Chapter 12Scene 3

A room in Ajebe’s house. Balkis, Mymoona.

BALKIS Did he not ask after me? I’m sick, Mymoona.

MYMOONA Sick? I think both of you are dying of a galloping consumption. Such colour in the cheeks was never a good symptom.

BALKIS Tell him I am very, very ill; tell him I am dying. Pray be pathetic.

MYMOONA Put saffron on your cheeks and look nicely yellow; he will melt.

BALKIS I think my heart will break.

MYMOONA Let it do so quickly; it will mend the sooner.

BALKIS (in tears) How can you be so harsh to me, Mymoona?

MYMOONA You foolish child! Why did you strain your power To such a breaking tightness? There’s a rhythm Will shatter hardest stone; each thing in nature Has its own point where it has done with patience And starts in pieces; below that point play on it, Nor overpitch the music. Look, he’s coming.

BALKIS I’ll go.

MYMOONA (holding her) You shall not.

Enter Ajebe.

AJEBE

I thought you were alone, Mymoona. I am not cheap to thrust myself Where I’m not wanted.

BALKIS

I would be gone, Mymoona. In truth, I thought it was the barber’s woman; Therefore I stayed.

AJEBE

There are such hearts, Mymoona, As think so little of adoring love, They make it only a pedestal for pride, A whipping-stock for their vain tyrannies.

BALKIS Mymoona, there are men so weak in love, They cannot bear more than an ass’s load; So high in their conceit, the tenderest Kindest rebuke turns all their sweetness sour.

AJEBE Some have strange ways of tenderness, Mymoona.

BALKIS Mymoona, some think all control a tyranny.

MYMOONA O you two children! Come, an end of this! Give me your hand.

AJEBE

My hand? Wherefore my hand?

MYMOONA Give it. I join two hands that much desire And would have met ere this but for their owners, Who have less sense than they.

BALKIS

She’s stronger than me, Or I’ld not touch you.

AJEBE

I would not hurt Mymoona; Therefore I take your hand.

MYMOONA

Oh, is it so? Then by your foolish necks! Make your arms meet About her waist.

AJEBE

Only to satisfy you, Whom only I care for.

MYMOONA

Yours here on his neck.

BALKIS I was about to yawn, therefore I raised them.

MYMOONA I go to fetch a cane. Look that I find you Much better friends. If you will not agree, Your bones at least shall sympathise and ruefully.

Exit.

AJEBE How could you be so harsh to my great love?

BALKIS How could you be so cruel and so wicked?

AJEBE I kiss you, but ’tis only your red lips So soft, not you who are more hard than stone.

BALKIS I kiss you back, but only ’tis because I hate to be in debt.

AJEBE

Will you be kinder?

BALKIS Will you be more obedient and renounce Your hateful uncle?

AJEBE

Him and all his works, If you will only smile on me.

BALKIS

I’ll laugh Like any horse. No, I surrender. Clasp me, I am your slave.

AJEBE

My queen of love.

BALKIS

Both, both.

AJEBE Why were you so long froward?

BALKIS

Do you remember I had to woo you in the market? how you Hesitated a moment?

AJEBE

Vindictive shrew!

BALKIS This time had I not reason to be angry?

AJEBE Oh, too much reason! I feel so vile until I find a means to wash this uncle stain from me.

Enter Mymoona.

MYMOONA That’s well. But we must now to Nureddene’s. For hard pressed as he is, he’ll sell his Anice.

BALKIS Never!

MYMOONA He must.

AJEBE

I’ll lend him thrice her value.

MYMOONA Do not propose it. The wound you gave’s too recent.

BALKIS Then let me keep her as a dear deposit, The sweet security of Ajebe’s loan, Till he redeems her.

MYMOONA

He will take no favours. No, let him sell her in the open market; Ajebe will overtop all bids. Till he Get means, she’s safe with us and waiting for him.

BALKIS Oh, let us go at once.

MYMOONA

I’ll order litters.

Exit.

AJEBE Will you be like this always?

BALKIS

If you are good, I will be. If not, I will outshrew Xantippe.

AJEBE With such a heaven and hell in view, I’ll be An angel.

BALKIS

Of what colour?

AJEBE

Black beside you, But fair as seraphs to what I have been.

Exeunt.