We are in the service of the World. The voice of the rolling deep is shouting: "Suffer that my waves may moan." The company of the stars sing out: "Be brave that we may shine." The spirits of children not yet born whisper as they crowd around us: "Endure that we may conquer."

RAFI Pervaneh, Pervaneh!

PERVANEH Hark! Hark!--down through the spheres--the Trumpeter of Immortality!

"Die, lest I be shamed, lovers. Die, lest I be shamed!"

RAFI Die then, Pervaneh, for thy great reasons. Me no ecstasy can help through the hours of pain. I die for love alone.

HERALD (Entering) The Caliph demands your choice.

RAFI Death!

Ha.s.sAN (Bursting in) No, no. O G.o.d!

ISHAK They have chosen too well.

(Exit HERALD. PERVANEH is still in ecstasy when the curtain falls.)

END OF ACT IV

ACT V

SCENE I

Towards the sunset of the next day. The CALIPH's garden (ACT III, SCENE I) once more.

(Enter the CALIPH with ATTENDANTS as Ha.s.sAN comes from his pavilion.)

CALIPH We were coming to your door to seek you, Ha.s.san, but you antic.i.p.ated the knock of doubt by the shock of appearance. Why have you left your house before the nightingale? Will you too sing to the dawning moon?

If so--we have come to hear.

Ha.s.sAN Oh, Master of the World--the hour of the nightingale has not yet come.

I have sought thee all day, O Master, and could not find thee.

Thou didst hold the Divan--thou wast hunting--thou wast asleep-- thou wast at dinner--and now the hour is near, O Master of the World-- but not yet come.

CALIPH What hour?

Ha.s.sAN The hour of the nightingale: the hour when sun and moon are weighed in the silver scales of heaven: and thy scale of justice moves downward with the sun.

CALIPH Surely thy head is full of fancies and thy mood perverse. I cannot grasp the shadow of thy meaning.

Ha.s.sAN (Throwing himself at the CALIPH's feet) O Master of the World, have mercy on Pervaneh and Rafi!

CALIPH What--those two? Let them have mercy on themselves. They have chosen death as I am told. The woman has paid me the compliment of preferring torture with her Rafi to a marriage with myself. They have had a pleasant day together. Exquisite food was placed before them and the surveillance was discreet. They will now pa.s.s a less pleasant evening.

Ha.s.sAN Let not the woman be tortured: have mercy on the woman.

CALIPH Rise you fantastic supplicant. Do you dare ask mercy for these insolent and dangerous folk whose life was in their own hands-- who have themselves pulled down the cord of the rat-trap of destruction?

Ha.s.sAN Had you but heard them--had you but watched as I did while they made that awful choice, you would have forgotten expediency, justice, revenge, and listened only to the appeal of the anguish of their souls!

CALIPH I doubt it!

Ha.s.sAN They chose so well! They are so young. So terribly in love.

I have not slept, I have not eaten, Master! I take no pleasure in my house and garden. I see blood on my walls, blood on my carpet, blood in the fountain, blood in the sky!

CALIPH Well, well, I will leave you to these agreeable delusions.

Abu Nawas has found me a young Kurdish girl who can dance with one leg round her neck, and knows by heart the song of Alexander.

I perceive you will be no fit companion for an evening's sport.

Ha.s.sAN It is only for the torture I speak: it is only for the woman I implore.

Say but one word: the sun will set so soon.

CALIPH (Angrily) If thou and Ishak, and Jafar and the Governors of all the provinces were prostrate with supplication before me, I would not spare her one caress of Masrur's black hand.

Ha.s.sAN (Springing to his feet and making at the CALIPH) Hideous tyrant, torturer from h.e.l.l!

CALIPH (Coolly, as GUARDS seize Ha.s.sAN) You surprise me. Since when have confectioners become so tigerish in their deportment?

Ha.s.sAN (Terrfied) What have I said! What have I done!

CALIPH There speaks the old confectioner again.

Ha.s.sAN I am not ashamed to be a confectioner, but I am ashamed to be a coward.

CALIPH Do not despair, good Ha.s.san. You would not take my warning: you have left the Garden of Art for the Palace of Action: you have troubled your head with the tyranny of princes, and the wind of complication is blowing through your shirt.

You will forfeit your house and be banished from the Garden, for you are not fit to be the friend of kings. But for the rest, since you did me great service the other night, go in peace, and all the confectionery of the Palace will be ordered at your shop.

Ha.s.sAN Master, for this mercy, I thank you humbly.