{"id":186,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:27","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=186"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:27","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:27","slug":"13-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-3-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\/13-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-3-sc-4-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-13_The Viziers of Bassora Act-3 Sc-4.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE IV<\/b><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nIbn Sawy’s house.
\nAnice-Aljalice, alone.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIf Murad fails him, what is left ? <\/b> He has<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNo other thing to sell but only me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA thought of horror! Is my love then strong<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOnly for joy, only to share his heaven?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCan it not enter Hell for his dear sake ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHow shall I follow him then after death,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIf Heaven reject him? For the path’s so narrow<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFooting that judgment blade, to slip’s so easy.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAvert the need, O Heaven.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHas Murad failed him?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMurad refuses. This load of debt’s a torture!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe dresses and the gems you made me keep \u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nKeep them; they are your own.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI am your slave-girl.
\nMy body and what it wears, all I am, all I have,
\nAre only for your use.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGirl, would you have me strip you then quite bare ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhat does it matter ? The coarsest rag ten dirhams<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 653<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nMight buy, would be enough, if you’ld still love me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThese would not meet one half of what I owe.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMaster, you bought me for ten thousand pieces.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBe silent.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHas my value lessened since ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNo more! You’ll make me hate you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIf you do,
\n‘Tis better, it will help my heart to break.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHave you the heart to speak of this ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHad I
\nLess heart, less love, I would not speak of it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI swore to my father that I would not sell you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBut there was a condition.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIf you desired it!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 654<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nDo I not ask you?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSpeak truth! Do you desire it ?
\nTruth, in the name of God who sees your heart!
\nOh, you are silent.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHow could I desire it?
\nAjebe is here. Be friends with him, dear love;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nForgive his fault.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnice, my own sins are
\nSo heavy, not to forgive his lesser vileness
\nWould leave me without hope of heavenly pardon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI’ll call him then.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nLet me absolve these debts,
\nThen straight with Anice to Bagdad the splendid,
\nThere is the home for hearts and brains and hands,
\nNot in this petty centre. Core of Islam,
\nBagdad, the flood to which all brooks converge.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnice returns with Ajebe, Balkis, Mymoona.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>JEBE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAm I forgiven ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAjebe, let the past
\nHave never been.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 655<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tAJEBE <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou are Ibn Sawy’s son.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGive me your counsel, Ajebe. I have nothing
\nBut the mere house which is not saleable.
\nMy father must not find a homeless Bassora,
\nReturning.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNothing else?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOnly myself<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhom he’ll not sell.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe must.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNever, Mymoona.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFear not the sale which shall be in name alone.
\nTis only Balkis borrowing her from you,
\nWho pawns her value. She will stay with me
\nServing our Balkis, safe from every storm,
\nBut if you ask, why then the mart and auction ?
\nWe must have public evidence of sale
\nTo meet an uncle’s questions. <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO now there’s light.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBlessed Mymoona!<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt must not be. My oath!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 656<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nBut I desire it now, yes, I desire it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnd is my pride then nothing ? Shall I sell her
\nTo be a slave-girl’s slave-girl? Pardon, Balkis.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nToo fine, too fine!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tANICE-A<\/font>LJALICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo serve awhile my sister!
\nFor that she is in heart.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>ALKIS
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nServe only in name.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe will be safe while you rebuild your fortunes.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI do not like it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNor does any one
\nAs in itself, but only as a refuge
\nFrom greater evils.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOh, you’re wrong, Mymoona,
\nTo quibble with an oath! it will not prosper.
\nStraight dealing’s best.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou look at it too finely.<\/font>
\n<\/font> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 657<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nHave it your way, then.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>YMOONA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCall the broker here.
\nA quiet sale! The uncle must not hear of it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>JEBE<\/font><\/p>\n

\n‘Twould be the plague.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI fear it will not prosper.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 658<\/font><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE IV     Ibn Sawy’s house. Anice-Aljalice, alone. ANICE-ALJALICE If Murad fails him, what is left ? He has No other thing to sell…<\/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-186","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\/186","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=186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}