SCENE IV.--SALADIN'S _audience chamber_. SALADIN _and_ NATHAN.

SALADIN: Draw nearer, Jew. Your name is Nathan?

NATHAN: Yea.

SALADIN: Nathan the Wise?

NATHAN: Ah, no.

SALADIN: Of modesty Enough, your words and bearing prove you wise. Now, since you are so wise, tell me which law Appears to you the better.

NATHAN: Once on a time, eastward, there dwelt a man Who prized a ring, set with a wondrous opal That made the owner loved of God and man. This ring he willed should ever more remain The heirloom of his house; and to the son He loved the best bequeathed it, binding him To leave it also to his best beloved, And forward so. At length the ring descended To one who had three sons he loved alike. To each in turn the doting father promisèd The ring, and on his death-bed, sorely grieving To disappoint two heirs, he had two rings Made like the first, so close that none could tell The model from the copies. These he gave To his three sons in secret, and so passed. The sequel may be guessed, the strifes, complaints-- For the true ring no more could be distinguished Than now can--the true faith. Each to the judge Swore that he had the bauble from his father, And called his brother forger. Quoth the judge: "Which of you do his brothers love the best? You're silent all. You're all deceived deceivers! None of your rings is true, the true is gone. Your father sought to end its tyranny. Let each believe his own the real ring And vie with others to display its virtue. And if its power a thousand thousand years Endure in your descendants, let them then Before a wiser judge than I appear, And he'll decide the cause."

SALADIN: Even God Himself!

NATHAN: Art thou, O Saladin, this wiser judge?

SALADIN: Not yet have sped the thousand thousand years. His judgment seat's not mine. Go, go, but love me.

NATHAN: Hath Saladin no further need of me? Perchance my stores might furnish forth thy wars.

SALADIN: Is this Al Hafi's hint? I'll not disown My object was to ask----

NATHAN: Thou shouldst have all But that I owe a weighty debt to one-- The Templar thou didst spare.

SALADIN: I had forgot him.

NATHAN: He saved my daughter from the flames.

SALADIN: Ah, so? He looked a hero. Bring him hither; Sittah must see our brother's counterfeit.

NATHAN: I'll fetch him. For the rest, we are agreed.