TEMPLAR
And can I know
Exactly the contents of this same letter?
FRIAR
Why, that I don’t pretend to vouch exactly—
’Tis to King Philip: and our patriarch—
I often wonder how this holy man,
Who lives so wholly to his God and heaven,
Can stoop to be so well informed about
Whatever passes here—’Tis a hard task!
TEMPLAR
Well—and your patriarch—
FRIAR
Knows, with great precision,
And from sure hands, how, when, and with what force,
And in which quarter, Saladin, in case
The war breaks out afresh, will take the field.
TEMPLAR
He knows that?
FRIAR
Yes; and would acquaint King Philip,
That he may better calculate, if really
The danger be so great as to require
Him to renew at all events the truce
So bravely broken by your body.
TEMPLAR
So?
This is a patriarch indeed! He wants
No common messenger; he wants a spy.
Go tell your patriarch, brother, I am not,
As far as you can sift, the man to suit him.
I still esteem myself a prisoner, and
A templar’s only calling is to fight,
And not to ferret out intelligence.
FRIAR
That’s much as I supposed, and, to speak plainly,
Not to be blamed. The best is yet behind.
The patriarch has made out the very fortress,
Its name, and strength, and site on Libanon,
Wherein the mighty sums are now concealed,
With which the prudent father of the sultan
Provides the cost of war, and pays the army.
He knows that Saladin, from time to time,
Goes to this fortress, through by-ways and passe
With few attendants.
TEMPLAR
Well—
FRIAR
How easy ’twere
To seize his person in these expeditions,
And make an end of all! You shudder, sir—
Two Maronites, who fear the Lord, have offer
To share the danger of the enterprise,
Under a proper leader.
TEMPLAR
And the patriarch
Had cast his eye on me for this brave office?
FRIAR
He thinks King Philip might from Ptolemais
Best second such a deed.
TEMPLAR
On me? on me?
Have you not heard then, just now heard, the favour
Which I received from Saladin?
FRIAR
Oh, yes!
TEMPLAR
And yet?
FRIAR