> * 7k :.-' f- ' <*, > ^ -"j^-* r^^' r^ %: ^/$' ^.^' - Viy- -V . ^ i, :^.^ loDXI N75Kt CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY »^ BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 189I BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE Cornell University Library PR 6021.N75K6 Kismet: an "Arabian knight" In three act 3 1924 013 635 069 Cornell University Library The original of tliis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013635069 KISMET KISMET An «* Arabian Knight" In Three Acts By EDWARD KNOBLOCK Author of " My Lady fDresi" "Marie Odile," "Milestones," "Paganini," "Mouse," "Fawn" "Headmaster" etc. BOSTON WALTER H. BAKER COMPANY 1922 k'ismet In its present form this play is dedicated to the read- ing pubUc only, and no performances of it may be given without the consent of the author, who may be ad- dressed in care of the publishers, Walter H. Baker Company. Royalty will be quoted upon application. Any piracy or infringement will be prosecuted under the'United States Statutes : Sec 4966. — Any person publicly performing or presenting any dramatic or musical composition, for which copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor of the said dramatic or musical composition, or his heirs or assigns, shall be liable for damages therefor, such damages in all cases to be assessed in such sum, not less than one hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful performance and representation be willful and for profit, such person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year. — United States Revised Stattttes, Title 60, Chapter 3. CopraiGHT, 191 1, BY Edward Knoblock All rights reserved. To the memory of RICHARD BURTON One of the greatest of Englishmen and one of the least understood ; without whom this play never could have been written CHARACTERS (7m order of their appearance) MEN Hajj The Muezzin The Imam Mahmud A Mufti •■O'.J' The Guide Nasir The Sheikh Jaw an The Beggar Kasim Za*T \ Shopkeepers Amru's Apprentice Zayd's Apprentice The Caliph Abdai,i,ah The Wazir Abu Bakr The Wazir Mansur Kafur, Mansur's sworder Afiee, his secretary The Captain of the Watch An Attendant op Mansur A Chamberlain of the Caliph A Herald of the Caliph A Blind Man A Chinaman The Gaoler Kutayt WOMEN Marsdtah, Haji's dau^ter Narjis, her nurse Kabirah, an old woman MiSKAH, a slave KuT-Ai,-Kur,UB, Mansur's first wife Guards, Wazirs, Dignitarigs, Courtibrs, SoijiieRS, Eunuchs, Shopkeepers, Buyers, etc. Women of the Harim, Dancers, Si,aves, etc BEFORE THE CURTAIN The Man The Woman The Story Teher The Juggler The Dancer ACT I MORNING ScENB I. A Street before the Mosque of the Carpenters. II. The Suk (Bazaar Street) of the Tailors. III. The Courtyard of a poor House. IV. A Hall in the Wazir Mansur's Mansion. ACT II AFTERNOON Scene I. A Hall in the Wazir Mansur's Mansion. (Same as Act I., Scene IV.) II. The Courtyard of a poor House. (Same as Act I., Scene III.) III. The Diwan (Audience Hall) of the Caliph's Fcilcicc IV. The Prison of the Palace. ACT III EVENING Scene I. The Hammam of Mansur's Harim. II. A Street before the Mosque of the Carpenters. (Same as Act I., Scene I.) The scene is laid in the Baghdad of the "Arabian Nights." The action takes place from morning to night. CAST OF THE PLAY AS PRODUCED AT THE KNICKERBOCKER ThEATBE, New York, 2STh December, iqii MEN Hajj The Muezzin The Imam Mahmud A MufTi The Guide Nasir . . . The Sheikh Jawan The Beggar Kasim Amru Zayd A MRU's Apprentice.. . The Cauph Abdaixah The Wazir Abu Baks The Wazir Mansur Kafuk Afife Captain of the Watch An Attendant of Mansur A Chambeblain of the Cai,pih The Gaoi,er Kutayt Massinah ... Narjis Kabirah The Ai,mah MiSKAH KUT-AI,-KUI,UB WOMEN Otis Skinner T. Tamamoto Del de Louis John Webster Sydney Mather Sheridan Block Macey Harlan Daniel Jarrett Harrison Carter Gregory Kelly Fred Eric Heniy Mitchell Hamilton Revelle George Relph Bennett Kilpack Richard Scott William Lorenz Thomas Audley Martin Sanders Rita Jolivet Georgia Woodthorpe Amelia Barleon Violet Romer Merle Maddern Eleanor Gordon BEFORE THE CURTAIN The Man . . . The Woman The Story Tei,i,Er The Juggler The Dancer Ernest Leeman Roma Devonne Mervyn Rentoul Youna Violet Romer The Play produced by Harrison Grey FiskE The Music composed by Whuam Furst The Costumes designed by Percy Andersoh CAST OF THE PLAY AS PRODUCED AT THE GarRICK ThEATHE, LoNDON, 19TH Aprii,, 19U MEN Hajj The Muezzin The Imam Mahmud A Mufti The Guide Nasir . . . The Sheikh Jawan The Beggar Kasim Amru Zayd The Cawph Abdaiaah The Wazir Abu Baks The Wazir Mansur Kapur AFirE Captain op thk Watch An Attendant of Mansur A Bund Man A Chinaman A Chamberi,ain of the Cai,pih The Gaoi,er Kutayt WOMEN Marsinah ... Narjis Kabirah The Ai,mah Miskah KuT-AI,-KUI,UB BEFORE The Man ... The Woman The Story TeuEr The JUGGtER The Dancer THE Oscar Asche Alfred Bristowe Charles A. Doran, Arthur Trantom R. Ian Penny Caleb Porter Tripp Edgar Athol Forde R. F. Anson Ben Webster Ewan Brooke Herbert Grimwood George Relph A. Winspeare D. Atherton H. Franklin E. Adeney ' Gordon Harker G. Fitzgerald J. Fritz Russell Lily Brayton Bessie Major D. England Nancy Denvers Muriel Hutchinson Saba Raleigh CURTAIN Ernest L'eeman Dorothy Moulton Ewan Brooke E. Selton Nancy Denvers The Play produced by Oscar Asche The Music composed by Christopher Wilson The Costumes designed by Percy Anderson NOTES The exclamation " Yehh I " which occurs in the play, is an Arab cry of surprise; the exclamation "Awah!" or "Wah!" a cry of grief, synonymous with "Alas!" In both cases the final "h" is pronounced gutturally, some- thing like the "ch" in the German "Ach!" or Scotch "Och!" The rhymed prose which occurs in moments of emotion is a peculiarity of Arab speech and literature. There are endless examples of it in Burton's "Arabian Nights." In addressing a person, " O " is always used as " OHajj." If " O " is left out it is the sign of deliberate insult. This " O " is not emphasized except when expedient. KISMET DAWN Before the Curtain A large arch of Arabian design, with small doors right and left, frames in the whole picture. [The Man enters from the door of his house left, seats himself and sings: Lo ! Still the stars of latter night are spread ! Yet hath sleep stolen from my lonely bed. So will I sit me on my rooftop's height. To cool my sadness till the dawning red. [The Woman enters from her house right, seats herself and sings: Yehh ! Still the moon hangs on the lips of night To mock my solitude with love-delight. O heavy hour of a longing breast. Thy weight will crush me ere the break of light ! The Man. Wah! That some song might soothe my soul op- press'd. Some ancient melody of days more bless'd. The Woman. Awah, that some strange tale of long ago Might by its magic bring my bosom rest ! 2 BEFORE THE CURTAIN Both. Thou, Bestower of all things, bestow This benediction on Thy servant low ! [The Story Teller enters through the cur- tains and speaks: Story Teller. Praise be to Allah, the King of all Kings, the Creator of all things! Who like to a carpet hath spread, the Earth to our tread. And even as a tent, set up the firmament, overhead. And on Mo- hammed, his Prophet among men, the blessing of blessings again and again. Amen. [He sits.'] But afterwards. Verily the works and words of those gone before us have become examples and admoni- tions to the men of our later day. And of such a kind is the story of Hajj, the beggar, who lived his life in this our peaceful city of Baghdad, one thou- sand years and one year ago. Now it is the tale of his day of the days that I will relate unto you, O auspicious listeners. Do ye take heed therein of the lesson taught by Fate, which the poets call Kis- met. And mark well the chances and changes of time foredoomed to mortal man: lifting him now high, now sinking him low, even as the bucket in the well. [He rises. ] But Allah alone is all know- ing. [He withdraws. [The Man and Woman rise and sing: 1 hearken with my heart upon the ground. Nor from my breathless Ups shall rise a sound : — Awake, O day of days, and run thy round ! [Then they turn and reenter their respective houses. They have not seen each other. ACT I MORNING Scene I. — A Street before the Mosque of the Carpenters. [Right and left from the point of view of the actor.] In the centre, steps lead up to the Mosque, which is on the right. Only the lower part of the min- aret is visiole. A large stone to the left of the steps forms a rough seat. It is just before- dawn, which rises rapidly, so that it is daylight by the end of the scene. Asleep, on the stone, wrapped in his beggar's cloak of a hundred rags and patches, sits Hajj, re- clining against the angle of the wall. He is a man of about fifty, still in the full vigor of his manhood. His beard is thin and unkempt; but his face is keen, shrewd and full of humor. At a glance he shows himself to be a man of the people, who lives by his wits, untroubled by what the morrow may bring him. At pres- ent he is sleeping the sleep of the just to the tune of a hearty snore. After a fezv moments of peace, steps are heard in the alley left, and the Muezzin, an old man of seventy, appears with a lanthorn and a large key. He goes to the door of the Mosque and unlocks it. Cocks begin to crow far and near. The " brush " of the dawn appears in the sky. 3 4 KISMET [Hajj disturbed hy the clatter, turns and yawns prodigiously — stretching himself. Hajj. In the name of Allah, — Day? The Muezzin. [Coming towards him.] Peace be on thee, O Hajj. Hajj. And on thee, peace and blessing, O my friend. [The Muezzin enters the Mosque. [Imam Mahmud, a venerable white-bearded sage, appears. Hajj stifles a yawn, sits up, and assumes his beggar's attitude — the right hand out, the head dejectedly on one side. Hajj. [As the Imam comes to him in a whining sing- song.] Alms, for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah, alms! Mahmud. [Handing Hajj a small round loaf.] Take! The Giver giveth thee this. [He crosses in front of Hajj and goes up the steps. Hajj. [Taking the bread.] Verily, thy good deeds shall witness for thee on the day of judgment, O Mahmud. Mahmud. [Stopping.] The peace upon thee and a full harvest of tears and pity for thy poverty. Hajj. Nay, sooner pray it be a full hand of silver and gold. KISMET 5 Mahmud. That shall be even as Allah foredooms. Naught befalls us but what His pen hath written. Hajj. Praise be to Allah, the One, the Omnipotent. Mahmud. And to Mohammed his Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve. \He goes into the Mosque. [Hajj looks after him, grunts, and then turns and fumbles behind the stone, pull- ing out a chipped, earthen jug of water. He then mumbles "In the name of Allah," drinks from the jug and munches his bread, smacking his lips loudly. [Meanwhile, from the minaret the voice of the Muezzin is heard calling to prayer, and other distant calls to prayer may be heard from various quarters. Allah is Almighty, Allah is Almighty! There is no God but Allah ! There is no God but Allah! Come ye to prayei- ! Come ye to salvation ! Prayer is better than sleep! Prayer is better than sleep ! No God is there but Allah ! [Steps resound in the streets. Hajj quickly conceals his bread and jug behind the stone. Men now come at intervals by the two alleys and enter the Mosque. At the threshold they take off their slippers with their left hand, entering with the right foot, ejaculating, " In the name of Allah." Hajj. Alms for a starving brother. Bind a body and soul together! — O master! Thy large brow pro- claims an open heart. A danik! A fills! [The 6 KISMET