_Mithridanes enuious of the liberality of Nathan, and goinge aboute
to kill hym, spake vnto him vnknowne, & being infourmed by himself
by what meanes he might do the same he found him in a little wood
accordingly as hee had tolde him, who knowinge him, was ashamed, and
became his friende._
Straunge may seeme thys following Hystory, and rare amonges
those, in whom the vertue of liberality neuer florished: many we
reade of, that haue kept Noble and bountifull houses,
entertayninge Guestes, both Forrayne and free borne, plentifully
Feastinge them with variety of cheere, but to entertayne a Guest
that aspyreth the death of his hoast, and to cherishe hym after
hee knew of it, or liberally to offer his life, seldome or neuer
we reade, or by experience knowe: but what moued the conspirator
to frowne at the state and life of Nathan? euen that froward
pestilent passion Enuy, the consumer and deadly monster of all
humanity: who imitatinge the like cost, and port of his deuout
hoast Nathan, and seekinge after equall glory and fame, was
through enuie's force for not attayninge the like, driuen to
imagine how to kill a good and innocent man: for enuy commonly
wayteth vpon the vertuous, euen as the shadow doeth the body.
And as the Cantharides (which similitude Plutarch vseth) delight
in ripe and prosperous wheate, and crawle in spreadinge roses,
so enuy chiefly them which in vertue and richesse do abound: for
had not Nathan bene famous for hys goodnesse, and glorious for
liberality, Mithridanes would neuer haue prosecuted him by enuy,
nor gon about to berieue hys lyfe. He that enuieth the vertuous
and industrious person, may bee compared to Dedalus, whom the
Poets fayne to murder Telon hys Apprentice for deuising of the
Potter's wheele: and Mithridanes disdaynfull of Nathan's
hospitality, would haue slayne him: but how ashamed Mithridanes
was of his practise, this example at large discourseth. Very
true it is (at least wyse if credite may bee gieuen to the words
of certayne Genoua Merchauntes, and of others whych haue
trauayled that countrey) how in Cataya, there was sometimes a
rich Gentleman without comparison, named Nathan, who hauing a
place or Pallace ioyning vpon the high way, by which the
trauaylers to and from the West, and East, were constrayned to
passe, and hauing a noble and liberal heart, desirous by
experience to haue the same to be knowen, and wyth what nature
and quality it was affected, he assembled dyuers maister Masons
and Carpenters, and in short tyme erected there one of the
stateliest Pallaces for greatnesse and costly furniture that
euer was seene in that countrey, which afterwards he caused to
be stored with all things necessary, honourably to entertayne
ech Gentleman that passed that way: and with a great trayne of
seruantes he welcomed and accepted sutch as iourneyed to and
fro. And in this commendable custome he perseuered so longe as
both in the East and West partes, report was bruted of his
renoume and fame: and being come to auncient yeares, not for all
that weary of his liberality, it chaunced that his fame flewe to
the eares of a yong gentleman called Mithridanes, who in a
country not farre of from his, had his abode and resiance.
Mithridanes knowing himselfe to be so rich as Nathan, enuious of
his vertue and liberality, purposed by some meanes or other to
defame and obscure his neyghbour's good reporte: and hauing
builded a Palace like to that which Nathan did possesse, began
to vse curtesies to those which passed to and fro, in outragious
and disordred sort: whereby in little time he purchased great
fame. Now it chaunced vpon a day, as Mithridanes was alone in
the court of his Palace, a poore woman entring in at one of the
gates of the same, craued almes, and had it and so successiuely
euen to the twelfth and thirtenth time, also she retorned
agayne, which Mithridanes perceiuing, said vnto her: "Good wyfe
you come hither very often:" and yet he denied not hir almes.
The old woman hearing those words, sayd: "O how maruellous is
the liberality of Nathan, whose palace hath XXXII. entries by
seuerall gates, so greate as this, and daily begging almes
there, neuer made semblance as though he knew me, and yet the
same was not denied me: and being come hither but XIII. times,
I haue bene marked and reproued:" and saying so, she went her
way, and neuer after came thither agayne. Mithridanes hearyng
these wordes to proceede from the old woman fell into a great
rage, deeming the fame reported of Nathan to be a diminution of
his own, and said: "Ah wretch, when shal I be able to attayne
the liberality of Nathan's greatest things? and why then goe I
about to excel him, when in litle matters I am not able to come
neare him? verily I labour all in vaine, if I myselfe do not
seeke meanes to rid him of his life, sith croked age is not
disposed to dispatch him, I must therfore doe the same with myne
own hands.{"} And in that fury makyng no man priuy to his
intent, he rode forth with a smal traine, and in three dayes
arriued where Nathan dwelte, and then commaunded his men in any
wise not to be knowen that they came with him, and likewise that
they knewe him not, but to prouide lodging for themselues,
vntyll sutch tyme as they had further newes from him.
