On the banks of the Nile, a landscape open towards the river, a barge with flags flying in the distance.
(Enter Barix and Boïlas conversing.)
Barix. I always said it, Boïlas, it must come at last,
The day of annexation. Things have moved on fast,
Faster than we quite thought a week or two ago.
The mills of Rome grind slowly--quite absurdly slow.
It comes to the same thing.
Boïlas. This, Sir, is the full text
Of the proclamation issued. Egypt is annexed
To the First Cataract. The Makawkas we depose.
Barix. By his own fault and doing, Boïlas. Heaven knows
We did our best to spare him. He would take no warning,
But chose to go his way. We have wished him now good morning,
And shown him to the door. Besides, these crimes of his!
Who would have thought it, Boïlas, blind man that he is,
And quite respectable in all his outward ways,
He should be so black a villain as your report now says?
You tell me the very day he took our subsidy
He had his cousins strangled, all, to the third degree,
And twelve slaves crucified one Sunday afternoon
For bringing him cold coffee in his state saloon.
And then, the wine he takes! O, Boïlas, it is strange
How Eastern Princes drink!
Boïlas. Yes, when Rome needs a change.
Barix. 'Tis quite a Providence.
Boïlas. Indeed a Providence
Provided by the State for its own public ends.
Barix. You do not, then, believe it?
Boïlas. Oh, my Lord, my rule
Is always to believe. I was bred in the old school
Which holds official truth sacred as Holy Writ,
No matter what the fact. I make no face at it,
But swallow it down whole. Rogue, thief, or honest man,
Drunkard, blue--ribbonite--I back the published plan
And add my word of faith to the State legend still.
It is only in raw boyhood that one bites one's pill.
The Makawkas is deposed.
Barix. And what was his demeanour
When you conveyed the news?
Boïlas. His face grew a shade greener,
As a doomed patient's might who feels the surgeon's knife
And knows his hour has come and bids good--bye to life.
But he did not say a word.
Barix. And she, the tragedy Queen,
Belkís, who egged him on? Did she, too, sit serene?
Boïlas. Serene as a scirocco in the month of March,
Calm as a Khamsin piling heaven to one black arch.
She stood and stared at me an instant, and then said,
``May the Lord God confound thee in the day of dread.''
She has caught the Moslem jargon, and can curse or bless
With the best Arab of them--a mad lioness.
Some say she is affianced to young bare--legs, him
Who was the Caliph's envoy, Satan's sturdiest limb,
If ever one there was. No matter. Luckily
She is better now disposed of, with more modesty,
As volunteer Nile Bride. We took her at her word--
The best way with such ladies--and so cleared the board.
There was a Hebrew damsel, as it seems, by lot
Chosen to play chief part in their religious plot,
And brought before the Makawkas. The Princess was there,
And moved with a fine feeling must needs interfere
To save the other's life, giving her own instead
As victim in her place. And so the matter sped,
Not quite, perhaps, in earnest, when we took the reins.
The priests, however, now insist on the full pains
And penalties of her act, and all the more that she
Has openly espoused the Moslem heresy.
It will end for her to--day, here at the river side.
Look, here comes the procession!
[A noise of shouting without.
Voices. Three cheers for the Nile Bride.
Barix. I cannot countenance a thing so barbarous.
Boïlas, my cloak! Come with me. O Romana jus!
The common law must not be violated now
That Egypt has the franchise.
Boïlas
(sarcastically). And let treason grow
Till Egypt is disrupted! No, my Lord, 'tis well
Things take the turn they do. Let us stand by and tell
Our beads for her soul's sake, if you will, but leave the rest
For Father Nile to purge in the public interest.
Remember, too, Alexis.
Barix. Ha! that's true. The girl
Was a bit impudent. He was quite out of curl
For a fortnight after it, nor yet is quite consoled.
Boïlas, maybe you are right.
Boïlas. My Lord, she is a scold,
And a dangerous character. Let the priests deal with it.
Barix. Well, well. But here they come. Boïlas, maybe, you are right.
[Exeunt.
