AL-K. (_Biting her lips._) Is she?
MANSUR. (_Turning to KUT-AL-K and thrusting her down on the couch._) O
thou viper, what made thee say otherwise? Jealous, art thou? Ha! Ha!
Still! (_To MARSINAH—watching KUT-AL-K._) Thou art lovesome and lovely, O
my blossom, O my palm-bud. Thou shalt indeed be my bride this eventide.
(_He caresses her head._)
MARSINAH. (_Rising and shrinking away._) If I pass this night here, I
shall kill myself with mine own hand.
MANSUR. Trouble not thy hand! For at dawn, O Marsinah,——(_He runs his
hand down her arm._) at dawn thou shalt pay for thine insolence with
gorgeous untold sufferings, such as my soul never yet devised.
(_He smacks his lips._)
(_MARSINAH shudders._)
(_KUT-AL-K sighs with satisfaction._)
MANSUR. (_To KUT-AL-K._) Thou art satisfied?
KUT-AL-K. (_Smiling._) I am all thine, O my master.
MANSUR. ’Tis well! (_To the slaves._) Up! Robe my bride! Hang jewels upon
her! Rob what is best from the splendour of my Wife of wives. (_THREE
SLAVE GIRLS and the NEGRESS hurry off hastily to the left._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Furious._) My robes? My jewels?
MANSUR. (_Sardonically._) Saidst thou not “I am all thine”? (_To
MARSINAH._) Go, O my ruby! Seek thy setting, O my bride of blood. (_To
the slaves._) And look you, she doth no harm to her sweet body.
MARSINAH. (_Blanched and staring, is led off through the courtyard;
suddenly she turns defiantly._) Be this the end that Allah hath ordained
me—’tis well! Yet the Judge of Judges is not unjust. He hath power to
change our fate between the shutting and the opening of an eye. Thy hour
will come. Thy death will find thee!
MANSUR. (_With a gesture to the slaves._) Away!
MARSINAH. (_In a high voice._) And black will it be, O Mansur! Black as
thy doomsday record! (_She screams as she is dragged off by the EUNUCHS._)
MANSUR. (_Calling after her._) Ha! Ha! Ha! Thy rage but feeds me! Ha! Ha!
There’s something still in life! Something! By Allah! This night will I
make a night among nights! Ho Kafur! Prepare my bath of scents! Hot and
heating let it be! So that my tired pulses may beat—beat!
(_KAFUR bows and hastens into the courtyard._)
MANSUR. (_Stopping him._) And call thou the women! Let them come forth
wildering to the wits, seducing to the senses! Song, and perfumes, and
dance till sunrise! What though the Caliph reap my head to-morrow, these
last hours shall be locked in my breast, mine own!
(_KAFUR bows and vanishes._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Kneeling before MANSUR and throwing her arms about his
knees._) Thus do I love my lord.
MANSUR. (_Smiling on her._) Dost thou, in sooth?
KUT-AL-K. Yehh! Bid me do aught to add to thy content, and I’ll do it.
MANSUR. (_In a playful tone._) Wilt thou? Wilt thou?
KUT-AL-K. I swear it.
MANSUR. Thou? (_He looks down at her, smiling, then suddenly spits in
her face. Turning away with a chuckling sneer._) Thou—O bosom of burning
desire, go thou and sleep! (_He hurries off through the courtyard._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Shaking with rage, her hands clenched, she groans._) Wah!
Dog of hell! Poison thee I could! Poison thee! (_She sits on the couch
beating it impotently with her fists._) Poison! Poison! Poison!
MISKAH. (_Hurries across to her, trying to soothe her._) O dear my
mistress! Doth Destiny not decree all things for the best? If thy lord
be lost in the arms of Marsinah, wilt thou not be freer for him whom thy
soul desires?
(_A gentle tapping is heard._)
KUT-AL-K. He’ll not come! He’ll not come! ’Tis long past the hour! Fate
curses me ever! He’ll not come——(_Louder tapping._) O Miskah! Hark! (_She
sits erect and eager—pointing to the trap. The tapping is repeated._)
’Tis he! Unbolt.
(_KUT-AL-K reclines on her couch, assuming indifference._)
(_MISKAH goes and unbolts the grating, lifting the trap._)
(_HAJJ enters, still wrapped in JAWAN’S white cloak._)
HAJJ. Peace to thee, O my lady of radiance. I am thy slave in very truth.
