{"id":207,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:36","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=207"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:36","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:36","slug":"15-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-3-sc-6-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\/15-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-3-sc-6-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-15_The Viziers of Bassora Act-3 Sc-6.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

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

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe palace at Bassora.
\nAlzayni, Salar.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSo it is written here. Hot interchange
\nAnd high defiance have already passed
\nBetween our Caliph and the daring Roman.
\nEurope and Asia are at grips once more.
\nTo inspect the southward armies unawares
\nHaroun himself is coming.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAlfazzal then
\nReturns to us, unless the European,
\nAfter their barbarous fashion, seize on him.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n‘Tis strange, he sends no tidings of the motion
\nI made to Egypt.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n‘Tis too dangerous
\nTo write of, as indeed ’twas ill-advised
\nTo make the approach.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGreat dangers justify
\nThe smaller. Caliph Alrasheed conceives
\nOn trifling counts a dumb displeasure towards me
\nWhich any day may speak; ’tis whispered of
\nIn Bagdad. Alkhasib, the Egyptian Vizier,
\nIs in like plight. It is mere policy,
\nSalar, to build out of a common peril
\nA common safety.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 665<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nHaroun al Rasheed
\nCould break each one of you between two fingers,
\nStretching his left arm out to Bassora,
\nHis right to Egypt. Sultan, wilt thou strive
\nAgainst the single giant of the world ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGiants are mortal, friend, be but our swords
\nAs bold as sharp. Call Murad here to me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy state is desperate, if Haroun lives;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe’s sudden and deadly, when his anger bursts.
\nBut let me be more sudden, yet more deadly.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMurad, the time draws near. The Caliph comes
\nTo Bassora; let him not thence return.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy blade is sharp and what I do is sudden.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy gallant Turk! Thou shalt rise high, believe it.
\nFor I need men like thee.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>URAD
\n\t<\/font>(to himself)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut Kings like thee
\nEarth needs not.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nV<\/font>OICE
\nWITHOUT <\/font><\/p>\n

\nJustice! Justice! Justice, King!
\nKing of the Age, I am a man much wronged.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWho cries beneath my window? Chamberlain!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 666<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tSUNJAR <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAn Arab daubed with mud and dirt, all battered,
\nUnrecognizable, with broken lips cries out
\nFor justice.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBring him here.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt is some brawl.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Sunjar with Almuene.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou, Vizier! Who has done this thing to thee?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMahomed, son of Suleyman! Sultan<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlzayni! Abbasside! how shalt thou long<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHave friends, if the King’s enemies may slay<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn daylight, here, in open Bassora<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe King’s best friends because they love the King?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nName them at once and choose their punishment.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAlfazzal’s son, that brutal profligate,
\nHas done this.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNureddene!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nUpon what quarrel?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA year ago Alfazzal bought a slave-girl
\nWith the King’s money for the King, a gem
\nOf beauty, learning, mind, fit for a Caliph.
\nBut seeing the open flower he thought perhaps<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 667<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nYour royal nose too base to smell at it,
\nSo gave her to his royaller darling son
\nTo soil and rumple. No man with a neck
\nDared tell you of it, such your faith was in him.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIs’t so ? our loved and trusted Ibn Sawy!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThis profligate squandering away his wealth<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBrought her to market; there I saw her and bid<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer fair full price. Whereat he stormed at me<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith words unholy; yet I answered mild,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n"My son, not for myself, but the King’s service<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI need her." He with bold and furious looks,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n"Dog, Vizier of a dog, I void on thee<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd on thy Sultan." With which blasphemy<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe seized me, rolled in the mire, battered with blows,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nKicks, pullings of the beard, then dragged me back<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd flung me at his slave-girl’s feet, who, proud<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf her bold lover, footed my grey head<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRepeatedly and laughed, "This for thy King,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThy dingy stingy King who with so little<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWould buy a slave-girl sole in all the world".<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tS<\/font>UNJAR<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGreat Hasheem’s vein cords all the Sultan’s forehead.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tMURAD <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe dog has murdered both of them with his.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNow by the Prophet, my forefather! Out,
\nMurad! drag here the fellow and his girl,
\nTrail them with ropes tied to their bleeding heels,
\nTheir faces in the mire, with pinioned hands
\nBehind their backs, into my presence here.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 668<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nSack Sawy’s mansion, raze it to the ground.
\nWhat, am I grown so bare that by-lane dogs
\nLike these so loudly bay at me ? They die!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSultan,\u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHe’s doomed who speaks a word for them.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nBrother-in-law Murad, fetch your handsome brother.
\nSoon, lest the Sultan hear of it!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nVizier,
\nI know my duty. Know your own and do it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI’ll wash, then forth in holiday attire
\nTo see that pretty sport.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n\tSUNJAR <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat will you do ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSunjar, a something swift and desperate.
\nI will not let them die.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRun not on danger.
\nI’ll send a runner hotfoot to their house
\nTo warn them.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 669<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tMURAD <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDo so. What will Doonya say
\nWhen she hears this ? How will her laughing eyes
\nBe clouded and brim over! Till Haroun comes!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n


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

\nPage \u2013 670<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE VI     The palace at Bassora. Alzayni, Salar. ALZAYNI So it is written here. Hot interchange And high defiance have already passed Between…<\/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-207","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\/207","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=207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}