NATHAN.
But by degrees returning reason came,
She spake with gentle voice—And yet God is,
And this was his decree—now exercise
What thou hast long imagined, and what surely
Is not more difficult to exercise
Than to imagine—if thou will it once.
I rose and called out—God, I will—I will,
So thou but aid my purpose—And behold
You was just then dismounted, and presented
To me the child wrapt in your mantle. What
You said, or I, occurs not to me now—
Thus much I recollect—I took the child,
I bore it to my couch, I kissed it, flung
Myself upon my knees and sobbed—my God,
Now have I one out of the seven again!
FRIAR.
Nathan, you are a Christian! Yes, by God
You are a Christian—never was a better.
NATHAN.
Heaven bless us! What makes me to you a Christian
Makes you to me a Jew. But let us cease
To melt each other—time is nigh to act,
And though a sevenfold love had bound me soon
To this strange only girl, though the mere thought,
That I shall lose in her my seven sons
A second time distracts me—yet I will,
If providence require her at my hands,
Obey.
FRIAR.
The very thing I should advise you;
But your good genius has forestalled my thought.
NATHAN.
The first best claimant must not seek to tear
Her from me.