EText by Dagny
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in print or other media may be made without the express consent of the Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
Translated and adapted by
FRANK J. MORLOCK
C 2003
++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHARACTERS
THE SULTAN
ALMENORADE, princess
ORCANOR, general of the army
ELMIRA, confidant of Almenorade
HASSAN, confidant of the Sultan
TWO GUARDS of the Sultan
THE PROMPTER
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The action takes place in the palace of the Sultan.
SULTAN: Listen, dear Hassan, and be dumb.
Never open your mouth over what you will learn.
HASSAN: Lord, I am the most discreet of confidants;
I listen and say no word; speak, I am ready.
SULTAN: You know the dolorous martyrdom of my passion;
But you, you, my friend, I cannot say too much about it.
Ungrateful Almenorade, as she consumes my heart,
Still finds her conqueror in prince Orcanor.
I don't doubt her passion is extreme.
HASSAN: You think so, Lord?
SULTAN: Everything proves that she loves him.
But to assure myself of it, with this ambitious one,
I advanced his return to these parts today.
HASSAN: What is your plan? What! covered with glory,
You intend to show him, after this victory
He's just brought over the Moroccans?
SULTAN: When I want to speak, will you listen to me?
Made to preen, you think, thus the vulgar
Penetrate my intrigues! That's the usual fate
Of our ungrateful subjects; their curious desires
Dare raise their eyes to the secrets of the throne.
When the sword leaving its furrow shines and prepares,
They are still seen to raise their impudent head.
But I hear Orcanor. He's coming into this retreat
To express his love to the eyes of Almenorade.
Vile soul, vile ingrate, while you flatter yourself
You are going to feel a hundred dagger blows penetrate your heart.
(placing his hand on his dagger)
STRANGLER: But, sir, it's not yet the moment to kill him.
SULTAN: Eh, sir, I know that well.
Meddle with breathing and leave it to me.
(standing up)
Here's someone, I think. I'm not deceived.
Ah! it's Almenorade. O gods! how alluring she is!
(Almenorade and Elmira enter.)
ALMENORADE: I am seeking you, Lord, on this charming day,
To congratulate you on the fate of your arms.
SULTAN: It really is sweet for me, since in the booty
I have a lot of Moroccans for your slippers.
Seeing this mark of glory at your feet,
I will better experience the reward of victory.
But more happy still, if, forming each step,
It directs them to come to my arms.
In sharing my throne and my autocratic power
You will see your king, under your obedience,
Having no more desires, nor forming any wishes
Except to see in your life all happy moments.
ALMENORADE: O gods! me, Lord? I mustn't pretend.
You know that the most tender love of my heart
Will not be effaced; you know my prayers.
Think that you have approved this beautiful passion.
SULTAN: What, you resist me! you scorn my passion!
Ah, if I had thought that —I say nothing, madame
But Prince Orcanor that you are going to see
Must not have any hope concerning you.
Goodbye.
(Exit Sultan and Hassan.)
ALMENORADE: What has he told me? What, it's not a dream!
Into what terrifying abyss has such a love plunged me!
Orcanor's return provides all my happiness;
Now his return fills me with terror.
I fear for him, for myself, for this faithful love.
I must avoid him! What cruel pain!
To flee you, dear Orcanor, when the most tender love
Ought to crown you before the end of the day!
Elmira, support me! What advice ought I to follow?
As for you, frightful barbarian, no, I do not want to live.
ELMIRA: Madame, dissimulate, and in the presence of the sultan
Assume that sweet look which flatters a tender lover;
It's pleasant to deceive the tyrant you abhor,
When by so doing you save the lover you adore.
ALMENORADE: Well, today, this art is going to shine in me
For you, dear Orcanor. But what do I see, it's him?
(Orcanor and Ormin enter.)
ORCANOR: Yes, madame it is I that glory returns to you
In chains of love whose chains I cherish.
It alone makes heroes, while sighing for you
Cutting up heads and arms is a very sweet pleasure!
By containing the envy of miserly Acheron,
I hope to give more to life with you
Than enemies my arm has delivered to death.
What do I see! This hope is no longer permitted?
ALMENORADE: What are you saying? O heaven!
ORCANOR: You are sighing, madame!
You are shedding tears! Are you betraying my passion?
ALMENORADE: Do you believe that, Lord? A conqueror such as you
Of no mortal can be jealous?
Are you insulting the most tender lover
This heart full of you, my constant ardor?
ORCANOR: If you still love me, what can alarm you?
The marriage torches are going to be lit for us.
I no longer understand you. Ah! my dear princess
Who can so trouble this moment of frivolity?
ALMENORADE: Alas, cruel fate that's going to separate us.
O gods! I feel my heart ready to tear itself to pieces!
A very fatal love is going to cause our ruin.
What hand is right now being offered to me, dear prince!
This very day, an imperious master intends,
That in sharing his passion, I approve his love.
ORCANOR: And you are consenting to it?
ALMENORADE: Ah! let lightning fall on me,
Rather shatter in an explosion and be reduced to powder
Than to cease forever to adore and love
An unfortunate prince who's know too well how to charm me!
ORCANOR: Well, come, let's flee, there is still time.
Before I see again this monster that I abhor,
Even before the ingrate learns of my return,
We will be far from this fatal place.
ALMENORADE: I hear noise; it's him; calm your rage;
Trust in my love, prince, and leave things to me.
(Enter the Sultan, Hassan, Osmin, and guards.)
SULTAN: When I ordered you that I would await you
I surprise you here occupied with other cares,
Orcanor. What secret plan are you making
With Almenorade? Here, I am coming to learn it.
Speak, and without evasions.
ALMENORADE: He was looking for you, Lord.
SULTAN: No, I see despite him, the trouble of his heart.
All his efforts are for you. Unaware of my tenderness.
ALMENORADE: Ah! what a mistake you are making! You knew my
weakness.
He deceived me, the ingrate, and when I loved him.
As I was occupied with him while uniting myself to you
I learned that this conqueror loves a Moroccan.
That he wants to marry this infamous slut.
Because of this infamous marriage, since he knows how to outrage
me,
Without hesitation, I must, and I will avenge myself.
In these last regrets of a bitter sorrow
Pardon me, Lord, this righteous wrath!
By occupying myself with you, I see you effacing
The arrow with which his love knew how to strike me.
SULTAN: Orcanor, is it true? Speak without dissembling.
ORCANOR: Lord, the tender object of my soul is seized,
Whose too charming law I was following,
Will no longer wait to receive my vows.
I dare assure you, even before Madame
Nothing ever will extinguish this divine flame.
SULTAN: Is this the way you trifle with my credulity!
No, no, don't count on that any more, ingrates to my kindness.
I've heard everything, I know what's going on.
Expect no mercy from my just wrath.
(he draws his dagger to strike Orcanor)
You will perish.
PROMPTER Why, no, sir.
SULTAN: (turning towards Almenorade) You will perish.
PROMPTER: Stop then; that's not it.
SULTAN: But sir, I have to kill someone.
PROMPTER: I tell you no.
SULTAN: But it's in the play.
PROMPTER: And that's a mistake in the text.
SULTAN: What? Let's see.
STRANGLER: (coming on stage) Here, read for yourself.
SULTAN: But in the end!
PROMPTER: (looking) Ah, that is true!
SULTAN: Well, to teach you to read the errata better,
Imbecile, strangler, it's you who will perish.
(striking him)
PROMPTER: (in the arms of the guards)
How unlucky I am. I'm dying; let me be carried off.
But return to everybody, his money at the door.
CURTAIN