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Act II
Bassora.
Ibn Sawy's house. An upper chamber in the women's apartments. Doonya, Anice-aljalice.
DOONYA You living sweet romance, you come from Persia. 'Tis there, I think, they fall in love at sight?
ANICE But will you help me, Doonya, will you help me? To him, to him, not to that grizzled King! I am near Heaven with Hell that's waiting for me.
DOONYA I know, I know! you feel as I would, child, If told that in ten days I had to marry My cruel boisterous cousin. I will help you. But strange! to see him merely pass and love him! Did he look back at you?
ANICE While he could see me.
DOONYA Yes, that was Nureddene.
Page – 35 ANICE You'll help me?
DOONYA Yes, With all my heart and soul and brains and body. But how? My uncle's orders are so strict!
ANICE And do you always heed your uncle's orders, You dutiful niece?
DOONYA Rigidly, when they suit me. It shall be done although my punishment Were even to wed Fareed. But who can say When he'll come home?
ANICE Comes he not daily then?
DOONYA When he's not hawking. Questing, child, for doves, White doves.
ANICE I'll stop all that when he is mine.
DOONYA Will you? and yet I think you will, nor find it A task at all. You can do it?
ANICE I will.
DOONYA You have relieved my conscience of a load.
Page – 36 Who blames me? I do this to reform my cousin, Gravely, deliberately, with serious thought, And am quite virtuously disobedient. I almost feel a long white beard upon my chin, The thing's so wise and sober. Gravely, gravely! She marches out, solemnly stroking an imaginary beard.
ANICE My heart beats reassuringly within. The destined Prince will come and all bad spells Be broken; then — You angels up in Heaven Who guard sweet shame and woman's modesty, Hide deep your searching eyes with those bright wings. It is not wantonness, though in a slave Permitted, spurs me forward. O tonight Let sleep your pens, in your rebuking volumes Record not this. I am on such a brink, A hound of horror baying at my heels, I cannot pause to think what fire of blushes I choose to flee through, nor how safe cold eyes May censure me. I pass though I should burn. You cannot bid me pick my careful steps! Oh, no, the danger is too near. I run By the one road that's left me, to escape, To escape, into the very arms I love. Curtain Page – 37
Ibn Sawy's house. A room in the women's apartments. Ameena, Doonya.
AMEENA Has he come in?
DOONYA He has.
AMEENA For three long days! I will reprove him. Call him to me, Doonya. I will be stern.
DOONYA That's right. Lips closer there! And just try hard to frown. That's mildly grim And ought to shake him. Now you spoil all by laughing.
AMEENA Away, you madcap! Call him here.
DOONYA The culprit Presents himself unsummoned. Enter Nureddene. NUREDDENE (at the door) Ayoob, Ayoob! A bowl of sherbet in my chamber. (entering)
Page – 38 Well, mother, Here I am back, your errant gadabout, Your vagabond scapegrace, tired of truancy And very hungry for my mother's arms. It's good to see you smile!
AMEENA My dearest son!
NUREDDENE Why, Doonya, cousin, what wild face is this?
DOONYA This is a frown, a frown, upon my forehead. Do you not tremble when you see it? No? To tell you the plain truth, my wandering brother, We both were practising a careful grimness And meant to wither you with darting flames From basilisk eyes and words more sharp than swords, Burn you and frizzle into simmering cinders. Oh, you'ld have been a dolorous spectacle Before we had finished with you! Ask her else.
AMEENA Heed her not, Nureddene. But tell me, child, Is this well done to wander vagrant-like Leaving your mother to anxieties And such alarms? Oh, we will have to take Some measure with you!
DOONYA Oh, now, now, we are stern!
NUREDDENE Mother, I only range abroad and learn Of manners and of men to fit myself For the after-time.
Page – 39 DOONYA True, true, and of the taste Of different wines and qualities of girls; What eyes Damascus sends, the Cairene sort, Bagdad's red lips and Yemen's willowy figures, Who has the smallest waist in Bassora, Or who the shapeliest little foot moonbright Beneath her anklets. These are sciences And should be learned by sober masculine graduates. Should they not, cousin?
