R.HoteSS- WOLE SOYINKA COLLECTED PLAYS 2 ‘Oxford New York OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESSMORNING JA dearing on the edge of the market, dominated by an ienmense odan tree. Iti Characters the village contre. The well of che bush school lank the stage on “7 rade window opens on t0 the stage firs l. There chee of Unie ScHoousos somu his head wife ATTENDANTS ON Tm ‘ats! sus ravounraE ‘Musiclans, Dancers, Mummers, ‘vutsce cms Prisoners, Traders, the Vale Almost as soon as she appears appears atthe window. (The chanting “Three times three are tine, etc) The teacher Lokunle, replaced by two of his pupils, aged roughly eleven, who rake a at Sidi, repeatedly clapping their bands across the mouth. Lakw cis done ia very smal knot, disappearing bencath a shiny Black He wears twentythreewinch-botiom trousers, and blanco-white tens shoes. Eaxunte: Let me take it LARUNEE: Let me. [Seizes the pail. Some water pills on him] suDx [delighted]: ‘There. Wet for your pains Have you no shame? EAKUNEE: That is what the seme si tote Have you no shame—at your age... Licking my bottom? But she was tickled Just thesame. s1Di: The school teacher i fll of stories ‘This moming. And now, if the leon Is over, may I have the pail? ! Ge4 COLLECTED PLAYS 2 LARUNtB: No, [have told you not to carry loads ‘On your head. But you are as stubborn ‘As anillerate goat. It is bad for the spine, And it shortens your neck, so that very soon. ‘You will have no neck at all. De you wish to look Squashed like my pupils’ drawings? stpt:Why should that worry me? Haven't you swom, ‘That my looks do not affect your love? Yesterday, dragging your knees in the dust ‘You said, Sidi if you were crooked or fat, ‘And your skin was scaly like a... LAKUNLE: Stop! supt: I only repeat what you said, Yes, and I will stand by every word I spoke. ‘you throw away your neck on that account? iat! Look, look at that [Makes a general sweep in the di “Who was it talked of shame cover up her... «+, shoulders? I can see quite ... quite ‘A good portion of —thae! And so 1 imagine ‘Can every man in the village. [dlers All of them, good-for-nothing saameless men Casting their lustful eyes where ‘They have no business... spi: Are you at that again?Why, I've done the fold So high and so tight, I can hardly breathe, And all beccuse you keep at me so much, Thave to leave my arms so I can use them . .. Or don’t you know that? TAKUNLE: You could wear something, ‘Most modest women do. But you, no. ‘You must run about naked in the streets THE LION AND THE jEWEr, the whole world knows of the madman Of Mlajile, who calls himself a teacher! / sit Sidi who makes the men choke In their cups, or you, with your big loud words ‘And no meaning? You and your ragged books ‘Dragging your fect to every threshold ~ ‘And rushing chem out agein as curse & ‘They call « fool—ev Or you with your 1g, arising out of envy: % For, as a woman, you have a smaller brain ‘Than mine./ Again | Pd like to know Just what gives you these thoughts ‘Of manly conceit.” ; AxUNLs [very very patronizing]: mene. sre len fr thar ick before. ‘no longer draw me into arguments 10 above your head. i the vighé words, chokes back}: ‘me the pail now. And if you ever dare To stop me in the streets again... LAKUNLE: Now, now, Sidi - .-6 COLLECTED PLAYS 3 you worry. Ina year or two ve mains which wil do Your pounding, which will grind your Wieur i getting in your eyes sip: O-oh. You really mean to tum ‘The whole world upside down, 2axunts: The world? Oh, that, Well, maybe later. Chatity, they say, begins at home. For now, it is this village I shall turn Inside out, Beginning with that crafty fogue, ‘Your past master of self-indulgence—Baroka. supi; Are you still on about the Bale? ‘What has he done to you? LAKUNLE: Hell find out. Soon enough, I'll ot bins know. sir: These thoughes of future wonders—do you bury them Or merely go mad and dream of them? TAEUNLE: A prophet has honour except In his own home. Wise men have been called mad Before me and after, many