NOTES

The exclamation “Yehh!” which occurs in the play, is an Arab cry of surprise; the exclamation “Awah!” or “Wah!” a cry of grief, synonymous with “Alas!” In both cases the final “h” is pronounced gutturally, something like the “ch” in the German “Ach!” or Scotch “Och!”

The rhymed prose which occurs in moments of emotion is a peculiarity of Arab speech and literature. There are endless examples of it in Burton’s “Arabian Nights.”

In addressing a person, “O” is always used as “O Hajj.” If “O” is left out it is the sign of deliberate insult. This “O” is not emphasised except when expedient.

[12]

[13]

ACT I BEFORE THE CURTAIN DAWN

A large arch of Arabian design, with small doors right and left, frames in the whole picture.

The Man enters from the door of his house left, seats himself and sings:

The Woman enters from her house right, seats herself and sings:

The Man:

The Woman:

[14]

Both:

The Story Teller enters through the curtains and speaks:

Story Teller. Praise be to Allah, the King of all Kings, the Creator of all things! Who like to a carpet hath spread, the Earth to our tread. And even as a tent, set up the firmament, overhead. And on Mohammed, his Prophet among men, the blessing of blessings again and again, Amen. (He sits.) But afterwards. Verily the works and words of those gone before us have become examples and admonitions to the men of our later day. And of such a kind is the story of Hajj, the beggar, who lived his life in this our peaceful city of Baghdad, one thousand years and one year ago. Now it is the tale of his day of the days that I will relate unto you, O auspicious listeners. Do ye take heed therein of the lesson taught by Fate, which the poets call Kismet. And mark well the chances and changes of time foredoomed to mortal man: lifting him now high, now sinking him low, even as the bucket in the well. (He rises.) But Allah alone is all knowing.

He withdraws.

The Man and Woman rise and sing:

Then they turn and re-enter their respective houses. They have not seen each other.

[15]

ACT I MORNING

Scene I. A Street before the Mosque of the Carpenters.

(Right and left from the point of view of the actor.)

In the centre, steps lead up to the Mosque, which is on the right. Only the lower part of the minaret is visible. A large stone to the left of the steps forms a rough seat.

It is just before dawn, which rises rapidly, so that it is daylight by the end of the scene.

Asleep, on the stone, wrapped in his beggar’s cloak of a hundred rags and patches, sits Hajj, reclining against the angle of the wall. He is a man of about fifty, still in the full vigour of his manhood. His beard is thin and unkempt; but his face is keen, shrewd and full of humour. At a glance he shows himself to be a man of the people, who lives by his wits, untroubled by what the morrow may bring him. At present he is sleeping the sleep of the just to the tune of a hearty snore.

After a few moments of peace, steps are heard in the alley left, and the Muezzin, an old man of seventy, appears with a lanthorn and a large key. He goes to the door of the Mosque and unlocks it.

Cocks begin to crow far and near.

[16]

The “brush” of the dawn appears in the sky.

(Hajj, disturbed by the clatter, turns and yawns prodigiously—stretching himself.)

Hajj. In the name of Allah,—Day?

The Muezzin. (Coming towards him.) Peace be on thee, O Hajj.

Hajj. And on thee, peace and blessing, O my friend. (The Muezzin enters the Mosque.)

(Imam Mahmud, a venerable white bearded sage, appears. Hajj stifles a yawn, sits up, and assumes his beggar’s attitude—the right hand out, the head dejectedly on one side.)

Hajj. (As the Imam comes to him in a whining sing-song.) Alms, for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah, alms!

Mahmud. (Handing Hajj a small round loaf.) Take! The Giver giveth thee this. (He crosses in front of Hajj and goes up the steps.)

Hajj. (Taking the bread.) Verily, thy good deeds shall witness for thee on the day of judgment, O Mahmud.

Mahmud. (Stopping.) The peace upon thee and a full harvest of tears and pity for thy poverty.

Hajj. Nay, sooner pray it be a full hand of silver and gold.

Mahmud. That shall be even as Allah foredooms. Naught befalls us but what His pen hath written.

