A Play in One Act.
"........ et le comble de la finesse était de se surprende l'un ou l'autre à recevoir une bagatelle sans prononcer le mot sacramentel." — Balzac.
Persons: Shabiyah, The Gazelle. Kasim, The Philosopher. Faroun, The Husband.
Scene: The interior of an Arab's tent on the edge of the desert. At the spectator's right is a divan composed of saddle-bags, carpets and pillows. At his right, a large chest. A mirror of burnished copper hangs on the tent wall back of chest. The only entrance and exit is a door, at center rear, screened by a flap of the tent so that it cuts off from the interior the glare of the sun.
As the curtain rises, SHABIYAH is seated cross-legged on the divan, playing a lute. She puts down the lute, yawns, listens, and hearing someone, goes to back of tent to look out.
SHABIYAH (Seeing someone, after a pause speaks) In Allah's name, wilt thou not rest in the shade?
KASIM (In the doorway) There is no God but Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful! I came hither because of the palm-tree.
SHABIYAH This tent has spread itself in the shadow of the palm tree. Rest in its shade.
KASIM (Following her into tent) I hear and obey.
SHABIYAH Tell me, O youth, what is thy name?
KASIM My name is Kasim.
SHABIYAH O Kasim, rest on these carpets. (She brings a basin and ewer of copper and pours water over his hands)
SHABIYAH (Placing before him a tray containing a dish of fresh dates and a vessel of milk and a cup) O Kasim, eat of these fruits for 'we have no other meat, and fear nothing from me.
(Kasim eats. He then washes his hands and mouth in the same manner as before but more thoroughly.)
SHABIYAH Now thou hast eaten, O Kasim, tell me whence thou art and how camest thou hither.
KASIM O damsel. . .
SHABIYAH Thou mayest call me Shabiyah.
KASIM O Shabiyah, know that I am of the city of Cairo and that I am travelling toward Bagdad with a company of merchants who have halted not far from this place.
SHABIYAH Thou art a merchant?
KASIM I am a philosopher.
SHABIYAH By Allah, thou art young for a philosopher!
KASIM Indeed, I am no ordinary philosopher.
SHABIYAH What marvel is this!
KASIM Know, O Shabiyah, that of philosophers there are two kinds; ordinary philosophers, who are frequently old and always tedious; and extraordinary philosophers, whose wisdom is the flower of observation and the fruit of experience. (He draws from his vest a book which he reads.) (Pause).
SHABIYAH Thy book—O philosopher of the age—since it appears the sole object worthy of attention; permit me to ask the name of the science it treats?
KASIM This book is beyond the understanding of women.
(Pause, during which Kasim reads while Shabiyah watches him from under her eyelashes.)
SHABIYAH My husband is away.
KASIM Thy husband . . .
SHABIYAH Faroun . . . He is gone to the bazaar.
KASIM (Neglecting his book) Ah!
SHABIYAH He is buying a gold chain.
KASIM Buys he this chain for thee, O gazelle?
SHABIYAH Yes and no. It will be mine only if I win it from him at Bagatelle.
KASIM Bagatelle?
SHABIYAH Bagatelle. Thou hast never played it?
KASIM No.
SHABIYAH O Kasim, it is a game played for a forfeit. The players are two; the forfeit whatever they agree on. My Faroun and I have agreed to play for a gold chain.
KASIM How does one play this game?
SHABIYAH To win the forfeit—one must surprise whomever one is playing with, into accepting a key, a flower, a book—some bagatelle!—without that other saying the word "bagatelle."
KASIM Shall we play Bagatelle?
SHABIYAH Agreed; and for what forfeit?
KASIM Do thou name it.
SHABIYAH The ruby on thy finger.
KASIM This ring? (holding it up).
SHABIYAH In the name of Allah, yes.
KASIM I would not part with it for a thousand dirhams.
SHABIYAH Has it a history?
KASIM This ring was given me by a most beautiful and wise lady, with the words "O Kasim, I have taught thee all I know; there is nothing more we can teach thee."
SHABIYAH Allah is all-knowing. Let us play for the ring?
KASIM So be it.
SHABIYAH It is agreed; and Allah is my witness. O Kasim, remember—Take nothing at my hand without at the same time saying the all-important word . . .
KASIM Not even a kiss? (He kisses her hand, exclaiming Bagatelle!)
SHABIYAH (Laughing) Thou hast learned but the half of thy lesson, seeing that a kiss is not a bagatelle . . . (Affecting surprise.) But tell me? . . . Thou art no longer reading!
KASIM I was distracted by thy beauty and grace.
SHABIYAH Needs must thou tell me of this book? Verily my patience is at an end on thy account.
