Damask Drum

In Damask Drum, an old gardener falls in love with a beautiful Lady. He is tricked by two boys into believing that if he beats a drum at night, she will come to him. But the drum is magical, and although he who plays it doesn’t know this, it makes no sound. The old man beats it in vain, until he is so dejected that he drowns himself. Upon learning of the poor man’s tragic end, the Lady is deeply affected by what has been done in her name. The gardener, who has turned into an angry demon, now comes back to haunt the Lady whom he (wrongly) believes spurned him: he doesn’t know that she couldn’t hear the sound of the charmed drum. ‘Beat it once more’ she says to him, ‘I’m sure I’ll hear it this time’.