Hajj. Praise be to Allah, the One, the Omnipotent.

Mahmud. And to Mohammed his Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve. (He goes into the Mosque.)

(Hajj looks after him, grunts, and then turns and fumbles behind the stone, pulling out a chipped, earthen jug of water. He then mumbles “In the name of Allah,” drinks from the jug and munches his bread, smacking his lips loudly.)

[17]

(Meanwhile, from the minaret the voice of the Muezzin is heard calling to prayer, and other distant calls to prayer may be heard from various quarters.)

(Steps resound in the streets. Hajj quickly conceals his bread and jug behind the stone. Men now come at intervals by the two alleys and enter the Mosque. At the threshold they take off their slippers with their left hand, entering with the right foot, ejaculating, “In the name of Allah.”)

Hajj. Alms for a starving brother. Bind a body and soul together!—O master! Thy large brow proclaims an open heart. A danik! A fils! (The Man gives a coin and passes on.) Heaven hath seen this, O my master. In the name of the Compassionating, the Compassionate! A blessing on thy white beard. Thou art nearing thy grave! Buy thy salvation from thy slave. (The Man passes on murmuring “Allah will give it thee.”) Nothing. May’st thou burn for it, O thou dog! (To another.) O brother, mine eyes have failed me! (He rolls up his eyes.) Hast thou a blind father or one dearest to thee groping in darkness? (The Man gives a coin and passes on.) A dirham! The Bestower requite it thee, O my lord. (To another.) O Azir, my master, I see thee well, though it scarce be day. Is he better, thy son, the light of thy house? Be his fever abated? (The Man passes on muttering “Allah will provide.”) Nought? May the Ghuls suck away thy bastard’s breath. (To another.) O [18]stranger! Not so quickly. Haste is from Hell; Heaven will wait for thee. (To a young man.) O

fair youth, a trifle. On my knees have I lain here these endless years. (The Man gives him a coin.) The Protector increase thy weal. (To the Mufti, an old man.) O Mufti—a word. Thou knowest the bitterness of a long life and a weary. I am young, alas. All my sad days stretch before me.

The Mufti. Please Allah to-morrow——

Hajj. (Getting between the Mufti and the steps of the Mosque.) Thou dost ever say to-morrow.

The Mufti. (Laughing.) And is not to-morrow ever to-morrow?

Hajj. True. The stench of thy soul lessens not from dawn to dawn.

The Mufti. Out of my way. (He pushes past Hajj into the Mosque.)

Hajj. With joy and gladness—for thy way leads to damnation. (Several men enter singly and by twos as Hajj continues in a sing-song tone.) Glory be to Allah! Upon Allah dependeth daily bread. Thy wealth is not thine own, O rich man. Thou art as poor as the poorest. Allah alone giveth, and what he giveth belongeth not to thee. Thy gold is but a blessing to become a blessing. Then open thy purse and let the afflicted bend to the holy House of Meccah for thee, and every danik out of thy hand will return to thee a thousandfold through the prayers of the poor.

(Men have gone into the Mosque, some giving coin, others passing on. From the street on the left the guide Nasir enters conducting the Sheikh Jawan, an old man, who is leaning on two black slaves and followed by two others. He is clothed completely in white, his face veiled by a “Taylasan,” a scarf hiding his beard. He is over sixty and paralysed in his legs, but [19]his eyes are still full of fire. Two Slaves retire. Slowly the Sheikh mounts the steps supported by the other Two Slaves.)

(Hajj catches hold of the hem of his cloak.)

Hajj. Alms, for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah, alms!

Jawan. (Turning.) O Hajj, thou?

Hajj. (Surprised, rising and following him.) Thou knowest me?

Jawan. Thou still here mumbling for crusts? (He laughs, a nasal laugh, mockingly.) He, he, he!

(Nasir takes off Jawan’s slippers.)

Hajj. (On the Mosque steps.) Who art thou?

Jawan. Who am I? He, he! Who am I? He, he, he!

(He turns with his slaves and goes off into the Mosque followed by the guide Nasir.)

