Nathan the Wise Part 38

Oh, I beg no further--you must quite mistake me; He that knows much hath learnt much care, and I Devoted me to only one. 'Tis well, Most luckily here comes the very man, Wait here, stand still--he has perceived you, knight.

TEMPLAR.

I'd rather shun him, he is not my man.

A thick red smiling prelate--and as stately -

FRIAR.

But you should see him on a gala-day; He only comes from visiting the sick.

TEMPLAR.

Great Saladin must then be put to shame.

[The Patriarch, after marching up one of the aisles in great pomp, draws near, and makes signs to the Friar, who approaches him.]

PATRIARCH, FRIAR, and TEMPLAR.

PATRIARCH.

Hither--was that the templar? What wants he?

FRIAR.

I know not.

PATRIARCH (approaches the templar, while the friar and the rest of his train draw back).

So, sir knight, I'm truly happy To meet the brave young man--so very young too - Something, G.o.d helping, may come of him.

TEMPLAR.

More Than is already hardly will come of him, But less, my reverend father, that may chance.

PATRIARCH.

It is my prayer at least a knight so pious May for the cause of Christendom and G.o.d Long be preserved; nor can that fail, so be Young valour will lend ear to aged counsel.

With what can I be useful any way?

TEMPLAR.

With that which my youth is without, with counsel.

PATRIARCH.

Most willingly, but counsel should be followed.

TEMPLAR.

Surely not blindly?

PATRIARCH.

Who says that? Indeed None should omit to make use of the reason Given him by G.o.d, in things where it belongs, But it belongs not everywhere; for instance, If G.o.d, by some one of his blessed angels, Or other holy minister of his word, Deign'd to make known a mean, by which the welfare Of Christendom, or of his holy church, In some peculiar and especial manner Might be promoted or secured, who then Shall venture to rise up, and try by reason The will of him who has created reason, Measure th' eternal laws of heaven by The little rules of a vain human honour? - But of all this enough. What is it then On which our counsel is desired?

TEMPLAR.

Suppose, My reverend father, that a Jew possessed An only child, a girl we'll say, whom he With fond attention forms to every virtue, And loves more than his very soul; a child Who by her pious love requites his goodness.

And now suppose it whispered--say to me - This girl is not the daughter of the Jew, He picked up, purchased, stole her in her childhood - That she was born of Christians and baptised, But that the Jew hath reared her as a Jewess, Allows her to remain a Jewess, and To think herself his daughter. Reverend father What then ought to be done?

PATRIARCH.

I shudder! But First will you please explain if such a case Be fact, or only an hypothesis?

That is to say, if you, of your own head, Invent the case, or if indeed it happened, And still continues happening?

TEMPLAR.

I had thought That just to learn your reverence's opinion This were all one.

PATRIARCH.

All one--now see how apt Proud human reason is in spiritual things To err: 'tis not all one; for, if the point In question be a mere sport of the wit, 'Twill not be worth our while to think it through But I should recommend the curious person To theatres, where oft, with loud applause, Such pro and contras have been agitated.

But if the object should be something more Than by a school-trick--by a sleight of logic To get the better of me--if the case Be really extant, if it should have happened Within our diocese, or--or perhaps Here in our dear Jerusalem itself, Why then -

TEMPLAR.

What then?

PATRIARCH.

Then were it proper To execute at once upon the Jew The penal laws in such a case provided By papal and imperial right, against So foul a crime--such dire abomination.

TEMPLAR.

So.

PATRIARCH.

And the laws forementioned have decreed, That if a Jew shall to apostacy Seduce a Christian, he shall die by fire.

TEMPLAR.

So.

PATRIARCH.

How much more the Jew, who forcibly Tears from the holy font a Christian child, And breaks the sacramental bond of baptism; For all what's done to children is by force - I mean except what the church does to children.