(Enter procession of Patriarchs, Priests, Magicians, etc., with them Jael and Belkís.)
Jael
(to Belkís). You will not then relent?
Belkís. Alas! dear Jael, no.
Even if I could, I would not. What I undergo
Is little in the sum of the world's bitterness,
Little in the count of wrong. And I will make it less
By thinking of your gain. You must be happy, Jael,
Happy a thousand years, if but to tell the tale
Of one who died too young.
Jael. Too young! Ah, you regret
Your beautiful life now, in spite of all the fret,
Of all the sorrow. Look how glorious the sun is,
How wonderful the world. I see tears in your eyes,
I see that you would live.
Belkís
(aside). This weakness must not be.
(Aloud.) No, Jael, no. These things are not so dear to me
Except for one mad thought.
Jael. And what is that? Speak! Speak!
Belkís. He told me that he loved me, and my heart is weak
To see him once again.
(She weeps.) He promised to be here.
Jael. Hátib?
Belkís. Yes, Hátib, he, the Caliph's messenger.
He made his oath to me upon his father's sword,
And in the name of God. Will he not keep his word?
Patriarch. Ladies, it is time to part. Rome waits on you.
Despatch.
(Enter Alexis with soldiers--on the other side Hátib and Arabs with Benjamin. These stand apart.)
Jael
(clinging to Belkís). My lot is one with hers.
Alexis.
(to soldiers). Here, bring along the batch
And drive the business through. Is this the sacred barge? Where is the Patriarch?
(To the Patriarch.) I hand over my charge
To you, most reverend sir. All that Rome asks is this,
The lady's signature to prove her willingness.
Patriarch
(showing paper). The signature is here attested in due form.
Alexis. Then march.
Jael. Alexis, stop. Your heel is on the worm,
Beware lest it should turn.
Alexis. The best way is to crush,
Dear Jael, worms that hate us.
Jael. Or that love us.
Alexis. Tush!
This is no case of love. And, if it were, my duty
Would make me deaf to all, and blind to her and beauty.
You had better now go home. These priests will deal with her
For her soul's greater good. I, as Rome's officer,
Remain to see it out. But you, my love, go home.
Benjamin
(aside). A curse be on his tongue.
Hátib. A double curse on Rome.
Jael.
(to Alexis). I have no home but hers. If Belkís weds the Nile
I go with her as bridesmaid. So we may beguile
The pain of death together. Oh, the shame of life!
I would rather die with her than live to be your wife,
Unmerciful Alexis.
[Alexis motions the guard to advance. They come forward to seize Belkís. Hátib and Benjamin interpose.
Alexis. Soldiers, stand by me,
Pretorians, to your arms. What is this foolery?
Benjamin. Most noble Roman lord, your day of arrogance
Ends with this insolent hour. Fate needs to make amends
And needs that you should perish.
Alexis. Seize the crazy rogue,
And send him to the guard--house.
Hátib. Unbelieving dog,
See, with this sword I smite thee.
[The Arabs rush in--fighting on the stage.
Alexis. Treason! Help!
[Alexis is wounded. By Heaven,
These blacks have done for me.
[Dies.
Benjamin. Ay, die--and unforgiven.
Your place is best in Hell. Brothers in arms, fight on.
To--day shall seal the doom of Rome's dominion.
[Exeunt fighting, all but Belkís and Jael.
(Re--enter Benjamin.)
Benjamin. Now, by the God of Moses, we are avenged to--day.
Our debt is paid in full, the wrongs that made us grey,
The stripes with which we ached, our hopes so long deferred
Of an ideal reckoning, insolent word with word,
Insolent act with act. To see these Roman clowns
With their long arrogance, who ruled it in our towns,
Masters and Lords of all, and prated of their law
As the one saving fact the Eastern world yet saw,
And of themselves in it as missioners divine
Incalculable in blessings, scattering oil and wine
And lavish wealth on us, with their great Roman peace--
The impudent imposture--on their bended knees
To a mere shouting horde of shoeless Ishmaelites!
O, it is noble!