mote shall be So abused. But to answer you, the measure Is not entirely of my own Coinage.” = ‘What I boast is known in Lagos, that city Of magic, in Badagry where Suro women bathe I gold, even in smaller towns less than ‘Twelve miles from here . . . . ‘THs LION AND THE JRWEE stpx: Well go there. Go to these places where ‘Women would understand you If you teld them of your plans with which ‘You oppress me daily. Do you not know ‘What name they give you here? , Have you lost shame completely that jeérs ass you over. SARUNEB: No, I bave told you no. Shame belongs [Takes her hand, instantly rman must prepare to fight alone, him, a woman who... Can understand... like you. sup1: Ido? LAKUNLE: Sidi, my love will open your mind Like the chaste leaf in the morning, when ‘The sun first touches srr: Ifyou start that Thed enough of that nonsense yesterday. LAKUNLE: Nonsense? Nonsense? Do you hear? Docs aryl ten? Can the one Bear to listen to shis? Do. it Pee ie eer ae tors of ny sod To wash your fee? spi: You did what! LAKUNEZ: Wasted! Wasted! Sidi, my heart ‘Bursts into flowers with my love. LAKUNLi: Faith. Because I have faith. Ob Sidi, vow to, me your own undying love And I will scomm the jibes of these bush minds8 coLtEcrED rLavs 2 ‘Who now no better. Sweat, Sidi, Swear you will be my wife and I will Stand against earth, heaven, and the nine : Now there you go again. One little thing oo And you must chirtup like a &ickatoo, ‘You talk and talk and deafen me ‘With words which And make no meani ve told you, and I say it again 1 shall marry you today, next week Or any day you name. Bot my bride-price mutt fit be paid. Aka, now you tum away. But [tell you, Lakunle, I must have ‘The full bride-price. Will you make me A laughing-stock? Well, do as you please, ‘Bat Sidi will not make herself, A cheap bowl for the vil LARUNLE: A savage custo Rejected, denounced, Excommunieated, archaic, Buniliating, unspeakable, redundant, Retrogressive, remarkable, unpalatable, str: Is the bag empey? Why did = stop? 2axuNsE: I own only the Shorter Companion Dictionary, bur Thave ordeced ‘The Longer One—you wait! Dr: Just pay the price. LaKuNr® [witha sudden shout]: An ignoble custom, infamous, ignominioss ing our heritage before the world, Sidi, 1 do not seek a wife ‘To fetch and carry, Le : THE LION AND THE JEWEE ° To cook and seri To bring forth chilcren by the gross... s1p1; Heaven forgive you! Do you now scom Child-bearing in a wie? LAKUNLE: Of course Ido not. Lonly mean Ob Sidi, J wane wo wed Because I ove, the price. rant gi, can you not underand? TTo pay the price would te, ‘To buy « heifer off che marker ‘ial You'd be my chattel, my mere property. No, Sidi! [Very tenderly] ‘Together we shall —Nor on the floor—and cat, Not with fingers, be with knives ‘And forks, and breakable plates Like civilized beings. Twill not have you wait on me ‘Till Thave dined my All. 9 lawful wedded wife10 COLLECTED PLAYS 2 HE LION AND THE JEWEL Fn ‘The walte and we'll both learn the foxtrot Give me the bucket or they'll jeer And we'll spend the week-end in night clubs ar Ibadan, ./ [Enter a crowd of youths and drummers, the girls being in various stages show you the grandeur of towns srp1: Who has? giner Gini: The stranger. The man from the ounide world. ‘The clown who fell in the river for you. [They ell burst out ihn} 101: The one who rode on the devils own horse? Every time, yout action deceives me SECOND Grzr: Yes, che same. The stranger with the one-eyed box. ‘Making me think that you mecely wish [she demonstrates the action of a camera anvidst admiring sisters.) ‘To whisper something in my car, ‘ritep Grn: And he brought his new horse right into the village ‘Then comes this licking of my lips with yours, sglidre this time. This one has only rwo feet. You should 1s 0 unclean. And then, have seen him, Be-e-rt, Ee sound you make—Pyout !" [Runs round the platform ied cn imaginary motor-bike.] Wy]: W's never any use, ast erm: The images? He brought them all. There was hardly Bosh gicl you