رد مع اقتباس[align=left]
CAPTAIN. The prisoners are here, Soldan.
SOLDAN. Bring them. [Francis and Brother Illuminato are brought in, and kept closely guarded at a safe and respectful distance from the Soldan's person.] Who art thou?
FRANCIS. Thy lover and servant, Soldan.
SOLDAN. Who is this with thee?
FRANCIS. He also is thy lover and servant, Soldan.
SOLDAN. Whence come ye?
FRANCIS. From the camp of thine enemy.
SOLDAN. Of whom, also, ye are?
FRANCIS. We are of the same race, Soldan.
SOLDAN. Wherefore, then, come ye here?
FRANCIS. To set thee free, O King.
SOLDAN. From whom?
FRANCIS. From fear.
SOLDAN. Fear? I fear no man.
FRANCIS. Thou bearest arms, Soldan. He that is without fear bears non.
SOLDAN. Why then, in the camp of the Christians also there is fear!
FRANCIS. Ay. Very greatly they fear thee, Soldan.
SOLDAN. They do well.
FRANCIS. They would do better if they did not fear thee.
SOLDAN. Dost not thou fear me?
FRANCIS. No, Soldan.
[This causes no little stir among the emirs and councilors. The swordsman's hand instinctively takes a better grip on his weapon, as with sidelong glance he waits the word of command.]
SOLDAN. Come! What are thou here for?
FRANCIS. To take thy chains from thee.
SOLDAN. I have no chans.
FRANCIS. O Soldan, are not these thy chains?
SOLDAN. [Grimly amused.] Ay: but thou wearest them.
FRANCIS. He that putteth chains upon others is chained also.
[A murmur of angry astonishment comes from the assembled councilor.]
AN EMIR. When is this man to die, Soldan?
SOLDAN. Not at thy bidding, emir. At mine.
COUNCILLORS. [In a fierce whisper of impatience.] Ay!
SOLDAN. Come hither! [The guard bring Francis to the foot of the dais.] I said not `bring him hither'. Stand back! [The guard fall back. The Soldan comes down from his throne, takes hold of the fetters, and weighs them in his hand.] So these are my chains that thou wearest?
FRANCIS. Very willingly, Soldan.
SOLDAN. [Sarcastically.] I thank thee . . . . Thinkest thou that I am in fear of thee?
[Francis looks from Soldan to suspended ring and back again; and there is a suspicion of amusement in his tone as he answers.
FRANCIS. I know not, Soldan.
[The Soldan snaps the thread. The ring falls. Francis stoops, picks up the ring, and hands it to the Soldan.
COUNCILLOR. Beware, Soldan!
SOLDAN. [Returning to his place.] Take from him his chains: his also. [The chains upon Francis and Brother Illuminato are struck off.] Stand away! Do not hold them! . . . . Prisoner, . . . where are my chains now?
FRANCIS. Upon thy heart, Soldan; yea, and upon thy soul. To us thou hast been gentle and gracious; but not unto thyself. For though thou givest freedom to others, to thine own self thou art yet a prisoner.
[The Soldan lays by the talisman he has been holding.
SOLDAN. And from this prison wherein I am – who shall set me free?
FRANCIS. Thou Prince of Majesty, holder of power and glory, give thyself into my hand, and I will lead thee.
SOLDAN. Whitner?
FRANCIS. To thy Lord and my Lord which died for us.
SOLDAN. My Lord, thou sayest!
FRANCIS. Ay; for the though thou see it not, His Light is already in thee. This is the Light which ligtheneth every man that cometh into the world.
SOLDAN. And thou, also, art a Christian?
FRANCIS. God knows I would I were worthy to be called so.
SOLDAN. Is the way, then, so hard?
FRANCIS. Nay; but most sweet, and easy, and comforting. And yet I stray!
[There is a pause: outside the light of day begins to fail.]
SOLDAN. How wouldst thou make me – a Christian?
FRANCIS. I would show thee Christ, Soldan. Or, if by that name thou know Him not, then by His other name which is Love, wherein also dwell Joy and Peace. This have I come – to show.
SOLDAN. Yea: speak!
FRANCIS.
Oh, hearken, for this is wonder!
Light looked down and beheld Drakness.
`Thither will I go,' said Light.
Peaace looked down and beheld War.
`Thither will I go,' said Peace.
Love looked won and beheld hatred.
`Thither will I go,' said Love.
So came Light, and shone.
So came Peace, and gave rest.
So came Love, and brought Life.
And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us.
Then was He betrayed, and given up into the hands of sinful men: Light to the darkness of Death, Peace unto the pains of Hell, Love to the separation of the grave. And because the power of Evil prevailed not against Him, these henceforth He holdeth, and they are His. So out of Darkness He wrought Light, and Peace out of the pains of Hell, and out of the prison-house of Death he bringeth us Life Eternal.
SOLDAN. Knowest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee?
FRANCIS. O Soldan, were it not true, wouldst thou not already have salin me?
SOLDAN. I may slay thee yet, prisoner: for I have not let thee go.
FRANCIS. What I have spoken thou hast heard. How wilt thou fear me less when I am dead?
FRANCIS. O Soldan, were it not true, wouldst thou not already have slain me?
SOLDAN. I may slay thee yet, prisoner: for I have not let thee go.
FRANCIS. What I have spoken thou hast heard. How wilt thou fear me less when I am dead?
SOLDAN. I . . . fear thee?
FRANCIS. When I am dead, Soldan thou wilt remember me.
SOLDAN. Go on, prisoner. Say what thou hast to say, while yet there is time.
[It begins to get dark.]
FRANCIS. Soldan, as I came hither, there met me in the way a great army of ants – many thousands of them, all hither and thither running without rest. What was their toil whose word they obeyed, I could not tell; but they were all very full of it – in a world of their own. So I stood and looked at them; but though very plainly I saw them, they saw not me. I was nothing to them. Yet, had I so wished, I could have killed every one of them.
SOLDAN. Wherefore dost though tell me this?
FRANCIS. Because thou art a great king, Soldan, and I am in thy powr; and which of us is to die first – thou or I – we know not. But God, whom we see not, knows.
SOLDAN. Which is to die first?
FRANCIS. Ay.
SOLDAN. Knowest thou not?
FRANCIS. No, Soldan: nor dost thou. For thou art in His hands, even as I am; and He careth for both alike, having for each of us the same compassion.
SOLDAN. As thou also for the ants?
FRANCIS. Yes, Soldan. And they may have had kings among them – yet I could not tell which was their king – they being all so much alike – even as we are.
SOLDAN. [To an attendant.] Slave, bring in the lamps . . . Thou and I alike, dost thou say?
FRANCIS. In the eyes of God, Soldan; ay, and of men also. For look! – thou hast hands, and feet, and so have I : and on each hand five fingers, and to each finger three joints; and at the end are nails. So also our bodies – search as thou wilt, we are made alike. Also what thou seest, I see; and what thou hearest, I hear. In all these things we are alike, Soldan, because God has so willed who made us.
[Lights are brought in; over the Soldan's throne is set a lamp. Round the wall stand torchbearers. The outer air goes dark[/center]
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