Man ^ves a coin and passes on.] Heaven hatH seen this, O my master. In the name of the Com- passionating, the Compassionate! A blessing on thy white beard. Thou art nearing thy grave! Buy thy salvation from thy slave. [The Man passes on murmuring "Allah will give it thee."] Nothing. May'st thou burn for it, O thou dog! [To another.] O brother, mine eyes have failed me! [He rolls up his eyes.] Hast thou a blind father or one dearest to thee groping in darkness? [The Man gives a coin and passes on.] A dir- ham! The Bestower requite it thee, O my lord. [To another.] O Azir, my master, I see thee well, though it scarce be day. Is he better, thy son, the light of thy house? Be his fever abated? [The Man passes on muttering "Allah will provide."] Nought? May the Ghuls suck away thy bastard's breath. [To another.] O stranger! Not so quickly. Haste is from Hell ; Heaven will wait for thee. [To a young man.] O fair youth, a trifle. On my knees have I lain here these endless years. [The Man gives him a coin.] The Protector in- crease thy weal. [To the Mufti, an old man.] O Mufti — a word. Thou knowest the bitterness of a long life and a weary. I am young, alas. All my sad days stretch before me. The Mufti. Please Allah to-morrow Hajj. [Getting between the Mufti and the steps of the Mosque.] Thou dost ever say to-morrow. The Mufti. [Laughing.] And is not to-morrow ever to- morrow ? Hajj. True. The stench of thy soul lessens not from dawn to dawn. KISMET y The Mufti. Out of my way. \He pushes past Hajj into the Masque. Hajj. With joy and gladness — for thy way leads to damnation. [Several men enter singly and by twos as Hajj continues in a sing-song tone.] Glory be to Allah ! Upon Allah dependeth daily bread. Thy wealth is not thine own, O rich man. Thou art as poor as the poorest. Allah alone giveth, and what he giveth belongeth not to thee. Thy gold is but a blessing to become a blessing. Then open thy purse and let the afflicted bend to the holy House of Mec- cah for thee, and every danik out of thy hand will return to thee a thousandfold through the prayers of the poor. [Men have gone into the Mosque, some giv- ing coin, others passing on. From the street on the left the guide Nasir enters conducting the Sheikh Jawan, an old man, who is leaning on kuo black slaves and followed by two others. He is clothed completely in white, his face veiled by a "Taylasan," a scarf hiding his beard. He is, over sixty and paralyzed in his legs, but his eyes are still full of fire. Two Slaves retire. Slowly the Sheikh mounts the steps supported by the other Two Slaves. [Hajj catches hold of the hem of his cloak. Hajj. Alms, for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah, ahxts! Jawan. [Turning.] O Hajj, thou? Hajj. [Surprised, rising and following him.] Thou knowest me? 8 KISMET Jawan. Thou still here mumbling for crusts? \He laughs, a nasal laugh, mockingly.] He, he, he! [Nasir takes off Jawan's slippers. Hajj. [On the Mosque steps.] Who art thou? Jawan. Who am I ? He, he ! Who am I ? He, he, he ! [He turns with his slaves and goes off into the Mosque followed by the guide Nasir. [Hajj looks after him mystified and riveted by a haunting memory; then slowly re- gains his seat, counting his profits as he does so. " One, two, three — five." [Meanwhile Kasim, a young, ragged, one- eyed beggar, has come and sat down on Hajj's seat. He is busy tying some strips round one of his legs, quite unconscious of usurping any one's rights. Hajj is about to sit, ilfhen he turns, and, seeing Kasim, exclaims an amazed "Yehh!" He comes slowly up to the intruder and touches him provokingly on the arm. Hajj. [Squatting.] And what may thy business be? Kasim. Canst thou not see ? I am a beggar even as thou. Hajj. Thou — even as I? Thou? Knowest thou what thou say'st? Kasim. My ears can hear my tongue. Hajj. O monstrous piece of impudence! A beggar KISMET 9 even as I ? 'Tis plain thou art a stranger to Bagh- dad. Kasim. Thou hast said it. I come from afar. My name's Kasim. And thou ? Hajj. I? I? Hatha! [Patronisingly.] O thou poor fool. But there, thou art a stranger. I? I am Hajj — Hajj, the beggar. Kasim. Hajj ? A pilgrim ? Then thou hast been to Holy Meccah ? Hajj. Not I ! Never a foot have I stirred beyond our city walls. My parents called me Hajj at my birth, so that the sacred title might win me added pity from the passer-by. Not a child in the quarter but calleth me thus by name. I have sat upon that stone these fifty summers and winters, drinking the sun, and more oft than not the moon too, scorning the pent-up sleep of a bed. Kjvsim. [Sneeringly.] These fifty summers? Say'st thou so? Hajj. [Excitedly.] Yea! And before me my father sat there, superb in rags, and before him, his; and so on to the beginning without beginning.. That stone, O Kasim, is my legacy, my right, my strong- hold. Not till this hour hath man dared what thou darest. Kasim. Then this hour endeth thy kingdom. I am come to conquer. lO KISMET Hajj. I pray thee, O maggotty head, bandy no words. Go get thee to yon corner \He points to the corner left.] if it like thee. Other swine have grovelled there in their time. My vilest enemy sat there once, these many weary years since. Take his place. Kasim. I'll not budge from here. Hajj. How say'st thou? Not budge? A scum like thou? A nail-pairing? A goat's cheese at noon- tide? Not budge? We shall see, by Allah! We shall see ! [He seizes him and pushes him towards the corner. Kasim. Let go ! Let go, I say ! Ho, Moslems, come ye to my help ! Let go ! Hajj. [Holding Kasim at arm's length and kicking him.] Let go? There! How's that to thy taste? Swallow that, an thou art an-hungered. A dainty dish of foot, and more to follow. One — two — three ! Another mouthful ? [Nasir, the Guide of the Sheikh, has come out of the Mosque and stands on the steps. Nasir. O Hajj ! By the All-loiowing, what's this ? Hajj. He'd take my seat — this nothing from nowhere. Kasim. [Rubbing himself.] I want not his seat. KISMET H Hajj. Not now, — now that I have made thee feel the value of thine own. [Kasim crawls down to the stone left, nurs- ing his kicks. Hajj. {Sits in his seat.] A joyous day indeed and a well begun ! What with this one-eyed dog, and thy miserly stranger [Breaking off.] Allah! Who is he, O Nasir ? Nasir. [Evasively ■] A man of the men. I know not. Hajj. O brother of truth, thou knowest full well. Thou art guiding him, he bdges at thy Khan. He called me by name. Who is he ? Nasir. [After a moment of hesitating.] Harkee, O Hajj. I have a plan to offer thee. An thou wilt fall in with my plotting, 'twill mean money to both of us. Hajj. Money ? No harm in that. Speak. Nasir. This old man of mine has been a famous high- wayman in his hour. The White Sheikh they were used to call him. Hajj. The White Sheikh— he? Nasir. Our Caliph deceased set his troops upon him oft and oftener. In one of his attacks, he captured most of the robber's band — his little son amongst them, a mere stripling at the time. 12 KISMET Hajj. Say on. Nasir. The boy was spared for his beauty. If he still be of the living, his age must reach nigh on thirty sum- mers. Yet all these endless years whilst the last Caliph ruled, the Sheikh dared not enter Baghdad. Not till now, that the young monarch hath mounted the throne, hath the father ventured at last in search of his son. Hajj. A touching tale! And how forsooth are we to coin wealth of this? Nasir. Did'st thou not mark how broken, how stricken, the old man is ? Never was there such a repentant sinner. All his moneys are spent in charities; all his hopes in the finding of his beloved son, Yusuf. The smallest word, the faintest promise from priest or soothsayer, and his hand darts into his purse. Now dost thou see dawn? Hajj. I am to cast myself into his path. What thou hast revealed, is to flow unto me as in a vision. Nasir. Thou hast it. And it is agreed, whate'er he be- stows on thee, we share by halves, like honest Mos- lems that we are. Hajj. So it please the Protector. Leave it to me. Nasir. But harkee, O clever one, thou'lt do it carefully? Draw from all the deepest wells : a father's longing, KISMET 13 a father's mad despair. Such Hke and more, if thou canst. Hajj. If I can? If I can? Did I not too have a son — many years gone to-day,^ — a babe fair as the moon ! Was he not foully murdered? His throat cut across? And my wife, the balm of mine eyes, stolen away by mine enemy ? Yea, sat he not where yon dog sits now — the slaughterer of my race? Doth not yon stone make my soul ever cry aloud for blood revenge? Nasir. So thou, too, hast felt its fire — a father's love ? Hajj. Felt it? Hearken to this, O Nasir — and Allah pardon me for unveiling the veiled sex. I have a daughter now of fourteen summers, the child of a late spring by another wife, who is dead, alas ! The maid is all that is left me on earth; dear to me above the promises of Paradise. Yet the day will come when she will be wed and wived. And she will bear the burden of another's posterity. But mine own race, the blood of my fathers, once I am called to rest, where will it be? O brother, I am like unto a date-palm that groweth aslant the pool, and whose fruit hath fallen into the waters. \Men begin to come out of the Mosque and wander off by the two alleys. {Dawn is giving place to daylight. Nasir. Prayer is over. We must not be found together. [Nasir retires to the alley left, and beckons to the Two Black Slaves, who join him. [Meanwhile, other men are passing Hajj, who begins in a sing-song tone, but has left his seat so as to intercept the Sheikh. 14 KISMET Hajj. Alms for the love of Kasim. [Whining.] Alms for the love of Allah! Hajj. [To Kasim.] Silence, thou dog! — [Continuing.] For the love of Allah, alms. The grave is dark- ness. Charity its lamp. Learn to love poverty. Be good and enter Paradise. Alms, for the love of Allah ! For the love of Allah, alms ! [The Sheikh Jawan reappears from the Mosque, pausing on the steps, supported by his Two Slaves. Jawan conceals his face from Hajj with his scarf. Hajj. [Rising.] O Sheikh of sheikhs, the Peace upon thee. When thou spokest before, the eyes of my memory were closed. Now they are open and re- call thy bounty of other days. Jawan. Dost thou know me, indeed? Hajj. I see thy soul clear as in crystal. Thou art come from afar in search of some one long lost. 'Tis him thou seekest, thy son. Jawan. Yehh! This is strange. Shall I reach my de- sire? Hajj. Thou shalt see thy son this day. Jawan. Even though the curses of my foes stand between me and Allah? KISMET' 15 Hajj. Thy prayers have killed their curses. Jawan. Wit thou swear to that ? Hajj. By Him, the All-seeing, the All-hearing, the All- knowing I swear it to thee. Jawan. Will thy ragged saintliness bless me? Hajj. Allah's blessing upon thee and thy enterprise. May thy foes be confounded, and thy hopes rounded. \A. slight pause — then Jawan bursts info un- controllable laughter — "He, he, he, he, he!" Jawan. O Hajj ! Dost guess what thou hast done ? See ! \He withdraws the scarf from his face.^ Thou hast blest thine enemy. I am he who has sat at yon corner in the- long ago. Hajj. [Hoarsely.] Jawan! Jawan. Yes, Jawan ! He that stole thy wife and stabbed thy squealing brat and fled the city at night. Hajj. Jawan, — the beggar, — thou ? Jawan. Jawan, the beggar, no longer Jawan the beggar. Nay, look not so amazed. My wild life hath old- ened me more than thy tame life thee., 1 6 KISMET Hajj. Jawan! Jawan. Dost thou doubt me? Hearken, then, and learn. Thy wife and I, that night of the nights, we rode out into the desert. A band of robbers found us. Time and lot made me their leader. Twenty-five years I was their chief. Twenty-five years the Caliph made war on me as on a king — his equal. And I was his equal in power, in prowess, in all — yea, even though he captured my son, the son of thy wife, thy beautiful Gulnar. Hajj. hog, hog- fathered ! Allah ruin thee for ever. Jawan. [Sneeringly.] Thou dost foi'get thy blessings of a moment since. [He crosses to Nasie and the other slaves, Hajj. 1 blessed thee not. I blessed an unknown. Jawan. No, no, me by the Most High, the Glorious — me. And 'tis thus through thee, that I shall find my son again. Thou hast recalled thy curses. The spell is broken at last. Hajj. Thou shalt not live to find him. [He springs towards Jawan. [The other Two Slaves draw ugly looking dirks and ward off Hajj. [Hajj stands impotent and panting— "Wah!" ^ Jawan. Said I not I was King? Allah send thee a long life, Hajj, and a happy. KISMET 17 Hajj. Allah send thee the foul fiend and a thousand fires. Jawan. Too late, O brother. Thou hast stopped Heaven's ears with thy blessings ! Thy curses fall on deaf- ness. — Behold! A poor return for thy bounty! \He throws a purse at Hajj.] Up and away! [The Slaves turn with Jaw an and move away by the alley left, Nasir preceding them. Hajj. [Desperately.l Take back thy blood money. I'll not swallow my son's blood! Take it back, O thou graybeard of hell ! Take it ! [Jaw an has disappeared; his laughter, "He, he, he!" is heard dying away in the dis- tance. Kasim crawls from his seat to- 'wards the purse. Hajj. Laugh ! Laugh to split thy spleen ! But by the Decreer, thy day shall set ! For I have found thee ! Thou art alive and here, — and I too — I am alive. [Going up to Kasim.] Dost thou hear?. Dost thou ? — I have found him ! He is back in Baghdad, he who sat where .thou sittest, the butcher of my race! I shall meet him at last — hold him by the throat, the dog of dogs, and [Taking Kasim by the throat.] I shall strangle him with [Choking Kasim.] these — two — thumbs of mine. Kasim. [ Ch king. ] Brother — ^protection ! Hajj. [Still continuing, in his fury.] What though he be guarded by slaves with swords naked, and I, defenceless 1 8 KISMET Kasim. [ Gasping. ] Awah ! Hajj. I shall find a way to him. Buy it, if need be! — Buy? Yehh. [He throws Kasim aside and turns to the purse. ] And with his gold. His ! It smelleth of blood. Every coin a crime, every chink a cry for vengeance. Allah, be thou my witness ! Only for this do I touch his accursed charity. Only for this ! Kasim. Look! [Several men come out of the Mosque. Hajj. [Quickly thrusting the purse in his bosom, re- turns to his stone, beginning his sing-song without looking up.] Alms for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah Kasim. Alms for the love of Allah! For the love of All Hajj. [To Kasim.] Silence, thou louse-trap! [Nasir reenters rapidly. Nasie. I've left him for an instant. He's praying at a tomb. The purse. How much is mine? Hajj. The purse? Nasie. The purse he threw thee. Hajj. [Innocently.] I saw no purse. KISMET 19 Nasir. Saw no purse? Thou art jesting. Out with it. Share. Hajj. Share ? Purse ? Know I what he threw or not ? Sit I here to count the droppings of the street ? A pretty patron thou didst serve me. Get thee gone ! Thou art a rogue, a thief ! Nasir. I, a rogue? I, a thief? \To Kasim.| Thou sawest him take the purse. [Hajj secretly drops the purse into his water-jug.'] I call thee to wit- ness. Kasim. I saw him spit on it and turn from it and curse it. Nasir. [Catching hold of l^siM.] TAom hast it. Thou hast taken it for him. Kasim. Alas, O brother, not I. Nasir. Give it me ! Give it me ! 'Tis not thine to keep. Kasim. Strip every rag from me — thou'lt not find it. Hajj. [Gleefully.] Strip him! Strip him! Kasim. [Turning with fury to Hajj.] Thou hast it. Hajj. Aye, strip me too. Both of us, so it give thee pleasure. Thou shalt behold rare sights. Strip us —thy slave entreats thee. 20 KISMET [One of Jawan's Negroes appears from the alley. Negro. O Nasir. Hajj. [Pointing to the Negro.] Thy master calls! Nasir. O thou villain! I go to take my charge back to the inn. But after, as thou lovest Uf e, look to thy- self and thy safety. [He hurries off after the Negro. Hajj. [Shouting after him.] The Peace upon thee! Ha, ha, ha! [He takes the purse out of the water-jug, putting it into his breast Kasim. [Laughing obsequiously.] Ha! Ha! Ha! [A slight pause. Kasim. [Crawling over to Hajj, cringing.] O my mas- ter, and what is my share of the spoils? Hajj. [Imitating Kasim.] "What is my share of the spoils?" By Solomon's seal ring! This purse — whether it be from Heaven or from Hell, — this hath been sent by Fate to me, and me alone. There is a purpose in this purse. The scroll of destiny unrollcth itself to mine eyes. I see the writing as in flames. Kasim. The scroll? Hajj. Lookee, all of us have an allotted hour. This is KISMET 21 mine. Here's the talisman I have prayed for, many a year of waiting. The weapon to my revenge — Gold! Kasim. What wilt thou do? Hajj. I shall arise from the seat of dejection. \R\ses.\ M^y days of mourning are over. I shall get me to the hammam-bath. [Walking about.] These rags will I rip from me ; the waters shall wash away my weariness. Robes of ease and decency shall broaden my breast. No more the whining voice and bent brow, and trembling palm of poverty, but head back as a fighter of the faith, shoulders free, stride bold and commanding as a king's, yea, as he said, even as a king's. [He walks excitedly up and down and •throws his beggar's cloak on his stone. [The Imam Mahmud has come out of the Mosque and stands amazed on the steps. Mahmud. Hajj. Are thy wits fled? What means this? Hajj. 1 am casting my beggardom from me. Mahmud. Thou? Hajj. Allah hath opened the Gate of Action to me. [Chinking his purse.] With a golden key! Mahmud. O my son, I fear for thee the chances and changes of time. Hajj. Hath not the Prophet enjoined blood vengeance ? I am resolved, O my father. Voyage is victory. 22 KISMET Yet ere I go, thou who didst ever remember my misery, — take this voluntary for the poor. {He gives Mahmud some coin. Mahmtto. May the Protector protect thee against all woe, may He forefend thee ever against thy foe. Kasim. [Going to Hajj, still on his knees.] And I — am I to have naught? Hajj. Thou? [Pushing him to the stone.] Take thou my stone, my ancestral throne! Wrapped in my royal robes, hold it thine own! As for me, life calls. The day is mine to joy! And when the night falleth, Allah allowing, I shall hold mine enemy in the hollow of my hand! [He strides off to the left, his purse on high, full daylight upon him. CURTAIN Scene II. The Suk (Bazaar Street) of the Tailors. A narrow street, arched over, with shops on both sides. Arches left and right. A large centre arch at the back leads off to other parts of the bazaar. [Note. — Much of the following action and dialogue occurs simultaneously, so as to pro- duce a harmonious picture rather than separate impressions.] In a shop left sits Zayd, a thin, conceited man of forty: he has with him a tiny little apprentice. KISMET 23 who is here, there and everyisfhere. In the shop right (Ameu's shop), a somewhat older apprentice is unpacking bales of stuff. It is early morning. The life of the street is awak- ening to the business of the day. As the cur- tain rises the shopkeepers are spreading out their wares. A Sweetmeat-seller enters through the centre arch. He bows to a shop- keeper and passes on, squatting in the right corner, his back to the audience. His cry is, "Ho! Ho! Swee-ts." Fruit-girls enter from the right and settle down in the left cor- ner opposite him. Their cry is " Omani peaches, Osmani quinces! Sultani citrons! Li-mes! " Two Bedouins appear and walk solemnly down the street. A Chinaman enters, followed by a little boy carrying fowls. The Chinaman goes to the Sweetmeat-seller and points to the sweets with his fan. Chinaman. [In a squeaky voice.'] This! This! This! How much? Sweetseller. Three daniks. Chinaman. One! One! One! , Sweetseller. Two. Chinaman. [Turning away to the left.] One! Sweetseller. [Rises and goes after him.] One and a half. [The Chinaman refuses to listen to him. 24 KISMET SWEETSELLER. [Sitting down again.] Hell swallow all foreign dogs ! [Jawan enters at the central arch supported by his Two Slaves and passes down the street. [The Chinaman goes to Zayp's shop. Zayd's ApPaENTICE. Allah enlarge thee, O traveller from the land of China. Chinaman. Silk! Silk! Silk! Zayd's Apprentice. Here's Persian silk, O my master! Rich, soft silk. Chinaman. [Pulling it about.] No! China silk! China silk ! This bad ! Bad ! [He walks away. Zayd's Apprentice. [Shouts after him.] Out on thee, thou cat- faced infidel ! [A Boy with flowers comes and squats down near the fruit-girls. His cry is: " Jasmine and violets fine, Pomegranate bloom and eglantine." [An Old Man with a donkey appears laden with jars of olive oil, stops at Zayd's shop and turns to the apprentice. The Old Man. [To the Apprentice.] Here's olive oil for thy master. Boy. Is the Jar full? KISMET 2S The Old Man. Full as the number of my years. Boy. Allah make them a thousand in number. [The Captain of the Guard struts majes- tically through the Suk. Nasie, the guide, enters, goes to Zayd's shop and bargains for a sash; tries it on, rolling himself into it and out of it as Zayd holds one end of it. [Two Courtesans appear in flimsy veils and gorgeous draperies. A Youth approaches them zinth a flower he has bought from the flower-boy. The First Courtesan. [To the Youth.] Fair befall thee, O Youth! Art thou from Baghdad ? Art thou a stranger ? The Youth. I am yours from wherever I am ; a captive to the moon of your faces. The Other Courtesan. Thy glance is bright as the blade of a sword. The Youth. And thy tongue sharper, no doubt ! The Porter. [With an immense bale on his head, to one of the Courtesans.] Must thou trip my heels, thou stinking armful? The Courtesan. Out of my way, thou son of a burnt father. Ajst Old Man. [To a Young One.] Come out of this babel; I am sick from eating too much of the world. «6 KISMET The Young Man. Nay, I have only begun the feast — I am an-hun- gered. Look at this shop, O my father ! A Merchant. What wilt thou buy, O my brother? Silks? Kerchiefs? Girdles? Here's all the earth gives birth to. An Egyptian. [With a little girl, to a boy selling beads.] What manner of beads are these, O my son ? The Bead-boy. Beads from Damascus ! Beads of polished steel ! Glass beads from Rhodes! Beads clear as crystal from the land of China, whiter than sea-pearls ! The Egyptian. [To his little girl.] What shall I buy thee, O my Pigeon? These beads? Or those? Speak, O my Lotus! A Man. [To one of the Fruit-sellers.] Is thy fruit sweet, O my sister ? [He takes up some fruit. The Fruit-seller. Pay first and taste after. A Man. Thy fruit is over-ripe. The Fruit-seller. 