(Hajj looks after him mystified and riveted by a haunting memory; then slowly regains his seat, counting his profits as he does so. “One, two, three—five.”)

(Meanwhile Kasim, a young, ragged, one-eyed beggar, has come and sat down on Hajj’s seat. He is busy tying some strips round one of his legs, quite unconscious of usurping anyone’s rights. Hajj is about to sit, when he turns, and, seeing Kasim, exclaims an amazed “Yehh!” He comes slowly up to the intruder and touches him provokingly on the arm.)

Hajj. (Squatting.) And what may thy business be?

Kasim. Canst thou not see? I am a beggar even as thou.

Hajj. Thou—even as I? Thou? Knowest thou what thou say’st?

[20]

Kasim. My ears can hear my tongue.

Hajj. O monstrous piece of impudence! A beggar even as I? ’Tis plain thou art a stranger to Baghdad.

Kasim. Thou hast said it. I come from afar. My name’s Kasim. And thou?

Hajj. I? I? Ha! ha! (Patronisingly.) O thou poor fool. But there, thou art a stranger. I? I am Hajj—Hajj, the beggar.

Kasim. Hajj? A pilgrim? Then thou hast been to Holy Meccah?

Hajj. Not I! Never a foot have I stirred beyond our city walls. My parents called me Hajj at my birth, so that the sacred title might win me added pity from the passer-by. Not a child in the quarter but calleth me thus by name. I have sat upon that stone these fifty summers and winters, drinking the sun, and more oft than not the moon too, scorning the pent-up sleep of a bed.

Kasim. (Sneeringly.) These fifty summers? Say’st thou so?

Hajj. (Excitedly.) Yea! And before me my father sat there, superb in rags, and before him, his; and so on to the beginning without beginning. That stone, O Kasim, is my legacy, my right, my stronghold. Not till this hour hath man dared what thou darest.

Kasim. Then this hour endeth thy kingdom. I am come to conquer.

Hajj. I pray thee, O maggotty head, bandy no words. Go get thee to yon corner (He points to the corner left) if it like thee. Other swine have grovelled there in their time. My vilest enemy sat there once, these many weary years since. Take his place.

Kasim. I’ll not budge from here.

Hajj. How sayst thou? Not budge? A scum like thou? A nail-pairing? A goat’s cheese at noon-tide? [21]Not budge? We shall see, by Allah! We shall see!

(He seizes him and pushes him towards the corner.)

Kasim. Let go! Let go, I say! Ho, Moslems, come ye to my help! Let go!

Hajj. (Holding Kasim at arm’s length and kicking him.) Let go? There! How’s that to thy taste? Swallow that, an thou art an-hungered. A dainty dish of foot, and more to follow. One—two—three! Another mouthful?

(Nasir, the Guide of the Sheikh, has come out of the Mosque and stands on the steps.)

Nasir. O Hajj! By the All-knowing, what’s this?

Hajj. He’d take my seat—this nothing from nowhere.

Kasim. (Rubbing himself.) I want not his seat.

Hajj. Not now,—now that I have made thee feel the value of thine own.

(Kasim crawls down to the stone left, nursing his kicks.)

Hajj. (Sits in his seat.) A joyous day indeed and a well begun! What with this one-eyed dog, and thy miserly stranger—(breaking off.) Allah! Who is he, O Nasir?

Nasir. (Evasively.) A man of the men. I know not.

Hajj. O brother of truth, thou knowest full well. Thou art guiding him, he lodges at thy Khan. He called me by name. Who is he?

Nasir. (After a moment of hesitating.) Harkee, O Hajj. I have a plan to offer thee. An thou wilt fall in with my plotting, ’twill mean money to both of us.

Hajj. Money? No harm in that. Speak.

Nasir. This old man of mine has been a famous highwayman in his hour. The White Sheikh they were used to call him.

[22]

Hajj. The White Sheikh—he?

Nasir. Our Caliph deceased set his troops upon him oft and oftener. In one of his attacks, he captured most of the robber’s band—his little son amongst them, a mere stripling at the time.

