Nathan the Wise; a dramatic poem in five actsLessing, Gotthold Ephraim
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Nathan the Wise; a dramatic poem in five acts
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim
German drama -- Translations into English
Go tell her that she may expect his visit
At every instant.
DAYA.
What indeed—indeed?
NATHAN.
I think I can rely upon thee, Daya:
Be on thy guard, I beg. Thou’lt not repent it.
Be but discreet. Thy conscience too will surely
Find its account in ’t. Do not mar my plans
But leave them to themselves. Relate and question
With modesty, with backwardness.
DAYA.
Oh fear not.
How come you to preach up all this to me?
I go—go too. The sultan sends for you
A second time, and by your friend Al-Hafi.
NATHAN _and_ HAFI.
HAFI.
Ha! art thou here? I was now seeking for thee.
NATHAN.
Why in such haste? What wants he then with me?
HAFI.
Who?
NATHAN.
Saladin. I’m coming—I am coming.
HAFI.
Where, to the sultan’s?
NATHAN.
Was ’t not he who sent thee?
HAFI.
Me? No. And has he sent already?
NATHAN.
Yes.
HAFI.
Then ’tis all right.
NATHAN.
What’s right?
HAFI.
That I’m unguilty.
God knows I am not guilty, knows I said—
What said I not of thee—belied thee—slandered—
To ward it off.
NATHAN.
To ward off what—be plain.
HAFI.
That them art now become his defterdar.
I pity thee. Behold it I will not.
I go this very hour—my road I told thee.
Now—hast thou orders by the way—command,
And then, adieu. Indeed they must not be
Such business as a naked man can’t carry.
Quick, what’s thy pleasure?
NATHAN.
Recollect yourself.
As yet all this is quite a riddle to me.
I know of nothing.
HAFI.
Where are then thy bags?
NATHAN.
Bags?
HAFI.
Bags of money: bring the weightiest forth:
The money thou’rt to lend the sultan, Nathan.
NATHAN.
And is that all?
HAFI.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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