Eznarza:
A King's word is like a King's crown and a King's sceptre and a King's throne. It is in fact a foolish thing, like a city.
King:
I cannot break my word. But you can be Queen in Thalanna.
Eznarza:
Thalanna will not have a gypsy for a Queen.
King:
I will make Thalanna have her for a Queen.
Eznarza:
You cannot make a gypsy live for a year in a city.
King:
I knew of a gypsy that lived once in a city.
Eznarza:
Not such a gypsy as I... come back to the tents of the Arabs.
King:
I cannot. I gave my word.
Eznarza:
Kings have broken their words.
King:
Not such a King as I.
Eznarza:
We have only that little child of man whose name is Memory.
King:
Come. He shall bring back to us, before we part, one of those days that were banished.
Eznarza:
Let it be the first day. The day we met by the well when the camels came to El-Lolith.
King:
Our year lacked some few days. For my year began here. The camels were some days out.
Eznarza:
You were riding a little wide of the caravan, upon the side of the sunset. Your camel was swinging on with easy strides. But you were tired.
King:
You had come to the well for water. At first I could see your eyes, then the stars came out, and it grew dark and I only saw your shape, and there was a little light about your hair: I do not know if it was the light of the stars, I only knew that it shone.
Eznarza:
And then you spoke to me about the camels.
King:
Then I heard your voice. You did not say the things you would say now.
Eznarza:
Of course I did not.
King:
You did not say things in the same way even.
Eznarza:
How the hours come dancing back!
King:
No, no. Only their shadows. We went together then to Holy Mecca. We dwelt alone in tents in the golden desert. We heard the wild free day sing sings in his freedom, we heard the beautiful night wind. Nothing remains of our year but desolate shadows. Memory whips them and they will not dance.
[Eznarza does not answer.]
We made our farewells where the desert was. The city shall not hear them.
[Eznarza covers her face. The King rises softly and walks up the
steps. Enter L. the Chamberlain and Zabra, only noticing each
other.]
Chamberlain:
He will come. He will come.
Zabra:
But it is noon now. Our fatness has left us. Our enemies mock at us. If he do not come God has forgotten us and our friends will pity us!
[Enter Bel-Narb and Aoob.]
Chamberlain:
If he is alive he will come.
Zabra:
I fear that it is past noon.
Chamberlain:
Then he is dead or robbers have waylaid him.
[Chamberlain and Zabra put dust upon their heads.]
Bel-Narb: [To Aoob.]
God is just!
[To Chamberlain and Zabra.]
I am the King!
[The King's hand is on the door. When Bel-Narb says this he goes
down the steps again and sits beside the gypsy. She raises her
head from her hands and looks at him fixedly. He watches
Bel-Narb, and the Chamberlain and Zabra. He partially covers his
face Arab fashion.]
Chamberlain:
Are you indeed the King?
Bel-Narb:
I am the King.
Chamberlain:
Your Majesty has altered much since a year ago.
Bel-Narb:
Men alter in the desert. And alter much.
Aoob:
Indeed, your Excellency, he is the King. When the King went into the desert disguised I fed his camel. Indeed he is the King.
Zabra:
He is the King. I know the King when I see him.
Chamberlain:
You have seen the King seldom.
Zabra:
I have often seen the King.
Bel-Narb:
Yes, we have often met, often and often.
Chamberlain:
If some one could recognize your Majesty, some one besides this man who came with you, then we should all be certain.
Bel-Narb:
There is no need of it. I am the King.
[The King rises and stretches out his hand palm downwards.]
King:
In holy Mecca, in green-roofed Mecca of the many gates, we knew him for the King.
Bel-Narb:
Yes, that is true. I saw this man in Mecca.
Chamberlain: [Bowing low.]
Pardon, your Majesty. The desert had altered you.
Zabra:
I knew your Majesty.
Aoob:
As well as I do.
Bel-Narb: [Pointing to the King.]
Let this man be rewarded suitably. Give him some post in the palace.
Chamberlain:
Yes, your Majesty.
King:
I am a camel-driver and we go back to our camels.
Chamberlain:
As you wish.
[Exeunt Bel-Narb, Aoob, Chamberlain and Zabra through door.]
Eznarza:
You have done wisely, wisely, and the reward of wisdom is happiness.
King:
They have their king now. But we will turn again to the tents of the Arabs.
Eznarza:
They are foolish people.
King:
They have found a foolish King.
Eznarza:
It is a foolish man that would choose to dwell among walls.
King:
Some are born kings, but this man has chosen to be one.
Eznarza:
Come, let us leave them.
King:
We will go back again.
Eznarza:
Come back to the tents of my people.
King:
We will dwell a little apart in a dear brown tent of our own.
Eznarza:
We shall hear the sand again, whispering low to the dawn wind.
King:
We shall hear the nomads stirring in their camps far off because it is dawn.
Eznarza:
The jackals will patter past us slipping back to the hills.
King:
When at evening the sun is set we shall weep for no day that is gone.
Eznarza:
I will raise up my head of a night time against the sky, and the old, old, unbought stars shall twinkle through my hair, and we shall not envy any of the diademmed queens of the world.
CURTAIN
A Night at an Inn
Dramatis Personae
A. E. Scott-Fortescue (the Toff, dilapidated gentleman)
William Jones (Bill)
Albert Thomas
Jacob Smith (Sniggers) (All Merchant Sailors.)
1st Priest of Klesh
2nd Priest of Klesh
3rd Priest of Klesh
Klesh
[The Curtain rises on a room in an inn.]
[Sniggers and Bill are talking. The Toff is reading a paper.
Albert sits a little apart.]
Sniggers:
What's his idea, I wonder?
Bilclass="underline"
I don't know.
Sniggers:
And how much longer will he keep us here?
Bilclass="underline"
We've been here three days.
Sniggers:
And 'aven't seen a soul.
Bilclass="underline"
And a pretty penny it cost us when he rented the pub.
Sniggers: