Books: Hassan: The Story of Hassan of Baghdad and How He Came to
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James Elroy Flecker >> Hassan: The Story of Hassan of Baghdad and How He Came to
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SELIM
(Astonished) Eh, Yasmin, Yasmin how could I know?
ISHAK
Ah, bismillah, I had not forgotten you, O man with the broken lute.
HASSAN
The broken lute? The broken lute?
ISHAK
Here you were lying, at this fountain, like one dead.
HASSAN
Was it here? Is that the balcony? Who are you? What do you know?
ISHAK
Quietly, friend, quietly, your head is weak with joy.
HASSAN
With joy? Do I know what is true or false? Do I know if the Caliph
is the Caliph? And if the Caliph is the Caliph may he not mock me too?
What is joy? Let me look at that balcony for joy. I dare not look,
I fear she is there. Ah. it is she.
(YASMIN takes the rose from her hair and flings it at HASSAN,
then retires within.)
ISHAK
Are you fortunate in love as well as in life, O Hassan? But come away.
This conduct ill beseems a minister of state; you are not unobserved.
HASSAN
I am coming. The rose is poisoned.
ISHAK
O friend, is this talk for the ardent lover?
HASSAN
Are you my friend? You, Ishak, the glorious singer of Islam?
And if you are my friend, are you like those who were my friends before?
ISHAK
Last night, I found you lying like a filthy corpse beneath this window,
but I knew by your lute and your countenance that you were a poet,
like myself, and I was sorry to think you dead.
HASSAN
A poet? I? I am a confectioner.
ISHAK
You are my friend, Hassan.
HASSAN
Then consider this rose. This rose is more bitter than colocynth.
For, look you, friend, had she not flung this rose, I would have said
she hated me and loved another; it is well. She had the right to hate
and love. She could hate and she could love. But now, ah, tell me,
you who seem to be my friend, are all you poets liars?
ISHAK
Ya, Hassan, but we tell excellent lies.
HASSAN
Why do you say that beauty has a meaning? Why do you not say
that beauty is hollow as a drum? Why do you not say that it is sold?
ISHAK
All this disillusionment because a fair lady flung you a rose!
HASSAN
Last night I baked sugar and she flung me water:
this morning I bake gold and she flings me a rose.
Empty, empty, I tell you, friend, all the blue sky.
ISHAK
Come, forget her and come away. I will instruct you in the pleasures
of the court.
HASSAN
Forget, forget? O rose of morning and O rose of evening,
vainly for me shall you fade on domes of ebony or azure.
This rose has faded, and this rose is bitter, and this rose
is nothing but the world.
CURTAIN
ACT III
SCENE I
The Garden of the CALIPH's palace: in front of a pavilion.
The CALIPH: HASSAN in fine raiment, a sword of honour at his side.
CALIPH
Yes, what the chief Eunuch told you is all true, my Hassan.
Our late host, the King of the Beggars, was captured hiding
in the gutter of his roof. This evening I shall judge him and his crew
in full divan. And in the divan thou shalt appear, O Hassan,
clothed in thy robe of ceremony, and seated on my right hand.
HASSAN
Alas, O Serene Splendour, thy servant is a man of humble origin
and limited desires. I am one who would obey the old poet's behest:
Give all thy day to dreaming and all thy night to sleep:
Let not Ambition's Tyger devour Contentment's Sheep!
I am not one to open my mouth at divans, or to strut among courtiers
in robes of state. Sir, excuse me from these things.
Dispose thy favour like a high golden wall, and protect
the life of your servant from the wind of complication.
But at evening, when God flings roses through the sky,
call me then to some calm pavilion, and let us hear Ishak play
and let us hear Ishak sing, till you forget you are Lord of all the World,
and I forget I am a base-born tradesman; till we discover the speech
of things that have no life, and know what the clods of earth
are saying to the roots of the garden trees.
CALIPH
Have no fear. You shall inhabit the place I shall assign you
in untroubled peace, and meditate till your beard grows
into the soil and you become wiser than Aflatun.
But in this case you are a witness and must be present at my divan,
be it but for this once only. And you shall call me Emir of the Faithful,
Redresser of Wrong, the Shadow of God on Earth, and Peacock of the World.
