Nathan the Wise Part 13

ACT II.

SCENE--The Sultan's Palace.--An outer room of Sittah's apartment.

SALADIN and SITTAH, playing chess.

SITTAH.

Wherefore so absent, brother? How you play!

SALADIN.

Not well? I thought -

SITTAH.

Yes; very well for me, Take back that move.

SALADIN.

Why?

SITTAH.

Don't you see the knight Becomes exposed?

SALADIN.

'Tis true: then so.

SITTAH.

And so I take the p.a.w.n.

SALADIN.

That's true again. Then, check!

SITTAH.

That cannot help you. When my king is castled All will be safe.

SALADIN.

But out of my dilemma 'Tis not so easy to escape unhurt.

Well, you must have the knight.

SITTAH.

I will not have him, I pa.s.s him by.

SALADIN.

In that, there's no forbearance: The place is better than the piece.

SITTAH.

Maybe.

SALADIN.

Beware you reckon not without your host: This stroke you did not think of.

SITTAH.

No, indeed; I did not think you tired of your queen.

SALADIN.

My queen?

SITTAH.

Well, well! I find that I to-day Shall earn a thousand dinars to an asper.

SALADIN.

How so, my sister?

SITTAH.

Play the ignorant - As if it were not purposely thou losest.

I find not my account in 't; for, besides That such a game yields very little pastime, When have I not, by losing, won with thee?

When hast thou not, by way of comfort to me For my lost game, presented twice the stake?

SALADIN.

So that it may have been on purpose, sister, That thou hast lost at times.

SITTAH.

At least, my brother's Great liberality may be one cause Why I improve no faster.

SALADIN.

We forget The game before us: lot us make an end of it.