e intent was nowise at
variance with the counsel he had given Mithridanes nor was anywise
changed, betook himself alone to the coppice, there to die. Meanwhile,
Mithridanes arose and taking his bow and his sword, for other arms he
had not, mounted to horse and made for the coppice, where he saw
Nathan from afar go walking all alone. Being resolved, ere he attacked
him, to seek to see him and hear him speak, he ran towards him and
seizing him by the fillet he had about his head, said, 'Old man, thou
art dead.' Whereto Nathan answered no otherwhat than, 'Then have I
merited it.' Mithridanes, hearing his voice and looking him in the
face, knew him forthright for him who had so lovingly received him
and familiarly companied with him and faithfully counselled him;
whereupon his fury incontinent subsided and his rage was changed into
shame. Accordingly, casting away the sword, which he had already
pulled out to smite him, and lighting down from his horse, he ran,
weeping, to throw himself at Nathan's feet and said to him, 'Now,
dearest father, do I manifestly recognize your liberality, considering
with what secrecy you are come hither to give me your life, whereof,
without any reason, I showed myself desirous, and that to yourself;
but God, more careful of mine honour than I myself, hath, in the
extremest hour of need, opened the eyes of my understanding, which
vile envy had closed. Wherefore, the readier you have been to comply
with me, so much the more do I confess myself beholden to do penance
for my default. Take, then, of me the vengeance which you deem
conformable to my sin.'

Nathan raised Mithridanes to his feet and tenderly embraced and kissed
him, saying, 'My son, it needeth not that thou shouldst ask nor that I
should grant forgiveness of thine emprise, whatever thou choosest to
style it, whether wicked or otherwise; for that thou pursuedst it, not
of hatred, but to win to be held better. Live, then, secure from me
and be assured that there is no man alive who loveth thee as I do,
having regard to the loftiness of thy soul, which hath given itself,
not to the amassing of monies, as do the covetous, but to the
expenditure of those that have been amassed. Neither be thou ashamed
of having sought to slay me, so though mightest become famous, nor
think that I marvel thereat. The greatest emperors and the most
illustrious kings have, with well nigh none other art than that of
slaying, not one man, as thou wouldst have