NUREDDENE These too are not amiss, Doonya, for world-wise men. And do you think, Dear mother, I could learn the busy world Here, in your lap, within the shadowy calm Of women's chambers?
AMEENA No, child, no. You see, Doonya, it is not all so bad, this wandering. And I am sure they much o'erstate his faults Who tell of them.
DOONYA Oh, this is very grim!
AMEENA But, Nureddene, you must not be so wild; Or when we are gone, what will you do, if now You learn no prudence? All your patrimony You'll waste, — and then?
NUREDDENE Then, mother, life begins. I shall go forth, a daring errant-knight, To my true country out in faeryland;
Page – 40 Wander among the Moors, see Granada, The delicate city made of faery stone, Cairo, Tangier, Aleppo, Trebizond; Or in the East, where old enchantment dwells, Find Pekin of the wooden piles, Delhi Of the idolaters, its brazen pillar And huge seven-storied temples sculpture-fretted, And o'er romantic regions quite unknown Preach Islam, sword in hand; sell bales of spice From Bassora to Java and Japan; Then on through undiscovered islands, seas And Oceans yet unnamed; yes, everywhere Catch Danger by the throat where I can find him, —
DOONYA Butcher blood-belching dragons with my blade, Cut ogres, chop giants, tickle cormorants, —
NUREDDENE Then in some land, I have not settled which, —
DOONYA Call it Cumcatchia or Nonsensicum.
NUREDDENE Marry a Soldan's daughter, sweet of eye And crowned with gracious hair, deserving her By deeds impossible; conduct her armies Against her foemen, enter iron-walled Cities besieged with the loud clang of war, Rescue imperilled kingdoms, mid the smoke Of desperate cities slay victorious kings, And so extend my lady's empire wide —
DOONYA From Bassora to the quite distant moon.
Page – 41 NUREDDENE There I shall reign with beauty and splendour round In a great palace built of porphyry, Marble and jasper, with strange columns made Of coral and fair walls bright-arabesqued On which the Koran shall be written out In sapphires and in rubies. I will sit Drinking from cups of gold delightful wine, Watching slow dances, while the immortal strain Of music wanders to its silent home. And I shall have bright concubines and slaves Around me crowding all my glorious house With beautiful faces, thick as stars in heaven. My wealth shall be so great that I can spend Millions each day nor feel the want. I'll give Till there shall be no poor in all my realms, Nor any grieved; for I shall every night, Like Haroun Alrasheed, the mighty Caliph, Wander disguised with Jaafar and Mesrour Redressing wrongs, repressing Almuenes, And set up noble men like my dear father In lofty places, giving priceless boons, An unseen Providence to all mankind.
DOONYA And you will marry me, dear Nureddene, To Jaafar, your great Vizier, so that we Shall never part, but every blessed night Drink and be merry in your halls, and live Felicitously for ever and for aye, So long as full moons shine and brains go wrong And wine is drunk. I make my suit to you from now, Caliph of Faeryland.
NUREDDENE Your suit is granted. And meanwhile, Doonya, I amuse myself Page – 42 With nearer kingdoms, Miriam's wavy locks And Shazarath-al-Durr's sweet voice of song.
DOONYA And meanwhile, brother, till you get your kingdom, We shall be grim, quite grim.
AMEENA Your father's angry. I have not known him yet so moved. My child, Do not force us to punish you.
NUREDDENE With kisses? Look, Doonya, at these two dear hypocrites, She with her gentle honey-worded threats, He with his stormings. Pooh! I care not for you.
AMEENA Not care!
NUREDDENE No, not a jot for him or you, My little mother, or only just so much As a small kiss is worth.
AMEENA I told you, Doonya, He was the dearest boy in all the world, The best, the kindest.
DOONYA Oh yes, you told me that. And was the dearest boy in all the world Rummaging the regions for the dearest girl, While the admiring sun danced round the welkin A triple circuit? Page – 43 NUREDDENE I have found her, Doonya.