'Tis fresh as the dawn-breeze. The Man. O my little tulip, how should I believe thee? Dost thou not belong to the universal sisterhood of woman ? KISMET VJ The Fruit-seller. All women are not alike; nor are the fingers of the hand alike. The Sweetmeat-seller. [Crying.] Swee-ts! Swee-ts! No better sweets in Baghdad. No better sweets in Baghdad. They are made by my cousin. He's pastry-cook at the palace. A Buyer. Allah increase thee for a smooth-tongued lia,r! The Sweetmeat-seller. Taste my wares and ask my pardon! [And so it goes. Cries and movement every- where. The shopkeeper's call to the pass- er-by is, " What dost thou want? Dost thou lack kerchiefs, shawls? " Greetings are heard such as, " I salute thee with my salaam! Allah increase thee, O my brother! A blessed day! Allah gladden thee with good news! The Bestower in- crease thee ever! " Porters plough their way through the crowd calling out, " Have patience, O ye people, have patience." Compliments are heard such as, " Thou art like the moon on a fourteenth night! Thy body sways like a thirsting gazelle! Gifted by the Giver art thou! Thy beauty would make a palace dance! " And words of anger and impatience such as, " Begone and none of thine impudence! Be off! By Allah, this is not allowed! May Allah never bless thee! No friendly welcome to thee! Fie upon thee, ill-omened fellow! " The hubbub reaches its climax as a Water-carrier enters, shouting loudly, " Water! Water, coo-l and clea-r! " He is stopped by two negro slaves, who buy 28 KISMET cups of water from him. Then the Water-carrier turns, as Amru, a stout imposing merchayit with a huge beard, comes down the street and approaches him. Amru takes a cup. As he does so, Zayd looks up from his shop in surprise and hurries out of it. Zayd. [Surprised.] By mine eyes, Amru! Amru. [Delighted.] By mine eyes, Zayd ! [They embrace, one arm being thrown round the shoulder, the other round the side, placing the chin first upon the left then upon the right collar bone and repeating this several times. As they embrace the crowd gradually disperses, leaving the street com,paratively empty. But there is always a sense of life in the Suk, and the hum of the bazaar is heard dimly through' out the scene. Zayd. Welcome and well come and good cheer to my friend, the dearly-beloved. So thou art home from Egypt? [He motions him over to his shop. Amru. Yesternight in the first watch I caused my camels to kneel at my door. Zayd. By Allah and his Apostle, it swells my heart to hear thy voice once more ! Thou hast tarried many moons. Has thy business prospered? [The little apprentice has spread out cush- ions: they both sit. KISMET 29 Ameu. Fortune hath blessed me indeed. And thou? How is't with thee ? Zayd. Alas! Traffic has grown dull with the new Caliph. Amru. So soon ? He hath been in power but seven days they tell me. Zayd. He is very young — scarce sixteen, — and so de- vout! He was schooled in a monastery in the mountains. 'Tis said his harim is empty. Not a woman, — ^not as much as a wife. Amru. Not so much as — and seven days I By the glories of Paradise to come! An I were Caliph for seven days ! Zayd. An I were Caliph for seven hours! But they say that he is waiting to find the woman of his dream, a maid of beauty all in all. Be she of noblest blood or poorest of the poor, he hath taken oath, until Alkih reveal tlje. chosen one, he will live alone, — unwed, — unwived. ■ [Kettledrums are heard in the distance to the left. [Amru returns to his shop at the right. [The crowd hurries in from all sides. Men and women all kneel, bending low. As the Caliph enters they touch their fore- heads to the ground, [Through the centre arch comes the Caliph's procession, turning down and disappear- ing through the arch right. First come Six Archers of the Guard with lances. 30 KISMET Next follow Four Men witK Kettle- drums {like tom-toms) and a pair of Trumpeters: then Six Archers with scimitars drawn, walking two and two. After that, Dignitaries of the royal household. Some singly, others in twos. These are: the Caliph's slipper-hearer; his cloak-bearer; his cup-bearer ; his ewer and basin-bearer ; his bow-bearer, and his car- pet-spreader. Next the two head Eu- nuchs of his harim, both tall blackamoors clothed in yellow. [After this, at an interval of five paces, on a white mule, the Caliph himself, robed in the black of the Abbaside dynasty. His face is very youthful, full of spiritual beauty and weary pride. On his left cheek he has a mole. By his left side walks Abu Bakr, an old, white-bearded man, clothed in green and white, with a very large tur- ban, holding his master's left stirrup. [As the Caliph reaches the centre of the street, an old woman, Kabirah, throws herself at his feet; the procession halts. Kabirah. O King of the age — ^justice! Justice to an an- cient widow and a sore oppressed! [She holds out a petition. Caliph. [Waving to Abu Bakr who takes the petition.] Come thou to my Diwan this mid-afternoon. None shall suffer wrong under this my sovereignty. The Judge of Judges be my witness. The Peace! [Kabirah withdraws muttering, "Heaven increase thee ever, O King." [The procession moves on; the people in the street remaining crouched and motionless as the Caliph passes them. KISMET 31 [A Court Dignitary follows, scattering coin. [Six Archers, with scimitars drawn, con- clude the procession. [Directly the Caliph's guard is out of sight there is a wild scramble for the royal largesse. The rabble then follows the p-rocession. Zayd. {To Amru, shouting across to his shop.] Didst note the mole on his cheek? Is he not beautiful? Amru. AU^h bless him ! And the old man ? Zayd. Abu Bakr, his tutor — a far-famed grammarian. He entered the city with countless camel-loads of dictionaries. 'Tis he who ruleth the ruler. Amru. Where's Mansur — the old Caliph's favorite? He was wont to ride by his master's side. Hath he fallen from power ? Zayd. Nay, he's still Chief of the Guards of the City and Wazir of the Police. But at the Palace they begin to whisper — [Seeing Mansur; in a low voice. ] The Peace ! — Mansur ! [Mansur appears, a tall, slim, sinister figure of about eight and twenty. His face shows traces of beauty ruined by de- bauchery; his manner is that of an expert in the sensualism of cruelty; his robes are of deep blue and steel. He is evidently nursing his rage, and strides along omi- nously. Behind him comes Kafur, his sworder, a snake-like Ethiopian, by whose 32 KISMET side hobbles a small hunchback scribe, Afife, who looks more like a pelican than a man. {As Mansur enters, a Blind Man crosses his path. The Blind Man. Blind ! Blind ! Buy a blessing from the blind ! [Mansur, annoyed at the Blind Man's fumbling, strikes him down and passes on. The 'Blind Man gets up again, helped by two of the courtesans. Zayd gives him a coin or two, and he goes on his way. Zayd. [To Amru.] Didst mark his rage? He, the favorite of yesterday, to-day must walk second to the grammarian. The splitter of lives bow to the splitter of syllables. Ha! Ha! [Hajj appears in the centre archway. He is still in rags. He comes down to Zayd. Zayd. [Putting him off as he would a beggar.] Heaven will provide, O brother. [Hajj crosses to Amru. Amru. [In the same tone as Zayd.] Allah will provide. Hajj. Nay, I am no beggar. Zayd and Amru. What art thou then? Hajj. I am a religious mendicant. My vow of poverty has been accomplished in the hour. I am on my way to the hammam to reenter daily life. KISMET 33 Zayd. O father of rags, thou art strangely like to a beggar before the Carpenter's Mosque. Hajj. So I have been told. The sooner therefore I strip me of his likeness, the better for both of us. What hast thou in the manner of cloaks and shirts and turban-cloths? \He clinks the purse ominously. [Zayd and Amru hurry forward, each bring- ing a cushion fox Hajj to sit on. They spread a big square of stuff before him on which they display their goods. [Hajj sits down with great satisfaction. Zayd. All colors, O my master. Amru. All kinds, O my master. Hajj. [With a delighted smile, pleased at the epithet. 1 Master ! [He chinks his purse. Zayd; Why dost thou smile? Hajj. _ 'Tis nought ! A memory ! Show me thy wares. Amru. Thou'lt see mine too, O my lord? Hajj. [Turning to Amru, as above.] Lord! — Thine too, — O my — my tailor. [Pointing to some veils in Amru's hands.] What's this? 34 KISMET Zayd. [Spreading out a cloak eagerly.] Thy cloak, O my master. Hajj. [To Zayd putting him off.] A moment. [To Amru.] Face veils? Amru. [Spreading out a veil.] After the fashion of Egypt. Woven air ! Hajj. [Taking up the veil.] A veil! Hast thou ank- lets? Ameu. Here are jewels none hath set eyes on in Bagh- dad. [He opens a little casket. Zayd. [Jealously, calling across.] O my lord, — thy cloak. Amru. [To Zayd, annoyed.] Trouble not my master. Hajj. [Taking up the anklets and veil] How much? Amru. Seven dinars. Hajj. Thou art mad! [He turns to Zayd.] Thy cloak! Amru. [Eagerly.] How much wilt thou offer? Hajj. [Ignoring Amru.] Allah, this is workmanship! Amru. [As above.] Six dinars and a half. KISMET 35 Hajj. ]Tq Zayd.] Who's the designer of this? Zayd. 'Tis I. Ameu. \Qmchly to Hajj, waving the scarf and anklets.] Six. Hajj. [Turning to Amru.] Three! And 'tis more than paid. Amru. The anklets alone cost me four. Zayd. [To Hajj.] Thou'lt have the cloak? Hajj. How much? ZAYDk Twenty-five dinars. Hajj.- Twenty-five! [He turns abruptly to Amru.] Three dinars. Zayd. Twenty- four and a half ! Amru. Four dinars and I lose. By the life of my fa- ther, I swear it. Hajj. Four an thou wrappest them up in one of thy kerchiefs. Amru. 'Tis beyond my yielding. [He takes his veils away. 36 KISMET Hajj. [Turning to Zayd.] Hast thou veils? [Amru eyes Hajj eagerly. Zayd. The best in Baghdad. Thou'lt have the cloak. Hajj. I'll see others first. Put it there. [He points to the kerchief spread out before him. ] Thy veils ! Amru. Hold! Thou shalt have thy veil and kerchief. But I swear Hajj. [Turning to Amru.] Swear not! [Counts out the money. ] Four ! Thou hast begun the day too well. What shirt is this? [He takes it up.^ And yon trousers and girdle? [Pointing to some trousers and a girdle Z.wd's apprentice is holding up. [The Guide Nasir enters at the hack, sees Hajj and watches him unobserved, imth cat-like glances, leaning against Zayd's shop. Zayd hands Hajj the trousers and girdle. Amru. [Shouting.l First see this girdle of mine. Hajj. Now which of ye twain hath a turban-cloth to my heart? Zayd. [Unrolling one.] O master, 'tis I. Amru. [Unrolling another.] O master, 'tis me. KISMET 37 Zayd. I! Amru. Me! Hajj. The master asked both. [Pointing to Amru's cloth, squinting at Zayd out of the corner of his eye.] His cloth far excelleth thine. Zayd. [Furious.] His cloth excel mine? Yon meagre tracery crawling along the edge as a dying dog to a puddle, — that excel my glorious branching and bowing of pomegranates? Ameu. Dying dog, indeed ! Dying dog thyself. Zayd. By Allah, hold thy peace, O brother. Hajj. [To Zayd inciting him.] How? Let him call thee dog? Zayd. [Springing up.] Called he me dog? Didst thou call me dog, O dog? Amrq. [Conciliating him, still on his knees.] Enough, O Zayd. Words poison. Hajj. [To Amru, in a whisper.] What? Kneel to a slave, dost thou? Amru. Yehh! Thou art right. [Rising and facing Zayd.] Yes, I — I call thee dog. 38 KISMET Zayd. Thou shall eat thy words. \He crosses to Amru. Ameu. And thou thy pomegranates. [They fall to blows. [Hajj quickly gathers the clothes he picked out, wraps the large cloth about them and hurries off by the arch, left. Nasir has watched Hajj and follows him off. The Merchants and Apprentices hurry out of the shops. Various Men. Ho, masters! Ho, masters! Help! They're fighting ! They'll have their swords out. Ho, Mos- lems ! Ho, Captain ! Help ! [Several of the shopmen and passers-by crowd round, chattering and screaming, trying to separate the two men. Different ones shout: " O Amru! O Brothers! Where's the Syndic? O Zayd! For the love of Allah! Are ye not sons of Islam both?" etc. [The Captain of the Watch hurries in by the centre arch. The two men are sepa- rated by him. Captain. O Zayd! O Amru! Shame upon ye! How now? Are ye donkey-boys? Amru. O Captain! Heaven knoweth we were ever the best of friends. Zayd. Ever till this hour. Captain. Who began it ? KISMET 39 Zayd. 