MOGU, THE WANDERER
MOGU THE WANDERER
OR
THE DESERT
A FANTASTIC COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
BY
PADRAIC COLUM
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY,
1917
Copyright, 1917,
By Padraic Colum.
All rights reserved
Published, February, 1917
For permission to perform this play, apply to
The Paget Dramatic Agency, 25 West 45th Street, Netu York City
^■H
UP AND ELECTROTVPED BY THE PLIMPTON PRESS, NORWOOD, MASS., U.S.A.
PRINTED BY S. J. PARKHILL dc CO., BOSTON, MASS., U.S.A.
TO
THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR," " THE GODS OF
371644
MOGU THE WANDERER
CHARACTERS
The Crier of the Camp.
Selim the Sentinel.
The Four Ass-tenders.
MoGU the Wanderer.
Hafiz the Hashish-eater.
Chosroes, the King of Persia.
NusEYR, the Court Poet.
Helenus, the Roman Ambassador.
Narjis, Mogu's Daughter.
Shedad and Shedid, the Court Chamberlains.
The Fruit-seller.
The Old Man of the Desert.
Kassim-Farraj, the Historiographer of the Vizier.
Moon-of-Love and Food-of-Hearts, two Slave
Girls.
The Little Flower Maid.
Persian Notables (3).
Guards (2).
King Artavades.
A Spy.
Gazeleh, a Woman of the King's Harem.
IsHAK and Shakalik, the Nose-cutters of the Court.
YUNAN )
DuBAN V Three Ethiopian Captives.
Zahal )
Menander, the Secretary of the Roman Embassy.
Prince Pharanices, the King's Son.
Queen Atossa.
Sparimixes, the Attendant of the Birds.
Zamm, the One-eyed Beggar.
The acticm passes on the fringe of a desert that is the
frontier of the Roman and Persian Empires,
MOGU, THE WANDERER
THE FIRST ACT
There is a well in Center, Back there are huge stones
that may be from ruins. Behind these stones the desert itself
stretches away.
It is morning. At Right, with his bach to a stone, Selim
the Sentinel is asleep, a spear beside him. The Crier of the
Camp, a huge rattle in his hand, bounds from back Left.
THE CRIER OF THE CAMP {swinging his rattle round on its
handle)
Our Master makes peace with the Romans! Our
Master makes peace with the Romans! {He stands
before the sleeping sentinel and makes a louder noise
with his rattle) Chosroes, the King of the Persians,
makes peace with the Romans!
SELIM {waking up)
I hear. Fare on with your tidings, O Crier of the Camp.
\The Crier runs out R., twirling his rattle and crying,
"Our Master makes peace with the Romans! Chosroes
makes peace with the Romans!" Four ass-tenders
come from L.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
Selim, is it true what is being cried through the camp
— that our Master makes peace with the Romans?
SELIM
1 tell you it is a surety.
,^^: : ^ .; y rrMOGT;?. THE WANDERER [act i
SECOND ASS-TENDER
And shall we return to our own land, Selim?
SELIM
As for that, ask the soothsayers.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
A man has come into the camp — a man who can fore-
tell events.
THIRD ASS-TENDER
I know the man you mean. He is a pilferer. He was
caught stealing in the camp.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
Yea. And the marks of a beating are upon his body.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
Yet he has most quick and searching eyes.
\^A man has stolen round the wall of the well. He stretches
out his staff and draws melon peel that is lying on the
ground towards him. He picks up the melon peel and
begins to eat it. The man is naked except for a loin cloth;
he is tall and lean and has a scanty beard and quick,
searching eyes.
THE MAN (coming forward)
A fair and friendly greeting to you all, O Brothers of
the Persians.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
It is the soothsayer with the marks of the beating.
SELIM
Who are you, O Man?
THE MAN
I am Mogu, the Wanderer, the possessor of the Book.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
Do you not foretell events?
MOGU
Young man, I read in the Book.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 7
SELIM
And what is this Book?
MOGU
It is the Book of the Hidden Treasures, my Lord. I
look at you, and I see that divers fortunes overhang
you all. You, young man, have been beaten once, and,
I fear, will be beaten again, for there is hatred to the
right of you and hatred to the left of you.
THIRD ASS-TENDER
He speaks the truth.
MOGU
While as for you, many women have refused you, but
in the end they will go to you with alacrity.
FOURTH ASS-TENDER
Is that true, Mogu?
MOGU
I have said it. And as for you, you have lacked money
always.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
That is indeed true, Mogu.
MOGU
But the Book says that he who shall persistently follow
the smell of the oil shall come to the place where there
is light.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
And what of my fortune, Mogu?
MOGU
There is a damsel thinking of you, and she is dark.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
Is there no more than that?
MOGU
I will speak no more of the future. According to the
Book there is one occasion on which a man may with
8 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
safety reveal the mysteries. That occasion is after
he has eaten. It is now time for me to eat. Have any
of you seen my daughter?
SECOND ASS-TENDER
I have seen her.
MOGU
She has our provision. But it does not matter. I will
eat with you. Let us share provision.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
There is no provision with us, Mogu.
MOGU
A crust of bread itself confers the obligation of bread
and salt.
THIRD ASS-TENDER
There is none amongst us that has a crust of bread.
MOGU
This is pitiful. But before I go from you I shall show
you a wonder.
[He pulls up a little bag that has been slung across his
back and takes something out of it. He puts the object
on the palm of his hand.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
It is a mouse!
[Mogu takes something else out of the bag and puts it on
his palm.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
It is a dice-cube!
MOGU
Simsim, my mouse, pushes at this cube and turns it
over. Now will he turn it with a high or a low number
uppermost? Watch Simsim, my mouse.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
He will turn up a low number.
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 9
MOGU
And what stake do you put on that?
FIRST ASS-TENDER
I put no stake.
MOGU
This man has no reliance on his own judgment. And
it is such as he that are in charge of the asses of the
camp.
THIRD ASS-TENDER
He turns up a high number. I stake a copper coin.
MOGU
Your destiny, if you knew it, is worth more than a
copper coin. You have the judgment of Aristotle whom
Darius appointed as Vizier to his son Alexander.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
Was Alexander then the son of Darius?
MOGU
The Book itself says that Darius wa,s the father of
Alexander. But Simsim will push no more. He has
turned up the lowest number. Give me the coin.
THIRD ASS-TENDER <s
I have no coin to give. ^
MOGU
What does he say? Look, friends, see how the cube
has been turned! This man brings disgrace on you all.
Behold, he is going away!
[^The Third Ass-tender goes towards L.
SECOND ASS-TENDER
Here, Mogu, is one for your skill — Hafiz the Hashish-
eater.
[Hafiz enters from R. His face is white, and he wears a
torn robe.
10 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
My Master, do you see the mouse and the dice-cube?
HAFIZ
Verily I see them. '
MOGU
The mouse pushes the dice-cube. Will he turn up a
high or a low number?
HAFIZ
A low number.
MOGU
Good Master, you have lost. It is a six. Recompense
me with a copper coin. (Hafiz gives Mogu a coin) You
are amongst those of whom it is written, "They do not
say *Come another day'; they pay on the stroke."
Simsim pushes the cube again.
FOURTH ASS-TENDER
He will turn up a high number.
MOGU
Behold, it is as you have said.
FOURTH ASS-TENDER
Give me the coin.
MOGU
The coin?
THE ASS-TENDERS (truculently)
The stake — give him the stake.
MOGU
What lack of mind is here! There was no stake.
THE ASS-TENDERS (threatening Mogu)
Give him the coin — give him the coin or we beat you!
MOGU
Would you touch one who possesses the Book and who
is acquainted with the incantations?
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 11
THE ASS-TENDERS
We will put more stripes on your back.
£Mogu makes the mouse run up to his shoulder. Then,
grasping his staff y he stands with his back to the wall of
the well. The ass-tenders threaten him, Chosroes, the
King, and Nu^eyr, the Court Poet, enter from R,
CHOSROES
There are contentions here, Nuseyr.
SELiM (in great alarm)
The King! The King! Have ye no manners, Outcasts!
The King!
£The ass-tenders run off L. One of them knocks the mouse
off Moguls shoulder. Hafiz goes after the ass-tenders,
Mogu throws down his staff and afterwards goes down on
his hands and knees to search for the mouse that has run
away, Chosroes stands watching him. Chosroes, with
his heard and robe, looks like an Assyrian king. Nuseyr,
the Court Poet, is a young man elaborately dressed. He
has on his shoulder a green parrot held by a silver chain,
CHOSROES
What man are you?
MOGU {on his knees)
I am Mogu, the Wanderer, my Lord. I search for the
mouse that was villainously flung from me.
CHOSROES
Have you aught to say?
MOGU
Who is there to judge of the poor man? If he states his
case and proves himself wronged, who is there that will
admit his plea?
CHOSROES {to Nuseyr)
This man has discourse.
12 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
Alas for the poor man! How could you know his con-
dition ! In the market place he is mocked at, and in the
street he is set upon and beaten. When he is absent
he is not remembered amongst mankind, and when he
is present he has no share in their pleasures. He fails
to earn his food in the summer, and in the winter he is
without fire or food.
CH08ROE8
Excellently does he speak.
MOGU
In the market place the poor man shuns notice, and in
the desert he pours forth his tears.
NUSEYR
He speaks excellently. I could listen to him only for
the wind blows from him to us.
CHOSROES
Yes, the wind blows from him to us. Bid him go away.
[Nuseyr motions Mogu to go. He goes left of well and sits
with hack to it. There are some more fruit peels on the
ground, and he takes them up and eats them.
CHOSROES
Did my poet observe that man?
NUSEYR
I observed that he was our old acquaintance, the naked
man.
CHOSROES
He is a lesson for those who would be admonished.
NUSEYR
Too obvious a lesson, my Lord. But my parrot has
never looked upon his like. {He steps towards i., hold-
ing up the parrot) Shiraz, my beauty, look on Mogu,
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 13
the naked man. So we are all born, Shiraz! So we
all are stripped of robe and crown, of court and harem!
CHOSROES
I shall have that parrot strangled, Nuseyr.
NUSEYR
Why, my Lord?
CHOSROES
So that our Roman friends will not gossip of Persian
levity.
[Helenus, the Roman minister, an alert man with great
presence, enters from L. He makes reverence to the King,
CHOSROES
We pray that the peace between our Empires may be
eternal. The treaty is written out in Persian and Roman
writing, and Shedad, our chamberlain, will hand it to
you when we go back to the pavilion. We will present
you with a robe of honor, Helenus.
NUSEYR
Let it be on account of his epic, my Lord.
CHOSROES
Has Helenus written an epic?
HELENUS
My epic is only in part composed. As your Majesty is
aware, in a long poem the subject is of the first impor-
tance. I have selected my subject with the greatest
care. It is the war with the Dacians, an action now
suflficiently remote to be a fit subject for an epic. The
parts composed have been read in various circles, and
the readings have always been attended by the best
people. It has been noticed how I have surmounted
the diflBculties of getting barbarian names into Greek
hexameters.
14 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
CHOSROES
We regret that the subject of the wars between Rome
and Persia did not commend itself to you.
HELENUS
There are many fine episodes in these wars, but no com-
plete action, my Lord.
CHOSROES
Nuseyr will explain to me what you have said. Behold
the naked man again.
[^Mogu has come from behind well and is searching on the
ground for his mouse.
CHOSROES
Such wanderers have ways of making diversion. Does
he sing? Does he tell stories.? Does he dance?
NUSEYR
The King commands that Mogu dance.
MOGU
O my Lord, I know only the Ostrich Dance — the dance
that amuses the camel-drivers.
NUSEYR
You must dance it, Mogu.
[^Mogu commences the dance — an awkard shuffling and
jumping. Chosroes, Nuseyr and Helenus are about to
go when Narjis runs in from L.
NARJIS
O my Father!
CHOSROES
Who is this damsel?
MOGU
She is the Wanderer's child, my Lord.
CHOSROES
Can she dance?
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 15
MOGU
She has been trained to dance the Bubble Dance and
the Dance of the Butterfly Skipping the Stones.
CHOSROES
What do you say of her, Nuseyr?
NUSEYR
She is quick and graceful, like the daughters of the
desert.
CHOSROES
Do you not commend her then?
NUSEYR
I should like to see her dressed in a skirt of red inwoven
with gold, and with sandals upon her feet. Her vest
should be of pale blue, slashed and open, and embroid-
ered with pearls —
CHOSROES
I had a dream last night!
NUSEYR
Dressed thus she would make a pretty cup-bearer.
CHOSROES
A cup-bearer only !
NUSEYR
What is your name, damsel?
NARJIS
Narjis, my Lord.
NUSEYR
Let these coins be in your hair, Narjis.
NARJIS
O my Lord!
^She takes a string of coins that Nuseyr hands her and
fixes them in her hair.
CHOSROES
What do you say now of her, Nuseyr?
16 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
NUSEYR
I think she is pretty.
CHOSROES
No more than pretty?
NUSEYR
I cannot say that she is more than pretty. The King
would have you dance, O Gazelle of the Sand Hills!
[_Shedad and Shedid, the two chamberlains , enter from L.
and prostrate themselves. The King is looking at Narjis
who stands before him. Mogu is at the wall of the well.
Nuseyr and Helenus stand behind the King.
SHEDAD
The falcons, O King!
CHOSROES
What does the man say?
NUSEYR
What is it, Shedad?
SHEDAD
The falcons that were sent as a present to the King
have arrived at the pavilion.
NUSEYR
The falcons! These are the snowy falcons from the
Mountain of Lebanon. O my Lord, may we not go to
the pavilion at once to see these birds?
CHOSROES
Shall we not see Narjis dance?
NUSEYR
There can be nothing wonderful in her dancing, but
the falcons — the snowy falcons! Let us go, my Lord.
CHOSROES
How shall we reward Narjis?
NUSEYR
I have given her a string of coins.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 17
CHOSROES
I have had a dream. But let us go back to the pavilion.
\JJhosroes turns to go. The chamberlains go before him.
HELENUS
We could have presented Chosroes with falcons from
the Western Islands.
NUSEYR
Ah, but snowy falcons, and falcons from the Mountain
of Lebanon. Farewell, Gazelle of the Sand Hills!
NARJIS
Farewell, my Lord.
[Nuseyr and Helenus go after the King,
NARJIS
They are gone. I remember the words in the song:
I perceive it was only a dream, the thought that came
to me.
The thought that the desert was passed, that we were
on the couches.
I thought we had dainty food, that singing and wine
were around us.
And I thought that my lord had said sweet words to his
slave girl.
It was only a dream, I perceive, and the desert is
round us.