DOONYA The backward glance?
AMEENA Your father! Enter Ibn Sawy.
I BN SAWYAmeena, I'm called to the palace; something is afoot. Ah, rascal! ah, you villain! you have come?
NUREDDENE Sir, a long hour.
IBN SAWY Rogue! scamp! what do you mean? Knave, is my house a caravanserai For you to lodge in when it is your pleasure?
NUREDDENE It is the happiest home in Bassora, Where the two kindest parents in the world Excuse their vagabond son.
IBN SAWY Hum! well! What, fellow, You will buy trinkets? you will have me dunned? And fleeced?
NUREDDENE Did he dun you? I hope he asked A fitting price; I told him to. Page – 44 I BNSAWYSir, sir, What game is this to buy your hussies trinkets And send your father in the bill? Who taught you This rule of conduct?
NUREDDENE You, sir.
IBN SAWY I, rascal?
NUREDDENE You told me That debt must be avoided like a sin. What other way could I avoid it, sir, Yet give the trinket?
IBN SAWY Logic of impudence! Tell me, you curled wine-bibbing Aristotle, Did I tell you also to have mistresses And buy them trinkets?
NUREDDENE Not in so many words.
IBN SAWY So many devils!
NUREDDENE But since you did not marry me Nor buy a beautiful slave for home delight, I thought you'ld have me range outside for pleasures To get experience of the busy world. If 'twas an oversight, it may be mended.
Page – 45 I BNSAWYI'm dumb!
NUREDDENE There is a Persian Muazzim sells, Whom buy for me, — her rate's ten thousand pieces —
IBN SAWY A Persian! Muazzim sells! ten thousand pieces! (to himself ) Where grows this tangle? I become afraid.
NUREDDENE Whom buy for me, I swear I'll be at home Quite four days out of seven.
IBN SAWY Hear me, young villain! I'm called to the palace, but when I return, Look to be bastinadoed, look to be curried In boiling water. (aside) I must blind him well. Ten days I shall be busy with affairs; Then for your slavegirl. Bid the broker keep her. Oh, I forgot! I swore to pull your curls For your offences.
NUREDDENE I must not let you, sir; They are no longer my own property. There's not a lock that has not been bespoken For a memento.
IBN SAWY What! what! Impudent rascal! (aside) You handsome laughing rogue! Hear, Ameena, Let Doonya sleep with Anice every night. Page – 46 No, come; hear farther. Exit with Ameena. NUREDDENE O Doonya, Doonya, tall, sweet, laughing Doonya! I am in love, — drowned, strangled, dead with longing.
DOONYA For the world's Persian? But she's sold by now.
NUREDDENE I asked Muazzim.
DOONYA A quite absolute liar.
NUREDDENE O if she is, I'll leave all other cares And only seek her through an empty world.
DOONYA What, could one backward glance sweep you so forward?
NUREDDENE Why, Doonya!
DOONYA Brother, I know a thing I know You do not know. A sweet bird sang it to me In an upper chamber.
NUREDDENE Doonya, you're full of something, And I must hear it.
DOONYA What will you give me for it?
Page – 47 None of your nighthawk kisses, cousin mine! But a mild loving kind fraternal pledge I'll not refuse.
NUREDDENE You are the wickedest, dearest girl In all the world, the maddest sweetest sister A sighing lover ever had. Now tell me.
DOONYA More, more! I must be flattered.
NUREDDENE No more. Come, mischief, You'll keep me in suspense? (pulls her ears)
DOONYA Enough, enough! The Persian — listen and perpend, O lover! Lend ear while I unfold my wondrous tale, A tale long, curled and with a tip, — Oh Lord! I'll clip my tale. The Persian's bought for you And in the upper chambers.
NUREDDENE Doonya, Doonya! But those two loving hypocrites, —
DOONYA All's meant To be surprise.
