rs. I
need not instruction, Hafiz.

HAFIZ

You exalt yourself over us as none did
aforetime.

JOHN

Yes. And I will exalt myself. I have been
Shereef hitherto, but now I will be king. Al
Shaldomir is less than I desire. I have ruled
too long over a little country. I will be the
equal of Persia. I will be king; I proclaim it.
The pass is mine; the mountains shall be
mine also. And he that rules the mountains
has mastery over all the plains beyond. If
the men of the plains will not own it let them
make ready; for my wrath will fall on them
in the hour when they think me afar, on a
night when they think I dream. I proclaim
myself king over...

[HAFIZ pulls out his flute and plays the
weird, strange tune. JOHN looks at him in
horrified anger.]

JOHN

The penalty is death! Death is the
punishment for what you do, Hafiz. You have
dared while I spoke. Hafiz, your contempt is
death. Go to Hussein. I, the king...
say it.

[DAOUD has entered R., bearing two
oars. DAOUD walks across, not looking
at JOHN. Exit by small door in L. near
back.

JOHN gives one look at the banqueters,
then he follows DAOUD. Exit.

All look astonished. Some rise and
peer. HAFIZ draws his knife.]

OMAR [singing]

Al Shaldomir, Al Shaldomir,
The nightingales that guard thy ways
Cease not to give thee, after God
And after Paradise, all praise.

CRIES [off]

Kill the unbeliever. Kill the dog. Kill the
Christian.

[Enter the SHEIK OF THE BISHAREENS,
followed by all his men.]

SHEIK

We are the Bishareens, master.

[MIRALDA standing up, right arm
akimbo, left arm pointing perfectly straight out
towards the small door, hand extended.]

MIRALDA

He is there.

[The BISHAREENS run off through the
little door.]

A NOTABLE

Not to interfere with old ways is wisest.

ANOTHER

Indeed, it would have been well for him.

[The BISHAREENS begin to return
looking all about them like disappointed
hounds.]

A BISHAREEN

He is not there, master.

HAFIZ

Not there? Not there? Why, there is no
door beyond. He must needs be there, and
his chief spy with him.

SHEIK [off]

He is not here.

MIRALDA [turning round and clawing the wall]

O, I was weary of him. I was weary of him.

HAFIZ

Be comforted, pearl of the morning; he is
gone.

MIRALDA

When I am weary of a man he must die.

[He embraces her knees.]

ZAGBOOLA [who has come on with a little crowd
that followed the BISHAREENS. She is
blind.]