MOGU
This is our lucky day. This is the day of my life. This
shall be called Mogu's day. Coins in a string the jug-
gler with the parrot bestowed upon my daughter.
NARJIS
O my Father, will they return?
MOGU
Let us be far away lest they should. Come on.
18 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
NARJIS
The King may remember me.
MOGU
Let us hope that the son of the parrot may not remember
his coins. Come on. But give the coins to me that I
may place them in obscurity.
NARJIS
O my Father, the King looked upon me when the coins
were in my hair. He might return, and not seeing the
coins, would not notice me again.
MOGU
What is this? Give the coins lest the soldiers see them.
(Narjis puts her hands over the coins in her hair) Let
us hasten from this, or they will fall upon us and beat
us. They would all beat us — the captains, the sol-
diers, the camp followers. And now indeed we should
be careful, for our good fortune must have awakened
the jealousy of my evil genius. Come. (Narjis takes
a step to him) We will go into a town far from the
camp. We shall have fowl, fish and white bread.
(Narjis stops) Come. We shall have wine and enter-
tainment. The jesters and humpbacks will perform
before us.
NARJIS
Oh, stay. I hear a call.
MOGU
Then give me the coins.
[Narjis breaks from Mogu. The King enters Jram R,
CHOSROES
Narjis !
NARJIS
O my Lord!
[_She runs to him.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 19
MOGU
He who has a daughter has distress and anxiety indeed!
Behold I am once again under the power of fortune.
IHafiz the Hashish-eater enters from L,
HAFIZ
Hail, Brother!
MOGU
Greeting, Hashish-eater. Cast no spells, have no en-
vious thought, wish not for the evil eye, for the hour of
Mogu approaches.
HAFIZ
The hour of my sobriety approaches also.
MOGU
Hush. The King comes with the Wanderer's child.
[Chosroes with Narjis come from R.
CHOSROES
Further, according to a dream, I should escape a peril
by wedding you.
NARJIS
By wedding me, my Lord!
CHOSROES
Nuseyr, our Court Poet, professes not to find you
beautiful, and his opinion on what is lovely is esteemed
at the Court. I have slipped away from Nuseyr. I
find you fairer than the daughters of kings.
NARJIS
I am my Lord's handmaiden.
CHOSROES
I would wed you as I should wed the daughter of a king.
NARJIS
O my Lord!
[_They go slowly back R. They stop.
20 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
my protecting Genius, thou hast brought me to a
fortunate hour! He takes her as he would take the
daughter of a King! He weds with Mogu's issue; he
makes Mogu the parent of a Hue of Kings. Stand up
and be haughty, Mogu! Be fierce, Mogu! Tremble
and be abashed, my enemies! Dogs, lick the dust
before Mogu's feet!
HAFIZ
What does your hashish say to you, Mogu?
MOGU
1 am making an alliance with the King.
HAFIZ
Are you lending him armies?
MOGU
I am giving my daughter in marriage to the King.
HAFIZ
Are you giving a dowry with your daughter?
MOGU
No. But I am getting a bride-price for my daughter.
HAFIZ
And what bride-price will you get, Mogu?
MOGU
O stupefied one, what bride-price would a King give?
HAFIZ
He will make you a lord of the empire.
MOGU
He will make me the greatest of the lords of the empire.
Media will be under me for a year and Bactriana for
the year after; Damascus I shall give away, and
Yemen shall be my place of pleasure.
HAFIZ
O Mogu, my Lord, a boon!
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 21
MOGU
What boon would you crave?
HAFIZ
Give me the women of Yemen to be my slave women.
MOGU
I have nought to do with you, Hashish-eater.
HAFIZ
Then Shedad and Shedid are more generous than you.
MOGU
You speak of the chamberlains whom I hate. Have
they daughters?
HAFIZ
Shedad has a daughter, and she is wonderful. There
is none like her in the Garden of Eternity.
MOGU
I have never seen the daughters of the rich.
HAFIZ
She is like the moon on the night of its fullness. She
will be displayed before you robed in silks of China.
Lo, her nurses bring her in. Her eyes are bordered with
kohl, and her nails are stained with henna. Lo, they
withdraw the veils and the outer garments. Her hair
falls out of its tower. Behold the shower of pearls, and
see there are jewels along her breast!
MOGU
By my protecting genius, I shall marry this damsel.
HAFIZ
Will you not look upon her?
MOGU
I will wed her, I tell you, but afterwards I will manifest
no love towards her on account of the enmity I bear to
her father and her uncle.
22 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
HAFIZ
Alas for the bride, the poor bride;
MOGU
Mogu will be haughty to his enemies. He will take
their daughters for a time, but themselves he will have
beaten with sticks.
HAFIZ
Lo, the King goes with the bride.
[Cliosroes and Narjis move away R. Mogu throws down
his staff and runs after them.
MOGU
My Lord, my Lord! Mogu calls, my Lord. Mogu
the bride's father. The bride's father entreats a
word, even a gift, my Lord.
\jChosroes and Narjis go off without giving any attention
to Mogu. Mogu stands looking after them.
HAFIZ
Mogu — Mogu — Mogu.
[_Mogu comes back and picks up his staff,
MOGU
Begone, Slave.
HAFIZ
Art thou not a lord of the empire and friendly to me?
MOGU
My daughter is to wed the King — is it not so?
HAFIZ
You have given your daughter in marriage to the King.
MOGU
Then I shall stay here until the King sends for me.
\\The four ass-tenders come from L. and seat themselves
upon stones hack left. The Crier of the Camp comes on
from R. holding his rattle. Eafiz goes off L. and Mogu
stands at C. his staff in his hands in a dignified attitude.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 23
THE CRIER {hoarsely, shaking his rattle feebly)
The King — has made peace — with the Romans.
\_Shedid comes from R.
MOGU
Have you a message for me, Shedid?
SHEDID
A message for you, Vagabond?
MOGU
Does the King send me a message?
SHEDID
The King! — is it to such a one as thou?
MOGU
Know, O Shedid, that Chosroes has wed my daughter.
SHEDID
Verily truth has departed from amongst men!
{The ass-tenders and the Crier of the Camp laugh.
MOGU
Chosroes has wed Narjis, my daughter, as he would
wed the daughter of a king.
{The asS'tenders and the Crier of the Camp are highly
diverted.
SHEDID
What will be done with this man? His forehead is of
brass, or else it is of rock, and cut from the threshold
of the synagogue of the Jews! He is not ashamed of
anything he says to the servants of the King.
{Shedad enters from R.
MOGU
It is you who have the message for me, Shedad.
SHEDAD
I do not bear messages to such as you.
MOGU
You have gifts for me, Shedad.
U MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
SHEDAD
I have no gifts for you.
MOGU
You have said this by way of discussion, but you have
come to bid me to the pavilion of the King.
SHEDID
This man becomes wearisome.
MOGU
You have the coins for me at least.
SHEDAD
I have no coins for you.
MOGU
Speak truth, Shedad.
SHEDAD
Does this man challenge us?
MOGU
Give me the coins and I will stay here.
SHEDAD
I have no coins.
MOGU
You have my daughter's string of coins, I tell you.
Give them to me.
SHEDAD
What shall we do with this man, Brother?
MOGU
You have stolen the coins.
SHEDID
I shall have him punished.
MOGU
Give me the coins, ye robbers.
SHEDID
O Ass-tenders! Seize this man, beat him soundly and
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 25
place him in the crosspieces. Now let us leave this
place. Brother.
\_Shedid and Shedad go off L. The ass-tenders gather
round Mogu.
MOGU {gripping his staff)
Beware of touching me, Jackals.
\lThe ass-tenders gather round Mogu, mocking him.
THE CRIER (as if making a portentous announcement)
The King has taken Mogu's daughter!
THE ASS-TENDERS
La, la, la, la.
THE CRIER {twisting his rattle)
The King has married Mogu's daughter.
THE ASS-TENDERS
La, la, la, la.
THE CRIER
The King has married Mogu*s daughter as he would
wed the daughters of kings.
THE ASS-TENDERS
La, la, la, la.
MOGU
Listen to what I will say to you. You are dogs, your
fathers were dogs, and dogs also were your grand-
fathers. You are the lice of the camp and with my
staff only will I touch you.
THE CRIER {mounting the stones hack)
All ye who would see a vagabond beaten come here,
come here, come here.
XThe ass-tenders crowd round Mogu. He strikes at
them. One throws sand in his eyes. They throw him
down. They put him in the crosspieces.
26 MOGU, THE WANDERER [acti
THE CRIER
May all the hungry bellies that come into our camp
meet the fate of Mogu, the Vagabond.
[_The normal life of the camp goes on. People come to
the well. A fruit-seller comes. Fruit is taken by those
at the well. People at well go away. Selim and the
fruit-seller play at draughts. Mogu is in the crosspieces
L. C. He is standing upright, hut his arms are held
between two cross timbers and his neck is bent under a
board.
Haflz the Hashish-eater enters from L.
HAFIZ
How strange is the scene on which my soul gazes !
SELIM {mockingly)
O Fruit-seller, how strange is the well and the camel
track!
HAFIZ
The powers of Alexander were gathered here, and
below the rubbish heaps are the remains of Babylon.
SELIM {with interest)
When were the armies of Alexander gathered round
this place?
HAFIZ
A thousand years after the revel of Sardanapalus.
[The Fruit-seller runs to Hafiz, holding his basket on his
head.
THE FRUIT-SELLER
Speak to me concerning Sardanapalus.
HAFIZ
Below one of the rubbish heaps is a painted chamber,
and there Sardanapalus reveled on a night. A slave
called me out of sleep and caught me by the hand,
and we went down long stairs. I heard the voices of
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER £7
the singing women. I knew the King was dead, and
that those within would make me king after Sar-
danapalus. But the door would not open.
[^The Fruit-seller looks round at Selim.
SELIM
Speak to me concerning Alexander.
HAFIZ
I sat by Alexander's couch and told him about India,
for I had journeyed down all her rivers. I slept out-
side his tent, and a captain called to me. The blue
lotos was in my hand, and I went to show Alexander
the veins that led into the heart of the world. Then a
star fell. I heard them say that Alexander had gone
hence.
SELIM
He is a hashish-eater. I knew such a one in Ispahan.
THE FRUIT-SELLER
There is no profit in listening to the dreams of a hashish-
eater.
HAFIZ
I will speak no more concerning Sardanapalus nor
Alexander.
[He goes off R. Selim sits on a low stone R., eating
dates and throwing the stones before him. The Fruit-
seller dusts the fruit in his basket, Mogu begins to
utter deep groans.
SELEVf
Were I back in Ispahan I would be well off. My
father is a merchant and chief amongst the merchants
of the city. He has many bales in his shop, and I
think the price of each is a thousand pieces of gold.
My father would be glad to see my countenance. He
would give me bales to trade with.
28 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
THE FRUIT-SELLER
There is great wealth in a thousand pieces of gold.
SELIM
And when I had returned from trading with the bales
he had given me, my father would take me to the
house of my uncle who is also a merchant and wealthy
and ask his brother's daughter in marriage for me.
Verily we would not leave the shop until my uncle's
daughter was given to me.
THE FRUIT-SELLER
And a share of your uncle's wealth should go with the
damsel.
SELIM
That would be but proper. Then I would be a great
merchant myself and would have many slaves and
much ease. Would that I were back in Ispahan.
MOGU
O Ispahan!
SELIM
Art thou acquainted with the Beautiful City, Mogu?
MOGU
Behold these feet! Were I to deny their acquaintance
with the streets of Ispahan, the nails would drop off
the toes. O Ispahan! O City where she who is re-
membered lived and died!
SELIM
You refer to Sheereen the Beautiful?
MOGU
To Sheereen and to none other.
SELIM
Then the stories told in the streets of Ispahan are
familiar to you?
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 29
MOGU
Master, they are my particularly familiar tales.
SELIM
O Fruit-seller, bring your basket to me, and as I eat
more dates I may question Mogu about the stories of
Ispahan.
{The Fruit-seller brings over the basket to Selim,
SELIM
And so they are familiar to you, Mogu — the stories of
Ispahan?
MOGU
It would not be necessary for me to bury my neck in
the collar of reflection to recall the stories of Ispahan.
No, indeed. But that which presses my neck is not of
reflection, but of torment. I pray you, loosen it.
Master. (He twists his neck around) Now that I look
upon you, I perceive that you are from Ispahan indeed.
Your bearing is comely and noble and like that of the
youths of Ispahan.
£Selim goes over and opens the board around Moguls
neck. Mogu lifts his head and breathes deeply.
MOGU
O ravenous belly, cease to prey upon me, so that I may
remember the choicest of the stories and relate them
to this friendly noble.
SELIM
O Fruit-seller, give Mogu to eat, and I will recompense
you.
\^The Fruit-seller goes to Mogu.
MOGU
The hand is the servant of the mouth. Master.
[^Selim releases Moguls right hand. He takes dates
30 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
Jrcmi the Fruit-seller and eats. The ass-tenders have
come on from R. and they stand behind Selim.
SELIM
Mogu is about to relate to us the story of Sheereen the
Beautiful.
MOGU
There are three preventatives to the telling of that
story : it must not be related before women, nor before
black slaves, nor in the presence of those who pay not
their debts.
SELIM
O Mogu, are there such here?
MOGU
Behind you are those who have not paid their debts.
FIRST ASS-TENDER
He knows nought of the story.
SELIM
Mogu, are you an imposter in this also?
MOGU
Not so. But those who are behind you would use what
1 say in the story against me.
THE FRUIT-SELLER
I know one of the familiar stories of Ispahan. It is the
story of the Slave and the Sultan. Do you know that
story, Mogu?
MOGU
The story of the Slave and the Sultan — I know it.
It is a story worthy to be engraved on plates of gold
and kept in the treasure house of a king. There was
a King of Yemen so anxious to possess the story of the
Slave and the Sultan that he sent messengers into the
cities of China to converse with travelers of the world,
so that the messengers might, perchance, meet one
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 31
who carried in his mind the story of the Slave and the
Sultan.
SELIM
Yes, Mogu. But what of the story?
THE ASS-TENDERS
What of the story?
THE FRUIT-SELLER
Mogu, what of the story of the Slave and the Sultan?
MOGU
To proceed. There was once a Sultan, and he had in
his house a favorite slave.
SELIM
Nay, Mogu. There was once a Sultan, and he had in
his house one who was the most despicable of slaves.
THE FRUIT-SELLER
So it is. That is how the story begins.
MOGU
1 will let my master relate the story in the way that is
most pleasing to himself.