are, bush gir! you'll always be; any part of the village which does nor show in the book. Uneivilized and primitive—bush giel! [Clicks the imaginary shuter} Tinted you a all educated men— 101: The book? Did you see the book? ‘And Christians—kiss their wives, Had he the precious book Te is the way of civilized romance. ‘That would bestow upon me s1p1 [igiely]: A way you mean, 19 avoid Beauty beyond the dreams of a goddess? Payment of lawful bride-price For so he sid. ‘The book which would announce ‘This beauty to the world— ‘Have you seen it? ‘rma ora: Yes, yes, he did, But the Bale is stil feasting his eyes Romance is the swectennig of the soul | ‘on the images. Oh, Sidi, he was right. You are beautifal. On the ‘With fragrance offered by the siricken heart. | cover of the book is an image of you from here [touches the top suD1 flboks ot him in wonder for ¢ while: of her head] to hese [her stomach, And in the midale leaves, Avvay with you. The village says you're mad, from the beginning of one leaf right across to the end of ‘And I begin to understand. * another, is one of you from head to toe. Do you remember it? Twonder that they let you cun the school | It was the one for which he made you stretch your arms You and your talk, You'll ruin your pupils too | towards the sun, [Raptureusly,] Ob, Sidi, you looked as if, at ‘And then they'll otter madness jut like you. that moment, the sua himself had been your lover. [They all [Noise ffiage.|” ‘969 with pretended shock at this blasphemy and one slaps her ‘There are people coming ‘playflly om the bxittocks.] |n cortEerap PLAYS 2 sinsz orn: The Bele is jealous, but he pretends to be proud of you, ‘And when this man tells him how famous you are in the ‘capital, he pretends to be pleased, saying how much honour and fame you have brought to the village. s1p1 [with amazement]: Is not Baco in the book: at all? stconp ort [eordenptuods]: Ob yes, it is. But it would have been much better for the Bale ifthe stranger had omitted him altogether. His image is in 2 little corner somewhere in the Bok, and even that comer he ares with one ofthe vile str: Is thatthe teuth? Swear! Ask Ogun to Strike you dead. ‘crn: Ogun scrike me dead if lie, ‘spt; If that is true, then I am. more esteemed ‘Than Bale Baroka, ‘The Lion of Iiujinle. ‘This means that Lam greater than Tam to the whole wide world, would demean my worth to wed TAKUNLE: Ob, Sidi, don’t! supt [plunging into an enjoyment of Lakunle's misery} ee THE LION AND THE JeWw2L B ‘Wall, don't you know? Sidi is more important even than the Bale. More famous than that panther of the trees. He is beneath me now— ‘Your fearless rake, the scourge of womanhood! But now, ‘He shares the corner “With the lowest of th ‘With the dug-out village ltrine! ‘While IHow many leaves did my own image take? Hurray! I'm beautiful! Hlurray for the wandering stranger! crown: Hurray for the Lagos man! / s1D1 [wildly excited]: I know. Let us dance the dance of the lost ‘Traveller. suours: Yes, le’, s1D1; Who will dance the devil-horse? ‘You, you, you, and you. [The jour girls fall out.] A python, Who will dance the snake? Ha ba! Your eyes are shifty and your ways are sly. [The selected youths is pushed out amide fers] "The seranger. We've got to have the being. From the mad outer world .... You there, No, you have never felt the surge OF burning liquor in your milky veins, ‘Who can we pick that knows the walk of drunks? You? . . . No, the thoughe itself “Would imock you out assure es wit [Tuas round slowly to where Lakunl ‘Come on book-worm, you'll pay his part.u CorLECTED PLAYS 2 TARUELE: No, no. I've never been drunk in all my life sipr: We know. But your father drank so much, He must have drunk your share, and that Of his great grandsons. ‘exape]: T won't take part. zaxun1: I cannot stay. ly time to take Primary four in Geography. sub1 [goes over to the window and throws it open]: Did you think your pupils would remain in school ‘Now that the stranger has returned? The village is on holiday, you