The Rose of Persia

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No. 14: FINALE OF ACT I.

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Girls enter from house.

Girls:
	Oh, luckless hour!
		Oh, dreadful day!
	Oh, quake and cower!
		Oh, grief display!
	Let tears be shed!
		Oh, weep and wail!
	Throw dust on head,
		And rend each veil!
	Let tears be shed!
		Oh, weep and wail!
	Throw dust on head,
		And rend each veil! And rend each veil!

Sunbeam (entering).
	Oh, beat the breast!
		Oh, slap the face!
	Grief so expressed
		Is full of grace!

Blush-of-Morning has entered, and others.

Blush-of-Morn.		Dan. Sunbeam.		Chorus.
	O luckless hour!
			O dreadful day!
	O luckless hour!
			O dreadful day!
	O luckless hour!				O luckless hour!
	O dreadful day!		O dreadful day!		O dreadful day!
	O dreadful day!		O dreadful day!		O dreadful day!

Sultan.
	Oh, ladies what assails you?
Blush of Morn.
	'Tis our husband!
Sunbeam.
	He has gone mad! Our luckless husband Hassan!
Sultan.
	Nay, nay!
Sunbeam.
	Yea, yea! He swears he is the Sultan!
Sultan.
	Dost thou forget the saying of the Prophet — "Sound sense has often senseless sound," And "Truth than fiction stranger may be found"?
Sunbeam.
	What mean you?
Sultan.
	That, perchance, he is the Sultan!
Sunbeam.
	Our husband is the Sultan! How?
Sultan.
	Oh, listen!

	You'll understand, That, now and then, Eccentric and peculiar men,
		Tho' undetected by their wives, Have led respected double lives!

Sunbeam and Blush.
	We've heard of men Who, now and then
		Have led disgraceful double lives!
	We've heard of men
Sultan, Sunbeam and Blush.
	Who, now and then
		Have led disgraceful double lives!

Sultan.
	Throughout the day (When you would guess He was away at business)
		His palace he perhaps has sought! His nature deeper than you thought!
Sunbeam and Blush.
	His business He mentioned less
		Than quite an honest husband ought!
	His business
Sultan, Sunbeam and Blush.
	He mentioned less
		Than quite an honest husband ought!

Blush.		Sunbeam.		Sultan.
					Alas! that men
			Alas! that
			men		Should
	Alas!
	that men		Should lead dou-		now and
	Should lead				then
			ble		Lead
	double lives!		double lives!		double lives!

Sultan, Blush and Sunbeam.
	Alas! that men Should now and then
		Lead unsuspected double lives!

Drums heard in the distance.

Sunbeam and Blush.
	Hark the distant roll of drums!
Sultan.
		Nearer — nearer — nearer!
Sunbeam and Blush.
	'Tis the Sultan's guard that comes!
Sultan.
		Nothing could be clearer!
Sunbeam and Blush.
		Marching quickly down the street, Faster, faster, faster!
Sultan.
		Doubtless they have come to meet Hassan their Royal Master!

Blush.		Sunbeam.		Sultan.		Girls.
	Hark!		Hark!		Hark! the		Hark! the dis-
	the dis-		the dis-		distant		tant roll of drums!
	tant		tant
	roll		roll		roll of		Nearer, near-
	of		of				er,
	drums!		drums!		drums! Ah!		nearer!
	Nearer,		Nearer,		'Tis the		'Tis the Sultan's
	nearer,		nearer,		Sultan's		guard that comes!
	nearer!		nearer!		guard that comes! Now		Nothing could be clearer!
	'Tis the		'Tis the		marching		Marching quickly
	Sul-		Sul-		quickly		down the street.
	tan's		tan's
	guard		guard		down		Faster,
					the		fast-
	that		that				er,
	comes!		comes!		street Ah!		faster!
	Doubtless they have come		Doubtless they have come		Doubtless they have come		Doubtless they have come
	to meet Hassan		to meet Hassan		to meet Hassan		to meet Hassan
	their Royal Master!		their Royal Master!		their Royal Master!		their Royal Master!

The Sultan's Guards enter.

Guards.
	With martial gate —
		With kettle-drums — (Metal drums)
			All complete —
	We've marched in state —
		While boys silly Noisily
			Dogged our feet!
		Gallant company Sworn to thump any
			Lack of loyalty
				In the street!
			Guards of Royalty!
					Keen to kill any Dogs of villainy
				In the street!
	With martial gate —
		With kettle-drums — (Metal drums)
			All complete —
		Gallant company Sworn to thump any
			Lack of loyalty
				In the street!
			Kettle-drums (metal drums)
				Rattle tunes (Battle tunes) —
			Boys silly, noisily
				Following, Halloaing,
					Down the street!
		With martial gait We've march'd in state!

Enter the Grand Vizier, Physician- in-Chief, and Royal Executioner, in their official dresses.

All three.	Attended by these Palace Warders,
		Each of us now arrives, —
Vizier.	The Grand Vizier —
Physician.		Physician-in-chief —
Executioner.			And Royal Executioner!
All three.	The Grand Vizier, Physican-in-chief,
		And Royal Executioner!
	The Grand Vizier, Physican-in-chief,
		And Royal Executioner!
	Obedient to the Sultan's orders,
		Carrying to his wives Some news, we fear, Beyond their belief,
	Attend to what we now aver!

Chorus.		Some news, they fear, Beyond our belief,
	Attend to what they now aver!

Vizier.	He whom you call Hassan —
		(Prepare for great surprise) —
	Is quite another man —
		The Sultan in disguise!
Sunbeam.	Our husband, our Hassan —
Blush.		The Sultan in disguise!
Chorus.			The Sultan in disguise! The Sultan in disguise!
Physician.	Endeavour, if you can,
		This fact to realise;
	The Sultan is Hassan,
		And vice-versa-wise!
Sunbeam.	The Sultan is Hassan!
Blush.		And vice-versa-wise!
Chorus.			The Sultan is Hassan, And vice-versa-wise!
Executioner.	Each is another man,
		That is, idest, or Viz!
	The Sulltan is Hassan,
		Hassan the sultan is!
Sunbeam.	The Sultan is Hassan!
Blush.		Hassan the Sultan is!
Chorus.			The Sultan is Hassan! Hassan the Sultan is!
Sultan.	Distinguish, if you can,
		Their mixed identities:
	The Sultan is Hassan!
		Hassan the Sultan is!
Sunbeam.	The Sultan is Hassan!
Blush.		Hassan the Sultan is!
All.			The Sultan is Hassan, Hassan the Sultan is!

Sopranos.		Altos.
	The Sultan is
	Hassan,		The Sultan is
	the Sultan is Hassan,		Hassan, Hassan the Sul-
	Hassan the Sultan is!		tan is! Hassan, Hassan
	Hassan the Sultan is!		Hassan the Sultan is!

Sunbeam.
	See, here he comes! Oh, recollect
		To grovel on the floor!
	Nor high-flown compliments neglect;
		Wrapped up in metaphor!

Women.
	Oh, fit the arrows of respect
		To bows of metaphor;
	And flights of flattery direct
		At him whom we adore!
	To load the camel of good taste With bales of welcome haste!
		Invite the Sultan to the tent Of Eastern compliment!
All.
	Let adulation's pleasant breeze
		His Royal nostrils reach,
	Perfumed with spice of similes
		And fragrant flowers of speech!
	Let dull and leaden-coloured clouds Of ordinary crowds
		Before the Sun of Royal Pride Respectfully divide! Sun of Royal Pride! Sun of Royal Pride!

Hassan enters, leading Rose-in-Bloom, who is veiled; as she passes the Sultan, she draws her veil closer. Hassan is met by the Executioner, who introduces himself to him, making obeisance.

Hassan.
	I am the Sultan, and I now
		Shall introduce to you
	The fair Sultana, and allow
		Her face to be on view!

Sunbeam.
			Oh, husband dear!
Hassan.
	Avaunt, avaunt! Oh, woman gray and gaunt!
Blush.
			I am Sultana!
Hassan.
	Go away! Oh, woman gaunt and gray!
(to Rose.) Veiled so thickly, Royal lady,
			How can I your presence prove?
		Therefore quickly, O Zubeydeh,
			If you please that veil remove!

ENSEMBLE.

