{"id":169,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:21","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=169"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:21","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:21","slug":"20-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-4-sc-4-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07\/20-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-4-sc-4-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-20_The Viziers of Bassora Act-4 Sc-4.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE IV<\/b><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nInside the pavilion.
\nNureddene, Anice-Aljalice, Shaikh Ibrahim.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShaikh Ibrahim, verily thou art drunk.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAlas, alas, my dear son, my own young friend! I am damned,
\nverily, verily, I am damned. Ah, my sweet lovely young father!
\nAh, my pious learned white-bearded mother! That they could see
\ntheir son now, their pretty little son! But they are in their graves; they are in their cold, cold graves.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOh, thou art most pathetically drunk. Sing, Anice.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tO<\/font>UTSIDE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFish! fish! sweet fried fish!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFish! Shaikh Ibrahim, Shaikh Ibrahim! hearest thou? We have
\na craving for fish.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTis Satan in thy little stomach who calleth hungrily for sweet
\nfish. Silence, thou preposterous devil!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFie, Shaikh, is my stomach outside me, under the window ? Call
\nhim in.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHo! ho! come in, Satan! come in, thou brimstone fisherman.
\nLet us see thy long tail.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Haroun.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 694<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat fish have you, good fisherman ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI have very honest good fish, my sweet lady, and I have fried them
\nfor you with my own hand. These fish, \u2014 why, all I can say of
\nthem is, they are fish. But they are well fried.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSet them on a plate. What wilt thou have for them ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy, for such faces as you have, I will honestly ask nothing.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen wilt thou dishonestly ask for a trifle more than they are
\nworth ? Swallow me these denars.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNow Allah give thee a beard! for thou art a generous youth.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFie, fisherman, what a losing blessing is this, to kill the thing for
\nwhich thou blessest him! If Allah give him a beard, he will be no
\nlonger a youth, and for the generosity, it will be Allah’s. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nArt thou as witty as beautiful ? <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBy Allah, that am I. I tell thee very modestly that there is not my
\nequal from China to Frangistan.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou sayest no more than truth.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat is your name, fisherman ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 695<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nI call myself Kareem, and in all honesty when I fish, ’tis for the
\nCaliph.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho talks of the Caliph? Dost thou speak of the Caliph Haroun
\nor the Caliph Ibrahim?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI speak of the<\/i> Caliph, Haroun the Just, the great and only Caliph.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOh, Haroun ? He is fit only to be a gardener, a poor witless fellow
\nwithout brains to dress himself with, yet Allah hath made him
\nCaliph. While there are others \u2014 but ’tis no use talking. A very
\nprofligate tyrant, this Haroun! He has debauched half the
\nwomen in Bagdad and will debauch the other half, if they let him
\nlive. Besides, he cuts off a man’s head when the nose on it does
\nnot please him. A very pestilence of a tyrant!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNow Allah save him!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNay, let Allah save his soul if He will and if ’tis worth saving, but
\nI fear me ’twill be a tough job for Allah. If it were not for my
\nconstant rebukes and admonitions and predications and pestrigiddi \u2014 prestigidgide \u2014 what the plague! prestidigitations, and
\nsome slaps and cuffs of which I pray you speak very low, he
\nwould be worse even than he is. Well, well, even Allah blunders;<\/font> 
\n<\/font>verily, verily!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWilt thou be Caliph, Shaikh Ibrahim?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYes, my jewel, and thou shalt be my Zobeidah. And we will<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 696<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\ntipple, beauty, we will tipple.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd Haroun?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI will be generous and make him my under-kitchen-gardener’s
\nsecond vice-sub-under-assistant. I would gladly give him a higher
\npost, but, verily, he is not fit.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>(laughing)<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat an old treasonous rogue art thou, Shaikh Ibrahim!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat? who? Thou art not Satan, but Kareem the fisherman?
\nDidst thou say I was drunk, thou supplier of naughty houses ?