'Twas my lord here who said \He points to Hajj's empty cushion; stops and stares amazed. ] Where is my lord? [He looks about bewildered.] Yehh ! Gone ! Gone and the clothes with him. Amru. O, the bazaar devil ! 'Twas he that set us on. Zayd. After him. Which way went he? A Man. This way. [He points to the arch left. [The crowd, headed by Zayd, starts to run off to the left. Another Man. [Pointing up to the centre arch. ] This way ! [The crowd veers and starts off to the back. Stilii Another Man. [Pointing to the right.] This way! [They all swing to the right. [Nasir reenters from the left arch eagerly. Nasir, [At the top of his voice.] No, that way. I know the dog well. 'Tis Haj j — the beggar ! [General hubbub as All run off to the left, shouting and gesticulating. The Sweetmeat-seller. [Rising and putting his tray of sweets on his head goes slowly down the street, shouting,] Ho! Ho ! Swee-ts ! curtain 40 KISMET Scene III. The Courtyard of a poor House. In the right wall a large double door leads out to the street. An arch, which supports the upper part of the house, runs parallel to the wall at the right, thus screening the court from the street. At the back, a door leads into the inner house. Two cages, with a bird in each, are hanging on the wall right. The left side of the court is taken up by a wall about seven feet high, a niche in its centre containing a well with ropes, buckets and a large jar or two. Over the wall can be seen some cypresses of a garden. In the shadow of this wall, a rose tree grows in a rim of masonry. An awning is stretched across the Court. A tom-tom stands in one corner. The fidl morning sun over everything. Marsinah, a beautiful girl of fourteen summers {which would correspond to a girl of eighteen in the west) is seated on some rough matting, in the centre of the court. She is clad in the simplest fashion, like the poorest Arabian women. She is busy zvith some needlework on a large embroidery frame, which rests on four legs like a low table. Near her, idly fanning away the flies, sits Naejis, a stout, old Duenna, with a full-blown face. About them on the matting lie strands of dif- ferent colored wools. Marsinah. [Looking up to the garden wall.] The sun grows hot. Narjis. How's thy border? Will it be done by noon- prayer? I promised it the merchant. KISMET 41 Maesinah. [Impatiently sighing.] I hear, O Narjis, I hear. Hast thou any yellow wool? Narjis. [Turns away from Marsinah to look for it.} Yellow ? Yellow ? Did I not give it thee erstwhile ? Marsinah. [Quickly takes the yellow wool and hides it un- der the folds of her dress.\ 'Twas red thou gavest me. Narjis. By the life of thy youth, O Marsinah, 'twas yel- low. [She rises and searches. Marsinah. Look thyself. Thou seest I lack it to finish the pattern. Narjis. Alas I [Sighs. ] What's to be done ? What's to be done? [She sits despondently on the rim of the well. Marsinah. Run to the wool market, O good Narjis. Narjis. All the way to the wool market? Marsinah. 'Tis none so far for one so sprightly as thou, O sweet Narjis. Thou did'st promise it the merchant — remember ! Narjis. I could have laid an oath with the All-seeing there was yet another strand of yellow. 42 KISMET Marsinah. [Tucking away a telltale thread.] Couldst thou in sooth? Naejis. Well-a-day! There's nought for me but to go. We must finish the work or the money's lost. [She crosses to the large double door and takes down a huge iron door key, which hangs on the wall beside the door. ] And O Marsinah ! No looking out of windows or peeping over walls. Marsinah. By Lady Fatimah's life of light ! What dost thou suppose ? Narjis. Think of thy father. Thou knowest how he fears for thy safety. Was not his first wife stolen? His son slaughtered? Art thou not the last of his race ? Is not thine own mother in the tomb of eter- nity ? I tell thee, should one folly on thy part reach thy father's ears, 'twere the undoing of us both. Marsinah. Fear nought, O dear Narjis. [Narjis has let herself out and locked the door outside. [Marsinah rises, and listens at the door. Then she hurries to the rim of the ma- sonry by the well, gets up on it and peers over the wall. With a little cry of de- light she exclaims " Waiting! Waiting! " Then claps her left palm with her right hand twice. She listens, — then claps again. Some one answers the signal in the same manner. She draws her veil across her face instinctively and stands expectant. [A youth appears over the masonry. In a KISMET 43 moment he is down and in her arms. By his mole he is seen to be the young Caliph Abdallah, — but he is now dressed in the simple clothes of an artisan. Caliph. my beloved ! At last ! Marsinah. Dost thou still love me, O my master? Caliph. Still? \He draws away her veil and hisses her between the eyes.'] All my soul lieth between thine eyes! All my longing on thine untouched lips. Still love thee ? Marsinah. How can man love maid who unveileth her face as I have to thee ? Caliph. How can man not love ? Marsinah. [Veiling herself again.] I am ashamed at my shamelessness. Caliph. Sooner be thou ashamed of mine. 'Twas I that climbed the wall, broke in on thee to tear the cloud from the new moon. [He raises the veil from her face. Marsinah. 1 swear were to-day three days agone, and thou imploring me now, by thine eyes, I'd not betray my secrecy again. Caliph. What ! Is thy love grown faint so soon ? 44 KISMET Marsinah. Allah help me, strong so soon. I am tecome a thousand times more watchful, more jealous of my- self, and all because of thee. Alas! How must honor hke thine judge of frailty like mine? Caliph. \Pass%onatel'S.\ Mine honor judges as it judged the first moment of seeing thee: that thou art my love, that I hold thy little hands in mine, and that thou shalt be my wife — none other before thee. [DroTJuing her towards him. Marsinah. [Sinking at his feet. ] O my loved one ; this is a dream of thine. Think of thy parents. What will they say? What wilt thou tell them? Caliph. [He sits by her on the ground.^ What? That I looked out from my father's pavilion one blessed evening and saw thee feeding thy little birds at yon window. That I gazed on thy white wrists long — long. What more need I say? [He is about to kiss her wrists. Marsinah. [Withdrawing them playfully.^ My wrists! Hath my face no say in thy loving? Caliph. Thy face! The Forgiver forgive thee. Since I beheld its light, my nights are sleepless; my days burning sands. This stolen moment alone my shade, thy hair my breeze, thy voice my fountain. Marsinah. [Drawing away.] O my love, leave me; forget me utterly. Thy mother will never choose me thy bride. Is thy father not far, far above my father? Did'st thou not say he was the Caliph's gardener ? KISMET 45 Caliph. Is the Caliph's gardener such a mighty man ? Maesinah. Narjis says he is. Caliph. [Secretly annoyed.] Narjis — the old woman? Marsinah. Yea, and she says more. I asked her in a light way — O very lightly — had she e'er heard spoken of the gardener's son. And she — the fool — she swears he never had a son ; that his only wife is dead these many years; that the gar4en next door hath been leased by a grammarian, the new Caliph's tutor; that once even the Caliph himself came to walk there in the cool of the day. Caliph. [Curtly.] Narjis is an old gossip. She knows not what she chatters. Marsinah. So I told her. But she said, " On with thy work, O thou daughter of ignorance." Then I began to laugh, thinking of thee, and flung out a line of a song, till her forehead swelled with rage and she beat me. Caliph. [Furiously. ] She beat thee ? Marsinah. O 'tis naught. She does so often. Caliph. The sister of Satan ! Marsinah. What would'st thou! She's not my mother. 46 KISMET Caliph. [Tenderly.] O my Marsinah! Has this been thy life? Is thy mother gone long? Marsinah. Three years 'tis now since she entered into the mercy of Allah ! Alas ! Those were different days. What I did for my mother I did in delight. What I learnt from her, I learnt with a dancing heart. All her songs, the plucking of the lute she taught me — as 'twere so much laughter. In her hour, ere my father took her to wife, she had been the slave of a rich merchant. The cunningest teachers in Baghdad had taught her. When the merchant gave her her freedom, she was besought to sing at all the rarest feasts. Then Allah took her voice and evil nights fell upon her. Thus my father found her, outcast and starving. Such was my mother. [A short silence. Caliph. Thou did'st not tell me that thou could'st play, that thou could'st sing! What fresh perfection do I find in thee every moment ! Marsinah. 'Tis all my mother In me. Caliph. 'Tis all thyself in thee. Blessed be He that fash- ioned thee in thy splendor of beauty. Thy face is fairer than health ; thine eyes are the eyes of a ga- zelle ; thy lips a cluster of coral ; like a silver column is thy neck : and thy breasts, pomegranates in their glory. O, my beloved, when will come the hour that I shall hold thee close to my heart, while the night hangeth her silver lamp over our silence ? Marsinah. [In a ivhisper.] When Allah willeth— and Allah will it soon. [Their lips meet in a kiss. KISMET 47 Caliph. \R%ses to his knees with sudden passion.] It shall be this night. Maesinah. O, sweet my lord, I have told thee before, it can- not be. Not at night. Narjis is ever here, and ofttimes my father. My only freedom is a morn like to-day's. Caliph. [Drawing close to her.] Thou shalt have other freedom undreamt of by thee. Maesinah. What wilt thou do? Caliph. Can'st thou trust me? Maesinah. With all my soul, an thou put not thy life in danger. Caliph. Dost thou love me so? Maesinah. [Hanging her head.] Sooner would I lose thee forever. Caliph. [After a pause, with a smile she does not observe.] Fear naught. Maesinah. What is't ? Nothing to harm thee ? Caliph. [Cheek to cheek.] Thou'lt see! When the evening prayer hath locked the door of the day, then will I come to open the eyes of thy heart. 48 KISMET This joy must yield to deeper joy its power; As bud still rends its veil, to blush as flower. Marsinah. \lmprovx£ng.\ Ah me ! How oft the foolish petal's haste Is scattered to the skies by fatal shower. Caliph. \Turmn§ surprised — ioyously.\ Yehh! Can'st cap verses too? By Allah! What is this Wonder of wonders, that the Giver of all things good Marsinah. \Rxses, interrupting him.] Awah! Caliph. Nothing. Marsinah. It is. Fly, O my beloved. Caliph. [Rises.] How can I leave my soul behind and not die? [He goes up to the rim of the well. Marsinah. Go, I implore thee! By all that's holy! Here! [She plucks a rose from the bush, kisses it, and hands it to him.] Go! [The Caliph presses the rose to his lips, then slips it into his breast and climbs over the wall. Caliph. [From the top of the wall.] After set o' sun ! [He disappears over the wall. Narjis. [Outside.] Marsinah! Marsinah! [Marsinah hurries to her work, sits and stitches furiously. KISMET 49 Narjis. \Entenng the courtyard.] A gift of good news, O my roe. Thy father is coming. Maesinah. My father ? Never yet came he home during the day. Narjis. Never yet. But to-day he cometh. I saw him leaving the hammam-bath, unHke himself — in robes of splendor, his locks combed, his beard trimmed, and [Imitating him.] striding along as proud and calm as a camel! I hasted ahead through the al- leys. Had he found thee alone [There is a knock on the door.] By the Prophet! None too soon. [Calling out] I come! I come! [Goes to the door and calls through it.] Who art thou? What seekest thou ? [She winks at Marsinah and feigns surprise.] Allah! 