Chorus, Wives and Girls.		Sultan and Men.
	Fate is prickly!		Thinking thickly
	In the heyday		Singer shady
	Of success he doth remove		My Sultana will he prove!
	Favours quickly		Truly quickly
	To a shady		Made a lady,
	Girl of lowest social groove!		Mate for King in single move!
	Favours quickly		Truly quickly
	To a shady		Made a lady,
	Girl of lowest social groove,		Mate for King in single move,
	To a shady		Mate for King in
	Girl, Girl of lowest social groove!		single move, in single move!
	Fate is prickly,
	Fate is prickly,		Thinking thickly,
	in the heyday,
	in the heyday		Singer shady
	Of success he doth remove,		his/my Sultana will he prove!
	in heyday of success		yes his/my Sultana will
	remove, doth remove,		he prove, will he prove,
	doth remove!		will he prove!

Rose.
	Hassan! Thy pity I entreat And at thy feet
		A suppliant, lo! I kneel;
	Respect my maiden modesty I beg of thee!
		Turn not from my appeal!
	Thine Oriental etiquette Dost thou forget?
		To force a maid to raise her veil Before a male?

Rose in Bloom.		Chorus.
			Turn not,
	Hassan!
			turn not,
	Thy pity
	I entreat		Hassan!
	And at thy feet a suppliant lo! I kneel!
	Ah!		Turn not,
	Ah!
	Ah!		Turn not!
	Ah!

Scent-of-Lilies, Heart's Desire, and Honey-of-Life enter veiled with Yussuf.

Hassan (to Rose). O lady, do not fail Your life or death to choose!
	Remove your modest veil At once, or —
Rose (in desperation).				I refuse!
Hassan.	Then, Executioner,
		With scimitar await;
	Perhaps you'll kindly her
		At once decapitate!
All.			Oh, horror!
Royal Slaves.	Mistress!
Yussuf.		I will speak!

Rose.	Nay, nay! 'Tis Fate — it has been written!
Executioner (to Sultan).			Shall I slay her?
Sultan.	Yes; obey in all things.
Executioner.					I obey!
Hassan.	The signal take from me! It will be very brief: I'll say, "One, two, three," Then drop my handkerchief!
All.	Just "one" and "two" and "three," Then drop his handkerchief!
Hassan (spoken).	One!
Royal Slaves.		Can naught be done?
Hassan.			Two!
Rose.				What can ye do?

Hassan begins to stagger, and is unable to speak.

All (watching Hassan).
	Like a leaf he shakes with palsy! Handkerchief will never fall — see!
		He himself will fall instead! (He falls.) He has fallen — fallen dead!
Rose.
	Oh, sweet reprieve!
Royal Slaves.
	Oh, loudly grieve!
		Hassan is dead!
Chorus.
		The Sultan dead!

Three Slaves.		Sultan, Physician, Vizier, and Executioner.		Chorus.
			Ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!		dead!
			The Sultan's dead!
	The Sultan's		Ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!		The Sultan's
	dead!		The Sultan's dead!		dead!

Physician.
	Not so! He will be better soon!
(Aside to Sultan.) It is the drug! (Aloud.) It is a swoon!
Wives.
	It is a swoon! O joy! O joy!
Sultan.
	Conduct him to the Palace!

Hassan is put into the Royal litter.

Rose, Scent, Desire, and Honey.		Women.		Men.
					With martial gait, With kettle-drums (Metal-drums) All complete!
	Homicidal was		Suicidal was		With martial gait
					With kettle drums
					(metal drums)
	his madness!		our sadness		all complete!
	Fortune		Fortune		Gallant company
	tidal		tidal		Sworn to thump any
	Turns to gladness!		Turns to gladness!		Lack of loyalty in the street
	safe the		We are		Kettle drums (metal drums)
	Royal		Royal		Rattle tunes (battle tunes)
	ladies now!		ladies now!		Holloaing down the street!

All.
	Conduct him to the Palace,
	And to mark well mark his coming,
		Commence, O loyal Royal band, O loyal Royal band, O loyal band,
			Your (metal) kettle drumming!
		O loyal band,

Hassan is placed in the Royal litter; the Guards prepare to conduct him forth.

END OF ACT I

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