KASIM (Drawing a deep breath) I am the author of this work but the subject matter is not of mine invention—It is a collection of all the tricks, rogueries, ruses and wiles that women have invented and of which they are capable.
SHABIYAH What! . . . All? . . .
KASIM Yes. . . . All.
SHABIYAH And is thy book the flower of observation?
KASIM It is even so.
SHABIYAH And the fruit of thine own experience?
KASIM Thou hast said it.
SHABIYAH Hast thou forgotten the whole or a part of thy wisdom?
KASIM How so?
SHABIYAH Why wast thou reading, then?
KASIM To avoid temptation.
SHABIYAH And now?
KASIM I seek thy beauty and grace for thy face beams with light, thy cheeks are rose-red and thine eyelids langorous.
SHABIYAH (Slyly). Hast thou no fear that I play thee a trick not in thy collection?
KASIM No, for through the constant study of women I have arrived at a state where I no longer fear them.
SHABIYAH Ah . . . (Pause.)
SHABIYAH Philosopher of the age?
KASIM What wouldst thou, garden of delights?
SHABIYAH O Kasim, I would have thee abide with me a while that thou mayest tell me thy history and acquaint me with the rare adventures that have come to thy knowledge . . .
KASIM What? All!
SHABIYAH Yes . . . All.
KASIM So be it. But, ere I begin. I will enact an adventure . . .
SHABIYAH What tale is this?
KASIM By Allah, my heart is well-nigh torn in sunder with longing for thee; nor will I let half the day pass ere I possess thee and take my fill of thy beauty and grace.
SHABIYAH Bethink thee what thou wilt do.
KASIM How so?
SHABIYAH Belike it may come to my husband's ears, and who will deliver us from his hand . . .
KASIM Is not thy husband at the bazaar?
SHABIYAH Yes.
KASIM How will he know of this? (He kisses her mouth.) Thy hair is like the nights of estrangment and separation and thy face like the days of union . .
SHABIYAH (Breaks from his embrace, sits upright, listens). Didst thou not hear?
KASIM What?
(She goes to door of tent and listens.)
SHABIYAH (Startled). It is his horse! My husband will be here in a moment!
KASIM (Jumps from divan. His book, unnoticed, falling to floor right of divan).
SHABIYAH He is as jealous as a tiger and as pitiless. If Faroun find you here, he will kill us both.
(Kasim starts for door.)
SHABIYAH (Divining his intent). Hasten not to destroy thyself. He will see thee . . . (with a flash of inspiration.) The chest—there is nothing for it but that thou hide in the chest!
(Kasim hesitates.)
SHABIYAH Art thou afraid?
KASIM Yes.
SHABIYAH By Allah and if thou valuest thy life, quick, hide in this chest.
KASIM (Getting into chest) I commit my affair unto Allah for no one can avoid what he hath decreed.
SHABIYAH (Locks chest with key which she attaches again to her girdle; glances around the tent and sees the book).
SHABIYAH (Shoving the book under the divan with her foot). And it be the will of Allah, I will show thee a trick not in thy book!
(She adds Kohl to her eyelids and a little more red to her lips, and is ready, a few seconds later, to receive, with a thousand blandishments, Faroun, who enters).
SHABIYAH O my Lord and light of mine eyes . .
FAROUN (Fondling her). Gazelle.
SHABIYAH Blessed be Allah and his Prophet, thou art returned sooner than I expected.
FAROUN Gazelle, I had not come but out of longing for the sight of thy face, for I must again to the bazaar on a matter of business (sits on divan).
SHABIYAH Wilt thou partake of some refreshment?
FAROUN What is there?
SHABIYAH Dates and milk.
FAROUN I am not hungry. I will smoke my nargileh.
(Faroun proceeds to smoke the nargileh while Shabiyah seats herself on a cushion not far from his feet).
FAROUN Tell me, gazelle, how hast thou passed the time during mine absence!
SHABIYAH (Fervently). There is no power and no virtue but in Allah, the most high, the Sublime? . . .
FAROUN Hast thou some rare story to tell me or some marvel to make known to me?
SHABIYAH (Quietly and with perfect self possession). There is nothing for it but that I tell thee the whole truth, hiding naught of a singular adventure that befell me . .
FAROUN I am listening, my gazelle.
SHABIYAH There came here a kind of philosopher, who claims that he has collected into a book all the tricks, rogueries, ruses and wiles that women have invented and of which they are capable . . .
FAROUN I am listening.
SHABIYAH And this philosopher is a goodly youth with shining face and slender shape, black eyes and joined eyebrows . . .
FAROUN Go on, I am listening . . .
