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 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 fVl^i V OCT 1-J fEB 3 ^926 JUN S6l92i ^^^ l5ri^- 24 1^ ^ VB 3f562 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY | itf^