Produced by Geoffrey Cowling <gcowling@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au>
or <ifni_au@yahoo.com>
A play in five acts
By James Elroy Flecker
HASSAN, a Confectioner
The CALIPH HAROUN AR RASCHID
ISHAK, his Minstrel
JAFAR, his Vizier
MASRUR, his Executioner
RAFI, King of the Beggars
SELIM, a friend of Hassan's
ALI, ABDU Nondescripts
ALDER WILLOW <JUNIPER> TAMARISK Slaves
THE PORTER of Yasmin's House
An AMBASSADOR, a WRESTLER, a CALLIGRAPHIST, a JESTER, GHOSTS,MUTES, DANCING WOMEN, BEGGARS, SOLDIERS, POLICE, ATTENDANTSand CASUAL LOITERERS
A room "behind the shop" in Old Bagdad. In the background a largecaldron steaming, for the shop is a sweet-stuff shop and the sugaris boiling. The room has little furniture beyond the carpet,old but unexpectedly choice, and some Persian hangings (geometricaldesigns, with crude animals and some verses from the Koranhand-printed on linen). A ramshackle wooden partition in onecorner shuts off from a living room what appears to be the shop.
Squatting on the carpet—facing each other:
HASSAN, the Confectioner, 45, rotund, moustache, turban,greasy grey dress.
SELIM, his friend, young, vulgarly handsome, gaudily clothed.
HASSAN
(Rocking on his mat) Eywallah, Eywallah!
SELIMThirty-seven times have you made the same remark, O fatherof repetition.
HASSAN
(More dolefully than ever) Eywallah, Eywallah!
SELIMHave you caught fever? Is your chest narrow, or your bellythunderous?
HASSAN
(With a ponderous sigh) Eywallah!
SELIMIs that the merchant of sweetmeats, that sour face? O poisonerof children, surely it would be better to cut the knot of reluctanceand uncord the casket of explanation. And the poet Antarihas justly remarked:
Divide your sorrow and impart your grief, O fool.
That good man comforteth beyond belief, O fool.
HASSAN
(Inclining towards the mat) None is good, save God.
And Abou Awas has excellently sung:
The importunate
Are seldom fortunate.
Nevertheless, know, Selim, that I am in love.
SELIMIn love! Then why sit moaning on the mat? Are there not