fool. No, no, I won't. This foolery bores me. This a game of idiots. Ihave work of more importance, lending down: ever Lekunle who has been seated forcibly on the plasm: ‘You ate dressed like him You look like him ‘You speak his tongue ‘You think like him ‘You're just 2s clumsy Ja your Lages ways sme, keoping sp a steady They go faster and faster and chant faster and faster with the sixth or seventh, Lakeunle has obviously had enogh,| LARUNES [raising his voice above the die]: All right! I'l do it. Come now, let's get it over with. 4 [A terrific shout and a lop of drums. Lakunle enters te davce with enthusiasm. He tales over from Sidi, all over the stage os the jungle, leaves the right sopstagecler for the four girls who are to dance the motet-car. A mime follows of the entry into Tiyjinle, and hts short stay among the villagers. four girs eruch on the fi swhels of «car. Lekunle dives their spacing, then takes He alone does not dence. He does reais ing. Soft throbbing ‘mide, and sits on air. JHE LION AND THE dev, gradually feat hie by sein his chance pinch he gilt baoms. One edly back into the ails Iga caaareg od _fros soncurhere, ote. His nerves go rapily and he recuperates ‘himself by copious draughts. He is soon tipsy, bales violently with the sndergrowth and cases silently as he swats the les off his tortured body. ‘Suddenly, from someuikere in the bush comes the sound of a girl singing, The Traveller shakes his head but the sound persists 4 good pestion fora take. Backwards and forwara so closely glued 0 the ins that he puts forward care36 COLLECTED PLAYS 3 aay jy eg hor. lagers. The tame cai has disappeared and lager. They are in an ugly mood, and 1 sudden sop as Baroks the Bale, wiry, goateed, ty-tivo years, himself emerges at this point fron rotate or kneeling with the greetings cept Lake who begins to eck off] of Rebipes?, "Babe et banoxa: Akowe, Teacher wa. Misita Lakunle, [As the others take up the ery ‘Mista Lakunle he is forced to stop. “He returns and bows deeply from the waist] AKUNLE: A good morning to you sir. BAROKA: Gur morin gue motin, nghebn! That is ‘All we get from ‘alakowe’. You call at his house Hoping he sends for beer, but all you get is Guru morin. Will guru morin wet my throat? ‘Well, well our man of knowledge, I hope you have no Query for an old man today. TAKUNLE: No complaints, marowA: And we are not feuding.in something, Thave forgotten. LAKUNLE: Fouding sir? I sce no cause at all. zanoKa:Well, the play was much alive until I came. “And now everything stops, and you were leaving ‘Us. Afier all, Thauew the story and T came in Right on cue. It makes me feel as if I was ‘Chief Base. EAKUNLE: One hardly thinks the Bale would have the time For such childish nonsense. anowA: A-ah Miscor Lakunle.Without these things you cal, ‘Nonsense, a Bale's life would be pretty dull, ‘Wall, now that you sey [am welcome, shall we ‘THE LION AND THE JEWEL y BAKUNLE [me fiche in dap To wake his brain. [Ais uplifed arm being proffered, Latuale quickly ecllects and neds his head vigorously. So the play is back in performance. illagers agers on his behalf. He orders dry right, and orders « feast in his honour. wotegraghs of the ‘on Sidi dancing with icf, who nods in consent, sent for. The stranger arranges Si ill sorts of magazine i emnerll yleaglsk ac Detar ol the clanityt0 happen hand eld this mouth. Lakunle's ‘What did I say? You played him to the bone, ‘would have been the life for you, eel cere [Point contemptucusy tothe school} Baxoxa: And where would the village be, robbed of Such wisdom 2s Mister Lakunle dispenses Daily? Who would tell us where we go wrong? Bb, Mister Lakunle? s1D1 [hardly Usening, sill the fl rip of her excitement}: to find the man? Inhis dipping tongue. You see book-man ‘We cannot really do ‘Without your head,a8 COLLECTED PLAYS 2 ing by whe eccompanied him on his entry, stands a resecul diaance evay, sting a the floc of women in flight. From the folds of his “agheda! he brings ont his exp heel Ys road by the