Jael. Father.
Benjamin. There are sounds and sights
Dear to Jerusalem, the clamour of death's wings
After a flying foe, the night which vengeance brings
Upon a stricken host. I saw old Barix's face
Pale with the agony of a supreme disgrace,
Mounting his horse to fly. He trembled, spite the grim
Smile on his lips, at me. I wagged my head at him,
And wished him a safe journey to Heraclius,
Advancement and more pay, as one victorious.
He had just signed with his proud hand the final act,
Yielding all Egypt up, to the third cataract,
To 'Amru's camel--riders. Their beasts idly browsed
Already in his garden, and themselves were housed
As idly in his palace. I could hear them shout
Their orders to his slaves; and they were leading out
His own white heifer herd for slaughter at his door.
A regular Belshazzar. Scarce a broken score
Remained to him in force of his Pretorian guard,
Stern in their discipline, erect, unbending, hard,
Imaging Rome's lost headship of the world that was.
Jael. And these, the Saracens? Is there more certain cause
To see them as new friends? Their faces frighten me,
Their eyes, their gesturings.
Benjamin. They come with liberty
And in the name of God, the God that is our own,
To purge a weary world of Rome's dominion.
It is the God of Israel smiting with their sword.
Jael. And of their prophet, what?
Benjamin. Commissioned by the Lord,
As Amos was commissioned. Think you, my sweet child,
That prophets are all princes, with hands undefiled
By the world's common work, and sitting clothed like kings,
And singing in soft voices news of pleasant things?
Not so. The voice of power speaks from the wilderness.
It chooses untaught men, lone wanderers of the rocks,
Shepherds with slings and stones, young psalmists from their flocks,
And naked insane priests, God's instruments of wrath.
And so, too, this Mohammed. Math and aftermath
He has mowed their cities. Princes, kings, and potentates,
The proudest heads of them, like weak inebriates,
Have fallen back staggering, and confess because they feel
His heavy hand upon them and his pricks of steel,
Their eyes bent to the earth. Priests, who the heresy
Banned yet a moment since, constrained as from on high,
Bear witness to his truth, and with unsandalled feet
And rope--bound heads attest the promised Paraclete,
Mohammed the foretold, last of God's messengers.
There is no God but God.
(Enter 'Amru, Hátib, and the Lords of the Arabs.)
Jael. My doubt disappears.
It is His Angel host, so beautiful, so proud,
So noble in its bearing.
Belkís. They have swept the crowd
Of base white faces back. The Nile no more shall see
Those visages of death disgraced with leprosy
Upon its alien shores. Rejoice, O glorious land,
Thy day--dream is fulfilled. Join hand with happy hand,
Ye daughters of despair. Dance, clap your hands and sing
For your salvation all, ye sons of sorrowing.
Give me the cymbals, Jael. I feel that I must dance
In honour of this day which works deliverance.
Jael. Nay, but the dead.
Belkís. What dead?
Jael
(pointing to Alexis' body). He once was dear to me.
Belkís. No matter, Jael. Our lives we gave. This sets us free.
We will forget the past.
Jael. You swore not to forget.
Belkís. The old life is no more. The new has paid the debt.
[She sings.]
Song--``If I Forget.'' If I forget!
O, gladly, from my soul!
I swore once in my rage that I would hate.
But life is sweet, and I have learned to live.
Behold, I cast away these weeds of dole.
I triumph o'er my tears and scorn regret.
Farewell, sad vengeance! See, my soul aspires
To life and love. I will not die--not yet.
I swear by all the Gods that were my sires
To laugh to--day--for ever to forget!
'Amru. The promised houris these.
Hátib. They are both beautiful,
Fair as the sun, the moon--each one a star, a jewel
Hung in the firmament. It were a glorious fate
To be beloved of them.
'Amru. For me it comes too late,
I am already wed--to duty and my sword.
You, Hátib, are more free.
Hátib
(aside). My heart leaps at his word.
(Enter Patriarch and Priests.)
'Amru. But who are these vain men? Speak, reverend seniors,
What is your will with us?
