Nathan the Wise Part 21

You--in nothing.

NATHAN.

I'm rich.

TEMPLAR.

To me the richer Jew ne'er seemed The bettor Jew.

NATHAN.

Is that a reason why You should not use the better part of him, His wealth?

TEMPLAR.

Well, well, I'll not refuse it wholly, For my poor mantle's sake--when that is threadbare, And spite of darning will not hold together, I'll come and borrow cloth, or money of thee, To make me up a new one. Don't look solemn; The danger is not pressing; 'tis not yet At the last gasp, but tight and strong and good, Save this poor corner, where an ugly spot You see is singed upon it. It got singed As I bore off your daughter from the fire.

NATHAN (taking hold of the mantle).

'Tis singular that such an ugly spot Bears better testimony to the man Than his own mouth. This brand--Oh I could kiss it!

Your pardon--that I meant not.

TEMPLAR.

What?

NATHAN.

A tear Fell on the spot.

TEMPLAR.

You'll find up more such tears - (This Jew methinks begins to work upon me).

NATHAN.

Would you send once this mantle to my daughter?

TEMPLAR.

Why?

NATHAN.

That her lips may cling to this dear speck; For at her benefactor's feet to fall, I find, she hopes in vain.

TEMPLAR.

But, Jew, your name You said was Nathan--Nathan, you can join Your words together cunningly--right well - I am confused--in fact--I would have been -

NATHAN.

Twist, writhe, disguise you, as you will, I know you, You were too honest, knight, to be more civil; A girl all feeling, and a she-attendant All complaisance, a father at a distance - You valued her good name, and would not see her.

You scorned to try her, lest you should be victor; For that I also thank you.

TEMPLAR.

I confess, You know how templars ought to think.

NATHAN.

Still templars - And only OUGHT to think--and all because The rules and vows enjoin it to the ORDER - I know how good men think--know that all lands Produce good men.

TEMPLAR.

But not without distinction.

NATHAN.

In colour, dress, and shape, perhaps, distinguished.

TEMPLAR.

Here more, there fewer sure?

NATHAN.

That boots not much, The great man everywhere has need of room.

Too many set together only serve To crush each others' branches. Middling good, As we are, spring up everywhere in plenty.

Only let one not scar and bruise the other; Let not the gnarl be angry with the stump; Let not the upper branch alone pretend Not to have started from the common earth.

TEMPLAR.

Well said: and yet, I trust, you know the nation, That first began to strike at fellow men, That first baptised itself the chosen people - How now if I were--not to hate this people, Yet for its pride could not forbear to scorn it, The pride which it to Mussulman and Christian Bequeathed, as were its G.o.d alone the true one, You start, that I, a Christian and a templar, Talk thus. Where, when, has e'er the pious rage To own the better G.o.d--on the whole world To force this better, as the best of all - Shown itself more, and in a blacker form, Than here, than now? To him, whom, here and now, The film is not removing from his eye - But be he blind that wills! Forget my speeches And leave me.

NATHAN.

Ah! indeed you do not know How closer I shall cling to you henceforth.

We must, we will be friends. Despise my nation - We did not choose a nation for ourselves.

Are we our nations? What's a nation then?

Were Jews and Christians such, e'er they were men?

And have I found in thee one more, to whom It is enough to be a man?

TEMPLAR.

That hast thou.

Nathan, by G.o.d, thou hast. Thy hand. I blush To have mistaken thee a single instant.