NUREDDENE Surprise me no surprises. I am on fire, Doonya, I am on fire. The upper chambers? Page – 48 DOONYA Stop, stop! You do not know; There is an ogre at her door, a black White-tusked huge-muscled hideous grinning giant, Of mood uproarious, horrible of limb, An Ethiopian fell ycleped Harkoos.
NUREDDENE The eunuch!
DOONYA Stop, stop, stop. He has a sword, A fearful, forceful, formidable blade.
NUREDDENE Your eunuch and his sword! I mount to heaven And who shall stop me? Exit.
DOONYA Stop, stop! yet stop! He's off Like bolt from bowstring. Now the game's afoot And Bassora's Soldan, Mohamad Alzayni, May whistle for his slavegirl. I am Fate, For I upset the plans of Viziers and of Kings. Exit. Page – 49
Ibn Sawy's house. The upper chambers of the women's apartments. Doonya, sleeping on a couch. Enter Nureddene and Anice.
NUREDDENE I told you 'twas the morning.
ANICE Morning so early? This moment 'twas the evening star; is that The matin lustre?
NUREDDENE There is a star at watch beside the moon Waiting to see you ere it leave the skies. Is it your sister Peri?
ANICE It is our star And guards us both.
NUREDDENE It is the star of Anice, The star of Anice-aljalice who came From Persia guided by its silver beams Into these arms of vagrant Nureddene Which keep her till the end. Sweet, I possess you! Till now I could not patently believe it. Strange, strange that I who nothing have deserved, Should win what all would covet! We are fools Who reach at baubles taking them for stars. Page – 50 O wiser woman who come straight to Heaven! But I have wandered by the way and staled The freshness of delight with gadding pleasures, Anticipated Love's perfect fruit with sour And random berries void of real savour. Oh fool! had I but known! What can I say But once more that I have deserved you not, Who yet must take you, knowing my undesert, Whatever come hereafter?
ANICE The house is stirring.
NUREDDENE Who is this sleeping here? My cousin Doonya!
DOONYA (waking) Is morning come? My blessing on you, children. Be good and kind, dears; love each other, darlings.
NUREDDENE Dame Mischief, thanks; thanks, Mother Madcap.
DOONYA Now, whither?
NUREDDENE To earth from Paradise.
DOONYA Wait, wait! You must not Walk off the stage before your part is done. The situation now with open eyes And lifted hands and chidings. You'll be whipped, Anice, and Nureddene packed off to Mecca On penitential legs; I shall be married. (opening the door)
Page – 51 Oh, our fell Ethiopian snoozing here? Snore, noble ogre, snore louder than nature To excuse your gloomy skin from worse than thwacks. Wait for me, Nureddene. Exit.
ANICE They will be angry.
NUREDDENE Oh, with two smiles I'll buy an easy pardon.
ANICE Whatever comes, we are each other's now.
NUREDDENE Nothing will come to us but happy days, You, my surpassing jewel, on my neck Closer to me than my own heartbeats.
ANICE Yes, Closer than kisses, closer than delight, Close only as love whom sorrow and delight Cannot diminish, nor long absence change Nor daily prodigality of joy Expend immortal love.
NUREDDENE You have the lore. Doonya returns.
DOONYA I have told Nuzhath to call mother here. There will be such a gentle storm. Enter Ameena at the door. Page – 52 AMEENA Harkoos! Sleeping?
HAROOKS Gmn — mmn —
DOONYA Grunted almost like nature, Thou excellent giant.
AMEENA Harkoos, dost thou sleep?
HAROOKS Sleep! I! I was only pondering a text of Koran with closed eyes, lady. You give us slaves pitiful small time for our devotions; but 'twill all be accounted for hereafter.
AMEENA And canst thou meditate beneath the lash? For there thou'lt shortly be.
HAROOKS Stick or leather, 'tis all one to Harkoos. I will not be cudgelled out of my straight road to Paradise.
AMEENA My mind misgives me. (enters the room) Was this well done, my child?
