Nathan the Wise Part 37

And he not only let the child grow up In this mistaken notion, but still leaves The woman in it.

DAYA.

Aye, alas!

TEMPLAR.

How, Nathan, The wise good Nathan thus allow himself To stifle nature's voice? Thus to misguide Upon himself th' effusions of a heart Which to itself abandoned would have formed Another bias, Daya--yes, indeed You have intrusted an important secret That may have consequences--it confounds me, I cannot tell what I've to do at present, Therefore go, give me time, he may come by And may surprise us.

DAYA.

I should drop for fright.

TEMPLAR.

I am not able now to talk, farewell; And if you chance to meet him, only say That we shall find each other at the sultan's.

DAYA.

Let him not see you've any grudge against him.

That should be kept to give the proper impulse To things at last, and may remove your scruples Respecting Recha. But then, if you take her Back with you into Europe, let not me Be left behind.

TEMPLAR.

That we'll soon settle, go.

ACT IV.

SCENE.--The Cloister of a Convent.

The FRIAR alone.

FRIAR.

Aye--aye--he's very right--the patriarch is - In fact of all that he has sent me after Not much turns out his way--Why put on me Such business and no other? I don't care To coax and wheedle, and to run my nose Into all sorts of things, and have a hand In all that's going forward. I did not Renounce the world, for my own part, in order To be entangled with 't for other people.

FRIAR and TEMPLAR.

TEMPLAR (abruptly entering).

Good brother, are you there? I've sought you long.

FRIAR.

Me, sir?

TEMPLAR.

What, don't you recollect me?

FRIAR.

Oh, I thought I never in my life was likely To see you any more. For so I hoped In G.o.d. I did not vastly relish the proposal That I was bound to make you. Yes, G.o.d knows, How little I desired to find a hearing, Knows I was inly glad when you refused Without a moment's thought, what of a knight Would be unworthy. Are your second thoughts -

TEMPLAR.

So, you already know my purpose, I Scarce know myself.

FRIAR.

Have you by this reflected That our good patriarch is not so much out, That gold and fame in plenty may be got By his commission, that a foe's a foe Were he our guardian angel seven times over.

Have you weighed this 'gainst flesh and blood, and come To strike the bargain he proposed. Ah, G.o.d.

TEMPLAR.

My dear good man, set your poor heart at ease.

Not therefore am I come, not therefore wish To see the patriarch in person. Still On the first point I think as I then thought, Nor would I for aught in the world exchange That good opinion, which I once obtained From such a worthy upright man as thou art, I come to ask your patriarch's advice -

FRIAR (looking round with timidity).

Our patriarch's--you? a knight ask priest's advice?

TEMPLAR.

Mine is a priestly business.

FRIAR.

Yet the priests Ask not the knights' advice, be their affair Ever so knightly.

TEMPLAR.

Therefore one allows them To overshoot themselves, a privilege Which such as I don't vastly envy them.

Indeed if I were acting for myself, Had not t' account with others, I should care But little for his counsel. But some things I'd rather do amiss by others' guidance Than by my own aright. And then by this time I see religion too is party, and He, who believes himself the most impartial, Does but uphold the standard of his own, Howe'er unconsciously. And since 'tis so, So must be well.

FRIAR.

I rather shall not answer, For I don't understand exactly.

TEMPLAR.

Yet Let me consider what it is precisely That I have need of, counsel or decision, Simple or learned counsel.--Thank you, brother, I thank you for your hint--A patriarch--why?

Be thou my patriarch; for 'tis the plain Christian, Whom in the patriarch I have to consult, And not the patriarch in the Christian.

FRIAR.