But in this garden you are Hassan, and I am your friend Haroun,
and you must address me as a friend a friend.
HASSAN
(Kissing the CALIPH's hand) O master, you speak gently,
but I must fear you all the more.
CALIPH
But why? I am but a kindly man. I love single-heartedness in men
as I love simplicity in my palace. There you have seen floors with but
one carpet--but that carpet like a meadow. You have seen walls with but
one curtain--but that curtain a sunset on the sea. You have seen white rooms
all naked marble: but they await my courtiers, all dressed like flowers.
If, therefore, I avoid complexity in the matter of walls and floors,
shall I not be simple in the things of heart and soul?
Shall I not, Hassan, be just your friend?
HASSAN
Master, I find thy friendship like thy palace, endowed with all
the charm of beauty and the magic of surprise. As thou knowest,
I am but a man of the streets of Bagdad, and there men say,
"The Caliph's Palace, Mashallah! The walls are stiff with gold
and the ceilings plated with silver, and the urinals thereof
are lined with turquoise blue." And hearing men say this,
many a time hath Hassan the Confectioner stroked the chin
of Hassan the Confectioner saying, "O, Hassan, thy back parlour
is less ugly than that, with its tub for boiling sugar,
and its one good Bokhara carpet hanging on the wall.
And twelve months did I work at the tub, boiling sugar to buy that carpet."
CALIPH
What a man you are for poetry and carpets! When you tread on a carpet,
you drop your eyes to earth to catch the pattern
and when you hear a poem, you raise your eyes to heaven to hear the tune.
Whoever saw a confectioner like this? When did you learn poetry,
Hassan of my heart?
HASSAN
In that great school, the Market of Bagdad. For thee, Master of the World,
poetry is a princely diversion, but for us it was a deliverance from Hell.
Allah made poetry a cheap thing to buy and a simple thing to understand.
He gave men dreams by night that they might learn to dream by day.
Men who work hard have special need of these dreams.
All the town of Bagdad is passionate for poetry, O Master.
Dost thou not know what great crowds gather to hear the epic
of Antari sung in the streets at evening? I have seen cobblers weep
and butchers bury their great faces in their hands!
CALIPH
By Eblis and the powers of Hell, should I not know this,
and know that therein lies the secret of the strength of Islam?
In poems and in tales alone shall live the eternal memory of this city
when I am dust and thou art dust, when the Bedouin shall build
his hut upon my garden and drive his plough beyond the ruins of my palace,
and all Bagdad is broken to the ground. Ah, if there shall ever arise
a nation whose people have forgotten poetry or whose poets have forgotten
the people, though they send their ships around Taprobane
and their armies across the hills of Hindustan, though their city
be greater than Babylon of old, though they mine a league into earth
or mount to the stars on wings--what of them?
HASSAN
They will be a dark patch upon the world.
CALIPH
Well said! By your luck you have saved the life of the Caliph,
O Hassan; but by your conversation you have won the friendship of Haroun.
Indeed--but at what are you gazing as if enchanted?
HASSAN
What a beautiful fountain, with the silver dolphin and the naked boy.
CALIPH
A Greek of Constantinople made it, who came travelling hither
in the days of my father, the Caliph El Madhi (may earth be gentle
to his body and Paradise refreshing to his soul!).
He showed this fountain to my father, who was exceptionally pleased,
and asked the Greek if he could make more as fine. "A hundred,"
replied the delighted infidel. Whereupon my father cried,
"Impale the pig." Which having been done, this fountain remains
the loveliest in the world.
HASSAN
(With anguish) O Fountain, dost thou never run with blood?
CALIPH
Why, what is the matter, Hassan?
HASSAN
You have told a tale of death and tyranny, O Master of the World.
CALIPH
(In a sudden and towering rage) Do you accuse my father of tyranny,
O fellow, for slaying a filthy Christian?
HASSAN
(Prostrating himself) I meant no offence. My life is at your feet.
But you bade me talk to you as a friend.
CALIPH
Not Ishak, not Ishak himself, who has been my friend for years,
would dare address me thus. (Bursting into laughter)
Rise, Hassan. Thy impudence has a monstrous beauty,
like the hindquarters of an elephant.
HASSAN
Forgive me, forgive me.
