{"id":212,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:38","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=212"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:38","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:38","slug":"03-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-1-sc-2-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\/03-the-viziers-of-bassora-act-1-sc-2-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-03_The Viziers of Bassora Act-1 Sc-2.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

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

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n  <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\nA room in Almuene’s house.
\nAlmuene, Khatoon.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYou have indulged the boy till he has lost
\nThe likeness even of manhood. God’s great stamp
\nAnd heavenly image on his mint’s defaced,
\nRubbed out, and only the brute metal left
\nWhich never shall find currency again
\nAmong his angels.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOh always clamour, clamour!
\nI had been happier bedded with a slave,
\nWhom I could beat to sense when she was froward.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOh, you’ld have done no less by me, I know,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlthough my rank’s as far above your birth<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs some white star in heaven o’erpeers the muck<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf foulest stables, had I not great kin<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd swords in the background to avenge me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nTermagant,
\nSome day I’ll have you stripped and soundly caned
\nBy your own women, if you grow not gentler.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tK<\/font>HATOON<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI shall be glad some day to find your courage.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Farced, jumping and gyrating.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tF<\/font>AREED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOh father, father, father, father, father!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 569<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nWhat means this idiot clamour ? Senseless child,
\nCan you not walk like some more human thing
\nOr talk like one at least ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDame, check once more
\nMy gallant boy, try once again to break
\nHis fine and natural spirit with your chidings,
\nI’ll drive your teeth in, lady or no lady.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDo, father, break her teeth! She’s always scolding.
\nSometimes she beats me when you’re out. Do break them,
\nI shall so laugh!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy gamesome goblin!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYou prompt him<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo hate his mother; but do not lightly think
\nThe devil you strive to raise up from that hell
\nWhich lurks within us all, sealed commonly
\nBy human shame and Allah’s supreme grace, \u2014
\nBut you! you scrape away the seal, would take
\nThe full flame of the inferno, not the gusts
\nOf smoke jet out in ordinary men; \u2014
\nThink not this imp will limit with his mother
\nUnnatural revolt! You will repent this.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nGirl, father! such a girl! a girl of girls!
\nBuy me my girl!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 570<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nWhat girl, you leaping madcap ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIn the slave-market for ten thousand pieces.
\nSuch hands! such eyes! such hips! such legs! I am
\nImpatient till my elbows meet around her.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy amorous wagtail! What, my pretty hunchback,
\nYou have your trophies too among the girls
\nNo less than the straight dainty Nureddene,
\nOur Vizier’s pride ? Ay, you have broken seals ?
\nYou have picked locks, my burglar ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYou have given me,
\nYou and my mother, such a wicked hump
\nTo walk about with, the girls jeer at me.
\nI have only a chance with blind ones. ‘Tis a shame.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHow will you make your slave-girl love you, hunch ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tF<\/font>AREED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe’ll be my slave-girl and she’ll have to love me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhom would you marry, hunchback, for a wager?
\nWill the King’s daughter tempt you ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPooh! I’ve got
\nMy eye upon my uncle’s pretty niece.
\nI like her.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 571<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThe Vizier, my peculiar hatred!
\nWagtail, you must not marry there.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI hate him too
\nAnd partly for that cause will marry her,
\nTo beat her twice a day and let him know it.
\nHe will be grieved to the heart.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYou’re my own lad.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnd then she’s such a nice tame pretty thing,
\nWill sob and tremble, kiss me when she’s told,
\nNot like my mother, frown, scold, nag all day.
\nBut, dad, my girl! buy me my girl!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nCome, wagtail.
\nTen thousand pieces! ’tis exorbitant.
\nTwo thousand, not a dirham more. The seller
\nDoes wisely if he takes it, glad to get
\nA piastre for her. Call the slaves, Fareed..<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tF<\/font>AREED<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHooray! hoop! what a time I’ll have! Cafoor!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\n‘Tis thus a boy should be trained up, not checked,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRebuked and punished till the natural man<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs killed in him and a tame virtuous block<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nReplace the lusty pattern Nature made.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI do not value at a brazen coin<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe man who has no vices in his blood,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 572<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nNever took toll of women’s lips in youth<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNor warmed his nights with wine. Your moralists<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTeach one thing, Nature quite another; which of these<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs likely to be right? Yes, cultivate,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut on the plan that she has mapped. Give way,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGive way to the inspired blood of youth<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd you shall have a man, no scrupulous fool,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNo ethical malingerer in the fray;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA man to lord it over other men,
\nSoldier of Vizier or adventurous merchant,
\nThe breed of Samson. Man with such youth your armies.
\nOf such is an imperial people made
\nWho send their colonists and conquerors
\nAcross the world, till the wide earth contains
\nOne language only and a single rule.
\nYes, Nature is your grand imperialist,
\nNo moral sermonizer. Rude, hardy stocks
\nTransplant themselves, expand, outlast the storms
\nAnd heat and cold, not slips too gently nurtured
\nOr lapped in hothouse warmth. Who conquered earth
\nFor Islam ? Arabs trained in robbery,
\nHeroes, robust in body and desire.
\nI’ll get this slave-girl for Fareed to help
\nHis education on. Be lusty, son,
\nAnd breed me grandsons like you for my stock.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 573<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II       A room in Almuene’s house. Almuene, Khatoon. KHATOON You have indulged the boy till he has lost The likeness even…<\/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-212","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\/212","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=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}