Scene II.

_The_ Dervise Al-Hafi, Saladin, _and_ Sittah.

AL-HAFI.

The gold from Egypt, I suppose, is come. Say, is it much?

SALADIN.

What! have you heard of it?

AL-HAFI.

Not I. I thought I should receive it here.

SALADIN (_pacing thoughtfully to and fro_).

Sittah has won a thousand dinars, pay them.

AL-HAFI.

Pay without getting. That is worse than nothing! And still to Sittah--once again for chess! But let us see the board; how stands the game?

SITTAH.

You grudge me my good fortune?

AL-HAFI (_examining the board_).

Grudge you? When-- You know too well----

SITTAH (_making signs to him_).

Oh, hush! Al-Hafi, hush!

AL-HAFI (_still examining the board_).

Don't grudge it to yourself.

SITTAH.

Al-Hafi, hush!

AL-HAFI.

And were the white men yours? You gave the check?

SITTAH.

'Tis well he does not hear.

AL-HAFI.

The move is his.

SITTAH (_approaching nearer_).

Then promise me that I shall have the money.

AL-HAFI (_still intent upon the board_).

You shall receive it as you've always done.

SITTAH.

How! are you mad?

AL-HAFI.

The game's not over yet. You have not lost it, Saladin.

SALADIN (_paying no attention_).

Oh, yes; Pay down the money.

AL-HAFI.

Pay! here stands the queen.

SALADIN (_still heedless_).

She's of no use; she's lost.

SITTAH.

Do say that I May send and fetch the gold.

AL-HAFI (_still studying the game_).

Oh, yes! of course. But though the queen be lost, you are not mate.

SALADIN (_dashing down the board_).

I say I am. I will be mate.

AL-HAFI.

If so, Small pains, small gains, say I. So got, so spent.

SALADIN.

What is he muttering there?

SITTAH (_to_ Saladin, _making a sign meanwhile to_ Al-Hafi).

You know him well. He likes entreaties--loves to be implored. Who knows if he be not a little jealous?

SALADIN.

Well, not of thee--not of my sister, surely. What do I hear? Al-Hafi, are you jealous?

AL-HAFI.

Perhaps I am. I wish I had her head, Or that I were as good as she.

SITTAH.

My brother, He always pays me fairly, and to-day He'll do the same. Let him alone. Now go! Al-Hafi! go! I'll have the money----

AL-HAFI.

No, not I. I'll act this farce no more. He must know soon.

SALADIN.

Who? what? SITTAH.

Al-Hafi! say, is this your promise? Is't thus you keep your word?

AL-HAFI.

Could I foresee That it would come to this?

SALADIN.

Well, tell me all.

SITTAH.

Al-Hafi! I implore you, be discreet.

SALADIN.

'Tis very strange; and what can Sittah have So earnestly to sue for, from a stranger-- A Dervise--rather than from me, her brother? Al-Hafi, I command you. Dervise, speak.

SITTAH.

Let not a trifle touch my brother nearer Than is becoming, for you know that I Have often won as much from you at chess. But as I stand in little need of gold, I've left the money in Al-Hafi's chest, Which is not over full; but never fear, It is not my intention to bestow My wealth on either of you.

AL-HAFI.

Were this all!

SITTAH.

Some more such trifles are perhaps unclaimed: My own allowance, which you set apart Has lain some months untouched.

AL-HAFI.

Nor is this all.

SALADIN.

Then tell the whole.

AL-HAFI.

Whilst we've been waiting for The gold from Egypt, she----

SITTAH.

Nay, hear him not.

AL-HAFI.

Not only has had nothing,----

SALADIN.

Dearest sister I-- But also has been lending it to you?

AL-HAFI.

Ay! at her sole expense maintained your state.

SALADIN (_embracing her_).

So like my sister!

SITTAH.

Who but you, my brother, Could make me rich enough to have the power?

AL-HAFI.

And soon he'll make her once again as poor As he is now.

SALADIN.

