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
Patience yet awhile.
TEMPLAR (_bitterly_).
He has imposed a father on the girl;
He'll find a brother for her now!
SALADIN.
Indeed,
That much was wanting. But this mean rebuke,
Christian, had ne'er escaped my Assad's lips.
NATHAN.
Forgive him: I forgive him readily.
Who knows what in his youth and in his place
We might ourselves have thought? (_Approaching him in
a very friendly manner_) Suspicion, knight,
Follows upon reserve. Had you at first
Vouchsafed to me your real name----
TEMPLAR.
How! what!
NATHAN.
You are no Stauffen.
TEMPLAR.
Tell me who I am.
NATHAN.
Conrad of Stauffen, not.
TEMPLAR.
Then what's my name?
NATHAN.
Leo of Filneck.
TEMPLAR.
How?
NATHAN.
You start!
TEMPLAR.
With reason.
But who says this?
NATHAN.
I, who can tell you more.
Meanwhile, observe, I tax you not with falsehood.
TEMPLAR.
Indeed!
NATHAN.
It may be both names fit you well.
TEMPLAR.
I think so. (_Aside_) God inspired him with that thought.
NATHAN.
Your mother was a Stauffen: and her brother
(The uncle to whose care you were consigned,
When, by the rigour of the climate chased,
Your parents quitted Germany, to seek
This land once more) was Conrad. He, perhaps,
Adopted you as his own son and heir.
Is it long since you travelled hither with him?
Does he still live?
TEMPLAR.
What shall I answer him?
He speaks the truth. Nathan, 'tis so indeed;
But he himself is dead. I journeyed here,
With the last troops of knights, to reinforce
Our order. But inform me how this tale
Concerns your Recha's brother.
NATHAN.
Well, your father----
TEMPLAR.
What! did you know him too?
NATHAN.
He was my friend.
TEMPLAR.
Your friend! Oh, Nathan, is it possible?
NATHAN.
Oluf of Filneck did he style himself;
But he was not a German.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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