SELIM
Hear me, my Friends, and give heed to the story of the
Slave and the Sultan. There was once a sultan and he
had in his palace one who was the most despicable of
slaves. Now it came to the ear of the sultan that this
slave dreamt he sat in his master's seat. So, to divert
himself, the sultan caused a drug to be placed in the
slave's food, and while he slept, they arrayed him in
the robes of the sultan and put him on the master's
seat. {The audience approves of the tale. While they are
applauding, Shedad and Shedid enter L. They have
Nuseyr with them, and they point out Mogu to Nuseyr)
So when this most despicable of slaves awakened on
the world, he was saluted as Sultan. And one courtier
32 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
would make obeisance to him and say, "The slave girl
my Lord directed to be brought hath arrived, and the
broker swears that the ten thousand pieces of gold do
not suffice to pay for the dress and the ornaments she
has on." {The audience laugh heartily. Selim pauses
to laugh) And another courtier would say, "Presents
from the King of India have arrived! Will my Lord
deign to cast an eye upon them?" (Selim laughs
immoderately. The audience, carried away, laugh) At
last this most despicable of slaves was persuaded that
he was Sultan, and he gave orders, and for a time
these orders were carried out. But the courtiers at
last grew weary of this diversion, and one said, *'0
thou unlucky," and plucked the beard of the slave.
Then they fell upon him and tormented him, and at
last they yoked him to the mill as a bull, and forced
him to grind corn for a night and a day. (Selim and
the audience laugh again) O Mogu, now you know
the story of the Slave and the Sultan.
MOGU
Yea, verily. (Selim and the story-telling group now see
Shedad and the others. Shedad motions to Selim. He
goes to the chamberlains and Nuseyr, who speak to him.
Selim motions to the camp followers to go away. He
unloosens Moguls other hand and then goes off. Mogu
gets away from the crosspieces and stands C, rubbing
his legs. Shedad and Shedid go to him. They make
reverence) Why do you stand before me, Oppressors of
the Poor?
SHEDID
We bring you tidings of your elevation, O Vizier.
Your Lordship has been given the place of Perozes, the
Vizier.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 33
SHED AD
We come to bid you to the banquet of the King.
MOGU
Your beards are gray, and yet you are prolific in deceit.
The desert will deliver me from your hands.
\JSe goes L.
NUSEYR (coming to him)
Speak to us, Lord Mogu, and tell us why you would go
hence.
MOGU
Because they would pretend that Mogu, the vagabond,
was Vizier and amongst the noble, and because, when
they had grown weary of that diversion, they would
have him beaten and tormented. I know you all
take pleasure in mocking the outcast, but had I not
listened to the stories I should most assuredly have
been taken in the net. O my Lord Nuseyr, do not be
amongst the mockers! Have pity upon the poor man!
You know not his condition, as I said. I go back
to the desert without crust, without coin, without
daughter. The sun has burnt the flesh off my neck
and even now it is on the stripes of my beating. My
stomach devours itself for lack of food.
NUSEYR
What would you have of me, Mogu?
MOGU
Some fruit for my journey. Lord.
^Nuseyr calls to the Fruit-seller. He comes from R.
NUSEYR
Leave your basket before Mogu, and for what he
takes I will recompense you.
l^The Fruit-seller puts basket down and goes of R. Mogu
takes fruit out of basket^ and bites into one.
34 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
Verily, this is an astonishing thing!
NUSEYR
What is it, Lord Mogu?
MOGU
It is an event to astonish the mind.
[He holds something. Shedad looks into his hand,
SHEDAD
There were two stones in the Vizier's fruit.
SHEDID
One of them is small and wrinkled as if dried in the
desert, and the other is large and purple like a grape.
MOGU
I am astonished at the event of the fruit/
NUSEYR
May it not be that these stones are an omen, and that
they signify the two parts of the Vizier's life — the one
contracted and discolored, the other full and richly
hued.f^ (Shedad and Shedid make assenting gestures)
Drink to the omen. Lord Mogu. Wine for the Vizier,
Chamberlains.
[Shedad and Shedid hurry to L. and come hack with a great
cup filled with wine.
MOGU
I am astonished at the event of the fruit. Have you
ever heard of a happening more extraordinary?
NUSEYR
Drink to the happening. This is the King's wine —
wine of Cyprus. This is the Beauty amongst Ten
Thousand and the Virgin long kept at Home.
MOGU
O my Lord, I have heard that the Bang's wine is some-
times drugged.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 35
NUSEYR
Permit me first to drink from your cup. (Nuseyr drinks)
Now, my Lord Mogu, consider this. K this wine
has been drugged and if you drink of it and become
insensible, you cannot be deceived on your awakening,
for you are aware of the game already.
MOGU
It is true what you say, my Lord. I cannot be deceived
since I am aware of the game already. {He drinks) I
had heard of the wine of Cyprus. It is good wine,
my Lord — this wine of Cyprus. Do not think I am
without manners. I know how to behave in the pre-
sence of the noble. I drink to you, my Lord.
[Mogu drinks again,
SHEDAD
The King expects that the Vizier will keep the cup he
has sent him.
MOGU {in dismay)
Now I see again your design against me. You would
have me taken with the King's cup in my possession!
You would bring me into torment with this cup. {He
leaves the cup on the ground and retreats from it) I will
go from this place where the poor man is tricked into
giving himself up to torment.
\_A light litter is brought in from L, It is opened^ and
Narjis, veiled, steps out.
NARJIS
O my Father, how wretched you seem.
MOGU
It is my daughter's voice.
[^She lifts her veil and goes towards him.
30 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
My daughter! But you consort with those whose
diversion it is to torment the outcast.
NARJIS
Good fortune has turned your brain, my Father.
MOGU
Do not speak of good fortune. Evil are the things
that are projected against me. But I am wary, my
Daughter.
NARJIS
I recalled you to the King, and he has bestowed upon
you the place of Perozes, his Vizier. Is this an evil
thing?
MOGU
I have heard the tales. The oppressors of the poor
cannot impose upon me.
NARJIS
Do you not believe that the King has found delight
in me?
MOGU
It may be so, my Daughter.
NARJIS
He has bestowed upon me dresses and slaves, jewels
and ornaments.
MOGU
If the King has been good to you, bestow something
on me, your father. Give me back the string of coins
that you took with you.
NARJIS
O my Father, I have bestowed these on one of my
slave girls.
MOGU
Have I not said it? You take the bread from the
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 37
children's hands and give it to the dogs. (Narjis goes
to a girl who stands by the litter. The girl takes a string
from her neck and gives it to Moguls daughter) How
easily these things come and go! (Narjis gives the
coins to MogUy who speaks fawningly) How munificent
is the Court! How lavish the King! How fortunate
is my child! If the King would provide me with a
maintenance, I would accept it, my Daughter!
NARJIS
The King has given you the highest place of all. He
will receive you to-night, my Father, and the chamber-
lains will prepare you for the visit. And now I go, for
the King awaits me at the pavihon.
l^She gets into the litter and is carried off iJ., the slave
girl walking beside the litter.
NUSEYR
Chamberlains, it is for you to see that the Vizier is
-fitly robed and properly conducted to the Pavihon of
the Baths.
[Nuseyr goes off i?., following the litter.
MOGU
It may be that those who five in courts, who eat much
food and drink much wine, become intoxicated in their
reason and lose the support of their understanding.
It may be that what the poet and my daughter have
spoken of has actually come to pass. It may be that
I have attained to a degree of eminence. {The chamber-
lains bow before Mogu) Bring me the wine cup. {She-
dad brings the wine cup. Mogu drinks) Shedad and
Shedid! You are like the beaten ones of the cities —
one of you looks like a starveling porter and the other
like a dustman. You would look different if you were
drunk with wine of Cyprus. I drink in consideration
38 MOGU, THE WANDERER [acti
of your daughter, Shedad. {He drinks again) You
have sandals, Shedad. Strip them off and let Shedid
put them upon my feet.
^Shedad takes off his sandals. Shedid kneels down and
'puts them on Moguls feet. Mogu unwinds Shedid's
turban and puts it upon his own head.
SHEDID
The jewels on the turban are small, but they may
make the gift more acceptable to my Lord.
MOGU
What else will ye give?
SHEDID
We will give you all your Lordship looks upon.
MOGU
Would you give me your hves?
SHEDID
Under Chosroes we have no lord but Mogu.
MOGU
Would you give me your wives?
SHEDAD
Your Lordship would not make such a claim.
MOGU
I know not. I have the insolence of a crocodile. But
where are the other parts of the Vizier's dress?
SHEDID
Kassim-Farraj has charge of your wardrobe, my Lord.
MOGU
Go to this Kassim-Farraj and bid him appear before
me with the robes of the Vizier.
SHEDID
I hear and I obey.
[^Shedid goes R.
ACT i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 39
MOGU
And you, Shedad, go instantly and bid them bring the
Vizier's Htter here. (As Shedad goes R.y Mogu flings
the wine cup after him) Leave the wine cup with the
treasure of the Vizier, O my Servants.
SHEDAD
We will leave it with the rest of your treasures. Master.
[_Shedad and Shedid go off R.
MOGU
Master, they say to me! How well they know when
the mastery is in me! Yesterday I would have called
either of them Master. I called many men Master —
even such as ate stinking meats and slept in filthy
places on the ground. "Master, I faint in the long
days because the bread you give is not enough."
"What, are there no roots in the earth?" "Master, I
perish because the wind has stripped away my rags."
" What, are there no travelers to be robbed.? " " Master,
I would see my wife." "What, must I support your
progeny also.?" Those eaters of stinking meats and
liers in unclean places! I would they could see me
now with the great men of the Persians paying homage
to me! Ha, they shall waken up one day and find the
wolf with a nose buried in their necks. Yesterday my
feet were bruised and my belly was empty and the
stripes on my back were sore. And to-day I am what
I am.
"Master," says Shedad, the Chamberlain of the King.
Chosroes is my friend. Who is Chosroes? A beggar
woman fled with two robbers. Each of them possessed
her and from this famous conjunction proceeded the
race that first headed it over a band of robbers and
afterwards kinged it over Persia. It is possible that
40 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
Chosroes is sprung from Mogu's fore-great-grandam.
Lo, the vulture in the sky ! Thou art the sign of Mogu,
O earth-watching, high-flying Fowl of the Desert. O
Fowl, thou art in Mogu's heart. O Vulture, thou shalt
tear strips from the backs of the necks of the great
men of the world!
[He is standing vnth his back to the back of the scene,
holding out his hands towards the flying vulture. An
old man appears at back. His figure is wasted and his
beard overgrown. He appears as coming up. steps at
back.
THE OLD MAN
Thou who hast prospered!
MOGU
What would you with Mogu, Old Man?
THE OLD MAN
The Old Man of the Desert would show Mogu his
destiny.
MOGU
1 will go with you. Old Man.
THE OLD MAN
Nay ! The destined one is without possessions.
MOGU
I am without possessions.
THE OLD MAN
There are gold coins in your hand and there are little
jewels on your turban.
MOGU
The coins are a womanly ornament merely — a gift
from my daughter.
\^The Old Man of the Desert goes down a step.
THE OLD MAN
I seek him who is without possessions.
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 41
MOGU
I know thee, Old Man. Why did you not call to me
an hour ago?
THE OLD MAN
The calculation was not then complete.
MOGU
Would you cheat me out of my gold and jewels?
THE OLD MAN
Man, would you cheat your destiny?
MOGU
1 will bury my gold and follow you.
^The Old Man of the Desert goes down another step,
THE OLD MAN
Where is he who is without possessions?
MOGU
I will cast my gold aside and Usten to you.
THE OLD MAN
Into the well!
MOGU
Into the well?
THE OLD MAN
The gold into the well and the jewels of the turban also.
^A 'pause.
MOGU
It shall be said that Mogu cast his jewels and gold into
the well!
[_He throws into the well the string of coins and the jewels
on the turban.
MOGU
What now. Old Man?
THE OLD MAN
Your right hand shall be over a King!
[He disappears.
42 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
MOGU
From this moment I am the Vizier indeed! My right
hand shall be over a King!
[Kassim-Farraj enters from R., followed by the three
Ethiopian captives, Yunan, Duhan and Zahal. Two of
the captives carry an open trunk, and one walks behind.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
My Lord Mogu, the unworthy person who stands be-
fore you is the Historiographer of the Vizier, Kassim-
Farraj.
MOGU
We have heard of you, Kassim-Farraj. What have you
brought?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Personally I have brought tablets to fill up with your
deeds, my Lord. These trusted Ethiopian captives,
Yunan, Duban and Zahal, bring in the trunk in which
you behold the robes and emblems proper to a Vizier.
MOGU
I shall put on the robes and emblems before I go into
the Vizier's litter.
[^The Three Ethiopian captives stand by the trunk and dis-
play the robes. The ass-tenders with camp followers and
soldiers crowd in on all sides.
KASSIM-FARRAJ {putting the robe on Mogu)
This is the robe that has been mentioned in the his-
tories of Persia. (Mogu adopts a dignified attitude. The
crowd express admiration) And this is the sword of the
Vizier. Its blade is graven with mystic names.
MOGU
It may be that I shall carry that sword in my hand.
l^The sword is laid against the trunk. The crowd gape at it.
Kassim-Farraj brings over another object to Mogu.
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 43
MOGU
Ha! What is this?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It is the mirror of brass, a precious possession of the
Viziers of Persia.
[_He holds the mirror to Mogu.
MOGU
This then is Mogu, the Vizier of the King! The turban
becomes you, Mogu, and the robe also. But you are
lean, Mogu, lean. A Vizier may devour men!
\_Shedad and Shedid appear before Mogu.
MOGU
Where is my htter, Shedad and Shedid?
SHEDID
Your htter is on the way. Lord Mogu.
MOGU
Why did you not hasten its coming? Would you
have the Vizier walk to the Baths? {Slaves hurry in
with the litter. It is lowered, and Mogu steps into it.
The litter is lifted up) There is one thing still upon my
mind.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
What is it, O Lord?
MOGU
Bid the people be silent.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Be silent, O People. The Vizier would speak.
[_All become silent and attentive.
MOGU
It has been said from old times — yea, it has been
written in many books — that a man who has survived
44 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act i
his enemies, even for one hour, has happiness. Is it
not true, O People?
SOME
We have heard it said.
OTHERS >
We know it to be true!
MOGU
Therefore, I will not enter the bath until mine enemies,
Shedad and Shedid, have been beaten. Let them be
tied to the place of punishment and beaten with sticks.
