CHIEF OF MILITARY It is an old song, a glorious great battle song, and in mocking it thou has displayed on an absence of education, thou dragger of dead dogs from obscure gutters.
ISHAK
Is this talk for the high divan, Captain? Ye have saved Bagdad?
Bagdad is no longer worth saving. You rose-petal-bellied parasites
of the palace, how dare you sing that song?
CAPTAIN OF MILITARY
Allah, these poets talk in rhyme.
(Enter the Herald announcing various personages, who enter as he announces them and are motioned to their place by ISHAK.)
HERALD
Abu Said, Prince of Basra, to do homage. Fahraddin, Prince of Damascus,
to do homage. Al Mustansir, Prince of Koniah, to do homage.
Tahir Dhu'l Yaminayn, governor of Khorasan, to do homage.
The great calligraphist, Afiq of Diarbekir, master of the riqa and the shikasta hands: also of the Peacock style, and of painting in miniature.
ISHAK
(Aside) Episodes of considerable obscenity.
HERALD The celebrated Turkoman wrestler, Yurghiz Khan, whose thighs are three cubits in circumference.
ISHAK
(Aside) As fat as a woman's, but not as nice.
HERALD Abu Nouwas, the Caliph's jester. The Rajah of the Upper Ganges, come hither to do homage with a present of 800 bales of indigo.