| (One of the rooms in
the palace). |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Talking alone)
The crab guards its own head with its own eyes. The partridge watches itself
with both the feathers and the eyes. My palace is being overtaken by all sorts
of characters. |
|
|
Before they get me, I’m going to see them like the partridge. And I’m going to guard my own head like the crab. |
| (He
walks to one side of the room and brings out a keg of palm wine. He begins
to pour it on the ground, making libation to his ancestors) |
|
|
I’m asking the leaders to stay with me. I’m seeking the assistance of Ogun
the god of Iron and of war, and all the gods in the entire land to stay with me.
Anyone who says I shouldn’t do my own thing, May the gods of the land set confusion,
commotion and disarray in his life. |
| (There is noise outside the palace
room. Some people are quarreling. They scream and abuse until they
burst into the room.) |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Startled) What.... is
the matter? What nonsense is this? |
| OJURI: |
|
(As they struggle) My lord, I told you, I said it that it won’t be possible. I said it
that your idea was impossible. I said it could not work in the palace. Then you thought I was hot-tempered.
You looked at me as if I was mad. |
| (The wives continue to struggle. Ojuri
is fighting with Abeke while Efumi and Omiri try to separate them |
| ABEKE |
|
Idiot, foolish woman. Witch.... witch....thief....thief...I’ll show you, I’ll discipline you. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Stop this nonsense before you annoy me. I shall...(Angrily) |
| (They stop the struggle) |
|
|
Why is it that we never have peace in this place? You all fight all the time in the palace.
Noise, noise, and fight. What! |
| OJURI: |
|
(Shaking her body) My lord, forgive me. It’s not my fault. It was this foolish woman. This stupid woman.
She didn’t
follow your instruction. She broke the order of seniority, which you laid down for
us. She
caused the whole trouble and I warned you before. I can’t fold my hands and watch. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Enough! Over to you Abeke. What actually happened? |
| ABEKE: |
|
I miscalculated my lord. I forgot the particular day. It was all a mistake. And I begged her but she refused.
And she started fighting me. Look at my dresses now; she tore everything. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Efumi, what’s your opinion? |
| EFUMI |
|
(Stammers)
It’s exactly as narrated my lord. But they...they fought and I begged them. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Ojuri and Abeke, you are both stupid. You are even more stupid than I expected.
I
wonder why you should quarrel over such a petty thing. You must know by now that it’s time you stop your minor quarrels.
Now depart and fight no more. |
| OJURI: |
|
(Complaining)
The matter is not something petty. This matter is not finished. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Finished or not, you must not talk about it again. If you don’t stop, I shall deal with all of you. |
| (They depart) |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Moving to one side of the room) When a wood insect gathers sticks,
it gathers it around itself. When the ‘elulu’
bird requests rain to fall, it rains on it’s own head. Let my enemies shatter in the midst of their bad wishes for
me. |
| (Knock on the door) |
|
|
Oh no!
Women again? They always disturb when I try to perform my rituals. |
| (Basa enters and greets) |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Angrily)
What is it? |
| BASA |
: |
I’m sorry for my intrusion my lord. My ears are full of stories these days.
And I think that I must consult you. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Speak,
speak quickly, because I must finish this thing I’m doing right now. |
| BASA: |
|
It’s about your son’s behavior. He now sees himself as
the King. He is always puffing and bloating all over the town with
followers dancing around him. If care is not taken, he’ll make sure
you abdicate. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Thank you Basa. I know about this already. That is why I strengthen and fortify myself daily with
rituals. Basa call Efunmi for me again. |
| (Exit Basa) |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Lamenting)
Oh! How I wish he falls from his horse and dies! The gods will not stay with him. |
| (The confused king sits down and begins to incise his body) |
