Then hear me. Nathan will consent: He must consent.
Consent! and must! Oh, Daja! I have already tried to touch that chord; It vibrates not responsive.
He answered me in such discordant tone That I was hurt.
What say you? Did you breathe The shadow of a wish to marry Recha. And did not Nathan leap for joy? Did he Draw coldly back--raise obstacles?
Nathan in all things has been ever good. I owe him much. Did he refuse to listen? God knows it grieves me to constrain him thus.
I pray you, Daja, now to terminate This dire uncertainty. But if you doubt Whether the thing you would impart to me Be right or wrong, worthy of shame or honour, Then tell it not, and henceforth I'll forget You have a secret it were well to hide.
Your words but spur me on to tell you all. Then learn that Recha is no Jewess--that She is a Christian maid.
I wish you joy! At last the tedious labour's at an end. The birth-pangs have not hurt you. Still go on With undiminished zeal, and people heaven When you are fit no more to people earth.
How, Knight! and does the news I bring deserve Such bitter taunts? Does it confer no joy On you to hear that Recha is a Christian, On you, her lover, and a Christian knight?
And more especially since Recha is A Christian of your making?
Think you so? Then I would fain see him that may convert her. It is her fate long since to have been that Which she can now no more become.
Well! she is a Christian maid, Of Christian parents born--and is baptised.
Nathan not Her father? Are you sure of that?
I am; The truth has cost me tears of blood. He's not.
But as his daughter he has brought her up, Brought up the Christian maiden as a Jewess?
And knows she aught about her birth? Has she not learnt from him that she was born A Christian and no Jewess?
And he not only let the child grow up In this mistaken notion, but he leaves The woman in it.
Oh, Nathan! How can the wise, good Nathan lend himself To stifle Nature's voice--to misdirect The yearnings of a heart in such a way Which, to itself abandoned, would have formed Another bias, Daja? Ay, in truth, The secret is of moment, and may have Important issues. But I feel perplexed: I know not how I ought to act. But go, Let me have breathing time. He may approach, He may surprise us suddenly. Farewell!