Act 3 — Scene IV.
Ernest Bell translation
(The Hall of Audience in Saladin's Palace.)
Saladin, Sittah.
SALADIN (giving directions).
Bring the Jew here, as soon as he arrives.
He seems in no great haste.
SITTAH.
Nay, Saladin,
Perhaps he was not found at home.
SALADIN.
Ah, sister!
SITTAH.
You look as if some contest were at hand.
SALADIN.
Ay! and with weapons I'm not used to wield.
Must I then play the hypocrite--and frame
Precautions--lay a snare? Where learnt I that?
And for what end? To seek for money--money!
For money from a Jew? And to such arts
Must Saladin descend, that he may win
The most contemptible of paltry things?
SITTAH.
But paltry things, despised too much, are sure
To find some method of revenge.
SALADIN.
'Tis true!
What, if this Jew should prove an upright man,
Such as the Dervise painted him?
SITTAH.
Why, then,
Your difficulty ceases; for a snare
Implies an avaricious, cheating Jew,
And not an upright man. Then he is ours
Without a snare. 'Twill give us joy to hear
How such a man will speak--with what stern strength
He'll tear the net, or with what cunning skill
Untangle all its meshes, one by one.
SALADIN.
True, Sittah! 'twill afford me rare delight.
SITTAH.
What, then, need trouble you? For if he be,
Like all his nation, a mere cozening Jew,
You need not blush, if you appear to him
No better than he deems all other men.
But if to him you wear a different look,
You'll be a fool--his dupe!
SALADIN.
So I must, then,
Do ill, lest bad men should think ill of me.
SITTAH.
Yes, brother, if you call it doing ill
To put a thing to its intended use.
SALADIN.
Well, there is nothing woman's wit invents
It cannot palliate----
SITTAH.
How, palliate?
SALADIN.
Sittah, I fear such fine-wrought filagree
Will break in my rude hand. It is for those
Who frame such plots to bring them into play.
The execution needs the inventor's skill.
But let it pass.--I'll dance as best I can--
Yet sooner would I do it ill than well.
SITTAH.
Oh, brother, have more courage in yourself!
Have but the will, I'll answer for the rest.
How strange that men like you are ever prone
To think it is their swords alone that raise them.
When with the fox the noble lion hunts,
'Tis of the fellowship he feels ashamed,
But of the cunning, never.
SALADIN.
Well, 'tis strange
That women so delight to bring mankind
Down to their level. But, dear Sittah, go;
I think I know my lesson.
SITTAH.
Must I go?
SALADIN.
You did not mean to stay?
SITTAH.
No, not with you,
But in this neighb'ring chamber.
SALADIN.
What! to listen?
Not so, my sister, if I shall succeed.
Away! the curtain rustles--he is come.
Beware of lingering! I'll be on the watch.
(While Sittah retires through, one door, Nathan enters at another, and Saladin seats himself.)