'tis my master. O Mar- sinah! Thy father, as I am awake! [She unlocks the door'. [Marsinah has risen; drawing her veil about the back of her head. [Hajj enters as described, wearing all his stolen robes, his beard neatly trimmed, his whole being refreshed by the bath. His manner is far more self-assured. He car- ries his little bundle of presents for his daughter, which he flings to the ground. Marsinah. Salam, O my father. Narjis. Salam, O my master. Hajj. Salam. [All sit, Hajj between the two women. 50 KISMET Marsinah. Thou smellest so sweet; is it musk? Hajj. I have lain in the hammam all morning. Marsinah. May thy bath profit thee, O my father. What blessed coming is thine? Hajj. Thou may'st indeed call it blessed. For verily the Dispeller of woe hath turned the murk of my night into a day of light and delight. What say ye to this ? \He takes out his purse. ] Gold ! Gold ! Gold ! What a sound it is ! It chinks straight into the blood and sets the heart a-beating, so the tem- ples throb and reason flies from the head. Dost thou mark it, O Marsinah? O Narjis, dost thou? Marsinah. [Clapping her hands.\ Yehh! Narjis. {Suspicious.] Whence hadst thou this? Hajj. Whence? [His brow clouds.] Whence? From a fool in his folly ! An accursed for whom it shall weave the rope round his neck. But that's for later. [Chinking the purse.] This for now. [He slips the purse in his breast. ] Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! O eyes of me! Ye should have beheld them in the hammam — the bath-keeper and his slave-boys. How they bowed before me — one and all. " O my mas- ter " here, and " O my lord " there. And such rins- ings, and rubbings, and clappings, till my limbs rang aloud with smoothness! Then they laid me adown on silken sheets, the while censers fumed me sweetly from head to heel. And the bath-keeper KISMET 51 knelt at my feet, and sung to the tom-tom a song. \He sings, imitating the playing of a tom-tom with his hands.] A bowl of wine ! Two bowls of wine ! And three more bowls and that makes nine ! [He draws out the purse and flings it in the air with a shout, catching it again. MarsiNah. [Clapping her hands gleefully and rising to her knees.] O my father! Thou art magnificent! Hajj. [Delighted.] Magnificent — am I? Marsinah. Yea! Even as a prince in one of the tales thoU tellest. Hajj. A Prince! [He strokes his moustachios.] A King? Marsinah. ■ ; A King, in truth, a King! Is he not, O Narjis? Narjis. [Ironically.] A King, in very sooth. Marsinah. , Never beheld I thee thus. Never till this hotlf. White as milk is this day of mine. Hajj. It shall be whiter still, O my dainty. Give me the bundle, O Narjis. Thou shalt bless the day in- deed, O my rose. [Opening the bundle.] Ah! Now thine eyes ghsten. Now ! Marsinah. Thou didst remember me ? 52 KISMET Hajj. Remember thee ? What doth thy soul most desire in this world ? Speak. Marsinah. Most? \She glances unconsciously up over the garr> den wall, but looks down again quickly., Hajj. Ah, now thou blushest. What is it ? Marsinah. [Confused.^ I — know — not. Hajj. [Imitating.] "I know not." O Narjis, was ever maid such maid? She knows not. By Allah, thou hast guarded her well. She is as simple as the hour she was born. " I know not." [He fondles Marsinah's cheek. Marsinah. [Hanging her head ] What should I know ? [Hajj and Narjis look at each other smil- ing knowingly. Hajj. Thou shouldest know that thy father loves thee ! [He kisses her on both eyes.] And that he has brought thee these. [He produces the anklets from the bundle. Marsinah. Anklets! [She flings off her slippers laughing gleefully and puts on the anklets.] O Narjis! O Narjis! At last! Now! What girl in our street can laugh at me now ? [Rises and circles about the two.] Look, O Narjis, look! Jamilah, or Muba- rakah, or any of them. O my master, I kiss thy feet. [She kneels before Hajj and bows down. ■KISMET S3 Hajj. [Laying his hand on her head.] Thou art con- tent? Maesinah. [Blissfully. ] Content ? Content ? Hajj. Then what say'st thou to a veil ? [He unfolds the veil. Maesinah. [Springs up, then bashfully — overcome.'] For me — too? [Hajj hands it to her smilingly. In rapture, holding it up; unconsciously looking up to the garden wall.] Oh! would I had had it this morn ! Hajj. This morn ! What dost thou mean ? Maesinah. [Realizing her self-betrayal.] I mean — I know not. My heart is so happy. La Yayha ! Do I fill thine eyes, O my father? [She drapes the veil about her. Hajj. [Smiling proudly. ] Fill mine eyes ! Go ! Fetch thy lute ! We will have music. This day shall be a day of rejoicing. Maesinah. [Going.] I hear and I obey. [She hurries off across the courtyard into the house. Hajj. [Looking after her.] By Allah! How she glides swimmingly as she were a Hly floating down the Tigris. Blessed indeed is he that taketh her to wife. 54 KISMET Narjis. Aye, and she's ripe to wed, too. Hajj. Fourteen ! The pick of years ! I must seek her a husband. Narjis. [Huddles up to him.] What say'st thou to the basket-weaver's son at the corner? Hajj. The basket-weaver's son? O thou hag! [Slaps her cheek with the back of his hand.] Why not a bean-seller? [Slap.] Or a camel-boy? [Slap.] Yea, or best and rarest, some blear-eyed mangy beggar ? [Slap. ] [Maesinah appears with a lute. Hajj. [To Narjis.] Behold her now! I swear the very movement of her limbs maketh melody. Marsinah. What shall I sing thee, O my father? [She stands tuning her instrument. Hajj. How many modes canst thou play in? Marsinah. One-and-twenty. Hajj. One-and-twenty. [To Narjis.] Are one-and- twenty modes for the basket-weaver's son? [He slaps Narjis again. To Marsinah.] And sing how many? Marsinah. The like number. KISMET 55 Hajj. And dance? How many steps did thy mother teach thee? Maesinah. Far beyond counting. Hajj. [To Narjis.] Thou hearest! Are they, the countless, for the basket-weaver's son? [A final slap.'\ I tell thee, Marsinah is rare as a houri in Paradise. Wouldst thou know what secret the fu- ture hideth for Marsinah? Narjis. [Rubbing her poor cheek.] What secret, O master ? Hajj. Sit thee down here, O my flower. And here thou, O my cactus. Mark me close, ye both. [Marsinah sits on the ground by Hajj. Hajj. [Drawing the purse from his breast.] This money in my bosom will I take and buy merchan- dise withal. [Tossing the purse from hand to hand; his voice in lyrical exaltation.] And I will trade and sell ; and buy and trade ; till it is doubled and trebled a hundred times hundredfold. Then shall I turn from toil and trouble, to clothe my Marsinah in a rope of pearls serene ; with the crown of a queen on her forehead clear; two jewels of shine and sheen, pending o'er each ear, — here and there; on her breast will I set a ruby amulet of flash and fret; and stuffed within a pi-iceless piece of ambergris. Marsinah. [In wonder.] O my father! 56 KISMET Hajj. And the name of thy beauty shall be blown abroad, beyond Arabia, through Sind, into China, even as far as the islands of W^k. And suitors shall venture across deserts and sea, by caravel and camel, and fall on their knee in suppliance for thee. Marsinah. Yehh! Hajj. But I — ^thy sire, [Leaning on Narjis lazily as though she were a feather bed.'\ — shall lie back on pillows of ostrich plumes, propping mine elbow thus, nor turning to right nor to left. And there shall be wailings and gnashings of teeth amongst thy lovers; the while thou, behind many lintels, in a court of marble with a roof of molten gold, dancest merrily, airily, to the sound of smitten strings. Marsinah. [Laughing joyfully and clapping her hands.] Yaha! Ya ha! Hajj. [Triumphantly.] Ha! Ha! [Eagerly.] Dance now, O dawn-breeze, now! O Narjis, pluck a tune with thy talons. [Hands her the lute.] yp, O Marsinah, up! My tom-tom, O Narjis! My tom-tom ! [Marsinah springs up. She begins to dance slowly, then faster and faster. Narjis, after handing Hajj his tom-tom, plays and occasionally sings as well. Hajj. [Beating the tom-tom, shrilly.] Yehh! Allah! La Yayha ! La Yayha ! So shalt thou dance ! So ! KISMET 57 And the kings of the earth shall send their sons! La Yayha! By thy youth, thou art as a branch swaying! La Yayha! But I shall laugh them to scorn, all and one — " Ye swine," shall I say — "Ye " There is a knock at the door. Marsinah stops; so does Narjis. Hajj. / Nought. Neighbors. On! [They begin again. Hajj. " Ye swine — who are ye to - [Another knock. A Voice. [Outside.] Open in the name of justice. Hajj. [Instinctively looks at his garments.] Wah! Go indoors, O my dehght, go ! [He throws the bundle to Marsinah. [Marsinah, taking the bundle, goes into the house wondering. Hajj. [To Narjis.] Open! Open! Open! [Narjis opens the house door. [Hajj sits expectant, tracing figures in the sand with his finger-tips. [The Captain of the Watch enters— be- hind him come Zayd and Amru and Four Archers. The Archers fling open the double doors to the street and guard them, Nasir enters as well. Captain. Is this the house of Hajj, the beggar? 58 KISMET What would ye? Hajj. I knew 'twas he ! Zayd. Seize the dog! Seize me? Hajj. \He rises abruptly. Zayd. Those are the very garments Captain. Thou must come before the Wazir Mansur. Hajj. [Terrified at the name.] Mansur? I paid in part — I meant to pay in full. Amru. Thou liest, O split of tongue. Hajj. Lie? I? [He goes for Amru. [Two Archers secure Hajj between them. Captain. No words ! Off with him. [The Archers march Hajj to the door. Nasir. [Darting forward and grinning into Hajj's face.] Ha! Ha! Hajj. [Stopping as he sees Nasir.] Oh I Thou ! Nasir. [Mockingly imitating Hajj's voice.] I saw no purse. KISMET 59 Hajj. \S^ttmg in Nasir's face.] Thou filth! Thou son of filth. [He is led off, the other men following. Narjis. [Wringing her hands.] Allah! Allah! Allah! curtain Scene IV. A Hall in the Wazir Mansur's, Man- sion. The room is a large oblong one, with a colonnade running along the back, looking out on a colon- naded courtyard beyond. A large double door to the left leads to the entrance hall. Opposite it, in the right wall, a niche with a diwan, raised a step or two. The tiles and carvings are of the richest. Mansur is seated on the diwan, before him a chess- board. Afife is crouching to the right on the steps, his partner in the game. Kafur stands behind them zvatching. Mansur is in a sullen humor, his mind not on the . game. Afife. [Making a move, in a high squeaky voice.] Move, O master. 