I, the Vizier, command this. {The crowd lay hands on
Shedad and Shedid) Let them be beaten so that I may-
hear their groans before I go to the bath. {Shedad and
Shedid are fastened to the crosspieces) Bearers, lower
the Vizier. Let the Sword of the Enchantments be
given to me. {The litter is laid on the ground, and
Kassim-Farraj brings Mogu the sword. Mogu gets out
of the litter. Taking the sword from the scabbard, he
flashes it about) Mogu, Mogu, Mogu! Thy genius
hath touched thee, Mogu! Thou hast triumphed, thou
hast liberated thyself from the desert, thou hast be-
come a terror to men! The Empire is thine, Mogu,
— the gold, the purple, the women. The world trem-
bles at thy shadow!
[JSe gets into the litter. The bearers move to carry it L.
They are met by another litter, entering. This litter has
a Roman guard.
THE ROMAN GUARD
Make way for the Lord Helenus!
MOGU'S GUARD
Make way for the Lord Mogu.
THE ROMAN GUARD
Room for Caesar's ministers!
ACTi] MOGU, THE WANDERER 45
MOGU'S GUARD
Room for Mogu, the Vizier of the King!
^The litter is driven backwards and forwards amid cries
of "Ccesar, Caesar'' ''Mogu, Mogu.'' Mogu's litter is
at last forced through. The servants and the rabble rush
after Mogu with shouts.
CURTAIN
THE SECOND ACT
The Hall of Histories. It is a great ruin: at the hack
pillars remain with paintings^ sculptures and inscriptions
upon them. In the foreground certain pillars have fallen.
Left are fragments of pillars with great stones strewing
the ground.
Chosroes and Nuseyr passy returning from the chase.
There is an attendant with them. Chosroes carries a
falcon.
CHOSROES
Nuseyr, what presents shall we send
Our father-in-law?
NUSEYR
The basket of Syrian peaches, King.
CHOSROES
Not those, Nuseyr;
The Syrian peaches are a gift for Caesar.
NUSEYR
Then let the father of Narjis, my Lord,
Be honored more than Caesar.
And with the Syrian peaches there should go
A basket of the lilies of Damascus.
CHOSROES
But these blossoms
Are perfect loveliness, Nuseyr.
NUSEYR
And with the peaches and the lilies
A jar of the wine of Shiraz should be given.
Aciii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 47
CHOSROES
Nuseyr, your habit
Of thinking lyrically, becomes expensive to me.
But still you'll see that I
Shall have all sent —
The lilies, and the peaches and the wine. {He gives the
falcon to an attendant and speaks to him) Go to
Sparimixes, and bid him send to Mogu
The rarities of the Pavilion, and make the Steward
know
The lilies and the peaches and the wine
Are rarities indeed, and bid him send them
By trusted messengers. Now make him understand
That if even one blossom of the lilies
Should go astray, that I shall have him
Impaled outside the Camp, and that forty of his
kinsmen
Shall be impaled beside him. Make him understand.
{The attendant goes off R.) My Narjis will come
To this place at this hour, and I shall take her
To see the fish-ponds; after that, Nuseyr,
You and I will don disguise and go
Where Mogu gives the judgments of a Vizier.
NUSEYR
I am reading the inscription
Upon the pillar here.
CHOSROES
The form of the writing is unknown
To me, Nuseyr.
NUSEYR
The writing says:
"The love of this fair woman has taken away
The shadow from my path."
48 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
CHOSROES
Such an inscription I shall put above
The gate of the City I am about to rebuild;
My sacred City, Shira.
NUSEYR
It says too . . . But no —
CHOSROES
What else is in the writing?
NUSEYR
After a little I will interpret it.
CHOSROES
I shall rebuild
My sacred Capital, and I will have
High towers in it, and astronomers
Shall come, and observe new courses, and inform us
Of the austere ways of the Heavens; also Greek phil-
osophers
Shall come, and shall explain to us the mysteries
Of lines and figures. I shall have musicians too.
Also, Nuseyr, I have had a message
From one beyond the desert, an Arabian;
And he maintains, Nuseyr, that God is one.
This man shall also come, and he shall debate
This speculation with Greeks and Indians,
And with men who know themselves to be
Reincarnated priests of the Egyptians.
NUSEYR
May my lord have peace in Shira.
CHOSROES
I shall put away the harem
That encumbers all my soul.
ACT ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 49
NUSEYB
And give your love to the daughter of the desert,
Narjis.
CHOSROES
I would that there were one to whom I could
Confide the government of the Empire; but that son
of mine,
Prince Pharanices, thinks only of the wine-cup.
NUSEYR
And the stable.
CHOSROES
The wine-cup and the stable. Then there is Artavades —
NUSEYR
I have said King Artavades
Is like a Tartar's hound; he flies from one,
Or paws, or springs upon one, and no one knows —
He does not know himself — what he will do.
CHOSROES
He is a tool
For those iron-handed Romans. I have not forgiven
Artavades
That he has kept his army, and gave no aid
To me nor to the Romans in the battle.
NUSEYR
Behold, the beloved has come.
[^Narjis, with women attendants^ has appeared R.
CHOSROES
And you will Hve in Shira, and I shall give you
Desirable women.
NUSEYR
May it not be
That my soul too is encumbered.
50 MOGU, THE WANDERER [actii
CI^OSROES
You shall have
A hundred disciples. But you have not read
What remains of the inscription. Read it to me
When we come back this way, for we shall return
On our way from Mogu's judgments. Nuseyr, farewell.
{Chosroes goes off R.
NUSEYR {reading the inscription)
"A little hole was made
In his harness, and the life of the King departed."
The King will go to Shira, then I shall go
To India, and the branch of a tree
Shall be my sacred city, and my life
Shall become part of the silence; now I know
Too many words and too many images
Have trampled through my mind. Yea, my soul.
We'll go one day to India, and to
The sacred silence.
{Nuseyr goes off. The Crier of the Camp comes on with
his rattle.
THE CRIER
These are the words of the Assembly of the Camp:
We have considered the loss suffered by the Lord Mogu,
the Vizier: to wit, the loss of his familiar plaything,
namely, Simsim, a mouse.
{Mogu, richly dressed, comes on vnth Kassim-Farraj.
MOGU
He speaks of Simsim. i
THE CRIER
Thus saith the Assembly: Be it decreed that fifty Cap-
tains of the Army search diligently for Simsim, with
the intention of restoring him with all honor to the
Vizier.
ACT ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 51
MOGU
We are pleased by this.
THE CRIER
And be it requested from the Stewards of the King, that
the Royal Huntsmen, Barrabash and Burrabash, be
asked to add themselves to the searchers.
MOGU
This is no less than a multitude. It will put my mouse
into a fright. I know Simsim.
THE CRIER
A sweet-voiced damsel, namely Food-of-Hearts, is to
accompany the searchers, so that her voice, reminding
him of his master, may lure Simsim from his secret
place.
MOGU
There is sense in that. I hope she is really sweet- voiced,
this Food-of-Hearts.
THE CRIER
With the consent of Chosroes, let it be done.
MOGU
Let it be done. {The Crier of the Camp goes off) Yes,
Kassim-Farraj, my story is wonderful, and should be
engraved on plates of gold and kept in the treasure
houses of kings. As I was telling you, I was carried
to the baths, and I disported myself in a tank of water
that had been infused with rose-water. The fountain
played upon me then, and thereafter I was rubbed
with the bag.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
My Lord, you speak of these things with an eloquent
tongue.
MOGU
I was rubbed with the bag, as I have said. And the
52 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
man who rubbed showed me the multitude of impure
particles that had adhered to my skin. These impure
particles were suflficient to astonish the mind by reason
of their multitude and magnitude.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
My Lord, you make common things remarkable.
MOGU
You have not permission to speak thus, Kassim-Farraj.
Thereafter I sat on a mattress, and my feet were rubbed
by a well-formed damsel. I still think of that damsel.
Moon-of-Love was her name.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
You must not forget about the marriage contract, my
Lord.
MOGU
The marriage contract with Shedad's daughter — is it
not so.f^
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Yea, my Lord. I would speak to you about it here.
MOGU
You have permission. But what damsel is this that
approaches?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It is the damsel that the Crier spoke of, — Food-of-
Hearts.
MOGU
It is she who brings Simsim.
\_Food-of -Hearts enters, carrying a little cage.
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
I bring my Lord a cage of ivory with golden bars.
MOGU
DeUver it.
{_Food-qf -Hearts hands Mogu the cage.
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 53
MOGU
But Simsim is not in the cage.
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
Alas, my Lord, Simsim refused to disclose himself.
MOGU
And I have been given an empty cage.
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
They thought it would be some compensation for the
loss of Simsim. It is of ivory and gold.
MOGU
It is no compensation. But let it be placed amongst
my treasures. A piece of ivory has been left in the
cage. I will bestow it upon you, Food-of -Hearts.
{He takes the piece of ivory out of the cage) There is
a painting on it. Lo, it is the painting of a woman.
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
O my Lord, I crave indemnity. The cage was once the
Lady Gazeleh's, and it may be that her portrait has
been left in it.
MOGU
Is it the portrait of one who is in this world, or is it of
one who is in the Gardens of Eternity.'^ On your life,
speak.
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
It is the portrait of one who is in the world, Lord.
MOGU
Of one who is in the world! Lo, my soul is seized upon,
and haled out of my body.
IHe falls on the ground.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O Food-of -Hearts, what have you done?
FOOD-OF-HEARTS
The cage was taken from the keeping of the Lady
54 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
Gazeleh, and she prevailed upon me to let the Vizier
see the portrait and the writing that is on the back
of it.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
You have distracted the mind of the Vizier. {Be raises
Mogu from the ground) Behold, he looks on us with
unseeing eyes ! And this is the hour when Shedad with
his brother and the notables of the Persian Empire
are to wait on him with proposals for his marriage with
Jemeleh, Shedad's daughter. Go, you bird-brained
girl.
{Food-oJ-Hearts goes off.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, do you not recall that a moment ago we
were speaking of the affairs of the Empire?
MOGU
Gazeleh!
KASSIM-FARRAJ
And you had said that your Genius would enable you
to further the Empire of the Persians, and that the
country of the Greeks should be laid under tribute, —
the country of the Greeks where the wine of Cyprus
comes from, and where the women go about with their
faces unveiled?
MOGU '
How could I have known about women when I had not
seen the portrait of Gazeleh?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, you had given your mind to the thought of
Jemeleh.
MOGU
Who is this Jemeleh?
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 55
KASSIM-FARRAJ
The daughter of Shedad, my Lord. She has been de-
scribed as the mistress of moon-Hke beauties.
MOGU
I know not that I have ever been aware of her existence.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, the marriage contract has already been
made out, and some score darricks of gold have been
mentioned as a dowry.
MOGU
Kassim-Farraj, you distract my mind from the thought
of Gazeleh.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
And at this very moment, my Lord, Shedad and Shedid
and the notables of the Persian Empire approach with
the marriage contract.
MOGU
Receive them, Kassim-Farraj. I would withdraw my-
self to gaze upon the loveliness of Gazeleh.
l^Shedad and Shedid, with two of their friends, notables
of the Persian Empire, enter, discussing.
SHEDID
Already he is known as the Fortunate Vizier.
FIRST NOTABLE
Yes, Friend, but twoscore darricks of gold —
SHEDAD
This alliance will hft us into splendor and tumble us
into beggary.
SHEDID
It will. Brother, it will.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lords Shedad and Shedid, and Notables of the
50 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act n
Empire, I know not how to speak my embarrassment
to you. The Fortunate Vizier has fallen into a maze of
thought. I do not know how to draw his attention to
the business of the marriage contract.
FIRST NOTABLE
What ! Surely the contract of marriage with the daugh-
ter of our notable relative cannot have gone from his
mind?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It may be that I can draw his mind back to it. {He
indicates a hoy who carries cups and a jar of wine) Is
this your cup-bearer, Lords?
SHEDAD
It is our cup-bearer.
l^Kassim-Farraj goes to Mogu,
KASSIM-FARRAJ
My Lord, my Lord, behold the cup-bearer, my Lord.
MOGU {as if waking up)
Is this the hour when I should drink a cup of wine,
Kassim-Farraj ?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Yea, my Lord.
MOGU
Have engraved on my wine-cup the name Gazeleh.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Yea. And my Lord, these notables would drink a cup
of wine with the Fortunate Vizier.
MOGU
I shall drink with them, Kassim-Farraj. {The boy Jills
a cup for Mogu. Fills another for Shedad. Mogu goes
over and drinJcs with Shedad, apparently without recog-
nizing him) I drink with you, O Scant of Beard.
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 57
SHEDAD
I drink with you, my Lord.
[They raise cups and drink with ceremony. Boy fills
Mogu's cup again. Fills Shedid's cup,
MOGU
I drink with you, O Scrawny Neck.
SHEDID
I drink with you, my Lord.
[They raise cups and drink with ceremony. Boy fills
. Moguls cup again. Fills cup of first notable,
MOGU
I drink with you, Lank of Jaw.
FIRST NOTABLE {who is pretcntious)
I drink with you, my Lord.
[Boy fills Moguls cup again. Fills cup of second notable,
MOGU
I drink with you, O Man with the Face of an Ant-eating
Beast.
SECOND NOTABLE (who IS dignified)
I drink with you, my Lord.
[They drink with ceremony,
MOGU
For the cup, Boy. Another draught.
[The boy fills the cup again. Mogu drinks alone,
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, I crave that you look with an eye of benig-
nity on the notables assembled before you.
MOGU
Is there one amongst them who can relate a tale or
perform an extraordinary action?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Nay, my Lord Mogu.
58 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
MOGU
I would that there was one amongst them who could
perform an extraordinary action or relate a tale, for
my mind is remote from business, and I would be
diverted.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
I crave my Lord's attention.
MOGU
Nay, Kassim-Farraj, I cannot attend.
KASSIM-FARRAJ (imploringly)
The business of the marriage contract, my Lord.
MOGU
What do you say, Kassim-Farraj.'^
KASSIM-FARRAJ
my Lord, these notables of the empire wait upon
you with regard to a contract of marriage between you,
the Fortunate Vizier, and the fair daughter that one
of them, Shedad, possesses. The contract was spoken
of before, and you, my Lord, even made proposals
which have been considered. And the amount of the
dowry to go with the bride is twoscore darricks of
gold.
MOGU
1 remember that twoscore darricks of gold were spoken
about. I shall speak with these notables. One of them
is the father of the bride. He is to be treated with
respect and veneration.
[^Shedady Shedid, and the two notables are standing in a
line across. Mogu hows to man nearest bach, keeping his
body rigid and jerking his head three times.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, the noble whom you salute is not the father
of the bride.
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 59
MOGU {apparently in astonishment)
Is not this Shedad, the Chamberlain of the King?
[Jle stands before the second man and salutes him in the
same manner.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, again you are mistaken.
MOGU
What, is not this the father of the bride?
