Nathan the Wise Part 45

Be speedy, I beseech you.

FRIAR.

Now it happens That some one whispered in his ear to-day, There lives hard by a Jew, who educates A Christian child as his own daughter.

NATHAN (startled).

How

FRIAR.

Hear me quite out. So he commissions me, If possible to track him out this Jew: And stormed most bitterly at the misdeed; Which seems to him to be the very sin Against the Holy Ghost--That is, the sin Of all most unforgiven, most enormous; But luckily we cannot tell exactly What it consists in--All at once my conscience Was roused, and it occurred to me that I Perhaps had given occasion to this sin.

Now do not you remember a knight's squire, Who eighteen years ago gave to your hands A female child a few weeks old?

NATHAN.

How that?

In fact such was -

FRIAR.

Now look with heed at me, And recollect. I was the man on horseback Who brought the child.

NATHAN.

Was you?

FRIAR.

And he from whom I brought it was methinks a lord of Filnek - Leonard of Filnek.

NATHAN.

Right!

FRIAR.

Because the mother.

Died a short time before; and he, the father, Had on a sudden to make off to Gazza, Where the poor helpless thing could not go with him; Therefore he sent it you--that was my message.

Did not I find you out at Darun? there Consign it to you?

NATHAN.

Yes.

FRIAR.

It were no wonder My memory deceived me. I have had Many a worthy master, and this one I served not long. He fell at Askalon - But he was a kind lord.

NATHAN.

O yes, indeed; For much have I to thank him, very much - He more than once preserved me from the sword.

FRIAR.

O brave--you therefore will with double pleasure Have taken up this daughter.

NATHAN.

You have said it.

FRIAR.

Where is she then? She is not dead, I hope - I would not have her dead, dear pretty creature.

If no one else know anything about it All is yet safe.

NATHAN.

Aye all!

FRIAR.

Yes, trust me, Nathan, This is my way of thinking--if the good That I propose to do is somehow twined With mischief, then I let the good alone; For we know pretty well what mischief is, But not what's for the best. 'Twas natural If you meant to bring up the Christian child Right well, that you should rear it as your own; And to have done this lovingly and truly, For such a recompense--were horrible.

It might have been more prudent to have had it Brought up at second hand by some good Christian In her own faith. But your friend's orphan child You would not then have loved. Children need love, Were it the mute affection of a brute, More at that age than Christianity.

There's always time enough for that--and if The maid have but grown up before your eyes With a sound frame and pious--she remains Still in her maker's eye the same. For is not Christianity all built on Judaism?

Oh, it has often vexed me, cost me tears, That Christians will forget so often that Our Saviour was a Jew.

NATHAN.

You, my good brother, Shall be my advocate, when bigot hate And hard hypocrisy shall rise upon me - And for a deed--a deed--thou, thou shalt know it - But take it with thee to the tomb. As yet Has vanity ne'er tempted me to tell it To living soul--only to thee I tell it, To simple piety alone; for it Alone can feel what deeds the man who trusts In G.o.d can gain upon himself.

FRIAR.

You seem Affected, and your eye-b.a.l.l.s swim in water.

NATHAN.

'Twas at Darun you met me with the child; But you will not have known that a few days Before, the Christians murdered every Jew in Gath, Woman and child; that among these, my wife With seven hopeful sons were found, who all Beneath my brother's roof which they had fled to, Were burnt alive.

FRIAR.

Just G.o.d!

NATHAN.

And when you came, Three nights had I in dust and ashes lain Before my G.o.d and wept--aye, and at times Arraigned my maker, raged, and cursed myself And the whole world, and to Christianity Swore unrelenting hate.

FRIAR.