Patriarch. To pay you our devoirs
As princes of our land, since God hath given it you
And to our Lord the Caliph. This first, as is due,
--And next to make petition.
'Amru. Speak, in the Lord's name.
Patriarch. We crave you an indulgence, and to ease the shame
That rests upon our land through the Nile's waywardness.
The river is in drought and needs a sacrifice.
This lady is his bride. We ask authority
To celebrate our rite. The need is she should die,
According to our law and custom luminous,
To give the land its rest.
Voices without. We ask it, all of us.
'Amru. What is this folly, Hátib?
Hátib. 'Tis an evil creed
Of the days of ignorance. They deem the Nile has need
Of a pure virgin life to pacify the drought
And bring it to full flood. And so the people shout.
This noble lady here is daughter of their prince,
A maiden without stain, supreme in innocence
Of all in Roman lands, and they demand her death
As bride of their proud river.
'Amru. 'Tis a pestilent faith
And lawless superstition we do well to end.
Bring me a pen and paper.
Hátib. Here.
'Amru. Most reverend
And worthy gentlemen. You ask an impious thing,
This innocent lady's death. The Lord alone is King
Of the wide Earth and Sea and all that therein is,
The lakes and streams and rivers in their fall and rise,
The plenty and the dearth. It is a crime ye seek.
Be, rather, merciful, seeing yourselves how weak,
And leave to God the judgment. Ladies, have no fear.
We take you in protection. And you, reverend sir,
Go with this written word and message clear of guile,
And you shall see a wonder.
He writes.) ``To the River Nile,
``Peace be and salutation. We, in the Caliph's name,
``Demand your service thus: O river of old fame!
``If that indeed thou be the servant of the Lord,
``The Lord God, the Almighty, hearkening to His word,
``Hear and obey this message; Set thy waters free
``According to their wont in full fertility
``Upon this land of Egypt. She is a land of peace
``With claim to all protections and immunities.
``So may God succour thee. But if, as these men say,
``Thou heedest not our counsel, going thy own vain way,
``Then, go to thy more hurt. The Lord God shall provide
``Or with thee, or without thee.'' Fling this message wide
Into the stagnant flood, and bring me word again.
[He gives the paper to the Patriarch, who exit with suite.
Benjamin. Most wise of magistrates! Most glorious of men!
We do thee reverence, all.
Belkís
(coming forward). A princess kneels to thee.
[Belkís and Jael make show of kneeling.
'Amru
(raising Belkís). Not so. Thy hand I kiss, most fair one. Were I free,
I would in my own person do thee right for this
That I have marred awhile thy bridal happiness
With our good Father Nile. Forgive it me. Here stands
A noble officer shall do thee more amends.
Hátib, your hand for her.
Hátib. Ah, Princess, might I dare
Aspire to your high favour in this world of care,
How blessed were my lot.
Belkís
(pointing to Jael). My lot and hers are one.
We have made oath together not to live alone.
(Aside.) And yet, alas! I love him.
Jael. Ah, you love him. Yes.
Let not the thought of mine prevent your happiness.
Belkís. No, no, I will not wed him.
Jael. Yes. You must, and shall.
Belkís
(smiling). We will be old maids together, grave and musical,
But we must not be parted.
Hátib
(speaking slowly). Ladies, why dispute?
Is love so poor a thing, so spiritless to boot,
That it should frightened be to pledge a double troth?
Belkís. Ah, Hátib. By your law?
Hátib. Why not?
Belkis
(triumphantly). He weds us both,
Dear Jael.
Jael. Ah, what bliss!
Hátib
(giving to each a hand). Ladies, I kneel and pray.
'Amru. This is a happy ending to a happy day.
(Shouting is heard outside. A crowd rushes in. Enter a Messenger with dripping clothes.)
'Amru. O, wonderful! My letter!
Messenger.
(showing his wet clothes). See the answer to it.
The Nile is in full flood.
'Amru. Thank God.
Benjamin
(with fervour). Oh! Roma fuit.
Curtain.