NUREDDENE Dear, think the chiding given; do not pain Your forehead with a frown. Page – 53 AMEENA You, Doonya, too Were part of this?
DOONYA Part! you shall not abate My glory; I am its artificer, The auxiliary and supplement of Fate.
AMEENA Quite shameless in your disobedience, Doonya? Your father's anger will embrace us all.
NUREDDENE And nothing worse than the embrace which ends A chiding and a smile, our fault deserves. You had a gift for me in your sweet hands Concealed behind you; I have but reached round And taken it ere you knew.
AMEENA For you, my son? She was not for you, she was for the King. This was your worst fault, child; all others venial Beside it.
NUREDDENE For the King! You told me, Doonya, That she was bought for me, a kind surprise Intended?
DOONYA I did; exact!
AMEENA Such falsehood, Doonya! Page – 55 DOONYA No falsehood, none. Purchased she was for him, For he has got her. And surprise! Well, mother, Are you not quite surprised? And uncle will be Most woefully. My cousin and Anice too Are both caught napping, — all except great Doonya. No falsehood, mere excess of truth, a bold Anticipation of the future, mother.
NUREDDENE I did not know of this. Yet blame not Doonya; For had I known, I would have run with haste More breathless to demand my own from Fate.
AMEENA What will your father think? I am afraid. He was most urgent, grave beyond his wont. Absent yourself awhile and let me bear The first keen breathings of his anger.
NUREDDENE The King! And if he were the Caliph of the world, He should not have my love. Come, fellow-culprit. Exit with Doonya. AMEENA Harkoos, go fetch your master here; and stiffen The muscles of your back. Negligent servant!
HAROOKS 'Tis all one to Harkoos. Stick or leather! leather or stick! 'Tis the way of this wicked and weary world. Exit. AMEENA Yet, Anice, tell me, is't too late? Alas! Page – 55 Your cheeks and lowered eyes confess the fault. I fear your nature and your nurture, child, Are not so beautiful as is your face. Could you not have forbidden this?
ANICE Lady, Remember my condition. Can a slave Forbid or order? We are only trained To meek and quick obedience; and what's virtue In freemen is in us a deep offence. Do you command your passions, not on us Impose that service; 'tis not in our part.
AMEENA You have a clever brain and a quick tongue. And yet this speech was hardly like a slave's! I will not blame you.
ANICE I deny not, lady, My heart consented to this fault.
AMEENA I know Who 'twas besieged you, girl, and do not blame Your heart for yielding where it had no choice. Go in. Exit Anice. Enter Harkoos and Ibn Sawy.
IBN SAWY I hope, I hope that has not chanced Which I have striven to prevent. This slave Grins only and mutters gibberish to my questions.
AMEENA The worst.
Page – 56 IBN SAWY Why, so! the folly was my own And I must bear its heavy consequence. Sir, you shall have your wage for what has happened.
HAROOKS The way of the world. Whose peg's loose? Beat Harkoos. Because my young master would climb through the wrong window and mistake a rope-ladder for the staircase, my back must ache. Was the windowsill my post? Have I wings to stand upon air or a Djinn's eye to see through wood? How bitter is injustice!
IBN SAWY You shall be thrashed for your poor gift of lying.
AMEENA Blame none; it was unalterable fate.
IBN SAWY That name by which we put our sins on God, Yet shall not so escape. 'Twas our indulgence Moulded the boy and made him fit for sin; Which now, by our past mildness hampered quite, We cannot punish without tyranny. Offences we have winked at, when they knocked At foreign doors, how shall we look at close When they come striking home?
AMEENA What will you do?
IBN SAWY The offence here merits death, but not the offender. Easy solution if the sin could die And leave the sinner living! Page – 57 AMEENA Vizier, you are perplexed, to talk like this. Because a little's broken, break not more. Let Nureddene have Anice-aljalice, As Fate intended. Buy another slave Fairer than she is for great Alzayni's bed, Return his money to the treasury And cover up this fault.
IBN SAWY With lies?
AMEENA With silence.