CALIPH
I forgive you with all my heart, but, I advise you,
speak in conformity with your character and of things you understand,
and never leave the Garden of Art for the Palace of Action.
Trouble not your head with the tyranny of Princes,
or you may catch a cold therein from the Wind of Complication.
Keep to your poetry and carpets, Hassan, and make no reference to politics,
for which even the market of Bagdad is an insufficient school.
HASSAN
(Dolefully) I hear and obey.
CALIPH
Forget it now; set your mind on pleasant things. Have you noticed
this little pavilion in front of which we have talked so long?
This is your little house, good Hassan, where you shall find
a shelter from the wind you so much dislike and all all other blasts
that harm or chill.
HASSAN
My little house?
CALIPH
I chose it for you, knowing your disposition. Here in this remote corner
of the garden you will hear no noise of street or Palace,
but enjoy complete repose.
HASSAN
(With rapture) Mine, this little house? Mine, this sweet-scented door!
CALIPH
Knock on it and see.
(HASSAN knocks. A door opens and ALDER, WILLOW, JUNIPER,
and TAMARISK appear. TAMARISK the youngest, has somewhat
of a mouse's squeak.)
ALDER
(To CALIPH with prostration) O, Emir of the Faithful!
WILLOW
(To CALIPH with prostration) O, Redresser of Wrong!
JUNIPER
(To CALIPH with prostration) O, Shadow of God on earth!
TAMARISK
(To CALIPH with prostration) O, Peacock of the World!
ALDER
(To HASSAN with prostration) Master!
WILLOW
(To HASSAN with prostration) Master!
JUNIPER
(To HASSAN with prostration) Master!
TAMARISK
(To HASSAN with prostration) Master!
(They stand, their hands in their sleeves, across the doorway.)
HASSAN
But these are the slaves of the King of the Beggars, who bathed me,
and anointed me, and brought back my soul into my eyes,
whence a woman had all but driven it forever.
CALIPH
I have rescued them from the ruin of their master's house
as their polite and finished manners deserve, and I have given
them to you since you are likely to need and appreciate their service.
HASSAN
And so faces not altogether strange will welcome me to my home.
(Kneels and kisses Caliph's hand.)
CALIPH
Say not a word. For the pen of happiness hath written on thy face
the ode of gratitude.
(To SLAVES) Is all ready?
ALDER
(Pompously) Ready, O Gardener of the Vale of Islam.
WILLOW
Prepared, O Lion...
CALIPH
Enough! Conduct your master into his house, show him
all there is inside, and serve him faithfully.
Enter with them, Hassan; delicious has been our converse, but Jafar,
the Vizier has been awaiting me some two hours.
(As Hassan is about to prostrate himself)
No, it is thus Haroun takes leave of his friends.
(Kisses him on both cheeks. HASSAN watches till he is out of sight,
pensive. Then he goes to the fountain and observes it a moment.
Then advances slowly to the folding door of the pavilion
which ALDER and WILLOW hold open for him.)
ALDER
Fortunate be thy entry!
WILLOW
Prosperous thy sojourn!
JUNIPER
Quiet thy days!
TAMARISK
And riotous thy nights!
SCENE II
The private apartment within the pavilion. A bed. Fine furniture.
A window with a view on the garden.
(Enter HASSAN followed by his SLAVES.)
HASSAN
In that apartment, therefore, I shall receive guests.
But in this apartment, whom?
ALDER
Such ladies, Master, as you desire to honour.
HASSAN
Yes, yes. I must visit the market and see.
(Staring at the floor, with a start) Wulluhi, what is that?
TAMARISK
The carpet, Master.
HASSAN
One of the wonderful new carpets of Ispahan. A hunting scene.
The Prince. His followers. Leopards and stags and three tigers,
and an elephant--his head only. O amazing carpet.
And everywhere great scarlet flowers, very stiff and fine.
O exquisite carpet. I have never seen so bright as scarlet.
(With a sudden earnestness)
Tell me. You were his slaves...?
ALDER
Master?
HASSAN
Well, well, we will not talk of it. How clearly that fountain
sounds outside with its little splash!
ALDER
I pray you, Master, the Caliph said you should particularly observe
this mirror with the carven frame.
HASSAN
(Looking at himself) By the Prophet, what a Phoenix I have become!
