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all alone within the goodly Court of his Pallace： a poore woman entred
at one of the gates； craving an almes of him； which she had； and
returned in againe at a second gate； comming also to him； and had a
second almes； continuing so still a dozen times； but at the thirteenth
returning； Mithridanes saide to her： Good Woman； you goe and come very
often； and still you are served with almes。 When the old Woman heard
these words； she said。 O the liberality of Nathan！ How honourable
and wonderfull is that？ I have past through two and thirty gates of
his Palace； even such as are here； and at every one I receyved an
almes； without any knowledgement taken of me； either by him； or any of
his followers： and heere I have past but through thirteene gates；
and am there both acknowledged and taken。 Farewell to this house；
for I never meane to visit it any more； with which words shee departed
thence； and never after came thither againe。
When Mithridanes had a while pondered on her speeches； hee waxed
much discontented； as taking the words of the olde woman； to extoll
the renowne of Nathan； and darken or ecclipse his glorie； whereupon he
said to himselfe。 Wretched man as I am； when shall I attaine to the
height of liberality； and performe such wonders； as Nathan doth？ In
seeking to surmount him； I cannot come neere him in the very
meanest。 Undoubtedly； I spend all my endeavour but in vaine； except
I rid the world of him； which （seeing his age will not make an end
of him） I must needs do with my own hands。 In which furious and bloody
determination （without revealing his intent to any one） he mounted
on horse…backe； with few attendants in his company； and after three
dayes journey； arrived where Nathan dwelt。 He gave order to his men；
to make no shew of beeing his servants； or any way to acknowledge him：
but to provide them selves of convenient lodgings； untill they heard
other tydings from him。
About Evening； and （in this manner） alone by himselfe； neere to
the Palace of Nathan； he met him solitarily walking； not in pompous
apparrell； whereby to bee distinguished from a meaner man： and；
because he knew him not； neyther had heard any relation of his
description； he demanded of him； if he knew where Nathan then was？
Nathan； with a chearfull countenance； thus replyed。 Faire Syr； there
is no man in these parts； that knoweth better how to shew you Nathan
then I do； and therefore； if you be so pleased； I will bring you to
him。 Mithridanes said； therein he should do him a great kindnesse：
albeit （if it were possible） he would bee neyther knowne nor seene
of Nathan。 And that （quoth he） can I also do sufficiently for you；
seeing it is your will to have it so； if you will goe along with me。
Dismounting from his horse； he walked on with Nathan； diversly
discoursing； untill they came to the Pallace； where one of the
servants taking Mithridanes his horse； Nathan rounded the fellow in
the eare； that he should give warning to al。 throughout the House； for
revealing to the Gentleman； that he was Nathan； as accordingly it
was performed。 No sooner were they within the Pallace； but he
conducted Mithridanes into a goodly chamber； wher none （as yet） had
seene him； but such as were appointed to attend on him reverently；
yea； and he did himselfe greatly honor him； as being loth to leave his
company。
While thus Mithridanes conversed with him； he desired to know
（albeit he respected him much for his yeares） what he was。 Introth
sir； answered Nathan； I am one of the meanest servants to Nathan；
and from my child…hood； have made my selfe thus olde in his service：
yet never hath he bestowed any other advancement on mee； then as you
now see； in which respect； howsoever other men may commend him； yet
I have no reason at all to do it。 These Words； gave some hope to
Mithridanes； that with a little more counsell； he might securely put
in execution his wicked determination。 Nathan likewise demaunded of
him （but in very humble manner） of whence； and what he was； as also
the businesse inviting him thither： offering him his utmost aide and
counsell； in what soever consisted in his power。
Mithridanes sat an indifferent while meditating with his thoghts
before ie would returne any answer： but at the last； concluding to
repose confidence in him （in regard of his pretended discontentment）
with many circumstantial perswasions； first for fidelity； next for
constancie； and lastly for counsell and assistance； he declared to him
truly what he was； the cause of his comming thither； and the reason
urging him thereto。 Nathan hearing these words； and the detestable