6o KISMET Mansur. [Moving a chess-man.] Now match me this move, O thou bundle of misery. Afife. Match it? [He moves.] Thy turn, O my mas- ter. Mansur. [Moving again.] So! Afife. Check! Mansur. Check ? Nov cursed be Satan the Stoned I What I frit is at thine elbow? This is the third game thou dost beat me. Afife. Thy thoughts wander, O my lord. Mansur. Dost thou wonder they wander, O thou misbe- gotten lump of dough? — Wander? They gallop, they fly! Even though I myself must crawl at other men's heels these days. Kafur. [To Mansur.] There's yet one more move for thee. Mansur. [Studying the board.] One more? Kafur. So! [He sweeps the chessboard clear with his sword. [The door opens and an Attendant enters. ' Attendant. A Chamberlain from the Caliph, O my lord. KISMET 6l Mansur. Admit him. \The Attendant ushers in the Chamber- lain from the Caliph who enters with a sealed scroll. He comes up to Mansur and bows. Chamberlain. From the Commander of the Faithful to his Wazir Mansur. [Kafur turns and takes the letter from the Chamberlain and hands it to Mansur. Mansur rises and takes the letter, touches the top of his head with it, then breaks the seals and scans the contents. His lips contract. After a moment's pause he says to the Chamberlain : Mansur. Harkening and obedience to the Prince of True Believers. [The Chamberlain bows and retires as he came. Mansur. [Springing up with great rage.] Hear! Hear! [Reading from right to left. ] " In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate. From Abdallah, Caliph and King of Mankind to his Wazir of Police. But after. We find all the moneys of our various departments of state, com- plete and in account, saving those under thy con- trol. Report thou to us accordingly at our diwan this day. Though mine uncle the King be dead, justice and order have not died with him." [He tears the letter to bits, stuffs strips into his mouth, chews them and spits them out again.] Wah! Now Allah damn the grammarian for this ! This is his handiwork, big-turban'd, bean-fed son of a sow! So I'm to end through him? I who sat in 62 KISMET his seat, hard by the side of the throne. By all devils that kneel round hell, I swear this shall never be — do ye hear me? — no, never! \He strikes at Afife in his rage. Kafur. What wilt thou do, O my lord? Mansur. I would I had him between my feet to rip the tongue from his teeth. Afife. A hundred grammatical tongues will not bring back one danik of the moneys thou hast squan- dered. Mansur. Justice and order ! [He spits out a piece of the letter. '\ Pah! Show me the Wazir of Police who hath crushed with a heavier hand, whose sword made the execution ground as slippery. Recall ye not the merry summer's night when with mine own hand, in ten waves of the scimitar, I carved my old jester into as many pieces? Afife. The old jester ! Ha ! Ha ! 'Twas his last quirk ! Kafur. How we laughed ! [They all laugh. Mansur. Alas for the glorious drunken nights of passion and power. The feasts of beauty and blood! Awah, awah, awah! [They all sigh. Afife. What's to be done? Kafur. Were Prince Omar Caliph, never would'st thou have lost thy seat of honor. KISMET 63 Afife. Higher titles would have been thine. He loves thee as a brother. Kafur. He would have created thee Grand Wazir. Afife. Yea, Grand Wazir of all the kingdom ! Mansur. Were! Would! Had! The Caliph's the Is! His letter the thing alive ! The spent moneys must be accounted for. 'Tis my death. Awah ! Awah ! Kafur. The guards are yet under thy orders. Mansur. For the moment. But to-night Afife. Use to-day. Kafur. [Pointing to the chessboard.] One move — and the game is thine. Mansur. [Realising Kafur's intention.] Yehh! Kill the Caliph? [He rises in thought. [Kafur and Afife nod and follow him, standing on either side of him. Kafur. 'Tis he Afife. Or thou. Mansur. [Looking from Afife to Kafur.] Yehh! But how? When? Who? [Turning to Afife.] Thou? 64 KISMET Afife. [Grovelling at Mansur's -feetl Alas! I lack the strength. Mansur. {Turning to Kafur.] Thou? Kafur. [Falling on his knees.] Am I not known by every servant in the palace? Mansur. Then where shall I find him ? This fellow strong enough, unknown enough, to stab and stab to the soul? Kafur. Fear not. Fate hath written the deed in the lines of someone's forehead. And when the hour comes he will be ready. Mansur. Yehh! [The door opens and the Attendant enters and bows. Outside voices can be heard. Mansur. What noise is that ? Attendant. Some merchants in the hall, O my lord. They have caught a thief and come for justice. Mansur. Justice — do they? Justice! By Allah! I'll dis- pense them justice. Have them enter. [He goes back to the diwan and sits. [Kafur and Afife take their wonted posi- tions by his side. [The two shopkeepers, Amru and Zayd, en- ter, after them Nasir, the Captain of the Watch and Four Archers. A crowd of KISMET 6S loiterers {^slx or eight") follow, who kneel or stand in the background. Ameu and Zayd approach and kneel. Two Negro Eunuchs enter and stand at the back. Amru. O Wazir of the Age, we come for protection against the roguery of mankind. Zayd. O eye of uprightness ! Let thy light shed judg- ment. Mansur. Speak your grievance. Amru* There came a man to my shop Zayd. And mine — ■. — Amrtj. ^ And he fanned a quarrel 'twixt me and my fond-^ est friend. Zayd. And meantime off he stole with garments of both of us. Mansur. Where's the thief? [Hajj is brought through the door by Two Archers and prostrates himself before Mansur, the Archers retiring. . ^''^^■ [With great saintliness, on his knees.] O Wazir of wazirs, O Wisdom of wisdom, O Clemency of clemencies ! I seek refuge in thy sanctity from these my foul-mouthed defamers. A thief — I? Allah forefend. I am a man of religion and peace. 66 KISMET They fell to fisticuffs and curses before me, these two, — till mine ears were stung with their ungodli- ness and mine eyes wounded. So I laid my moneys on the carpet of the shop and went my silent ways. Zayd and Amru. [Together.] Liar! Amru. We'd not so much as fixed on a price. Hajj. Wilt thou swear I paid thee no earnest money? Amru. A miserable dinar or two to blind me. Hajj. Blind thee? What cause had I to bUnd thee? Zayd. Thou art a well-known beggar. Hajj. A beggar? Showed I thee not a swollen purse? Zayd. A stolen purse — thou meanest. Hajj. He lies, O my lord. 'Twas given me in charity, Mansur. Given thee ? By whom ? Hajj. By one Jawan — a highwayman. Mansur. A highwayman do charity? Now Allah pardon thee. Tell the truth. Hajj. May doomsday break if I lie. KISMET 6f Mansur. How? A highwayman here in Baghdad? An exile with a price on his neck? Thou art mad. Hajj. By mine honesty ! There stands his guide Nasir. Ask him. Mansur. [To Nasir.] O thou! Is this so? Nasik. [Coming forward and kneeling between HajJ and the merchants.^ 'Tis true such an one lodges at my Khan, O my lord. But he is come to the city in repentance, to pray at the tombs of saints. Mansur. , [Furious.] Saints and repentance! His com- ing spits at the law! [To the Captain of the Watch.] Go with yon fellow. Find the highway- man. Take him to the royal diwan this mid-after- noon. The Caliph shall note how I uphold justice and order. [The Captain of the Watch moves to the door with Two Archers. Hajj. [Interrupting.] O my lord, j. word! [To Nasir.] Tell the Lord Wazir, thou sawest the Sheikh throw me a purse. Nasir. [Copying Hajj's manner in the first scene.] I? — I saw no purse. Hajj. [Producing the purse; pleading to him.] Nasir! Here it is. Nasir. I saw no purse. 68 KISMET Mansur. 'Tiswell. Off! [Nasir goes with the Captain and Arch- ers. Mansur. [To Ha J J.] As for thee — Give me the purse! Hajj. Awah! [He hands the purse to Kafur, who hands it to Mansur. Mansur. [Pocketing the purse in his sleeve.] Thou art a har and a thief. [To Kafur.] The sword and the cauldron of oil. [Kafur bows and motions to the Negroes who go off into the courtyard. Mansur. Thy right hand is forfeit to the merchants. Hajj. [Looking at his hand.] My hand? Mansur. [To the shopkeepers, smilingly.] Two fingers to each. I pray you quarrel not over the thumb. [Amru and Zayd smile politely in response. Hajj. My hand ! My hand ! Thou'lt cut off my hand? Mansur. Says not Allah in His Holy Koran: " If a man steal, cut off his hand " ? Hajj. Alas, O poor hand! Thou could'st have served the Wazir of Wazirs, a courtier to his whims, a slave to his desires. KISMET 69 [T/te Two Eunuchs reenter from the court- yard hearing a hailing cauldron. Mansur. Now by the dog, thy father, of what service to me were a' rogue's hand like thine? \The Eunuchs place the hailing cauldron on Hajj's wrist. Hajj. What service? There's not a stronger — a prompter — a bolder in Baghdad ! Ready to plunder and pillage, to slash and stab, at thy least command. Mansur. [Starting at the word " stah."] Stab? KIafur. [To Hajj.] Cease thy talk, bare thy wrist. [He unsheathes the sword. Hajj. [Turns and sees the sword, then says in a re- signed voice.] There is no majesty nor might save in Allah! The Causer of Causes! The Ordainer of Fate and Fortune! Kafur. [Ahout to raise the sword.] Art thou prepared? Hajj. Even as the Fox for the Wolf. Strike-! [Kafur raises the sword. Mansur. Hold!— The Fox and the Wolf?— What story is that? Hajj. O Wazir of the Age, 'twere too long to recount — [Looking round slyly.] with yon sword in the air. jo kismet Mansur.' Then shall it first sever thy wrist. Hajj. [With an eloquent gesture. } Who can tell a tale without his two hands ? Mansur. Knowest thou many histories? Hajj. Ask the beggars of my quarter. The teller of night-tales they call me — one and all. Mansur. Away with the cauldron ! [To Kafur.] Hither with the sword. [Kafur hands Mansur the sword; the Eu- nuchs take the cauldron into the court- yard. Mansur. What is thy name ? Hajj. [Creeps nearer, on his knees. '\ Hajj, O my lord. Mansur. Thou shalt serve me, O Hajj. Thy wit shall shorten the weary watches of my sleeplessness. Take this sword, the badge of thy new dignity. [He offers him the sword. Hajj. O fountain of grace! My hand blesses thee for its salvation, my lowly self for its elevation. [He takes the sword and raises it to his forehead.^ I am thy mameluke, thy chattel. [He touches the ground with his head. Mansur. Rise! Mansur's servants do not kneel. KISMET 71 Hajj. \R%sing proudly.] Is it thy pleasure that my first act should be an act of clemency? Mansur. Do as thou wilt. Hajj. [Turning ferociously on the shopkeepers.] Then down, O ye calamities! Down, I say, and cry my mercy for lying as ye did, ye f alse-of-faces ! [The Shopkeepers sink down in terror. Hajj approaches them flourishing his sword before them. Hajj. Confess ye lied! Confess ye lied! Amru and Zayd. [Scarcely audible.] We lied! We lied! Hajj. Louder, by youf garlic breaths, louder! Amru and Zayd. We lied I Pardon ! Pardon ! Hajj. Pardon? — So ye send not my lord rich gifts of atonement none shall answer for your lives. Up! Turn your faces and show the breadth of your shoulder. [The Shopkeepers rise and hurry out by the door, more dead than alive. Hajj prods their backs -with his sword as they vanish. Hajj. [Turning to Mansur with a flourish.] Is it well, O my master? 73 KISMET Mansur. 