I poor! her brother poor! When had I more--when had I less than now? A cloak, a horse, a sabre, and my God! What need I else? and these ne'er can I lack. And yet, Al-Hafi, I could scold you now.

SITTAH.

Nay, brother, do not scold. I would that I Could thus also relieve our father's cares!

SALADIN.

Ah! now my joy has vanished all at once. We can want nothing; but he's destitute. And whilst he wants, we all are poor indeed. What shall I do? From Egypt we can hope For nothing--though God only knows the cause. 'Tis general peace around, and as for me, I could live sparingly, reduce, retrench, If none else suffered; but 'twould not avail. A cloak, a horse, a sword I ne'er can want. As to my God, He is not to be bought. He asks but little, only asks my heart. I had relied, Al-Hafi, on your chest, Upon the surplus there.

AL-HAFI.

A surplus there! Say, should I not have been impaled or hanged, If I had been detected hoarding up A surplus? Deficits I might have ventured.

SALADIN.

Well, but what next? Could you have found out none To borrow from, but Sittah?

SITTAH.

And would I Have borne it, had another been preferred? I claim that privilege. I am not yet Quite beggared.

SALADIN.

No, not quite. Dear Sittah, this Alone was wanting. But, Al-Hafi, go, Inquire about, take where and what you can; Borrow on promise, contract, anyhow; But, mark me, not from those I have enriched. 'Twould seem as if I wished to have it back. Go to the covetous. They gladliest lend. They know how well their money thrives with me.

AL-HAFI.

I know of none. SITTAH.

I recollect just now, I heard, Al-Hafi, of your friend's return.

AL-HAFI (_starting_).

Friend! friend of mine! and who can that be, pray?

SITTAH.

Your boasted Jew.

AL-HAFI.

A Jew! and praised by me!

SITTAH.

On whom his God--I think I recollect The very words you used, as touching him-- On whom his God, of all the choicest goods Of earth, in full abundance, has bestowed The greatest and the least.

AL-HAFI.

What could I mean

When I said so?

SITTAH.

The least of good things--wealth. The greatest--wisdom!

AL-HAFI.

How! and of a Jew Did I say that?

SITTAH.

Ay, that you did--of Nathan.

AL-HAFI.

Oh, true! of Nathan--yes! He did not now Occur to me. But he's returned at last, Then do not doubt that he's well off. He's called The Wise, the Rich, by all the Jewish folk.

SITTAH.

Now more than ever is he named the Rich. The town resounds with news of costly stuffs And priceless treasures he has brought with him.

AL-HAFI.

Is he the Rich once more? Then, do not fear, He'll be the Wise again.

SITTAH.

What think you? Will You visit him, Al-Hafi?

AL-HAFI.

What, to borrow? You know him, surely! Think you he will lend? His very wisdom lies in this--that he Will lend to no one.

SITTAH.

Formerly you gave A picture very different of him.

AL-HAFI.

In case of need he'll lend you merchandise; But money--money--never! He's a Jew, Who has not many equals 'mongst his tribe. He's wise, knows how to live, can play at chess; Excels in evil, too, as well as good. Rely not on him. To the poor, indeed, He vies with Saladin himself in gifts; And if not quite so much, he gives as freely, To Jew, and Christian, and Mahometan-- To all alike.

SITTAH.

And such a man as this----

SALADIN.

How comes it, then, I never heard of him?

SITTAH.

Can he refuse to lend to Saladin, Who wants for others--never for himself.

AL-HAFI.

Ay, there peeps out the Jew--the vulgar Jew: Believe me, he is jealous, envious Of generosity. It seems as though To earn God's favour were his special mission. And that he may possess wherewith to give, He never lends. The law he serves, commands That he show mercy, but not complaisance. Thus him has mercy made the rudest churl In all the world. 'Tis true I have not been This long time past on friendly terms with him, But do not think that I would do him wrong, He's good in all things else, but not in that; Therefore I'll go and knock at other doors. I recollect this instant an old Moor, Who's rich and covetous: I'll go to him. (_Exit_.)

SITTAH.

Why in such haste, Al-Hafi?

SALADIN.

Let him go.