rare. as victures of herse! une ol fa dei Selec iad ‘ortune is with me. I wet going to your house to see you. led out of her ocaupation.]: What! Oh, it is you, Sadikeu, :U: The Lion sent me. He wisbes you well. Thank him for me. [Then excitedly] Have you seen these? Have you'seen these images-of me ‘Wrought by the man from the ca Have you felt the gl ‘Smoother by far th sapixu: I have. I saw them as soon 2s the city man came. .. . Sidi bring a message from my lord. [Jerks her head at Lakunle,] Shall we draw aside « litle? ‘Than you would a eunuch. saprxu: Then, in at few words as it takes to tell, Baroke wants ‘you for a wife, LARUN:E [bounds forward, dropping the weed]: ‘What! The greedy dog! Insatiste camel of 2 foolish, doting race Is he at his tricks again? stoi: Be quiet, “Kunle. You get so tiresome. “The message is for me, not you. LAKUNLH [down on his knces a once. Covers Sid's hands with kisses: My Roth, my Rachel, Esther, Baththeba ‘Thou sam of fabled perfections From Genesis to the Revelations Listen not to the voice of this infidel. . .THE LION AND THE JEWEL ar » coutmernp rays a 7 sit [snatches her hand away]: Can you not see? Because he sees my wort ‘Now thats your other game: Intend and mulled above is owns Giving me funny names you pick up 5 Because he ean aleady hear In your wre:ched books, The and their songs ‘My name is Sidi. And now, let me be, In the incomparable, ‘My name is Sidi, and 1 am beatiful, | While be Bion ergo. ery ‘The stranger rook my beaut | ‘He seeks to have me as his pros and placed iia my banda ‘Where I must fade beneath his jealous hold. Here, here it is. Tneed no funny names ‘bb, Sadik, . To tell me of my fame. ‘The school-man here has taught me certain things Loveliness beyond the jewels ofa throne— ‘And ray images have taught me ll the res. ‘That is what he said, Baroka merely seeks to raise his manhood sapinu [glefilly |: Well, will you be Batoka’s own jewel? Above my beauty. ‘Will you be his sweetest princess, soothing him on weary He seeks new fame aight? ‘What answer shal I give my Tord? ‘As the one man who has possessed s1p3 [wags her finger playful ‘woman.]: The jewel of Ilujin! Ha ha, Sadiku of the honey tongue. Sadiku, head of the Lion’s wives, ‘You'll make no prey of Sidi with your wooing tongue [Not this Sidi whose fame has spread to Lagos ‘And beyond the seas. rans with satisfaction and rises) i have you considered what life of bliss awaits you? swears to take no other wife afier you. Do you know what it is to be the Bale’s last wife? I'l tell you. When he dies— | and that should not be Long; even the Lion has to die sometime well, wher he docs, it means that you will have the honour ‘of being the senior wife of the new Bale. And just chink, until Bazoka dies, you shall be his favourite. No living in the thous for you, my git. Your place will always be in che palace; fist as the latest bride, and afterwards, asthe head of the new harem. ... It isa rich life, Sidi I know. have been in that position for forty-one years. spi: You waste your breath. . | ‘Why did Baroka not request my hand No notice of my velvet skin, Before che seeanger How smooth itis! Brought his book of images? And no man ever thought ‘Why did the Lion not bestow his gift To praise the fulnes of my breast... Before my face was lauded to the world? axons [leden with guilt and full of cpolegy-|s Racecar: —2 coutEcTED PLAYS 2 ‘Well, Sidi, I did think . . . Bar fomehow it wat not the proper thing. npr [igices the in Beckoning insatiate men to certain doom, ‘And teeth that la the sign of happiness, Strong and evenly, beaming full of life. Be just, Sadiku, Compare my image and your lord’s— An age of difference! See how the water glistens on my face Like the dew-moistened leaves on a Harmattan moming is like a leather piece a the saddle of his horse, ke scattered ewists of gratt— sven greet— Bet chard sod Hla cr anes fe! Sadiku, Tam young and brimming; he is spent, Lam the twinkle of a jewel But he is the hind quarters of lion! sapnnu coe at et fom pes amar: May Sang For most surely some angry god has taken ind and walks away. Stops again cs if you would not be his wife, ‘would you at least come to supper at his house tonight. There isa small feast in your honour. He wishes to tell you how happy ‘bei that the grest capital city has done so much honour to a daughter of Hjinle. You have brought great fame to your people. / : (as THE LION AND THE JnweL 23 s11: Ho ho! Do you think that I was only bora Yesterday? ‘The tales of Baroka's lite suppers, Tknow all. Tell your lord that Sidi does not sup with stor: Can you deny that Every woman who has supped with him one night, ‘Becomes his wife or concubine the next? ine, but contre: to talk]s known even in the larger towns. the Public Works attempt To build the railway through Mujinle, Sworn against our progress... yes... ‘The track should bave been lad just along ‘The ourkirss, Wel, the workers came, in fact Ie was prisoners who were brought to do ‘The harder part... ro break the jungle's back, [Ester the prisoners, guarded by two warders. A white surveyor sects fs map (kek bles, spas, ec), The foes ts Wp wits his comp stool, table et. erects the unella over bins and ampacks the usual be of bush comforts—seda siphon, whisky betl, ‘and geometric sandwiches. His map consulted, he directs the sweat tears to where to work. They begin feling, mauches swinging, log gig lt tsi oft war gts mel pron od on gong ot rude triangle, etc). The two p leaders andthe others fil he chor ip or, Tala’, “Ghe je on ipa’ et]4 contaeran PLavs 3 LARUNtn: They marked the route with stakes, te ‘Through the jungle and began the tracks. Trade, Progress, adventure, success, civilization, (The wrestler enters, stands hori later wth the Bele himself who soon They dissppee. The work connues, the surveyor ocapes himself with the fly-whise ond whisky. Shertly aftr, ¢ bull-roarer is heard. The prisoner alert, pic up agen, The bul-roarer continues and farther, moving in circles, so that it eppecrs to nnd them. The foreman the fr to beck nd then suprised to rove. Baroka enters a few minutes later accompanied by some attendants ‘and preceded by a young git! bearing a calabask bowl. The surveyor, ‘angry and threatening, is preveiled upon to open his gift. From it he id notes aid kala mats. Miatual understondlng 's reyor frowns rubs his chin, and consues His map. Resexamines the contents ofthe bowl, shakes his heod, Ielp the surveyor peck and they leave wich tee ents round each aber foliowed by the surveyors booty.) LARUME [as the lst ofthe procession disappears, shakes his it at them, siamping on the ground}: ‘And railways would do just that, forcing Givilization at his door. He foresaw it ‘And he barred the gates, securing fast His dogs and ho ‘THE LION AND THE JaWweE as Baroke has such a selective eye, none suits him [His eyes truly light up. Sidi and Sadie snigger, tip-toe offtage.] «Yes, one must grant him that. ‘Ah, I sometimes wish | led his kind of life. Such luscious boroms make his nighely pillow. Tam sure he keeps a time-table just as Ido at school. Only way to ensure far play. t be healthy to Keep going as he does. ‘Are small and always red with wine He must” + ++No! I do not envy him! [Baroka in bed, naked except for baggy trousers, slflength. I is a rich bedroom covered in animal id rugs. Weapons round the traction with a current Favourite ‘She does this by frst gently with her forefinger. Thet, wits herdly « beak, she pull ou the hair between her finger end the tun with a sudden sharp moverent, Bare Then a aspirated ‘Aaland a look of complete over bis face.) ravounrTE: Do I improve my lord? BAROKA: You are still somewhat over-gentle with the pull As if you feared to hurt the panther of the trees. ‘Be sharp and sweet Like the swift sting of a vicious wasp For there she pleasuxe ies—the cooling aftermath, ravourrre: [ll earn, my lord, aroxa: You have not time, my dear, ‘Tonight I hope to take another wife. And the honour of this task, you know,26 COLLECTED PLAYS