SALADIN. If thou think not The worse of me for this, we’re half right. TEMPLAR. Quite so. One word. SALADIN (_holds out his hand_). TEMPLAR (_takes it_). One man—and with this receive more Than thou canst take away again—thine wholly. SALADIN. ’Tis for one day too great a gain—too great. Came he not with thee? TEMPLAR. Who? SALADIN. Who? Nathan. TEMPLAR (_coldly_). No, I came alone. SALADIN. O, what a deed of thine! And what a happiness, a blessing to thee, That such a deed was serving such a man. TEMPLAR. Yes, yes. SALADIN. So cold—no, my young friend—when God Does through our means a service, we ought not To be so cold, not out of modesty Wish to appear so cold. TEMPLAR. In this same world All things have many sides, and ’tis not easy To comprehend how they can fit each other. SALADIN. Cling ever to the best—Give praise to God, Who knows how they can fit. But, my young man, If thou wilt be so difficult, I must Be very cautious with thee, for I too Have many sides, and some of them perhaps Such as mayn’t always seem to fit. TEMPLAR. That wounds me; Suspicion usually is not my failing. SALADIN. Say then of whom thou harbour’st it, of Nathan? So should thy talk imply—canst thou suspect him? Give me the first proof of thy confidence. TEMPLAR. I’ve nothing against Nathan, I am angry With myself only. SALADIN. And for what? TEMPLAR. For dreaming That any Jew could learn to be no Jew— For dreaming it awake. SALADIN. Out with this dream. TEMPLAR. Thou know’st of Nathan’s daughter, sultan. What I did for her I did—because I did it; Too proud to reap thanks which I had not sown for, I shunned from day to day her very sight. The father was far off. He comes, he hears, He seeks me, thanks me, wishes that his daughter May please me; talks to me of dawning prospects— I listen to his prate, go, see, and find A girl indeed. O, sultan, I am ashamed— SALADIN. A shamed that a Jew girl knew how to make Impression on thee, surely not. TEMPLAR.