{"id":198,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:32","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=198"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:32","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:32","slug":"05-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-1-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\/05-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-1-sc-4-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-05_The Viziers of Bassora Act-1 Sc-4.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

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

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

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nA room in the women’s apartments of Ibn Sawy’s house.
\nAmeena, Doonya.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nCall, Doonya, to the eunuch once again
\nAnd ask if Nureddene has come.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMother,
\nWhat is the use ? You know he has not come.
\nWhy do you fret your heart, sweet mother, for
\n<\/b>him?
\n<\/b>Bad coins are never lost.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFie, Doonya! bad?
\nHe is not bad, but wild, a trifle wild;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd the one little fault’s like a stray curl
\nAmong his clustering golden qualities,
\nThat graces more than it disfigures him.
\nBad coin! Oh, Doonya, even the purest gold
\nHas some alloy, so do not call him bad.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSweet, silly mother! why, I called him that
\nJust to hear you defend him.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou laugh at me, \u2014
\nOh, you all laugh. And yet I will maintain
\nMy Nureddene’s the dearest lad in Bassora, \u2014
\nLet him disprove’t who can, \u2014 in all this realm
\nThe beautifullest and kindest.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSo the girls think<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 586<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThrough all our city. <\/b> Oh, I laugh at you
\nAnd at myself. I’m sure I am as bad
\nA sister to him as you are a mother.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI a bad mother, Doonya ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe worst possible.
\nYou spoil him; so do I; so does his father;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSo does all Bassora, \u2014 especially the girls!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy, who could be unkind to him or see
\nHis merry eyes grow clouded with remorse ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs it he who comes ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe goes out and returns.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt is my uncle, mother,
\nAnd there’s a girl with him, \u2014-1 think she is
\nA copy of Nureddene in white and red.
\nWhy, as I looked downstairs, she smiled up at me
\nAnd took the heart out of my body with the smile.
\nAre you going to have a rival at your years,
\nPoor mother ? ‘Tis late for uncle to go wooing.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA rival, you mad girl!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Ibn Sawy and Anice-Aljalice.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCome forward, child.
\nHere is a slave-girl, Ameena, I’ve bought
\nFor our great Sultan. Keep her from your son,
\nYour scapegrace son. My life upon it, dame!
\nIf he touches her, I’m gone.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 587<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI’ll see to it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLet a strong eunuch with a naked sword
\nStand at her door. Bathe her and feed her daintily.
\nYour son! see that he does not wheedle you.
\nYou’ve spoilt him so, there is no trusting you,
\nYou tender, foolish heart.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI spoil him, husband!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMost damnably. Whenever I would turn
\nWholesomely harsh to him, you come between
\nAnd coax my anger. Therefore he is spoilt.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tDOONYA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOh, uncle mine, when you are harsh, the world
\nGrows darker with your frown. See, how I tremble!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOh, are you there, my little satirist?
\nWhen were you whipped last ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen you last were harsh.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou shall be married off. I will not have you
\nMocking an old and reverend man like me.
\nWhom will you marry, chit?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAn old, old man,
\nJust such a smiling harsh old man as you,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 588<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nNone else.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd not a boy like young Fareed ?
\nHis father wishes it; he too, I think.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThrow me from this high window to the court
\nOr tell me ere the day and I will leap.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs he so bad ? I thought it. No, my niece,
\nYou marry not with Khakan’s evil stock,
\nAlthough there were no other bridegroom living.
\nI’ll leave you, Ameena. Anice, I have a son,
\nHandsome and wanton. Let him not behold you!
\nYou are wise and spirited beyond your years,
\nAbove your sex; I trust in your discretion.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI will be careful, sir. Yet trust in bars<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd portals, not in me. If he should find me,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI am his slave and born to do his will.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>BN
\n\t<\/font>S<\/font>AWY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBe careful, dame.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n\tA<\/font>MEENA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHow fair you are, small lady!
\nTis better truly he should see you not.
\nDoonya, be careful of her. I’ll go before
\nAnd make your casket ready for you, gem.
\nBring her behind me, Doonya.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>(leaping on Anice)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat’s your name,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 589<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nYou smiling wonder, what’s your name? Your name?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIf you will let me a little breathe, I’ll tell you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTell it me without breathing.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt’s too long.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLet’s hear it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnice-Aljalice.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tD<\/font>OONYA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnice,
\nThere is a sea of laughter in your body;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI find it billowing there beneath the calm
\nAnd rippling sweetly out in smiles. You beauty!
\nAnd I love laughers. Wherefore for the King?
\nWhy not for me ? Does the King ever laugh,
\nI wonder?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe runs out.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy King is here. But they would give me
\nTo some thick-bearded swart and grizzled Sultan
\nWho’d see me once a week and keep me penned
\nFor service, not for mirth and love. My prince
\nIs like our Persian boys, fair-faced and merry,
\nFronting the world with glad and open looks
\nThat make the heart rejoice. Ten days! ’tis much.
\nKingdoms have toppled in ten days.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nDoonya returns.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 590<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tDOONYA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCome, Anice.
\nI wish my cousin Nureddene had come
\nAnd caught you here. What fun it would have been!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 591<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE IV       A room in the women’s apartments of Ibn Sawy’s house. Ameena, Doonya. AMEENA   Call, Doonya, to the eunuch once…<\/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-198","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\/198","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=198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}