\nVerily, I will tug thee by the beard, for thou liest. Verily, verily!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShaikh Ibrahim! Shaikh Ibrahim!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNay, if thou art the angel Gabriel and forbiddest me, let be, but
\nI hate lying and liars.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFisherman, is thy need here over?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI pray you, let me hear this young lady sing; for indeed ’twas the
\nsweet voice of her made me fry fish for you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOblige the good fellow, Anice; he has a royal face for his fishing.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSing! ’tis I will sing: there is no voice like mine in Bagdad.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 697<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n(sings)<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhen I was a young man,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI’d a very good plan;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEvery maid that I met,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn my lap I would set,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat mattered her age or her colour ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut now I am old<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd the girls they grow cold<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd my heartstrings, they ache<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAt the faces they make,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd my dancing is turned into dolour.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA very sweet song! a very sad song! Our sweetest songs are
\nthose that tell of saddest thought. Tis just, ’tis just. Ah me!<\/font>
\n<\/font>well-a-day! Verily, verily!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI pray you. Shaikh Ibrahim, be quiet. I would sing.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSing, my jewel, sing, my gazelle, sing, my lady of kisses. Verily,
\nI would rise up and buss thee, could I but find my legs. I know
\nnot why they have taken them from me.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>(sings)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSong
\n<\/i>Heart of mine, O heart impatient,<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou must learn to wait and weep.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWherefore wouldst thou go on beating<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhen I bade thee hush and sleep ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou who wert of life so fain,
\nDidst thou know not, life was pain ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO voice of angels! Who art thou, young man, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd who this sweet-voiced wonder ? Let me hear;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTell me thy story.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 698<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI am a man chastised
\nFor my own errors, yet unjustly. Justice
\nI seek from the great Caliph. Leave us, fisherman.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTell me thy story. Walk apart with me.
\nIt may be I can help thee.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLeave us, I pray thee.
\nThou, a poor fisherman!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI vow I’ll help thee.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nArt thou the Caliph?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf I were, by chance ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf thou art as pressing with the fish as me,
\nThere’s a good angler.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nExit with Haroun.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWill you not have some of this fish, Shaikh Ibrahim ? ‘Tis a sweet
\nfish.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIndeed thou art a sweet fish, but somewhat overdone. Thou hast
\nfour lovely eyes and two noses wonderfully fine with just the
\nright little curve at the end; ’tis a hook to hang my heart upon.
\nBut, verily there are two of them and I know not what to do with
\nthe other. I have only one heart, beauty. <\/b> O, Allah, Thou hast<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 699<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n

darkened my brain with wine, and wilt Thou damn me afterwards ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNay, if thou wilt misuse my nose for a peg, I have done with thee.
\nMy heart misgives me strangely. .<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Nureddene.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe’s writing out a letter.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSurely, my lord,
\nThis is no ordinary fisherman.
\nIf’t were the Caliph?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe old drunkard knew him
\nFor Kareem and a fisherman. Dear Anice,
\nLet not our dreams delude us. Life is harsh,
\nDull-tinted, not so kindly as our wishes,
\nNor half so beautiful.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Haroun.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe is not fit
\nTo be a King.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNor ever was. <\/b> ‘Tis late.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGivest thou no gift at parting ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou’re a fisher! (opens his purse)<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 700<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNothing more valuable ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWilt take this ring?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNo; give me what I ask.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYes, by the Prophet,
\nBecause thou hast a face!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nGive me thy slave-girl.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n{There is a silence.)<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou hast entrapped me, fisherman.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs it a jest?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou sworest by the Prophet, youth.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTell me,
\nIs it for ransom ? I have nothing left
\nIn all the world but her and these few pieces.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe pleases me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO wretch!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 701<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnother time
\nI would have slain thee. But now I feel ’tis God
\nHas snared my feet with dire calamities,
\nAnd have no courage.<\/font>  <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDost thou give her-to me ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTake her, if Heaven will let thee. Angel of God, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAvenging angel, wert thou lying in wait for me <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn Bagdad?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLeave me not, O leave me not.
\nIt is a jest, it must, it shall be a jest.
