That thou wouldst help me to go thro’ my office
With credit, grant me open chest with thee—
Dost shake thy head?
NATHAN.
Let’s understand each other.
Here’s a distinction to be made. To you,
To dervis Hafi, all I have is open;
But to the defterdar of Saladin,
To that Al-Hafi—
HAFI.
Spoken like thyself!
Thou hast been ever no less kind than cautious.
The two Al-Hafis thou distinguishest
Shall soon be parted. See this coat of honour,
Which Saladin bestowed—before ’tis worn
To rags, and suited to a dervis’ back,—
Will in Jerusalem hang upon the hook;
While I along the Ganges scorching strand,
Amid my teachers shall be wandering barefoot.
NATHAN.
That’s like you.
HAFI.
Or be playing chess among them.
NATHAN.