Stage Version of Browning's Tragedy

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Excerpt from Stage Version of Browning's Tragedy: The Return of the DrusesAct I. opens at dawn of the day when the Druses, long oppressed by the Knights of Rhodes, are about to throw off their yoke. They had placed themselves under the Knights' protection on settling in the island, driven there when Osman the Turk overran their country. Their "protectors" have become oppressors, but Djabal, the son of their old sheiks, saved by Maani from the Prefect's massacre of his family, is on this day to slay the Prefect, assume the divinity which according to the Druse creed is made manifest at intervals in great leaders, and conduct them, a free people, once more to their home on Mount Lebanon.A group of men, initiated in this plan and in the Druse mysteries, are exulting fiercely in their anticipated vengeance. They begin to loot the Hall. Khalil enters, upbraiding them that at this critical moment they thus risk ruin. Their Prefect is on his way back from Rhodes. He has given the island up to the Church, selling the bishopric to the Nuncio, also on his way thither. But Djabal outwits them by a treaty with Venice, whereby the great republic will befriend the Druses, and they in turn give the island to her on their departure.Three watchers enter successively. The Prefect's ship is at hand, the Nuncio's approaching, the Venetian ships are in sight. But, with the Prefect, Loys comes too, the one Knight Djabal would spare.Loys enters. He embarrasses the rebellion. Karshook proposes to stab him and clear their path. Khalil saves him, and goes to tell Djabal. Loys, left alone, rejoices in the tidings he bears. He has had the Prefect deposed and been made governor in his stead.Djabal enters. At this climax of his work he is stricken with loathing for the imposture he must now practise in pretending to become a god. He resolves to confess himself no Hakeem, merely a human leader.Khalil enters, showing him how nothing short of godship will suffice the people, then summons him to Anael, his bride. But it is she who has aroused his conscience. Her pure devotion has accused his falsity. He goes, bent upon confessing to her.Interlude. Dance of the Druse Maidens in honor of the Khalif, his deliverance of the people, and his divine exaltation.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.