a Belongs by right to my lates choice, Baccheas at wrthar Jehad in it the scorpion’s sudden sting { ‘Without its poison. Te was an angry pull; you tried to hurt For I bad made you wrathful with my boast, ‘But now your anger flows in my blood stream. How sweet icis! A-ah! That was sweeter sil think perhaps that I shall let you stay, The sole out-pullee of my swest-bathed hairs, Ach! [Sits up suddenly and rubs the core pont angrily Now that had far more pain than pleasure Vengeful creature, you did not caress The area of extraction long enough! [Enter into hes lap.) Abs! Here comes Sadik. Do you bring some balm, To soothe the smart of my misused armpit? ‘Away, you enemy! [Exe the Favorrit] SADIZU: My lord BAROKA: You have my leave to speak. “What did she say? SADIKU: She will not my lord. I did my best, but she will have none of you. axoxa: It follows the pattern—a firm refusal ‘At the start. Why will che not? SADIKU: That isthe strange part of it. She says you're much too old. If you ask me, I think that she is really off her head. All this excitement of the books has been too much for her. BaROKA [>prings to his fect): She says... That Tam old ‘That Iam much too old? Did a slight Unripened gid card the incredible words with my ears, and I thought the world was mad. Banoxa: But is it possible, Sadiku? Is this right? ‘She goes down on her knees at once and bows her head | | | \ | A THR LION AND THR JRWRE a7 ‘And save the farmers’ goats fom further harm? ‘And does she say I'm old? Did Inot, co announce the Harmattan, Climb to the top of the silk-eotton tres, Break the first pod, and scatter tasselled seeds To the four wind:—and this but yesterday? Do any of my wives report A Gling in my mackin “The strongest of them all ‘Scill wearies long before the Lion does! “The rich mustiness of age . Come hither, soothe me, 8: ‘copy of the magazine. Opens it and begins to study the piswes. He eaves a long sigh] ‘That is good, Sadiku, very good. Had she consented and my purpose filed, Twould have sunk with shame. sapigu: My lord, I do not understand. 2AROKA: The time has come when I can fool myself No more. Iam no man, Sadiku. My manhoodBAR COLLRETRD PLAYS a Ended near a week ago. SADIEU: The gods forbid. I wanted Sidi because I still hoped — \ ‘A foolish thought I know, but still hoped ‘That, with a virgin young and hot within, My fling strength would rise and save my pride. [Sadia begins ] ig Hever to accept The worst; and so I pandered to my vanity, When mankood must, it ends, “The well of living, eapped beyond its depth, Dries up, and mocks the orastel in the end, Tam withered and unsepped, the joy (Of ballad-mongers, che aged butt (OF youth's aldey. ‘Who are my eldest, my most faithful wife, Bat if you dare parade my shame before the woeld {Sadia shakes her head in protest and begins fo strok 3 of his fet with renewed tendermet. Baroka sighs and falls back slowly.} ‘How irritable I have grown of late Such doubts to harbour of your loyalty... But this disaster is too much for one Checked thas asI upon the prime of youth, ‘That rains chat blessed me from my birth Number a meagre sixty-two; While my grandfather, chat man of tak, Fathered two song, late on sixty-five, But Okiki, my father beat them all Producing female wins at sixty-seven, “Why then must I, descendant of these lions Focswear my wives at « youthful sixty-two My veins of life run dry, my manhood gone! [His voice goes drowsy; Satie sighs and moans and sareses his fet. Hs face lights up suddealy with rapture] Sango bear witness! These weary feet . At TRE LION AND THE JEWEL ‘Have felt the loving hands of much design Jn women. ‘My soles have felt the scratch of barsh, Gravelled hands. ‘They have borne the heaviness of clumsy, Gorilla paws. . ‘And I bave known the tease of tiny, Dainty hands, ‘Toy-like hands that tantalized My eager senses, emi of thrills to come Remaining Unfulfilled because the fingers Encate a sweet sensuality which age Wile deer. Aby jayi! Beyond a doubt wlieaeact bens [Fal arp] /