Saladin [Aside― Here then the field is clear.] I've not returned Too soon for thee? Are thy reflections ended? If so, speak out. There's none that hears us here. Nathan -Would the whole world might hear us. Saladin Is Nathan So certain of his cause? Ha! that I call Nathan Or be of use. Saladin If it be needful, yes! Henceforth then I may hope That I rightly bear one of my titles: Nathan-Faith, 'tis a splendid title; yet before, Saladin Why not? I'm always fond of tales if they're well told. Nathan-To tell them well is not my strongest point. Saladin-Again so proudly modest? Make haste! the tale! Nathan - In olden times a man lived in the East, Saladin Who from a loving hand possessed a ring Should ever be the house's head and prince. Yes; go on! Nathan-Thus the ring came, from son to son, at last To one who was the father of three sons, And all of whom he therefore could not help But love alike. Only from time to time Did not divide seemed worthier of the ring, Which through fond weakness he'd to each of them As it would do. But when he neared his death, It gave him pain to grieve two of his sons, Who on his word relied. What should he do? And orders him to make two other rings And bids him spare nor cost nor toil, that they The jeweler in this succeeds so well, That when he brings the rings, the model ring Not e'en the father longer can discern. With joy he calls his sons, each one apart, Saladin [who has turned away astonished] — Yes, I hear! Nathan Already I have ended; For what is still to follow, comes of course. Merely as my excuse, if I presume Saladin―The rings! Sport not with me! I should have thought That the religions, which I named to thee, Were easy to distinguish, e'en to dress And e'en to meat and drink. Nathan But only not As to the grounds on which they're thought to rest. In whom now are we likeliest to trust? Than thou dost thine? Or on the other hand, In order not to contradict my own? The same is true of Christians - is it not? Saladin [aside]— Saladin Nathan Now by the living God, the man is right, Now to our rings let us He'd sooner charge his brothers with foul play, He always had been ready to believe; And now he wished to find the traitors out, And now The judge? I long to hear what thou wilt make The judge spoke thus: "If you the father cannot soon produce, Must now decide. For surely the false rings Will fail in that. Now whom love two of you The most? Make haste and speak! Why are you mute? Not outward? Does each one love himself the most? And of your rings all three are not the true. The loss had three rings made for one." Grand! grand! : Saladin- As he all three did love, and all alike, From prejudice! Let each one vie with each Let them appear again before this seat. A wiser man than I will then sit here And speak. Depart!" Thus said the modest judge. ON LOVE OF TRUTH. (From "Eine Duplik.") I KNOW not whether it be a duty to offer up fortune and life to the truth: certainly the courage and resolution necessary to such a sacrifice are not gifts which we can bestow upon ourselves. But I know it is a duty, if one undertake to teach the truth, to teach the whole of it or none at all, to teach it clearly and roundly, without enigmas or reserves, and with perfect confidence in its efficacy and utility; and the gifts required for such a decision are in our power. Whoever will not acquire these, or when acquired will not use them, shows that he has a very poor opinion of the human intellect; and he deserves to lose the confidence of his hearers, who, while he frees them from some gross errors, yet withholds the entire truth, and thinks to satisfy them by a compromise with falsehood. For the greater the error, the shorter and straighter the way to the truth. On the other hand, subtle error can prevent our recognition of its nature, and forever blind us to the truth. The man who is faithless to Truth in threatening dangers, may yet love her much; and Truth forgives him his infidelity for the sake of his love. But whosoever thinks of prostituting Truth under all sorts of masks and rouge, may indeed be her pimp, but he has never been her lover. Not the truth of which any one is, or supposes himself to be, possessed, but the upright endeavor he has made to arrive at truth, makes the worth of the man. For not by the possession but by the pursuit of truth are his powers expanded, wherein alone his ever-growing perfection consists. Possession makes us easy, indolent, proud. If God held all truth shut in his right hand, and in his left nothing but the ever-restless search after truth, although with the condition of for ever and ever erring, and should say to me, "Choose!" I should bow humbly to his left hand and say, "Father, give! pure truth is for Thee alone!" THE MEANING OF HERESY. WHAT is called a heretic has a very good side. It is a man who wishes to see with his own eyes. The only question is whether he has good eyes. In certain ages the name of heretic is the best title that a scholar can transmit to posterity; far better than that of sorcerer, magian, exorcist, for these serve to conceal many an impostor. |