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Nathan the wise, a drama, abridged and tr. by E.S.H.
Nathan the wise a drama abridged and tr by ESH Author:Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Daya. I say my conscience Nathan. Let me but tell thee, Daya, of the marvellous fine stuff I bought for thee at Babylon. So richly 'broidered and so tastefull... more »y withal. I can assure thee that for Rachel even I have not bought a better one. Daya. It matters not, for I must tell thee, Nathan, that my conscience—that I can no longer remain deaf to the voice of my conscience. Nathan (interrupting). And Daya—thou wilt be much pleased, I know, when thou dost see the spangles, and the armlets, and the earrings, and the necklets from Damascus, which I have brought for thee. Daya. How generous thou art! It is thy happiness to give, and give again! Nathan. Take thou my gifts with the same joy with which / give, and hold thy tongue. Daya (sighs). Ah ! thou wouldst have me silent, and who can doubt that thou art honesty and nobleness itself ? And yet Nathan. And yet ? Yet Nathan is a Jew—so thou wouldst say. Daya. Thou knowest well that I would say—say something better. Nathan. Then—say nothing more. Daya. I will be silent, since thou wishest it; and if I'm doing wrong in Heaven's sight, I cannot hinder it, and cannot help myself! the blame rest upon thee I Nathan. Rest upon me. So be it! But where is Rachel ? Why does she tarry thus ? Daya, if thou hast deceived me ! My Rachel, does she know that I am come ? chapter{Section 4Daya. I question it. Her nerves, dear child, are shaken, and she trembles yet in every limb. It was a fearful night! The recollection of those dreadful flames still haunts her mind by night and day, and in her sleep she dreams of a good angel who appeared, and saved her life ! Nathan. Poor child ! we are indeed weak creatures. Daya. This very morning, Nathan, she lay upon the couch as though in death;—and suddenly she started up a...« less