The Blood of Rachel

A Dramatization of Esther

And Other Poems

By COTTON NOE Author of "The Loom of Life"

JOHN P. MORTON & COMPANY INCORPORATED LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 1916

Copyright 1916 By COTTON NOE All producing rights reserved, including photo play. Permission to produce must be obtained from the author.

To

HONORABLE MOSES KAUFMAN

From whom I differ on some political and religious questions, but whose warm friendship and keen literary appreciation have been a source of much inspiration to me, particularly in the writing of this drama.

CONTENTS.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

Chamberlains, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, Heralds, Royal Dancers, Nubian Slaves, Waiters, and others.

[1]

The Blood of Rachel

ACT I

Scene I

Place—Shushan, the Capital of Persia.

Time—478 B.C.

[A hall in the palace of the king. Enter Smerdis, the king's jester, and Ahafid, poet and minstrel to the king, from opposite sides of the hall. Ahafid is already an old man, with long grey beard and a little stooped with age. He carries a golden Persian harp on which he plays and accompanies his own song.]

Ahafid

[Sings.]

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

[Sings.]

[Exeunt Ahafid and Smerdis.]

[Enter Vashti and Zethar.]

[5]

Vashti

Zethar

Vashti

[Enter Meheuman, Biztha and Abagtha.]

[6]

Meheuman

[Loftily.]

Vashti

Meheuman

Vashti

Meheuman

Vashti

Meheuman

Vashti

Meheuman

Vashti

Abagtha

Vashti

[Exeunt Vashti, Abagtha, etc.]

[Curtain is lowered to denote the passage of six years.]

[11]

Scene II

[Outer hall in palace. Throne room back concealed by curtain. Queen Esther, disguised by loose dress thrown over royal robe and head and face below the eyes hidden by mask, approaches the door where Mordecai, the Jew, is standing.]

Mordecai

Esther

[Dejectedly.]

Mordecai

Esther

[Wailing without.]

Mordecai

[Handing her paper.]

[13]

Esther

[Reads.]

Mordecai

Esther

Mordecai

Esther

Mordecai

Esther

Mordecai

Esther

[Exit Mordecai.]

[The curtain back rises and discloses Ahasuerus on his throne surrounded by court. Esther approaches to center of hall before the king, and extends her hands as though supplicating. The king seems dazed for a moment and then deeply moved; slowly he lifts the golden sceptre and extends it toward the queen who approaches and touches it.]

[16]

Ahasuerus

Esther

[Innocently.]

Ahasuerus

Esther

Ahasuerus

[Music and revels. Esther retires.]

[The king and retinue retire in opposite direction. Haman and followers pass out front where Mordecai sits by the gate, together with others. All except Mordecai salaam, but the Jew remains stiff, looking Haman defiantly in the face.]

[Curtain.]

[18]

Scene III

Home of Haman—two days later.

[Enter Haman, Zeresh, and Parshandatha.]

Haman

[Wailing in Street.]

Zeresh

Haman

Zeresh

Haman

Zeresh

Haman

Zeresh

[Exit Haman.]

[Zeresh continues.]

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

[Re-enter Haman and Friends.]

Haman

[Zeresh shows great emotion.]

A Friend

Haman

Zeresh

Haman

[Zeresh faints.]

[27]

[Curtain.]

[28]

ACT II

Scene I

Place—The palace of the king. Outer room of banquet hall. Curtain back.

[Enter Meheuman, Biztha, and Smerdis.]

Meheuman

Smerdis

[Meheuman and Biztha exeunt on the opposite side of stage, as Ahafid enters more stooped, and singing.]

Ahafid

[Sings.]

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Aloud.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Aloud.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Louder.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

[Not hearing.]

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Louder.]

Ahafid

[Singing.]

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Louder.]

[Exeunt Ahafid and Smerdis.]

Scene II

[The curtain rises, disclosing Ahasuerus, Esther, Haman, and attendants at the banquet table.]

Ahasuerus

Esther

Ahasuerus

[Holding up shrimp.]

Haman

[Tasting it meditatively.]

Ahasuerus

Esther

[With suppressed emotion.]

Ahasuerus

[Tasting for a long time.]

Esther

[Laughing, changing rapidly to deep feeling.]

Haman

[Flattered.]

Esther

[Turning to the king.]

Haman

Ahasuerus

[Showing effect of wine.]

Haman

Ahasuerus

[Rises. Emphatic.]

Haman

Ahasuerus

[More emphatic.]

Esther

[With hands extended toward the king.]

Ahasuerus

[Surprised and dazed.]

Esther

Ahasuerus

Esther

Ahasuerus

Esther

[Proudly.]

[A dramatic pause. Esther awaits the decision of the king, who for a time seems to waver, then extends his sceptre toward Esther. Harbonah, the king's high officer, appears. Haman throws himself at Esther's feet.]

Haman

[Pleading.]

Ahasuerus

[Angrily.]