Mithridanes then being arriued about evening, al alone, found
Nathan walking vp and downe before his faire Palace, without
other company than himself, who in simple attire and garment
went forth to meete him: of whom Mithridanes, bicause he knew
not Nathan, demaunded if he could tell him where Nathan dwelt.
Nathan pleasantly made him answer: "My sonne, ther is no man in
these quarters that can better tel thee than I, and therfore yf
thou please, I wyll bring thee thither." Mithridanes said, that
he should doe hym a very great pleasure: but he would not if it
were possible bee seene or knowen of Nathan: "And that can I
very wel do," said Nathan, now that I know your mynd. Being then
lighted of from his horse, he went with Nathan, who by and by
interteined him with diuersity of talk, to his faire Palace: and
Nathan incontinently caused one of his seruaunts to take
Mithridanes' horse, and said vnto him in hys eare that he should
wyth all speede giue order to his housholde, that none should
tel the younge Man that he was Nathan, which accordingly was
done: but after they were in the Palace, Nathan brought
Mithridanes into a very fayre chambre, that none mighte see him
excepte sutch as he had appoynted to serue hym: and causinge
greate honour to bee done vnto him, hee hymselfe kepte him
company. As they two were together, Mithridanes asked him
(to whom hee vsed conuenable reuerence as to his father) what he
was? whom Nathan answered: "I am one of Nathan's pore seruaunts,
that from the time of my youth haue bene broughte vp wyth him,
and neuer aduaunced me to any thing but to that which you see:
wherefore, although euery man greatly prayseth him, yet haue I
no cause to commend hym." These wordes gaue some hope to
Mithridanes, by better aduise and surety to execute his wicked
intente: and Nathan asked him very curteously what he was, and
for what businesse he was come thither, offeryng him helpe and
counsel in that he was able to do. Mithridanes then paused a
while before he would make him answere: and in the ende
purposyng to put his trust in him, required with great
circumstance of wordes his fayth and after that his counsell and
ayde. Then he wholy discouered what he was, wherefore he was
come, and the cause that moued hym. Nathan hearing those
woordes, and the mischieuous determination of Mithridanes, was
chaunged and troubled in mynde, notwythstandyng wythout making
any semblaunce of displeasure answered him with bolde
countenaunce: "Mithridanes, thy father was a Gentleman, and of
stoute stomacke, from whome so farre as I see, thou wylt not
degenerate, by attemptyng so great an enterpryse as thou hast
done. I intende to be lyberall to ech man and praise greatly the
Enuye whych thou bearest to the Vertue of Nathan, bycause if
there were many sutch, the Worlde which is now myserable, would
shortly become prosperous and happye: and doe make thee promyse,
that the intent thou goest about, shall be kepte secrete,
whereunto I can sooner gyue Counsell than any great helpe, and
mine aduyse is this: you may see from the place where we now be
a lyttle Groaue, about a quarter of a Myle hence, whereunto
Nathan in a maner walketh euery mornyng, and tarrieth there a
long time: there you may easily finde him, and do your pleasure:
and if you kyll him, you may goe, (to the intent without daunger
you may returne home to your owne House) not that way you came,
but by that you see on the lefte hand leade out of the wod,
whych although it be not so common as the other, yet is the
nearest way and safest for you to passe." When Mithridanes was
thus informed, and that Nathan departed from him, he caused
worde secretly to be sent to his Men, which likewyse lodged
there, in what place they should waight for him the next day:
and when the day was com, Nathan not altering the counsel he
gaue to Mithridanes, ne chaunging any part of the same, went all
alone into the little woodde, to receiue his Death. When
Mithridanes was vp, and had taken his bowe and sword, (for he
had none other weapons) he mounted vpon his horse, and rode to
the little woodde, where a farre of he espied Nathan, commyng
thitherward all alone, and determining before he would set vppon
him to see him and heare him speake, made toward him, and
catchyng him by the band vpon his head, said vnto him: "Old
chorle thou art dead." Whervnto Nathan made none other answer,
but said, "I haue deserued it." When Mithridanes heard his voyce
and looked him in the face, he knew by and by that it was he
which had curteously receiued him, familiarly kept him company,
and faithfully had gyuen him counsel. Wherupon, his fury
asswaged, and his anger conuerted to shame: by meanes whereof,
throwing downe his sworde which he had drawn to strike him, he
lighted of from his horse, and did prostrate himselfe at Nathan
his father's feete, and said vnto him weeping: "I manifestly
perceiue right louing father your great lyberality, and by what
pollicy you be come hyther to render to me your lyfe: whereunto
I hauyng no ryght, declared my selfe desyrous to haue the same:
but our Lord God, more carefull of my deuoir than my self, hath
euen at the very point, when it was moste needefull, opened the
eyes of myne vnderstandynge, which curssed spite and cancred
enuy haue closed vp: and therefore, the more you were ready to
gratify my desire, the greater punishment I knowledge my selfe
to deserue for my faulte. Take then of me if it please you sutch
vengance as you thynke meete for myne offence." Nathan caused
Mithridanes to rise vp, kissinge and imbracinge hym tenderly,
and sayd vnto hym: "My sonne, thou needest not to demaund
pardon, for the enterprise done, good or euill as thou list to
name it: for thou diddest not go about to rid me of my lyfe for
any hatred thou diddest bear me, but only to be accompted the
better: be assured then of me, and verily beleue, that there is
no lyuing man, that I loue better than thy self, considering the
greatnesse of thine heart not inclyned to hoorde or gather
togither the drossy muck of Syluer, as the myserable do, but to
spend that which is gathered. Be not ashamed for hauing a will
to kill me, thereby to great renowme: for Emperours and greatest
kings, neuer streatched forth their power, and racked their
Realmes, and consequently aspired fam, for other purpose but to
kyl: not by murdering one man as thou didst meane, but of
infinit numbers, besides the burning of Countries, and rasing of
Cities: wherefore if to make thy selfe more famous, thou
wouldest have killed me alone, thyne enterprise was not newly to
be wondred at, but a thyng in dayly practise." Mithridanes no
more excusinge hys wicked intent, but praysinge the honest
excuse, which Nathan had deuised, drew neare vnto hym to enter
into further talke wyth hym, which was, how he greatly
maruelled, that he durst approch the place, with so litle
rescue, where his death was sworne, and what he meant him selfe
to tell the way and meanes: wherein he required him to say his
mynde, for disclosinge of the cause. Whereunto Nathan replied:
"Maruell not, Mithridanes, of mine intent and purpose, for
sithens I was at age disposed to myne owne free will, and
determined to do that which thou hast gone about to do, neuer
any came to me, but I haue contented them (so farre as I was
hable) of that they did demaund: thou art come hither with
desire to haue my lyfe, wherefore seeing that thou diddest
craue, I forthwith dyd meane to gieue it, that thou alone
mightest not be the man that should depart from hence without
atchieuing thy request: and to bring to passe that thou myghtest
haue the same, I gaue thee the best Counsel I could, aswel for
bereuing of my lyfe, as for enioyinge of thyne owne: and
therefore I say to thee agayne, and pray thee for to take it,
thereby to content thy selfe, if thou haue any pleasure therein:
for I do not know whych way better to imploy it. I haue all
ready kept it foure score yeares, and haue consumed the same in
pleasures, and delights, and do know by course of nature in
other men, and generally in all things, that long it cannot
reast in breathing dayes: wherefore I think good, that better it
is to geue, as I haue dayly done, and departe with my Treasures,
than keepe it till nature cary it away in despite of my Teeth,
and maugre that I haue. It is a little gift to giue one hundred
yeares, how mutch lesse is it then to giue sixe or eyght of
those I haue to liue? Take it then if it please thee, I thee
beseech: for neuer yet found I man that did desire the same, ne
yet do know when I shall finde sutch one, if that thy selfe
which didst desire it, do not take it: and if it chaunce that I
do finde some one, I know full well that so mutch the longer as
I shall keepe the same the lesse esteemed it shall be, and
therefore before the same be vile and of little price, take it I
beseech thee." Mithridanes sore ashamed, sayd: "God forbid, that
by separating so deare a thing as is thy life, that I should
take it, or onely desire the same, as I did erst, from which I
would not diminish yeares, but willingly would of myne owne ad
thereto if I could." Whereunto Nathan by and by replyed: "And if
thou couldest, wouldest thou gieue them? and wouldest thou cause
me do to thee that which I neuer did to any man, that is to say,
to take of thy things which neuer I did of any liuing person?"
"Yea verily," aunswered Mithridanes. "Then," sayde Nathan: "thou
oughtest there to doe that which I wyll tel thee: which is to
remayne here in my house so younge as thou art, and beare the
name of Nathan, and I would goe to thine, and bee called
Mithridanes." Then Mithridanes answered: "If I had also so great
experience as thou hast, I woulde not refuse thine offer, but
bicause I am assured, that my deedes woulde diminish the renoume
of Nathan, I wyll not marre that in another, which I cannot
redresse in my selfe: and therefore I wyll not take it." After
thys talke, and a great deale more betwene them, they repayred
to the Palace, vppon the request of Nathan, where many dayes he
did great honour to Mithridanes, incoraging and counselling him,
so wel as he could, dayly to perseuere in his high and great
indeuour. And Mithridanes desirous to returne home with his
company, Nathan (after that he had let him well to know, that he
was not able to surpasse him in liberality) gaue him leaue.