[016]
Being come into the palace, Nathan quartered Mitridanes in a
most goodly chamber, where none saw him but those whom he had
appointed to wait upon him; and he himself kept him company,
doing him all possible honour.
[017]
Of whom Mitridanes, albeit he
reverenced him as a father, yet, being thus with him, forbore not to
ask who he was. Whereto Nathan made answer: "I am a petty
servant of Nathan: old as I am, I have been with him since my
childhood, and never has he advanced me to higher office than this
wherein thou seest me: wherefore, howsoever other folk may praise
him, little cause have I to do so."
[018]
Which words afforded Mitridanes
some hope of carrying his wicked purpose into effect with more of
plan and less of risk than had otherwise been possible. By and by
Nathan very courteously asked him who he was, and what business
brought him thither; offering him such counsel and aid as he might
be able to afford him. [019]Mitridanes hesitated a while to reply: but
at last he resolved to trust him, and when with no little circumlocution
he had demanded of him fidelity, counsel and aid, he fully
discovered to him who he was, and the purpose and motive of his
coming thither.
[020]
Now, albeit to hear Mitridanes thus unfold his
norrid design caused Nathan no small inward commotion, yet 'twas
not long before courageously and composedly he thus made answer:
"Noble was thy father, Mitridanes, and thou art minded to shew
thyself not unworthy of him by this lofty emprise of thine, to wit,
of being liberal to all comers: and for that thou art envious of
Nathan's merit I greatly commend thee; for were many envious
for a like cause, the world, from being a most wretched, would soon
become a happy place.
[021]
Doubt not that I shall keep secret the
design which thou hast confided to me, for the furtherance whereof
'tis good advice rather than substantial aid that I have to offer thee.
Which advice is this.
[022]
Hence, perhaps half a mile off, thou mayst
see a copse, in which almost every morning Nathan is wont to walk,
taking his pleasure, for quite a long while: 'twill be an easy matter
for thee to find him there, and deal with him as thou mayst be
minded.
[023]
Now, shouldst thou slay him, thou wilt get thee home with
less risk of let, if thou take not the path by which thou camest
hither, but that which thou seest issue from the copse on the left,
for, though 'tis somewhat more rough, it leads more directly to thy
house, and will be safer for thee."