Hajj. Say on.

Nasir. The boy was spared for his beauty. If he still be of the living, his age must reach nigh on thirty summers. Yet all these endless years whilst the last Caliph ruled, the Sheikh dared not enter Baghdad. Not till now, that the young monarch hath mounted the throne, hath the father ventured at last in search of his son.

Hajj. A touching tale! And how forsooth are we to coin wealth of this?

Nasir. Did’st thou not mark how broken, how stricken, the old man is? Never was there such a repentant sinner. All his moneys are spent in charities; all his hopes in the finding of his beloved son, Yusuf. The smallest word, the faintest promise from priest or soothsayer, and his hand darts into his purse. Now dost thou see dawn?

Hajj. I am to cast myself into his path. What thou hast revealed, is to flow unto me as in a vision.

Nasir. Thou hast it. And it is agreed, whate’er he bestows on thee, we share by halves, like honest Moslems that we are.

Hajj. So it please the Protector. Leave it to me.

Nasir. But harkee, O clever one, thou’lt do it carefully? Draw from all the deepest wells: a father’s longing, a father’s mad despair. Such like and more, if thou canst.

Hajj. If I can? If I can? Did I not too have a son—many years gone to-day,—a babe fair as the moon! Was he not foully murdered? His throat cut across? And my wife, the balm of mine eyes, stolen away by mine enemy? Yea, sat he not where yon dog sits now—the slaughterer of my [23]race? Doth not yon stone make my soul ever cry aloud for blood revenge?

Nasir. So thou, too, hast felt its fire—a father’s love?

Hajj. Felt it? Hearken to this, O Nasir—and Allah pardon me for unveiling the veiled sex. I have a daughter now of fourteen summers, the child of a late spring by another wife, who is dead, alas! The maid is all that is left me on earth; dear to me above the promises of Paradise. Yet the day will come when she will be wed and wived. And she will bear the burden of another’s posterity. But mine own race, the blood of my fathers, once I am called to rest, where will it be? O brother, I am like unto a date-palm that groweth aslant the pool, and whose fruit hath fallen into the waters.

(Men begin to come out of the Mosque and wander off by the two alleys.)

(Dawn is giving place to daylight.)

Nasir. Prayer is over. We must not be found together.

(Nasir retires to the alley left, and beckons to the Two Black Slaves, who join him.)

(Meanwhile, other men are passing Hajj, who begins in a sing-song tone, but has left his seat so as to intercept the Sheikh.)

Hajj. Alms for the love of——

Kasim. (Whining.) Alms for the love of Allah!

Hajj. (To Kasim.) Silence, thou dog!—(continuing) For the love of Allah, alms. The grave is darkness. Charity its lamp. Learn to love poverty. Be good and enter Paradise. Alms, for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah, alms!

[24]

(The Sheikh Jawan reappears from the Mosque, pausing on the steps, supported by his Two Slaves. Jawan conceals his face from Hajj with his scarf.)

Hajj. (Rising.) O Sheikh of sheikhs, the Peace upon thee. When thou spokest before, the eyes of my memory were closed. Now they are open and recall thy bounty of other days.

Jawan. Dost thou know me, indeed?

Hajj. I see thy soul clear as in crystal. Thou art come from afar in search of some one long lost. ’Tis him thou seekest, thy son.

Jawan. Yehh! This is strange. Shall I reach my desire?

Hajj. Thou shalt see thy son this day.

Jawan. Even though the curses of my foes stand between me and Allah?

Hajj. Thy prayers have killed their curses.

Jawan. Wilt thou swear to that?

Hajj. By Him, the All-seeing, the All-hearing, the All-knowing I swear it to thee.

Jawan. Will thy ragged saintliness bless me?

Hajj. Allah’s blessing upon thee and thy enterprise. May thy foes be confounded, and thy hopes rounded.

(A slight pause—then Jawan bursts into uncontrollable laughter—“he, he, he, he, he!”)

Jawan. O Hajj! Dost guess what thou hast done? See! (He withdraws the scarf from his face.) Thou hast blest thine enemy. I am he who has sat at yon corner in the long ago.