My heart is between thy hands. (_He kneels and bows._)
KUT-AL-K. Thou? By the life of mine eyes, I had forgot thee quite. Comest
thou at this hour?
HAJJ. Be not an-angered, O my princess. I have faced death sevenfold to
venture to thee to-night.
KUT-AL-K. Hush! My lord is within the harim.
HAJJ. (_Thinking at once of MARSINAH._) Mansur? In the harim? Is he
alone? No one with him? No woman?
KUT-AL-K. Belike so.... What matters it?
HAJJ. Was a maiden brought here a little while since?
KUT-AL-K. Yes. What of her?
HAJJ. Doth Mansur know she’s here?
KUT-AL-K. (_Impatiently._) What is’t to thee? The moments are slipping
away. O my loved one, dost thou not love me? (_She smiles on him._)
HAJJ. (_Distracted._) Love thee? Yea, yea, I love thee. (_He smiles a
vacant smile at her._) The maiden—the maiden is where?
KUT-AL-K. What maiden?
HAJJ. Marsinah.
KUT-AL-K. (_Suspiciously._) Marsinah? How comest thou to know her name?
What is this wench to thee? Who is she?
HAJJ. She is my daughter.
KUT-AL-K. Thy daughter.
HAJJ. I have said it.
KUT-AL-K. Thy daughter! (_She rises, stands on the couch, and bursts
out, laughing angrily._) Ah! Ha! Ha! Thy daughter! Is such thy love for
me? Thou must needs send thy daughter to him? A slip—a snippet—a chick
unfledged; her must thou send, for Mansur to make mock of me to her naked
face. Yehh! A sweet love, a deep love! Allah ruin thee for it.
HAJJ. Mock thee! What has he done?
KUT-AL-K. What? He has chosen her wife of the night,—sent her to deck
herself out of my coffers.
HAJJ. (_Hopefully._) Yehh!
KUT-AL-K. Yea, but heaven is just! Dawn shall put an end to her life.
HAJJ. (_Rising, terrified._) Who told thee that?
KUT-AL-K. Who? He, Mansur. Torture is to crown his night of pleasure.
HAJJ. (_With a cry._) Ah! Thou wilt save her?
KUT-AL-K. Save her? (_Very definitely._) After my death.
HAJJ. No! No! Thou must! Thou wilt! O Kut-al-Kulub, thou wilt?
KUT-AL-K. An she be so wondrous dear to thee, why didst thou offer her to
him?
HAJJ. He swore to make her his wife.
KUT-AL-K. (_Laughing wildly._) His wife! Thou dost not know Mansur.
HAJJ. (_Desperately._) O Kut-al-Kulub, save her, save her! Slip her into
this cloak of mine and let her go with me as I came.
KUT-AL-K. And I be strangled after?
HAJJ. What hast thou to do with another’s escape? How shall Mansur know?
KUT-AL-K. (_Half to herself._) Ha! ’Twere a fit revenge on him! A feast
for the bride, and no bride to feast!
HAJJ. Couldst thou not replace her by some slave girl? Did he in truth
see her face?
KUT-AL-K. See it! ’Twas her beauty made him mock me!
HAJJ. How? She won him as she was brought—unadorned?
KUT-AL-K. Unadorned, tear-stained, a very misery!
HAJJ. And thou dost hesitate? She can enslave his senses thus, wretched,
ragged? What then will she do with jewels hung in her hair, robes rich
and fair, her bright eyes kohled, darting love everywhere? I tell thee
she’ll steal the heart from his breast! Yehh! Become queen in thy stead,
and thou be lost to his arms for ever.
KUT-AL-K. (_With sudden rage._) Allah! I’ll be rid of this damned witch
come what may! (_Clapping her hands._) Ho! Miskah! Haste! Haste! (_To
HAJJ._) Thy cloak! Thy cloak!
(_MISKAH hurries to her mistress._)
(_HAJJ hands his cloak to MISKAH._)
KUT-AL-K. Take it! Throw it over the accursed one robing in my chamber.
Bring her hither. Lose not an instant.
MISKAH. With obedience.
