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THE

RETURN OF THE DRUSES

A TRAGEDY

PERSONS.

The Grand-Master's Prefect.

The Patriarch's Nuncio.

The Republic's Admiral.

LOYS DE DREUX, Knight-Novice.

Initiated Druses-DJABAL, KHALIL, ANAEL, MAANI, KAR-
SHOOK, RAGHIB, AYOOB, and others.

Uninitiated Druses.

Prefect's Guard. Nuncio's Attendants. Admiral's Force.

TIME, 14

PLACE.-An Islet of the Southern Sporades, colonized by Druses of Lebanon, and garrisoned by the Knights-Hospitallers of Rhodes.

SCENE. A Hall in the Prefect's Palace.

THE

RETURN OF THE DRUSES.

1843.

ACT I.

Enter stealthily KARSHOOK, RAGHIB, AYOOB and other initiated Druses, each as he enters casting off a robe that conceals his distinctive black vest and white turban; then, as giving a loose to exultation,

Karshook. The moon is carried off in purple fire: Day breaks at last! Break glory, with the day, On Djabal's dread incarnate mystery

Now ready to resume its pristine shape

Of Hakeem, as the Khalif vanished erst

In what seemed death to uninstructed eyes,

On red Mokattam's verge-our Founder's flesh,
As he resumes our Founder's function!

-Death

Raghib.
Sweep to the Christian Prefect that enslaved

So long us sad Druse exiles o'er the sea!

Ayoob. Most joy be thine, O Mother-mount! Thy

brood

Returns to thee, no outcasts as we left,

But thus-but thus! Behind, our Prefect's corse;
Before, a presence like the morning-thine,

Absolute Djabal late,—God Hakeem now
That day breaks!

Karshook.

Off then, with disguise at last!

As from our forms this hateful garb we strip,
Lose every tongue its glozing accent too,
Discard each limb the ignoble gesture! Cry,
'T is the Druse Nation, warders on our Mount
Of the world's secret, since the birth of time,
-No kindred slips, no offsets from thy stock,
No spawn of Christians are we, Prefect, we
Who rise

Ayoob.

Raghib.

Who shout

Who seize, a first-fruits, ha—

Spoil of the spoiler ! Brave!

[They begin to tear down, and to dispute for, the

[blocks in formation]

Take anything beside! Lo, spire on spire,

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