Hajj. (Hoarsely.) Jawan!

Jawan. Yes, Jawan! He that stole thy wife and stabbed thy squealing brat and fled the city at night.

Hajj. Jawan,—the beggar,—thou?

[25]

Jawan. Jawan, the beggar, no longer Jawan the beggar. Nay, look not so amazed. My wild life hath oldened me more than thy tame life thee.

Hajj. Jawan!

Jawan. Dost thou doubt me? Hearken, then, and learn. Thy wife and I, that night of the nights, we rode out into the desert. A band of robbers found us. Time and lot made me their leader. Twenty-five years I was their chief. Twenty-five years the Caliph made war on me as on a king—his equal. And I was his equal in power, in prowess, in all—yea, even though he captured my son, the son of thy wife, thy beautiful Gulnar.

Hajj. O hog, hog-fathered! Allah ruin thee for ever.

Jawan. (Sneeringly.) Thou dost forget thy blessings of a moment since. (He crosses to Nasir and the other slaves.)

Hajj. I blessed thee not. I blessed an unknown.

Jawan. No, no, me by the Most High, the Glorious—me. And ’tis thus through thee, that I shall find my son again. Thou hast recalled thy curses. The spell is broken at last.

Hajj. Thou shalt not live to find him. (He springs towards Jawan.)

(The other Two Slaves draw ugly looking dirks and ward off Hajj.)

(Hajj stands impotent and panting—“Wah!”)

Jawan. Said I not I was King? Allah send thee a long life, Hajj, and a happy.

Hajj. Allah send thee the foul fiend and a thousand fires.

Jawan. Too late, O brother. Thou hast stopped Heaven’s ears with thy blessings! Thy curses fall on deafness.—Behold! A poor return for thy bounty! (He throws a purse at Hajj.) Up and away!

[26]

(The Slaves turn with Jawan and move away by the alley left, Nasir preceding them.)

Hajj. (Desperately.) Take back thy blood money. I’ll not swallow my son’s blood! Take it back, O thou grey-beard of hell! Take it!

(Jawan has disappeared; his laughter, “He, he, he!” is heard dying away in the distance. Kasim crawls from his seat toward the purse.)

Hajj. Laugh! Laugh to split thy spleen! But by the Decreer, thy day shall set! For I have found thee! Thou art alive and here,—and I too—I am alive. (Going up to Kasim.) Dost thou hear? Dost thou?—I have found him! He is back in Baghdad, he who sat where thou sittest, the butcher of my race! I shall meet him at last—hold him by the throat, the dog of dogs, and (taking Kasim by the throat.) I shall strangle him with (choking Kasim.) These—two—thumbs of mine.

Kasim. (Choking.) Brother—protection!

Hajj. (Still continuing, in his fury.) What though he be guarded by slaves with swords naked, and I, defenceless——

Kasim. (Gasping.) Awah!

Hajj. I shall find a way to him. Buy it, if need be!—Buy? Yehh. (He throws Kasim aside and turns to the purse.) And with his gold. His! it smelleth of blood. Every coin a crime, every chink a cry for vengeance. Allah, be thou my witness! Only for this do I touch his accursed charity. Only for this!

Kasim. Look!

(Several men come out of the Mosque.)

Hajj. (Quickly thrusting the purse in his bosom, returns to his stone, beginning his sing-song without looking up.) Alms for the love of Allah! For the love of Allah——

[27]

Kasim. Alms for the love of Allah! For the love of All——

Hajj. (To Kasim.) Silence, thou louse-trap!

(Nasir re-enters rapidly.)

Nasir. I’ve left him for an instant. He’s praying at a tomb. The purse. How much is mine?

Hajj. The purse?

Nasir. The purse he threw thee.

Hajj. (Innocently.) I saw no purse.

Nasir. Saw no purse? Thou art jesting. Out with it. Share.

Hajj. Share? Purse? Know I what he threw or not? Sit I here to count the droppings of the street? A pretty patron thou didst serve me. Get thee gone! Thou art a rouge, a thief!