O Nathan, Nathan,
How miserable you had nigh become
During this little absence; for your house—
NATHAN.
Well, ’twas on fire; I have already heard it.
God grant I may have heard the whole, that chanced!
DAYA.
’Twas on the point of burning to the ground.
NATHAN.
Then we’d have built another, and a better.
DAYA.
True!—But thy Recha too was on the point
Of perishing amid the flames.
NATHAN.