The Shopkeeper Turned Gentleman Part 21

SCENE VII.--COVIELLE (_alone_).

Ah! ah! ah! Upon my soul, this is most absurd. What a dupe! Had he learnt his part by heart, he would not have played it better. Ah! ah!

ah!

SCENE VIII.--DORANTE, COVIELLE.

COV. I beg of you, Sir, to help us here in a little affair we have in hand.

DOR. Hallo! Covielle, who would have known you again? What a get up!

COV. As you see. Ah! ah! ah!

DOR. What are you laughing at?

COV. At a thing worth laughing at, I can tell you.

DOR. What is it?

COV. You would never guess the stratagem we have invented to induce Mr. Jourdain to give my master his daughter in marriage.

DOR. I certainly can't guess what it is, but I can guess that it will succeed since you are at the head of affairs.

COV. I know, Sir, that the animal is appreciated by you.

DOR. Tell me what you are about.

COV. Kindly go a little on one side to make room for what I see coming. You will be able to have a view of a part of the business whilst I explain the rest to you.

SCENE IX.--THE TURKISH CEREMONY. [Footnote: Lulli composed the music, and acted the part of the Mufti.]

THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, TURKS (_a.s.sisting the_ MUFTI), SINGERS and DANCERS.

SIX TURKS _enter gravely, two and two at the sound of instruments.

They carry three carpets which they lift very high as they dance several dances The_ TURKS _pa.s.s under the carpets, singing and range themselves on each side of the stage. The_ MUFTI, _accompanied by_ DERVISHES, _closes the march. The_ TURKS _then spread the carpets on the ground, and kneel down upon them. The_ MUFTI _and the_ DERVISHES _stand up in the middle of them; and while the_ MUFTI _invokes Mahomet in dumb contortions and grimaces the_ TURKS _prostrate themselves to the ground, singing_ Alli, _raising their hands to heaven, singing_ Alla, _and continue so alternately to the end of the invocation; after which they all rise up, singing_, Alla eckber, _and two_ DERVISHES _go and fetch_ MR. JOURDAIN.

SCENE X.--THE MUFTI, DERVISH, TURKISH SINGERS _and_ DANCERS. MR.

JOURDAIN, _dressed like a Turk, his head shaved, without any turban or sword_.

THE MUFTI (_to_ MR. JOURDAIN).

[1] Se ti sabir, Ti respondir; Se non sabir, Tazir, tazir.

Mi star muphti, Ti qui star si?

Non intendir; Tazir, tazir. [2]

[1]

_Lingua franca,_ jargon composed of Italian, Spanish, &c., and spoken in the Levant.

[2]

If you understand, Answer; If you do not understand, Hold thy peace, hold thy peace.

I am the Mufti

(TWO DERVISHES _retire with_ MR. JOURDAIN.)

SCENE XI.--THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, TURKS, _singing and dancing_.

MUF. Dice, Turque, qui star quista? Anabatista? anabatista? [Say, Turk, who is this? Is he Anabaptist? Anabaptist?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Zuinglista? [A Zwinglian?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Coffita? [A Capht?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Hussita? Morista? Fronista? [A Hussite? a Moor? a Phronist?]

TUR. Ioc, ioc; ioc. [No, no, no.]

MUF. Ioc, ioc, ioc. Star pagana? [No, no, no. Is he a pagan?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Luterana? [A Lutheran?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Puritana? [A Puritan?]

TUR. Ioc. [No.]

MUF. Bramina? Moffina? Zurina? [A Brahmin? a Moffian? a Zurian?]

TUR. Ioc, ioc, ioc. [No, no, no.]