Provided I do not stumble on my sword.
WILLOW
The Caliph hoped you should not fail to remark this exquisitely
upholstered couch.
JUNIPER
The Caliph hopes you would admire these toilet requisites in alabaster.
TAMARISK
The Caliph hopes you will make good use of this very slender whip
for our correction.
HASSAN
A whip? For your correction, O slaves of charm? Am I the man to spoil
good almond paste with streaks of cochineal?
ALDER
Thou art pleased, O my Master?
HASSAN
Pleased? Look at the acacia tapping at my window; one night it will come
in softly and fling its moonlit blossom at my feet. But this is no place
for a man to live alone. Without a doubt I must visit the market.
They have Circassians; I have always wanted a Circassian. She must be
very young.... I have not finished the excellencies of the room.
These three chests, what do they contain?
ALDER
This chest, O Master, contains your new robes. One of them is embroidered
with red carnations and silver bells.
HASSAN
Was there ever generosity like this!
WILLOW
This chest, O master, contains curtains, hangings, and cushions
for the sofa. One of the cushions is embellished with fifteen peacocks.
HASSAN
Fifteen peacocks! And all those peacocks dumb!
JUNIPER
This chest O master, contains fresh linen for your bed.
All marked with your name.
HASSAN
Marked with my name! And what have you to say, Tamarisk?
TAMARISK
That bed...
HASSAN
That bed is not a chest. But doubtless it also contains fresh linen
marked with my name.
TAMARISK
(Tremulous) That bed contains a most beautiful lady.
HASSAN
(Jumping) What?
TAMARISK
A most beautiful lady. She said she must see you, and gave me ten dinars.
YASMIN
(As HASSAN tears aside the curtains of the bed) Hassan!
(She is dressed in a cloak and veiled.)
HASSAN
What voice?
YASMIN
Hassan. (She unveils.)
HASSAN
Thou!
YASMIN
I came: I hid: I waited.
HASSAN
Why?
YASMIN
Why does a woman hide in the bed of a man?
HASSAN
(Furiously) You dared! Stay here, slaves.
Will you leave me at this moment, you fools who let this women in?
(To YASMIN) You dared?
YASMIN
What is there a beautiful woman dare not dare?
HASSAN
But your impudence is vile. Out of it! Get you back to Selim.
YASMIN
I have left Selim.
HASSAN
Left Selim to come to me?
YASMIN
I found Selim a coward and a fool. I have discovered in you
a man of taste and valour. How could I have known before?
But what matter? Am I not white enough to follow the caravans
of Wealth and Power?
(Flinging out her arms) Is this for Selim or that for Selim?
HASSAN
Back to him, and no more words! You darken the world before my eyes.
If he is a fool and a coward, you're nothing but a whore.
Go, or my slaves shall fling you head foremost down my steps.
YASMIN
I have left Selim because he proved a coward, a fool, a poor man
and a nobody. I have come to you because you are rich, famous,
and a man of taste. The day you fall into disfavour (may it be far,
O my Master!) I shall undoubtedly leave you. Till that day you
will find me faithful. I am that which you call me--but I bring you
a fair merchandise.
HASSAN
I thank you, O seller of yourself. I buy no tainted meat.
I beg you seek another market, and that extremely soon.
YASMIN
(Rubbing her face and rising lightly) I did not know I had a taint,
O Master. The mirror must deceive me. But merchandise must be
well inspected before its inferiority is assured.
It must be seen and touched. Will you see and will you touch?
HASSAN
(Stepping back) Oh, away, away! Why did you seek me out?
Is it to rain back my words upon my face?
Or do you hope once more to show me yourself limb after limb
in the embrace of a new Selim? I pray you, however, spare the water
from the jug. My fire needs no quenching.
YASMIN
(Suppliant) Be generous. It beseems the Caliph's friend to be generous.
If I have made you jealous, do I not not offer you a sumptuous revenge?
HASSAN
Rise, take your pardon, and depart. Shall I tell you again?
If you need money, the slaves will give it you at the door.
YASMIN
You are as cold as ice.
HASSAN
You are brazen.
YASMIN
I am brave. Farewell, I see you are not a man of love.
HASSAN
Farewell. And defile no more the word love with your painted lips.