[He stands before Shedid and salutes him in the same
manner.
KASSBl-FARRAJ
O my Lord, again you are mistaken.
[_Mogu looks round him. He sees Shedad, who is stand-
ing in excess of vexation.
MOGU
Kassim-Farraj,, inform us if this undistinguished
person is the father of the bride who has been described
to us as the mistress of moon-Uke beauties.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
My Lord gazes on Shedad, his future father-in-law.
MOGU (looking fixedly at Shedad)
Thou hast indemnity, Shedad. {Shedad draws out a
long scroll. Mogu turns away) Kassim-Farraj, I would
have you remind me to drink a cup of Greek wine in
the morning after the bath.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
1 crave my Lord's attention.
MOGU
Nay, Kassim-Farraj.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
The business of the marriage contract, my Lord.
60 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act n
MOGU
We will gratify you, Kassim-Farraj, by regarding it.
What articles are embodied in the contract?
SHEDAD
I do not ask a bride-price, my Lord, but my relatives
and myself rely upon receiving the protection of the
Vizier.
MOGU
I shall bestow upon you and your relatives the protec-
tion you solicit. {Shedad is about to bring the scroll to
him, but Mogu motions him away) Some score of dar-
ricks of gold are to go with the damsel as a dowry. Is
it not so?
SHEDAD
Twoscore darricks of gold. It has been embodied in the
marriage contract, my Lord Mogu.
MOGU
Also the dress and ornaments of the bride must not be
worth less than a thousand small pieces of gold.
[^Shedad faints. Shedid fans him, and the two notables
support him.
SHEDID
My brother's life has been imperilled by the shock of
the Vizier's demands. We will ask the Vizier to dis-
miss the business of the marriage contract.
SHEDAD (recovering)
We will go back to our homes.
FIRST NOTABLE
If the Vizier will abate his demands, I and my brother
will be a surety that the dress and ornaments of the
damsel shall not be worth less than five hundred small
pieces of gold.
ACT ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 61
MOGU
I shall ask my historiographer if it has been known that
a Vizier has been thus stinted in regard to the dress
and ornaments of his bride.
KASSBi-FARRAJ
It has been known, my Lord.
MOGU
Then it shall be that the dress and ornaments of the
bride shall be worth five hundred small pieces of gold.
KASSBI-FARRAJ
fortunate Jemeleh.
MOGU
Jemeleh! What have you said, Kassim-Farraj?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Jemeleh is the name the bride bears.
MOGU
Oh, woe to thee, Kassim-Farraj. How could it be that
1 should wed one who is not Gazeleh.? O Gazeleh!
Oh, arrows and spears of beauty!
KASSIM-FARRAJ
The Vizier has fallen into a maze again.
SECOND NOTABLE
It is plain that the Vizier diverts himself with our
business.
SHEDID
It is proper for us to go from his presence. Come,
Brother.
SHEDAD (rolling up marriage, contract)
We go to our homes, my Lord, and we take the marriage
contract with us.
MOGU
Verily, I do not know what you say.
[^Shedady Shedid, and the two notables go off in anger.
62 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
KA.SSIM-FARRAJ {tO Mogu)
My Lord, you have lost Jemeleh for a bride and two-
score darricks of gold, with dress and ornaments worth
five hundred small pieces of fold.
MOGU
Verily my mind is one spasm of distraction. O Gazeleh,
Oh, seductiveness of woman.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
You do not even know who Gazeleh is.
MOGU
O Kassim-Farraj, inform me who Gazeleh is.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Until she secluded herself from him, Gazeleh was the
favorite wife of Chosroes, King of Persia.
MOGU
Oh, Oh, Oh! I shall be cut in pieces for having spoken
about her.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Not so. Your daughter is now the delight of the King.
Gazeleh has taken her papers of divorce.
MOGU
Nevertheless, Chosroes will punish me for having
desired her.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Not so. She is now out of his mind, and your daughter
fills the whole of it.
MOGU
Would that I could believe it were so. Tell me, Kassim-
Farraj, has it ever been known that a Vizier has married
one who had been wife to the King?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It has been known. Several notables and high officers
ACT n] MOGU, THE WANDERER 63
have married women out of the King's harem. You
will observe them at the banquet to-night.
MOGU
But Gazeleh! It is not possible that the King would
permit such a one to go from him and to wed with
another!
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It is possible.
MOGU
Behold, there is a writing on the back of this por-
trait! I would have you read it to me, Kassim-
Farraj.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
The writing says; Listen, my Lord Vizier. .
MOGU
Yea, Kassim-Farraj.
KASSIM-FARRAJ (reading)
"There are two in the Camp who will profess them-
selves to be Ambassadors. If the Vizier seizes these
two, he shall come to remarkable honors. From one
who wishes him all honor and victory: Gazeleh, the
Daughter of Sparimixes."
MOGU
I shall remember this. "Gazeleh, the Daughter of
Sparimixes!" Who is Sparimixes, Kassim-Farraj.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
He has no rank, but he has much power. Every-
thing seems to come into his hands, and everything
seems to come to his ears. She might know much,
the daughter of Sparimixes!
MOGU
And she wishes me all honor and all victory! O
Gazeleh!
64 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
KASSIM-FARRAJ
And now, my Lord, I would that you could rid your
mind of this distraction, for the time has come when
you give judgments in the Hall of Nimrod's Pillars.
MOGU
Has the time come, Kassim-Farraj ? Do I not go to the
judgments in a litter?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
The Vizier walks to the Hall of Judgments.
MOGU
Then I would walk to the Hall of Judgments with a
haughty and conceited gait.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, I will walk before you, and you may deign
to take pattern by my steps.
MOGU
Then walk before me with an arrogant step.
\_Kassim-Farraj walks out L. in a stilted manner. Mogu
follows hiniy exaggerating the walk. The two Ethiopian
captives y Yunan and Duban, enter from R., carrying
each a basket.
YUNAN
It is not well that we should hasten, Duban, my brother,
seeing that when these, the presents to the Fortunate
Vizier, are delivered, we shall be no longer together.
DUBAN
Then it is not well that we, brothers captive in the camp
of the Persians, should hasten. I would be a little with
you, Yunan, my brother. I bring a jar of the wine of
Shiraz.
YUNAN
And I a basket of the lilies of Damascus. O Duban,
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 65
my brother, may we not sit here and ease ourselves
for a while?
DUB AN
We are wont to make a stay here. Do you remember a
saying of our country, Yunan?
YUNAN
What is the saying, my brother?
DUBAN
The day's work is to be done, but more excellent than
the work of the day is the talk of the day*s work by the
evening's fire.
YUNAN
By the talk round the fire, man is distinguished from
the beasts. Poetry and story-telUng are in this talk
by the fire!
DUBAN
Yunan, those in captivity are as the beasts.
YUNAN
Last night, my brother, I had a dream.
DUBAN
What was your dream, my brother?
YUNAN
1 dreamt that you and I and Zahal, our brother, were
in our own country and engaged in the pastimes of our
youth. Oh, it was beautiful, my dream! I thought
that we glided down the river as in the days of our
youth. I thought that the willow grew lightly from the
mud, and that green branches bent down to the stream.
DUBAN
Alas, alas!
YUNAN
And I thought that my brothers, Duban and Zahal,
were happy and at peace.
ee MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
DUBAN
I pour out my tears, for I think that we will never see
the Spring in those happy places, my brother.
YUNAN
Lying awake, this thing seemed to me possible: that
we might escape from the camp, and join the tribes of
the desert, and so win our way back to the country of
our youth.
DUBAN
Our brother Zahal has invention and resolve, and he
might further our escape.
\_Zahaly a man taller and stronger looking than the other
two captives, enters. He carries the basket of peaches.
ZAHAL
It is not well that we should hasten, seeing that when
we have delivered these we shall be no longer together.
YUNAN
Then let us set our burdens here and delight each other
with the sight of the things that we carry.
[They set their baskets down on the stones.
DUBAN
O my Brothers, behold this: It is a jar of the wine of
Shiraz !
ZAHAL {lifting an inner basket)
Behold these ! They are the precious peaches of Syria.
YUNAN {lifting up an inner basket)
And these most lovely blossoms are the lilies of
Damascus.
DUBAN
Zahal, often have we sought for you, but the sight
of the captive was denied to his brethren. Often have
1 said to Yunan: "If Zahal were with us he would give
us comfort and hope."
ACT ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 67
YUNAN
Why are you silent, my brother?
ZAHAL
I have seen cranes fly over my head, and I know them
to be of the tribe that stand by the banks of the be-
loved stream!
YUNAN
We are of the unfortmiate race of men and have no
wings for flight.
ZAHAL
Then I have thrown myself upon my face and have let
my heart tell me a tale of deliverance.
DUBAN
What is the tale that has deliverance in it?
ZAHAL
I have told myself that the camp of the Persians was
overwhelmed, and that we, diving under the water,
as it were, slipped away to freedom.
YUNAN
And how did the camp of the Persians become over-
whelmed?
ZAHAL
Sometimes — and this is a terrible thing — I have
told myself that some man brought steel against the
King, even against Chosroes, and slew him.
DUBAN
Verily, captives harbor in their minds that which is
indescribably terrible!
YUNAN
O brother, relate unto us what happened on the death
of him whose name shall not be breathed?
\^The face of Zahal becomes rigid, his eyes roll, his hand
stretches out to the 'peaches.
68 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
ZAHAL
The nobles and soldiers were in confusion.
YUNAN
What else, my brother?
ZAHAL {drawing a peach towards him)
The slaves prevailed against the stewards.
DUBAN
O my brother, relate this thing further.
ZAHAL
In the darkness of the night we sped away.
\^He devours the peach, while the others gaze on him,
overwhelmed with terror.
DUBAN
O woe for us, Yunan!
YUNAN
Our brother has devoured one of the peaches of Syria!
ZAHAL
O hasten, brothers, present your gifts, and be not
spoken of with me who am doomed to death on account
of the destruction of the peach.
YUNAN
Nay, we will not leave you, brother.
DUBAN
Rather will we doom ourselves with you.
\^He takes up a stone and breaks the wine jar. Yunan
takes up the narcissi and scatters the blossoms around.
YUNAN
O Blossoms of the Narcissus, bear death for me also.
^Yunan and Duban cover their faces with their hands.
Zahal gazes outward.
DUBAN
O my brothers, the river, the river! See with what
mystery it flows!
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 69
YUNAN
Behold the green branches of the willow bear them-
selves above the burden of the flood!
DUBAN
Not yet is the time of the water-lilies. And lo, we
glide down the stream, three brethren of the one house-
hold.
YUNAN
And amongst the torrents who are hardier than we.
Lo, our boat is in the torrent that is called The Mother
of the Stones !
DUBAN
Pull now, and our toil is over ere the lark of the desert
ends his strain!
YUNAN
O Children of the Stream!
DUBAN
Strong-armed Heroes!
YUNAN
1 do not hear the voice of Zahal.
ZAHAL
Who will put my bow in my hand?
DUBAN
What bow do you speak of, brother?
ZAHAL
I have made a bow of a camel's rib. From what I
have plucked from the horses' tails I have woven a
string for it. I have pulled reeds from the river and
have pointed them for arrows. And I am what I was
— Zahal, the mighty archer. Who will put the bow
in my hands?
DUBAN
What would you do with the bow, my brother?
70 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act ii
ZAHAL
I would kill. I would make the confusion of the
torrent, so that we might bear ourselves away.
TUNAN
Whom would you kill, my brother?
ZAHAL
He that is greatest. I would kill Chosroes, the King.
Lo, I remember. The bow and an arrow I have hidden
between these stones where we were wont to make
stay.
\jHe searches beside the stones and takes up a rude bow
and an arrow.
YUNAN
O my brother, put the oath upon us so that we may
share the peril.
[Zahal grasps the hands of his brothers.
ZAHAL
The peach has been eaten, the wine jar has been broken,
the blossoms have been scattered, and therefore we, the
Children of the Stream, must kill Chosroes the King.
DUBAN
By my soul of memories, I swear to kill the King.
YUNAN
By my love for you twain, I swear to kill the King.
ZAHAL
We will stay here, and when the King comes on his
way to the Pavilion, I will shoot mine arrow at him.
Lo, I shoot now at a mark, so that ye may know that
my skill has not been lost. I shoot at the white speck
on the brown stone yonder.
\_Zahal draws the bow and shoots an arrow.
YUNAN
Lo, thou hast struck the mark, Zahal.
ACTii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 71
DUBAN
Thou hast hit it! Thou hast hit the mark with thine
arrow, Zahal.
[Zahal stands with the how in his hands. The two
brothers crouch beside him, intently watching.
CURTAIN
THE THIRD ACT
SCENE I
The Hall of Nimrod^s Pillars. Only a small part of
this great hall is shown. Hangings are stretched across
ancient pillars, leaving a small space for the Vizier's
divan. Left is a low dais with cushions. There is an
entrance Right. The Vizier's entrance is through a
space between hangings Center.
A guard stands beside the dais.
Kassim-Farraj enters through space Center,
KASSIM-FARRAJ
It is now the hour for the Vizier's judgments.
THE GUARD
The hour of the Vizier's judgments.
[^Two men enter. One is distinguished in bearing and
wears a sword; a turban and a covering along his face
conceal his features. The other is small and supple,
insinuating in bearing and loquacious in speech.
SECOND MAN
We are ambassadors, and in crossing the desert this
one became blind. We have come to pay homage to
the Fortunate Vizier.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
In a Httle while the Vizier will appear.
SECOND MAN
This one became blinded in the desert, as I said. Is it
permitted to sit while we wait the coming of the For-
tunate Vizier?
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 73
KASSIM-FARRAJ
If he is a worthy person, he shall have indemnity.
[The First Man seats himself on cushions C.
SECOND MAN
You are acquainted with the Vizier? You are his
historiographer, perhaps. Will you inform us under
what title he prefers to become known?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
As yet the Vizier has assumed no title.
\_Mogu strides out. He wears the Vizier*s robe of black
and holds a whip in his hand,
MOGU
This whip shall give me my title. I shall be known as
the Vizier with the Whip.
KASSIM-FARRAJ (bowing)
The Vizier with the Whip.
MOGU
And now, K^ssim-Farraj, I shall drink my customary
cup of wine.
[Kassim-Farraj gives him wine and Mogu drinks,
MOGU
We shall receive the ambassadors first. He that is
acquainted with our language has permission to speak.
[The Second Man comes forward with many prostrations y
leaving First Man seated C. As he comes forward,
Chosroes and Nuseyr enter R., disguised. They remain
at entrance.
MOGU
From what people do you come?
SECOND MAN
We are ambassadors from the Arabians, O Fortunate
Vizier.