deliberation of Mithridanes； became quite changed in himself： yet
wisely making no outward appearance thereof； with a bold courage and
setled countenance； thus he replyed。
Mithridanes； thy Father was a Noble Gentleman； and （in vertuous
qualities） inferiour to none； from whom （as now I see） thou desirest
not to degenerate； having undertaken so bold and high an enterprise； I
meane； in being liberall and bountifull to all men。 I do greatly
commend the envy which thou bearest to the vertue of Nathan： because
if there were many more such men； the world that is now wretched and
miserable； would become good and conformable。 As for the determination
which thou hast disclosed to mee； I have sealed it up secretly in my
soule： wherein I can better give thee counsell； then any especiall
helpe or furtherance： and the course which I would have thee to
observe； followeth thus in few words。
This window； which we now looke forth at； sheweth thee a smal wood
or thicket of trees； being litle more then the quarter of a miles
distance hence； whereto Nathan usually walketh every morning； and
there continueth time long enough： there maist thou very easily meet
him； and do whatsoever thou intendest to him。 If thou kilst him；
because thou maist with safety returne home unto thine owne abiding；
take not the same way which guided thee thither； but another； lying on
the left hand； and directing speedily out of the wood； as being not so
much haunted as the other； but rather free from all resort； and surest
for visiting thine owne countrey； after such a dismall deed is done。
When Mithridanes had receyved this instruction； and Nathan was
departed from him； hee secretly gave intelligence to his men； （who
likewise were lodged； as welcom strangers； in the same house） at
what place they should stay for him the next morning。 Night being
passed over； and Nathan risen； his heart altred not a jot from his
counsel given to Mithridanes； much lesse changed from anie part
thereof： but all alone by himselfe； walked on to the wood； the place
appointed for his death。 Mithridanes also being risen； taking his
Bow and Sword （for other weapons had he none） mounted on horsbacke；
and so came to the wood； where （somewhat farre off） hee espyed
Nathan walking； and no creature with him。 Dismounting from his
horse； he had resolved （before he would kill him） not onely to see；
but also to heare him speake： so stepping roughly to him； and taking
hold of the bonnet on his head； his face being then turned from him；
he sayde。 Old man； thou must dye。 Whereunto Nathan made no other
answer； but thus： Why then （belike） I have deserved it。
When Mithridanes heard him speake； and looked advisedly on his face；
he knew him immediately to be the same man； that had entertained him
so lovingly； conversed with him so familiarly； and counselled him so
faithfully： all which overcomming his former fury； his harsh nature
became meerly confounded with shame： So throwing downe his drawne
sword； which he held readily prepared for the deede： he prostrated
himselfe at Nathans feet； and in teares； spake in this manner。 Now
do I manifestly know （most loving Father） your admired bounty and
liberalitie； considering； with what industrious providence； you made
the meanes for your comming hither； prodigally to bestow your life
on me； which I have no right unto； although you were so willing to
part with it。 But those high and supreame powers； more carefull of
my dutie； then I my selfe： even at the very instant； and when it was
most needfull； opened the eyes of my better understanding； which
internall envy had closed up before。 And therefore； looke how much you
have bin forward to pleasure me； so much the more shame and
punishment； I confesse my heinous transgression hath justly
deserved： take therefore on me （if you please） such revenge； as you
thinke （in justice） answerable to my sin。
Nathan lovingly raised Mithridanes from the ground； then kissing his
cheeke； and tenderly embracing him； he said。 Sonne； thou needest not
to aske； much less to obtaine pardon； for any enterprise of thine；
which thou canst not yet terme to be good or bad： because thou
soughtest not to bereave me of my life； for any hatred thou barest me；
but onely in coveting to be reputed the Woorthier man。 Take then
this assurance of me； and beleeve it constantly； that there is no
man living； whom I love and honour； as I do thee： considering the
greatnesse of thy minde； which consisteth not in the heaping up of
money； as wretched and miserable Worldlings make it their onely
felicity； but； contending in bounty to spe