Chapter II: Act I: Before the Curtain

DAWN

A large arch of Arabian design, with small doors right and left, frames in the whole picture.

_The MAN enters from the door of his house left, seats himself and sings_:

Lo! Still the stars of latter night are spread!
Yet hath sleep stolen from my lonely bed.
So will I sit me on my rooftop’s height,
To cool my sadness till the dawning red.

_The WOMAN enters from her house right, seats herself and sings_:

Yehh! Still the moon hangs on the lips of night
To mock my solitude with love-delight.
O heavy hour of a longing breast,
Thy weight will crush me ere the break of light!

_The MAN_:

Wah! That some song might soothe my soul oppress’d,
Some ancient melody of days more bless’d.

_The WOMAN_:

Awah, that some strange tale of long ago
Might by its magic bring my bosom rest!

_BOTH_:

O Thou, Bestower of all things, bestow
This benediction on Thy servant low!

_The STORY TELLER enters through the curtains and speaks_:

STORY TELLER. Praise be to Allah, the King of all Kings, the Creator of all things! Who like to a carpet hath spread, the Earth to our tread. And even as a tent, set up the firmament, overhead. And on Mohammed, his Prophet among men, the blessing of blessings again and again, Amen. (_He sits._) But afterwards. Verily the works and words of those gone before us have become examples and admonitions to the men of our later day. And of such a kind is the story of Hajj, the beggar, who lived his life in this our peaceful city of Baghdad, one thousand years and one year ago. Now it is the tale of his day of the days that I will relate unto you, O auspicious listeners. Do ye take heed therein of the lesson taught by Fate, which the poets call Kismet. And mark well the chances and changes of time foredoomed to mortal man: lifting him now high, now sinking him low, even as the bucket in the well. (_He rises._) But Allah alone is all knowing.

_He withdraws._

_The MAN and WOMAN rise and sing_:

I hearken with my heart upon the ground,
Nor from my breathless lips shall rise a sound:—
Awake, O day of days, and run thy round!

_Then they turn and re-enter their respective houses. They have not seen each other._