And I shall sharpen my sword upon my thigh.

HASSAN
And I shall study the reasons of the excessive ugliness of the pattern
of this carpet.

CALIPH
Hassan, I will join thee: thou art a man of taste.







SCENE II

(See ACT I, last Scene)


Again, the street outside the house--the Street of the Fountain,
with the balcony of RAFI and the balcony of YASMIN opposite.
Cold light before dawn.

(On the steps of the Fountain, two tired MENDICANTS asleep.
One slowly rubs his eyes and looks round him.
A paper comes floating down. One tired MAN lazily catches it.)

FIRST LOITERER
Here comes a new chapter of the Koran falling down from heaven.