IBN SAWY Will God be silent? will my enemies? The son of Khakan silent? Ameena, My children have conspired my shame and death.
AMEENA Face not the thing so mournfully. Vizier, you want A woman's wit beside you in the Court. Muene may speak; will you be dumb? Whom then Will the King trust? Collect your wits, be bold, Be subtle; guard yourself, protect your child.
IBN SAWY You urge me on a road my weaker heart Chooses, not reason. But consider, dame, If we excuse such gross and violent fault Done in our house, what hope to save our boy, — Oh, not his body, but the soul within? 'Twill petrify in vice and grow encrusted With evil as with a leprosy. Page – 58 AMEENA Do this. Show a fierce anger, have a gleaming knife Close at his throat, let him be terrified. Then I'll come in with tears and seem to save him On pledge of fairer conduct.
IBN SAWY This has a promise. Give me a knife and let me try to frame My looks to anger.
AMEENA Harkoos, a dagger here! Harkoos gives his dagger.
IBN SAWY But see you come not in too early anxious And mar the game.
AMEENA Trust me.
IBN SAWY Go, call my son, Harkoos; let him not know that I am here. Exit Harkoos. Go, Ameena. Exit Ameena. Plays oft have serious fruit, 'Tis seen; then why not this? 'tis worth the trial. Prosper or fail, I must do something quickly Before I go upon the Caliph's work To Roum the mighty. But I hear him come. Enter Nureddene and Harkoos.
Page – 59 NUREDDENE You're sure of it? You shall have gold for this Kind treason.
HAROOKS Trust Harkoos; and if he beats me, Why, sticks are sticks and leather is but leather.
NUREDDENE Father!
IBN SAWY O rascal, traitor, villain, imp! He throws him down on a couch and holds him under his dagger. I'll father you. Prepare, prepare your soul, Your black and crime-encrusted soul for hell. I'm death and not your father.
NUREDDENE Mother, quick! Help, mother! Ameena comes hurrying in. The poor dear old man is mad.
IBN SAWY Ahh, woman! wherefore do you come so soon?
NUREDDENE How his eyes roll! Satan, abandon him. Take him off quickly.
IBN SAWY Take me off, you villain?
NUREDDENE Tickle him in the ribs, that's the best way.
Page – 60 IBN SAWY Tickle me in the ribs! Impudent villain! I'll cut your throat.
AMEENA (frightened) Husband, what do you? think, He is your only son.
IBN SAWY And preferable I had not him. Better no son than bad ones.
NUREDDENE Is there no help then?
IBN SAWY None; prepare!
NUREDDENE All right. But let me lie a little easier first.
IBN SAWY Lie easier! Rogue, your impudence amazes. You shall lie easier soon on coals of hell.
AMEENA This goes no farther.
ANICE (looking in) They are in angry talk. Oh, kill me rather!
NUREDDENE Waste not your terrors, sweetheart. We are rehearsing an old comedy, "The tyrant father and his graceless son". Page – 61 Foolish old man!
IBN SAWY What! what!
NUREDDENE See now the end Of all your headstrong moods and wicked rages You would indulge yourself in, though I warned you, Against your gallant handsome virtuous son. And now they have turned your brain! Vicious indulgence, How bitter-dusty is thy fruit! Be warned And put a rein on anger, curb in wrath, That enemy of man. Oh, thou art grown A sad example to all angry fathers!
IBN SAWY Someone had told you of this. (to Harkoos) Grinning villain!
HAROOKS Oh yes, it is I, of course. Your peg's loose; beat Harkoos.
IBN SAWY My peg, you rogue! I'll loose your peg for you.
NUREDDENE No, father, let him be, and hear me out. I swear it was not out of light contempt For your high dignity and valued life More precious to me than my blood, if I Transgressed your will in this. I knew not of it, Nor that you meant my Anice for the King. For me I thought her purchased, so was told, And still believe religiously that Fate Brought her to Bassora only for me. Page – 62 IBN SAWY It was a fault, my child.
