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THE VIZIERS OF BASSORA A Dramatic Romance PERSONS OF THE DRAMA
HAROUN AL RASHEED, Caliph. JAAFAR, his Vizier. SHAIKH IBRAHIM, Superintendent of the Caliph's gardens. MESROUR, Haroun's friend and companion'. MAHOMED BIN SULEYMAN OF ZAYNI, Haroun's cousin, King of Bassora. ALFAZZAL IBN SAWY, his chief Vizier. NUREDDENE, son of Alfazzal. ALMUENE BIN KHAKAN, second Vizier of Bassora. FAREED, his son. SALAR, confident of Alzayni. MURAD, a Turk Captain of Police in Bassora. AJEBE, nephew of Almuene. SUNJAR, a Chamberlain of the Palace of Bassora.
MUAZZIM, a broker. AZEEM, steward of Alfazzal. HARKOOS, an Ethiopian eunuch in Ibn Sawy's household. KAREEM, a fisherman of Bagdad. SLAVES, SOLDIERS, GUARDS, EXECUTIONERS, MERCHANTS, BROKERS. AMEENA, wife of Alfazzal Ibn Sawy. DOONYA, his niece. ANICE-ALJALICE, a Persian slave-girl. KHATOON, wife of Almuene, sister of Ameena.
SLAVE-GIRLS. Page – 561 Act One Bassora. SCENE I
An antechamber in the palace. Murad, Sunjar.
MURAD Chamberlain, I tell thee I will not bear it an hour longer than it takes my feet to carry me to the King's audience-room and my voice to number my wrongs. Let him choose between me, a man and one made in God's image, and this brutish amalgam of gorilla and Barbary ape whom he calls his Vizier.
SUNJAR You are not alone in your wrongs; all Bassora and half the Court complain of his tyrannies.
MURAD And as if all were too little for his heavy-handed malice, he must saddle us with his son's misdoings too, who is as like him as the young baboon is to the adult ape.
SUNJAR It is a cub, a monkey of mischief, a rod on the soles would go far to tame. But who shall dare apply that? Murad, be wary. The King, — who is the King and therefore blameless, — will not have his black angel dispraised. Complain rather to Alfazzal Ibn Sawy, the good Vizier.
MURAD The kind Alfazzal! Bassora is bright only because of his presence. Page – 563
SUNJAR I believe you. He has the serenity and brightness of a nature that never willingly did hurt to man or living thing. I think some- times every good kindly man is like the moon and carries a halo, while a chill cloud moves with dark and malignant natures. When we are near^them, we feel it. , Enter Ibn Sawy.
IBN SAWY (to himself) The fairest of all slave-girls! here's a task! Why, my wild handsome roisterer, Nureddene, My hunter of girls, my snare for hearts of virgins, Could do this better. And he would strongly like The mission; but I think his pretty purchase Would hardly come undamaged through to the owner. A perilous transit that would be! the rogue! Ten thousand golden pieces hardly buy Such wonders, — so much wealth to go so idly! But princes must have sweet and pleasant things To ease their labours more than common men. Their labour is not common who are here The Almighty's burdened high vicegerents charged With difficult justice and calm-visaged rule.
SUNJAR The peace of the Prophet with thee, thou best of Viziers.
MURAD The peace, Alfazzal Ibn Sawy.
IBN SAWY And to you also peace. You here, my Captain? The city's business ?
MURAD Vizier, and my own! I would impeach the Vizier Almuene Page – 564 Before our royal master.
IBN SAWY You'll do unwisely. A dark and dangerous mind is Almuene's, Yet are there parts in him that well deserve The favour he enjoys, although too proudly He uses it and with much personal malice. Complain not to the King against him, Murad. He'll weigh his merits with your grievances, Find these small jealous trifles, those superlative, And in the end conceive a mute displeasure Against you.
MURAD I will be guided by you, sir.
IBN SAWY My honest Turk, you will do well.
SUNJAR He's here. Enter Almuene.
MURAD The peace upon you, son of Khakan.
ALMUENE Captain, You govern harshly. Change your methods, Captain, Your manners too. You are a Turk; I know you.
MURAD I govern Bassora more honestly Than you the kingdom. Page – 565
ALMUENE Soldier! rude Turcoman!
IBN SAWY Nay, brother Almuene! Why are you angry?
ALMUENE That he misgoverns.
IBN SAWY In what peculiar instance?
ALMUENE I'll tell you. A city gang the other day Battered my little mild Fareed most beastly With staves and cudgels. This fellow's bribed police, By him instructed, held a ruffian candle To the outrage. When the rogues were caught, they lied And got them off before a fool, a Kazi.
MURAD The Vizier's son, as all our city knows, A misformed urchin full of budding evil, Ranges the city like a ruffian, shielded Under his father's formidable name; And those who lay their hands on him, commit Not outrage, but a rescue.
ALMUENE Turk, I know you.
IBN SAWY In all fraternal kindness hear me speak. What Murad says, is truth. For your Fareed, However before you he blinks angelically, Abroad he roars half-devil. Never, Vizier, Was such a scandal until now allowed Page – 566 In any Moslem town. Why, it is just Such barbarous outrage as in Christian cities May walk unquestioned, not in Bassora Or any seat of culture. It should be mended.
ALMUENE Brother, your Nureddene is not all blameless. He has a name!
IBN SAWY His are the first wild startings Of a bold generous nature. Mettled steeds, When they have been managed, are the best to mount. So will my son. If your Fareed's brute courses As easily turn to gold, I shall be glad.
ALMUENE Let him be anything, he is a Vizier's son. The Turk forgot that.
IBN SAWY These are maxims, brother, Unsuited to our Moslem polity. They savour of barbarous Europe. But in Islam All men are equal underneath the King.
ALMUENE Well, brother Turk, you are excused.
MURAD Excused! Viziers, the peace.
IBN SAWY I'll follow you. Page – 567
ALMUENE Turk, the peace!
IBN SAWY Peace, brother. See to it, brother.
ALMUENE Exit with Murad. Brother, peace. Would I not gladly tweak your ears and nose And catch your brotherly beard to pluck it out With sweet fraternal pulls ? Faugh, you babbler Of virtuous nothings! some day I'll have you preach Under the bastinado; you'll howl, you'll howl Rare sermons there. (seeing Sunjar) You! You! You spy ? You eavesdrop ? And I must be rebuked with this to hear it! Well, I'll remember you.
SUNJAR Sir, I beseech you, I had no smallest purpose to offend.
ALMUENE . I know you, dog! When my back's turned, you bark, But whine before me. You shall be remembered. Exit.
SUNJAR There goest thou, Almuene, the son of Khakan, Dog's son, dog's father, and thyself a dog. Thy birth was where thy end shall be, a dunghill. Exit. Page – 568 |
