SCENE IX.—THE TURKISH CEREMONY. [Footnote: Lulli composed the music, and acted the part of the Mufti.]
THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, TURKS (assisting the MUFTI), SINGERS and
DANCERS.
SIX TURKS enter gravely, two and two at the sound of instruments. They carry three carpets which they lift very high as they dance several dances The TURKS pass under the carpets, singing and range themselves on each side of the stage. The MUFTI, accompanied by DERVISHES, closes the march. The TURKS then spread the carpets on the ground, and kneel down upon them. The MUFTI and the DERVISHES stand up in the middle of them; and while the MUFTI invokes Mahomet in dumb contortions and grimaces the TURKS prostrate themselves to the ground, singing Alli, raising their hands to heaven, singing Alla, and continue so alternately to the end of the invocation; after which they all rise up, singing, Alla eckber, and two DERVISHES go and fetch MR. JOURDAIN.
SCENE X.—THE MUFTI, DERVISH, TURKISH SINGERS and DANCERS. MR. JOURDAIN, dressed like a Turk, his head shaved, without any turban or sword.
THE MUFTI (to MR. JOURDAIN).
[1] Se ti sabir,
Ti respondir;
Se non sabir,
Tazir, tazir.
Mi star muphti,
Ti qui star si?
Non intendir;
Tazir, tazir. [2]
[1]
Lingua franca, jargon composed of Italian, Spanish, &c., and
spoken in the Levant.
[2]
If you understand,
Answer;
If you do not understand,
Hold thy peace, hold thy peace.
I am the Mufti
(TWO DERVISHES retire with MR. JOURDAIN.)
SCENE XI.—THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, TURKS, singing and dancing.
MUF. Dice, Turque, qui star quista? Anabatista? anabatista? [Say,
Turk, who is this? Is he Anabaptist? Anabaptist?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Zuinglista? [A Zwinglian?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Coffita? [A Capht?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Hussita? Morista? Fronista? [A Hussite? a Moor? a Phronist?]
TUR. Ioc, ioc; ioc. [No, no, no.]
MUF. Ioc, ioc, ioc. Star pagana? [No, no, no. Is he a pagan?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Luterana? [A Lutheran?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Puritana? [A Puritan?]
TUR. Ioc. [No.]
MUF. Bramina? Moffina? Zurina? [A Brahmin? a Moffian? a Zurian?]
TUR. Ioc, ioc, ioc. [No, no, no.]
MUF. Ioc, ioc, ioc. Mahametana? Mahametana? [No, no, no. A Mahometan? a Mahometan?]
TUR. Hi Valla. Hi Valla. [There you have it. There you have it.]
MUF. Como chamara? Como chamara? [How is he called? How is he called?]
TUR. Giourdina, Giourdina. [Jourdain, Jourdain.]
MUF. (jumping). Giourdina, Giourdina. [Jourdain, Jourdain.]
TUR. Giourdina, Giourdina. [Jourdain, Jourdain.]
THE MUFTI. [1]
Mahameta, per Giourdina,
Mi pregar sera e matina.
Voler far un paladina
De Giourdina, de Giourdina;
Dar turbanta, e dar scarrina,
Con galera, e brigantina,
Per deffender Palestina.
Mahameta, per Giourdina,
Mi pregar sera e matina.
(To the TURKS.)
Star bon Turca Giourdina?
[1]
To Mahomet for Jourdain,
I pray night and day.
I wish to make a paladin
Of Jourdain, of Jourdain.
Give him a turban, and give him a sword,
With a galley and a brigantine,
To defend Palestine.
To Mahomet for Jourdain
I pray night and day.
(To the TURKS.).
Is Jourdain a good Turk?
TUR. Hi Valla. Hi Valla. [Yes, by Allah!]
MUF. (singing and dancing). Ha la ba, ba la chou, ba la ba, ba la da.
TUR. Ha la ba, ba la chou, ba la ba ba la da. [2]
[2]
Thus separated, these words have no sense; but by joining and
correcting them, we have: Allah baba, hou, Allah hou, which
are really Turkish, and which signify, "God my Father; God my
Father." (Auger.)
SCENE XI.—TURKS, singing and dancing. Second entry of the BALLET.
SCENE XIII.—THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, MR. JOURDAIN, TURKS, singing and dancing.
The MUFTI returns, wearing on his head the state turban, which is of enormous size, and adorned with lighted candles, four or five rows deep; he is accompanied by TWO DERVISHES bearing the Koran, and wearing cone-shaped caps also adorned with lighted candles.
The two other DERVISHES lead in MR. JOURDAIN, and make him kneel down, his two hands on the ground, so that his back, on which the Koran is placed, serves for a desk for the MUFTI, who makes a second burlesque invocation, knitting his eyebrows, striking from time to time on the Koran, and turning over the pages with precipitation; after which, lifting up his hands, he cries with a loud voice, "HOU."
During this second invocation, the other TURKS, bowing down and raising themselves alternately, sing likewise, "Hou, hou, hou."
MR. JOUR. (after they have taken the Koran from off his back).
Ouf!
THE MUFTI (to MR. JOURDAIN). Ti non star furba? [Thou wilt not be a knave?]
THE TURKS. No, no, no.
THE MUFTI. Non star forfanta? [Nor be a thief?]
THE TURKS. No, no, no.
THE MUFTI (to the TURKS). Donar turbanta. [Give the turban.]
THE TURKS.
Ti non star furba? [Thou wilt not be a knave?]
No, no, no.
Non star forfanta? [Nor be a thief?]
No, no, no.
Donar turbanta. [Give the turban.]
Third entry of the BALLET.
The TURKS, dancing, put the turban on MR. JOURDAIN'S head at the sound of the instruments.
THE MUFTI (giving a sabre to MR. JOURDAIN).
Ti star nobile, non star fabbola. [Be brave, be no Scoundrel]
Pigliar schiabbola [Take the Sword.]
THE TURKS (drawing their sabres).
Ti star nobile, non star fabbola. [Be brave, be no Scoundrel]
Pigliar schiabbola. [Take the Sword.]
Fourth entry of the BALLET.
The TURKS, dancing, strike MR. JOURDAIN several times with their swords, keeping time with the music.
THE MUFTI.
Dara, dara
Bastonnara. [Give, give the bastonnade.]
THE TURKS.
Dara, dara
Bastonnara. [Give, give the bastonnade.]
Fifth entry of the BALLET.
The Turks, dancing, give MR. JOURDAIN several blows with a stick, keeping time meanwhile.
THE MUFTI.
Non tener honta; [Think it not a shame;]
Questa star l'ultima affronta. [This is the last affront.]
THE TURKS.
Non tener honta; [Think it not a shame;]
Questa star l'ultima affronta. [This is the last affront.]
The MUFTI begins a third invocation. The DERVISHES support him under the arms with great respect, after which the TURKS, singing and dancing round the MUFTI, retire with him, and lead off MR. JOURDAIN.