74 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act in
MOGU
And what words have you for us?
SECOND MAN
O Fortunate Vizier, your elevation has been foretold
to us by the astrologers of our country.
MOGU
We listen to you, O Suppliants of the Arabians.
SECOND MAN
The people of our remote province would deem that
their land had attained dignity indeed if the Fortunate
Vizier would attend a banquet we are about to pre-
pare.
MOGU
And this banquet — when does it take place?
SECOND MAN
To-morrow, Magnificence.
MOGU
If it does not conflict with our dignity, we will attend.
SECOND MAN
Fortunate Vizier! Our province hath become a
kingdom only through your intercession.
\7Ie falls on his knees, holding up his arms. Mogu
glances along the hare arms and then takes up his whip
and brandishes it. The man cowers down. The First
Man springs to his feet. All present are astonished at
Moguls action.
MOGU
1 crave forgiveness, O Ambassadors! My hand in-
advertently took up this whip. But tell me, Ambas-
sadors from the Arabians, have you any other business
besides preparing a banquet?
SECOND MAN
We will not discuss affairs until the third day. And
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 75
we have certain rarities with us that the Vizier might
care to look upon.
MOGU
No doubt. I am looking at the clasp on your cloak.
Is it of gold of Arabia? (Mogu puts his hand suddenly
on the cloak, tearing it off with the tunic) O Dog of a
Spy! Would you persuade us that the Arabians leave
marks of chains upon the arms of their ambassadors?
Well do I know the marks of the chains that I saw
when the sleeves of your tunic slipped back. {All are
astonished. The man supposed to he blind draws his
sword and rushes at Mogu. Mogu knocks the sword out
of his hand with the end of his whip. The Guard seizes
this man. Kassim-Farraj seizes second man. Chosroes
and Nuseyr look on with interest) Verily, this is a
person of distinction — this man with the sword.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O Vizier, reveal his name to us.
MOGU
Presently I will do so, Kassim-Farraj. Look upon the
man, my Guard.
[Guard looks closely at his prisoner,
GUARD
O sight to astonish mankind!
MOGU
The Guard is astonished at the greatness of him whom
Mogu hfis taken.
GUARD
O Event to be chronicled in the Histories of Kings !
MOGU
Speak. Thou hast permission to inform the assembly
of this person's distinction.
76 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
GUAKD
This is none other than King Artavades.
MOGU
Said I not so? Did I not inform you that such was
the case? Have you not seen how Mogu the Vizier
takes a king in his net?
CHOSROES
Artavades here! It is certain he has come as a spy.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O Vizier who has been fed on the milk of wisdom and
rocked in the cradle of experience!
GUARD
Behold Chosroes, the Master of the Persians, is here.
\_Mogu prostrates himself.
CHOSROES
We have seen how your wisdom serves us, and we will
bestow a distinction upon you now. To-night, at the
banquet, you have permission to cry out as you enter,
"All that has happened has proceeded from me."
Guard, take King Artavades to a secure place.
\^The Guard takes away King Artavades. Another guard
enters and takes Second Man. Chosroes and Nuseyr go
out.
MOGU
This is an event to be entered in the book of my history,
Kassim-Farraj.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Already I have entered it in the book of your deeds.
Lord Mogu. It was seen by all that your right hand
was over a king.
MOGU
My right hand was over a king! When was that,
Kassim-Farraj?
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 77
KASSIM-FABRAJ
When you took King Artavades.
MOGU
Yea. When I took King Artavades my right hand
was over a king. This troubles me. It was prophesied
that my right hand should be over a king.
KASSBI-FARRAJ
And now the prophecy has been fulfilled.
MOGU
Say not so, Kassim-Farraj. I am disturbed in my
mind lest the taking of King Artavades should be the
whole of the prophecy. When I had taken him, I
should have remembered the prophecy and thrown
the paring of a nail over my right shoulder. This I
neglected to do.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
This shall matter nothing to the Vizier who is the
friend of the bestower of fortune — Chosroes the King.
MOGU
I neglected to cast the paring of a nail over my left
shoulder. It may have been my evil genius who
caused me to neglect this. (A veiled woman enters
through the space C. Mogu, looking around, sees her.
The woman lifts a hand out of her wrappings) O Per-
fume! O Shapeliness! {She unveils her eyes and turns
them on Mogu) Oh, arrows and spears of beauty.
(She lifts her half bared arms and makes fluttering
motions with her hands) O, seductiveness of woman!
O, Gazeleh.
THE WOMAN
Verily I am Gazeleh. Because I would have you
know me, I left my portrait in ivory in the cage that
was taken to you.
78 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act iii
MOGU
But will not Chosroes punish me for looking upon
you?
GAZELEH
Nay. Nor would he be displeased if I became the
Vizier's wife.
MOGU
My wife! Is such a thing possible?
[Gazeleh unveils. She is the woman of the harem with
painted lips, widened eyes and joined eyebrows,
MOGU
O thou Moon! Thou makest me sink down to think
that such a one as you would come to me. O Mistress
of my Soul! And could Chosroes turn from such
delights as thou couldst give?
GAZELEH
Chosroes is one that turns from life. I come to thee
because thou art without weariness.
{She puts her arms round his neck.
MOGU
Is it true what thou hast said, O Gazeleh? That thou
mayst become my wife?
GAZELEH
After the ban^quet to-morrow, the banquet of which I
heard you speak, I shall become your bride.
MOGU
Can it be? And may a woman of the harem of the
Great King wed with another?
GAZELEH
Yes. Many women of the harem of the Great King
have wed with the chief men of the Empire.
MOGU
And is nothing exacted from them for such a marriage?
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 79
GAZELEH
A little — but thou shalt see them at the Banquet of
the King to-night.
MOGU
Mistress of my Soul! Were it my right hand, I
should not begrudge it if it were exacted from me for
my marriage with thee.
GAZELEH
You might lift up your right hand and cover what is
exacted.
MOGU
And is it possible that thou wilt wed me?
GAZELEH
After the banquet to-morrow — yea.
[They embrace,
MOGU
1 know not but my mind shall be distracted by this!
[She goes from him.
GAZELEH
And my dress and ornaments shall be worth more than
a thousand darricks of gold.
MOGU
my Life! And how shall this be made known to the
King?
GAZELEH
1 shall make it known to the King and to the King's
servants, and all shall be prepared.
MOGU
Goest thou now, O Rapture of my Heart?
GAZELEH
It is not proper that I should remain near you before
all things are put in order, O my Lord !
80 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act m
MOGU
Alas, thou goest, Light of mine Eyes !
GAZELEH I
And to-morrow I shall come as my Lord's bride.
[^She goes out.
MOGU
Verily I am plunged into distraction. {He claps his
hands. Kassim-Farraj appears. Mogu puts cushions
around and on top of him as he reclines on the dais)
I would plunge into the restfulness of sleep from this
moment until it is time for the banquet and the bridal.
I would dream of Gazeleh without the distraction of
intervening time. O Kassim-Farraj, do you know of
languid and melting music that you might play to
me?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
I will look for my flute, my Lord.
MOGU
I would that you would find it. Also bring me a bowl
of rose-water, Kassim-Farraj. I would perfume my
beard. (Kassim-Farraj goes through opening left of
dais) O Gazeleh! My mind will be distracted from
the affairs of the Empire until at least three days of
my marriage with you! (Kassim-Farraj returns with
a bowl of rose-water and a flute. He places the bowl
beside Mogu. Mogu takes off his turban and drenches it
with rose-water. He puts rose-water on his beard and
fans his beard. Kassim-Farraj begins to play the flute.
He splutters and plays badly) I like such music, Kassim-
Farraj. It reminds me that Gazeleh has a form like
unto the Oriental willow. (Kassim-Farraj plays a
new piece as badly as before) Thy music is wonderful,
Kassim-Farraj. It reminds me that Gazeleh has 9.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 81
mouth like the seal of Solomon. Have you other
ravishing melodies?
KA.SSIM-FARRAJ
I have one more tune, my Lord.
[He plays again as badly as before.
MOGU
Oh, Oh, Oh! Thou dost remind me, Kassim-Farraj,
that Gazeleh has a spot on her neck like the mark of
Ridwan. Play all thy tunes over again, Kassim-Farraj !
(Kassim-Farraj plays on the flute again, while Mogu
Jans his beard and nods his head. Two fellows enter,
each carrying a little bag) Kassim-Farraj, explain to
these men that the mind of the Vizier is remote from
business and that he cannot attend to affairs.
FIRST FELLOW
It is only the business of the nose-trimming.
MOGU
The beard-trimming, he means. This is a distraction,
but it might be well if my beard was trimmed now.
[He goes R. of dais.
SECOND FELLOW
I put the silk handkerchief round his neck and hold
him down while my comrade trims his nose.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
I know you now. You are Ishak and Shakakik, the
nose-cutters of the Court.
ISHAK {sharpening a short knife cm his sleeve)
Right you are. Brother.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
And you have come to cut off the Vizier's nose!
SHAKALIK
We haven't made a mistake, have we? He is marrying
a lady of the harem?
82 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
ISHAK
We have made no mistake. Have we, brother?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
No mistake. But I think that the Vizier does not
know that he has to wear the honorable mark of nose-
lessness.
ISHAK
He must be a stranger to these parts.
SHAKALIK
He is, brother — he is.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Keep the cutting instruments behind your backs until
I explain the custom to him. O my Lord Mogu!
MOGU (appearing at opening right of dais)
What is it, Kassim-Farraj ? May I not have my
beard trimmed within?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
These are the nose-trimmers, my Lord.
MOGU
They are the nose-trimmers, did you say?
ISHAK
Aye, the nose-trimmers.
MOGU
I do not understand this.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Know that it is honorable at the Court of Persia for a
man to appear noseless. Often the King deigns to let
one of his high oflBcers marry a lady of the King's
harem. Then the High Officer delivers himself of his
nose. It is a penalty and a badge of distinction — a
penalty because the King suffers injury and insult even
by a woman whom he has once favored passing from
him to another. It is a badge of distinction because
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 83
a state of noselessness lets the beholders know that
such a one possesses one whom the King had cherished.
MOGU
This is a matter of which I should have been informed.
KASSIM-FAERAJ
O my Lord, you would have been informed to-night by
seeing noseless men at the banquet of the King.
MOGU
And for marrying a lady of the harem a man loses his
nose.f^
KASSIM-FABRAJ
It is so, O Vizier.
MOGU
Gazeleh, O Gazeleh! But even for her sake I should
preserve my nose. How could such a one as she have
affection for a noseless man?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O my Lord, it is the ladies who most rigidly insist upon
the etiquette of nose-cutting. For how could it be
known that they had been cherished by the King if
their husbands appeared as full-nosed beings .^^
MOGU
This is not an admirable custom, Kassim-Farraj.
ISHAK
We brought masks with us to show you how some of
the high-up officers looked after we had taken their
noses off.
SHAKALIK
The masks are in wax, and we took them after we had
finished the job. Here is the mask of the Satrap Arta-
banpan. He was what you might call a fine nosed
man!
\JSe takes a mask out of his bag and shows it to Mogu,
84 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act m
ISHAK
He had a troublesome kind of nose, though. One of
these high-bridged noses that are bone all through.
But your Lordship can see that we made a clean job
of it. And this is the mask of Sestoraban!
SHAKALIK
A putty nose! One could have tweaked it off with a
finger and thumb!
ISHAK
Then here's a nose like your Lordship's — a well-set
nose, you might say — a nose with a tap-root. If I
were doing it again, I don't say but I'd grind a nose
like that down.
SHAKALIK
I'd use the turning-knife.
ISHAK
No. I'd grind it down.
MOGU
It might, after all, be better if I married Shedad's
daughter.
KASSIM-FAERAJ
But think of the honor of possessing one whom the
King had cherished.
MOGU
Yes. But still my nose and I have been together for
so long that it would be a pain to part with it.
ISHAK
Your Lordship has what I might call one of the old-
fashioned sort of noses —
SHAKALIK
A high, bony nose. This marrying with the Kithaians
is bringing in a middling sort of nose.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 85
MOGU {stroking his nose)
I am only now beginning to be acquain\:ed with my
nose. O Kassim-Farraj, must my nose be taken oflf
now?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Not so. Lord Mogu.
MOGU
May I appear at the banquet of the King to-night with
my nose upon my countenance?
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Assuredly, my Lord.
MOGU
Then I would have these men leave me to stroke my
nose for a while.
ISHAK
We thought that as the marriage is on for to-morrow —
KASSIM-FARRAJ
O Nose-cutters, the Vizier will ask you to attend him
on another occasion.
SHAKALIK
Well, seeing as we're here — But then we can come
back again.
£^They go towards exit
SHAKALIK
If his Lordship liked, we could practise a little before
calling on him again. The neck of a boiled hen is good
to practise on.
MOGU
Procure them the necks of many boiled hens, Kassim-
Farraj.
ISHAK
We could buy them ourselves cheap, your Lordship.
86 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act m
MOGU
Give them some coins, Kassim-Farraj.
[Kassim-Farraj gives nose-cutters coins,
ISHAK
We thank your Lordship.
SHAKALIK
Rest assured that we'll have an easy hand on your
Lordship's face.
[The nose-cutters go out.
MOGU
Now that they have gone, I feel once more my desire
for Gazeleh. To possess her and to be Vizier — one
might yield a nose for such gains. A nose is easily
lost, after all. The bough of a tree swinging against
the face might bereave one of a nose. Play your flute
again, Kassim-Farraj, and let me think of Gazeleh.
[He seats himself on the dais and Kassim-Farraj plays
badly one of the tunes he played before.
MOGU
Kassim-Farraj, your playing only recalls noseless
face after noseless face. What a nose Gazaleh has!
And yet I cannot think of it!
KASSIM-FARRAJ
1 will make ready my Lord's raiment for the banquet
to-night!
MOGU
Alas, my bosom is contracted because of my desire for
Gazeleh and my desire to retain my nose.
KASSIM-FARRAJ
Do not forget, my Lord, that the King has bestowed
an extraordinary favor upon you.
MOGU
Has he commanded that I retain my nose?
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 87
KASSIM-FARBAJ
Not that. But remember that he has permitted Mogu
to annoxmce at the banquet to-night, "All that has
happened has proceeded from me.'*
MOGU
"All that has happened has proceeded from me."
Until to-morrow all that has happened has proceeded
from me.
KA.SSIM-FARRAJ
This way, my Lord. I will array you for the banquet.
MOGU
I follow you, Kassim-Farraj.
^Mogu and Kassim-Farraj go out R.
