-24_The Viziers of Bassora Act-5 Sc-4.htm

SCENE IV

A house in Bassora.
Doonya, Ameena.

DOONYA

Comfort, dear mother, comfort.

AMEENA

Oh, what comfort?
My Nureddene is doomed, Murad is gaoled,
We in close hiding under the vile doom
This tyrant King decrees.

DOONYA

I did not think
God was so keen-eyed for our petty sins,
When great offences and high criminals
Walk smiling. But there's comfort, mother, yet.
My husband writes from prison. You shall hear.

(reads)

"Doonya, I have written this by secret contrivance. Have com-
fort, dry thy mother's tears. There is hope. The Caliph comes to
Bassora and the King will release me for a need of his own. I
have tidings of thy father; he is but two days journey from
Bassora and I have sent him urgent and tremulous word to come,
but no ill-news to break his heart. We have friends. Doonya,
my beloved — "
That's for me only.

AMEENA

Let me hear it.

DOONYA

It is
Pure nonsense, — what a savage Turk would write.

Page – 719

AMEENA

Therefore you kissed it?

DOONYA

Oh, you're comforted!
You're smiling through your tears.

AMEENA

My husband comes.
He will save all. I never quite believed
God would forget his worth so soon.

DOONYA (to herself)

He comes,
But for what fate ? (aloud) True, mother, he'll save all.

AMEENA

How is Mymoona ?

DOONYA

Better now. She suffered
In our wild rapid flight. Balkis is with her.
Let's go to them.

AMEENA

My son will yet be saved.

Exeunt.

Page – 720