(_She hurries off with HAJJ’S cloak._)
HAJJ. (_Coming to KUT-AL-K and kneeling, with utmost gratitude._) By Him
who fashioned thee in thy splendour, thou art indeed the noblest of thy
sisterhood.
KUT-AL-K. (_Dryly—eyeing him._) Are thy desires contented?
HAJJ. Contented? I kiss the fringe of thy gown, the hollow of thy hand, O
thou soul of liberality.
KUT-AL-K. (_Looking at him, her mouth twitching._) ’Tis well.
(_MISKAH re-enters with MARSINAH, who is completely cloaked._)
HAJJ. (_Rising, moving towards her._) O Marsinah!
MARSINAH. (_Surprised._) O my father....
(_They embrace._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Impatiently._) No words. (_To MISKAH._) Lead her forth by the
secret passage. Out and away with her.
MISKAH. Away? She’s in thy richest robes, unworn as yet by thee!
KUT-AL-K. (_Impatiently._) What matter robes? (_To HAJJ._) Whither is she
to be taken?
HAJJ. I’ll go with her.
KUT-AL-K. Wait thou. Let her go first and pass beyond the outer gates.
’Tis safer. Whither?
HAJJ. (_To MISKAH._) Take her to the Mosque of the Carpenters—to Imam
Mahmud. Say I commit her to his charge under Allah. Tell him she’s my
daughter,—the daughter of Hajj, the beggar.
KUT-AL-K. (_Starts and gives HAJJ a look, which he does not see._)
Hajj—the beggar.
(_MARSINAH and MISKAH leave by the trap._)
(_Directly the two have disappeared down the trap, KUT-AL-K
goes to the grating and flings it to, turning round and facing
HAJJ._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Hoarsely._) Hajj, the beggar! The beggar, Hajj. Yehh! Is it
to thy like that I have offered amorous mercy? And is it by thy like that
I have been laughed to scorn? A beggar! A beggar to sneer at me, to spurn
me! I, of the old blood of Egypt!
HAJJ. Heaven forbid I should spurn thee, O my love.
KUT-AL-K. Love! Love! Thou! Thou camest for one purpose alone—thy
daughter. ’Tis well! She is saved. But by Allah, not thou!
HAJJ. Not?
KUT-AL-K. We enter the hammam free. Out we pass not unless we pay.
HAJJ. (_With horror._) Kut-al-Kulub!
KUT-AL-K. The grating is shut; the latch my secret. A blissful night to
thee, and a blessed, O my beggar of love. (_She turns to pass him._)
HAJJ. (_Following and clutching her._) O, Kut-al-Kulub, thou’lt not
betray me! Not doom me thus to my death?
KUT-AL-K. Dost thou touch me, O thou dog?
HAJJ. Yes, I touch thee, I hold thee, I clasp thee! (_He sinks down
before her, clasping her knees in his arms._) Here on my trembling knees,
mine arms about thy white beauty. O Kut-al-Kulub, thou must listen to me.
KUT-AL-K. Off with thine arms, thou filth of the gutter.
HAJJ. Never! Never! Never!
KUT-AL-K. How? Force me? Force? (_She releases herself, shouting._) Ho,
Mansur! Ho, Mansur! (_She hurries to a gong by the door and beats it with
her fist._) O the shame of me! Ho, Mansur!
HAJJ. (_Between his teeth._) Now Allah kill all womankind. (_He turns and
crouches in the corner right._)
(_MANSUR appears in the courtyard. He is clad in a thin robe of
yellow, as coming from his bath. KAFUR follows him._)
MANSUR. (_Annoyed._) What now?
KUT-AL-K. (_With supreme scorn._) Behold! A man in thy harim!!
MANSUR. A man? (_He snatches the sword from KAFUR. To KAFUR._) Take her
within.
(_KUT-AL-K turns and as she goes laughs a low laugh, full of
the satisfaction of revenge. KAFUR follows her._)
(_MANSUR comes down slowly, step by step, sword in hand; he is
slightly under the influence of drink._)
(_HAJJ lies quite still on his knees, hiding his face behind a
cushion he has picked up. MANSUR raises the sword, ready to run
at HAJJ._)
(_HAJJ lifts up his head suddenly and faces MANSUR._)
MANSUR. (_Starting, amazed._) Hajj? Am I alive?