Attendants now come forward and take away the hangings
that had made the space small for the Vizier's divan. A
greater extent of hall is now seen. The place is being
prepared for the banquet. There are hangings at bach
across ancient pillars. Between the two middle pillars
bach there are no hangings, and this leaves an entrance for
attendants. Across this entrance, projecting, and above
where the attendants pass, is a box with lattices for ladies
who may watch what is happening at the banquet. The
entrance for guests is Bach Left. Right is a decorated
wall. "Left are pillars with hangings. Right and Left
are tables and couches mahing a shallow crescent on each
side. The royal seat, vnth a canopy, is at end of line.
At entrance Bach, Shedad, a wand in his hand, is giving
directions to attendants behind. These are sometimes
seen passing across. Helenus, the Roman Minister, and
Menander his secretary are down Left and standing.
Helenus is dressed for the banquet. Menander's dress
mahes a contrast.
A lady appears at entrance back Left. She unveils for a
88 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
moment and shows the face of Gazeleh. She goes through
Back and into the ladies' box. Opening the lattices, she
shows herself y and then closes them.
HELENUS
This, Menander, is part of the mighty Hall of Nim-
rod's Pillars. I shall make reference to it in my lecture
when we are again in Rome. Observe this pillar.
Herodotus says —
MENANDER
Artavades. . . .
HELENUS (in a low tone)
Artavades knows he is to introduce himself into the
camp.
MENANDER
He has already done so. He has been taken prisoner,
and is now in charge of Chosroes' guards.
HELENUS
Infernal Gods! The man is too forward. We may not
be able to save his life now. Then we should have no
client king in the Far East. Do you know who has
power in this camp, Menander?
MENANDER ^
I do. It is Sparimixes, the Attendant of the Birds.
HELENUS
Yea. That is the man. Go to Sparimixes. You must
arrange for the escape of Artavades.
[^A young man and an elderly woman come into the hall.
The young man seats himself in the middle of line R.
The lady seats herself back L. and remains veiled. The
young man is in festal dress and is crowned with roses.
MENANDER
I go. Chosroes' son. Prince Pharanices, has come into
the hall.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 89
HELENUS
Yes. And Chosroes' mother, the Queen Atossa. Let
us speak to Pharanices as you go out. Greeting, Prince
Pharanices.
PHARANICES
Greeting, Lord Helenus and Lord Menander! I hope
you will like our banquet to-night.
HELENUS
In truth, Prince Pharanices, I shall have to keep sober.
PHARANICES
Why?
HELENUS
So that I may be able to watch your ministers.
MENANDER
But you need not fear his vigilance. Prince Pharanices.
Your Persian banquets rout a legion of the sober.
PHARANICES
I hope you will be merry. Lord Menander. I will
throw dice with you.
[Pharanices produces a dice box,
HELENUS
What do you throw for?
PHARANICES
To determine whether we become intoxicated with
wine or with hashish.
MENANDER
I have not been invited to the banquet at all. Fare-
well, Prince Pharanices.
{Menander goes out,
PHARANICES
And I had thrown the highest numbers !
[A dancing girl, Moon-of-Love, comes through attendants^
entrance and begins to dance. While she is dancing, cer-
90 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act m
tain guests enter and take their places. Shedad hurries
up hall to dancing girl.
SHEDAD
Slave Girl, desist! {Moon-of-Love continues to dance.
Striking the floor with his staff and speaking authorita-
tively) Desist from dancing! Do not weary yourself
before the entertainment of the nobles begins! {Moon-
of-Love continues to dance) Stop. How am I to regu-
late the banquet and bring everything to its fitness if
you distract your mind and weary your body before
the banquet begins?
\_Moon-of-L(yoe ceases to dance and stands beside a pillar
L. Many guests have now come in. Attendants bring
wine jars and fill their cups.
HELENUS
Is it permitted to drink wine before the King appears
at the banquet?
PHARANICES
It is permitted. Chosroes would like to have us merry
before he appears.
£A little maiden enters with a basket of flowers. She
leaves flowers at each table as she comes down. Then
she begins to arrange flowers on the ground before the
royal seat.
HELENUS
What is that little maiden about to do?
PHARANICES
It is a custom of the banquet. She leaves a message.
HELENUS
A message?
PHARANICES
Yea. This puzzles the foreign envoys. In our language
certain flowers stand for certain words.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 91
HELENUS
Yea.
PHARANICES
And Chosroes and his poet Nuseyr always have this
little maiden make some message with the flowers
before the banquet begins. Look! The inscription is
complete.
HELENUS
And what does it say?
PHAKANICES
Something wearying, you may guess — with all respect
to Chosroes and his poet.
l_The guests have gathered round the flowers. They look
startled.
HELENUS
What does this message say?
PHAKANICES
The King does not want to be with us at the banquet
to-night, and so he sends this excuse.
HELENUS
And what is the excuse?
PHARANICES
That he is dead.
HELENUS
That he is dead! Is it possible the flowers make such a
message?
PHARANICES
They make it, certainly. Look how/ they go — "The
King is dead!" Little girl, who told you to write this?
FLOWER MAID
Nuseyr, sir.
PHARANICES
Nuseyr, the poet?
92 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act iii
FLOWER MAID
Yes. When I went to ask what message I should make
at the banquet to-night, he instructed me to make that
message with the flowers.
PHARANICES
This is in bad taste. Is it not, Guests?
A GUEST
If the King has not approved of the jest — yea.
PHARANICES
And where is Nuseyr.^
FLOWER MAID
He is gone by this. He had on his traveling cloak.
A GUEST
You may be beaten for writing this, little girl. The
King may remember that it is not lucky to have it said
that he is dead.
THE FLOWER MAID
But the King is dead. I have seen him lying between
the fallen pillars in the Hall of Histories. Nusyer took
me to see him.
\^Queen Atossa has come down among the guests, who
stand around the flower inscription,
ATOSSA
Chosroes would never speak of death. He dreaded
the word. And in these days more than before he
dreaded the word, for there seemed to be some pre-
monition in his mind.
A GUEST
If it should be true —
ANOTHER GUEST
Hush. The King lives for ever.
THE ONE WHO HAD SPOKEN
It is true. The King lives for ever.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 93
ATOSSA
Thy message is true. O thou unlucky one, go!
^She beats her with Shedad*s staff. The Flower Maid goes
back. The lattices of the box are opened, and Gazeleh
looks out. King Artavades breaks into the hall. His
dress is torn, and there are bits of chains around his hands.
He holds a sword. Sparimixes, a strong and cunning-
looking man, follows him. He is richly dressed.
SPARIMIXES
Princes and Notables of the Persians, I have to announce
to you that Chosroes has been slain.
^There is great confusion. The guests stand up and pour
wine on the floor as libations. Mogu enters. He is un-
conscious of what has moved the guests.
MOGU {as he advances along the tables)
Everything that has happened has come from me!
Everything that has happened has come from me!
IThe guests hold out their hands in horror as he passes.
He reaches the royal seat and stands before it. The guests,
with piov^ and affrighted gestures, leave the hall. Helenus,
Pharanices, Atossa, Artavades, Sparimixes, and Moon-of-
Love remain in different parts of the hall.
MOGU
Remain near me, Moon-of-Love. Kassim-Farraj, my
historiographer, is not permitted to attend the banquet,
and, as my mind is filled with affairs of state, I need to
be reminded of what is customary at the banquet of
the King. You shall inform me.
MOON-OF-LOVE
I hear and I obey.
MOGU
It is long since I have been at a banquet at which there
were so many kings and princes. But why do they not
94 MOGU, THE WANDERER [actiii
sit down to the wine? Why have others gone? Why
do those who remain stand watching me?
MOON-OF-LOVE
Oh my Lord, they are aflfrighted.
MOGU
Why are they affrighted?
MOON-OF-LOVE
On account of the slaying of the King.
MOGU
The slaying of the King!
Ule lets fall the cup he had raised.
MOON-OF-LOVB
Your declaration has been terrible to them.
MOGU
My declaration!
MOON-OF-LOVE
That you had slain the King.
MOGU
I? Who has declared such a thing?
MOON-OF-LOVE
Did you not say "Everything that has happened has
come from me?" And the King has been slain! That
is why they are affrighted of you.
MOGU
These words were given me to say. It is certain they
were given to me by my evil genius. Now indeed he
has triumphed over me.
[Sparimixes comes to Mogu.
SPARIMIXES
What a demon thou hast, Mogu !
MOGU
Mine is the most terrible demon that ever possessed a
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 95
man! There has been none like to him! I speak only
the truth!
SPARIMIXES
A terrible and dangerous demon! We pay homage to
him, Lord.
[_S'parimixes goes bach.
MOGU
He does not speak of my destruction.
MOON-OF-LOVE
He would be friendly to thee on account of thy terrible
demon.
MOGU
He is terrible only to myself. I declare that I reek
with the sweat of fear. And there is King Artavades!
Everything that is destructive to me has been assem-
bled! I am as a hare that doubles from an eagle and
then sees the beak of a hawk. {He sinks on the ground
before the royal chair) Woman's wit helps in a desperate
situation! Think, what should I do, Moon-of -Lo ve !
MOON-OF-LOVE
Persuade your demon to change you into a mouse and
then run out of the hall.
MOGU
It cannot be done, Moon-of-Love.
[^Moon-of -Love goes from him and stands at a pillar L,
Artavades, Sparimixes, Pharanices, and Atossa have
gathered together. Helenus stands a little apart from them.
ATOSSA
Then, since Chosroes is dead ...
ARTAVADES
What would you say, Queen?
ATOSSA
I, myself, am of the Royal Race.
96 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
PHARANICES
I am the King's son. I am Chosroes again.
ATOSSA
Boy, go back to the stables.
PHARANICES
I am Chosroes, I say. The treasure belongs to me,
and so does the army and the diadem. Go back to your
women, Queen. Why do you stand amongst men.?
ATOSSA
Chosroes would not entrust you with the meanest prov-
ince in the Empire.
PHARANICES
Do not speak so insolently. Think of the prison that
is before you.
ATOSSA
I shall have myself proclaimed regent.
PHARANICES
Regent, do you say.'^
ATOSSA
Yes. Regent until my son, — the true offspring of
Chosroes, — comes to be king over the Persians.
PHARANICES
Poisoner!
ATOSSA
Dastard!
PHARANICES
It does not matter what poison you spew out. I am the
King's son and heir to the Empire. Sparimixes, take
in hand the business of having my elevation proclaimed.
SPARIMIXES
Prince Pharanices, I would advise you to accept the
, government that may be offered to you, — the govern-
ment of an outlying province.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 97
PHARANICES
Who will oflFer it to me?
SPARIMIXES
King Artavades.
PHARANICES
King Artavades !
SPARIMIXES
Yes. King Artavades is properly the successor of
Chosroes, being related to the Royal Race by his blood.
[Artavades comes forward. Pharanites takes up wine
cup and throws it at him. Then he draws his sword.
Sparimixes disarms Pharanices.
ATOSSA
hateful Sparimixes, have you brought this man to
rule over us.^*
SPARIMIXES
Is he not more acceptable to you than Pharanices?
ATOSSA
1 shall have a Council summoned who will name the
ruler or regent.
[She turns to go.
PHARANICES
You shall not. It is my right to preside at the Council.
ATOSSA
Fool! To quarrel with me while Sparimixes and the
Roman are preparing to make Artavades king over us
all.
PHARANICES
I and not any woman shall preside over the Council of
State.
ATOSSA
Preside over a council of stable boys, but do not think
of presiding over the Council of State.
98 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act iii
PHARANICES
Be thankful if you are only shut up in a prison.
[Pharanices and Atossa go off quarreling.
AETAVADPS
The death of Chosroes is more fortunate for us than
anything we could have planned. But I do not know
what to do with the demon-possessed man who did
the deed. Menander, Lord Helenus, has gone to the
camp of your general. Roman soldiers are to be in-
troduced into this camp immediately.
HELENUS
You confirm all our arrangements.'^
ARTAVADES
Yes. There is the donative to your army — half of
what remains in our treasury.
HELENUS
And the frontier line?
ARTAVADES
It shall be restored. But a certain city within the old
frontier line must remain with me.
HELENUS
I shall discuss that with our general. Behold, there
are some of his guard. Come, Sparimixes, to our general.
\Kofman soldiers have shown themselves at back. Helenus
and Sparimixes go towards attendants' entrance.
HELENUS
You will join us. King Artavades.
ARTAVADES
You do not address me as Chosroes was addressed?
HELENUS
As Great King? No. The Roman people have de-
cided to let that title become obsolete.
[[There is an unfriendly pause. Sparimixes has gone to
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 99
hack. Then Helenus goes too. Both go into the place
behind the middle pillars. Artavades stamps with rage.
ARTAVADES
Oh, that I were able to show myseM as dangerous to
this Helenus! Oh, that I were desperate enough to
combat the whole of this Roman arrogance!
[^Mogu comes to him.
MOGU
Master!
ARTAVADES
The man who slew Chosroes and declared it! This is
a dangerous man verily! Would that he would make
himself terrible to these Romans !
MOGU
Master!
ARTAVADES
I greet you, Mogu.
MOGU
I crave protection, Master.
ARTAVADES
And I give you protection. My protection is all-suffic-
ing now. I am in the place of Chosroes. I am now
King over the Persians.
MOGU
Master, on account of your good fortune, grant me a
boon!
ARTAVADES
It shall be granted to you, Mogu. You have been
Vizier under Chosroes — you shall be Vizier under
me.
MOGU
With your protection, Master?
100 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
ARTAVADES
With my protection. I give you this sword as a sign
of your office.
[He gives Mogu his sword.
MOGU
Would that I could strike the necks of your enemies
with one sweep!
ARTAVADES
Be my faithful and dangerous tool. I do not like these
Romans.
MOGU
I do not like them, my King. I had a master — I
mean I had a slave — who was robbed by the Romans.
[_Artavades makes a warning gesture and goes into part
of hall hack.
MOGU
Because they believe that Mogu killed the King, they
think he is a great and terrible man. And verily I
should be afraid of such a one if I were a king. Doubt-
less they know too that I am under the protection of
a powerful Genius. I did not know he was so powerful.
How well he bears me onward! Chosroes is dead, and
I am Vizier, and I need not lose my nose on account of
marrying Gazeleh! O my Gazeleh! O One desired
by the fortunate Mogu! Moon-of-Love, come here!
MOON-OF-LOVE
What would my Lord have?
MOGU
Seek the lady Gazeleh. Invite her to come to the
Vizier here.
MOON-OF-LOVE
I need not go far to seek her. She is behind the lattices
there.
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER' lOV'
MOGU
Invite her to come to me here. {Moon-qf-Love goes to
the back) Since Chosroes is dead, there is no reason
why I should lose my nose on account of marrying
her. (He pours wine into a cup and drinks) This
is the King's chair doubtless. I shall place myself
in it and speak to Gazeleh from the King's chair.
{Gazeleh comes to him from the hack) Doubtless you
observed, Gazeleh, that King Artavades has invested
me again with the Viziership.
GAZELEH
I observed it, O my terrible Lord.
MOGU
All now think that Mogu killed the King, and all are
fearful of him. Is it not so, Gazeleh?
GAZELEH
My Lord knows it is so.
MOGU
Well, as Chosroes was once your lord, I will not
appear before you as one who slew him. I did not
commit the deed. I know nothing about the slaying
of Chosroes.
GAZELEH
Is it so?
MOGU
By my protecting Genius, it is so! I will speak truth
to thee, O my Delight. I do not even know who slew
the King. But to Artavades and the others I must
appear as a terrible being who has it in him to slay
a king. If they did not think I was such a one, my
Viziership would have died with Chosroes.
GAZELEH
And thou hast not slain the King?
102 MOGF, THE WANDERER [act iii
MOGU
No, Gazeleh.
GAZELEH
I shall tell no one what thou hast told me.
MOGU
O Gazeleh, O my Life. After the banquet to-morrow —
The King has been slain, and that is a good thing,
for now I need not lose my nose by taking you!
GAZELEH
What.^ Would you take me and keep your nose?
Would you leave no mark to show that I, Gazeleh, was
the favorite of the King.^
MOGU
O Gazeleh, would you have your husband submit to
the loss of his nose?
GAZELEH
Is not a vile nose a small price to pay for a woman
who has been cherished by the Great King?
MOGU
That King is dead. It is not now necessary to have
my nose forfeited.
GAZELEH
And because the King has been slain, am I to be cheated
out of my dignities? Not so. It shall be as if Chosroes
were still alive. The noseless condition of my husband's
countenance shall let all know that I have been the
beloved of the King.
MOGU
Listen, O wilful Woman. I am Vizier, and I shall take
you without abating one jot of my countenance.
GAZELEH
. Not so. My father Sparimixes . . .
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 103
MOGU
Ha! Sparimixes is your father!
GAZELEH
Yea. And he is the one who has made Artavades King.
MOGU
Greatly do I desire to have you for my wife, O Gazeleh.
And yet . . .
GAZELEH
What would you say?
MOGU
Almost I would choose a woman of less beauty, dignity,
and worth and keep my own nose.
GAZELEH
O Slave, to think such a thought! What! You would
leave me unwedded on account of a base consideration
for a vile nose!
MOGU
Almost I would do so, Gazeleh.
GAZELEH
Almost you would do so! Then I declare that you
shall not be permitted to do so.
MOGU
Not permitted! What words do you say, Gazeleh?
GAZELEH
Listen to me. Vizier. Rather than you should commit
such baseness, I shall let Artavades know and Spari-
mixes know that it was not you who slew Chosroes.
Then shall the terror go from your name. The sword
that Artavades put into your hand shall be wrung from
it. You will lose your Viziership. Yea. A worse thing
shall befall you.
MOGU
Of what worse thing can you think, Gazeleh?
104 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
GAZELEH
It will be remembered against you that you laid hands
on King Artavades and had chains put upon him.
There will be no terror round you to protect you from
the King's detestation.
MOGU
And what would they do to me?
GAZELEH
I will tell you for your guidance. They will put you
into the Tower of Famine and leave you to die of hunger
and thirst.
MOGU
Now I see that you are a tigress. And I thought you
were a soft and gracious woman, Gazeleh. Oh, you
have filled me with such fears that almost I would flee
back to the desert. Who are these who come here now?
^A nondescript crowd has come in from the back of the
hall.
GAZELEH
These — these are only the grooms and servants who
have come in to pick what the Lords have left on the
tables.
MOGU
Oh, woe to me! I see Ishak and Shakalik amongst them.
GAZELEH
Yes. The nose-cutters are here also. They are with
the grooms.
MOGU
O Gazeleh, wilt thou not be gracious and say, "Mogu
the Vizier is my Lord. He shall be dear to me with
as without his nose."
GAZELEH
It would become a slave girl or a groom's wife to say
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 105
that. Rather will I say to Ishak and Shakalik, "It
were well not to wait too long to deliver the husband
of Gazeleh of his nose. Let it be done before the night
is past."
MOGU
You must not speak to them now, O loving heart.
GAZELEH
I shall speak to them. {She goes to Ishak and Shakalik.
They nod as she speaks to them) Be not sad about what
they will do, my Lord. Remember the banquet and
. the bridal afterwards. Farewell, Mogu.
[_She goes out.
MOGU
Farewell, unkindly Woman. These nobles are all hard
of heart. Oh, that I might be with her and keep my
nose! Oh, that I might remain Vizier of the Persians
and keep my nose! Oh, that Chosroes had remained
King over the Persians! Now all things are different.
(He watches the grooms and servants devour the remains
of the feast) How these men, the grooms and servants,
eat! Mogu would have eaten like them yesterday.
Yea, and his whole being would have rejoiced over the
abundance and the deliciousnes of the food. How much
better it is to devour scraps with satisfaction than to
eat the breast of the partridge and be afflicted by what
is due to the dignity of your wife. Verily, it might be
better for me to be a groom of the stable!
{Ishak and Shakalik come to him, one wiping his mouth
with his hand and the other licking his lips.
SHAKALIK {familiarly)
The tools are with us. Vizier, and we can do the job
to-night, as the lady said.
106 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
MOGU
Will you not drink first, Shakalik?
\^He seats himself despondently on the ground.
ISHAK
We will set a wine jar here and drink beside you. {They
seat themselves either side of Mogu, a wine jar beside them.
The grooms and servants go off) When the Vizier feels
like it, we'll do his job for him.
MOGU
Drink wine, Ishak. You have permission. Drink
wine, Shakalik.
l^They drink. Then they yawn.
ISHAK
These banquets of the nobles keep up late the poor
men who have to eat after them.
SHAKALIK
And we have to be on foot early to get bread from the
kitchens. Do not blame us if we are sleepy, Lord
Vizier.
MOGU
I do not blame you. I could sleep here too.
ISHAK
Then I'll take a rabbit's rest.
SHAKALIK
I'll take a hare's sleep, brother.
[^Both lie down on ground.
MOGU
Would that you dream that you had taken off my nose
and that others would dream they did not see it on me.
What contentment can the greatest have if they can-
not possess their own nose? My greatness seems
secure, but I shall not abide to profit by it. Rather
I shall go back to the desert and speak to men about
SCENE i] MOGU, THE WANDERER 107
the Bank of the Hidden Treasures. Would that I
had again Simsim, my mouse ! And would that I had
my own garments! I shall have to take a garment
from Ishak and a garment from Shakalik!
[He begins to draw a garment off one of the sleeping
nose-cutters. The scene closes,
CURTAIN
SCENE II
At the well. It is night, and there is brilliant moonlight,
A man in a long, ragged cloak, holding a staff, is seated
at side of well.
Mogu, his garment ragged, enters from Left.
THE MAN AT WELL (rising)
Ho, Mogu!
MOGU
I have left the nose-cutters behind me. Who are you?
THE MAN
I am Zamm, the One-Eyed Beggar. I was expecting
you.
MOGU
That is strange, because I was not expecting myself.
I left the garments of the Vizier on the ground, and
while the nose-cutters slept, I took part of their clothes,
put them on me and came here.
ZAMM
I was expecting you. I have brought a staff to beat
and chastise you, and drive you from the camp.
MOGU
Have I left those who would cut off the nose of a Vizier
to be beaten by the beggars of the camp.?
ZAMM
There is but one beggar in the camp, and he is Zamm,
myseff. And even for one beggar the off-falls are not
plentiful. So when I heard that you were here, I took
my staff in my hands and set out to beat and chastise
you and drive you from my domain.
SCENE ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 109
MOGU
You have not heard that I have been made Vizier over
the Persians?
ZAMM
Is it likely that I would heed such a story as that?
MOGU
Truly, Zamm, if you see me here, it is because I am
running away from my Viziership.
ZAMM
I took the weightiest of two staffs and came to beat you
from the camp of the Persians.
MOGU
You did not hear of my elevation? This is indeed
wonderful! But I perceive you have a staff. Would
that I had not neglected to bring a staff with me!
ZAMM
You are without a staff? O foolish Beggar! Go,
leave the camp as the jackals leave it!
[He goes to Mogu, brandishing staff.
MOGU
Then it is settled! I shall lose my nose, but I shall
remain Vizier to have you beaten!
ZAMM
You Vizier! The mouse sitting on the top stone of the
well laughs at your saying!
MOGU
The mouse on the top stone of the well! It is surely
Simsim! Simsim! It is he! Come into my hand
Simsim! Let me take you to my heart! (The mouse
c(ymes into his hand) You shall be the noseless Vizier's
mouse, Simsim! I shall put diamonds around your
neck, my pet!
[Mogu is now behind the well. Zamm is at left side in
110 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
shadow. Yunan and Duhan come in from L, Zahal
enters from R.
DUBAN
Is it thou, Zahal?
ZAHAL
It is I, O Destroyers of the King!
MOGU
The Destroyers of the King!
YUNAN
What word have you for us, Brother?
ZAHAL
I have told Sparimixes of our deed, and he gives us
protection.
MOGU
They have told Sparimixes! Then I may not appear
before Sparimixes !
ZAHAL
Sparimixes bids us go in peace, saying it is manifest
that we were directed to the event He bids us go to a
place on the river where a boat is in readiness.
DUBAN
Our boat floats on the river west of the camp; its oars
and sails are in readiness. Soon, soon, shall we sail
down the stream.
YUNAN
But far must we go before we see the patch cultivated
by our people, where the beans grow out to the river.
DUBAN
But when we land, the pigeons will fly down from their
towers and flutter around us !
YUNAN
O beloved Birds! Many generations do you number
SCENE ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 111
since we, three brothers of one household, were taken
into captivity.
ZAHAL
Come, Brothers!
\lThe three Ethiopian captives go off R.
MOGU
you Plunderers! You carry away my fortune!
ZAMM
Stay not there. Vagrant with the Mouse! I would
have my liver torn out rather than suffer you to remain.
We fight for the undivided off-falls! (He attacks Mogu
with his staff. Mogu lays hands on the staff; with
difficulty Zamm wrests it from him) You have eaten.
1 did not know that you had eaten!
[He attacks Mogu again. He strikes the ground, and the
staff breaks. Mogu takes up one end of it. As they are
preparing for a new attack, Narjis enters from R. She
is in a mean dress.
NARJIS
O my Father!
MOGU
Hast thou been prudent, my Daughter? Hast thou
brought any recompense from the treasury of the
King?
NARJIS
O my Father, when word of the King's death came, I
was plundered.
MOGU
And the slave girl whom I sent to you a while ago,
Moon-of-Love, did she not warn you to bring some
precious thing?
in MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
NARJIS
She took from me what had been left by the others, —
my anklets and my rich dress.
MOGU
Wullahy! I have raised unto me those who are barren
in enterprise!
ZAMM
Will you not go, Vagrants?
MOGU (flourishing end of staff)
I go, but not yet.
NARJIS
And I have not eaten, my Father.
MOGU
And I have such a feeling as tells me I shall be hungry
in a while. I shall strike this one-eyed beggar on his
blind side, drive him from this place and then beg
from those who come this way.
[He strikes Zamm with the end of the staff and knocks him
down, Zamm picks himself up and retreats.
ZAMM
I shall have you beaten, Mogu. I go to bring the ass-
tenders against you. I go to get a whole staff.
[He goes off.
MOGU
Stand beside me, Narjis, and we shall beg from those
who pass. None will refuse a coin to the Vizier reduced
to beggary.
NARJIS
I will mourn a while for the King who is dead.
[Mogu stands with hand outstretched; Narjis stands a
little aside with her head bent and in a mourning attitude.
As they stand thuSy there pass in processional order:
Roman soldiers, Artavades with the crown on his head.
SCENE ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 113
Pharanices, drunks with his arm on the shoulder of one
girl and beckoning to another girl who follows; Sparimixes
in a rich, stiff dress with a high cap upon his head; Shedad
and Shedid with their staffs in their hands; archers,
banner-men and javelin throwers. Music during pro-
cession,
MOGU
There is not one from whom I could beg with safety.
^Hafiz the Hashish-eater comes on after the procession.
HAFIZ
O Mogu!
MOGJ
It is the hashish-eater!
HAFIZ
What does your hashish say to you, Mogu?
MOGU
To-day I was the Vizier clad in cloth of gold, and I sat
judging the case of kings. Now I go back to the desert,
hungry and an outcast.
HAFIZ
You are my brother. I have also worn the diadem
,nd been in the dust; the arms of the beautiful slave
girls have been around me, and the sun has been on
the stripes of my beating.
MOGU
Bestow a gift upon me, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
O Mogu, remember this.
MOGU
When, O Hafiz?
HAFIZ
In a thousand years you shall regain your power, and
then I shall stand before you, and say "O my Lord,
114 MOGU, THE WANDERER [act hi
grant that the women of a certain region be given to
me as my slave women."
MOGU
The women of the region of Yemen — is it not so, O
Hafiz?
HAFIZ
No. That was a thousand years ago. The women
I desire Hve by the slow waters of the Zacahapla which
is in the region of the Blue Nile. They have woven
their huts of reeds. Without curtains they recline
within, and the heart of the passer-by is made empty by
desire. O my Lord, grant that the women of this
region be my slave women.
MOGU
O Narjis, crave a coin from the hashish-eater!
[_Narjisy who has been standing in a mourning attitudCy
turns obediently. She holds out her hand, and Hafiz gives
her a coin.
NARJIS
Whither do we go, my Father?
MOGU
The way of the desert is before us. Hafiz, we go now.
HAFIZ
The hour of my sobriety approaches, but yet I would
talk to you about these women. They call no man
husband, and their lives are spent making love more
subtle and beauty more elaborate. They think not of
the afterworld of Heaven or Hell, for they are descended
from Lilith and from Ridwan, an angel of Paradise.
MOGU
Give me the coin he gave. Now we go, Narjis. To-
night we sleep in the dry bed of the river, and in the
morning we eat in the town. {They walk bach towards
SCENE ii] MOGU, THE WANDERER 115
the desert and they are seen for a while in the brilliant
moonlight) Farewell Hafiz, Son of Illusion!
HAFIZ
Farewell, Mogu. Farewell for a thousand years!
\^He goes off towards R.
CUETAIN
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OCT 1-J
fEB 3 ^926
JUN S6l92i
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VB 3f562
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY |
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