NUREDDENE Which I cannot repent. IBN SAWY You are my son, generous and true and bold, Though faulty. Take the slave-girl then, but swear Never hereafter mistress, slave or wife Lies in your arms but only she; neither, Until herself desire it, mayst thou sell her. Swear this and keep thy love.
NUREDDENE I swear it.
IBN SAWY Leave us. Exit Nureddene. Anice, in care for thee I have required This oath from him, which he, perhaps, will keep. Do thou requite it; be to him no less Than a dear wife.
ANICE How noble is the nature That prompts you to enforce on great offenders Their dearest wishes!
IBN SAWY Go in, my child; go, Anice. Exit Anice. Last night of my departure hence to Roum To parley with the Greek for great Haroun I spoke with you, and my long year of absence, —
Page – 63 AMEENA It is a weary time.
IBN SAWY Wherein much evil May chance; and therefore will I leave my children As safe as God permits. Doonya to nuptials. The son of Khakan wants her for his cub, But shall not have her. One shall marry her Who has the heart and hand to guard her well.
AMEENA Who, husband?
IBN SAWY Murad, Captain of the City. He rises daily in Alzayni's favour.
AMEENA He is a Turk. Our noble Arab branch Were ill engrafted on that savage stock.
IBN SAWY A prejudice. There is no stock in Islam Except the Prophet. For our Nureddene, I will divide my riches in two halves, Leave one to him and one for you with Murad, While you are with your kin or seem to be.
AMEENA Oh wherefore this?
IBN SAWY 'Tis likely that the boy, Left here in sole command, will waste his wealth And come to evil. If he's sober, well; If not, when he is bare as any rock, Page – 64 Abandoned by his friends, spewed out by all, It may be that in this sharp school and beaten With savage scourges the wild blood in him May learn sobriety and noble use: Then rescue him, assist his better nature. And we shall see too how the loves endure Betwixt him and the Persian; whether she Deserves her monarchy in his wild will, Or, even deserving, keeps it.
AMEENA But, dear husband, Shall I not see my boy for a whole year?
IBN SAWY No tears! Consider it the punishment Of our too fond indulgent love, — happy If that be worst. All will end well, I hope, And I returning, glad, to Bassora Embrace a son reformed, a happy niece Nursing her babe, and you, the gentle mother Like the sweet kindly earth whose patient love Embraces even our faults and sins. Grant it, O Allah, if it be at all Thy will. Exeunt. Page – 65
A room in Ajebe's house. Ajebe.
AJEBE Balkis, do come, my heart. Enter Balkis. BALKIS Your will?
AJEBE My will! When had I any will since you came here, You rigorous tyrant?
BALKIS Was it for abuse You called me?
AJEBE Bring your lute and sing to me.
BALKIS I am not in the mood.
AJEBE Sing, I entreat you. I am hungry for your voice of pure delight.
BALKIS I am no kabob, nor my voice a curry. Page – 66 Hungry, forsooth! Exit. AJEBE Oh, Balkis, Balkis! hear me. Enter Mymoona. MYMOONA It's useless calling; she is in her moods. And there's your Vizier getting down from horse In the doorway.
AJEBE I will go and bring him up. Mymoona, coax her for me, will you, girl? Exit. MYMOONA It is as good to meet a mangy dog As this same uncle of ours. He seldom comes. She conceals herself behind a curtain. Re-enter Ajebe with Almuene. ALMUENE He goes tomorrow? Well. And Nureddene The scapegrace holds his wealth in hand? Much better. I always said he was a fool. (to himself ) Easily I might confound him with this flagrant lapse About the slave-girl. But wait! wait! He gone, His memory waned, his riches squandered quite, I'll ruin his son, ruin the insolent Turk He has preferred to my Fareed. His Doonya And Anice slave-girls to my lusty boy, His wife — but she escapes. It is enough. They come back to a desolate house. Oh, let Their forlorn wrinkles hug an empty nest In life's cold leafless winter! Meanwhile I set
Page – 67 My seal on every room in the King's heart; He finds no chamber open when he comes.