Harbonah

Ahasuerus

[Exeunt Ahasuerus, Esther, Haman, Harbonah, and attendants.][43]

Zeresh

[Who has been concealed in a corner of the hall, advancing.]

[Curtain.]

[44]

ACT III

Scene I

Some time Later. Room in the Palace of Shushan.

[Enter Ahafid and Smerdis.]

Ahafid

[Singing.]

Smerdis

[Singing.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Aloud.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

[Sings.]

[Exit Ahafid.]

Smerdis

[Exit Smerdis.]

[Enter Mordecai meditatively, followed by Zeresh, who is unseen by him at first.]

Mordecai

Zeresh

[Disguised as a Hebrew woman.]

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

[As in soliloquy.]

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

[Justifying.]

Mordecai

Zeresh

[Aside.]

Mordecai

Zeresh

[A little sarcastically.]

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

Zeresh

Mordecai

[Exit Mordecai.]

Zeresh

[Bursting into fury.]

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

[Sarcastically.]

Zeresh

[With contempt.]

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

Parshandatha

Zeresh

[Exeunt Zeresh and Parshandatha.]

[Curtain.]

Scene II

Place—Outer hall to throne room, curtain back.

Time—The following evening.

[Enter Vashti and Esther from opposite sides of the stage.]

Esther

Vashti

Esther

Vashti

Esther

Vashti

Esther

Vashti

Esther

Vashti

Esther

[Exeunt Esther and Vashti.]

[Enter Ahafid and Smerdis.]

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

Ahafid

Smerdis

[Sings.]

Ahafid

[Exit Ahafid.]

Smerdis

[Exit Smerdis.]

[Re-enter Ahafid.]

Ahafid

[Sings.]

[Sinks to floor.]

[Curtain.]

Scene III

[Curtain rises on Ahasuerus and his court.]

Ahasuerus

[The court fool, Smerdis, dances out before the court.]

Ahasuerus (Continues)

Smerdis

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

Ahasuerus

[Impetuously.]

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Dances and capers before the king, then speaks solemnly.]

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

Ahasuerus

Smerdis

[Aside.]

Ahasuerus

Saadi

[Sings.]

[Much revel and dancing. The trumpet sounds.]

Ahasuerus

[Meditatively.]

[Confusion and much disturbance. Ahasuerus, surprised, cries in angry passion.]

[Enter messenger.]

Messenger

Ahasuerus

Zeresh

[Rushing in with uplifted dagger and thrusting it into the heart of Esther, crying as she flourishes it before the astonished court.]

[Curtain.]

Finis

[75]

POEMS AND SONNETS

[76] [77]

To

DOCTOR W. W. RAY

PHYSICIAN, SCIENTIST, POET, MUSICIAN

To Whom Whether in Art or Nature Truth is Beauty and Beauty Truth, To Whose Appreciation and Enthusiasm I Owed my Intellectual Awakening in Youth, and Whose Friendship and Love have Increased That Obligation Immeasureably as the Years have Passed,

I Dedicate these Poems With the Affection of a Full Heart

COTTON NOE

[78] [79]

Poems and Sonnets

THE OLD DOG IRONS

[82]

THE AGE ELECTRIC

[86]

GRANDMOTHER DAYS

[88]

JUST TO DREAM

[90]

AMNEMON

[102]

A ROMANCE OF THE CUMBERLAND

[111]

MORNING GLORIES.

[112]

CHRISTMASTIDE

[113]

KINSHIP

[114]

PRECOCITY

[115]

THE SECRET

[116]

A RHYMELESS SONNET

[117]

AMBITION

[118]

OPPORTUNITY

[119]

HOLIDAY THOUGHTS

[120]

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW

[121]

FELLOW TRAVELERS

[122]

JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

[123]

CALE YOUNG RICE

[124]

PILATE'S MONOLOGUE

[This monologue of Pilate to Herod takes place a few days after the resurrection at the home of Pontius Pilate. Pilate and Herod are standing on the east porch of the Governor's mansion in Jerusalem, looking toward the Mount of Olives. The time is just at sunset.]

[128]

THE VIRILE SPIRIT

[Written after reading a letter in which the writer said: "I covet for our country a great war—one that will stir our virile spirits and send forth our youth to fight and die for our country."]

[131]

BLUEBIRD.

[132]

AN AUTUMN MINOR

[133]

SLABS AND OBELISK

ON BROADWAY

[135]

POSTSCRIPT

[136] [137]

Postscript

AN EMBER ETCHING

[140]

A TRAGEDY IN BIRDLAND

Transcriber's Notes:

1. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected without comment.

2. Spelling corrections:

p. 60, "syncophantic" to "sycophantic" (A thousand sycophantic, fawning lords;)

p. 96, "shubbery" to "shrubbery" (O'er a waste of shrubbery and alkali)

3. Word Variations:

"Agagite" (1) and "Aggagite" (1) "ghost-like" (1) and "ghostlike" (1)

4. On the title page, the words "A Dramatization of Esther" were printed in Gothic Font which has been represented as italic in this e-text.