Rose of Persia
Dialogue Following Song No. 21 — Act II
- Hassan:
- Has Dancing Sunbeam had the house re-decorated, and
invited a party while I've been asleep? (To
Vizier.) Is this my house?
- Vizier:
- O King, are you not the Sultan?
- Hassan:
- Don't be silly! If this is a joke on the part of my wives, it
is a very cheap form of wit — or very expensive. These
decorations — (looking round, he sees the
Executioner.) Aren't you the Sultan's Executioner?
- Exec.:
- Yes — I am your Executioner.
- Hassan:
- My Executioner! (In a sudden access of terror.) I
remember now. I'm going to be executed. Mercy! Mercy!
(Throws himself at feet of the Executioner.)
- Enter Sultan.
- Sultan:
- What is happening to the Commander of the
Faithful?
- Phys.:
- I think that while he slept he was troubled by a bad
dream, and the shadow of his nightmare still lingers
with him.
- Sultan:
- Is that so, O King?
- Hassan: (after a pause).
- A dream! Would it be possible
that everything that is real I should have forgotten,
and that everything I remember is only a dream?
- Phys.:
- Quite.
- Hassan:
- And who are you?
- Phys.:
- Your Physician-in-Chief, O King. Do you not know me?
- Hassan:
- No. And yet I seem to have a cloudy recollection of
having seen you somewhere — and you — and you
(to Vizier, Sultan, and Executioner.)
(To Executioner.) I actually recognised
you, didn't I?
- Exec.:
- O King, it was a great joy to me.
- Hassan:
- Somehow it wasn't to me. Do you really mean to
say that I am the Sultan?
- Sultan:
- May your shadow never grow less.
- Hassan:
- Talking of growing less — how is it that my clothes fit
so badly? I seem to have shrunk.
- Sultan:
- O King, you have just awakened from a long
illness.
- Hassan:
- Have I?
- Sultan:
- That is why your memory and your body have
both shrunk.
Hassan:
- My memory has simply shrunk to nothing. Except my
delirium, I can't remember — Have you ever heard of a
man called Hassan — whom folks call "Mad Hassan"?
- Vizier:
- Mad Hassan?
- Sultan:
- Who is he, O King?
- Hassan:
- I — I don't quite know.
- Sultan:
- Is there such a man, O King?
- Hassan:
- I — I'm not quite sure. (Almost weeps. Buries his face
in his hands.)
- Vizier:
- (to Sultan). Shall the people enter who
crave audience?
- Sultan:
- Yes. You have warned them they are to address him as if
he were myself?
- Vizier:
- Yes, O King.
- Sultan:
- Anything he grants wisely I will confirm.
- Vizier: (reading from list).
- Yussuf, a Story-Teller,
craves a boon of the Full Moon of Full Moons.
- Enter Heart's Desire.
- Sultan:
- Bring Yussuf, the Story-Teller! (Enter
Honey-of-Life.)
- Vizier:
- Yussuf, the Story-Teller! (Enter
Scent-of-Lilies.)
- Phys:
- Yussuf, the Story-Teller!
- Exec.:
- Yussuf, the Story-Teller! (Enter Yussuf.)
- Yussuf:
- I am here — Yussuf, the Story-Teller!
- Desire: (aside to Yussuf).
- Be very
careful!
- Scent: (aside).
- Mind what you say!
- Honey: (aside).
- Don't get flustered!
- Yussuf:
- I have come to — to — that is to say —
Hassan has raised his head and is regarding him earnestly.
- Sultan:
- To say what?
- Yussuf:
- That I would ask for one of the Royal Slaves for a wife!
- Hassan:
- Listen: did you meet the slave at the house of a man
named Hassan?
- Yussuf:
- No — er — O King!
- Hassan:
- Do you know a man named Mad Hassan?
- Yussuf:
- No — er — O King!
- Hassan:
- It is most extraordinary. (Sinks back. Then leans
forward and points to Heart's Desire.) Is not
that the slave you would take to wife?
- Yussuf:
- No — I don't know her — I don't know Hassan — I don't
know —
- Sultan:
- Don't you know whom you do want to
marry?
- Yussuf:
- No.
- Hassan:
- Young man, you seem to be one of those who rush very
blindly into matrimony. Remember, that in the matter of
wives you will find that five-and-twenty are practically
— (To Sultan.) How many wives have I?
- Sultan:
- In the Royal Harem there are six hundred and seventy-
one, O King.
- Hassan:
- Good gracious! You don't say so!
- Sultan:
- Stand back, O Story-Teller, and if your other stories
equal this story of your love, I should join another
profession.
- Desire:
- I think you tell stories
magnificently.
- Vizier:
- Abdallah the Priest begs an audience.
- Hassan:
- Eh?
- Sultan:
- Bring Abdallah the Priest.
- Desire: (to Yussuf).
- If he speaks of the Sultana, you
shall hear me tell my story. (Goes up.)
- Vizier:
- Abdallah the Priest!
- Phys:
- Abdallah the Priest!
- Exec.:
- Abdallah the Priest!
- Enter Abdallah.
- Abdallah:
- I am here — Abdallah the Priest!
- Hassan:
- Ah! Do you know a man that folks call
Mad Hassan?
- Abdallah:
- Yes, O King!
- Hassan:
- Where is he?
- Abdallah:
- He is at the point of death.
- Hassan:
- Why — why do you think that?
- Abdallah:
- Because, when the Sultan knows that his Sultana
visited this man's house last night, he will
assuredly put Hassan to death.
- Sultan:
- Is this true, Hassan?
- Hassan:
- Then I am Hassan!
- Sultan:
- And I am the Sultan!
- Hassan:
- Well, I'm not sorry! Six hundred and seventy-one wives
— and I've not forgotten my past life!
- Sultan:
- Make the most of the recollection — for you have little
enough in the future, if this be true. Speak, dog!
- Abdallah:
- It is true, O King. I saw the Sultana in his house,
wearing the Royal signet.
- Hassan:
- O King, it is true that she dropped in — unexpectedly — but if you will listen to me —
- Sultan:
- Listen, dog! Have I not heard enough? (To
Executioner, who has moved across.) Slay this
man! And the Sultana — Rose-in-Bloom — she favours
low company; marry her to the Story-Teller, who wants
a wife, and cares not who it is. I have spoken.
- Desire:
- O King — hear me! Rose-in-Bloom is innocent. The
signet was worn by —
- Sultan:
- I have spoken.
Exeunt Sultan and Abdallah.
- Scent:
- I said that idea wouldn't come
off.
Page created 4 April 1999