Not for _me_,
brother!
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
He will not visit Jews.
NATHAN: Then hold him there
Till I rejoin you. I shall not be long.
SCENE II. --_A place of palms. Enter the_ TEMPLAR, _followed by a_
FRIAR.
TEMPLAR: This fellow does not follow me for pastime.
FRIAR: I'm from the Patriarch: he is fain to learn
Why you alone were spared by Saladin.
TEMPLAR: My neck was ready for the blow, when he
Had me unbound. How all this hangs together
Thy Patriarch may unravel.
FRIAR: He concludes
That you are spared to do some mighty deed.
TEMPLAR: To save a Jewish maid?
FRIAR: A weightier office!
He'd have you learn the strengths and weaknesses
Of Saladin's new bulwark!
TEMPLAR: Play the spy!
Not for _me_, brother!
FRIAR: Nay, but there is more.
It were not hard to seize the Sultan's person,
And make an end of all!
TEMPLAR: And make of me
A graceless scoundrel! Brother, go away;
Stir not my anger!
FRIAR: I obey, and go.
[_Exit. Enter_ DAYA.
DAYA: Nathan the Wise would see you; he is fain
To load you with rewards. Do see him--try him!
TEMPLAR: Good woman, you torment me. From this day
Pray know me not; and do not send the father!
A Jew's a Jew, and I am rude and bearish.
I have forgot the maiden; do not make
These palm-trees odious where I love to walk!
DAYA: Then farewell, bear. But I must track the savage.