A surplus? And tell me, would you not have had me impaled, Or hanged at least, if you had found me out In hoarding up a surplus? Deficits— Those one may venture on. SALADIN. Well, but how next? Could you have found out no one where to borrow Unless of Sittah? SITTAH. And would I have borne To see the preference given to another? I still lay claim to it. I am not as yet Entirely bare. SALADIN. Not yet entirely—This Was wanting still. Go, turn thyself about; Take where, and as, thou canst; be quick, Al-Hafi. Borrow on promise, contract, anyhow; But heed me—not of those I have enriched— To borrow there might seem to ask it back. Go to the covetous. They’ll gladliest lend— They know how well their money thrives with me— HAFI. I know none such. SITTAH. I recollect just now I heard, Al-Hafi, of thy friend’s return. HAFI (_startled_). Friend—friend of mine—and who should that be? SITTAH. Who? Thy vaunted Jew! HAFI. A Jew, and praised by me? SITTAH. To whom his God (I think I still retain Thy own expression used concerning him) To whom, of all the good things of this world, His God in full abundance has bestowed The greatest and the least. HAFI. What could I mean When I said so? SITTAH. The least of good things, riches; The greatest, wisdom. HAFI. How—and of a Jew Could I say that? SITTAH. Didst thou not—of thy Nathan? HAFI. Hi ho! of him—of Nathan? At that moment He did not come across me. But, in fact, He is at length come home; and, I suppose, Is not ill off. His people used to call him The wise—also the rich. SITTAH. The rich he’s named Now more than ever. The whole town resounds With news of jewels, costly stuffs, and stores, That he brings back. HAFI. Is he the rich again— He’ll be, no fear of it, once more the wise. SITTAH. What thinkst thou, Hafi, of a call on him? HAFI. On him—sure not to borrow—why, you know him— He lend? Therein his very wisdom lies, That he lends no one. SITTAH. Formerly thon gav’st A very different picture of this Nathan. HAFI.