HAJJ. Only to die!
(_Taking advantage of MANSUR’S amazement, he throws the cushion
at him, warding off MANSUR’S blow of the scymitar. But in
trying to pass MANSUR, he slips and falls on his knees sinking
backwards. The full moonlight shines on HAJJ, revealing the
chain he took from JAWAN’S body._)
MANSUR. (_About to strike, sees the chain, arrests the sword and gazes
intently._) By the Living! Whence comes that amulet on thy breast? That
broken hand of Fatimah! Speak! Nought shall befall thee. I swear it by
the One, the Eternal! I mean my words. Look!
(_He throws the sword from him and reveals the other half of
the broken hand on a chain on his own breast._)
HAJJ. (_Amazed._) Ah!—The Broken hand of Fatimah! Then thou art Yusuf?
MANSUR. Yes, I am Yusuf. Who art thou?
HAJJ. I? (_He steadies himself on his knees; deliberately looking him in
the eye._) I? I am thy father. (_He rises._)
MANSUR. (_Doubtfully._) Thou?
HAJJ. Yes, I am he who hath searched for thee year on year, ever since
the day the Caliph captured thee, O my son.
MANSUR. (_Beginning to believe HAJJ._) Yehh! Art thou he in sooth?
HAJJ. Am I he? Canst thou not recall my tent in the wild and wold? And
the enemy’s dust-cloud walling the horizon? And my bending over thee and
snapping this talisman in twain, giving thee half, keeping half?
MANSUR. I recall it well. Art thou my father?
HAJJ. Look, the pieces fit. (_He joins the two chains._) The hand is one,
as our blood is. Dost thou still doubt?
MANSUR. Thou? But thou art Hajj—the beggar.
HAJJ. I have been many things since I lost thee, O my Yusuf.
MANSUR. My mother! Her name?
HAJJ. Gulnar.
MANSUR. Gulnar—yes! That was her name. Thou! Fate is a juggler—the
greatest of them all.
HAJJ. On thy knees, O true-born son, that I may call down blessings upon
thee as I did in the years long gone. Down! Down!
MANSUR. (_Overcome, kneels before HAJJ, bending his head._) O my father!
(_HAJJ smiling in triumph over MANSUR, draws his knife
stealthily._)
HAJJ. May Allah send thy soul—damnation! (_He plunges the knife into
MANSUR’S back between the shoulder blades. It enters up to the hilt._)
(_MANSUR groaning aloud “Wah” and clutching at HAJJ, rises and
struggles with him._)
HAJJ. O snake, O son of snake! I have scotched thee! Thee and thy father
both in one day.
MANSUR. My father! (_Groans._) O thou hog of hell!
HAJJ. Yes, thy true father, Jawan, the White Sheikh! He, who defiled
Gulnar, as thou wouldst defile Marsinah! Ha! Ha! Allah is just! Scratch,
wouldst thou? O thou rat, thou spawn of rat! (_Lifting him up._) Into the
water with thee! Vermin must be drowned.
(_Lifting MANSUR bodily, he hurls him into the water. MANSUR
tries to climb out of the tank on the lower side, but HAJJ
intercepts him, grasps him by the throat, and holds him under
the water. MANSUR clutches HAJJ’S arm, but in vain. HAJJ leans
over the edge of the pool, pushing MANSUR down into the water.
MANSUR’S hands can be seen clinging desperately to HAJJ’S arm._)
HAJJ. That’s for Marsinah! Marsinah, dost thou hear? How? Swear by the
Koran to wed her, and then debauch and torture her? Ha! Ha! ’Twas not
written! This bath of thine was written instead. May it profit thee till
doomsday. Drink it, dost thou? ’Tis well! Thou wert ever fond of wetting
thy gullet. (_A bubbling noise and splashing._) Take thy fill! Ha! Good,
is’t? Bubble, bubble! (_A desperate splash. One of MANSUR’S hands climbs
higher on HAJJ’S arms._) What? Whistle? The devils whistle they say. Art
thou in hell so soon, joining thy father, the——(_The left hand falls
lifeless from HAJJ’S arm._) At last! Silent bubbles—one,—two,—no more?
