Chapter 13Scene 4

Ibn Sawy’s house. Anice, alone.

ANICE If Murad fails him, what is left? He has No other thing to sell but only me. A thought of horror! Is my love then strong Only for joy, only to share his heaven? Can it not enter Hell for his dear sake? How shall I follow him then after death, If Heaven reject him? For the path’s so narrow Footing that judgment blade, to slip’s so easy. Avert the need, O Heaven.

Enter Nureddene.

Has Murad failed him?

NUREDDENE Murad refuses. This load of debt’s a torture!

ANICE The dresses and the gems you made me keep — NUREDDENE Keep them; they are your own.

ANICE

I am your slavegirl. My body and what it wears, all I am, all I have, Are only for your use.

NUREDDENE Girl, would you have me strip you then quite bare?

ANICE What does it matter? The coarsest rag ten dirhams Might buy, would be enough, if you’ld still love me.

NUREDDENE These would not meet one half of what I owe.

ANICE Master, you bought me for ten thousand pieces.

NUREDDENE Be silent.

ANICE

Has my value lessened since?

NUREDDENE No more! You’ll make me hate you.

ANICE

If you do, ’Tis better; it will help my heart to break.

NUREDDENE Have you the heart to speak of this?

ANICE

Had I Less heart, less love, I would not speak of it.

NUREDDENE I swore to my father that I would not sell you.

ANICE But there was a condition.

NUREDDENE

If you desired it!

ANICE Do I not ask you?

NUREDDENE

Speak truth! do you desire it? Truth, in the name of God who sees your heart! Ah, you are silent.

ANICE (weeping)

How could I desire it? Ajebe is here. Be friends with him, dear love; Forgive his fault.

NUREDDENE

Anice, my own sins are So heavy, not to forgive his lesser vileness Would leave me without hope of heavenly pardon.

ANICE I’ll call him then.

Exit.

NUREDDENE

Let me absolve these debts, Then straight with Anice to Bagdad the splendid. There is the home for hearts and brains and hands, Not in this petty centre. Core of Islam, Bagdad, the flood to which all brooks converge.

Anice returns with Ajebe, Balkis, Mymoona.

AJEBE Am I forgiven?

NUREDDENE

Ajebe, let the past Have never been.

AJEBE

You are Ibn Sawy’s son.

NUREDDENE Give me your counsel, Ajebe. I have nothing But the mere house which is not saleable. My father must not find a homeless Bassora, Returning.

MYMOONA

Nothing else?

ANICE

Only myself Whom he’ll not sell.

MYMOONA

He must.

NUREDDENE

Never, Mymoona.

MYMOONA Fear not the sale which shall be in name alone. ’Tis only Balkis borrowing her from you Who pawns her value. She will stay with me Serving our Balkis, safe from every storm. But if you ask, why then the mart and auction? We must have public evidence of sale To meet an uncle’s questions.

ANICE

O now there’s light. Blessed Mymoona!

NUREDDENE

It must not be. My oath!

ANICE But I desire it now, yes, I desire it.

NUREDDENE And is my pride then nothing? Shall I sell her To be a slavegirl’s slavegirl? Pardon, Balkis.

MYMOONA Too fine, too fine!

ANICE

To serve awhile my sister! For that she is in heart.

BALKIS

Serve only in name.

MYMOONA She will be safe while you rebuild your fortunes.

NUREDDENE I do not like it.

MYMOONA

Nor does anyone As in itself, but only as a refuge From greater evils.

NUREDDENE

Oh, you’re wrong, Mymoona.

To quibble with an oath! it will not prosper. Straight dealing’s best.

MYMOONA

You look at it too finely.

NUREDDENE Have it your way, then.

MYMOONA

Call the broker here. A quiet sale! The uncle must not hear of it.

AJEBE ’Twould be the plague.

NUREDDENE

I fear it will not prosper.

Exeunt.