AJEBE Uncle, you ponder things of weight?
ALMUENE No, Ajebe; Trifles, mere trifles. You're a friend, I think, Of Ibn Sawy's son?
AJEBE We drink together.
ALMUENE Right, right! Would you have place, power, honours, gold, Or is your narrow soul content with ease?
AJEBE Why, uncle!
ALMUENE Do you dread death? furious disgrace? Or beggary that's worse than either? Do you?
AJEBE All men desire those blessings, fear these ills.
ALMUENE They shall be yours in overflowing measure, Good, if you serve me, ill, if you refuse.
AJEBE What service?
ALMUENE Ruin wanton Nureddene. Page – 68 Gorge him with riot and excess; rob him Under a friendly guise; force him to spend Till he's a beggar. Most, delude him on To prone extremity of drunken shame Which he shall feel, yet have no power to check. Drench all his senses in vile profligacy, Not mere light gallantries, but gutter filth, Though you have to share it. Do this and you're made; But this undone, you are yourself undone. Eight months I give you. No, attend me not. Exit.
AJEBE Mymoona! girl, where are you?
MYMOONA Here, here, behind you.
AJEBE A Satan out of hell has come to me.
MYMOONA A Satan, truly, and he'ld make you one, Damning you down into the deepest hell of all.
AJEBE What shall I do?
MYMOONA Not what he tells you to.
AJEBE Yet if I do not, I am gone. No man In Bassora could bear his heavy wrath. On the other side — Page – 69 MYMOONA Leave the other side. 'Tis true, The dog will keep his word in evil; for good, 'Tis brittle, brittle. But you cannot do it; Our Balkis loves his Anice so completely.
AJEBE Girl, girl, my life and goods are on the die.
MYMOONA Do one thing.
AJEBE I will do what you shall bid me.
MYMOONA He has some vile companions, has he not?
AJEBE Cafoor and Ayoob and the rest; a gang Of pleasant roisterers without heart or mind.
MYMOONA Whisper the thing to them; yourself do nothing. Check him at times. Whatever else you do, Take not his gifts; they are the price of shame. If he is ruined, as without their urging Is likely, Satan's satisfied; if not, We'll flee from Bassora when there's no help.
AJEBE You have a brain. Yet if I must be vile, A bolder vileness best becomes a man.
MYMOONA And Balkis? Page – 70 AJEBE True.
MYMOONA Be safe, be safe. The rest Is doubtful, but one truth is sadly sure, That dead men cannot love.
AJEBE I'll think of it. Mymoona, leave me; send your sister here. Exit Mymoona. The thing's too vile! and yet — honours and place, And to set Balkis on a kingdom's crest Breaking and making men with her small hands The lute's too large for! But the way is foul. Enter Balkis.
BALKIS What's your command?
AJEBE Bring me your lute and sing. I'm sad and troubled. Cross me not, my girl; My temper's wry.
BALKIS Oh, threats?
AJEBE Remember still You are a slave, however by my love Pampered, and sometimes think upon the scourge.
BALKIS Do, do! Yes, beat me! Or why beat me only? Kill me, as you have killed my heart already Page – 71 With your harsh words. I knew, I knew what all Your love would end in. Oh! oh! oh! (weeps)
AJEBE Forgive me, O sweetest heart. I swear I did not mean it.
BALKIS Because in play I sometimes speak a little — O scourge me, kill me!
AJEBE 'Twas a jest, a jest! Tear not my heart with sobs. Look, Balkis, love, You shall have necklaces worth many thousands, Pearls, rubies, if you only will not weep.
BALKIS I am a slave and only fit for scourging, Not pearls and rubies. Mymoona! oh, Mymoona! Bring him a scourge and me a cup of poison. Exit. AJEBE She plays upon me as upon her lute. I'm as inert, as helpless, as completely Ruled by her moods, as dumbly pleasureless By her light hands untouched. How to appease her? Mymoona! oh, Mymoona! Exit. Page – 72 |