Nay, look not so large-eyed. ’Tis very simple. The springs of thy life
are spent. (_A slight pause. With a sigh of relief, HAJJ draws his wet
arm from the water, and kneels with his back to the spectator, his right
arm raised to heaven fervently._) O Allah! Thou hast delivered into my
hands the father! Thou hast delivered into my hands the son! Glorified be
thy Glory! O Lord of the three Worlds! Thou, the One, the Eternal!
(_A sudden confused murmur of voices, distant cries and
the clash of steel. HAJJ turns and sits riveted. The noise
increases._)
(_The door is burst open, and several ARCHERS of the Caliph
enter, some with torches, some with scymitars drawn. The CALIPH
himself follows, his sword unsheathed, his cloak thrown back
revealing a gorgeous silver armour and violet robes. NARJIS
comes next. KAFUR, AFIFE and SERVANTS of MANSUR’S household
crowd in after the others._)
CALIPH. Break open the doors! Find the women! Bring them to me!
(_Soldiers hurry off in various directions._)
CALIPH. (_Turning to Narjis._) Dost thou still swear that Marsinah was
brought hither by Mansur’s eunuchs?
NARJIS. Did I not see them drag her away from our very door?
(_KUT-AL-K is brought in by the CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH; other
WOMEN follow led on by the SOLDIERS._)
KUT-AL-K. (_Kneeling._) Mercy, O mercy, O Commander of the Faithful!
CALIPH. Where’s Marsinah?
KUT-AL-K. Marsinah’s fled to the Carpenter’s Mosque. ’Twas at the
entreaties of yon wretch that I consented to her escape. (_She points to
HAJJ grovelling in the dark._)
CALIPH. (_Turning and seeing HAJJ._) The Moorman! Yehh! What magic brings
thee hither from prison?
HAJJ. Allah hath freed me so I might render thee service. (_Taking a
torch from a soldier and holding it over the bath._) Behold!
CALIPH. (_Looking down into the water._) Mansur?
KUT-AL-K. (_Gazing into the pool._) Mansur! Awah! (_She sinks down by
edge of bath with a wail._)
HAJJ. Mansur. Now, say me, have I not atoned for my crime?
CALIPH. No deed of thine can wipe out thy attempt upon my life. Thy death
is fixed and unalterable.
NARJIS. Wah! Kill the father of Marsinah?
CALIPH. Thou? But thou art the Moorman?
HAJJ. Both! Two persons in one, both at thy feet.
CALIPH. So thou art the sire of her whom Allah hath revealed unto my
heart?
HAJJ. (_Looking up._) Marsinah? Am I then pardoned?
CALIPH. Pardoned? What religion were mine should I pardon the hand thou
didst raise against my sacred person? Yet art thou also the father of my
chosen bride. Say me then, what shall be thy lot?
HAJJ. Thou art the lord of my neck.
CALIPH. Be thou banished! Banished from Baghdad, from my sight, from the
sight of thy daughter. Banished as one who had never been. To-morrow by
dawn be gone without the walls of the city.
HAJJ. (_Appealingly._) Banished! O King, be royal and show me mercy.
CALIPH. I have shown thee mercy far beyond justice. My word is spoken. Go!
HAJJ. (_Bowing his head to the ground._) There is no majesty nor might
save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great. (_He rises slowly._) Woe is me!
Woe is me. Ah! Wah! Never to see her again, the daughter of my bosom.
Never again to touch her hand, to press my lips upon her eyes. O sons of
Adam, beget not children! By Him, the Uniter and Separator, beget them
not! The agony of their loss exceedeth far the rapture of fatherhood.
Banished for ever! Rend thy robe, O Hajj! Beat thy breast! Thy joy in
life is ended. Old age hath fallen upon thee as an icy garment. Dark is
everywhere. Ashes! Ashes! (_He reaches the brazier. It has ceased burning
some time before. Taking the ashes from it, he strews them on his head,
then turns to the door, beating his breast._) Out—out, thou cutoff moment
of time! Into the Desert of Desolation with thee, O thou forgotten grain
of the sands of man! Marsinah is dead to thee, thou dead to Marsinah!
Awah! Awah! Awah! (_He staggers out by the door, rending his garment and
wailing aloud._)
[CURTAIN]
SCENE II.