'Tis a beginning. Go now ! Get thee to thy new quarters. [To rt^ Attendant.] Ho, Fazil! See Hajj be lodged and robed fittingly. Garb him in the Persian garments of our jester deceased. Alas, poor fellow! He died most sudden of a summer evening. [With a reassuring smile.] Thou shalt be his successor. Hajj. I am a tree thy bounty hath planted. May the fruit of my endeavor be to thy taste ever. [He bows. Mansur. Thou shalt give us a smack of thy quality after the midday meal. Go! Whoso loveth me let him show honor to Hajj ! [He waves his handkerchief in sign of dis- missal. Hajj. [Turns and with a heroic gesture motions the curious aside.] Room for the Wazir's Jester, O ye dogs ! [The Crowd falls hack before him. [The Attendant leads the way to the left. [Hajj struts out conducted by the At- tendant. Mansur. [To Kafur and Afife.] Think ye I've pardoned this mountebank to listen to foolish fables? [With great emphasis.] He is the man. Kafur. What man? Mansuil The man to kill the Caliph. KISMET 73 [Through the colonnade at the back Hajj is seen to enter the courtyard from the left and cross over to the right, preceded by the Attendant, Mansur's Servants and Two Eunuchs, bending low, the crowd following. Hajj turns to the hall and seeing Mansur, bows again to him. Mansur acknowledges his bow with a grim smile. Hajj, delighted, turns, twirl- ing his moustachios and with enormous swagger moves to the colonnade, right, the Attendant cringing to the new favorite. curtain End of Act I ACT II 76 BEFORE THE CURTAIN NOON \The Man enters from his house, seats him- self and sings: Lo! Now the blazing banner of the sun In noonday sky its victory hath won; And even as on mighty battle plain So lieth, stretched and stricken, everyone. [The Woman enters from her house, seats herself and sings: Lo! Now in the harim I seek in vain The shadowed cool of midnight to regain ; Yet though I burn, 'tis not the heaven's eye That dooms my senses to eternal pain ! The Man. Wah ! That some wondrous wizard passing by Would charm to silence this my misery. The Woman. Wah ! Might some mystic spell invade me so That all my yearning would forever die ! Both. O Thou, Bestower of all things, bestow This benediction on Thy servants low. [The Sorcerer enters and first reveals the Man to the Woman, and the Woman to the Man. When he has retired they rise and sing: At last thou openest the future's wall. Revealing ray desire's inmost call, O Fate, thou greatest sorcerer of all ! [Then they draw together for an instant. But the hour is not yet ripe. So they turn and enter their respective houses. They have seen each other. ACT II AFTERNOON Scene I. The Hall in the Wazir Mansur's Man- sion. The same scene as the last, but richly embroidered curtains have now been drawn between the columns to keep out the glare of the afternoon sun. This gives the room a more intimate feeling. Two large cushions have been placed on the floor and between them a low wine-table with beakers of wine, drinking bowls, fruits, sweetmeats, and a bunch of aromatic herbs. Mansur is reclining on one cushion. Afife and Kafur are on the diwan. Two Slaves stand ready to replenish the cups. On the cushion to the left is seated Hajj, in a brilliant fantastic Persian robe and a gorgeous turban. He 'sits up very erect, his eyes spar- kling, his arms outstretched — evidently at the climax of his story. Hajj. " Thereupon, O hearer, the fox saw his foe, the wolf, was slain; and henceforth he abode alone in the vineyard, secure to the hour of his death." But Allah is all-knowing! Mansur. In sooth, a pleasing tale ! [He drains his cup and holds it out to the Slave, who fills it up again. 77 78 KISMET Kafur. Good ! Good ! Afife. [Clapping his hands.] More! More! More! MANStJR. [Signing to the slave behind Hajj.] Nay, first another cup Hajj. [Putting his hand over his cup.] O my lord, pardon me. I am not wont to drink wine. Mansur. Tush! 'Tis nothing. Thin, red morning tipple. This night will we robe us in robes of gold and flame-color and fall to quaffing in earnest; sweet Greek vintage that breeds gladness even to mad- ness. [He holds out the cup, which the Slave fills. Then Mansur passes it to Hajj.] May I never be afflicted with thy loss. [Hajj, bowing to Mansur, accepts the cup and kisses it. Hajj. The slave to thy wishes revealed or concealed. [He drains it and returns it to Mansur. Mansur. [Pointedly.] So thou sayest and hast said. Hajj. Put me to the test, O my master. What tale dost thou desire? Mansur. What tale? [Confidentially to Hajj.] Harkee, O Hajj. Thou hast wasted thy years. Thou can'st turn the ear inside out by thy talk. Long ago thy wit should have won thee a wazifdom. KISMET 79 Hajj. I? Wazir? Mansur. Yehh ! Thou art marked for it by fate. Is this not so, O Kafur? Kafur. Thou hast said it. Mansur. \To Hajj.] Thou seest? There's no escaping honorSj O Hajj the Wazir ! O the Wazir Hajj ! Hajj. [Stroking his moustachios.] The Wazir Hajj! O my lord, what stair will lead me to so high a minaret ? Mansur. What stair? [The Attendant enters by the door. Attendant. 'Tis the hour of the diwan, O my lord. Mansur. The diwan! 'Tis well. [Rises. The Attend- ant leaves.] I go to robe myself. Await me but a handful of moments, O my friend. When I re- turn I shall open a gate undreamt of by thy dearest dream. Till then, Allah increase thee, O Wazir to be. [Mansur goes off followed by Kafur, Afife, and the Two Slaves. Hajj. Wazir! Wazir! Another cup! A cup to thee, O Wazir Hajj, thou friend of the great, thou of the great thyself. [He drinks another cup and struts across the room.] Wazir! [He approaches 80 KISMET the diwan.] Yehh! Why not? [He seats himself on the diwan.] Even such a seat was destined my limbs from eternity! [With a chuckle.] The Wazir Hajj ! [MiSKAH, a slave-girl, enters through the curtains at the back. She is, of course, veiled. She looks about cautiously, then glides to Hajj's side, and throws herself at his feet. MiSKAH. O my master, my mistress bids me come kiss the dust of thy slippers. Hajj. Yehh! Who may be the mistress of so fair a messenger ? MiSKAH. Hush ! If we be heard 'tis death. Hajj. Speak low then. What is it ? MiSKAH. 'Tis sooner told than mended. At noontide, lying within the lattice of the harim, my lady saw thee cross the courtyard — the servants bowing to earth before thy valiant stride. Hajj. [Delighted.] Valiant stride! [He strokes his moustachios.] Yehh! Did she, forsooth? MiSKAH. O noble stranger, who art thou ? Whence comest thou? What is the measure of thy staying? Such and more would my mistress know. For from noon till now is all her being become one yearning ques- tion. KISMET 8l Hajj. And all my being from now to eternity one burn- ing reply. So haste! Bring us together that we may spell a sweet completeness. MiSKAH. Follow me, then. But by the life of thy head mark thy path. For we must step over the sleep- ing doorkeeper of the harim. I have plied him .with drugs. Three blessed hours will he lie thus in stupor — no longer. After me! Hajj. Hold! I cannot leave. Any moment the Wazir may return. Might not tliy mistress favor me with her coming? Hither? MiSKAH. Hajj. [Pointing to the door.] Thou could'st stand guard. MiSKAH. I'll take thy message, O my master. But her consent means madness. [She disappears through the curtains. Hajj. [Left alone, smiles. ] " Madness ! " " Valiant stride!" [He sits erect.] " Noble stranger ! " O Hajj ! Thou wast not so mistaken in thyself. There's a something, a somehow about thee — ^no doubt of that ! [He draws out his sword using the blade as a mirror by which to arrange his mous- tachios. [The curtains part again — Miskah reenters. 82 KISMET MiSKAH. She comes ! \She glides rapidly to the door left and sits listening. [KuT-AL-KuLUB enters, a voluptuous woman of the ripe oriental type — she is about eight and twenty. Her dress is very rich, over it a gorgeous mantle. Her veil is of the thinnest. KuT-AL-KULUB. [Kneeling before him. ] Welcome and well come to my illustrious lord. Hajj. A thousand blessings on thy white forehead, O mistress of my days. KuT-AL-KuLUB. Allah, forgive me ! Only the wildness of despair could drive me to break the bonds of my harim. Hajj. I am earth to thy treading. Kut-al-Kulub. [With a sigh and exaggerated emotion.] Now, by my life! I knew mine eyes beheld a king the instant they lighted upon the grace of thy being. Help me! Help me! I am oppressed beyond en- durance. Hajj. Who art thou? One of Mansur's wives? Kut-al-Kulub. [Springing up, indignantly.] One ? I am the Wife of wives ! MiSKAH. S-sh! KISMET 83 Hajj. His first? The great lady? KUT-AL-KULUB. First in fact. Yet might I be the least and low- est — a blackamoor kitchen wench — were I to be ranked by his reckoning. Hajj. Never tell me he ceases adoring thee even for the wink of an eyelid. KuT-AL-KULUB. \Shnlly.\ Cease adoring! He! MiSKAH. [Warningly.] S-sh! KuT-AL-KuLUB. [Turning to Hajj, with appeal.] Behold this arm! [She produces a gorgeous arm from her cloak.] Is this arm shrivelled? Shrunk? Hajj. [Admiringly.] Shrivelled? What dog says shrivelled ? KuT-AL-KuLUB. [Opening her cloak.] This bosom yellow? Hajj. [Overcome.] Yellow, this field of lilies? KuT-AL-KuLUB.- [Turning hack.] Now tell me, by thine honor: callest thou me humpbacked ? [She drops the cloak and turns round re- vealing her form, provokingly clad in scanty splendor. Hajj. O thou copious beauty! Am I a boy that thou should'st mock me thus ? 84 KISMET KUT-AL-KULUB. [Unveiling her face.] Or is my face pock- pitted? My nose crooked? My mouth crumpled? Hajj. Allah help me! What art thou doing to me, O cruel one? KuT-AL-KULUB. [With a gliding step as she approaches him languorously.] And my gait? [Making slow ges- tures.] Is my motion like a popinjay's on a perch? [Coming close to him and sitting on the diwan be- low him.] My glance the stare of a dead thing? Hajj. O sun of the age! Dazzle not my sight to blind- ness ! Strike not my senses to frenzy. KuT-AL-KULUB. [Feigning surprise, veiling her face, and turning from him.] Woe upon me! Hath my rage dis- robed me ? Hajj. O light of splendor, cloud not thy rays. Shut me not in blackest darkness. KuT-AL-KuLUB. [Lifting her veil a little from her face, coquet- tishly.] So much? Hajj. More. KUT-AL-KuLUB. So much? Hajj. More. KISMET 85 KUT-AL-KULUB. ' [Dropping her veil completely.] O thou man among men! Why must I obey thy bidding? [She looks down provokingly. Hajj. [Drawing close. ] What is thy name ? KuT-AL-KuLUB. Kut-al-Kulub, the food of hearts. Hajj. In very sooth, thou art the food of hearts. I could feast on thy plenty for ever and yet be an- hungered still. KUT-At-KULUB. Alas ! Why have I never heard words like thine till now? Hajj. [Coaxing.] Never till now? KUT-AL-KuLUB. [Coyly.] By my head, never! All day and all night I sit alone under my silent dome, in the fever of my solitude ; my tears my sole consolers. Hajj. Tears ! Thou must let me cofiie to thee and kiss them away. Kut-al-Kulub. {Pretending horror.] Art thou mad? Hajj. Aye, maddened by the insolence of thy beauty. KuT-AL-KuLUB. [Rising and turning from him, provokingly.] Allah! Kiss me? Thou? Out on thee! 'Tis easily seen thou art loved too much, by too many. 86 KISMET Hajj. \He follows her, comes close to her, and suddenly says in a very businesslike way. ] When shall it be ? KUT-AL-KULUB. [Dropping all artifice, eagerly.] This evening — early — ^with the new risen moon. Hajj. How shall I reach thee ? Kut-al-Kulub. Come to this courtyard. My faithful slave of the firehole shall await thy coming and lead thee by an unknown passage under the baths straight to the heart of the harim. MiSKAH. [Springing up, anxiously. ] O mistress ! [She points to the door. [Hajj kisses Kut-al-Kulub on the lips. She tears herself away and hurries off through the curtains followed by Miskah. Kut-al-Kulub. [With a final glance. ] Allah! Hajj. [Flinging his arms out in ecstasy.] Allah! [Hearing Mansur, he quickly resumes the position on the floor, in which Mansur left him. [Mansur reenters clad in armor, followed by ELafur and Afife. Mansur. O Wazir Hajj — are thine eyes ready for me to open? Hajj. Ready, O my master. KISMET 87 Mansur. Swear that thou wilt never reveal what I shall unveil. \He resumes his seat on the diwan. Hajj. I give thee the bond of Allah, to whom belong honor and glory. Mansur. 'Tis well. How prompt art thou to do a deed? Hajj. [Kneeling. ] Order me do, and 'tis done. Mansur. [After a pause.] Kill the Caliph. Hajj. [ Thunderstruck. ] The — Caliph ? Mansur. I said what I said. Hajj. The Caliph! The Viceroy of the Prophet! Shed his sacred blood? Mansur. Sacred? Abdallah? A toy to a tutor? Prince Omar should be reigning in his stead. Hajj. Prince Omar ! Mansur. Yehh ! He's no parchment-worm ! He's a man, a warrior, a king to the core. Hajj. And were Prince Omar Caliph — how would that help my cause ? 88 KISMET Mansur. The hour he's proclaimed Caliph, that hour am I Grand Wazir. Once Grand Wazir, there's no favor too lofty for thee to climb to. Hajj. Yehh! But why choose me for the deed? Me, from all the servants that encircle thee as the white of the eye doth the black. Mansur. I wish to honor thee. Hajj. \l