YASMIN There is love and love and love.

Ha.s.sAN (Pa.s.sionately) Oh, answer me!

YASMIN I think I have been enchanted, Ha.s.san; how, I cannot tell.

Till this afternoon the thought of your appearance made my heart narrow with disgust. But since I ate your present of comfits-- and they were admirable comfits, and I ate them with speed-- my heart is changed and inclined toward you, I know not why or how, except it be through magic.

Ha.s.sAN (Aside) She is mine, and magic rules the world!

(Aloud) Yasmin, shall I possess you, O Yasmin?

YASMIN Am I not the desert waiting for the rain? Was I not born for pa.s.sion, Ha.s.san? Is not my bosom burning for kisses? Were not these arms made smooth and hard to fight the battle of love?

Ha.s.sAN Are not your lips love's roses, your cheeks love's lilies, your eyes love's hyacinths?

YASMIN Ya, Ha.s.san, and my hair the net of love, and my girdle the chain of love that breaks at a lovers touch?

Ha.s.sAN I am drowning in a wave of madness. Let me in, Yasmin; let me in!

YASMIN Ah, if I could!

Ha.s.sAN Why not?

YASMIN Ah, if I dared!

Ha.s.sAN What do you fear? It is night, and the street is silent.

YASMIN: Ah, dear Ha.s.san, but I am not alone.

Ha.s.sAN (Whispering) Not alone? Who is there? Your mother?

YASMIN No! One who you sent here.

Ha.s.sAN I sent no one.

YASMIN One of your friends.

Ha.s.sAN A man?

SELIM (Poking his head out of the window) Ya, Ha.s.san, Salaam aleik.u.m.

I thank you for directing my steps to this rose-strewn bower.

Ha.s.sAN (Astonished) Selim!

SELIM Thy servant always.

Ha.s.sAN (Wildly) Selim!

SELIM Be advised, O Ha.s.san, go and seek the enchanted egg.

Ha.s.sAN Selim, what do you here?

SELIM Plunge not the finger of enquiry into the pie of impertinence, O my uncle.

Ha.s.sAN Since when have I become your uncle, Selim, and how did I cease to be your friend?

SELIM Since when did you aspire to poetry, O Ha.s.san?

But I have heard these lines:

As from the eagle flies the dove So friendship from the claw of love.

Ha.s.sAN Love. What love do you mean, sc.u.m of the market?

SELIM This. (Puts a hand on YASMIN's shoulder.)

Ha.s.sAN May G.o.d strike thee blind, Selim, and shut the door of his compa.s.sion against thee!

SELIM What is my crime, Uncle? How have I sinned against thee, or merited the solemn imprecation?

Ha.s.sAN Do not touch her, you dog, do not touch her!

SELIM Is it a crime to touch Yasmin, my Uncle? Am I not to be excused?

Is not her neck a pillar of the marble of Yoonistan?

(Puts his arm around her neck.)

Ha.s.sAN Torment of death!

YASMIN Are not my arms like swords of steel, hard and cold, and thirsty for blood? (Putting her arms around the neck of SELIM)

Ha.s.sAN Fire of h.e.l.l!

SELIM Are not her eyes two sapphires in two pools?

Ha.s.sAN Woe is me! Woe is me!

YASMIN Are not my lips two rubies drenched in blood? (Kisses him)

Ha.s.sAN G.o.d, I shall fall!

SELIM (His face in YASMIN's bosom) Couldst thou but see, O my Uncle, the silver hills with their pomegranate groves; or the deep fountain in the swelling plain, or the Ethiopian who waters the roses in the garden, or the great lamp between the columns where the incense of love is burned. How can I thank thee, O my Uncle, for the name and address, and half the old Jew's dinars!

YASMIN How can I thank thee, O my Uncle, for sending me this strong and straight young friend of thine to console my loneliness and desolation? Ah, it is bitter to be a widow and so young!

Ha.s.sAN (Putting up his hands to his head) The fountain, the fountain!

O my head, my head!

YASMIN Be not too rash, my Uncle, or thy hair will come away in thy hands.

Ha.s.sAN If I could but reach your necks with a knife, children of Sheitan!