The Tent of the Arabs

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DRAMATIS PERSONAE THE KING BEL-NARB, camel-driver AOOB, camel-driver THE CHAMBERLAIN ZABRA, a notable EZNARZA, a gypsy of the desert

SCENE:--Outside the gate of the city of Thalanna.

TIME:-- Uncertain.

Bel-Narb

By evening we shall be in the desert again.

Aoob

Yes.

Bel-Narb

Then no more city for us for many weeks.

Aoob

Ah!

Bel-Narb

We shall see the lights come out, looking back from the camel-track; that is the last we shall see of it.

Aoob

We shall be in the desert then.

Bel-Narb

The old angry desert.

Aoob

How cunningly the desert hides his wells. You would say he had an enmity with man. He does not welcome you as the cities do.

Bel-Narb

He has an enmity. I hate the desert.

Aoob

I think there is nothing in the world so beautiful as cities.

Bel-Narb

Cities are beautiful things.

Aoob

I think they are loveliest a little after dawn when night falls off from the houses. They draw it away from them slowly and let it fall like a cloak and stand quite naked in their beauty to shine in some broad river; and the light comes up and kisses them on the forehead. I think they are loveliest then. The voices of men and women begin to arise in the streets, scarce audible, one by one, till a slow loud murmur arises and all the voices are one. I often think the city speaks to me then: she says in that voice of hers, "Aoob, Aoob, who one of these days shall die, I am not earthly, I have been always, I shall not die."

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