YASMIN
(Lingering at the door) Yet there is a little of love's language
that I do not know. When the bird of night sings on the bough
of the tree that rustles outside your window, and the shadows
creep away from the moon across the floor, I could have sung
you a song sweeter than the nightingales and shown you a whiteness
whiter than the moon.
HASSAN
Ah--go!
YASMIN
Because I was cruel could I not be kind? Because you can buy my body,
can you buy my soul? Because I am of the people have I no songs to sing?
Because I have sinned have I no secret to impart? Go to market,
O Hassan, and buy your Circassian girl. And one day you shall say:
Had Yasmin but lied to me of love, it were better than this fool's sincerity.
HASSAN
Ah, leave me!
YASMIN
There are lilies by the thousand in the meadows: there are roses
by the thousand in the gardens, and all as like as like--
but there is only one shape in the world like mine.
There is only one face in the world where the eyebrows arch
and the eyes flash--where the nostrils are set just so,
and the lips are parted thus. There is no other arm beneath the skies
that has has here this curve and here this dimple,
and here the light soft golden hairs. There are rows and rows
of young fair girls in the Caliph's harem and many as fair as I,
but none whose veins are these veins, whose flesh is this flesh,
fiery and cool, whose body swings like mine upon the heel.
(Flinging off her cloak) Will you see and will you touch?
(Approaching.) Will you see and will you touch?
(Putting her arm round his neck) Will you touch?
HASSAN
(With a shout as he pushes her back) Slaves, tear off this woman!
YASMIN
(As the SLAVES force her back) Eh, your slaves are violent!
HASSAN
(To SLAVES) Hold her!
YASMIN
But you must let me go.
HASSAN
I will not let you go.
YASMIN
Come, I see you are but a sour fellow, for whom pleasure is but vain.
I will take away the hateful. Let me pass.
(She attempts to escape.)
HASSAN
(To his SLAVES) Hold her!
(ALDER and WILLOW each grip an arm. JUNIPER grips her ankles.
She is held standing. Her cloak falls. She is clothed in short jacket
and trousers of white silk with a pattern of blue flowers:
her waist is naked, in the Persian style.)
YASMIN
Ah--what will you do to me? You forgave me.
HASSAN
(To YASMIN) Ah, I forgave you the insults and all that hour of shame.
And Allah shall forgive you your trade if Allah wills.
But you have pressed your foul body on mine--you have breathed
your poison on my cheek, and twined your snakes (God break them!)
round my breast. Preparethen to die, for it is not right
for the sake of mankind would you should walk any more upon the road of earth..
YASMIN
(Quietly, but in terror) To die! What do you mean! No, no!
Ah, murder, ah!
HASSAN
Do you hear the fountain dripping--drop by drop--drop by drop?
So shall your blood fall on my carpet and colour me more red flowers.
YASMIN
(Recovering) I am not afraid.
HASSAN
Do you expect mercy? I left mercy with my sweets.
For all these years I have been a humble man, of soft and kindly disposition--
such a man as the world and a woman hate. But now I shall never again
be the fool of my fellows. Now all Bagdad shall know and say:
"We thought Hassan a mild man and a kind man; our children stole his sweets
and he did but stroke his beard, while to a beggar he had known three days
he would instantly lend three dinars. And behold, he has become powerful
and hath cut down the body of Yasmin the infamous who had done him wrong,
as a woodman cuts a tree. Yallah, our knees shall bend when Hassan
goes driving by!" Yasmin, stiffen your sinews and close your eyes.
YASMIN
Not with the sword, not with the sword!
HASSAN
Let me taste the ecstasy of power. Let me drink of the fulness of life.
Let me be one of those who conquer because they do not care.
(He draws the sword: Yasmin cries out loud.)
You are Yasmin, the poor, the beautiful, the proud: I am Hassan,
rich and passionate and strong. You have hurt me, I will hurt you;
it is the rule of the game, and the way of the world.
Do I hate you? I do not know or care. Do I love you?--
then love shall drive the blade in deep. You are the world's
own stupendous harlot, and I will cut you clean in two.
(He swings sword over his head to strike.)
YASMIN
(With a shout at once of terror and triumph) I will not close my eyes!
I will look at you. You dare not do it, looking at my eyes!
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