'Tis so!--But yet
The Patriarch thinks gratitude is not
Before the eyes of God or man, a debt,
Unless, for our own sakes, some benefit
Has been conferred; and, says the Patriarch,
It is affirmed the Sultan spared your life
Merely because your voice, your look, your air,
Awoke a recollection of his brother----

TEMPLAR.

He knows all this, and yet?----Ah, were it true!
And, Saladin, could Nature form in me
A single feature in thy brother's likeness,
With nothing in my soul to answer it?
Or what does correspond, shall I belie
To please a Patriarch? No, surely Nature
Could never lie so basely! Nor, kind God,
Couldst thou so contradict Thyself! Go, brother,
And do not rouse my anger.

FRIAR.

I withdraw
More gladly than I came. And, pardon me:
A monk's first duty, sir, is to obey.

Scene VI.--_The_ Templar _and_ Daja.

(_She has been watching him from afar and now approaches_.)

DAJA.

Methinks the monk left him in no good mood,
But, spite of that, I must my errand risk.

TEMPLAR.

This hits exactly. As the proverb goes,
Women and monks are ever Satan's tools,
And I to-day am subject to them both.

DAJA.

Whom do I see? Thank God, our noble knight.
Where have you been so long? Not ill, I hope?

TEMPLAR.

No.

DAJA.

In good health?

TEMPLAR.

Yes.

DAJA.

We have all been grieved
Lest something should have ailed you. Have you been
Upon a journey?

TEMPLAR.

Fairly guessed.

DAJA.

Since when
Have you returned to us?

TEMPLAR.

Since yesterday.

DAJA.

Our Recha's father, too, is just returned,
And now may Recha hope at last.

TEMPLAR.

For what?