Sultan.
Sheikh.
Executioner.
Crowd, etc. | Sultan asks him how he, an exile, dare enter the city, defying the decree of his late uncle.
Sheikh says he came on peaceful mission, not to rob.
He is old; one of many robbers. No longer of consequence.
Came to pray at shrine and give alms, the shrine where he had prayed in his youth.
Invokes protection of High Priest.
Sultan says Sheikh must be imprisoned.
If High Priest proves that Sheikh came to give alms and to repent, he shall be released forthwith.
Meanwhile, for his many sins, a short repentance in prison will not be harmful to his soul. |
| The Goaler comes forward and with two guards drags thelame man off. The Sheikh goes, blessing the Sultan for hiswisdom and justice. The Sultan says: “Send to the HighPriest at once to see if this old man spoke true.” |
Sultan.
A Peasant with Two Wives.
[This scene was cut at rehearsal, as having nothing to do with the story. Instead of which, Hajj was introduced by a speech of Mansur’s. See play.] | This should be some comic trial with a difficult question to solve, Such as:“Should a man honour his first wife more—who is old and ugly, but devoted—orhis second wife whom he mistrusts but adores for her beauty?”Or something of the kind drawn from Arabian Nights. |
| | The Sultan is puzzled
He has no answer.
Who can solve the riddle? |
| Hajji, pushing through the crowd,—“Let me, oh Sire!”—throwshimself before Sultan. |
Hajji.
Sultan.
Others | Hajji decides in a witty, whimsical way.
The Sultan amused by him. Who is he?
Hajji says he is a Fakir.
He plays some tricks. |
| [Cut:] | While doing one, addresses the Executioner as a slave, asking him to bring a table.
Pretends not to know who Executioner is, and begs his pardon when he is told of his rank. |
| | He then gets near the Sultan.
Does a trick with a sword.
Tries suddenly to stab the Sultan.
The Sultan wears a coat of mail.
The assassination has failed.
Hajji is surrounded at once.
He is to be cut to pieces.
The Sultan says “Stay!
This man shall be made an example of.
I have heard there are rumours of sedition, and conspiracies against my person.
Therefore I wear this coat of mail.
I shall have this man burnt in my pleasure gardens tomorrow and the public shall be admitted to the spectacle.
This shall show conspirators I am in earnest; mean to uphold my uncle’s policy.
Take this man away.”
Hajji appeals, he turns to the Executioner.
The Executioner says he does not know him.
Hajji says he does.
He can prove it. He was in the house of the Executioner. In his pay.
Executioner: “The man is mad.”
The Sultan fixes Executioner with his eye.
Sultan says he will sift matter to bottom.
Hajji shall be tortured.
The truth shall be wrung from him. |
| [Hajj is gagged here:] | “At once?” asks the Gaoler.
Sultan: “No—let him starve the night first.”
Tonight (smelling the rose) Sultan has other affairs of import to tend to.
Tomorrow (with a meaning look) he expects the Executioner to carry out the tortures himself.
The Executioner bows.
(To Goaler) “Take the man away!”
Hajji is dragged off, screaming.
The Sultan to his Vizier: “Oh Mesrur!
Mesrur! (Abu Bakr) When does the sun set?”
“Another half an hour, sire.”
“Half an hour! Oh, would it were that now?
Why can I not make the sun set—I—the Sultan?
Bring forward the next case.”
Curtain. |