The Dramatic Works of G. E. Lessing: Miss Sara Sampson, Philotas, Emilia Galotti, Nathan the WiseLessing, Gotthold Ephraim
General
The Dramatic Works of G. E. Lessing: Miss Sara Sampson, Philotas, Emilia Galotti, Nathan the Wise
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim
German drama -- Translations into English
At once to her,
To learn if she be bold enough at heart,
To fix upon the only course that now
Is worthy of her.
NATHAN.
Name it.
TEMPLAR.
It is this:
That henceforth she should never care to know
Aught of her brother or of you.
NATHAN.
What more?
TEMPLAR.
To follow me--even if it were her fate
To wed a Mussulman.
NATHAN.
Stay, Templar, stay!
You will not find her. She's with Sittah now,
The Sultan's sister.
TEMPLAR.
Wherefore, and since when?
NATHAN.
If you desire to see her brother, come,
Follow me straight.
TEMPLAR.
Her brother, say you? Whose?
Recha's, or Sittah's?
NATHAN.
Both--ay, both, perhaps.
But come this way, I pray you. Come with me.
(Nathan _leads the_ Templar _away_.)
Scene VI.--Sittah's _harem_.
Sittah _and_ Recha _engaged in conversation_.
SITTAH.
How I am pleased with you, sweet girl. But, come,
Shake off these fears, and be no more alarmed,
Be happy, cheerful. Let me hear you talk.
RECHA.
Princess!
SITTAH.
Nay, child, not princess! Call me friend,
Or Sittah--or your sister--or dear mother,
For I might well be so to you--so good,
So prudent, and so young! How much you know,
How much you must have read!
RECHA.
Read, Sittah! now
You're mocking me, for I can scarcely read.
SITTAH.
Scarce read, you young deceiver!
RECHA.
Yes, perhaps
My father's hand; I thought you spoke of books.
SITTAH.
And so I did--of books.
RECHA.
They puzzle me
To read.
SITTAH.
Indeed!
RECHA.
I speak, in veriest truth.
My father hates book-learning, which he says,
Makes an impression only on the brain
With lifeless letters.
SITTAH.
Well, he's right in that.
And so the greater part of what you know----
RECHA.
I've learnt from his own mouth, and I can tell
The when, the where, and why he taught it me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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