Scene V.
Nathan (who is presently joined by the Templar).
NATHAN.
I almost shrink from meeting this strange fellow--
Recoil from his rough virtue! That one man
Should ever make another feel confused!
But see, he comes! he seems a noble youth;
Looks like a man. I like his daring eye,
His honest gait. Although the shell is bitter,
The kernel may not be so. I have seen
One like him somewhere. Pardon, noble Frank----
TEMPLAR.
What would you?
NATHAN.
Pardon me----
TEMPLAR.
What would you, Jew?
NATHAN.
The privilege of speaking to you.
TEMPLAR.
Well!
How can I help it? Quick, then--what's your wish?
NATHAN.
Patience! nor pass with such contempt and pride
One who must be your debtor evermore.
TEMPLAR.
How so? I almost guess. No; are you then----
NATHAN.
My name is Nathan, father to the maid
Your generous courage rescued from the flames.
I come to----
TEMPLAR.
If you come to render thanks,
Spare them. I have already been compelled
To bear too many thanks for this small act.
Besides, you owe me nothing. Could I know
The maiden was your daughter? I was bound--
It is a Templar's duty--to assist
All who need succour; and my life just then
Was a mere burden. It was a relief
To risk it for another, even though
The task were to preserve a Jewess' life.
NATHAN.
Great--great yet horrible--I understand
The turn. The modest greatness will assume
The hideous mask to ward off gratitude.
But though he may disdain our proffer'd thanks,
Is there no other tribute we can pay?
Sir Knight! if you were not a stranger here,
And not a pris'ner, I were not so bold.
But, come, what service can I render you?
TEMPLAR.
You!--nothing.
NATHAN.
I am rich.
TEMPLAR.
The richer Jew
Was ne'er in my esteem the better 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 the sake
Of my poor mantle; when it is well worn,
And spite of darning will not hold together,
I'll come and borrow cloth or gold of you,
To make a new one. Nay, Sir, do not start;
The danger is not pressing--'tis not yet
Quite worthless; it is sound, and strong, and good.
Save in one corner, where an ugly spot
Is singed, and that is from a burn it got
When I bore off your daughter from the fire.
NATHAN (taking hold of the mantle).
'Tis strange, indeed, that such a spot as this
Should bear far better witness to the man
Than his own lips. This spot! Oh, I could kiss it.
Your pardon, Sir, in truth, I meant it not!
TEMPLAR.
What?
NATHAN.
'Twas a tear that fell.
TEMPLAR.
Well, 'tis no matter.
'Tis not the first. (This Jew doth puzzle me.)
NATHAN.
Would you but send this mantle to my daughter!
TEMPLAR.
Why?
NATHAN.
That she, too, may press it to her lips;
For at her benefactor's feet to fall
She now may hope in vain.
TEMPLAR.
But, Jew, your name?
Tis Nathan, is it not? You choose your words
With skill--I am confused. I did not think
NATHAN.
Feign, Templar, and dissemble as you may,
I see the truth. I see your generous heart,
Too honest and too good to be polite.
A grateful girl, all feeling, and her maid
Swift to obey--a father far from home,
You valued her fair fame, and would not see her.
You scorned to tempt lest you should victor prove.
For this too I must tender you my thanks.
TEMPLAR.
You know at least how Templars ought to feel.
NATHAN.
Why Templars only? and why ought to feel?
Is it because your rules and vows enjoin
These duties to your order? Sir, I know
How good men all should feel, and know as well
That every country can produce good men.
TEMPLAR.
You'll make distinctions?
NATHAN.
Yes, in colour, form,
And dress, perhaps.
TEMPLAR.
Ay, and in number too--
Here more--there less.
NATHAN.
The difference is not much.
Great men, like trees, have ever need of room;
Too many set together only serve
To crush each other's boughs. The middling sort,
Like us, are found in numbers, they abound;
Only let not one 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 what nation was the first
To scatter discord 'mongst their fellow-men?
To claim the title of "the chosen people?"
How now if I were not to hate them, but
To scorn this upstart nation, for their pride?
That pride which it bequeathed to Mussulman
And Christian, as if God were theirs alone.
You start to hear a Christian and a Templar
Talk thus. But when and where has all this rage,
This pious rage, to win the better God,
And force this better God on all the world,
Shown itself more, or in a blacker form,
Than here, and now? Who here, who now retains
The blinding scales upon his eyes--and yet
Let him be blind who will!--forget my words,
And leave me (is going).
NATHAN.
Templar! you but little know
How closer henceforth I shall cling to you.
We must, we must be friends. Despise my people--
We did not choose a nation for ourselves.
Are we our nation's? What then is a nation?
Were Jews or Christians such, ere they were men?
Ah! would that I had found in you one man
To whom it were enough to be a man.
TEMPLAR.
Thou hast so, Nathan! Yes, by Heaven, thou hast.
Thy hand. I blush to have mistaken thee.
NATHAN.
Now I feel proud. 'Tis only common souls
In whom we seldom err.
TEMPLAR.
Uncommon ones
We do not oft forget. Nathan, we must,
We must be friends.
NATHAN.
We are so. And my Recha
Will now rejoice. How bright the prospect grows
That dawns upon me! If you did but know her.
TEMPLAR.
I grow impatient, Nathan. But who now
Comes from your house? Methinks it is your Daja.
NATHAN.
Yes, and her look how full of care! God grant----
TEMPLAR.
That nothing may have chanced to our Recha!
Scene VI.
Daja (rushing in).
DAJA.
Nathan, dear Nathan!
NATHAN.
Well.
DAJA.
Forgive me, Knight,
That I must interrupt you.
NATHAN.
What has happened?
DAJA.
The Sultan sends for you--commands you straight
To speak with him. Protect us, Heaven! the Sultan!
NATHAN.
The Sultan sends for me! He would inspect
The goods--the precious wares that I have brought
From Persia. Say there's nothing yet unpacked.
DAJA.
No, no; 'tis not to look at anything;
He wants to speak to you in person, Nathan,
And orders you to come at once.
NATHAN.
I go.
Daja, return.
DAJA.
Knight, take it not amiss.
We were alarmed for what the Sultan might
Require of Nathan.
NATHAN.
That I soon shall know. (Exit Daja.)