SHABIYAH (With animation). He was ardent, impetuous—he threw his arms about me, and . . .
FAROUN (Terrible)—And?
SHABIYAH Thou camest in time to save my faltering virtue.
FAROUN (Bounds from the divan, a long knife in his hand. Shabiyah falls at his feet).
FAROUN (Taking her by the hair). Where is this dog? Produce him to my sight!
SHABIYAH (Embracing his knees). Thou wilt not kill me?
FAROUN (Threatening her with the knife). By Allah, if thou wouldst live, speak—where is this dog?
SHABIYAH (With a glance as prompt as it is timid) The chest.
FAROUN (Taking a stride toward the chest). Ah! . . .
SHABIYAH (Proffering the key, her eyes downcast). It is locked . . .
FAROUN (Snatches the key from her hand; runs toward the chest and is on the point of inserting the key in the lock when he is stopped by an explosion of laughter from Shabiyah).
SHABIYAH (Swaying with delight). The chain, the chain! Give me the gold chain! Thou hast forgotten the bagatelle thou snatched from me! . . .
(The key drops to the floor.)
FAROUN By the heart of the Prophet! . . .
SHABIYAH Thou hast lost thy chain. O Faroun, give it me. Have I not won it?
FAROUN Thou hast indeed won it (He goes toward her with the chain, his knife no longer visible).. O subtlest of gazelles, here is thy chain. Another time, play no such cruel trick . . .
SHABIYAH (Taking the chain) My Faroun, it is not easy to catch thee; thou hast usually a better memory . . .
FAROUN Play me no such trick again, and I will bring thee the wealth of all the caravans that pass in a year. (He starts to go).
SHABIYAH (Arranging her hair before the mirror.) What, art thou leaving?
FAROUN Yes.
SHABIYAH O my husband, let this suffice thee of ignoble suspicion and never again deem ill of me.
FAROUN So be it.
SHABIYAH (Approaching him). Accord me pardon for what is past.
FAROUN Allah grant thee grace!
SHABIYAH Be absent but a little while, O Faroun for I cannot endure to be parted from thee even for an hour.
(Faroun goes).
SHABIYAH (Listens to make sure that he is gone; then, picking up the key, she unlocks and opens the chest).
(Kasim's head and shoulders appear. He is pale and trembling).
SHABIYAH (In a whisper). He is gone . . .
KASIM (Getting out of chest). Ah.
SHABIYAH Praised be Allah who hath made the affair to end well; and we implore the Almighty to crown his favors with thy safe faring forth this place.
KASIM Is the way clear?
SHABIYAH Yes.
KASIM (Starting to go). Farewell.
SHABIYAH What, art thou going too?
KASIM (In a flutter to be gone). By Allah, yes.
(He has reached the door when he stops.)
SHABIYAH Thy book—delay a little—thou hast forgotten thy book!
KASIM (Feeling in his vest). Ah (Coming toward her). Give it me that I may go my way, for I will no longer in this place.
SHABIYAH I hear and obey.
(Shabiyah gets the book from under the divan. Kasim snatches it eagerly from her hands and starts for the door.)
SHABIYAH Stay, in the name of Allah, there is something else! . .
KASIM (Startled). What?
SHABIYAH Thou hast forgotten we are playing Bagatelle. Did I not warn thee—"Take nothing from my hand without at the same time saying the all-important word."
KASIM In the name of Allah . . .
SHABIYAH The ruby—the ruby on thy finger. Thou promised it and Allah is witness of what I say.
KASIM I promised no less a forfeit; therefore, it is thine. (Drawing it from his finger). Here . . . take it.
SHABIYAH (Taking the ring). How beautiful it is—it will remind me of thee! Wilt thou not stay?
KASIM No.
SHABIYAH Art thou afraid?
KASIM I mistrust thee.
SHABIYAH Come, tell me, how dost thou like my chain?
KASIM Would I had never seen thee.
SHABIYAH O Kasim, have I played thee a trick not in thy book?
KASIM One glance at thee has cost me a thousand sighs for indeed thou hast ravished my wit. Farewell.
SHABIYAH Delay a little. My Faroun is away for hours at a time and there is seldom here a philosopher to delight mine ears. Wilt thou not stay?
KASIM Why should I?
SHABIYAH Stay and see. I will give thee thy ring again.
KASIM Not for the ruby together with thy gold chain would I stay . . .
SHABIYAH I will give thee a kiss.
KASIM Not even a kiss. Farewell . . .
SHABIYAH Philosopher of the age?
KASIM (Turning at door). What wouldst thou now of me?
SHABIYAH Forget not to include this Bagatelle in thy collection.
(Kasim goes).
CURTAIN.
LOUIS GILMORE.