_The street before the Mosque of the Carpenters. The same scene
as at the opening of the play._
_Moonlight._
_The BEGGAR KASIM is seated on HAJJ’S stone, just as HAJJ
installed him at sunrise._
_Down the alley from the left come cries of moaning “Wah! Wah!
Wah!” and HAJJ appears, breathless, dishevelled and tottering.
He hurries to the Mosque and knocks frantically at the door._
MAHMUD. (_Coming out and standing on the steps._) Hajj?
HAJJ. (_Sinking down._) O my father! I have run to thee clinging from
wall to wall in my anguish. Where’s Marsinah?
MAHMUD. She is safe within.
HAJJ. Bring her forth I pray thee. We must flee the city. The Caliph
covets her.
MAHMUD. What devil possesses thee? Take thy daughter from the Caliph? Rob
her of the blessing of blessings?
HAJJ. I am banished. I must never see her again. And I love her—to the
very clot in my heart I love her!
MAHMUD. Oh Hajj! O Hajj! Look within thee! How? Ruin thy child and call
it love?
HAJJ. Wah!
MAHMUD. When must thou go from Baghdad?
HAJJ. By dawn.
MAHMUD. Dawn! To-morrow the caravans set out for Meccah. Hast thou washed
in the well of Zemzem? Kissed the sacred stone? Encircled the holy Kaabah?
HAJJ. (_Crestfallen._) No, O my father.
MAHMUD. By what right then dost thou call thyself Hajj, the Pilgrim?
Naught hast thou done for thy endless days beyond the grave. Thou art no
Moslem; no son of Islam. Thou art an infidel.
HAJJ. (_With a cry of horror._) Ah! O my father! Infidel!
(_A sound of distant trumpets, kettledrums and singing is heard
approaching from the left._)
HAJJ. The Caliph!—Marsinah! (_Pleading._) O Mahmud,—Marsinah!
MAHMUD. Conquer thyself. Turn from the world. Seek salvation.
HAJJ. Marsinah!
MAHMUD. I tell thee verily this is thine hour appointed, thine hour of
hours. An thou so much as raise an eye to mar thy child’s fortune, thy
doom shall be flame and fire.
HAJJ. (_In agony._) Awah! Awah! Awah!
(_At that moment the CALIPH’S CHAMBERLAIN, with a wand of
office, hurries on from the left and crosses to the Mosque._)
CHAMBERLAIN. O Imam! The Commander of the Faithful cometh to claim the
maid Marsinah.
MAHMUD. Hearkening and obedience! Wilt thou enter?
(_The CHAMBERLAIN enters the Mosque, MAHMUD following him.
HAJJ stands irresolute, with hands clenched. But as the music
approaches, he turns and hides in the shadow of a wall. The
Wedding Procession enters from the left, headed by a group of
MALE MUSICIANS: SINGERS, about eight in number, with a leader
in their midst; THREE MEN with huge tambourines; others with
pipes and clarionets. They are singing as they come._)
Bespread the streets with tapestries,
Hang carpets from the balconies;
And from the roof-tops flower-dight
Rain nard, and musk, and ambergris;
The Caliph Moon has risen bright
To seek the Star of his delight.
Then hail unto this glorious night,
When earth makes dim the heaven’s light!
(_After the Musicians comes the HERALD bearing aloft the
black banner of the house of Abbas, followed by THREE COURT
DIGNITARIES swinging incense. Next comes the CALIPH, followed
by ABU BAKR. Behind the CALIPH walk THREE WAZIRS each carrying
a five-branched candle-stick in the shape of an out-spread
hand. After the CALIPH SIX BOYS with baskets of flowers
which they scatter. THREE more DIGNITARIES follow, swinging
incense. Then appears a curtained litter of gold borne by TWO
NEGROES; on either side of it THREE EUNUCHS with five-branched
candle-sticks. A second group of MUSICIANS, consisting of
several instrumentalists conclude the procession. As soon as
the CALIPH reaches the Mosque doors, the procession halts; the
music ceases and the doors are flung open._)
(_MARSINAH appears on the steps in a flood of light,
beautifully attired and veiled. MAHMUD and the CHAMBERLAIN
follow her._)
CALIPH. (_Taking a step forward._) The Peace upon thee!
MARSINAH. (_Looking up._) Thou——? But thou art the gardener’s son! How is
this splendour possible?
