SECOND CHILD (_joyfully_). Yes, yes!
THIRD CHILD (_joyfully_). Yes, yes!
ALL CHILDREN (_clapping their hands_). Yes, yes!
CALIPH (_softly to Vizier_). Let us sit on this bench. I would know what
these children are playing.
[_They sit, but are not seen by children._]
FIRST CHILD (_taking his seat with great dignity_). I choose to be the
Cauzee!
SECOND CHILD (_taking his place behind the Cauzee_). I choose to be the
Officer!
THIRD CHILD. I choose to be Ali Cogia!
CAUZEE. Who chooses to be the Merchant?
[_Long pause; all the Children hang back._]
CAUZEE. Come, Zeyn, you be the Merchant.
ZEYN. Not I! The part does not please me.
OFFICER. Would you spoil everything, Zeyn?
ZEYN. Oh, well, then, I'll be the Merchant this time.
CAUZEE. Officer, bring in the accused and his accuser.
[_The Officer presents the Merchant and Ali Cogia before the Cauzee._]
CAUZEE. Ali Cogia, what charge have you to make against this Merchant?
ALI COGIA (_bowing_). Sir, when I journeyed from Bagdad seven years ago, I
left with this Merchant a jar. Now, into this jar I had put, with some
olives, a thousand pieces of gold. When I opened the jar, I found that it
had been entirely filled with olives; the gold had disappeared.
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