ACT V.
Scene I.--The room in Saladin's Palace. The treasure still piled up.
(Saladin, and several Mamelukes.)
SALADIN (as he enters).
There lies the gold--and no one yet has seen
The Dervise. He will probably be found
Over the chess-board. Play can often make
A man forget himself. Then why not me?
But patience. What's the matter?
1ST MAMELUKE.
Oh, good news!
Joy, Sultan! joy. The Cairo caravan
Is safe arrived, and from the Nile it brings
The seven years' tribute.
SALADIN.
Bravo, Ibrahim!
You always were a welcome messenger,
And now at length--accept my heartfelt thanks
For the good tidings.
1ST MAMELUKE (waiting).
(Let me have them, then!)
SALADIN.
What are you waiting for? Go.
1ST MAMELUKE.
Nothing more
For my good news?
SALADIN.
What further?
1ST MAMELUKE.
Messengers
Of good are paid. Am I to be the first
Whom Saladin has learnt to pay with words?
The first to whom he proves ungenerous?
SALADIN.
Go, take a purse.
1ST MAMELUKE.
No, no--not now. Not if
You'd give them all to me.
SALADIN.
All? Hold, young man!
Come hither. Take these purses--take these two.
What, going? And shall I be conquered thus
In generosity? for surely 'tis
More difficult for this man to refuse
Than for the Sultan to bestow. Then, here
Here, Ibrahim! Shall I be tempted, just
Before my death, to be a different man?
Shall Saladin not die like Saladin?
Then wherefore has he lived like Saladin?
(Enter a second Mameluke.)
2ND MAMELUKE.
Hail, Sultan!
SALADIN.
If you come and bring the news----
2ND MAMELUKE.
That the Egyptian convoy is arrived.
SALADIN.
I know it.
2ND MAMELUKE.
Then I come too late.
SALADIN.
Too late?
Wherefore too late? There, for your tidings take
A purse or two.
2ND MAMELUKE.
Say three.
SALADIN.
You reckon well;
But take them.
2ND MAMELUKE.
A third messenger will come
Ere long, if he be able.
SALADIN.
Wherefore so?
2ND MAMELUKE.
He may perhaps, ere this, have brok'n his neck.
We three, when we had heard of the approach
Of the rich caravan, mounted our steeds,
And galloped hitherward. The foremost fell,
Then I was first, and I continued so
Into the town; but that sly fellow there,
Who knew the streets----
SALADIN.
But where is he who fell?
Go seek him out.
2ND MAMELUKE.
That I will quickly do,
And if he lives, one half of this is his. (Exit.)
SALADIN.
Oh, what a noble fellow! who can boast
Such Mamelukes as these? And may I not,
Without conceit, imagine that my life
Has helped to make them so? Avaunt the thought!
That I should ever teach them otherwise.
3RD MAMELUKE.
Sultan!
SALADIN.
Are you the man who fell?
3RD MAMELUKE.
No, Sire.
I have to tell you that the Emir Mansor,
Who led the caravan, is just arrived.
SALADIN.
Then bring him quickly.--There he is already.