Nathan the Wise Part 14

SITTAH.

I move--so--now then--check! and check again!

SALADIN.

This countercheck I wasn't aware of, Sittah; My queen must fall the sacrifice.

SITTAH.

Let's see - Could it be helped?

SALADIN.

No, no, take off the queen!

That is a piece which never thrives with me.

SITTAH.

Only that piece?

SALADIN.

Off with it! I shan't miss it.

Thus I guard all again.

SITTAH.

How civilly We should behave to queens, my brother's lessons Have taught me but too well.

SALADIN.

Take her, or not, I stir the piece no more.

SITTAH.

Why should I take her?

Check!

SALADIN.

Go on.

SITTAH.

Check! -

SALADIN.

And check-mate?

SITTAH.

Hold! not yet.

You may advance the knight, and ward the danger, Or as you will--it is all one.

SALADIN.

It is so.

You are the winner, and Al-Hafi pays.

Let him be called. Sittah, you was not wrong; I seem to recollect I was unmindful - A little absent. One isn't always willing To dwell upon some shapeless bits of wood Coupled with no idea. Yet the Imam, When I play with him, bends with such abstraction - The loser seeks excuses. Sittah, 'twas not The shapeless men, and the unmeaning squares, That made me heedless--your dexterity, Your calm sharp eye.

SITTAH.

And what of that, good brother, Is that to be th' excuse for your defeat?

Enough--you played more absently than I.

SALADIN.

Than you! What dwells upon your mind, my Sittah?

Not your own cares, I doubt -

SITTAH.

O Saladin, When shall we play again so constantly?

SALADIN.

An interruption will but whet our zeal.

You think of the campaign. Well, let it come.

It was not I who first unsheathed the sword.

I would have willingly prolonged the truce, And willingly have knit a closer bond, A lasting one--have given to my Sittah A husband worthy of her, Richard's brother.

SITTAH.

You love to talk of Richard.

SALADIN.

Richard's sister Might then have been allotted to our Melek.

O what a house that would have formed--the first - The best--and what is more--of earth the happiest!

You know I am not loth to praise myself; Why should I?--Of my friends am I not worthy?

O we had then led lives!

SITTAH.

A pretty dream.

It makes me smile. You do not know the Christians.

You will not know them. 'Tis this people's pride Not to be men, but to be Christians. Even What of humane their Founder felt, and taught, And left to savour their found superst.i.tion, They value not because it is humane, Lovely, and good for man; they only prize it Because 'twas Christ who taught it, Christ who did it.

'Tis well for them He was so good a man: Well that they take His goodness all for granted, And in His virtues put their trust. His virtues - 'Tis not His virtues, but His name alone They wish to thrust upon us--'Tis His name Which they desire should overspread the world, Should swallow up the name of all good men, And put the best to shame. 'Tis His mere name They care for -