\nGod will not suffer it.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI mean thee well.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThy doing’s damnable. O man, O man,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nArt thou a devil straight from Hell, or art thou<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA tool of Almuene’s to torture us ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWill you leave me, my lord, and never kiss ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou art his; I cannot touch thee.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nKiss her once.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTempt me not; if my lips grow near to hers,
\nThou canst not live. Farewell.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 702<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhere art thou bound ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNUREDDENE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo Bassora.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThat is, to death?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEven so.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYet take this letter with thee to the Sultan.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMan, what have I to do with thee or letters ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHear me, fair youth. Thy love is sacred to me<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd will be safe as in her father’s house.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTake thou this letter. Though I seem a fisherman,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI was the Caliph’s friend and schoolfellow,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis cousin of Bassora’s too, and it may help thee.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI know not who thou art, nor if this scrap<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf paper has the power thou babblest of,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd do not greatly care. Life without her<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs not to be thought of. Yet thou giv’st me something<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI’ld once have dared call hope. She will be safe ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs my own child, or as the Caliph’s.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>UREDDENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI’ll go play<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 703<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAt pitch-and-toss with death in Bassora.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nExit.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nKareem, thou evil fisherman, thou unjust seller, thou dishonest
\ndicer, thou beastly womanizer! hast thou given me stinking fish
\nnot worth a dirham and thinkest to take away my slave-girl ?
\nVerily, I will tug thy beard for her.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe seizes Haroun by the beard.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>(throwing him off)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOut! Hither to me, Vizier Jaafar. (Enter Jaafar).<\/i> Hast thou my
\nrobe?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe changes his dress.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tJ<\/font>AAFAR
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHow dost thou, Shaikh Ibrahim ? Fie, thou smellest of that evil
\nthing, even the accursed creature, wine.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO Satan, Satan, dost thou come to me in the guise of Jaafar, the
\nPersian, the Shiah, the accursed favourer of Gnosticism and
\nheresies, the evil and bibulous Vizier? Avaunt, and return not
\nsave with a less damnable face. O thou inconsiderate fiend!<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tHAROUN AL <\/font>RASHEED
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDamsel, lift up thy head. I am the Caliph.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat does it matter who you are ? My heart, my heart!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou art bewildered. Rise! I am the Caliph
\nMen call the Just. Thou art as safe with me
\nAs my own daughter. I have sent thy lord
\nTo be a king in Bassora, and thee
\nI will send after him with precious robes,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 704<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nFair slave-girls, noble gifts. Possess thy heart
\nOnce more, be glad.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NICE<\/font>-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO just and mighty Caliph!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShaikh Ibrahim.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM<\/font><\/p>\n

\nVerily, I think thou art the Caliph, and verily, I think I am drunk.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN
\n\tAL <\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nVerily, thou hast told the truth, twice, and it is a wonder. But
\nverily, verily, verily, thou shalt be punished. Thou hast been
\nkind to the boy and his sweetheart, therefore I will not take from
\nthee thy life or thy post in the gardens, and I will forgive thee
\nfor tugging the beard of the Lord’s Anointed. But thy hypocrisies
\nand blasphemies are too rank to be forgiven. Jaafar, have a man
\nwith him constantly and wine before his eyes; but if he drink so much as a thimbleful, let it be poured by gallons into his stomach.
\nHave in beautiful women constantly before him and if he once
\nraise his eyes above their anklets, shave him clean and sell him
\ninto the most severe and Puritan house in Bagdad. Nay, I will
\nreform thee, old sinner.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BRAHIM<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOh, her lips! her sweet lips!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tJ<\/font>AAFAR
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou speak to a drunken man, my lord.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>AROUN AL
\n\t<\/font>R<\/font>ASHEED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTomorrow bring him before me when he’s sober.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nExeunt.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n
\nCurtain<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 705<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE IV     Inside the pavilion. Nureddene, Anice-Aljalice, Shaikh Ibrahim. NUREDDENE Shaikh Ibrahim, verily thou art drunk. IBRAHIM Alas, alas, my dear son, my…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","wpcat-6-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}