and here, though I have entered as yet by but thirteen gates, I am recognized and reprimanded.”  And therewith she departed, and returned no more.  Mitridanes, who accounted the mention of Nathan’s fame an abatement of his own, was kindled by her words with a frenzy of wrath, and began thus to commune with himself:—­Alas! when shall I attain to the grandeur of Nathan’s liberality, to say nought of transcending it, as I would fain, seeing that in the veriest trifles I cannot approach him?  Of a surety my labour is in vain, if I rid not the earth of him:  which, since old age relieves me not of him, I must forthwith do with mine own hands.  And in the flush of his despite up he started, and giving none to know of his purpose, got to horse with a small company, and after three days arrived at the place where Nathan abode; and having enjoined his comrades to make as if they were none of his, and knew him not, and to go quarter themselves as best they might until they had his further orders, he, being thus alone, towards evening came upon Nathan, also alone, at no great distance from his splendid palace.  Nathan was recreating himself by a walk, and was very simply clad; so that Mitridanes, knowing him not, asked him if he could shew him where Nathan dwelt.  “My son,” replied Nathan gladsomely, “that can none in these parts better than I; wherefore, so it please thee, I will bring thee thither.”  The young man replied that ’twould be mighty agreeable to him, but that, if so it might be, he had a mind to be neither known nor seen by Nathan.  “And herein also,” returned Nathan, “since ’tis thy pleasure, I will gratify thee.”  Whereupon Mitridanes dismounted, and with Nathan, who soon engaged him in delightsome discourse, walked to the goodly palace.  Arrived there Nathan caused one of his servants take the young man’s horse, and drawing close to him, bade him in a whisper to see to it without delay that none in the house should tell the young man that he was Nathan:  and so ’twas done.

Being come into the palace, Nathan quartered Mitridanes in a most goodly chamber, where none saw him but those whom he had appointed to wait upon him; and he himself kept him company, doing him all possible honour.  Of whom Mitridanes, albeit he reverenced him as a father, yet, being thus with him, forbore not to ask who he was.  Whereto Nathan made answer:—­“I am a petty servant of Nathan:  old as I am, I have been with him since my childhood, and never has he advanced me to higher office than this wherein thou seest me:  wherefore, howsoever other folk may praise him, little cause have I to do so.”  Which words afforded Mitridanes some hope of carrying his wicked purpose into effect with more of plan and less of risk than had otherwise been possible.  By and by Nathan very courteously asked him who he was, and what business brought him thither; offering him such counsel and aid as he might be able to afford him.  Mitridanes hesitated a while to reply:  but at last he resolved to trust him, and when with