Scene 2 The Bazaar. (Large Set)
Shopkeeper I and Shopkeeper II lying outside of adjoining shops. They are very friendly.
Crowd.
Young Sultan (Caliph) rides through the bazaar on a white donkey. His Vizier (Abu Bakr) follows him. Also guards.
| Hajji appears. Shopkeeper I. Shopkeeper II. | Political discussion. Young Sultan just come through bazaar. Hajji regrets he missed seeing him. Sultan only been Sultan ten days. |
| [Read Caliph for Sultan.] | Nephew of old Sultan now dead. Young Sultan brought up in a monastery, |
| [In the play, the shopkeepers have a scene of explanation before Hajj enters,—altered when writing play.] | Said to be a dreamer and a poet. The real ruler said to be the Executioner, A favourite of late Sultan, Young man, too, but very strong, Very cruel and selfish. Young Sultan does not see much of Executioner (Mansur). Supposed to disappear on nightly expeditions, To get to know his people, To have some love adventures. Has been brought up strictly in monastery, Has never yet, they say, tested the “charm of his beard.” |
| [This altered. See note above. In the play Hajj enters here.] | Hajji listens to all this humbly, Sitting almost under the counter, Then begins to finger stuffs. The shopkeeper is going to drive him off. But Hajji is in earnest. Shows his purse. He means to buy. Clothes are forthcoming. He selects some. Once he has gone to the bath and the barber he will be resplendent—as noble as the noblest. Hajji asks the price. It is very high. He begins to bargain. Shopkeeper No. II chimes in. Hajji pits Shopkeeper No. I against No. II. They quarrel. Hajji fans the quarrel into flame. They almost come to blows. Hajji escapes with his clothes. |
| Shopkeeper No. I. and Shopkeeper No. II | The shopkeepers notice his escape. They combine at once against the common enemy. Shopkeeper I will go for the guard, And have Hajji followed and caught. Shopkeeper II to meet him at the Executioner’s to witness against Hajji. |
| [Here Nasir the Guide is introduced to give away Hajj. This was done when the play was revised for production.] | Curtain |