Nathan the Wise; a dramatic poem in five acts. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

His father yielded to his wishes, after long visits to France and to Germany, in days astir with the new movements of thought, that preceded and followed the French Revolution. He formed a close friendship with Southey, edited for a little time a “Norwich Iris,” and in his later years became known especially for his Historic Survey of German Poetry, which included his translations, and among them this of “Nathan the Wise.” It was published in 1830, Taylor died in 1836. Thomas Carlyle, in reviewing William Taylor’s Survey of German Poetry, said of the author’s own translations in it “compared with the average of British translations, they may be pronounced of almost ideal excellence; compared with the best translations extant, for example, the German Shakespeare, Homer, Calderon, they may still be called better than indifferent. One great merit Mr. Taylor has: rigorous adherence to his original; he endeavours at least to copy with all possible fidelity the term of praise, the tone, the very metre, whatever stands written for him.”

      H. M.

Nathan the Wise.

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      “Introite nam et heic Dii sunt!”—Apud Gellium.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

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      Saladin, the Sultan.

      Sittah, his Sister.

      Nathan, a rich Jew.

      Recha, his adopted Daughter.

      Daya, a Christian Woman dwelling with the Jew a companion to Recha.

      Conrade, a young Templar.

      Hafi, a Dervis.

      Athanasios, the Patriarch of Palestine.

      Bonafides, a Friar.

      An Emir, sundry Mamalukes, Slaves, &c.

      The Scene is at Jerusalem.

ACT I.

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      Scene.—A Hall in Nathan’s House.

      Nathan, in a travelling dress, Daya meeting him.

      DAYA.

      ’Tis he, ’tis Nathan! Thanks to the Almighty,

       That you’re at last returned.

      NATHAN.

      Yes, Daya, thanks,

       That I have reached Jerusalem in safety.

       But wherefore this at last? Did I intend, Or was it possible to come back sooner? As I was forced to travel, out and in, ’Tis a long hundred leagues to Babylon; And to get in one’s debts is no employment, That speeds a traveller.

      DAYA.

      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.

      Of perishing?

       My Recha, saidst thou? She? I heard not that.

       I then should not have needed any house.

       Upon the point of perishing—perchance

       She’s gone?—Speak out then—out—torment me not

       With this suspense.—Come, tell me, tell me all.

      DAYA.

      Were she no more, from me you would not hear it.

      NATHAN.

      Why then alarm me?—Recha, O my Recha!

      DAYA.

      Your Recha? Yours?

      NATHAN.

      What if I ever were

       Doomed to unlearn to call this child, my child,

      DAYA.

      Is all you own yours by an equal title?

      NATHAN.

      Nought by a better. What I else enjoy

       Nature and Fortune gave—this treasure, Virtue.

      DAYA.

      How dear you make me pay for all your goodness!—

       If goodness, exercised with such a view,

       Deserves the name.—

      NATHAN.

      With such a view? With what?

      DAYA.

      My conscience—

      NATHAN.

      Daya, let me tell you first—

      DAYA.

      I say, my conscience—

      NATHAN.

      What a charming silk

       I bought for you in Babylon! ’Tis rich,

       Yet elegantly rich. I almost doubt

       If I have brought a prettier for Recha.

      DAYA.

      And what of that—I tell you that my conscience

       Will no be longer hushed.

      NATHAN.

      And I have bracelets,

       And earrings, and a necklace, which will charm you.

       I chose them at Damascus.

      DAYA.

      That’s your way:—

       If you can but make presents—but make presents.—

      NATHAN.

      Take you as freely as I give—and cease.

      DAYA.

      And cease?—Who questions, Nathan, but that you are

       Honour and generosity in person;—

       Yet—

      NATHAN.

      Yet I’m but a Jew.—That was your meaning.

      DAYA.

      You better know what was my meaning, Nathan.

      NATHAN.

      Well, well, no more of this,

      DAYA.

      I shall be silent;

       But what of sinful in the eye of heaven

       Springs out of it—not I, not I could help;

       It falls upon thy head.

      NATHAN.