Kismet Page #6

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- Shall we dismiss the court?

- No, I feel good.

I'll sentence the rest of the criminals

before my nap.

Come here.

You know when really angered at someone,

my husband usually drops him alive...

...from a high battlement

onto a long hook.

Thus will you be impaled

when he discovers you're a fraud.

Then, may I make a suggestion?

Let's not tell him.

He doesn't need to be told.

He'll know the moment

the Caliph marries.

That is why I hesitated

before accepting his offer.

But, well, love is an uncertain business.

And if lover's quarrel,

as young lovers often do, then I'm an emir.

If not, well, that is kismet.

You'd gamble your life

on such a slim chance?

Princess, I have risked floggings

for a handful of dates.

I envy you.

Every moment an adventure.

A life totally without monotony.

Yes. That you can say for it.

Since my so-called marriage to the Wazir,

I have waked each morning...

...with the chart of my day

staring down at me from the ceiling.

The path of every hour already mapped.

And the map of each hour the same.

Have you ever known that torment?

It is one of the few I have been spared.

You are fortunate.

Afternoons dull

Mornings duller

Duller the nights before

Suddenly you

Suddenly color

I suddenly see

Monotony for me

Will be no more

Bored by the night and the day was I

Seldom gay was I

Before now

In a world without you was I

And I was bored

So bored

Then came your eyes compelling me

Telling me something wild

On your lips lay adventure

And lightning flashed

When you smiled

So smile now

Wake the fires that sleep in me

Make them leap in me

With your kiss

And whatever it is I'll be

I won't be bored

Not bored

Bedeviled, yes

Bedazzled, yes

Bewildered and breathless, yes

But not bored

How could I ever be bored

Not with your lips on mine

Your magical lips

Pressed on mine

Not bored

I will never again

Be bored

What kind of a sentence did he get?

Your gold.

The Caliph's trumpeters.

Look, they're beautiful.

Silence, you fools.

Silence, you caterwauling trulls.

Well, beggar,

why do you not begin your magic?

Now?

Could it be that our great wizard

does not know what the music means?

The Caliph is on his way

to fetch his bride.

What? Are you certain?

Why are you disturbed?

Did you not promise

to stop this wedding?

Great sir, as I've already told you,

I've exhausted today's rations of powers.

- I couldn't possibly...

- I see. Guard.

Guards, draw swords.

Guards, this reluctant magician...

...is not to leave the palace

under any circumstances.

He has a tremendous spell to weave,

in which I'm sure he will not fail.

However, should he fail...

- Executioner.

- Executioner forward.

Executioner, prepare the room

of the 29 fires.

Watch him carefully, he's slippery.

But I suspect that he is not fireproof.

- What are you doing?

- Shh!

I'm calling on my powers.

Assist me, all of you.

Oh, powers above and powers below.

Ye who weaves

at your tanglesome skeins...

...and daily spins the tapestry

of agony and joy...

...that mortals call the history of man...

...cup thy ear to Hajj the Beggar.

Aye, shabash.

Goat of Mendes.

Baphomet.

Blight and blast our Caliph's love.

Twice this day hast thou seen

fit to grant what I ween.

Twice this day has thou let...

...Hajj's humble prayer

climb up heavers stair.

And kismet so ordained.

My goal should be attained.

Another prayer, another cry.

Grant again, grant it,

I ask thee now, ask thee now.

Kismet, mystery of fate.

Fate

Heed me as I lower my knee

A beggar begging your ear

To hear his plea

Fate, let the sound of my voice beguile

Look with love on your slave below

And show your smile

'Tis but a trifle I ask

That in the master design

Which you have written and sealed

You change one line

This love that mustrt be

This he, this she

Turn her smile into scorn

Turn his heart into stone

- Turn the honey on their lips to brine

Ohhh

Then fate

The day is mine

Play on the cymbal

The timbal, the lyre

Play with appropriate passion

Fashion songs

of delight and delicious desire

For the night of my nights

Come where the so well-beloved

Is waiting

Where the rose and the jasmine mingle

While I tell her the moon is for mating

And 'tis sin to be single

Let peacocks and monkeys

In purple adornings

Show her the way

To my bridal chamber

Then get you gone

Till the morn of my mornings

After the night of my nights

After the night of my nights

'Tis the night of my nights

Play on the cymbal

The timbal, the lyre

Play with appropriate passion

Fashion songs

Of delight and delicious desire

For the night of my nights

Come where the so well-beloved

Is waiting

Where the rose and the jasmine mingle

While I tell her the moon is for mating

And 'tis sin to be single

Let peacocks and monkeys

In purple adornings

Show her the way to my bridal chamber

Then get you gone till the morn

Of my mornings

After the night of my nights

'Tis the night of my nights

After the night of my nights

'Tis the night of my nights

Marsinah.

Father?

- Oh, Marsinah.

Thank heavens I found you.

I've looked everywhere for you.

I can't explain now.

- But we have to make a trip to Damascus.

- Damascus?

Oh, my poor father.

Some angry husband again?

Oh, no, it's much worse than that.

I'm in great danger of the Wazir.

His police may be here at any moment.

Come.

- The Wazir?

- Yes, Marsinah, I can't explain now.

- Look I'll tell you all about it as we go.

- Oh.

Father, Father, I can't leave now.

But this is a matter of life or death.

But I was to meet someone here.

Someone...

Police.

To the bride of the Caliph. Ha-ha.

To the second and third

and future wives...

...the All Highest will take

now that he has a first wife.

And to the silks he shall buy her.

And the satins and the jewels.

- Gentlemen, to polygamy.

To polygamy.

So you see, instead of becoming an emir,

I have incurred the wrath of the Wazir.

- Do you understand now why we must flee?

- Yes, I understand.

Help me saddle this beast and we'll get

out of here. I'll leave a fair price for him.

Out of the way.

Get out of the way.

- Look.

- Where is Hassan?

Procession is returning

without the bride.

Can't be true.

Why would any woman run from the Caliph?

- She just wasrt there.

- News will be all over Baghdad by morning.

Did you hear?

It isn't true. It can't be.

On the contrary, it must be.

Father, you frighten me.

What are you going to do?

Return to the palace

and become an emir.

- No.

- But Marsinah.

- No, I won't let you.

- But, Marsinah.

You're not going to put yourself

into the clutches of that butcher.

- Marsinah.

- You're no more of a magician...

...than he is. Than that camel is.

Marsinah. Now, listen,

you must wait here.

If I have not returned before dawn,

you go swiftly and secretly to Damascus.

Here's what's left of our gold.

Ample to buy your living for years.

Keep 10 gold pieces so that you can have

a dowry and marry a man of substance.

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