FROM NATHAN THE WISE› ALADIN SALADIN Draw nearer, Jew! Still nearer! Close to me, Nathan No. Saladin Nathan Saladin Nathan Well! if not by thee thyself so called, Maybe, the people. Thou dost not think, forsooth, that I What if they mean 9012 Saladin Nathan What dost thou speak of, Jew? Not of thy wares! The chafferer with thee Then doubtless thou thyself would'st know what I Saladin In something else that's wholly different Nathan I am a Jew. Saladin And I a Mussulman. Nathan Sultan, Between us is the Christian. Of these three A man like thee remains not standing there, Me hear the reasons which I've lacked the time Of course in strictest confidence - the grounds That have availed to fix thy final choice, That I may make it mine. How? Thou dost start? Dost weigh me with thy eye? It may well be That I'm the first of Sultans who e'er had A whim like this, which yet methinks is not Unworthy of a Sultan.-Is't not so? Give answer! Speak! Or wishest thou to have Reflect, quickly reflect. I shall return [Retires to an adjoining room.] Hm! hm! How very strange! How dazed I am! What does the Sultan want? What? I thought 'twas money, and he wishes-Truth. Saladin And wishes it cash down and unalloyed, 9013 As though 'twere coin-yes, ancient coin- that's weighed. Who then is here the Jew? Is't I or he? A Jew, will do still less. If I'm no Jew, Saladin returns Well, let him come. [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. That I rightly bear one of my titles: Nathan Faith, 'tis a splendid title; yet before, Saladin Nathan Why not? I'm always fond of tales if they're well told. To tell them well is not my strongest point. Saladin Again so proudly modest? Make haste! the tale! Nathan Saladin- In olden times a man lived in the East, Of making him who wore it, in this trust, Yes; go on! Did not divide- seemed worthier of the ring, As it would do. But when he neared his death, The kindly father was most sore perplexed. It gave him pain to grieve two of his sons, Who on his word relied. What should he do? In secret to a jeweler he sends, And orders him to make two other rings And bids him spare nor cost nor toil, that they May prove to be alike and just like it. The jeweler in this succeeds so well, That when he brings the rings, the model ring Saladin [who has turned away astonished] Yes, I hear! Make haste and bring thy story to an end. Already I have ended; For what is still to follow, comes of course. How so? And that shall be The answer to my question? It shall serve Merely as my excuse, if I presume Not to discriminate between the rings The father ordered made with the intent That they should indiscriminate remain. Saladin The rings! Sport not with me! I should have thought That the religions, which I named to thee, Nathan Were easy to distinguish, e'en to dress And e'en to meat and drink. But only not As to the grounds on which they're thought to rest. How can I my forefathers less believe Than thou dost thine? Or on the other hand, Can ask of thee to say thy fathers lied, Saladin [aside]— Now by the living God, the man is right, Nathan Now to our rings let us |