Part 2 (2/2)

She was not thankless, I disliked her not, And in the end I married her. And she Even to this very day thinks that I am A Persian, and she calls me Ha.s.san, not Barak. And so I live with her, and I Am poor indeed after my former state, But richer than a prince now that I find You who are dearer to me than a son, Now that I find my Prince Calaf alive.

(_Kneels._)

CALAF.

's.h.!.+ Speak no name! On that disastrous day I hied me with my father to the Palace.

We s.n.a.t.c.hed what precious things we could, and fled, We and my mother, out of Astrakhan, All three in beggars' garb.

BARAK (_weeps_).

Prince, say no more!

My heart is breaking. Timur, my n.o.ble King, The Queen herself in such sad lowliness.

But are they yet alive?

CALAF.

They are alive, Barak. They both are living. And after that, Wandering still farther, in the end we came Unto the city of the Carcasenes.

BARAK (_rises_).

O say no more! I have heard enough of grief...

And yet I see you as a knight attired.

Tell me how fortune favoured you at last.

CALAF.

Tell you how fortune--_favoured_ me? You jest!

But I will tell you how I fared. The Khan Of Berlas hath a favourite sparrow-hawk, That with his jesses to the forest flew.

By some good chance I caught this hawk, and brought him Home to the Khan, who questioned of my name.

I hid my birth, and painted myself poor, A porter of burdens, and my parents ill.

Straightway he sends them to the hospital... (_Weeps._) Barak, thy King, thy Queen, in a hospital!

BARAK.

Merciful G.o.d!

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