NATHAN
Yes, surely; but I have been wont to think
A dervis, that’s to say a thorough dervis,
Will allow nothing to be made of him.
HAFI
May-be ’tis true that I’m no thorough dervis;
But by the prophet, when we must—
NATHAN
Must, Hafi?
Needs must—belongs to no man: and a dervis—
HAFI
When he is much besought, and thinks it right,
A dervis must.
NATHAN
Well spoken, by our God!
Embrace me, man, you’re still, I trust, my friend.
HAFI
Why not ask first what has been made of me?
NATHAN
Ask climbers to look back!
HAFI
And may I not
Have grown to such a creature in the state
That my old friendship is no longer welcome?
NATHAN
If you still bear your dervis-heart about you
I’ll run the risk of that. Th’ official robe
Is but your cloak.
HAFI
A cloak, that claims some honour.
What think’st thou? At a court of thine how great
Had been Al-Hafi?
NATHAN
Nothing but a dervis.
If more, perhaps—what shall I say—my cook.
HAFI
In order to unlearn my native trade.
Thy cook—why not thy butler too? The Sultan,
He knows me better, I’m his treasurer.
NATHAN
You, you?
HAFI
Mistake not—of the lesser purse—
His father manages the greater still—
The purser of his household.
NATHAN
That’s not small.
HAFI
’Tis larger than thou think’st; for every beggar
Is of his household.
NATHAN
He’s so much their foe—
HAFI
That he’d fain root them out—with food and raiment—
Tho’ he turn beggar in the enterprize.
NATHAN
Bravo, I meant so.
HAFI
And he’s almost such.
His treasury is every day, ere sun-set,
Poorer than empty; and how high so e’er