CALIPH. O my Marsinah! All I have told thee is truth save one thing. I am
not what I let thee believe.
MARSINAH. Not the gardener’s son?
CALIPH. Not the gardener’s son.
MARSINAH. Greater? A merchant?
CALIPH. Alas—even greater.
MARSINAH. A Kazi?
CALIPH. Yet more.
MARSINAH. A Prince!
CALIPH. Higher still.
MARSINAH. (_Close to him._) Still—? Who art thou then? Thou art not—not
the Highest?
CALIPH. The Pardoner pardon me—I am.
MARSINAH. (_In awe._) The Caliph. (_Sinks to her knees._) Oh, what a
boldness hath been mine! How can I sink deep enough before thee?
CALIPH. Kneel? Thou? Wouldst thou double my shame by begging forgiveness?
Have I lost all thy love?
MARSINAH. O my lord, how dare I love thee after this?
CALIPH. Even as I love thee. By the Grace of the Uniter of heart and
heart, who hath brought thee to me, and me to thee joining us one and
inseparable, from this day to the day when shall come the Destroyer of
delights, the Shatterer of palaces, the Ender of all things earthly—till
Death!
MARSINAH. (_Rises._) Is this a dream?
CALIPH.
All things are dreams till Allah sayeth “Be”!
When soul finds soul, as I—Beloved, thee!
MARSINAH.
My life is thine unto the latest hour,
Nor shall Death rob my love’s eternity.
(_The CALIPH touches his forehead and his heart, then motions
MARSINAH to the litter._)
(_MARSINAH bows before him, kissing her finger-tips and raising
them to her brow; then crosses him. She is assisted into the
litter by ABU BAKR._)
(_The Procession moves off to the right, the combined groups of
MUSICIANS playing and singing._)
ALL.
Seat high the maid and bridal throne,
To rule this night of nights alone;
Whilst kneels to her divinity,
The mightiest of monarchs prone.
Then draw the curtain sweet with spice,
On Lord of Lords and Pearl of Price—
He crowned by her virginity,
She by his manhood’s Paradise.
And Allah the Uniter bless
Their love with joyance limitless!
(_MAHMUD locks the door of the Mosque._)
(_HAJJ has risen as MARSINAH goes to the litter, drawn by an
irresistible desire to approach her. But MAHMUD’S eye is upon
him and he hesitates. As the curtains of the litter shut over
his child, he stands transfixed, a figure of grief against the
gorgeousness behind him._)
(_The procession is gone but he does not move._)
(_MAHMUD watches him closely from the door-step of the Mosque.
The song dies away in the distance._)
MAHMUD. O Hajj! Thou hast learnt to renounce. Allah hath opened to thee
the path of Pardon! Set forth at sunrise without fear.
HAJJ. (_In an exalted strain raising his right hand._) Yea! To Meccah! To
Meccah!
MAHMUD. And the peace upon thee now and for ever.
HAJJ. And on thee, O Mahmud, peace and blessing. (_MAHMUD goes slowly up
the street to the left and disappears._)
HAJJ. (_Stands a moment alone in the moonlight, then almost like a child
he says._) I am tired.
(_He turns to his old stone, upon which, to his great surprise,
he finds KASIM sitting._)
HAJJ. By my head! What dog art thou? Out of my seat!
KASIM. Thou didst give it me at dawn.
HAJJ. And I take it again at dark! That is Fate! Up, thou one-eyed
curse! Learn to renounce! To the Caliph I may be dirt; but to dirt I am
the Caliph! (_KASIM rises and, dropping the beggar’s cloak HAJJ gave
him at sunrise, goes off by the alley, left. HAJJ takes it and wraps
himself in it once more, then sits down on his seat with a loud sigh of
relief._) Renunciation! There’s a sweet smack to it. A taste of having
lived! And I have lived to-day. Mine enemies dead,—Marsinah wed,—Meccah
to-morrow,—(_He yawns prodigiously._) My say is said. So glory be to
the One, the Eternal! He who begetteth not, nor is begot; the Ruler of
Tide and Time, who sleepeth not. (_Dropping off._) And to Mohammed, his
Prophet—chosen—amongst——Mankind——Peace and————
(_A gentle snore; another snore, louder; another_——)
[SLOW CURTAIN]
_End of the Play_
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED.