Nathan the Wise Part 41

TEMPLAR (coldly).

No, I came alone.

SALADIN.

O, what a deed of thine!

And what a happiness, a blessing to thee, That such a deed was serving such a man.

TEMPLAR.

Yes, yes.

SALADIN.

So cold--no, my young friend--when G.o.d Does through our means a service, we ought not To be so cold, not out of modesty Wish to appear so cold.

TEMPLAR.

In this same world All things have many sides, and 'tis not easy To comprehend how they can fit each other.

SALADIN.

Cling ever to the best--Give praise to G.o.d, Who knows how they can fit. But, my young man, If thou wilt be so difficult, I must Be very cautious with thee, for I too Have many sides, and some of them perhaps Such as mayn't always seem to fit.

TEMPLAR.

That wounds me; Suspicion usually is not my failing.

SALADIN.

Say then of whom thou harbour'st it, of Nathan?

So should thy talk imply--canst thou suspect him?

Give me the first proof of thy confidence.

TEMPLAR.

I've nothing against Nathan, I am angry With myself only.

SALADIN.

And for what?

TEMPLAR.

For dreaming That any Jew could learn to be no Jew - For dreaming it awake.

SALADIN.

Out with this dream.

TEMPLAR.

Thou know'st of Nathan's daughter, sultan. What I did for her I did--because I did it; Too proud to reap thanks which I had not sown for, I shunned from day to day her very sight.

The father was far off. He comes, he hears, He seeks me, thanks me, wishes that his daughter May please me; talks to me of dawning prospects - I listen to his prate, go, see, and find A girl indeed. O, sultan, I am ashamed -

SALADIN.

A shamed that a Jew girl knew how to make Impression on thee, surely not.

TEMPLAR.

But that To this impression my rash yielding heart, Trusting the smoothness of the father's prate, Opposed no more resistance. Fool--I sprang A second time into the flame, and then I wooed, and was denied.

SALADIN.

Denied! Denied!

TEMPLAR.

The prudent father does not flatly say No to my wishes, but the prudent father Must first inquire, and look about, and think.

Oh, by all means. Did not I do the same?

Did not I look about and ask who 'twas While she was shrieking in the flame? Indeed, By G.o.d, 'tis something beautifully wise To be so circ.u.mspect.

SALADIN.

Come, come, forgive Something to age. His lingerings cannot last.

He is not going to require of thee First to turn Jew.

TEMPLAR.

Who knows?

SALADIN.

Who? I, who know This Nathan better.

TEMPLAR.

Yet the superst.i.tion In which we have grown up, not therefore loses When we detect it, all its influence on us.

Not all are free that can bemock their fetters.

SALADIN.

Maturely said--but Nathan, surely Nathan -

TEMPLAR.

The worst of superst.i.tions is to think One's own most bearable.