NATHAN DER WEISE

31
NIVERS

UN1VERSITY OF MANITt> DEPARTMENT^OF GERMAN.

LESSING.
From
a portrait by J.

H. Tischbein

the eider, in the National Gallery in

Berlin.

LESSING'S

NATHAN DER WEISE

W1TH

INTRODUCTION AND NOTES

BY

GEORGE

O.

CURME

Professor of Germanic Philology in the Northwestern University

SSJarum troffen wir in aen potten 9Migionen

liebet weiter ntdjt*, als
ftt^

nicf}t

ben ang erblkfen.nadj reellem

ber

menfcfilicfie

eritanb jebe* Crt? einzig unb allein

enrioicfeln lnnen,

unb nodj

ferner entroirfetn fo\ al3

ber eine berietben entroeber tfeln ober jrnen.

fieffing.

"Hew

12orfe

THE MACMILLAX COMPANY

London: Macmillan

&

Co., Ltd.

1898
All rights reserved

Copyright, 1898

By The Macmillan Company

presa of Carl *. eintjemann,

JBoston, flaea.

PREFACE.

All critics unite in assigning a high place to Lessing's Nathan the Wise in German literature. Many regard it, in its beautiful and humane lesson, as occupying a unique Position in the literature of the world.

rieh critical material

It has been translated into nearly has gathered about it. all the leading languages of Europe, and there are a half-

score of versions in English, dating from 1781 to 1888.

hundred years and more have passed since Lessing's Nathan was first published, but English translators and
editors have not ceased their endeavors to bring
to the English-speaking public.
it

nearer
is

The present

edition

an

additional effort in this direction.

ture.

spared to In

make
the

it

pains have been a work of value to the Student of litera-

No

introduetion

and

notes,

have

tried

to

present the best interpretative criticism of the masterpiece, and of its relations to the author and to the times in which

he

lived.

There

is

not the romantic interest surrounding

development of the poem Nathan which surrounds Goethe's Faust, but its history is neverthe coneeption and
theless very interesting, for the

poem

Stands in close rela-

tions to his

that

it is

a lue so singularly beautiful and strong an indispensable commentary on the poem itself.
life,

In the notes
culties

have tried to remove the peculiar

diffi-

which the author's language may occasion. Lessing Stands much further removed from the language of to-day than Goethe. His language is, besides, quite idiomatic

IV

PREFACE.
at times dialectic, hence, in spite of the clearness

and

and

vigor of the style, the English Student meets with serious

obstacles.

Translators and editors have not always underis

As this work stood the poet. the special forms and classes,
employs, and
I

intended for advanced

his peculiar constructions, are

meanings which Lessing treated from

the historical Standpoint; in tracing this growth

and de-

velopment from Paul's Deutsches Wrterbuch, the work of a most

accurate and philosophical scholar. The text is intended to be a faithful reproduction of the second edition, the last which received Lessing's final

have received constant benefit and Instruction

Important variants are mentioned in the For practical reasons it has been thought best to modernize the spelling, but only so far as it could be done
corrections.
notes.

without changing the actual language of the author. In the absence of an autograph manuscript there are, of course, cases in which it is uncertain just how far the form
as preserved represents the author's actual language.

In

such cases the modern forms appear in the

text,

but the

orthography of the original edition

is

given in the notes.

The punctuation has been The

literature
is

in part simplified, but not

is is

howin-

ever, so as to efface anything that

truly characteristic.

on the subject
I

extensive,

and

my

debtedness

have used freely the varied material which has accumulated, but have tried throughout to study the subject from the Standpoint of the poet's life and works,
great.

finding in

them the best

I

interpretation of the

poem.

In

many

have been indebted frequently to earlier editors, as to Buchheim, Brandt and Primer. Several scholars have given their kindly counsel and aid. I have
points of detail

PREFACE.
to

thank especially Professor W. T. Hewett of Cornell University, who throughout has manifested a constant interest in

the

work and

assisted

me by encouragement and

has also generously placed at my certain special studies of Lessing to which I am disposal I also take this glad to acknowledge my indebtedness. to publicly acknowledge the kind assistance opportunity
friendly criticism.

He

received from Mr. Georg Edward, of Rogers Park, Chicago. Many a valuable Suggestion is due to him.

Northwestern University.

CONTENTS.
iNTRODUCnON
I.

Sketch of Lessixg's Life and

Sources of Nathan* der Weise
i.

Work

II.

....
. . .
.

...

PAGE
ix

xxv
xxvii

The Parable

of the

Three Rings

2.

Other Literary Sources

.....
.

xxx
xxxiii

3.
III.

Historical Sources and their Treatment

.
.

Time and Place of the Action

xxxiv

IV.

The Plot
Characters

V.
VI.

........

xxxv
xx.xvii

Metrical Form

xliv xlvi

VII.

Language

Text
Notes
BlBLIOGRAPHY

215

287

Index

292

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Portrait of Lessing,

by
at

J.

H. Tischbein the Eider

The Ducal Library

Wolfenbttel, facing page

...
.

Frontispiece
5

1NTR0DUCTI0N.
LESSING

I.

(1729-1781).

is perhaps no German author whose opinions, often challenged, have held such unquestioned sway though The uthority of his name is sought as those of Lessing.

There

upon the most diverse questions. His views of literature, art, and religion cause him to be claimed by opposing
parties as their advocate.

He

is

to

many

a leader of ad-

vanced thought,
truth.

to others a rational

defender of established

The problems regarding

the social

and

political

rights of the

Jews look to him for advocacy and support,

and fresh discussions of his relations to living questions which are agitating Germany constantly arise. " To go back to Lessing is to advance," said a profound German.

He is a commanding form in literature, a knight, Standing alone and counselling with none, who holds no truth so small that it is unworthy of his rescue or defense. If
Luther
is

one of the most complete embodiments of the

to

German character, Lessing's love of freedom and fidelity truth make him, in literature, equally a representative
his nation.

of

Lessing's birthplace was

Cities

Kamenz, one
its

of the former " Six

Privi-

"

of

Upper

Lusatia,

which early won imperial

inhabitants.

leges through the valor of

It lies in the

debatable border land which was

won from

the Slavs

by

Henry

the Fowler

and Otto the

First,

and which the

tides

INTRODUCTION.

of war have carried at various times to the Austrian,

garian,

Hunlittle

Bohemian, or Saxon crowns.

villages are scattered

Hundreds

of

through this region and, though German ascendancy has been maintained for a thousand years, the people in their homes and churches cling with
rare tenacity to their native language.

Wend

There

is still

a con-

siderable

Wend

element

in

Kamenz, and

in the great

church

upon one

of the eminences of the city, Services are held

The name Lessing is of every Sunday in this language. Slavic origin, as is that of the city of his birth. Vigorous
partisans have claimed

him

as a Slav, as Luther has

been

claimed, but others point rightly to an uninterrupted German descent of four hundred years, and assert that he is
the child of a true Teutonic ancestry. Lessing belonged to that honorable middle class which

is

not always independent, but which fills places of trust and honor, often performing the real work of those of higher rank and wealth. His ancestors had been clergymen and

burgomasters for several generations.

His

grandfather,

In 1879 Theophilus Lessing, was burgomaster of this city. there was found, among some university documents of the
seventeenth Century, a copy of a thesis upon " Toleration in
Religion," written by Theophilus Lessing for his master's It shows that Lessing inherited the noble toleradegree.
tion

which characterized

his spirit

and

writings,

tolera-

tion not of error or untruth, but of honest differences of

belief.

This mild toleration was an equal characteristic of

Lessing's father, who, after a distinguished career at the University of Wittenberg, desired to become a professor.

He

wrote for his master's degree a defense of Luther and

the Reformation.

He became

chief pastor of St. Mary's

INTRODUCTION.

XI

Church

in

Kamenz, where

his

literary

ambition however

was not quenched.

He

was a

fine historical scholar,

and

contributions to the history and controversial literature of his church, besides translating the works of the

made many

most catholic English theologians. Lessing left his father's house in mere boyhood, and was supported in school and at the university upon scholarships

founded by private benevolence.

He

home

the lessons of frankness, sincerity,

bore away from his and the absence of

pretence which characterized his life. Perhaps a hidden interest in the theatre lurked in his heart, for his favorite
teacher, the Rector Heinitz,

who

infiuenced most power-

fully his early years, had published a defense of the stage as a teacher of eloquence, for which he was obliged by the

Kamenz

magistrates to resign his position.

It is possible

that the boy, with his ardent

the cause of the teacher

in a Sterling

whom

temperament, warmly espoused he loved. He was trained

in-

Lutheran Community, and was carefully

structed in the principles of his father's faith.

The

classical training

which

fitted

Laokoon and

his

papers on ancient
St.

Lessing to write the art, was obtained at the

famous Prince's School of

schools of Meissen,
in the

Afra at Meissen.

The

three

Grimma, and Schulpforta took the place

Protestant church of the monastic schools of the

Roman communion.
support.

They were

established in suppressed

monasteries, the revenues of which were devoted to their

Many

of the

most eminent
;

men

in

Germany were

educated upon these foundations

Klopstock, Fichte, the

Schlegels, Ernesti, Ranke, and Lespius studied at Schulpforta, and Lessing, Rabener, Geliert, and still earlier, Frau-

enlob, at Meissen.

The

rules of St. Afra

were based on the

XI 1

INTRODUCTION.
the Jesuit schools, and the

regulations of

life

was semi-

monastic.
cloister.

Learning was not yet free from the garb of the Classical study was thorough. Great attention

was paid

to imparting an elegant Latin style, and Lessing wrote Latin verse with skill and grace ; he was proficient in

mathematics, and acquired a

that

fair

knowledge of French.

Lessing's teachers said that he was a fine lad, but a horse

needed double fodder,

for

tasks set for the other pupils.

he mastered so rapidly the His favorite authors were

the dramatists Terence and Plautus. To the boy, bred in a country town, in the quiet circle of a pastor's family, the world of character revealed in these plays afforded a new revelation. Notwithstanding the narrow-minded teachers

and the irksome oversight, he afterwards called these schooldays the happiest of his
life.

Lessing's university career at Leipzig and Wittenberg is involved in much obscurity. We cannot in all cases say

what lectures he heard, or what his especial interests were. He himself says, " I should be embarassed, if required to teil what I studied."

The new era in classical learning had just begun. The elegant scholarship and enthusiasm of Ernesti were inciting students to seek an acquaintance with the literature and
the

thoughts of

the ancients.

Gesner's wise views had

dissipated that minute attention to verbalism which so long

deadened

all

zeal in classical study.

The mighty advance

in philological science

Heyne was

to corae.

which took place under Wolf and To Christ's lectures we owe undoubt-

There is in his edly Lessing's interest in ancient art. a remarkable absence letters, so far as they are preserved,
of enthusiasm for his studies or for

any of

his teachers.

It

INTRODUCTION.

X1U

more than probable that the attractions of a large city and the freedom which he feit in being removed from the minute discipline of St. Afra, caused him to neglect his
is

duties.

tions

was supported upon one of the hundred foundaprovided for brilliant scholars from the Prince's

He

Schools.
Lessing's father designed that he should study theology and become eventually his successor as chief pastor in
a repugnance to the profession he was destined, and he was finally permitted to for which study medicine and literature, with the hope of obtaining

Kamenz, but Lessing had

an academic position.

Classical learning

had been subor-

dinated to the study of eloquence and to scriptural InterHe ran rapidly through the different courses of pretation.
lectures,

him

and was drawn away to the theatre, which attracted irresistibly. Frau Xeuber, an actress of high ability, and

one who exercised great influence in the reform of the German theatre, was established at Leipzig, where she met with
great success.

Lessing, with his fellow-student Weisse, obtained free admission to the theatre by making translations

of French plays.
familir with the

He
life

thus

became intimate with

actors,

and

behind the scenes.

Character and the

manifestations of passions were Lessing's delight. He enjoyed the easy transformations of personality which the the transitions from commonplace to actors exhibited,

heroic,

tragic,

and romantic.
literary essays

Lessing's

first

were made under the guid-

ance of a Student named Christlob Mylius, the brother of a former tutor. Mylius was a man of rough, skeptical
nature and doubtful character,
nals at Leipzig,

who published

several Jour:

where he was held in much disrepute

Les-

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

sing,

unprejudiced by these

facts,

contributed to his papers,

in

were published. Inspired by the taunt of a fellow-student, he also wrote the play Der Junge Gelehrte, which was his first dramatic work of
his first lyrical verses

which

note.

It

and was

was accepted with enthusiasm by Frau Neuber, At this, the successfully produced in 1747.

parents of Lessing, who had been perturbed by his associations with Mylius and by the convivial tone of his verses, were so overwhelmed by what seemed a new disgrace,

peremptorily to return home. permitted to resume his studies, but his devotion to the theatre brought his Student career at Leipthat

they

summoned him

He

was

finally

zig to

an end.

He

feil

in love with a

young

actress of

Frau Neuber's Company, and through his generosity to his theatrical friends he became so involved in debt that he

was obliged to leave the city. After a few months' stay at the University of Wittenberg,
whither his Leipzig creditors pursued him, he sought refuge in Berlin, where he joined Mylius, who was engaged there
in journalistic work.

Lessing became connected with the

Vossische Zeitung, where his keen

and vigorous

literary criti-

cisms attracted
this period, of

much

attention.

His theatrical works of

several, are of little present with the possible exception of The Jews, a play interest, written in vindication of that race, then much oppressed in

which there are

Germany.

A
he
lin.

won

second sojourn of a few months at Wittenberg, in which his master's degree, was followed by a return to BerThis second residence in Berlin was employed mainly

in the preparation of a collected edition of his writings,

in literary controversy.

and

During

this

stay

Lessing formed

INTRODUCTION.

XV

friendships which exercised the greatest influence upon his Notable among these was his close intimacy with af ter life.

Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the great musician. Mendelssohn was a poor Hebrew boy, who journeyed to
Berlin, led

by an unconquerable love

for knowledge.

He

rested under

race gate

he

the ancient opprobrium which attended his could only enter the city through a particular
:

he was followed and ridiculed upon the street

but

he grew in strength and beauty of character amid incredible His literary career was largely due to Lessing, privations.

who gave
wrought

the poor and modest youth encouragement and

practical assistance.

The work which Moses Mendelssohn

people was of

for the intellectual elevation of his

priceless value.

character, his

Adhering to the faith of his race, his noble benevolence and toleration, led them by de-

grees to greater enlightenment and freedom from bigotry. In 1755, drawn by his old love for the theatre, Lessing

returned to Leipzig, which was then the center of dramatic interest in Germany. There was from the first a wonderful
maturity in
all

his powers.

Weisse, his fellow-worker,

who

was older, conceded his preeminence, even as a youth. His early plays, which are mainly valuable as exhibiting one stage in his intellectual growth, caused him to be regarded
as

one of the most original dramatists

in

Germany, and

Lessing accepted the professorship at Knigsberg which was afterward offered to him, his rnge might perhaps have been narrower and his influence

equal to foreign writers.

Had

upon

literature less

extended.

He became
to

man

of let-

ters with

no exclusive devotion
life

any department, and he

made

the

of a litterateur honorable,

when pursued with

a noble purpose

and a vigorous love

of truth.

He

was a

XVI

INTRODUCTION.
the outposts of literature, and his influence a constant factor in the intellec-

sentinel

upon

upon German thought was

tual

growth of

his nation.

Leipzig was the seat of a fashionable school of literature.

The big-wigged and much-worshiped Gottsched was

center of a circle of ardent disciples.

the

In
it is

pedantry and jejune literary discussion,

period of wonderful that

this

Lessing escaped the vapid refinements of these formalists. He was from the first a writer, and he threw himself with
ardor into the literary discussions of the day, and henceforth his life was a record of controversy until he became,

according to Macaulay, the greatest critic of Europe. In Leipzig, Lessing renewed his friendship with Von Kleist, the chivalrous soldier and author whose reckless

courage at Kunnersdorf occasioned his early death.

friendship of his
life

No

was so ardent, and no personal influence over Lessing, not even that of Moses Mendelssohn, was so " If Lessing were dead, half my life would be gone," great.
said Kleist.

of Halberstadt,

Another warm friend of these days was "Father" Gleim " whose songs of a Prussian " Grenadier sang

the praises of Frederick the Great, and aroused the

to

Germans

arms.

knew

Gleim's enthusiasm and loyalty to his friends no bounds. He constituted himself the friend and

He gathered young writers patron of every rising genius. around him and founded a school of poetry in his native
city.

Lessing

won

his

regard through his friendship for

Von
gifts.

Kleist, as well as for his ability

He
fall

did not

and winning personal valued the simple, true-hearted Gleim, but he into the poetic fever which afflicted the HalberHis love of
reality,

stadt poets.

and

his healthy, practical

INTRODUCTION.
nature saved him from the extremes of a

XVI 1

modern Anacgushing sentiof this

reon and Pindar revival.

the garlands of myrtle

He

could not take pleasure in

and

laurel,

and

in the

ments which attended the banquets and bumpers

enthusiastic circle.

In April, 1758,
active
service,

Von

Kleist's

and Lessing remained

regiment was ordered into in Leipzig only a

returned again to Berlin this time the
critical letters

month

after his departure.

He

and entered earnestly into literary work. At famous Litteraturbriefe were begun, a series of
which appeared weekly
contributed by Lessing,
ful,

number of years, and were Nicolai, and Mendelssohn powerfor a

scathing criticisms, dealing with almost every line of

literary production.

Lessing remained in Berlin but little more than two years, but he had already become prominent among the group of literary men in the capital. His election as a member
of the Berlin

Academy was confirmed by

him

the King.

In

1760 we

find

at Breslau as secretary of the military

governor, General von Tauentzien.

There are periods

in Lessing's life of several years

we can only
element in
in

trace his activity in reviews

is

when

when

the personal

his life

hidden, and other periods of silence,

which only incidental Statements show the direction of

his studies. The years at Breslau are of the latter kind, when he was gathering material in reading and society for some of his most remarkable works, as the Laokoon and

Minna von Barnhelm. to the merit of German

Frederick the Great's insensibility

writers, or possibly personal preju-

dice against Lessing, kept

him from receiving the

his

royal

recognition which would have relieved

harassed, un-

XV111

INTRODUCTION.
but which could not have destroyed his inde-

settled

life,

pendence. There was a need of change in Lessing's nature, and his restless spirit sought from time to time a new home and

changed environments. After another stay of two years in Berlin, where he was a candidate for the position of Royal
Librarian, but was

summarily rejected by Frederick, he

with a lofty hope to aid in founding a

went

to

Hamburg,

national theatre.

A Company

of wealthy

Hamburg merin view,

chants had been formed with

and Lespurpose was engaged as dramatic critic. It was here that the sing His resiplay Minna von Barnhelm was first presented.
this

dence

in this city of multiform life

and commercial

activity

furnished opportunity for that study of human nature which he most enjoyed. But the period of national or even populr support of theatres
criticism

had not come, and though dramatic was enriched by the Dramaturgie, a periodical devoted to the dramatic art, the outward purpose of his
residence failed.
Lessing's Letteis on Antiquarian Sub-

jects

(Briefe Antiquarischen Inhalts), in which he conducted a bitter controversy with Professor Klotz on the art of the ancients, were written here. When his hopes were
disappointed, he received the appointment of librarian of the ducal library in Wolfenbttel (1769), where he found
the most permanent refuge of his
life.

To

this

dull place of

faded grandeur and picturesque

last

decay Lessing came to spend the

The main

attraction of the city, then as now,

ten years of his life. was the mag-

nificent library, containing

over three hundred thousand

volumes and a precious collection of manuscripts. Lessing resided at first in the great castle of the former rulers, the

INTRODUCTION.

XIX

home

of

Duke Heinrich
title,

without his
literature.

Julius, a poet and a dramatist who, would have borne a respectable rank in Here the English comedians first performed in

their ovvn language,

native
in

Gennan drama.

which gave an important impulse to a The pleasure-loving duke delighted

his court the first

an endless succession of dramatic representations, and at paid theatrical Company was maintained.
is

But no place
ished
life

so lonely as
gaiety.

one

fll

of associations of van-

and
life

loved the

of

men

not surprising that one who so much as did Lessing should have
It is

found

his position

almost intolerable.

He needed

the Stim-

ulus of personal association,

and

of contact of views to call

He concerned himself little out his best efforts in writing. with the proper work of a librarian ; heseems never to have
made any
heed
to recording additions, nor did

report of his administration, to have paid no he exercise a careful

guardianship over the treasures of the library.

tents of unpublished manuscripts, of

Lessing found especial fascination in the mysterious Conwhich the library had

Such as he chose he was privileged to publish without submitting them to censorship, and he availed himself of this privilege freely. The most notable
a rieh collection.

were the Fragments of an Unknown Anthor, and they are of especial interest here since their
of these publications

publication led indirectly to the produetion of Nathan the Wise. The author of Fragments was Hermann Samuel

Reimarus, a former professor of oriental languages and of mathematics in the gymnasium of Hamburg. He was a

man

of great honesty of purpose,

and of

real ability.

He

was an adherent of the practical philosophy of Wolf ; he belonged to the school of physical theologians, that is, he held

XX

INTRODUCTION.

that the proofs of God's being

in nature

and character must be sought

God's
all

and not

in positive or revealed religion.

wisdom, perfection, love and justice were

the external world,
tion of the divine will.

mirrored in
revelais

and the physical universe was a

From

this Standpoint,
all

it

not

Strange that he under-estimated

set

other arguments and

of the truth of Christianity.

ligious nature
;

about to prove how unreliable was the historical evidence Reimarus was of a deeply re-

he loved peace, and he dreaded the storm

of passion

cation of

and unrest which would be aroused by the publihis views. He worked quietly and studiously for

many years, He deemed

scripts to

elaborating his examination of revealed religion. " until it his duty not to publish his conclusions " the truth should of itself burst forth ; he desired his manu-

be guarded

until

God

should open the way to the

public and inviolate freedom of rational religion. Reimarus is not to be regarded as a purely original and
solitary thinker.

He

was familir with the writings of the

French skeptics and the English deists of the seventeenth Century, and had also been strongly influenced by Spinoza's
theological-political tractate.

The

court of Frederick the

Great was
clopsedists
;

filled

with the atmosphere of the French encyVoltaire found a home in the palace of Sans

Souci.

intellectual awakening which later sprang from England was, however, not so apparent. Reimarus Lessing went to Hamburg in April, 1767.

The

died in March, 1768, and it is probable that they never met. Lessing later became intimate with Reimarus' s son,

and

his daughter, Elise

most devoted

friends.

Reimarus, who remained one of his From the former he received those

fragments of the father's work which he published as manu-

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

Scripts

found

in the

Wolfenbttel library.
it

lication

he had nothing to gain, and

pubexposed him to
life.
.

From

this

more vituperation than any other

It is

act of his

not necessary to speak in detail of these separate

fragments.
Christ,

The

fifth calls in

question the resurrection of

to establish a temporal

from the differing accounts of the four Evangelists.

The

sixth asserts that Christ

aimed

kingdom,
death

to restore the glory of the

Jewish race

after his

his disciples

interpreted his purpose, with intent to

deceive, to be to found a spiritual kingdom.

It is

to these fragments or

not to be supposed that Lessing gave his adherence what was contained in them. In his
the views

notes he often withholds assent and criticises

which they express, yet he was violently attacked because of their publication, and was long held to be the real
author.
in

Although

many prominent

theologians

engaged

the conflict,

the fight soon

centered around

Johann

Melchior Goeze Hauptpastor of a church in Hamburg. In a long series of essays, Goeze not only assailed the Frag-

ments but indulged in personal abuse of Lessing, who

plied with ardor.

re-

The contest eventually became so bitter that Lessing was deprived of his privilege of exemption from censorship, and
compelled to give up the manuscript to the authorities. He, however, overcame the censor and continued the conflict until his flict

Opponent was

silenced.

In the

lull

of con-

he determined to carry out an old purpose and strike an indirect blow at bigotry and intolerance in the publication of

Nathan der

Weise.

This

poem

will

be later

dis-

cussed in detail.
Lessing's marriage in October, 1776, to

Eva Knig,

the

XX11

INTRODUCTION.
of an old
f riend,

widow
But

Hamburg brought happiness delayed

this

a marriage

many

years

at last to the solitary thinker.

and he was

happiness was short, for in 1778 Frau Lessing died, left to seek relief from his sorrow in " the lauda-

nura of literary and theological excitement."

dear com-

panion of his remaining days was Amalie Knig, the daughter of Frau Lessing, whose filial devotion to her step-father gave

annoying gossip. The character of Recha in Nathan der Weise was drawn from Amalie Knig. There are a few
rise to

passages in which

is

depicted with marvelous

fidelity his af-

fection for his foster daughter.

It
is

only possible to surmise what Lessing's

life

would

have been amid more favorable surroundings. His life was harassed by debt, the result of his own improvidence and
prodigality,

and due

in part to his endless

the extraordinary

demands

of his family.

compliance with His duke lavished

the Countess Branconi and paid thirty thousand dollars a year to his Italian Master of Amsements, while the most illustrious critic of the time received no

immense sums upon

answer to repeated requests

Lessing sought the social

for assistance.
life

which he lacked

in

Wolfen-

bttel in Brunswick, the capital of the duchy,

which was
gay minor

but six miles distant.

It

was the seat of one

of those

and extravagant courts which were found

in every

State at the close of the last Century. Lessing enthe respect and friendship of the duke, but he disjoyed liked the wearisome formalities of the court, and seldom

German

attended, save
city

when

official

etiquette

required.

In this

he found a select

circle of friends.

Zachariae, and Leisewitz resided there, and

Eschenburg, Ebert, it was here that

Lessing died.

INTRODUCTION.

XX111

his

His physical powers had long been failing but in spite of weakness his intellectual activity did not cease. His

time are sad in tone, though at times his belligerent spirit named out against some narrowness or pretense. His health and love of life were broken. There is
letters at this

no sadder irony of

suffering than in the letter

his wife.

which he

wrote after the death of

My

wife

is

dead and

now

I rejoice that many similar experience is over. are not in stre for me and I am easy." On experiences

this

the fifteenth of February, 1781, Lessing died from a stroke

of apoplexy.

Lessing was slightly bove the middle height, compact

and erect

in form,

and natural and courtly

in

manner.

He

never permitted himself the slightest carelessness of attitude His eyes were blue and or dress, even in the family circle.

winning and commanding. The charm of his personal presence often disarmed the prejudice of opponents. The two most valuable pictures of Lessing are
his glance

those by Tischbein and Graff. The former hangs in the museum of paintings in Berlin and represents Lessing as a young man. The latter is in the possession of his grand-

nephew, Herr Landgerichtsdirektor R. Lessing in Berlin. His acquaintLessing found rest and diversion in games. ance with Mendelssohn was sought on account of the latter's

He loved games of chance, reputation as a chess player. with cards, and, in early life, in the excitement of especially When he could no longer play faro play lost large sums.
in

Wolfenbttel he indulged in the risks of the lottery, a

last.
;

passion which continued to the

his leading Lessing wrote with a distinct moral purpose characters are often embodied principles or qualities rather

XXIV

INTRODUCTION.

than living
sions
in

human

beings, with endless play of involved pas-

and contradictory purposes. The classical dement his training, which long colored his individuality, often
stiff

gives a

and learned character

to his style.
;

At Wittenwas a child
letter.

berg he busied himself with epigrams

truth

he loved Condensed

and

brilliant

and unexpected
Reformation
if

turns.

He

of the spirit of the

not of the

Of
fail-

Luther he

said,

"

am

glad to

have discovered a few

ings in him, as I should have otherwise

been
in

in

danger of

deifying him.
ious as his

as prechumanity most dazzling perfections they are more in;

The

traces of

him are

structive than all these taken together."

Lessing's detached

thoughts which were written on single sheets of paper, with the purpose of a subsequent final arrangement, which was

not achieved, showed the riches of his mind. In conversation he threw off the most profound criticisms. His apparent skepticism
faiths
is

of trustworthy proof

often a withholding of belief for lack he seems arguing against established

Lessing, in the words
in the

where he

is

only seeking to rescue some unrecog-

nized

member

of the

body

of truth.

of a Latin author, could not

be induced to swear

words of any master. His writings have at times the appearance of casuistry, and he seems to take pleasure in over-

Read superthrowing what he has laboriously established. ficially, his work often shows manifold contradictions, but
these are only the partial reflections from scattered rays of truth. Fichte's impassioned address characterizes the spirit
of Lessing's writings,

when he

says

"

If

no one
words

of

thy Statements as

thou hast expressed

spirit of in-

them

in

shall

permanently abide, yet thy

sight into the soul of knowledge, thy perception of truth,

INTRODUCTIOX.

XXV

which

shall

endure, thy deep, sincere soul, thy indepenshall

dence and hatred of sham and easy-going negation

indestructible as our nation."

be

II.

SOURCES OF NATHAN DER WEISE.

Although the production of Nathan der Weise was the immediate outcome of the famous controversy over the
Wolfenbttel Fragments, back.
its

origin

may be

sought further

In 1754, Lessing published

cations), that of

Cardanus,
in his

in

among his Rettungen (Vindiwhich he defended the Italian

philosopher,
heresy.

Cardan,

(1501-1576) against the charge of

comparison between heathenisrn, Judaism, Christianity and Mohammedanism. It was said that he had exalted paganism at the expense of Christianity. Lessing maintained that Cardan
had, on the contrary, presented the cause of Judaism and Mohammedanism ineffectively. In Order to sustain his
view, he introduced a

Cardan

De Subiilitate had drawn a

Jew and a Mohammedan who supported the merits of their respective faiths by much stronger arguments. Lessing did not espouse either side in the controversy but sought to present
half of each.

what might be urged in beall

He

believed that
life

religions are the natural to

outgrowth of one religious

and ought

be respected.

The

first

conception of Nathan der Weise probably be-

longs to the same period as the composition of his Rettung des Cardanus. The idea of the drama developed slowly in
his mind. The first sketch was probably made in 1776, before the Goeze controversy, this sketch is preserved and contains certain portions of the dialogue and also the plot

XXVI

INTRODUCTION.
After
his

of

unfinished j>assages.

discussion

with

the

pastor was interrupted, it occurred to him to take up again the unfinished sketch of his Nathan, which bore a certain relation to this controversy. He began the versifi-

Hamburg

cation of his play on

his

work

in

May, 1779.
those

surprise

to

November 14, 1778 and completed The tone of the drama was a who were familir with the previous

Lessing, abandoning his former polemical tone, a pure and elevated atmosphere. The result was a work of art, fll of noble sentiment and a generdiscussion.

rose into

ous

spirit of toleration.

It was, nevertheless, coldly

received

by orthodox thinkers, who even took measures

it.

to suppress

The

victories of intolerance are, however, brief.

Lesfair-

sing's

message

of love

and

toleration

found among the

minded a

careful hearing

in the literature of

and soon took a prominent place the language. Both the theological conrieh fruits.

troversy

and Nathan have borne

"
it is

ton
the

justly remarks,

primarily to Lessing that

As Rolleswe owe

immense advance in religious insight which has made a Voltaire or a Goeze alike impossible among men of eulture
at this hour."

The eighteenth Century

ment, and
its

is

called the

Age

of Enlighten-

was strongly influenced by the liberal of the time. Swift's Tale of a Tub had been thought
literature

directed against creeds, Voltaire's

icism.

Mahomet against fanatVoltaire in his Les Guebres had pleaded for reLessing had thus found suggestions for
intellectual

ligious toleration.
his

Nathan

in the existing literature as well as in the con-

troversies of his
in

own

life.

The

form, however,

which he gave expression

1

to his ideas of toleration

237.

was

Contemporary Review,

l.xiv,

p.

INTRODUCTIOX.

XXVI 1

suggested to him, not by anything in contemporary literature but by a tale o the fourteenth Century, the Parable
of the

Three Rings, found

in Boccaccio's

Decamerone,

First

Day, Third Story.

i.

The Parable of the Three

first

Rings.

Boccaccio was not the

to relate this tale,

It
is

which

is

probably of oriental origin.

found in Spanish Heis

brew

literature,

and

its

authorship

Jew

of about

the year

noo.

The

ascribed to a Spanish story has a long and

interesting

It has passed from one land to history. another and, in so doing, has become changed in form and

meaning.

Early Spanish Version. The

with which

earliest

we

are acquainted

is

form of the parable preserved in Rabbi Salomo

ben Verga's Schebet Jehuda, a collection of writings of various dates which was made near the close of the fifteenth
Century
:

test the rieh

King Peter or Pedro, of Arragon, once sought to Jew, Ephraim Sanchus, who had the reputation

by the question, which of the two religions, Judaism or Christianity, he considered superior. If he should give his own faith the precedence, he would offend the King, and if he should admit the supremaey of the Christian religion,
of great wisdom,

he would be obliged, in Order to be consistent, to abjure his

own.

Ephraim replied that the Christian and the Hebrew had each good cause to prefer his own religion, for Jehovah had led the Israelites out of captivity into the Promised Land,
and the God of the Christians had given His worshipers the

supremaey in Europe. Pedro was not satisfied with this reply, and asked the Jew which religion in his opinion had the
greater intrinsic merit. Three dayswere given to

him

in which

XXV111

1NTRODUCTION.

to consider his answer.

this

He

time in apparent confusion.

before, by the following story neighbor, a jeweler, on the eve of making a long journey, had given to each of his two sons a precious stone to conhis agitation
:

returned at the expiration of He explained the reason for " A month his

sole

them

for his absence.

The two

brothers had consulted

Ephraim about the value of the two jewels. Upon his telling them that they must wait until the return of their father, who alone could give them a reliable answer, they had abused and beaten him. The king thought that this unseemly conduct of the sons deserved punishment. ThereLet thy ear hear what thy mouth upon the Jew replied
'
:

speaketh.
Christian)

brothers Esau and Jacob (i.e. Jew and have each a precious stone, but, if thou de-

The

mandest
ference.'

to

know who

possesses the better one send a mes-

senger to the great Jeweller above,

who
in

alone knows the dif-

Pedro, content with this answer, honored the

peace."

Jew with presents and sent him away

In the
first

form of the story the question as to the of the two religions is left undecided. The Jew, superiority accustomed to persecution, had not ventured to do more
than merely defend his
faith.

Later writers employ

this

story to illustrate religious truth.

The

versions vary in ac-

of

cordance with the Standpoint of the author. The history * its evolution cannot be given here, but a comparison with

the following two versions will aid us in appreciating Lessing's account.

Version of the Gesta

1

Romanorum.

In the Gesta

Roma-

An

interesting history of the

La

poesie

du

i.:*yen age.

Ring Parable is given in Gaston Paris' Erich Schmidt gives a historical sketch in
ff.

his Lessing.

Bd. IL, p. 491

IXTRODUCTION.

XXIX

norum, a collection
of the story
sons,

of Latin tales

compiled possibly as

early as the thirteenth Century, occurs the following version

" There was a certain knight who had three and on his death-bed he bequeathed, to the first:

born

his estate

to the

second, his treasure

third, a valuable ring, which was worth he had bestowed upon the others.

and to the more than all which

;

To

the two former

he also gave iings which were not so costly, though all the After the death rings were apparently of the same value.
of the father the
first

son said

'
:

have the precious ring of

ray father.'
I
it,

have.'

The second son said: 'You have it not, but It is not true that you have The third said
'
:

since the eider has the inheritance

;

and the second the

that
I

treasure

therefore

reason

would say
'

have

the

The first son said, Let us prove then precious ring.' whose ring is the more valuable, and he shall be superior.' The other said I agree.' Forthwith several sick men,
'
:

the first two having various infirmities, were brought in rings were of no effect, but the ring of the youngest son cured them all. " Most beloved, the knight is our Lord Jesus Christ, who
;

had three sons, namely, the Tews, the Saracens, and the To the Tews he gave the Promised Land, to the Saracens he gave the treasures of this earth, as concerns
Christians.

power and
ring,

riches,

and

namely,

faith,

to the Christians he gave a precious because by faith Christians can eure

various infirmities

and diseases
:

of the soul."

Boccaccio' s Version
1

"

Saladin, Sultan of Babylonia, being

Oesterley's Gesta Romanorum, Chap. lxxxix, Die triplici statu niandi. Slight differences appear in the form in which the tale is related in the various See also the English translation of the manuscripts.

Gesta by Charles Swan.

No.

LXXXIX.

London, 1877.

XXX
in urgent
to extort

INTRODUCTION.
of money, decided, though with reluctance, from Melchizedeck, a rieh Jew of Alexandria. sent for the Jew and reeeived him graciously. He
it

need

He

represented himself as interested in religious matters, and appealed to the Jew, whose wisdom he honored, which religion, Jewish, Mohammedan, or Christian, was in his

judgment the

true one.

Melchizedeck, seeing the snare

set for him, replied, after

some thought
is

'
:

The

question

which your Highness has proposed

that I

very curious, and,

relate to

"

'

give you my sentiments, I must beg leave to you a short story. remember of ten to have heard of a great and rieh man,

may

who, among
sing a thing

his

most

of exceeding beauty of

and precious jewels had a ring and being proud of possessuch worth, and desiring that it should
rare

and

value,

continue for ever in his family, declared by will, that to whichsoever of his sons he should give this ring, him he designed for his heir, and that he should be respected as
the head of the family. That son to whom the ring was given made the same provision with respect to his descendants, and the ring passed from one to another in a long

succession until
virtuous and

it

came

to a father

who had
and
all

three sons,

all

dutiful to their father,

equally beloved

by him.

The young men knowing what depended upon

the ring, and ambitious of superiority began to entreat their father, who was now grown old, every one for himself, that

of

he would give the ring to him. The good man, equally fond all, was at a loss which to prefer ; and as he had promised

all,

and

to satisfy

all,

two others which were so like the

he privately engaged an artist to make first, that he himself scarcely

knew

the true one.

At

his

death he gave one privately

to

INTRODUCTION.

XXXI

each of

his

sons.

They

all

afterwards claimed the honor

and

estate, each disputing with his brothers and produchis ring ; the rings were found so much alike that the ing true one could not be distinguished. They went to law to

determine which one should succeed, nor

And

thus

it

happens,

my

is it yet decided. with regard to the three Lord,

the Father, concerning which you proposed your question. Everyone believes he is the true heir of God, has his law, and obeys his commandments, but

laws given by

God

which

is

in the right

is

uncertain as in the case of the rings.'

"Saladin perceiving that the Jew had escaped the net which was spread for him resolved to reveal to hini his
necessity, to see
at the
his
if

same time what he designed

he would lend him money, telling him to have done, had not

discreet

freely that

answer prevented him. The Jew supplied which he desired. Saladin afterwards paid him

with a great deal of honor,

sides maintaining
as long as he lived."

made him
his court,

large presents, be-

him nobly at

and was

his friend

Lessing's Version.

fied the story of the ring so that

Like his predecessors Lessing modiit embodied his own views

of

religious

truth.

It

was not
all

his

purpose to exalt one

in

religion at the

expense of
it

others, as in the version of the

religions

Gesta, nor was

spirit

to

treat all

an indifferent

as

in

Boccaccio's version, but rather to teach the

universality of the religious instinct

and

its

office

in

the

development

of the

human

race.
fol-

In the outline of the story Lessing has, in general,

lowed Boccaccio's version, but in two important points he agrees with the story contained in the Gesta, namelv, the
ring
is

from loving hands and

is

not a mere jewel, but pos-

XXXI 1

INTRODUCTION.
In Lessing's version
this virtue

sesses supernatural power.

causes the wearer to find favor in the sight of God and man. The ring, however, is able to produce this effect

then only when the wearer recognizes its hidden virtue alone will it bring him favor in the sight of God and man. When the three sons appear before the judge, he reminds
:

them

of the well-known quality of the true ring,

and

calls

their attention to the fact that

the promised

gift,

no one of the rings possesses as no one of them is ardently loved by True religion
teils
is

both

his brothers.

manifest only in works

of love.
settled
at

The judge

them

that the question cannot

their

be
of
in

once, and that

perhaps

father

did not

intend to discriminate thereafter between the

his family.

members
go forth

He

therefore urges the sons

to

harmony, and
ness,

vie with

one another
to

in love,

and by gentlecoperate with

good works, and devotion

God,

to

the virtue which might be inherent in their rings. In minor details Lessing deviates from Boccaccio's story. He represents Saladin as Sultan of Jerusalem, in accordance
fact, instead of placing him at Babylon. represents Nathan also as residing in Jerusalem, not in Alexandria, as in the Italian version.

with the historical

He

to

Although Lessing owes the outward form of his parable foreign sources, he has broadened and deepened its

significance

and invested
2.

it

in a

form

of lasting beauty.

OTHER LlTERARY SOURCES.

terials for his

Boccaccio's Decamerone furnished Lessing with other maNathan. In the Third Story for the Tenth

of Nathan,

Day, Boccaccio gives a sketch of a noble man by the name and of an impulsive youth named Mithridanes.

INTRODUCTIOX.

XXX111

These two characters furnish features

for Lessing's

Nathan

and the Templar.

parable the hero ever changes the
is

In Boccaccio's version of the Ring the Jew, Melchizedeck. Lessing howto

name

Nathan, at the same time trans-

ferring to his hero the attributes of Boccaccio's Nathan. Certain features derived from the Fifth Str)' of the Fifth

Day vvere also employed by Lessing. Guidotta, dring, left an adopted daughter to the care of a friend, Giacomino, who reared hes as his own child. Giannole and Minghino
It with her and fought on her account. that she was Giannole's sister, was afterwards discovered

were both

in love

and she was then married

3.

to

Minghino.

HlSTORICAL SOL'RCES AXD THEIR TrEAT.MENT.

the Jl'ise

is in a certain sense a historical drama ; drama is that of the Third Crusade (118993). Lessing had read much on oriental life and history, especially on the period of the Crusades. His main author-

Nathan

the time of the

ity

was Marin's Histoire de Saladin (1758).

The

liberal

historians of the eighteenth Century inclined to idealize the

character of Saladin (born 1137), and, in general, to exalt This tendency oriental, at the expense of Christian, virtue.

Nathan. Lessing was more by certain noble tendencies prompted of his nature than by any real sympathy with oriental culThe overweening confidence of Christian Europe in ture. the superiority of its faith and of its institutions, spurred his

mav

also

be seen

in

Lessing's

to this liberality

spirit,

always impatient of narrowmindedness, to Opposition. Although Lessing was thus disposed to study oriental life
sympathetically, and
coloring to his

has

given

characteristic

oriental
that he

drama, yet

we must not conclude

XXXIV

INTRODUCTION.

intended to give a historical picture. In fact he often puts into the mouths of his characters views which prevailed in
his

own time

rather than in that of the Crusades.

For

example, Saladin often speaks like Lessing himself, not like a Mohammedan of the twelfth Century.

III.

TIME AND PLACE OF THE ACTION.

references in the

From

drama

itself,

we

learn that the

first

time of the action must have been between the

of

September, 1192, the date of the truce between Saladin and Richard the Lion-hearted, and the fifth of March,
1193, the date of the former's death.

The period

of time

chosen was admirably adapted to the purposes of the drama. In a fragmentary Preface to Nathan, Lessing has defended
his selection
if

and shown

its

relation to his characters

" But

some one should urge that I have acted contrary to when I claim to have found enlightened and tolerant people among Jews and Mohammedans, I should like to remind them that Jews and Mohammedans
poetic propriety

were

at that time the only scholars

that the evils

which

revealed religions could at no time have been so apparent to rational men as at the time of the

may accompany

rational

Crusades, and that, as historians lead us to believe, such a man was actually found in the person of a MohamSultan."

medan

This period was well suited to his purit

pose, for he found in

religious fanaticism,
religious toleration,

apt illustrations of the evils of

to

which he desired

rebuke, and of

which he would gladly encourage. The place of the action is Jerusalem, which then afforded

unusual opportunities for the comparative study of religions,

INTRODUCTIOX.
for as the

XXXV

Templar

says,

"All the world flocks together

here."

(Act. III,

Scene 10.)

IV.

THE PLOT.

We

have already seen how Boccaccio's Parable of the

Three Rings suggested to Lessing the composition of a drama in which this story, with its beautiful lesson of tolmight be embodied. In the nature of the case, the could not be one of strong passions, but was rather plot
eration,

one

For this reason, Lessing calls of ideas. It is the story of the family of the an " episode." Sultan Saladin, whose members had been separated during the stirring events of the Crusades, and reunited after many
of a conflict
his plot

The family originally consisted of Saladin, his brother The drama treats mainly of Assad, and their sister Sittah. In the struggle between the destinies of Assad's family.
years.

Christians

a Christian maiden,

and Mohammedans, Assad had been attracted by whom he had married. Their son

lost his wife,

became a Templar, a defender of the Christian faith. Assad and soon after perished in battle. Shortly be-

fore his death he entrusted his daughter

Recha, then only a few weeks old, to the keeping of a friendly Jew of Jerusalem, by the name of Nathan. Nathan received the child
kindly, although shortly before his wife

and seven sons had

been
child,

slain

by the Christians. He reared Recha as his own and never informed her of their true relation. All

the tenderness of his nature, which he

his wife

turn,

had bestowed upon and children, now centered in her, and he, in reAssad's son, received her warm love and devotion.

the Templar, had been taken prisoner by the

Mohamme-

XXXVI

INTRODUCTION.
but was
released
his

dans,

resemblance to
the
later

brother Assad.

by Saladin on account of his While in Jerusalem,

;

Templar rescued Recha from a burning house became friendly with her foster-father, and soon
Nathan won the
and esteem
but
of

he
feil

passionately in love with Recha.

ship

friend-

Three Rings.
entage,

Recha
still

Saladin through the parable of the learned finally of her Christian par-

When Nathan had

clung fondly to her adopted father. discovered and made known the true

relationship between Recha, the

Templar and

Saladin, the

Sultan gladly received his brother's children as his own.

The Templar was

at first disappointed by this disclosure, but soon acknowledged that he had gained more than he had lost. Thus Christian, Mohammedan and Jew were

united, not because either one had acknowledged the stand-

point of the others as superior to his own, but because each recognized, in spite of their natural differences of faith, the
ties that

bound them
upon
and

together.

In

this

meeting of

differ-

ent characters
lies

the plane of their

common humanity
of the brother-

the real moral of the drama.

of nations
religions
is

The theme

hood

also treated in another of

Lessing's masterpieces, written about this time

Ernst und

Falk, Dialogues for Freemasons (1778, 1780). " a dramatic Lessing calls his Nathan not a drama but

poem."

letter to his

had no illusions regarding his work. In a brother Carl, dated April 18, 1779, he expressed the fear that Nathan would produce little effect if it should

He

appear upon the stage. He also thought that religious prejudices would for a long time prevent its presentation.

While he believed that the dramatic success of

his

Nathan
would

would be limited, he hoped that

its

ethical content

nsTRODuenoN.
cause
it

xxxvii

to

be read and studied.

Notwithstanding Les-

sing's fears, success indeed came, but too late for him to The play, Nathan der Weise, is still a favorite on enjov it.

Goethe has expressed his high appre" mission as a play, in the words May the well-known story of the rings, so happily presented, ever
the
stage.

German

ciation of

its

remind the German public that it is not called merely t At the see, but also to hear and thoughtfully consider.

same

time,

may

the divine feeling of toleration

it

and forbearto

ance which permeates

nation."

remain sacred and dear

the

V.

CHARACTERS.
to

The
tion,

plot

of

Nathan was constructed

express the

thought of our

common humanity and

in

of religious tolera-

and the characters were selected

\ve find

to

promote

this

end.

Although
rendered

the

drama
is

certain differentiation of

types, the natural distinctions

less noticeable

between races and creeds are

actually the case.

than

Lessing

has, however, given his characters

spirit of his o\vn

more

of the

European

day than of that of the Orient

at the time of

the Crusades.

the best the eighteenth Century has produced of noble character and earnest striving after truth, hence it will always remain one of the truly representative works of that period. of high ideals,
it is

Nathan voices

Although not lacking in those

a

this

drama

is fll

human elements
passages sug-

which give

life

to

work of

art.

Many

gest Lessing himself.

Much

of the various parts in his

has been said for and against Lessing' s distribution Nathan. Some critics maintain

Lessing has assigned the ungrateful roles to Christians and

XXXV111

INTRODUCTION.

the beautiful ones to

Jew and Mohammedan.

Others de-

fend

allotment on ethical grounds, and try to shield him These claim that the against charges of a partisan spirit. noble hero was represented as a Jew that the moral effect
this

might be heightened, and that the triumph of virtue under adverse circumstances teaches the real beauty and power of
virtue.

A
this

careful study of the facts will throw

some
In

light

upon

matter

of

assignment

of

rles.

making

his hero a

of Boccaccio.

Jew, Lessing has simply followed the version Nathan's character is, however, that of

Boccaccio's hero ennobled, and thus Lessing has improved upon the model set before him. He had already seen, in
the person of his gentle Jewish friend,

how one could

injustice,

patiently suffer

under

Moses Mendelssohn, social and religious

and yet be noble and generous.

He

sought to

show

that

manhood was not confined

to the limits of a single

In an age of general enlightenment and social and religious equality, Lessing would probably not have thought
creed.
of assigning the noblest rle to a Jew.

Lessing was in the midst of a great controversy, and he spoke in this drama often as a man rather than as an artist. Lessing showed
that

mere adherence

to

a creed could not ennoble

the

The two Christians, character or enlarge the intellect. That the Patriarch and Daja, illustrate clearly this fact.
Christians rather

than Jews or
the

Mohammedans
drama was

should be

selected to illustrate this truth was suggested by the State

of the public

mind when

written.

The
rigid

intolerance

of

an established church, demanding

adherence to dogmas, as well as the proscriptive temper of the theological zealots who opposed him, caused him
to depict

orthodox bigotry

in a repulsive form.

It

would,

INTRODUCTION.

XXX IX

however, be erroneous to infer that Lessing meant to portray, in these characters, representative Christians,

and thus

cast a reproach
tain
r

ty

pes

upon Christianity ; Nathan is not a representative Jew, nor Saladin

they are merely cer-

a representative

Mohammedan.
drama
itself

Only
need

brief descriptions of the characters are given here,

since they are so clearly outiined in the

little

as to

comment.

Nathan. The central figure of the drama is Nathan, called " theWise," not by scholars on account of his learning,

riences of

but by the people, because, amid the varying expelife, he had triumphed over opposing forces, and

borne patiently the reverses of fortune. His wisdom manifested itself, not in abstract theories, but in kind deeds and
led

A wide experience had him to a point of view from which the distinctions of To him, the race and creed were small and non-essential. diff erences in religion and in national customs had an historical reason, and served a beneficent purpose. Thus, as a
in

the service of his fellowmen.

Jew, he took his place among his people, not to separate himself from the rest of mankind, but because it was natural

order for him to work for them, and precious

to his race.

ties

bound

him
ture.

The

character of Nathan
It

is

one of the noblest

in litera-

embodies Lessing's ideal, and is the product of his Nathan's views on religdeepest feelings and experiences. ious tolertion are those of Lessing, many of whose touching
utterances have close relation to the sad experiences of the last years of the author's life. It is not an accident that
the affecting story of the loss of his wife
in the seventh

and children

which Nathan narrates

scene of the fourth

xl

INTRODUCTION.
lacking in the

act

(1.

3037

ff.), is

first

sketch of 1776.

The touching
finds

love of
in

Nathan

for his

adopted daughter Recha

the affection of Lessing for his stepAmalia Knig. As Nathan, bereft of his family, daughter,

a parallel

found newhope and joy in his love for Recha, the lonely Lessing found consolation in Amalia, the daughter of his wife.
Lessing's
f riend,

Nathan has

also

many of

the traits of his Jewish

Moses Mendelssohn. The influence of Mendelssohn, however, ought not to be overestimated. Nathan is an ideal
charaeter rather than the representative of any race, or the
portrait of

any particular individual. Nathan's adopted daughter, Recha,

is

a charming personfalse

ality, fresh, natural

and

of a beautiful devotion to her father.

Nathan checks her

teaches her that

in her rapturous

but

dreams, and

it is

a duty to

know

the truth, and not to

indulge in hallucinations however delightful, but rather to cultivate a clear vision, in order to serve one's fellow-men.

Though
strength.

entirely

feminine,
is

Recha

possesses

intellectual

The same

true of Sittah

and

also of

Minna,

the heroine of Lessing's masterpiece, helm. Of the latter Goethe has said

Minna von Barn" In Minna s/eckt

Recha's belief that she was rescued Lessing's Verstand" from the flames by an angel, seems inconsistent with her
charaeter.
of
this

However

skillful
it

the use which Lessing

makes

It is hard to mars the picture. reconcile her bright acute intellect, free from all supersti-

hallucination,

tion, with

her belief in the intervention of angels.

is

Daja, Recha's former nurse, a devout, but bigoted woman Her sincerity and her afof a type common in all lands.
traits.

fection for her charge are her redeeming

Saladin

is

an historic charaeter.

In Lessing's drama he

INTRODUCTIOX.

is

human
is

not represented as a warrior, but rather from the nobler, side. He has manv of the traits of Nathan. He

generous, affectionate to those

who stand near him,

lifted

above oriental bigotry

lover of the truth.
that he
is

and exclusiveness, and an ardent

differs

He

from Nathan, however,

in

moved by impulse

rather than

by fixed principle.

Saladin represents the greatness of a natural character not formed by reflection ; Nathan, a greatness, wrought out by

thought and disciplined by

in the

trial.

One

of the finest scenes

drama describes the meeting of these two men, when the Jew unfolds to the Mohammedan his idea that men ought not to be separated by the prejudices of creed and race, but should meet upon the basis of their common
humanity.
Sittah
of such
is

worthy

to

be the

sister of Saladin.

Though not

simple

greatness as he,

she

is

characterized by

broad views and intelligent sympathy. She is more guided by reflection and a calculating purpose. She is also gifted
with a woman's shrewdness, has a care for details, and constantly seeks to

remedy her
Sittah
is

brother's prodigal generosity

by

wise forethought.

an

historic character, but history

knows nothing

of her save the

name and
in

the mention of

her personal sacrifice in her brother's behalf.

thus free to draw
his

character.

upon imagination think that they see in her traits of Elise Reimarus, the daughter of the author of the Fragments and

Lessing was sketching her

Many

a personal friend of Lessing. The Templar is a noble, impulsive youth who passes rapidly from one extreme of feeling to another, but who, in the main, is guided by right impulses. Although he has

fought for the Christian cause, he recognizes the charm of

xl

INTRODUCTION.

Nathan's goodness and the noble character of Saladin. The

bonds

of a traditional faith rest lightly

upon him,
is

as

might

be anticipated from the circumstances of not free from arrogance, but his attitude
the period of the Crusades.

his birth.

He

is

not

illiberal for

Lessing in an earlier work,

Der

He
and

Freigeist (1755) had introduced a similar character. deals gently with such a nature both in Der Freigist

in Nathan. He could not represent harshly one who The hope of sought to free himself from early prejudice. the world rests not upon unchanging, unyielding natures, but upon those which, at all times open to conviction and

A liberal impressions, pass through error into light. thinker of the period of the Crusades is not an anachronism. The Christians of that time had learned to renew
This uncertainty respect their Mohammedan opponents. garding religious truth appears in Boccaccio's version of the Ring Parable. Erich Schmidt, calls the Templar "Tell-

and brave
youth.

heim's younger brother," and sees in his impetuous acts spirit that which characterized Lessing's own

In his gloomy utterances there are traces of the

in his last years.

melancholy which visited Lessing

Patriarch of Jerusalem at the time in question was Auvergnac Heraclius. Lessing does not attempt to give a faithful portrait, but makes use of this

The

Patriarch.

The

prelate.

character to picture the type of a bigoted and haughty The historical Patriarch was obliged to leave Jerusalem when it was captured by Saladin, but Lessing chose
to represent

him

However

residing in the city. despicable Lessing makes the Patriarch, his

as
still

historical prototype

was not

less so.
first

outlined this character in the

Lessing had already sketch of Nathan before

INTRODUCTION.
his controversy with

xli

Goeze, and hence

it

was not, as has

this theolo-

been held, expressiv composed to caricature gian. Lessing even asserted in a letter to
dated November
7,

his brother,

clergymen of the time.

considerable

1778, that he did not refer to the This must, however, be taken with
Personal features
referring
to

allowance.

Goeze appear and are unmistakeable.

The Laybrother from the Patriarch.

dogmas, but
is

is

quite a different type of Christian

He

is

spread of the authority of

his fellow-men.

not supremely interested in the the church and its cherished

a simple man,

fll of sympathy and love for His Christianity does not manifest itself

in theolog}' but in Christian works.

this character increased.

Lessing's interest in

In the

first

sketch of

Nathan

the Laybrother
his great

is

only briefly outlined.

In the midst of

theological controversy, Lessing issued a little masterpiece under the title of Das Testament Joprose hannis (1777). It is based on tradition, reported by

Jerome, which represents the Apostle John in his last days as dismissing the assembly with the words, " Dear children, love one another." When asked why he always used these " Because the Lord has commanded words he
replied
:

it,

and

At the close of the prose article ber den Beweis des Geistes und der Kraft, which immediately preceded Das Testament Johannis, Lessing rethis

alone will suffice."

marked

" In closing,
all

trust that the testament of

John

may

the Gospel of John separates." Later, in his Nathan, Lessing returned to this thought and emunite
spirit of

whom

bodied the

The Denish
artificial

represents one

John's bequest in the gentle Laybrother. who is discontented with the

conditions of society and civilizations, and longs

XV
for

INTRODUCTION.

the
fest

freedom under more simple and natural conditions. In first sketch of the drama his real character is not maniwhich Lessing elaborated more carefully under the
longed
for

influence of the great controversy.

vish,

peace and
I

solitude.

Lessing, like the DerIn a letter to his

:

friend, Elise Reimarus, dated

"

How

often do

wish that

August 9, 1778, he wrote might be able to retreat sud-

denly into

my

old isolated condition, where I should have

determine upon nothing, do nothing except what the present moment might demand."
to see nothing,

An
to

eccentric character in Berlin,

Abraham

Wulff,

is

said

have been the prototype of the Dervish.

for his oddities, his wit, cynicism

Wulff was well

known
chess.

and passion

for

VI.

METRICAL FORM.

Before the publication of Nathan, the Alexandrine verse was the prevailing measure used in the drama. Lessing,
influenced by English modeis, adopted for his Nathan the unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank verse, as it is often
called.

Schiller

ample and employed

pentameter
lies in its

and Goethe later followed Lessing's exthis form which henceforth entirely

supplanted the Alexandrian.

It can, especially in

The

popularity of the iambic

natural rhythm

and

its

free structure.

the drama, constitute a real verse, or

be formed without regard to the unity of the single verse, so that the thought is continued in the following line in a free
iambic movement.
It

may have
is

a masculine or a feminine

ending, and the csesura

integrity of the verse
is

regulr or free according as the

The caesura, if regulr, preserved. follows the fourth or fifth syllable, sometimes howusually

INTRODUCTION.
ever the sixth, or

xlv

it

may occur even

and a
is

further along, with a

If the inis

short pause toward the beginning of the verse.

tegrity of the verse

regularity in the caesura

ob-

served, the measure

capable of great melody, as can be seen in Goethe's Iphigenie. Lessing's verses are not as
perfect as those of Goethe
defective

and

Schiller.

They

are often

and sometimes even

artificial.

He

repeats a word, or inserts words merely to fill with the desired number of syllables. Lowell's criticism, " Lessing's prose can leap and run, his verse is always thinking of it's feet," touches the weak spot in the form in the

occasionally out the line

meter of the drama.

his meter.

Yet Lessing

is

by no means a

slave to

His verses have usually ten or eleven syllables, but verses of eight, nine, twelve and even thirteen syllables
occur.

He
it

chose

this

measure on account of the freedom

said of his verses in a letter to his
i,

which

admitted.

He

brother, dated December much worse if they were

friend Ramler, dated

1778

"I

much

better."

think they would be In a letter to his

December 18, 1778, he gave as his " I reason for adopting the poetical form in his drama have really not chosen the verse-form for sake of the mel:

I thought that the oriental tone which I have been obliged to adopt here and there would seem too I also believed that verses would unnatural in piain verse.

ody, but because

rather permit digressions, such as I have

been obliged

to

make
in

for other purposes, as occasion required."

Lessing

abandoning prose, which he had employed in his former dramas, and choosing the free unrhymed iambic pentameter,
did not aim distinctively at poetic form and expression, but only desired a more dignified form of prose.

Xlvi

INTRODUCTION.

VII.

LANGUAGE.

Lessing's language differs in many respects from that of the present day. It is often inconsistent with itself, as a

word appears

in different forms.

The nature

of the liter-

ary language of inconsistencies.

Germany also explains these differences and The literary language of Germany is, in its origin, an artificial medium of communication. It does not rest upon the language of any one section, but is made
up of elements from
enough
to
all.

No

portion of

impose

its

language upon the others.

Germany was strong The needs

in-

of business, the general government,

terest of different sections in religious

and the common and

literary questions

naturally created in time a written language having a certain

uniformity.
viduality
for

upon

Luther succeeded in stamping his own indiit, and thus gave to it a Middle German form,

he himself was a Middle German.

The

representatives

of other regions, however, have also contributed, either in

form or vocabulary, to the language. In Lessing's day the common language was not a spoken language but a written one. 1 As the Standard was arbitrary, not based upon actual
speech-usage, an author at times unmindful of the conventional form substituted for it the language with which he

was most

familir.

at times to write a

speech, while at
tional language.
1

Lessing, as a Middle German, was liable word as he pronounced it in his native other times he conformed to the conven-

The

written language
in

is

at present the

Hermann Wunderlich

his

Das

Sprachleben in der

Mundart
in ber

says:

3m

18.

Sahrhunbert formte

eine emeinfpvarhe

nur

djriftform

geflieht

werben, rae bte mnbche prachfonn ganj unb

gar noch hon ben mannigfaltigen Spielarten ber einzelnen Sanbfrfjaften

beljerrfdjt

mar,

bte heute bod) febr merflich jurcftreten.

IXTRODUCTION.

xlvii

Lessing, like spoken language of all educated persons. was partial to the speech of the common people, Luther, hence he often used intentionally populr words and expressions.
all

An

effort

has been

made

in the notes to explain

forms and meaning which differ from present usage. Apart from these irregularities, Lessing's language offers
difficulties.

few

The

"
saying,

The

greatest clearness was

always to

me

the greatest beauty."

{Die grsste Deutlichkeit

war mir immer die grsste Schnheit) which he puts into the mouth of one of*his characters in Das Testament Johannis, One characterisapplies to no one more than to himself.
tic of

his prose
;

is

the pithy, epigrammatic form of the ex-

is charged with meaning. This does pression not apply to Nathan in so fll a sense as to his other works. In Nathan the language is at times epigrammatic, but in general it is poetic and graphic, often dignified and noble,

every word

and

well suited to the oriental tone

which pervades the

drama.

in

Cn

fnf aufjagen,

Introite,

nim

et hcic

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AfVO GltLIVM.

SKit Sburfurftl. ec&fijc$era $riifegw.

Salin
bei) f> riftiatt rier.

Sog

tut

o&,

Perforiert.
Sultan
<&
i 1 1

@a ta bin.
h, ,

befjen cfjroefter.

Dtfatfyan, ein reifer 3ube in Serufalem.

9iecf)a, bejjen

angenommene

orf)ter.

2)aja,
terin.

eine Sfyriftin, aber in

bem Saufe

be 3uben, al @cfellfcfjaf=

Gin junger Sempeltjerr.

Gin
-Ter

r ro

i \

d).

^atriarcb, on 3erufalem.

Gin lofierbruber.
Gin

Gmir

nebjl erf<f)iebnen ftamelucfen be

alabin.

2)ie

@cene

ift

in Serufalem.

Halbem
in bramatifdjes

5er IDcifc.

(eidjt in fnf 2Iuf$vjen.

rfter

t>luf 511g.

<rfter Huftritt.

@cene
Stattjan

glur in 9ZatI)an3 cmff. fommen.

t>on ber Seife

2aja

tfjm entgegen.

Gr

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ifyr

3?atr/an!

ort

Xaja

fei etoig

Sanf,

Dafc

bod; enblict) einmal ttueberfommt.

^ab'
5

3a, $aja, ott fei anf! $od) roarum \d) benn er)er toieberfommen tootten?

enblt#?

Unb nneberfommen fnnen?

3ft bon '^erufalem, toie
ii

33abblon

ben 2Seg,
ju

Seitab balb red)t, balb

entigt roorben, gut

linf,

nehmen

bin

jroei

fmnbert SReilen;
ift

Unb
10

B djmlben
fein

einfaffieren

gettnjj

2(ud>

efdmft ba3 merflid)

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ba

2c bon

ber >anb

f?Iagen

aja

D
Sie elenb, elenb httet ibr inbe

9*atr>an,

ier roerben fnnen!

Guer au
Nathan

0
15

fyab'
id)

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fd)on bernommen.

ebe

35a3 brannte.
ott,

2)a$

nur ae* fd)on bernommen

7

r/abe!

Sfrttljan ber Seife.

25oj

Unb mre

leicht

bon runb au abgebrannt.

ftatljatt

)ann, $aja,

fytteit

mir ein neues uns

ebaut nnb

ein

bequemeres.

cfyon mafyr!
2)oa)
20

^ec^a mr'

bei

einem aare mit

Verbrannt.

Wafyan

25

9?un bann! o Verbrannt 3$ aufeS Sei einem aare! a! berbrannt ag' nur te erauS' nur! unb martre ^a,
3)aS
r;ab'
icr;

Serbrannt?

2er? meine

9?ecr/a? fie?
fytte

mcr,t gehrt.

feines

mefyr beburft.
fie
!

ift

es raor,l!

3ft roirflia^

roofyl

fyerauS!

mia?,
fie

mid;

9Zi)t

lnger.

ift

berbrannt.

@S

mre, mrbet

it>r

2enn bon mir eS fyren?

SWatfan

fie

2arum

erfa;recfeft

bu mia; benn?

D
3ftect)a?

9tec&a!

meine

9tecf)a

Sure?

@ure

ftatyni
30

>ieS

2enn i$ mify mieber je entmtmen $inb mein $inb ju nennen!

mfete,

$ftennt

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atteS,

Garer

^liifjug.

(Erfter

auftritt.

2a

ihr befifct,

mit eben fo biet 9ied>te

2>as eure?
mit grjjerm! 2lHe, toa r;at 9?atur unb lcf

9ttd>t3

3$
35

fonft beftfee,

3Rir ^geteilt.

25ie3

Eigentum
2a\a

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Sanf

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ber ugenb.

D
eure te,

h)ie

teuer lajjt

3br 2Benn t', in folcfrer Slbficbt ausgebt, 5^ocr) te r)etfjen fann!

Watijan

Nathan, micb befahlen!

3n
40

f olcr/er

3lbfu$t?

^n melier?
9flein

eiifien
Watfjan

$aja,
93or allen

lafj

fingen

bir

erjagen
3Rctn

eirrifjen,

fag'

i$

9taOfn 23as
gffit

in 33abrIon

einen fcbnen toff i$ bir gefauft.

reirf>,

0
45

unb mit efannatf

felbft

fo

rei$!

^a) bringe

%x 9kd>a
2a3
ftur

faum

einen frftnern mit.

laja 2)enn mein erijfen, mu| \<fy eua) fagen, lt fia; lnger ni*t betuben.
r/ilft'3?

10

SRatljaii ber SBeife.

ftttym

Unb
50

iuie

bie

fangen,

toie

bie Dfyrgeljenfe,

2ie diinQ unb $ette bir gefallen toerben,

3)ie in

2)amafu3

ity

bir augefud>t,

Verlanget m\d> ju fetm.

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fcfyenfen fnnt! nur fdjenfen fnnt!

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auf, unb

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Statin
23ei roelcbem

3>bm?
aja
33ei

ibm, ber au3 bem #euer

Sie

rettete.

12

ftatfyan ber Steife.

ftdfym
*2Ber mar ba? mer?
2er
rettete

2o

ift

er?

mir meine

9}ect/a?

wer?

$>aja

@in junger Sempelfyerr, ben, roenig age

85

guor, man i>ier gefangen eingebracht, Unb alabin begnabigt r)atte. JRsfym
2Bie?

@in Stempelten;, bem ultan alabin )a Seben liefj? $)urcr) ein gering're SBunber

2ar 9*etfm

nid&t ju retten?

ott!

$aja

Drm'
90

irm,

S)er feinen unvermuteten eminft

$rifa) iuieber toagte,

mar

e au mit i^r.

2o 2o

ift

er,

T)aja, biefer eble 3Jcann?

#fyre mia) ju feinen ^fjen.

ift

er?

$fyr gabt il)m boa? bor erfte,

95

ma an

cr)ijen

3$

eutt )

gelaffen r/atte?

gabt ibm aKe?

23erfpradf)t ir/tn mer/r?

weit melj>r?

2Bie fonnten mir?

^Ot^fltt
9ttcr;t?

nid)t?

Watijan

@r fam, unb niemanb

@r
100

ging,

unb niemanb

meif? mor/in.

Dl)n'

meifj

mofyer.

ade

2)e aufe $unbfa;aft, nur bon feinem Dfyr

eleitet,

brang mit borgefpreijtem Hantel

Grfier Stufjug.

(Srfier

auftritt.

13

6r
2>ie

fr/n burd)

glamm'

urtb

9taucb ber

Stimme

nadj>,

un

um

ilfe rief.

Schrt hielten ton

3fm fr erloren, als au Staud urtb

Wlit ein er bor
105

flamme

un

ftanb,

im

ftarfen 2t rm

6mbor
Qx

fie

tragenb.

$alt urtb ungerhrt

fefct

3Som ^auchjen unferS 3)anf,

nieber, brngt
!

feine

33eute
ift

ficf;

untere 3>olf unb

SSerf a?rounben

Nathan
liefet

auf immer, miU

idt)

hoffen.

9?arf>ber bie
110

3$n
!^cb

untern

2)ie bort

erften Jage fafyen mir Jahnen auf unb nieber roanbeln, bei 2(uferftanbnen rab umftfjatten.

rfyob, entbot, befdiroor

nahte mia) ihm mit ntjcfen, banfte, nur einmal nodj

Tue fromme Kreatur gu

115
SRtdr^t

feben, bie

rur/en fnne, bi3 fte ifyren

San!

3u

feinen

gen

augeroeinet.
Watt) an

Run?

Umfonft!

r mar

ju unfrer Sitte taub,

Unb

gofj fo bittern

Sbott auf mia) befonberS

Rttyu
33iS babura)

abgefa^reeft

2)ttjtt
s

J?i$t roeniger!
120
%<fy

trat ir)n jeben

Jag bon neuem

bon
ih,m!

an,
T

Siefj

jeben
litt

Jag bon neuem

nia;t

mid> berljljmen.

2Ba

ic&,

2Sa3

r>tt

ich.

niebj

14

ftatfjcm ber 2Seije.

9lod)

gern ertragen!

roo

2lber lange fcfyon

bie

$ommt
125

er nid)t mefyr,

2)ie unferS 2(uferftanbnen

Jahnen ju befugen, rab umfdjatten,

ift.

Unb niemanb
2ftr ftaunt?

toeijj,

er geblieben

3fyr ftnnt?

atljan
3>d)

berbenfe mir,
StecfyaS,
fo
tt>ot>l

2a ba3 auf einen

eift,

toie

$r
130

inbrucf matfjen mujj.

id)

berfcfymfyt

SSon

bem
fo

ju finben, ben
ffylt;

man
fo

fyod^ufdjtjen
toeggeftofjen,

id)

gelungen

Unb

boa) fo angezogen werben;

traun,

2)a muffen erj unb $opf fia) lange janfen, Db Henfd&entyajj, ob dfyroermut fiegen foff.
135

Dft
Sei

fiegt

aua? feine; unb bie ^fyantafie,

Streit
fidb,

2)ie in

ben

mengt, madfyt cEjtormer,

toeltfjen

balb ber $opf ba erj, unb balb

2)a erg ben $opf mufj fpielen 2)a ledere, berfenn' idb, 9ied)a
140

cfylimmerSraufc&J
nid^t,

3ft ^ea^ai

gaU:

fie

f^tormt.

Stttein

fo

fromm,

liebenSrorbig

Nathan
3ft
bocb,

aud) gef d) rormt

SBomefymlid) eine
3ft
ityr

rille, roenn
fei
ifyr

iljr

roottt,

fe^r roert.

@3

SEempelfyerr

$ein
145

irbifa^er

unb feineg

irbifa^en;

SDer ngel einer, beren

dmtje

fid?

3fr flehtet ^erj, toon $inbfyeit auf,

fo

gern

erfler Slufjug.

erfier Auftritt.

15

ertrauet glaubte, fei

au

fetner 23olfe,

^n

bie er fonft
fte

erbHt, aucb nocb im

# e uer,
roeiB?

Um
150

gefcbroebt,

erorgetreten.

mit etn al ^empelberr

Scbelt nicbt!
ifyr

SB

er

Sajjt lcfyelnb toenigftenS

einen EBarm,

3>n

bem

fta?

bereinigen,

fte

2>ub' urtD GE>rift

fo

unb SRufelmann

einen fuen 23abn!

2tucb mir fo fjj!

155

eb,
uns ju

ftatftatt

roacfre
icb,

2)aja, geb;
fprecben fann.

Sieb, toa3

macbt, ob
id>

fte

obann fuaV

Stfmfcengel auf.
>iernieben unter

ben toilben, launigen Unb roemt ibm nocb, beliebt,

roallen, nocb

Seliebt, fo ungefittet SRitterfcbaft

160

Qu
3&n

treiben, finb'
l?er.

icb,

ityn

geroi

unb bring'

^b,r unternehmet oiel.

RMfM
2Racf)t

er

f^e 23alm

ber ffjern SBab^rbeit $lafc

Sftenfcben

SDenn, aja, glaube mir, bem in HJtenfcb, nocb immer lieber,

165

al ein

Gngel
ift

bann

So

roirft

bu

bocfy

auf micb, auf micb nicbt Junten,

Die (Sngelfajrormertn geseilt ju fetm?

Steji
3>br feib fo gut,
^cb. gel)'!

unb

feib jugleicf;

fo

fcbjimm!
fte felbft.

2)oa) b^rt! bocb.

fe^t! a fommt

16

SRatljan ber SBeife.

<5tr>eiter
'eija

auftritt.
bie

unb

SBorigen

9ied)a

o
170

feib

tb)r

e bod) gang
ifyr

$d) glaubt',

httet eure

unb gar, mein $ater? timme nur

Berge,

Soraugefdjicft.

2Bo
fr

bleibt i^r?

$r

2Bften,

ma

2a fr trme trennen un

)enn nod)?

#r atmet 2anb an
eure 9tecr)a ju
bie inbe

-Janb mit

ir)r,

Unb
175

eilt

nicr)t,

umarmen?
dwubert

ie arme

9f?ecr)a,

berbrannte!
nid)t!

$aft, faft berbrannte!

@<3
ift

$aft nur.

ein garft'ger

ob, berbrennen.

5SJlein

$inb!

mein

liebet

inb!

DJcrtia

^t)r

2)en @ubr)rat, Tigris, ^otban, ber

180

Steife raai

fr 3affer att?

2ie

mutet
tr>er

ber

oft fyaV idj

Um
0 0
185

gegittert, eb/ ba geuer mir nafye fam! >enn feit ba3 $euer mir
eurf)

nar/e

fam, bnft

micb,

im 2affer

rquidung, Sabfal, Rettung.

od)

fterben
ifyr

feib

ga

nid)t

ertrunlen,

id),

ict)

bin ja nid)t

Verbrannt.

9Bie wollen mir un freu'n, unb ott,

ott loben!

@r, er trug eud) unb ben yiatyzn

2luf $Igeln feiner

2)ie ungetreuen
190

unfid)tbaren

Gmgel

@r

toinfte

trm' hinber. Sr, meinem @ngel, bafj er fi d)tbar

Stuf feinem meinen $ittid)e, mid) burd)

2)a geuer trge

Srfter aufjug.

3roeiter auftritt.

17

Nathan
(eisern
Fittiche!

^a,

ja!

bcr

roeijje

oorgeforeite Kantel

35es empell)errtt.)
JHerfia

6r
195

ftcbtbar,

fxcbtbar micb

urch geuer trg', oon feinem ^itticfye $erroebt. 3* a ^/ i* *? aD e ^ ncrt ngel

'

$on
Unb

Slngeficbt ju 2lngeftcbt gefefm,

meinen

@ngel.

Nathan
9te<f>a

mr' e

roert,

Unb
200

rorb'

an tbm

nichts Scbn're* febn, al er

2tn u)r.
9tetf|a tcfietab

2Sem

fcbmeicbelt ihr,

mein SSater? roem?

em

ngel, ober euch?

Gin

5)cenfcb

2)ocb btt' auch, nur

ein 2Renfcb, mie bie
s

3catur

fie

tglich,

ernhrt, bir biefen ienft erjeigt, er mte %x biet) ein Gngel fein. 6r mt' unb mrbe.

2Q5

9ftcbt

fo

ein

(Sngel, nein!

ein roirflicfyer;

mar
3#r
<ajj

geroifj

ein mirf lieber!

abt
@ngel

ihr,

felbft bie

glic^feit, bajj

ftnb,

Slucb
210

ott jum heften berer, bie iljn lieben, Sunber fnne tbun, mid) nicht gelehrt?
lieb'

^d>

ihn ja.
S.'ntban

Unb

er

liebt bid>,

unb tfmt

18

Station bei Seife.

%x
$a,
%ixx

bicr),

unb beinegletc^en,
fie

ftnblicr)

SBunber,

r)at
euct)

fdjwn toon aet roigfeit

getfyan.

2)a

r)r'

irf)

gern.

SBte?

roeil

@ ganj
215

natrlich gan$ alltglich flnge,

ein

Senn

bicr)

eigentlicher lempelr/err
follt'

e barum Weniger er 2unber fycr/fteS in SSunber fein? un bie iuar/ren, eckten 2unber fo SDafi

erettet

fjtte,

ift,

SWtglicf/
220

werben formen, Serben foUen.

Dtm'

biefe allgemeine 2Bunber, r)tte

@in SDenfenber tuo^I fdt)lerltcf> Sunber je enannt, rua inbern M0J5 fo r)eif?en mfste, )ie gaffenb nur ba Ungerotmlicfjfte,
2)a3 teufte nur verfolgen.

$nja

au Matljan

2Mt
225
!yl)r

i$r

benn

ormebem

fd)on berfpannte irn

SDurcr)

fold)erIei

ubtilitten ganj

$erfprengen?
afj mid)!

SReiner

Iftecfja

mr'

3 2Sunber3
230

nid)t

genug, bafj fie ein

-Iftenfcr)

erettet, welchen felbft fein fleine SBunber

@rft retten muffen?

$a, fein

f leinet

2unber!

)enn roer

r)at

fcr)on

gehrt, bafj

alabin
2)afi je
511

^e

eines empell)errn r>erfct)ont?

ir)m

@in ^empelfyerr bon

ixrfd;ont

werben

Grfrer Sttfgng.

3 rceiter

auftritt.

19

235

9JJer;r

Verlangt? gehofft? ib/m je fr feine greibeit als ben Iebern urt gebeten, ber
btf>ften3 feinen SDolcr)?

Sein Gifen fehlest, unb

faMiejjt

fr mid,

mein

3>ater.
er

ar
240

ba fein Sempelberr;

fdjien e3 nur.
;

arum

eben

$mmt

fein gefangner 2empelb err je anberS 2U um gehnffen 5obe nad> ^erufalem; ebt feiner in ^erufalem fo frei

Umber:

roie

r)tte

mi<f>

bei 9?ad>t3 freiroiHig

2)enn einer retten fnnen?

Nathan
Sieb,
lye&t,
tr-ie

finnreief)!

aja, nimm bae ort.

i^d

b/ab'

e ja

245

5Son bir, bafc er gefangen b/ergefdudt

i^ft

toorben.

Cb/ne 3nxifel h>etpt bu mefyr.

9hin

ja.

3o

ta\a
fagt

man

freitieb;

bod>

man

fagt

3ugleicb, bafj Salabin ben ^empelberrn 33egnabigt, toeil er feiner Srber einem,
250

2)en er befonberS lieb gehabt, fo bnlid

feb)e.

ed> ba e

biele jtanjig
niaSt

^abre
;

ber,

2>a| biefer Sruber ^a?

toeif} nieb/t tot
;

meb r

lebt,
icb

er

b/iefc,

er blieb,

255

Hingt bas ja fo gar $>af} an ber ganjen &aa)t

2o

tr>eij5

niebt too

fo

gar unglaublid;,
nidbtS
ift.

toob/I

i, SDaja!

2arum wre benn bas

Unglaublid?

^0*

h?obI nid>t

fo

toie' rcob, I* gef dneb/t

Um

lieber ettoaS nod)

Unglaublid;er

20

iRatljan ber SBeife.

3u
260

glauben?

2arum

I)tte

alabin,

SDer fein efcfywifter inSgefamt fo liebt,

$n jungem ^a^ren
id) jwei efidt)ter

einen Sruber

%lo) ganj befonber lieben tonnen?

nidt)t

ju

ab,

Pflegen nein?

nict)t

@in
265

alter

inbrud: ein verlorner?

^ft

2irft

a
eit

nmliche nid)t mefyr bai nmdje?

trenn? 2o
tueife

ftecft

l)ier

ba Unglaubliche?

freilief),

SDaja, tor'3 fr bia)

ein 2unber mel)r, unb beine Sunber nur berbienen, hntt id) fagen, lauben. 23ebrf
.
. .

270

$b,r Rottet.

Matyan
Seil bu meiner fpotteft.
2lud) fo nod),
9ted)a, bleibet beine

)od)

Rettung
bie ftrengften

in SBunber, bem nur mglid;, ber

@ntfd)lffe,
bie

unbnbigften nttrfe

SDer Knige, fein piel

275

toenn

fy
lenft.

fe^

n pott

ern an ben

fd)rod)ften

gben

9ttp
Sflein

Sater!

Sftein
9tid)t

Sater, toenn
gern.

id)

irr',

il)r

hriftf,

id)

irre

SRattjan

$ielmel)r, bu

Ifjt

bia)

gern belehren.

iel)! eine tirn, fo ober fo gewlbt;

25er Sauden einer %xfe, fo toietmefyr

280 2tl fo gefr)ret;

Slugenbraunen, bie

2luf einem fcfyarfen ober ftumpfen $nod>en

ober fo

fid)

fcfylngeln;

eine Sinie,

Grfier uf$ug.

groeiter Stuftritt.

21

Gin 33ug, ein SBinfel, eine %alV, ein Sftal, Gin Dti<t*t r auf eines" h)ilben Guropers
285

bu entfbmmft bem geu'r in Stften mr' fein Sunber, trmnberfd)t 'ges 33olf? Sarum bemht ibr benn nod) einen Gngel?
eftd)t

unb

DaS

Sas

f d^abet

's

aja
-ftatfyan,

roenn

itf

fprecr/en barf

290

Sei attebem, oon einem Gngel lieber 2Us einem 2ftenftf)en jicb gerettet benfen?
yblt

man

ber erften unbegreiflichen

niriit

Urfacbe feiner Rettung

58iel

fidj

fo

nber?
otan

tolj! unb nid>ts als Stolj! 2Son Gifen miH mit einer filbem 3 an 9 c
295

er

Stopf

ern aus

ber tut geboben fein,

firf

um

Gin topf oon Silber

ju bnfen.

^ab

felbft

Unb mag
2a
fyilft

e ftftabet, fragft bu? roaS e

es,

f Orabet?

brft' id>

nur fnroieber fragen.

fo
toiel

enn
300
jgft

bein Sicf; ott

um

Unfinn ober otteslafterung.

mir ju
e
fei

nljer fllen,"

allein es fdjabet, ja, es fd^abet aHerbing3.

ommt,

r/rt

2)ia) rettete

Gin 9Kenfd)
505

ern
gr

tuieber

9ti;t roafyr ?

bem
toiele

9?ia?t

mabr? bem

efen, bas

Gngel ober mcbtet ifyr, unb bu befonberS, grofje SDienfte tlmn?

ein

9?un, einem Gngel, toas fr Sienfte,

grofje

ienfte fnnt ibr

u

bem

roobl

tlmn?

$br fnnt ibm banfen,

nnt
310

ibm

feufjen, beten,

in Gntjtfung ber ilm jerfcbmeljen,

nnt an bem Sage

feiner 3-eier faften.

22

Nathan

ber Seije.

2Umofen tyenben.
SDeucfyt

SCtle

nid)t3.

SDenn

midj

immer,

bafs

ifyr

felbft

unb euer
er.

ftd&fter

Sterbet meit mefyr gewinnt,

aH

@r mirb
reia*>

^id^t
315

fett

burd) euer $aften, mirb nidjt

penben, wirb nicht fyerrlidjer eu'r Gmtjcfen, mirb nid^t mchtiger )ura) 2)urtf) eu'r Vertrauen. 9iitf)t mafyr? 2ttfein ein
2)urd)
$>aja

eure

9Jtenfrf)

@i

freilief;

fytt'

ein 9Jlenfcfy,

etma fr tfm

3u
320

tfyun, un mefyr (Gelegenheit erfdjafft. Unb ott meifj, mie bereit mir baju maren!
3tttein

er mottle ja,

beburfte ja
in
fiefy,

ottig nicr)t,

mar

mit

fio;

fo

Skrgngfam, al nur @ngel finb, nur ngel

ein fnnen.
9ied)a
Gsnblitf),

aU

er

gar t>erftf)manb

325

SSerfcfymanb ?

2Bie

Watffan

benn oerftfjmanb
2ie

idj
?

untern

Jahnen
9li$t ferner fet)en
%fyx mirflid?
lief? ?

ober fyabt

fdmn irm meiter aufgefua)t

>aja

2)a nun mofyl ni$t.

Jiun

ma

e fct)ab't

330

Benn

biefer

@ngel

$a raufame tfimrmerinnen nun nun gemorben

9itd)t,

9Jot^ou

2)aja

nicfyt ?

fte^>
!

franf

SRcdja

ranf

griter Xnftag.

3roeiter auftritt.

23

ta\a

ranf!

Gr

tuirb

boc^ nid t

ffledj

33eft mid

aja
ift

Seld) faltcr Schauer

Steine Stirne, fonft

roarm,

fr/1',

auf einmal @i!

Watfian

Cr
6in granfe, btefe Sf* i un 3/ ^ er fy arten

ift

Iima ungeroobnt,
2lrbcit

335

feinet

tanbes,

3)e3 unger, 22ad>en3 ungerofmt.

5Hcd)a

rani!
taja
35a rore mglid), meint ja 3iatr/an nur.

franf!

Ratym

Kun

liegt

er

ba!

fyat

roeber

^reunb nod> elb

2id> greunbe ju befolben.

2tb,

mein 3$ater
unb

Nathan
340

Siegt ohne

Wartung, obne

9iat

3 u fy ra <b'/

Gin 9taub ber 3 duneren unb be ;obe ba!

9iec$a

2Bo? mo?
Nathan
@r, ber fr eine, bie er nie

efannt, gefefm

genug,
. .

e toar ein Genfer/

^ns #eu'r

jid;

ftr^te

iftatr/an,

fronet

if/rer

24

SRatfjan ber SBeife.

^atlinit

345

er, mai
iftidjt

er rettete,

nid)t nr/er

fennen,

weiter fer/en modrt',

. .

um

ifym

ben 2)anf

$u

fparen

hortet

ir)rer,

9?atr/an!

2fud)

nict)t

ju febn Verlangt'

2eiter

ei

mre benn,

25afj er
350

jum

jlettenmal e retten fotfte

ift

Denn

g'nug, ei

ein 9Jienfct>

Sujtt
>rt

auf unb

fet?t

Nathan
35er,
2lli

ber

Ijat,

fterbenb

fiel)

ju laben, nid^ti

bai Semufjtfein

biefer b,at!

rt auf
3b,r ttet fie
!

9kt^an

Unb bu
>tt'ft

fyaft

fo ifm tten

f nnen.

ifyn

gettet!
9terf)a
!

9ti$a

355

@i @r

ift

Slrjnet,
!

lebt

10mm

nicr/t

ift, h>ai
!

ju bir

\<fy

bir reiche.
roofyl

ift

aud)

nid>t franf,

Kidjt

einmal franf!

emife?

nid)t tot? nid;t

franf?

emifj, nid>t tot

etfyan, aud;
360

2>enn
nod).
fd;

Wntlinn

fyier

ort lofmt utei,

ef>

fyier

Segreifft bu aber,
ali

Siebiel

anbditig

mannen

leidster

(Srfter 3(uf$ug.

3roeiter Auftritt.

25
3)ienicb

ut banbetn
lnbacbttg
f

ift,

toie

gern ber

cbn>rmt,

um

nur

fcblafffte
tft

er ju 3eiten

icb febon ber Slbftcbt beutlttr) niefct betouflt Um nur gut banbeln niebt ju brfen?

365

Warn
9t<

iater!

lafct,

lafct
!

mteberum

affetn

eure $ecba
9iia?t

bo$

roabr, er fann

3luc roobl oerreift

nur fein?
ttatftan

ebt

2ftterbmg3.

$cb feb/, bort muftert mit neugier'gem 35H(f Gin SKufelmann mir bie belabenen
370

Kamele,

enni

ibr ityn?

Xojo

a! Guer
2er?
Ta\a

erhnfc.

Guer ^ertoifcb, euer ScbacbgefeH

Rrtfu
9 s aft? ba3 U$afi!
3fct be*

Sultan*

;d>a&mei[ter.

Nathan
s

Gr
375

ift'e!

25ie?

SU$aft$
!

toabrbaftig, ift'*!
eutf>,

iQinein.

mit

gef (bminb

Urumft fmmt auf 2a

bu roieber?

uns

ju.
!

roerb' i(6 tyren

26

Ttatljan ber SBeife.

Dritter auftritt.
9iatl)att unb ber SDe
r
i f ct>.

Serttnfci)

Steigt

nur

bie

Slugen auf, fo

tocit

tyr formt!

Sift bu'g?

bift
.

bu e ni)t?
.

^n

biefer ^raa^t,

@in ermifct)!

$ertt>tfcl}

9?un? raarum benn nid&t? Sfjt ftct) 2(u einem S)errDtfct) benn nichts, gar nia^tS machen?

380

@i mot)l, genug!
>er erwifct)

5$

Watljan
backte mir nur immer,

fo ber rechte ermifct)

laffen.

mott'

2lu

fidt)

nichts

machen

$ertt)ifcr)

53eim ^ro^eten!

ajj t$ fein rechter bin,

3mar wenn man

mufj

mag

aua; mot)l

rt>at)r

fein.

Watyan
3Jluf$!

Sermifa;!

erwifa; mufe?

385

&ein Genfer) mufj muffen, unb 2Ba mfjt' er benn?

$ernnfct)

ein >ermifd) mjjte?

SBarum man

it)n

rea^t bittet,

Unb

er fr gut

erfennt,

ba mujj ein

SDermifct).

Motion
Sei unferm ott!

Umarmen,

SJtenfct).

2)u

ba

fagft

bu mat)r.

Saf?

biet;

bift

bod; nod;

mein $reunb?

(Srfter Slufjug.

dritter auftritt.

27

390

Unb

fragt nidbt

erft,

toa

idf>

getoorben bin?

Xro bem,

roa bu getoorben!
erroifdj

nn?'

idj

nidbt

@in $erl im (Staat geworben

(Surf)

fein,

be ^reunbftftaft

ungelegen rore?

2enn bein erj

9?ocr.

Serroifcr;

ift,

fo

toag' icf/3 brauf.

2)er erl

395

3m

Staat

ift

nur bein leib.

ernuf
2iH
fein.

2a

2>a aud? geehrt

meint

if?r?

ratet!

2Ba

tor' ia?

2tn eurem >ofe?

Statt
2)erroifdb,

2)od) nebenher, toabrftf;einlirfi

ftett*ifj

roeiter nitftt.

&xr).

SRein anbraerf bei

400
9?itf;t

Lettner autf)?

W\<$) beffer fennt.

eutf>

u verlernen.
bajj

$0$!
\d)

9tun ja!

eftefyt,

Salabin
bei

Sd>at$meifter bin

%i)m Sorben.

Kttyui
bei irmt?

>u?

^erwifrf)
SSerftetjt:

2)e fleinern Scfyafee, benn be

Sein

Jater noa)

be

groem

toaltet

StfatJeS fr fein au.

28

Station bev SBeije.

Nathan
405

ein >au

ift

grofj.
$>erttnfcf|

Unb
2>enn jeber Settier
ift

grer,

aU

it>r

glaubt,

bon feinem

>aufe.

SDotf)

ift

bert

33ettlern

Salabin

fo

feinb

SDafj
Sitf)

er

mit Strumpf unb

borgefetjt,

unb

(Stiel

fie

ju bertiigen

follt'

er felbft

barber

410

um

^Bettler roerben.

Srab!
Sertuifd)

@r

ift'3

aucr)

fdion, tro einem!

So )enn
fo

mein'

icr)'

eben.

fein

Sa^atj

3ft jeben
SSiel

ag mit Sonnenuntergang leerer no$ al leer. Sie $tut,

i)oa)

Sie morgens
415

Verlaufen

eintritt,

ift

be3 2Rittag3 lngft

2BeiI
Serf er) lingen,

matten Kanle

fie

jum

3TeiI

bie ju fllen
gleidj)

ober ju
ift.

23erftobfen,

unmglid;
Ucrmifd)

etroffen!
$cr)

fenne ba!
$ertrtf

@
420

taugt nun

freilie

nidr;t,

2Benn drften eier unter Slfem

finb.

2)0$
yiod)

finb fie

Sfer unter eiern, taugte

jermmal weniger.

Grfteu Slufjug.

dritter auftritt.

29

C
9ftct
bocb,!

nicbt boa),

erioif$!

Sertmfri)

%f)t babt

gut reben,
tret'

ib,r!

ommt

an,

2a3 gebt
(Surf)

ibr

mir?

fo

i$ meine teil'

ab.

Watfjan

2Ba bringt

bir

beine

Stelle?

Xcrttnjrf}

Wir?
425
5Ridc)t

biel.
ift

25od> eueb,

eudb

2)enn

es Qbb'
ifyr

im Sauifc
ir>a ^

fann
roie

fte

irefflid
ift

ftere

rauhem.

So
Unb

jie^t

eure

Scbleufen auf,
/

febiefct

bor,

nefymt an

3 m f en

euc^

nur

gefllt.

Watfiatt
3turf)

3ins om

3*

Dcr 3i"1 en ?

Tcrwift^
freilief;!
"ilatfjan

SiS
430

5)iein

Kapital ju lauter 3^ n f en wirb.

2)a3

Iocft

eueb nicb t?
y

So

Xcrroifdj
f abreibet
!

unfrer ^reunbfcfyaft
toafyrlicb,
Ij>ab'

3iur gleicb ben

Scbetbebrief

enn

$cb

fer)r

auf eueb gerechnet.

Watyan
SBa^rltcr;?

2ie

2)enn fo?

toie

fo

benn?
Tcrroifd)

>aj$ ihr
435
9ftit

mir mein 2lmt

fyren rorbet fhren Reifen, bafs

30
$6)
%i)t
offne

Station ber SBeife.

aCtgext

affe bei

eurf)

l)tte.

Rttelt?

Wafyan
S^un,
erfter/n

ier giebt'S ju unterftf)eiben.

Rid&t

)u?

mir uns nur re$t! roarum

440

2Ba3

idj

bu? Sll^aft crtoifd) ift ju allem, 2lber bermag, mir ftets miHfommen.

2lUafi 2)efterbar be alabin,

SDer

bem

$>ernnfd)
Grriet
tcr)'

niajt? SDafj

ifn-

0
445

gut als !Iug / fo flug als roeife feib!

!

bocr)

immer

ebulb

2aS

tfyr

am

>aft untertreibet,

oll balb geftfneben roieber fein. efyt ba S)aS @r/renfleib, baS alabin mir gab.
6r/'

eS berfdjoffen
roie
fie

ift,

er)'

eS ju

Summen

emorben,
$d) bin
)en

einen SDerroiftf) fleiben,

ngt'S in ^erufalem
450

am 3RageI, unb am angeS, roo leicht unb anb mit meinen Sefyrern t)etfsen
itf)

barfu
trete.

2)ir

r)nlidj>

g'nug
$cmitf(f|

Unb
Sein
l>d}fteS

rf)aa; mit ifynen fiele.

ut!
$>emufdj
SDenft nur, roaS midj erf r)rte
!

$)amvt
455

idj

felbft

nitf)t

lnger betteln brfte?

$en

reiben

-Jftann

mit Bettlern fielen fnnte?

33ermgenb mr' im >ui ben reichten SBe.ttler lyn einen armen Steigen ju berroanbeln?

Grfter <ur,ug.

dritter auftritt.

31

Wnttjatt

Das nun toobl

nia)t.

2eit ettoas 2(bgefdbma(fter!

5*
460

fllte

micr)

jum

erstenmal gefa)meitftelt,
gefcbmeitf)elt

Quxd) Salabin gutberj'gen 23abn

Nathan

Ser

tr-ar?

Zcrnnfcf)

Gin Settier

toiffe

nur, wie Settlern

3u

SKute

fei;

ein Settier r/abe

nur

elernt, mit guter Seife Settlern geben.

ein
465

33orfar)r,"

fpraa) er,

War mir

biet ju falt,

3 U rau ^Jiad)

r 9 a & f

unbolb, toenn er gab,

fitf;

rfunbigte fo ungeftm

erft

bem mfnger

nie jufrieben, bajj tooHt'

er aua)
bie

Gr nur ben Mangel fenne,

3)e
470
iftatf)

Mangels UrfaaV
biefer

toiffen,

um

abt

UrfaaV

filjig

abjurogen.

2)a wirb 3tl;afi nid>t!

2Birb Salabin

3o

unmilb milb

im afi

nia^t erfahrnen!

2(U#aft gleist oerftofcften ^bren nicbt, Die ibre flar unb ftitt empfangnen Saffer

im

co

unrein unb fo fprubelnb roieber geben.

2ll=afi benft, 2tt=afi fblt mie icb!"

2c
>er

lieblia;

!Iang bes SoglerS pfeife, bi

in

Simpel

bem

9iee toar.

^4>

^^'

3a; eines ecfen ecf!

Rrtfta

emacb, mein
4&>

SDernufa;,

ematf;!

32

Statljatt ber

Seife.

@i toa

$>ern)ifdj

tr'

nid^t ederei,

33ei >unberttaufenben bie

Sftenfdjen brden,

SluSmergeln, plnbern, martern, wrgen, unb

@in 9ftenfd)enfreunb an ingein fdjetnen rooUen?

@3 war'
485

nicr;t

ederei, bei d)ften SRilbe,

>ie fonber 2lu3tr>ar;l ber SBf

unb ute

Unb $Iur unb SBftenei, in (Sonnenfdjein Unb Siegen fi<f> verbreitet, nachffen, Unb nicr)t be d)ften immer boHe anb

3u
490

fyaben?

2Ba?

ei

mr'
Julian

nid)t

ederei

enug!

t)r'

auf!
$erh)ifd)

Safct
JRict)

meiner

bodt)

%l\a)t

nur aud; ermhnen! 2Ba<8? e3 ture ederei, an folgen edereien

ederei

3)ie

gute (Seite bennod; augjufpren,

Stnteil,

Um
495

biefer guten (Seite

wegen,

2tn biefer ederei ju

nehmen? >e?
<TCatI)ait

)a3 nid>t?

2Ct=.^afi,

mad>e,

bafj

bu balb
%<f)
frcr)te,

$n

beine 3Bfte tuieber tommft.

rab' unter 9Jlenfd;en md^teft bu

ein SRenfd;

$u

fein berlernen.
2>ertt)ifd)

Stecht,

ba frd;t'

\a)

audj.

500

2ebt

tt>or;l!

Saftig?

2arte

bod;,

3H*$aft!

Grftet Hufjug.

Vierter auftritt.

33
boa?!
!

Entluft bir benn bie SBfte?

SDafc
er mtcb
ift

fyrte!

e,
r)tt'

arte

2tUafi!

t)ier

2Beg

er,

unb

iaj

ifyn

nodb fo gern
2Seriuutlia%

3laa) unferm
505

Tempelherrn gefragt.

2>af$

er )n fennt.

Pierter auftritt.
2) a
j

eilig

fjerbet.

9tatl)an.

aja

9Jatfyan,

9?atfyan!

Watfjan

9?un?

2Ba

giebt'3?

@r
Sia) roieber fefm!

lt

fi<$

roieber fefyn!

@r

Ijjt

Watfan
Oer,

aja?

roer?

aja
r!
Nathan
er!

@r?

Cr? SSann
r
tyeijjt

Ijjt

9?ur euer
510

er.

a3
ficr)

ber ni$t
foHt' er

fefyn!

^a

fo,

nidjit!

Unb

roenn er aua; ein Gngel rore, nia)t!

$aja

@r

roanbelt untern
ab,

Jahnen lieber auf

bon $eit ju

Unb

unb

bria)t

3 C^

Datteln.

Sie effenb?

unb

Nathan
als Sempelfyerr?

A^
'UMARV]

34

ftatljan ber

2M[e.

$aja

Sbr
515

mict;?

^br

2Ba qult
gierig 2Iug'
erriet

um

hinter
folgt
euer,

>en bid^t t>erfcf>rnften

Jahnen
lfjt
euer; ib/n

fd&on,
bitten,

unb

%m

unberrcft.

Sefcfrtren,

ungefumt
totrb
euer;

ie

anugeb,n.
toinfen,

D
Db
520

eilt!

ie

er r/inauf gefyt
fcfylgt.

au bem $enfter ober Leiter ah

icb,

eilt!

Watfjan

eftiegen?
3$m
ieb
311,

0
ct/ieft
fieb,

tote

ba?

irf)

Dom Kamele
eb,,
eile

bu

unb melb'

acb/t,

meine 28ieberfunft. ber Siebermann fyat nur mein >au<

ib,m

525

^n meinem Unb fmmt

3^n $fm
laben

2lbfein
nicfyt

nicb,t

betreten toollen,
felbft

ungern, toenn ber SBatcr

et),
.
.

ljjt.

fag',

icb,

Iajj'

ibm bitten,

fyerjltcb;

bitten

@ucf) nieb/t.

'Senn

2(11

umfonft!

@r fmmt

furj,

er

fmmt

ju feinem ^uben.

^atljatt

0
530

geb;,

gefy

toenigftenS

tt>n

anhalten,
gleich bir nacb;.

3$n

toenigftenS mit beinen Stugen ju

Segleiten.

eb,,

icf)

fomme

Kation

eilet tjinein,

unb nja

IjerauS.

Guter Sufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

35

fnfter auftritt.
@cene
unter melden ber
:

Gin ^lats mit Halmen,

6in tofter = auf unb nieber get)t. ntfernung bon ber Seite, immer ot ob er iljn anreben motte.

Jempe lterr

ruber

folgt iljm in einiger

Iempelf)err

er

folgt

mir

nid^t or

langer SSetle

2Bie fltelt er nad> ben

!ycr)

nben

uter Sruber,

Siefy,

fann eud; aud? wor/I SSater nennen, niebt?

535

9?ur ruber

Saienbruber

lofterbruber

nur, ju bienen.

Jempelfierr

^a, guter Sruber, wer nur fclbft toa$ btte! Set ott! bei ort! t$ fyabt nid;t

lofterbruber

Unb
9tecbt

bod> tauf enbf ad;

Warmen $anf
tr)r

Ott geb'

euer)

2Sa3
540

gern geben wolltet,

$enn

ber 2Bitfe

Unb

nidrt
id>

2arb

bie &aht macfyt ben eber. 2(ud> bem errn 2tlmofen3 wegen gar

^tdt nadigefdudt.

Xempenjerr
$ocr} aber naebgefdudt
?

(fter bruber
^a, au bem lofter.
tempe(f)err

22o

icr)

^bm

jefct

in fleine plgermabl ju finben

b/offte?

36

Kation

bei-

Seife.

lofterbruber
545

Sie

Stifd^e roaren

fcfyon

befetjt;

fomm' aber

Ser err nur

roieber mit gurd.

28031t?

3$

fyabe

$Ieifd)

tr>or>I

lange

nicfyt

gegeffen

SHIem toa

tfyut'S ?

Sie Satteln

finb ja reif.

5Hofterbruber
9}er/m'
550
fia?

ber err in adjt mit biefer grucfyt.

fie
nicfyt,

3u
Sie

iel

genoffen taugt

berftopft

gjiilj,

maa^t

melancfyolifcfyeS

eblt.

Sempelljerr

2Benn

itf>

nun

melancfyolifcr/

gern

micr)

fllte?

Socfy biefer
Jftir

Sarnung

roegen rourbet

ifjr

bocr)

nicr)t

natfygefcfyidt ?

lofter&ruber

D
555
9tticfy

nein

3$

oH

nur

nacf>

eutf)

erfunben, auf ben 3afyn

(Sud)

fllen.

empeU)err

Unb ba3
2arum

fagt

tr)r

mir

fo

fel&ft?

lofterbruber

nia;t?

$empe(fjerr

(@in

r>erfa>ni$ter

Sruber

!)

at

Sa

lofter euresgleichen mer)r?

loftcrbruber
Seife nict)t.

3$ mu|

ger/orcfyen,

lieber err.

(Srfler

ufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

37

JempeHjerr

Unb ba
560

ebordbt

ifyr

bcnn aucb ohne

biel ju

Hgeln ?

lojierbruber

2r's fonft

ger/ortf>en,

lieber

err?

Jempelijerr

2)ie infalt
3)Zir
bodj

immer
ir>of>t

Stecht beblt !)

(2)afj

bo#

$r/r brft

aucfy

toertrauen, toer

565

enauer lennen mchte ? 9ttcr/t feib, mi icr) roor)l

mi$

gern

afj

ifyr'3

felbft

fcfyroren.

loftcrbruber

3iemte mir'3?

Unb frommte mir'3?

Sempelljm

2em
aj$
er
fo

jiemt

unb frommt
?

e benn,

neubegierig

ift

Sem benn

lofterbruber

em
2: er

atriara?en, mufl id> glauben. fanbte micb eucb nacr).

Xempelljerr

enn

er $atriard&?
570

ennt ber ba
9Ztct>t

rote ^reuj auf

meinem

9JianteI

beffer?

tofterbmber

enn' ja iay!
XempeUjerr
9?un, Sruber ?

nun

3$
er

bin ein empelfyerr, unb ein gefangner.

f>inu:

<5et>' id)

53urg,

bie

gefangen bei 'Jebnin, mit be3 StittftanbS lefcter Stunbe

38
575

9totl>an ber Seife.

2ir gern erftiegen Ratten,

Stuf

ibon

loS gu gefm

um

fobann
icb,

fefc'

f)tnju

elbjianjigfter gefangen unb 3Som alabin begnabiget fo

:

allein
h)eifj

er
580

^atrtarcb,, toa er gu miffen brauet

Jlefyr,

al er brauet.
lofterbruber

2U

er

fcfton

roeifc.

@r

2of)I aber fcfymerlidf) mefyr, mfjt' aucb, gern,

warum

2)er err toom alabin begnabigt morben,

@r ganj

allein.

Sempelljerr
ffieifj
icb,

ba

felber ?

cfy on

585

3)en al entblfjt, fnief i$ auf meinem Hantel, 2)en treicb, ertoartenb, aU micb, fcfyrfer Salabin

^n

2luge

fafjt,

mir nfyer fpringt, unb minft.

irf>

JJcan f^ebt micfy auf,

bin entfeffelt, will

3#m
Sft
59

banfen,
bin

fei)'
;

fein 2lug' in
icfy

S^rnen

er,

id)

er gefyt,

bleibe.

ftumm

2ie

9hm
&er

ba jufammenfyngt, entrtfle
^atriarcfye felbft.

ficb,

fofterbruber

@r
)afj

fcfyliejjt

barau,

ott ju groen, groen fingen eud)

aufbehalten fjaben.
entpe($err

JRff

(Sin

3a, ju groen! !yubenmba)en aul bem $eu'r ju retten,

595

Stuf

6inai neugier'ge Pilger ju

eleiten, unb bergleia)en mefyr.

(Srjkr Xaf|Bf.

gnfter auftritt.

39

lofterbruber

9?ocr/

fommen
fyat

Sieeicbt
SBSett

aucb nia?t bel. 3fl injroifcben bereite felbft ber ^>atrtarcf)

ivb fcbon

roicfyt'gere

efcbfte fr ben errn.

empelf)crr

600

@o ?

meint

fyc,

33ruber ?

at

er

gar eud>

fcf>on

28a3 merfen (ffen?

lofterbruber

Q{, ja roobt

%$

foll

2>en errn nur

erft
ift.

ergrnben, ob er fo

et

Jcann roobl

lempclfjcrr

3hm
(3$
6q5
roitf

ja,

ergrnbet nur

bod) fefm, rote ber ergrnbet!)

9hm?

lofterbruber

$a3
anj

frj'fte roirb roobl fein,

bajj \)

bem errn

grabe^u bee Patriarchen

empell)err

Sunf$

rffne.

2Bobl!
fofterbrubcr

r
Gin
33rieftf>en

c)tte

burcb ben errn

gern

befteflt.

lempelljerr

ein
610

33ote.
roeit

unf> mi;? 3$ bin ba rore ba efdjft, 2)a,

fei,

Da

glorreicber

ati

^ubenmbdien

3)em geu'r entreien?

Slofterbruber
9ftujj

boa?

roofyl

2)enn

fagt

40
35er ^atriardj

5flatf)an ber SBetfe.

an

biefem 23riefd)en
fetjr
toiel

fei

>er gangen lpriftenfyeit

gelegen.

$>ie 23riefd)en roofyl befteHt ju I)aben

615

fagt

im Fimmel Ott Wxt einer ganj befonbern rone lohnen. Unb biefer $rone fagt ber ^>atriara)
)er ^atriarcr)
roerb'
einft

ei niemanb

hnirb'ger, al

mein

>err.

$emeHjerr
3tr* ia^?

lofterbruber

2)enn biefe $rone ju tterbienen

620

)er ^atriard)

fagt
aucfy

fei

ftfjmerlid?

jemanb

efdndter als mein err.

JempeNjerr

3H3
lofler&ruber

icr;?

@r
>ier frei;
33erftefy',

fei

lnn' bera fi$

roie
;

tjtcr

befer)n

eine

tabt ju ftrmen nnb

$u formen
625

fnne

fagt ber ^atriara^

2)ie

trf unb

d)it>d)e ber bon

alabin

%lt aufgefhrten, innern gleiten ^flauer

2lm
SDen

beften fdfmtjen, fie

treuem ottes

am

beutlicfyften

fagt ber ^>atriarcf)

23efd?reiben.

SEempenjerr

uter SBruber, roenn

630

idj

boa)

9hm
$a

aucfy

be 23riefcfyen nhern 5>nfyalt mftte.

foftcrbrnbcr
foeifj

ben

ben

idB
ift

nun

roofyl

nia^t fo
^fyilibfc.

$)a Sriefcfyen aber

an $nig

recfyt.

grfter Slufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

41

er Sie
635

^atriard)

. .

3$

fa*

m^

f*

gemunbert,

ber fonft fo ganj bod) ein ^eiliger,

^m immel lebt, juglet* fo unterrichtet 3Son fingen biefer elt ju fein berab 63 mu| ibm fauer merben. Iaifen tarnt.
<Sid)

lempelfjcrr

9iun bann

ber ^atriard) ?

filoftcrbruber
2Setjj ganj genau, mie unb mo, mie ftarf, anj juberlfftg, 640 $on meldter Seite Salabin, im %att

iS

bttig mieber loigebt, feinen

tfelbjug

(Erffnen mirb.

lempeje
3)a meijj er?
loftcrbrucr

^a, unb mcbt'

G gern bem nig ^ilifc miffen laffen, Tamit ber ungefhr ermeffen fnne,
645

efabr benn gar fo fdtredlid), JKt Salabin ben affenftitteftanb,

bie

Cb

um

&en
s

euer

Drben

fd)on fo brab gebrochen,

fofte

ma

e motte, mieber fyer*

3ueen.
lempelljerr
Selcfc

ein ^atriard)

$>a fo

f -

650

SDer liebe tapfre

Wann

mitt mid ju feinem

emeinen

35oten, er mitt mid)

jum

Sbion.

Sagt eurem ^atriarcben, guter 33ruber, So oiel ihr mid ergrnben fnnen, mr'

meine Sad)e

nidt.

3$

muffe mid)

42
655

Nathan

ber SBeife.

9iod)

aU

(Befangenen betrachten, unb

SDer Tempelherren einziger Seruf

ei mit bem djroerte brein ju fdplagen,

$unbfd;afterei ju treiben.
SHofter&ruber

nid)t

Xaa)V
2itt'<S

ia?'
fefyr

bod)

aud)

bem
ba

>errn nid)t eben

33efte

660

gmar lmmt
<Sid)

nod).

er
fie

oerbeln.

^atriard)
3Sefte
liegt,

>iernd)ft I)at auSgegattert,

roie bie

nennt unb roo auf Libanon

$>n ber bie Ungeheuern

3Jiit

Summen
bie

fteden,

melden alabinS

borfid)t'ger 3kter,

665

3)a >eer befolbet, unb

2)e $rieg3 beftreitet.

3 ur "ft un 9 en

alabin erfgt

Son

3e

5"

%lad) biefer $efte

au f abgelegnen 2egen nur !aum begleitet. ftdf),

Seittpenjerr

$#r merft bod)?

9ttmmermel)r
lofterbruber
!

2a mre ba
670

3Bol)l leid)ter, al be alabinS

fid)

ju

ben arau ifym ju mad)en? D e Imben fd)on ein paar $fyr fd)aubert ?
33emd)tigen
?

ottefrd)tge 'JRaroniten

fid)

erboten,
fie

2enn nur
675

ein

madrer

Wann

fhren motte,

2)a

td

ju roagen.
^empclfjen-

Unb
tt' aud) ju

ber ^atriard}

biefem madern 3Jianne mid)

@rf etyn

(Srfter flufuig.

fnfter

Stuftritt.

43

filofterbruber

@r

glaubt, bafc Honig

bte

W^W M*

$on ^tolemaiS au3

anb

I^ierju

2Cm beften bieten lnne.

empelfjerr
gjiir? mir,
680

Sruber?

Surf abt ifyr nicf/t gehrt? nur erft gehrt, SSa fr SSerbinblicbfeit bem Salabin
yd) ftabe
?

Slofterbruber
ofyl

hob idVS gebort.

Sempetyerr

Unb

bod)?
fcbon gut;

^a

_ meint

lofterbruber

ber ^atriard)

ba
.
.

rodr*

ott aber unb ber

Drben

lempelfjerr

Stnbern nid)t
685

ebieten mir fein Subenftd

SHofterbruber

g^ ur

_m
tor'

eint ber ^atriard

etoi nid>t!
fei

ein ^Subenftd

SSor Renfcfcen, nid)t aud> SBubenftd or

Ott.

XentpeHjerr

3d>

bem Salabin mein 2eben fa>lbig,

Unb

raubt' ihm feine?

lofterbruber

690

er

3u

nod) immer Salabin ^atriard) Gin geinb ber Gbrijtenbeit, ber euer greunb fein 9ied>t erwerben fnne.
fein,

Pfui

$oa?

bliebe

meint

44

9tott)cm ber SBeife.

em$>enjerr

$reunb
3In

bem

3um

jum Surfen unbanfbaren drfen?

icfy

bloft

nicbt n>iff

roerben,

lofterferuber

695

3mar
Wlan

meint
quitt,

ber $atriarcfy

SHIerbingg be anlei
!

fei

bor Ott unb

-iDlenfcfyen
nicr)t

quitt, roenn

un

3)er SDienft

um

unfertiiUen
trolle,

Unb ba
>afj

berlauten

meint

gefcfyefyen.

ber ^atriarcfy

eud)

nur barum alabin begnabet,

700

2eil ifym in eurer Sftien', in euerm efen,

o mag

bon feinem 33ruber eingeleuchtet

%emptitftvv

Slucf)

biefe toeifj

ber ^atriarct), unb

!

bocr) ?
!

%fy

mre ba
bie

geraifj
r)tt'

Sil),

alabin

2Bie?
705

-iJcatur

aucfy

nur inen $ug

SSon mir in beineS 33ruber

$orm
ta)

gebilbet,

Unb bem 2a bem

entftortfje

nid?t in meiner

eele?

entfbrcfye, !nnt'

unterbrchen,

Um
710

einem* Patriarchen gu gefallen?

fo

9tfatur,

leugft

bu

nidfyt

0
!

hnberfbricfyt

id) ott in feinen 2Ber!en nitf)t efyt, 33ruber mir meine alle nicfyt rregt efyt gefyt

tofter6rubcr

5$

gel)',

unb

gel)'

Dergngter

aU

icr)

lam.

SBerjeifye

mir ber

>err.

9Bir $lofterleute
ju gefyordpen.

inb

fdjmlbig, unfern

Dbern

Grfter 8*ftB8-

2edifter auftritt.

45

Sediftcr Jtttftriti
eine Seit lang Sei 2empclt)err un^aja, bie ben Tempelherrn fdion Bon weiten beobachtet I)atte, unb jitf) nun itjm nfjert.

Xaja
715

$er

lofterbruber, tote mitf> bnft,

beften

er

Saun' ibn

niajt.

0$

liefe

in
icfc,

mu|

mein

$afet nur Wagen.

Jempcl^err
Kun, bortreff liefe
!

Sgi

$a
Unb
720
(fr

Spricbwort Wob, l,

bajj -Btbnd)

unb 33eib, unb 23eib

wirft

Tratten fmb? gjtncb. be3 Teufels beibe aui einer in bie anbre. mict) fyeut'

2Ba

feb/

ia;?

ort taufenb

ie ganje 3eit
9?id)t

bler anf! 9o 3&r

gefteeft?

aja

bitter, eua)?
fyabt ib,r

ort
benn

2>anf!

feto boa? Wofyl

franf geWefen?
2cmell)crr

et.

efunb
lempeltierr

bodt)?

3a.
725

SB waren euertwegen
Sefmmert.

Wabrlid) ganj

empeltjerr

0?
3$ r Wart
geWtjj erreift?

46

Stotljan ber SBetfe.

Xcmpclficrr

rraten!

Unb famet

r)eut'

erft

iieber?

empenjerr
eftern.
33ater

2lud)

9tecr/a

ift

r)eut'

angefommen.
^offen?

Unb nun

barf 9ted)a bod)

roor;!

^empelljerr

2Sa?
730

Sarum

fie

eud) fo

fter! bitten laffen.

%i)x 23ater labet

eucfy

nun

felber balb
toon 33abr/Ion

2luf bringlia)fte.

@r fmmt

SRtt jittanjig fyocfybelabenen

Kamelen,

Unb
735

allem, roa an ebeln pejereien,

3ln Steinen unb an (Stoffen, ^nbien

Unb Werften unb t>rien, gar ina, $oftbare nur gemr/ren.

empeHjerr

aufe ni*t.

ein

93olf erer/ret ir)n

aU

einen drften.

SDoaj bafj e3 ibn ben 2eifen -ftatfyan nennt,

740

Unb

nia)t tnelmer)r

ben

9ieitf)en,

fyat

tntdt)

oft

erounbert.
Sempelljerr

einem
SSieUeidEjt

SSolf

ift

reirf)

unb

ioeife

ba nmlia^e.

$or

allen aber

Grfter 2luf;ug.

Sedier

auftritt.

47

Qtt'3 ihn bcn uten nennen muffen.

!Jhr fteHt euch
745

enn
ift.

gar nicht bor,

roie
toiel

roie

gut er

2U
as
(rr

er erfuhr,

euch 9techa fchulbig,

hatt', in biefem 2(ugenhlicfe, nicfyt

euch,

alles"

getfyan,

gegehen?
6i!
<aja

Temptltytrt

SBerfucht's

unb fommt unb

feht!

Zempclffttt

2as benn?
Gin 2(ugenhlicf orher
ift?

roie

fchneU

Xaja
tt'
750
ich,

23enn
33ei

er

fo

gut nicht ror', es mir fo lange

3Jieint
ifyr

ihm

gefallen laffen?

tttoa,

%) fhle meinen 23ert al Ghriftin nicfrt? 2luch mir roarb's toor ber SSiege nicht gelungen,

af5
755
ftach,

ich

nur barum meinem hgemahl ^alaftina folgen rorb', um ba

G roar in ^ubenmbchen ju ersehn. 2Rein lieher hgemahi ein ebler unecht

3>n $aifer ftriebrichS eere

Sempelljerr

SBon ehurt
(rin

Schroeijer,

bcm

bie

@hr' unb nabe warb

DJtajeftt

760

Sflit

Seiner $aiferlichen

einem #Iufje ju erfaufen. -feih! Sie bielmal haht ihr mir bas fchon erjhlt? >rt ihr benn gar nicht auf mich, ju erfolgen?

3n

Taja
Verfolgen! lieher ctt!

48

SRatfan ber SSeife.

em}>eHjerr

3a,
765

ja,

Verflgen.

S4>

toitf

un einmal
unb

eua)

nicfyt

weiter ferm!
eine fyat

3li)t r/bren!
9l\)t

2Bia bon eu$ an

fort

fort

erinnert fein, bei ber

3um
770

%) nichts gebaut, bie, wenn id) brber benfe, SRtfel bon mir felbft mir wirb, war mcfyt'

Stber fer/t, fie nicr/t gern bereuen. Ereignet fo ein gatt ftct) wieber, ifyr

%<$

eib

fa)ulb,

Wenn

ia)

fo

^a) mia) borfyer erfunb',

unb

rafd>

nicfyt

fyanble,

Wenn

brennen

laffe,

2a brennt.
$>aja

33eWar/re ott!

$on
775

r)eut'

an

tljmt

5Kir ben efatten WenigftenS, unb fennt

Wild) Weiter nia)t.

%%

bitt'

eua)

brum.
ift

Slucr;

lajst

>en SSater mir

bom

alfe.

$ub'

^ube.

3$
780

bin

ein

blumber <Sd)Wab.

2)e 9Mba)en3 23tlb

3ft lngft au3 meiner eele,

Wenn

e<S

je

2)a mar.
$>ttja

2)odE)

eure

ift

au

tt)rer

nitfjt.

SempcHjerr

2Ba foH'3 nun aber ba? ma foH'S?

SBer Weife?
SDie

9Renfct)en finb nidjt immer,

SEempelljerr

mag

fie

fa^einen.

SDod; feiten etwas Keffers,

ergebt.

'

<Srjter

Sufaug.

Sedjjter auftritt

49

artet bo$!

2BaS

eilt

ir/r?

Icmpelfjerr
SBeib, macfyt mir bie
785

Jahnen

nicr)t

Serbajjt, roorunter

ict/

fo

gern fonft toanble.

So

geb',

bu
bie

beutfcfcer 33ar!

fo ger/'!

Unb

bocfc,

3)tuB

i$

Spur
Sie

be StereS mcf/t uerHeren.

Ujm
Ott

gefjt

toeen nadj.

g weiter

2Iuf3ug.

(Erftcr Huftritt.

Sic @cene: S)ee ultan

<afafl.

atabin

unb Sittal)
Utalj

fpielen Sd)adj.

2o

bift

bu,

alabin? 2ie

ftnelft

bu

fyeut'?

dabin
Rid&t

gut?

%$

backte boc^. ttta^

$r
790

mid),

unb faum.

3lxmm

btefen

$ug

jurcf.

alabiu

SBarum?
ittal)

SDer Springer

SSirb unbebecft.
ttfabtn

3ft toa^r.
tttalj

Run

fo!

0
^d; in bie abel.
alabin
2Bteber
itta^
toafyr.

jte^'

@d;ad?

bann!

2Ba3

fyilft

bir

ba? ^d; fee bor, unb bu

toarft.
50

3Mjt, hne

bu

3eiter Shiijug.

6rfier auftritt

51

Salabin
2Iu3 biefer
795

klemme,

fei?'

3>$ toobl,
ftag's
!

obne 33ue nicbt ju fommen. nimm ben Springer nur.

ift

Sittalj

%$
^d? geh'
toorbei.

roitl

ihn nicbt.

Salabin

$)u

fcbenfft

mir

nicbti.

ir

liegt

2(n biefem ^Slae mebr, al an

Sittalj

bem

(Springer.

ann

fein.

Salabin

Wlad) beine StedEmung nur nid?t ofme

8oo

SDen 2Birt.

Denn

fieb'!

SBr

gilt 'S,

ba3

roarft

bu

nid)t

Vermuten?
Sittalj

greilid; nid;t.

23ie lonnt'

icr)

aud)

Vermuten,

bafc

bu beiner Knigin
Salabin

o mbe

torft?

^dS meiner Knigin?

Sirtal)
feil fyeut' meine taufenb Dinar', fein 9caferincben mefyr getoinnen.

3<b feb' nun

fcr)on,

icb

805

Salabin
2Sie fo?

$rag
3>d)

noeb

Sittalj

eroalt berlieren

roittft.

Dod)

23eil bu mit ^leifj, mit aller

babei finb'

meine 9?ecbnung

nid)t.

Denn

auer, ba|

52
@in
810

Stotljan ber SSetfe.

foId)e<S
i[t,

piel ba untert)altenbfte
icb,

Rirfjt

gewann
trenn
icb,

immer

nidjt

am
baft

meiften

Jftit

bir,

toerlor?

2Benn

bu mir

2)en

a$, mid) be berlornen piele wegen

trften, boppelt nicr)t fyernad)

$u
@i
815

gefa^enft?

Salabht
fiel)!

fo

fytteft

bu

ja Wob,l,

Wenn bu

SSerlorft, mit

gleifc

erloren,
3ittat)

<Scr;tt)eftercr)en ?

Wenigften fann gar itot)t fein, bajj beine greigebigfett, mein lieber 23rberd;en,

3um

dmlb
3ir

ift,

bajj

ia)

nicfyt

beffer fpielen lernen.

alabiu

lommen ab twm

(Stiele.
3ittat)

Sftacb/

ein

@nbe!

820

bleibt e?

3fiunbann: <Ba)aa)l unb boppelt cfyad;!

alabin
1

9iun freilie biefe %h\d)aa) efefyn, ba meine Knigin

9Jlit

fyah

id)

nicr/t

jugleicb,

nieberwirft.
tttalj

2Bar bem
Safe fefyn.

noeb,

abhelfen

alabin
Kein,

nein,

nimm nur

bie

Knigin,
gldlid;.

825

%d) war mit biefem

(Steine nie
Sittnt)

recb,t

S3Io^ mit

bem teine?
alabut

gort bamit!

)a

tfyut

3eiter ufjug.

grfter auftritt.

53

2Rir nichts.
efcbfct.

Xenn

fo

ift

alles

nneberum

23ie

fyflitf

Skrfabjen muffe,
830

F>at

man mit Kniginnen mein 53ruber mia)

3U

ra ob l
y

gelehrt.

Sie Oft e ite&en.

Satabin

ftimm, ober
^a? habt feine mefyr.
Sittal)

nimm

fte

nia?t!

S$ad)!

S^aa?!

203U
Salobin

fte

nehmen?

3tur weiter.

Sd? acb

unb

S(bacb!

unb

Scbad?!

Salabin

Unb matt!
Stttalj

Kia?t

ganj, bu

jiefyft

ben Springer nod;

toittft.

3)a$roiftf;en, ober tuae bu mausen

835

leicbjnel!

Salobin

anj

3Jian Iaff ibn rufen! gleia?! 2U=afi jablt. $>u batteft, Stttab, nicbt fo unrecbt, tdb,

red>t!

2)u

baft

gewonnen, unb

23ar

nia)t fo

ganj beim Spiele, toar

giebt

jerftreut.

Unb bann, wer

840

un benn

bie

glatten

Steine

eftnbig? bie an nicbt erinnern, nicbte$}ab tcb mit bem .^man benn 53e$eicbnen.
}

ef^ielt?

5Docr)

was?

3SerIuft Witt

2>orWanb.

9iicbt

54
$)ie

SRatljan ber SBeife.

ungeformten Steine,

6ittat>,

finb'3,

SDie mid) berlieren 845

matten:

beine unft,
. . .

SDein ruhiger

unb

fctmelter 23lkf
ittalj

%u$
Bittft

fo

bu ben tacfyet be $erluft nur ftumpfen. enug, bu marft jcrftrcut, unb mefyr als id).
atabht
2tl3

bu? 2a

fytte

biet)

jerftreuet?

tttdlj

gerftreuung
850

freilief)

nid&t!
fo

)eine

alabin,

2enn roerben mir

fleiig

mieber fpielen!

alabht

0
Sit;!

fielen mir um roeil e wieber

ju!

fo

iel gieriger!

Kur
^d>
855

3$

lo< gefyt,

meinft bu ?

5Dtag'!

t>abe

nict)t

juerft

gebogen,

fjtte

Verlngert,

gern ben tilleftanb auf neue fytte meiner ittat; gern,

ern

einen guten

Wlann

jugleicf)

oerfebafft.
er
ift

Unb ba

mufc

9Ricr)arbg

Sruber

fein,

$>a 9tid)arb Vorber.

Sittnl)

2enn bu beinen
ftur

9tict;arb

loben fannft!

olabtn

%&z\m unferm 33ruber

860

9Mef

S)ann

3ftict;arb

drtoefter mr' ju teile morben,

>a! mela; ein

au jufammen!

>a,

ber erften,

2)er beften ufer in ber 2elt ba befte!

SDu

fyrft,

iri;

bin mief; felbft ju loben, auef;

3roeiter aufjug.

6r|ler auftritt.

55
h>ert.

9?icbt faul.

3*

^nf

m^
3tal)

865

3)a3 htte 3ftenfcben geben

meiner Jreunbe ba3! f offen

&ab

id>

be, fcf/nen

totum

nicht

gleich

gelacht ?

fennft bie
ift:

briften nicht,

hnllft fte nicht

fennen.

3#r Stolj
870

Gbriften fein, nicht ftenfeben.

r/er,

35enn

Selbft ba3, roa3, noch, toon ihrem Stifter

W\t

30tenf$lu$frii fren Aberglauben lrirjt,

lieben fte, nicht metl
(briftu
lehrt,

a3

e3 menfcblidj

ift

eil'*

roeil' briftu bat

getr/an.

23obI ihnen, ba
9^ocb
875

er

ein fo guter $Jtenfcf>

mar! SBobJ ilmen, bajj fte feine Jugenb 5reu' unb taube nehmen fnnen! 350$ 2(uf 2 eine Jugenb nicht, fein 9iame SBaS Jugenb
!

oll bera erbreitet roerben,

$5ie

foll

Tanten

aller

guten 9)}enfcr)en fcfynben,

SBerfcblingen.
880

Um

ben tarnen,

um

ben 9iamen

^ft ihnen nur $u thun.

Solabtn

Xu
ie
2(ud>

meinft,

toarum
ihr,

fonft erlangen torben, bafc auch

bu unb Mef,

Gfyriften

bieget,

eb/

211* 6b, gemalt ibj Gbjiften lieben roolltet?

Sirtal)

3a
885

rohl

2Us

tor'

bon hriften nur, als bjiften,

2)ie Siebe ju gerorttgen, toomit

35er Schpfer

Siann unb 9)innin

2alain

ausgeftattet

te dhriften glauben mehr 2lrmfeligfeiten, 211* ba fie bie nicht auch noch, glauben fnnten!

56

SRatyan ber SBeife.

Unb
890

gleicb>o!jl irrft
nicfyt,

bu

bicfy.

Sie

Tempelherren,

Sie Triften

finb

fd&ulb,

finb nic^t

aU

(S^riften,

2113 ^Tempelherren fdmlb.

)urd> bie allein

2irb aui ber acfye nichts,

ie motten

2lffa,

Sa

SRicfyarbg

cb>efter unferm ruber

9Mef

3um
895
fliegt

23rautfct>a bringen mfjte,

fdjlecb>rbing

Safj bei 9tttter3 Vorteil efafyr nidjt laufe, fielen fie ben -Blond;, Sen albern 9flnd). Unb 06 toietteicfyt im $tuge
fahren laffen.

Sin guter

treict)

gelnge, fyabtn

fie

Sei
900

2affcnftitleftanbe

rmarten fnnen.

Ablauf faum
!

Suftig
!

#r Ferren, nur

fo meiter
roie

9hir fo toeiter
9Jiir

fa>n

recfyt

2r' atteS fonft nur,

ei mfjte.

3ittal)

2SaS
Sicfy

irrte

biet)

benn fonft? Sai fnnte

fonft

au ber Raffung bringen?

Solabiu

2Ba3 bon
905
-JRicfy

je

immer aus ber Raffung

fyat

gebraut.

$d) mar auf Sibanon, bei unferm 2kter. @r unterliegt ben orgen nocfy
.

D
Sfabitt

toefy!

@r fann

nicfyt

burd), e

Hemmt

@S

fefylt

balb ba, balb bort

3ittol)

fidt)

allerorten;

2a Hemmt

tuai

fet>lt ?

3eiter uf$ug.

3roeiter auftritt.

57

Salabin
icb tarn ju nennen nnirb'ge? 910 fonft, als toas foenn iaV habe, mir fo berflffig, 2a3, Unb bab' icb' nia^t, fo unentbebrlicb faieint.

0
^bm
915

bleibt 211-afi

au3

2>a
bajj

benn? $ft niemanb naa) leibige, toertonf^te elb

ut, afi,

bu fmmft.

Streiter auftritt.
3>er

Termifd) 9U = afit=ajt

Salabtn.

Stttafc.

ie eiber au3
&gr#ten ftnb 2Benn's nur
toertnutlirf)

angelangt.

fein biet

ift.

Salabtn

aft bu 9toa)ria)t?

34>?

3*

ni*t.

3a) benfe, bajj icb

fott

r)ier

fie

in

(Jmpfang

nebmen.
Salabt
afyl' an <Sittab taufenb

920

Dinare

3n ebanfen

Ijin

unb

f>er

ge&enb.

abl
$)a
ift

anftatt

empfang

D
?

fdtn

2tn Sittab

roieberum an im Verloren?
?

fr roas no? weniger als

nttf>t.

Sittab

Unb

roieberum

(Sd^acb toerloren?

$a

ftefyt

e nocb, bas Spiel!

58

Nathan

ber SBeije.

irtalj

3)u gnnft mir bod)

925

SRein

lud?
9U=ttfi
tat Spiet ?
fietracfjtenb

2SaS gnnen
tttalj

Senn

ib,r

nfjt ja tootyl.

ifjm tvinfenb

Bft!

afi! bft!
9l(=^aft
nocfj

auf bn8 Spiet gerietet

eurf)

nnt'3

nur felber

erft!

Bittat)

3H*$afi!

bft!

2U=$aft

ju

tal

$ie Sei^en ftmren euer?

Sfyr bietet cr/acf;?

ut,
8f-$fi

bajj

er nidt;t

gehrt!

9hm

ift

ber

$ug an tym?
@tttafj
ifjm ntjer tretenb

0
930
SDafj
icb,

jage

bocr),

mein elb belommen fann.

3U=^>0ft
nocfj

auf ba5 Spiet geheftet

Nun
!3r)r

ja,

fofft'S

befommen,

tte

ir)r'S

ftet

befommen

tttat)

2Bie?

bift

bu tott?
9a=^ofi

^b,r fyabt ja

nidEjt

piel ift ja berloren, alabin.

fjiiifjrenb
!

nicr)t

au.

Sadibilt faum

Socb,! bocb,!

SBejaf)!'

beja&l'

3roeiter Slufjug.

3 ra eiter

Auftritt.

59

Hl=afi
Sejafjl'!
935

beja&l'!

$a

ftebt ja

eure Knigin.

Salnbin

nodj

io

ilt nia?t,
cr)rt
nitftt

mebr in Spiel.
Sittaf)

o
Safj
ich

marf)'

unb

Jag',

ba elb mir nur fann

SU=tflft
nodj

t>o(en

laffen.

immer

in baZ Spiel ertieft

33erfter/t

jtd>,

fo

roie

immer.

2enn
gilt,

aua? fa)on,
feib

23enn au)
940
2>otf>

bie

Knigin nichts

ityr

barum nocb ni$t matt.

3afabtlt
tritt Ijtnju

unb

roirft

ba* 2pie[

um

^a) bin e, roiH

@3

fein.

^a
eroonnen,
fo

fo

t^ofi Spiel
Satobtn
311

toie

eroinft

So

h)ie

bejablt.
Sittalj

2a fagt er? roa?

3ittaf)
t>on 3^'t jw

3 eit &n a
ftrubt

fi

nrinfenb

2>u fennft ifm ja.

Gr

ftct)

gern, lt gern

Sia) bitten,

ift

roofyl

gar ein toenig neibifa).

Sotbtn

945

Stuf

biet)

bodj>

nid>t?

21uf meine

Stfrtoefter nia^t?

2Sa

fyr'

taVafi?

9tabifcb?
Bl=6aft

bu?

$ann

fein

%%
felbft

$ann
fytt'
iljr

fein!

irn
fte.

toofyl

lieber felbft,

2r' lieber

fo

gut,

aU

60

Ratljan ber SBeife.

tttaf)

Snbe

at
950

er bodt)

immer

richtig

nocf)

bejaht,
Safj ifyn nur
!

Unb wirb

autf)

fyeut'

bejahen.
!

er; nur, Sll^afi,

geb/

icb;

roiff

ba elb

cr)on r)olen laffen.

^ein,
$)ie

icf)

fpiele

lnger
e boct)

5Rummerei

nicr)t

mit.

@r mujj

inmal

erfahren.

atabin

2er? unb roa?

Sittaf)

Sll^aft
955

3ft biefeg bein SSerfprec^en ?

gjiir

ltft bu fo

2Sort?

Straft
2ie lonnt'
9Beit geb/en mrbe.
tcr)

glauben, bafc e fo

alabtn

9hm?
Sittnli

erfahr'

icr)

nidvtS?

3$
$)a
960

bitte

bicb;,

2Il=>afi,

fei

befcfyeiben.

Satabtn
ift

bod) fonberbar!
fo

9Sa formte

ittab;

feierlich),

roarm

bei

einem $remben,

Sei einem
S3ei ib)rem

2)errmfcr)

lieber,

aU

bei mir,

Sruber

fict)

erbiiten motten.

2Usaft, nun

befer/I'

icf).

9tebe, SDermifct/

Sittaf)

Sajj eine letnigfett,

mein SBruber,

bir

3roeiter Sufjug.

3 roeiter
fte

Auftritt.

61

965

9ttrf>t

nher treten, ate

idj>

hnirbig

ift.

25u

rpei^t,

fyahz

ju erfcr/iebnen -Jlalen
bir

'Diefelbe

<3umm' im 3&adb on
icb,

gewonnen.
r/abe,

Unb
eil
y

tpeil
ifct

itjt

ba elb

ntc^t ntig

in

afts affe bod> ba elb

ift,

970

Jl\&t eben allju^ufig

fo

finb

25ie

Soften ftebn geblieben.

!

2lber forgt

9?ur nicbt

^cr)

rot fte toeber bir,

mein 33ruber,

Rod? afi, noa? ber $affe f<f>enfen.

2Benn' ba nur tore! ba*

Sittalj

Unb
975
Slucb,

mer/r bergleta?en.

bas

ift

in ber

affe ftebn geblieben,

23a3 bu mir einmal ausgeworfen, ift Seit roenig 2Ronben ftebn geblieben.
2=&afi
alles.

Ric^t

Satabin
9}oa?
ntcfyt ?

SSirft

bu reben

t=afi
(Seit

aus
fte
. .

3lgt)pten toir
.

ba3 elb erwarten,

in Salabtn

980

at

Sittatj

SBoju

tfyn

boren?

l=|oft

9ft$t nur ni$t

33efommen

Sotobin

utes 3Jibcben
2Kit borgeftftoffen.
Stockt?

2Iucb.

beider

62

Stotljan ber SBeife.

Sll^aft

galten, euem
Seftritten.

2tuftt>anb

SDen ganzen of ganj allem

@atabin
>a! ba, ba
i[t

meine d)h)efter!

fie

umarmenb

ittttl)

985

Ser

I)atte,

bie ju tonnen, mid)

fo

reid;

emad)t, all bu mein 23ruber?

Straft
SBirb fd)on aud)

0
@r

bettelarm
felber
ift.

fie

toieber

mad;en, als

atobht
3>d)

arm?

ber SBruber

arm?

2Benn
990

E>ab

id;

mel)r? roenn Weniger gehabt?

@in $leib, (Sin <Sd;ft>ert, @in $ferb unb 9Bag braud;' id) mel)r? 2enn fann'3

inen

ott!

an bem

mir

fehlen?

Unb

bod),

2llsafi, lnnt id; mit bir fehlten.

ttta^

d)ilt nid)t, mein Sruber.

2lud) feine

2enn

id)

unferm SSater
!

orgen

fo

erleichtern lnnte

alabin
995
2l>
!

211)

Run fd)tgft bu meine $reubigfeit

!

SRir, fr mid) 2luf einmal mieber nieber unb lann nid>t3 fehlen. 2lber $er)It nid;t,

%fym 2Ba
1000

fehlet,
foC
id;

unb

in il)m

mad>en ?

un

allen.

agt,

ir)m,

2lu 2tgr/pten

lommt
liegt,

23ietteid;t

nod; lange

nicr)t.

Soran ba

2Beifj ott.

ift

bod; ba nod; attel rul)ig.

3roetter &ufjug.

3 ,Deiter

auftritt.

63

2(bbrecben, einjiebn, fbaren, mit! id> gern,

2Rir gern gefallen Iaffen, tr>enn es mid,

SBIofj

micb

betrifft,

1005

darunter
Gin

leibet.

ocb
ift

blo micb, unb niemanb fonft

mas fann bas madben ?

^pferb,

Gin $Ieib, Gin Scbmert

mu

id>

bocb baben.

Unb meinem ort

aud nicbt* abjubingen.

^bm
9Jtit

g'ngt fdion

fo

meinem erjen.

mit menigem genug, Stuf ben berfdmjj

1010

-on beiner $affe, afi, batt' id; fe^r erecbnet.

berfdmjj ?

Sagt

felber,

06

^br mid)
2lcid>

nid;t httet fbiefjen, roenigftens

broffeln Iaffen, roenn auf berfcbu

ergriffen

3$
1015

bon eud; mr'

!

morben.

$>a,

9fuf Unterfd;Ieif

bas mar ju roagen.

Salabin

2a macben mir benn aber ?

93orerft
bei

onnteft

9htn,

bu

niemanb anbern borgen, al

Bittatt

Sei StttabJ
2Brb'
JJcir

id;

biefeS 2?orrecbt,
2ftir

ruber,

fyahtn

nebmen

Iaffen ?

bon

ib,

m?
id;

1020

2lud> nocb befteb' icb brauf.

%lo& bin

auf

2>em Jrodnen boHig

nicbt.

2olobin

$a
efy,

feblte

nod;!

fftur

bllig nicbt

ef> gleicb, mad>' 2lnftalt, afi!

iftimm

auf bei roem bu fannft! unb mie bu fannft!

borg', berfbrid;.

Jlux, afi,

borge nid;t

64
1025

SRatljan ber Seife.

Sei benen, bie ia) Senn borgen reia) gemalt. 33on biefen, mchte mieberforbern fyeifjen. eE> ^u ben eigigften; bie Serben mir

%m

liebften
il>r

leiten.

enn
in

fte

miffen

tt>or)I,

2Sie gut

etb

meinen >nben

mucfjert.

Straft
1030
%<fy

fenne beren leine.

itttt^

@ben
9ftir

fttt

ein,

gehrt $u fyaben, afi, bafs

Sein $reunb aurcfgefommen.

2H=aft
Betroffen

^ 2er

,mar'

benn ba?
tttalj

greunb? mein $reunb?

Sein
2tl=#afi

fyoa;gebrief'ner

$ube.

etorief'ner

^ube?

^oc^ oon
ittal)

mir?

1035

Sem ott Wi) benft be februdfe nod^ rec^t mobX be Su felber bia; oon ifym bebienteft bem ein ott oon allen tern 2elt
biefer

einft

Sa

fleinft'

unb grte

urteilet fyaht.

fo

in

botfem Wla^

2H=afi

1040

%<$)

Sagt' benn bamit?

icb"

fo?

2Ba meint'

tttal)

Sag

flemfte,

9teia?tum.

Unb

Sa

grte, 2Bei^eit.

3roeiter Huf$ug.

3^"*"

auftritt.

65

I=afi

SBkf bon einem ^uben?

3?on einem

^uben

btt'

icb,

ba gejagt?

Sirtal}

a3

E>tteft
?

bu bon beinern Nathan

nicft

efagt

^a
1045

fo

bon bem

W\x

ber

bo* gar
roieber

nitft bei.

abjbaftig

bom 5?atban

#iel

35er

beim gefommen? QU bod; gar fo fcbjecfyt mit ib,m nicbt ftebn. an$ recbt, ben nannt' einmal bas 3SoIf ben 23eifen! Den 9tod>en au*.

5P enblidj Bo mag '3

Stalj

en hieben
1050

nennt es

ifyn

3t mebr als

je.

2>ie

ganje Stabt
tr>a

erfcfyallt,

2Ba

er fr oftbarfeiten,

fr Scbfce,

@r

mitgebradrt.

9U=afi 9iun, ift' ber 9teicbe roieber,

Sc

roirb's aucb

roebl ber 22eife roieber fein.

3ittalj

25a meinft bu, aft, roenn bu

biefen angingft?

1055

Unb

roa bei ibm?

fennt ibj ibn.

Tod borgen? bergen Seine SSei^eit

roobl nicbt
!

;$a,

(rr

3ft eben, bajj er niemanb borgt.

ctttalj

u
emacfyt.

baft

3Kir fonft bod; ganj ein anber 33ilb bon ib,m

66

Ration ber Seife.

2U=aft

3ur
1060

-ftot

ioirb

er

eud;

2aren borgen.
!

elb

aber, elb
freilie

elb nimmermehr
brigeng,

ift

in $ube
23iel

fte'g nicfyt

$uben

giebt.

@r

fyat

23erftanb,

er roeifj
er

$u
1065

leben, fpielt gut <&<fyad).

od)

jeicr/net

3>m <3d>led)ten fid) nid;t minber, 3Son allen anbern $uben au.
2luf ben nur redjmet
nidjt.

)en

aU im uten
Sluf ben,

Slrmen giebt

@r

jtoar,

unb

giebt ielleicfyt trotj

biel,

alabin.
gan^ fo gern,

Benn fdjon

nidjt ganj fo

boct)

od) ganj
1070

fo

fonber 2tnfer)n.

3>ub'
alles
ift

unb

@r/rift

Unb
$r/m

-JRufelmann unb ^arft,

ein.
ittal>

Unb

fo ein

3Rann

alobtn
SOBte

fommt
.
.

e3 benn,

afj

id)

tton biefem

tarnte
Bittafj

nie gehrt ?

er

follte

em
1075
Ric&t

borgen? nicr)t alabin, ber nur fr anbre braucht,

nid)t
ftcr,?

alabin

5=$afi

a
en
@r
\

fer)t

nun

gleid)
!

ganj gemeinen ^uben

auf eben
!

laubt

ben 3>uben iuieber,

mir'3 bod;
!

ift

eud) fo etferfcfytig,
i)

1080'

n n 1 1, ba neibif d; $>ebe 2 er 2Belt gefagt toirb, 50g' er lieber ganj Mein. 9hir barum eben leifyt er feinem, amit er ftetl u geben f;abe. 2Beil

Bo

t>

in

3roeiter aufjug.

Xritter auftritt.

67

ie

2Rilb'

eflligfeit

ihm im efetj geboten, bic ibm aber nid)t geboten, macbt

2)ie 9JiiIb' ibm ju

1085

bem
3BeIt.

ungeflligften

efeUen auf ber

eraumer 3eit
2Rit ibmt

groar bin i) feit wenig bern ?yu gefpannt, bo) benft nur nicr/t, bajj
*

ic

3b/m barum nicbt erectjtigfeit erzeige. Gr ift ju allem gut, blojj baju ni#t,
1090

Slojj baju roabrlid) nicbt.

%<fy

toitt

aucb gleid>
.

9?ur get>n, an anbre Jt)ren Hopfen

$>a

Seftnn' icb micf; fo eben eines 2Rob/ren,

er
2Bae

reicb

unb

geijig

ift.

^cb;

9er)',

icb;

geb/.

Utalj
eilft

bu, aft?

3alabin
Safe ibn
!

lafe

ibm

Dritter auftritt.
Stttal).

Salabin.

Sirta^

it
1095

6r

bocb, al3 ob er mir nur gern entfme

b/eijjt

2Ba*

bae

Setrogen, ober

at mcbt'
?

er roirf lid)

fi)

in

i^m

er uns"

nur gern

Setrgen ?
Satobtn

^a
1100

2Bie? ba fragft bu micb? ^cb roeife faum, toon roem bie Siebe mar, unb bore
v

95<m euerm ^uben, euerm JJatb/an,

fyeut'

3um

erftenmal.

68

Nathan

ber Seife.

itttt^

Sft'3 mglid)? baft ein

25ir fo toerborgen blieb,

Kann

bon betn e
>at>ib

r)eif}t,

@r

fyabe

SalomonS unb
unb
toiffe

rber

rforfcfyt,
1105

beren Siegel bur$

2lu ir/nen bring' er bann on $eit

5Die unermefjlidben ^etcfytmer

@in md)tige3 gef)eime3 SBort ju lfen? u 3e^ S an

2)en ag, bie leinen minbern Duett verrieten.

afabtn

at
1110

feinen SReicfytum biefer

5Rann au rbern,

maren'3

fid^erlict)

nirf)t

3Rict;t

25abib rber.
!

SalomonS, Darren lagen ba

Segraben

ittalj

Ober

$femitf)ter

Slucfy

3ft feine SfoicbtumS Duette

2Beit unerfcr)pfli$er,
1115 3Sott

roeit

ergiebiger

aU

fo

ein

rab

SRammon.
alabtn

SDenn

er

r)anbelt,

tte

itf)

r)rte.

3ittn()

ein Saumtier
)ur$
alle

treibt
;

auf allen Straften,

gie?t

Sften

feine

^n
1120

allen >fen.

2)a<

Sdnffe liegen fyat mir moI)l ei)

2tl=^afi felbft gefagt unb oll (gntjcfen

hinzugefgt, mie

groft,

mie ebel biefer

fo

Sein greunb anmenbe, mag 6r $u ermerben fr ju Hein

injugefgt, mie
frei

flug unb emfig

nid)t aa^te;

r>on

Vorurteilen

Sein
1125

eift, fein erj mie offen jeber

ugenb,
fei.

Sie

eingeftimmt mit jeber Sdjmnljeit

3roetter ufjug.

Sritter auftritt.

69

SaJabin

Unb

ifet

fbrad) afi bocf> fo ungehrife,

3c

falt

bon

ib/m.
Sittalj

alt nun toobl

2113
r>alt'

nicb/t;

berlegen.

er 's

Unb
1130

roott'

fr geffyrlia), tyn ju loben, ilm unberbient bocf> aucb nitf>t tabeln.

roirflia?

2Sie? ober ror' e3

fo,

bajj felbft

2)er 33efte feine! $olfe feinem SSoIle

9^icf>t

ganj entfliegen lann?

bafc toirflia;

fta?

2ll=afi feine! #reunb bon biefer Seite Sei bem, h>ie ifym 3u fd?men fytte?

roolle!

1135

SDer ;$ube
2(l

fei
ift

^ub',

mebr ober weniger er nur reicb, genug fr un!

Satabtit

roift ifym

aber boa? ba eine mit

eroalt nia^t nebmen, Sd?roefter?

2ttta$

^a, roa!
Sei
1140

fyeifjt

eroalt? 9Kit ^eu'r unb Sa^toert? 9kin, nein, 2Sa braucbt e3 mit ben Stfjroaa^en fr eroalt,
bir

2U

ibre

Scbrorfie?

omm

bor

ifct

nur mit

3>n meinen aram, eine Sngerin

3u
8
1145

fyren, bie ia)

reift
ia)

geftern erft gefauft.

bielleitfit

inbe bei mir

ein 3(nfa^tag,

en

auf biefen 9iatfyan fyaU.

$omm!

70

SRatljan ber SBeife.

Vierter auftritt.
cene: SSor bem aufe beS Ratljan,
SRerfia

n>o e

an

bte

^atmen

flt.

unb ftatfjan fommen

fy>rau.

tfjnen

aja.

JRet^a

Sfyr b/abt euef/ fefyr bertoeilt,

mein

Sater.

@r

2irb

faum

noeb;

meb/r u treffen fein.

matyan

9hm, nun,
2enn
b;ier,

b;ier

untern

$0$
"50

anbertnrts.
bort
nicr)t

ei

Carmen
tfct

fcfyon

rticr>t

nur

rufyig.

me^r,
!

ieb,

mmt
-

3)aja auf un ju?

JRedja

<Sv n

ie
garxj
getoifj

roirb

berloren fyaben.

Kotfym

cm

,. 2Bob,l nicr,t.

^
gefa>inber tommen.
gefeb/n
.

ie mrbe ie

fonft

f>at

un

roob/I

noeb,

nicr)t

9iecf)a

~. te un.
Watyan

9hm
Unb

fiebt

boppelt
!

ifyre

dritte,

ieb!

"55

ei

borf;

nur

rut)ig

rufyig!

9Boatet i^r
2Bofyl eine ocb,ter,
bie
b;ier

rub/ig

mre?

3roeiter tfofjug.

Vierter auftritt.

71

Sieb unbefmmert
$r;r

liefce,

treffen Sobltbat

geben fei?
lieb,

%t)t Seben

ba3

ifyr

nur

So
1160

weil

fte

e eud> juerft erbautet.

Kttyu

3^
9tucr)

mcbte bicb
roenn
icf;

nicf/t

anbers, al bu
bafc in betner
ficf;

bift,

tofjte,

Seele

anj

etroag anber nocb

rege.

ffiedja

2Ba,
gjietn QSater ?

Nathan
$ragft bu micb? fo fd)cfytem micf)? ^ nnern vorgebt, ift
2ajj e feine

2a audb in beinern
1165

Natur unb Unfcbulb.

ir macben.
Jftr,

Sorge
ftur

mir macfyt es

feine.

SSerfprtcf mir, roenn bein er$ bernebmlicber Sicr) einft erflrt, mir feiner Snfcbe feinen

3u

bergen.
tedja

cfyon bie SRglicfyfeit, mein erj

1170

@ucf>

lieber ju berr/tfen, macfyt micr;

gittern.

Britta
9ttcbt mer/r f/iertoon
!

3)a ein fr allemal

ift

3ft

abgetan. a
r/ier

ja

aja.

9tun?

9tocb roanbelt er

untern Jahnen, unb

-ftauer

2Birb gleich
1175

um
er!

jene

fommen.

Sefyt,

3) et

fmmt

JKcdia

2tb

unb

fdteinet

unentfcbloffon,

2of>in?

ob weiter?

ob fyinab?

ob redjtS?

Db Im!*!

72

Nathan

ber SBeife.

iftein,

nein, er mattet ben EBeg

um3

lofter

eroifj nod?

Vorbei.

2Bag

fter,

unb bann mufj

'3?

er fyier

gilt

Me#a
5Re$t! red)t!

aft
S35ie

bu ilm fa)on

n8o efprocfyen? Unb

roie

ift

er Ijeut?

immer.

(So macfyt nur, bafj er eud)

2Birb.

J?xer

nidjt

gemar/r

tretet mefyr jurd.

er)t lieber ganj

hinein.
9hir einen 33 lief noefy!
2)ie

2lr/!

bie

>ec?e,

mir

ifyn

ftier/lt.

ommt! fommt! er
1185

SSater f/at
fier/t,

anj
)ajj

recfyt.

$;r)r

lauft efafyr, roenn er

euefy

auf ber teil' er umfer)rt.

Berlin

2ty!

bie

ecfe!

Watf)an

Unb fommt

er plttfia*)

bort au<3
er

ifyr

fyerbor,
fer/n.

lann

er

anberl

nicfyt,

mufj

euefy

3)rum

gefyt

bod> nur!

ommt
1190 2lu bem mir
fie

fommt!

$cf> roeifj ein ^enfter,

bemerfen fnnen.
)Hcd)a

^a

33eibe hinein.

3roeiter Slufuig.

fnfter Auftritt.

73

fnfter Huftritt.
<Ratl>an
un*> baib darauf ber

3:empelljert.

atJjan

gaft
gjiicft

fd>eu'

icb,

mia? be SonberlingS.

gaft madJt

feine raube 3;ugenb ftufcen.

botf>

Saft

gin ^en|d^

einen Sienfcben fo erlegen

2oU machen
1195

fnnen!

>a!

er

fmmt.

Sei
ib,n

ort!

gtn Jngling

rte ein 9ttann.

%$ mag

tr>ob I ;

guten, trofc'gen lief, ben pratten ang! 2)ie cfrale fann nur bitter fein, ber ern

en

3ft' fta^er nicbt.

SBerjeifyei,

93o

fab'
. . .

irf

bod> bergleicben?

ebler granfe

Xempetljerr

9Bai
Nathan

erlaubt
lempetfjerr
1200

23a, 3ube? roas?

ftatfjan

a
Cuti)

ia?

micb unterfteb,',

anjureben.
Sempeltjerr

ann
iftur

iays roebren? 2)oc$

furj.

^atf)an
SSerjiebt,

unb

eilet

nidt

fo

ftolj,

Kid>t fo eraStli* einem 3Jiann boriiber,

en

ibr auf eroig eud>

erbunben

fyabt.

1305

2Bie bas

Sempelljerr
2tb, faft errat' icb
'.

liefet ?

$br

feib

74

Statin

bei-

SBeife.

%fy

Ijet^e

yiafyan, bin beg 2Rbtf)en 93ater,

$)a eure rofcmut au bem geu'r gerettet,

Unb fomme

Xempell)err

2enn ju bauten,

fpart'3

$$

l)

a &'

Um
1210

biefe leinigfett beg

tel
feib

S)anfe fdjon

u
2#r

erbulben muffen.

33ottenb

tb,r,

mir gar

nidj>t<

fa^ulbig.

2Buf$t'

i)

benn

SDafj biefe 9ftbd)en eure Stocfyter

@
1215

ift

ber Tempelherren $flid>t,

mar? bem erften

Sern

SBeften beizubringen,
fefyn.

beffen 9?ot

ie

-Kein Seben

mar mir ofynebem

ern,
elegenfyeit,

$n
@
1220

biefem SCugenbltde
itf)

lftig.

efyr gern ergriff

bie

fr ein anbre 2ehtn in bie orange

3u fd)lagen, fr ein anbreS a Seben einer ^bin mre.

Nathan
rofs unb abfa^eulia)

menn'
rofe!
bie

au$ nur

od?

Senbung

Ifjt

id) benfen. id)

r)inter

SDie befd)eibne

rpe fluttet

ba

2t&fct)eulicr)e,

1225

2tber menn 33emunbrung au3umetd)en. @ie fo ba Opfer ber Skmunberung

Serfdjmb,!,

um

ber

ma
?

ie minber

fr ein Opfer benn berfdmifyt

SRttter,

menn

ifyr

fyier

nicr)t

fremb,

Unb

nirf)t

gefangen mret, mrb'

nid)t fragen,

id)

eud)

0
1230

breift

agt,

befehlt,

momit

$ann man eu$ bienen?

Xetttyet|m

3$t?

3Kit nichts.

3citer 2luf$ug.

fnfter auftritt.

75

Nttra

3$
@in reifer -Kann.
Icmpcl^crr

bin

Ter
Wlix nie ber beff're 3;ube.
v

reiaVre

gubc

toar

Jcatt)an

Trft

ir/r

bertn

Tarum
@r

niaSt nfcen,

roa3

bem ungeachtet

Seff'res" E>at ? mcfyt feinen 9teicr/tum nfcen?

Xempetljerr
1235

9?un gut, ba3 roitt id) aud> Um meines Mantels hntten

-

nict/t

ganj berreben,

nicbt.

Sobalb

35er ganj unb gar berfdiliffen, roeber Stidt)

gefce lnger Balten roitf, fomm' idt) borge mir bei eua? ju einem neuen, lud) ober elb. Sefyt nicfjt mit etn fo finfter! yiod) feib ii)t ficber, nod) ift'< nitf>t fo toeit
ttodj

Unb

1240

9Jiit

ibm.

^br f&
s

er

ift

fo

jiemlicr)

nodb,

^m
1245

6tanbe.

Jiur ber eine $ibfel ba

berfengi.
Jocr/ter

at einen garft'gen gledf, er ift Unb ba befam er, als ict) eure
25ur$s' geuer trug.
Warfjan
bet nact)

bem

3U>fe greift

unb

tljn

betrautet

Tafc
fo
s

ift

bod) fonberbar,

ein bfer glecf, bafj fo ein

ein beff're

Sranbmal
als"

$em
1250

lRann

3"9"i^ "bet,

ein eigner Scunb.

Ten

glecfen

^cb mcbt \ba fffen gleich

beleibt
!

21b,

^d)

tf>at

e3 ungern.

76

Ratljan ber SBeife.

Xempelfyetv

2a?
matyan
Sine b,rne
fiel

barauf.

Xtmpttytvv

@r

l)at

ber rotofen mefyr.

^ut (Salb

nichts!

aber fngt

W\d)

btefer

$ub' an gu

toertoirren.)

9?at^ott

2Br'i

3#r
1255

h?or>l

fo

gut,

unb

frfncftet

euern Hantel

Slua^ einmal

meinem 3Jlba)en?
2a bamit?

2lud) tt)ren 9ftunb auf biefen

%U

ju brcfen;

SDenn eure $niee felber gu umfaffen,

2nfa)t
fie

nun

toofyl

bergeben.

empelf|err

3ftr
1260

t>eifcet

Raty an

etjt eure 2orte

$d> bin betreten

fetjr

2lber,
9?atb, an

2lber,
fefyr

SttterbingS

ir>r

gut

^ube
ifyr
. .

fefyr

fbifc

idf>

bth

Nathan
teilt
2lutf)

unb
t)ter

berftettt
eudf>

euer;,

toi

toottt.

5$ finb'
51t

au.

Um
1265

r/flidj)er

ju fein.

S)a

$r/r toart ju gut,

-Jibcfyen,

bieber,

ganj

efb;!, ber toeiblia^e efanbte ganj

ienftfertigfeit, ber

$ater

toeit

entfernt

$b,r trugt fr ifyren guten

^lofyt it)re
2lutf)

tarnen orge,

Prfung,
id)

flofyt,

bafr banf

eua;

um

nia^t ju fiegen.

3roeiter ufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

77

Jcmpclfierr

1270

3#r

hnfjt,

toie

3<$ mu geftebn, Semtoetberren benfen fllten.

Watten
9Rur Semelberren
?

feilten
fo

fe

unb

blojs

eil e
3<b

bie

CrbenSregeln

gebieten?
roeijj,

toetfe,

tote

gute ^Jienfcben benfen,

Tap
1275
Jtit

alle

i'nber gute 3Jienfcben tragen.

Tempelherr
Unterfcbieb
beer?

boffentlicb?

atfatt

^a
2tn #arb', an

toobt,

Reibung, an eftalt
Tempelherr

berf aneben.

2Iucb hier balb mefyr, ha Ib weniger,

9?atf)an

aU

bort.

TO
Ter
1280

biefem Unterfcbieb i^'S niebt roeit

grojje 9)tann

fyer.

brauet berall

biel

Soben,

Unb
<Sicb,

mebrere, ju nc&j ge^ftanjt, jerfcfylagen

nur
fieb

bie

&fte.

Mittelgut, toie

toir,

ginb't
9tnx
fftut

bingegen berall in Stenge.

ber eine niebt ben anbetn mfeln.

mu mu

ber norr ben ftnuppen bbfcb, ertragen.

ftdj

1285

3iur mujj ein ibfelcben

nia^t benneffen,
entfdjtoffen.

3>a| e* allein ber Grbe niebt

Sebj

rDot)t

gefagt

ocb

Tempelherr
fennt
ilj>r

aueb ba3 93oIf,

)a biefe ^cenfcbenmfelet juerft

etrieben?
1290

Bifet ibj,

iatban, toelcbeS 3?olf

uerft ba auertt>blte SBoH neb nannte?

2Bie? roenn

icb

biefei 25olf

nun, jtoar

nicfyt

bafjte,

78
2)od)
3Rtrf)

SRat^on ber SBeife.

Wegen
nirf)t

feines tolles gu

entbrerf;en fnnte ?
Gr/rift
fei

)en es auf
1295
5ftur

unb

fein
irf),

ott
ein

ber rechte

beraten, SJiufelmann ott $$r

!

feines toljeS, ererbte,

ftufct,

SDafj

Gr)rift,

ein empelr/err,
bie

fo

rebe?

3enn

l)at,

unb Wo
311

fromme

Raferei,

S)en beffern ott

r/aben,

biefen beffern

er ganzen
13c

Selt als beften aufjubringen,

ficr)

$n
25ie

ifyrer

frf)Wrjeften eftalt

mefyr
fyter,
.

ejeigt, als tner, als it$t?

2Bem

Wem
.

i|t

rfmppen

nirf)t
!

om

ei

blinb, roer Will

lafjt

2Utge fallen
SBergefjt,

SDodj
gefagt,

Was

irf)

Unb

mict)

nti

gefjen.

9Jatl)an

a!
1305

^fyr Wtjjt mcr)t, Wie

3$

nun

wirf)

an

eurf)

brngen Werbe.
!

2ir muffen, muffen $reunbe fein

9Jtein

toiel

fefter

$ommt,

$erarf)tet

SoH

fo

fefyr

ir/r

wollt.

Sir

f>aben beibe

UnS
1310

unfer SSoII nid;t auSerlefen.

inb
unb >ube,
eurf;

2Bir unfer BoK?

2BaS

Reifet
er/er

benn oll?

inb

<5^>rift

unb $ube
!

<SJ>rtft

Wenn icr) einen mefyr in 211) bem eS g'ngt, ein 9ftenfrf) efunben E>tte,
2llS 9Jlenfrf) ?

3u

fyeifjen

Sempcjerr

3a,
)aS babt
1315
ifyr
!

Sure

bei ott,

baS
!

anb

r)abt tyr,
i^rf;

9?atf>an!

frfjme mirf;

Surf)

einen 2lugenblirf oerfannt ju r/aben.

Unb

irf)

bin ftolj barauf.

dlux baS

emeine

SSerfennt

man

feiten.

3eiter Stufjug.

ecfjflcr auftritt.

79

emj>eHjerr

Unb ba Seltene
SSergit

man

fcbroerlid).

-iftatfyan,

ja,

SBir muffen, muffen greunbe werben.

Wntfiait

1320

Gs fcbon. Unb ab
!

ie
toetcfy

inb
mirb
fia)

meine

Recfca
fcf>Iie^t
fie

freuen

eine beirre

icb,

meinen

S3Iicfen

auf

$ennt 2Ser
nicr>t

^ crne

nur

erft

Xempenjerr
^d) brenne bor Verlangen.
2ru3 euerm >aufe?
3ft'3

ftrjt

bort

tb,re

2)aja?

Nathan
1325

3 a h)obl.

(So ngftlidt) ?

Sempejerr

Unfrer 9tea^a
SDocb,

ift

nichts begegnet?

5ed)fter auftritt.
SMe
33

or igen, unb 2iaja

etlifl.

aja
gfatfyan!

^at^an!

Hut'
aja
3Serjeibet,
ilflufj

ebler bitter, baf? icb

euer)

unterbrechen.

Wat&an
9iun, toas tft'S?

80

Stottern ber SSeife.

XentpeUjerr

28a
25er

ift'S?

er ultan
1330

fyat

gefdiidt.

ultan

will

@ud> fpredten.

ott, ber ultan!

Nathan
gjlid^ ?

ber

ultan?

wirb begierig fein, u fefyen, toa

9ieue mitgebracht,

3$

ag'

nur, e

fei

9tod)

wenig ober gar nichts auSgepadt.

Will eud) fpred)en, nein, er mitt nichts feigen, unb balb, fobalb ifyr fnnt.

Rein,
1335

Sud)

in ^erfon,

3$

Werbe lommen.

Watljatt

efy nur Wieber,

gel)

Ritter, Rc^mt ja nid}t bel auf, geftrenger ber ultan ott, Wir finb fo belmmert,

m%

)od) rei.

Slogan

$a

Wirb

fid?

geigen,

efy nur, gefy!

Siebenter auftritt.
9latf)an unb ber Xempeltjerr.

Xempe(f)err
1340

lennt tyx

\fytt

nod) md)t?

id)

meine, oon

Berfon.

Wat^att

en alabin?

Rod; nid)t.

$d) tjabe

3roeiter 2ifjug.

Siebenter auftritt.

81

$fyn nid)t bermieben,

ntct)t

gefacht ju rennen.
toiel

3)er allgemeine EWuf fbrad)

ju gut

Son
1345

ihm, bafj

id)

nicbt

2IlS fefyn.

2>od)

nun

lieber

glauben rootfte, roenn anberi bem fo

. .

ift

&at

er burd)

Sparung

eurei Sebeni

Xempelljerr

>em allerbingS
3a?
leb',
ift

ift

fo.

2)a3 geben, bal

fein efd)enf.

Nathan
2)urd) ba er mir

1350

in bereit, breifad) Seben fdjenfte. 2>ie3 at aCfe jroifd)en un bernbert, b,at

5Rit
Wlxtfy
ein<

ein

Seil mir umgeworfen, ba

Unb @r mir
1355

$aum, feinem Sienft auf eroig feffelt. faum, fann id) ei nun erwarten, roai
juerft befehlen rotrb.
!^d)

bin

bereit ju allem, bin bereit u)m ju

efteljn, bafj id)

el euertroegen bin.

Xempclljerr
%lod)

bah

id)

felber

)m

nief/t

banfen fnnen,

So
1360

oft icb

aud) ir/m in ben 2Beg getreten.

id)

$er Ginbrud, ben

2Ber
ob er

auf ifm maebte, fam meiner gar erinnert. einmal roenigfteni,

(So fd)nett, ali fd)nell er roieberum berfd)rounben.

roeijj,

ftd)

Unb

bennod) mujj er, Sid) meiner nod) erinnern,

um

mein Sd)idfal
id)

anj
1365

ju entfd)etben.

Dftcbt

genug, bafj

Stuf fein efyeifs nod) bin,

9?od) leb', id) mujj
91

mit feinem

2iIIen

nun aud) bon

il)m erroarten,

a$

treffen SBitten id; ju leben b/abe.

82

9?atfjan

bei-

SBetfe.

Wntlimt
9}id)t

anberg;

um

fo

mefyr

roitt

@<S fat
1370

ielleid)t

ein 2ort,

3U
^df)

kommen,
eile

menn,
0

2tnlafj giebt.

td; nid)t fumen. ba mir, auf eur^

Erlaubt,
fefyn

erjeifyt

menn

aber

mir eu)

Sei uns?
Sempetyerr
balb
16)

barf.

tJZatyan

0
^empelfjerr
3lod)
fyeut'.

balb

iEr

mottt.

SRatljan

Unb

euer -iftame?

muf$

icfy

bitten.

Kein 9?ame mar

^empelljerr
ift

Gurb

toon

taufen.

Gurb

1375

Son taufen

taufen taufen
?

Nathan

Xempenjerr

Sarum
@udj>

fllt

ba

fo

auf?
33on taufen

ja!

2)e efd)Ied)t

inb

roofyl

fcfyon

mehrere

^emjjclfjcrr

D
9Jiein
1380
2)odj>

fyier

maren,

ier faulen be ef)Ie)t f)on mehrere.

Dfyeim

felbft

mein
fidt)

33ater

mi

id)

fagen

marum

fdjrft

euer 33lia* auf mi)

$e

mefyr

unb mefyr?

3eiter ufjug.

Siebenter auftritt.

83

atfiatt

C
3<5 u<$ ju fefm ermben?

nicbts!

nichts!

3ie fann

$cmpe(f)err

Drum
$jd)
eurf)

oerlafj

juerft.

er
als"

33Iicf

bes"

orfa;ers fanb

9ticbt

feiten

mehr,
ifm,

er ju finben ronfdjte.
Safct bte eit allmhlich

1385

%$
Unb

frrfit'

>TCart>an.

nia;t bte

Neugier, unfre $unb|'cbaft machen.

6t
gefit.

J?ttttjOtt

ber ifjm mit Srftaunen ntcr)t

itacfjnefjt

2)er |yorfct)er fanb

finben ronfcbte."

feiten meljir,

aU

er

3ft es

^n
139

metner Seel' er

Iefe!

bocfy,

als ob

Babrlicb ja,

SDa8 fnnt' auch mir begegnen.

2Solfs 9Bu$3, 23oIf<

Jd>t aHein

ang, auch

feine

Stimme,

<So,

SoBfiratmen

fo,

roarf Bolf fogar ben

Hopf,
ftrict)

2Trug 2Bolf fogar ba <Sa>ert im 2lrm',

2BoIf

Sogar
1395

2(ugenbraunen mit ber >anb, leicbfam ba Reiter feines 33licf3 ju bergen.

bie
foIct)e
i

2Bie

tief
i

geprgte Silber boa?

fcfylafen
ftc

3u 3 e
anj
1400
^cr)

ten

n un

fnnen,

in 23ort,
recht,

ein

Saut

roecft.

bis"

3?on taufen

mitt
erft

ganj recht, ^ilnel unb ba balb genauer roiffen, balb.

Staufen.

9htt
N

jum Salabin.
?

^tcr)t

2)aja

9hm

2>od> roie? laufet bort

nh, er, 3)aja.

fo

fomm nur

84

SJattjan

bei-

SBcife.

2ld)tev auftritt.
S)aja.
91atl)an.

9t*tip*

2a gilt'S? nun
yiod)
1405

brcft'S

eucfy

betben fcfyon ba3

>e%

ganj tra anber ju erfahren, als 2aS alabin mir null.

^erbenft
^F>r fingt foeben
Jiit

ttjr'S

u)r?

an, fcertraulicfyer als beS

ilnn ju
toon

fpredjen,

ultanS

33otfd^aft

UnS

bem

$enfter fgeucfyte.
SRatljatt

9iun fo fag*
$r;r nur,
1410
bafj
fie

ifyn

jeben 2lugenblicf

rroarten barf.
etuifs? geiuifj?
flt^Ott
$tf)
2!ftidj)

fann

bo$ auf bi$

icf;

berlaffen,
bitte

SDaja?

ei

Stuf beincr ut,

2)id?
nict)t

bicfy.

(SS foll

gereuen.

2)ein eroiffen felbft

1415

-Kur <SoH feine 9te<fmung babei finben. %Im Serbirb mir nichts in meinem $lane.
(Srjljl'
3Jiit

unb frage mit

.
.

SBefcfyeibenfyeit,

Stcfyalt

Erinnern fnnt
SDenn
1420
fefyt!
itf)

2)ajj
%<fy

tf>r

bocfy

noa)
ifyr

erft

fo

toaS

gel)',

gefyt

nur aua).

glaube gar, ba fmmt

2l(=afi,

bom ultan
ab.

@in Reiter

33ot',

euer erroifa). est

3roeer 'urjug.

Neunter

luftritt.

85

Heunter Huftritt.
ftatljan. 9U
=

afi.

fya!

$u eud> rooUt'

icr)

nun eben

h)ieber.

Nathan
Jfll'S

benn
I

fo

eilig?

2a Verlangt
2=aft

er

benn

33on mir

2Ber?
alabin.

er )

fontm',

icr;

fomme.

3u roem? $um Salabin?

9iatf)att

3ct)icft

alabin

1425

2)icb

niefct?

$Ricf;? nein.

at

er

benn fc^on

gefebieft?

Nathan

^a

freilie

b/at

er.

Slt^aft 9?un, fo
9ittt^an
ift

el richtig.

2a? ioas

ift

riebtig?

2U=aft
2)aj$
.
.

.ott roei,

icr)

bin niebt fcbulb.

23a
icfy

bin mdt)t

f cbulb

bab

icr;

nicr/t

SSon eud> gefagt, gelogen,

um

es abjuroenben!

1430

2Sas cu^uroenben? roae

ift

richtig?

86

9?attan ber Seife.

afc

9iun

if>r

fein
eud).

efterbar geworben,

;tf)

Sebaur'

)od) mit anfebn mill

tcfe/3

nia)t.

$$
1435

on tunb' an, geb/, ifyr efyrt, roofyin, unb toifjt ben 9eg.
geb,'

fyabt

abt
bin

e fcfyon
ifyr

2)e 2eg< toa gu

beft eilen,

fagt;
e^

id)

$u
2ll
^j;

ienften.
tt>a
geb,',

gtetlicb,

mu

fc

me ^ r n

f e'

n'

ein ^acfter mit

fiti;

fcfyleppen fann.

fagt balb.

Sefinn'

bid>

bod),

2U s afi.

Seftnn'
1440

bitf),

bafj

irf)

noa; bon gar nichts meifj.

2Bal

fclauberft

bu benn ba?

3$r
leia) mit, bie Beutel?

bringt

fie

boa)

Watljan

Beutel?
9*un, ba elb,

>a

il)r

bem alabin

oorf^iefjen foUt.

yjot^on

Unb

weiter

ift

e niri;t?

SU^aft

3$
9Jttt

fottt'

el mot)l

anfebn,

roie

er

eutf)

toon

5tag u 3Tag
?

1445

2tul)blen Wirb big auf bie gefyen

ottt

'

@g toofyl mit anfetm, bafj $erfct)menbung auS er roeifen SERilbe fonft nie leeren feuern

0
2)ie

lange borgt, unb borgt, unb borgt, bi aua)

armen eingebornen 9}{ud;en

brin

3roeiter auf;ug.

Neunter auftritt.

87
ein,

1450

33err)ungern

93ilbet ibr

inetktdjt eucb
fei,

25er euer Selb bebrftig

SDoc^

ber merbe
?

euerm State

roor/l

aucr)

folgen

^a,
tr>a

@r

9iate folgen!

SBcmt bat Salabtn

?

1455

Sieb raten laffen

eben
itjt

2>enft nur,

Nathan,

mit ir)m begegnet.

fem?
9U=ajt

fomm'

irft

ju ir)m,

eben bajj er

S$aa)

efpielt mit feiner Sdi>refter.

yi\a)t

Sittab, fpielt

bel,

unb ba Spiel, ba3 Salabin

f.rf>on

Serloren glaubte,
1460

gegeben batU,

2>as ftanb noa? ganj fo ba. 3>db, fer;'(eucb/\r/in, Unb febe, bajj bas Spiel nocb, lange nia?t
Verloren.
attjan

@i

ba mar fr

bid)

ein

Junb

@r

burfte mit
rcfen,

iftur

bem $nig an ben 33auer wenn iaY3 auf ir)r Stfjad)

eua?

gteia)

1465

DZur jeigen fnnte

Watfjan

D
enn
2Bar
fo
fyin.

id)

traue bir!

9=#afi

befam ber

Unb ruf

ifm.

a enft

9tod)e

#elb, unb
id)

fte

afle3
!
.

mi
. .

itmi

nun

roeifen

Watt) an

6r @r
1470

ift

nid?t beiner

SReinung?

bort mirf gar ni&t an, unb wirft era;tlid? $5a ganje Spiel in klumpen.

88

9?att)an ber SBetfe.

3ft ba mglid;?

Unb

fagt,

er motte
etjjt

matt nun einmal fein;

@r motte!

ba fielen?

Nathan
d)ir>erlid>

rooM

eijjt mit

bem piele fielen.

Straft
Ieict)h>o^(

galt

feine taube 9hifj.

^ntliait

elb
H75

&ttt,

elb
gar

r)er

a
ftid;t

ift

ba

raenigfte.

StCCein

bid>

anjufyren! ber einen

fotcfjer

$unft
einmal

$on

2Bid;tigfeit bid) nicfyt

3u

fybren

beinen Stblerblid nia;t ju

!

93erounbem

ba, ba fd;reit
3(1 .Jpafi

um

9tadBe, nidj>t ?

1480

2ldj

mag ? $d)
id),
id) \fy

fag

eucfy

ba nur

fo,

bamit
ift.

3#r

feiert fnnt,

wag
bei

fr ein

$opf

er

$urj,

r)alt'

mit ifym ntd)t lnger au.

atten fdnnutj'gen
ifym
-IRor/ren

35a lauf

nun

>erum, unb frage, wer

1485

borgen will.

$d>, ber
<5ott

id;

nie fr mid;

gebettelt fyabt,

nun

fr anbre borgen.

Sorgen
fo

ift

SSiel beffer nid)t

aU

betteln,
nicfyt

Wie leiten,
ift,

Stuf 9ud)er leiten,

biel

beffer

1490

2U ftefylen. Unter meinen fyebern, an 35em ange, braud/ id) beibeg nicf)t, unb brause 2tm angeS, 2)a3 Serfjeug beiber nidtt ju fein.

3tt>eiter

Saftag.

?ieunttr auftritt.

89

3lm ange nur

ajj
1495

giebt's Sflenfcben.

ier feib ibr

$5er einjige, ber nocb )o rorbig mre,

er

am ange

lebte.

3ottt ibr mit

Sat ibm mit ein ben ^lunber ganj im Stiche, Um ben ec> ibm ju tbun. (rr bringt eucb nacb

Unb

nacb bocb brum.

3>cb

mr' bie $tacferei

eucb,

2luf einmal aus.

fc^aff*

einen elf.

$ommt

fommt

atljan

3cb backte jtnar, ba blieb un ja

1500

9?ocb

immer

brig.

2>oc, 2n=afi,
.
. .

mi

3ay

berlegen.

9Barte

berlegen?
Jcetn,

fo toaS berlegt

ficr)

nicfyt.

R*t*ca
9?ur bi

3cb bon bem Sultan roieberfomme, bi

y

$cb

2tbfcb,ieb

erft

er
1505

berlegt, ber fucbt

33eroegunggrnbe, nicbt ju brfen.

Sieb

2Ser
nicfyt

naH unb #a, ibm

felbft

ju leben,

Gntfcbliejjen fann, ber lebet anbrer Sfla'

2(uf immer.

SBo^l bnft.

ie 3Kein
roirft

ibj

mot!
23eg

gebt

toob,l

roie'S eucb,

liegt

bort,

unb eurer ba.

Kaf|i
1510

2H*afi

u
?

felbft bocb,

erft

ba SDeine

Sericbtigen

2Icb,

hoffen!
ift

)er Seftanb

3Son meiner $aff'

nicbt bei

3blen wert,

90

SRattjan ber SBeife.

Unb meine ^ecfmung

Sebt
tooI)l.
?(6.

brgt

ifyr

ober @ittaf>.

SWatfjatt

ifjin natfjfefjeitb

2>te brg'
1515

2te nenn'
>oa) einzig

icr)

irm

2tfber, guter, ebler )er toar^re Bettler ift

i$

unb

allein

ber toafyre nig!

nnbeni Seite ab.

SBoii einer

Dritter 2luf3iig.
(Erfter auftritt.
<2cene
:

3n

9Jatt)an Saufe.

Siecfca

un ^aja.

SEBte,

*:a\a, brcfte fiaS

mein ^ater aus?

3>d)

brf
flingt

a
1520

iljm

jeben Stugenblicf erwarten?"

niebt tuabr ?

(rr)cbeinen n?erbe.

2Bie
!

<Sinb aber

$on

toorbei

2ln bie berfloffenen ?

^cb
ta\a

aU nun,
Diel
21b,

ob er noer) fo balb

OCugenblicfe
roer benft

toifl

atiein

Jn jebem
r
n>irb

ntf|"ten

2iugenblid*e leben.
ifyn

bod; einmal fommen, ber

bringt.

1525

ber berronfdUen SotfdSajt toon

9iatfyan htte
glei;
ftct)er

bem Sultan!

enn ^$n

ofyne jxe

mit bergebra^t.

Unb
efommen,
1530

tttenn

er

nun

biefer Stugenblicf, roenn

benn

9tun meiner 2Bnf<$e rormfter, innigfter

rfet

ift,

roaS bann

roa bann ?

aja

2Sas bann?

ann

f>off*

icb,

bafc

aud> meiner 2nfcr)e rormfter

<SotI in

rfttung geben.

92

SRatljan ber SBetfe.

JRedja

9a mirb bann

$n
1535

meiner 33ruft an beffen teile treten,

ofyn'

3)ie fa)on Verlernt,

einen I)errftf;enben
u befynen ?

2unfd) aller 2nfd>e

211),

ficfy

9ftd;t3 ?

id;

erfcfyrede!

$aja
Sftein,

mein Sunfd) wirb bann

3(n be erfllten teile treten, meiner.

Dtein

lunfd),

bid)

in (Europa, bid; in

nben

$u
1540

miffen, weldje beiner

mrbig

finb.

)u

irrft.

2Ba

JHcdjo

btefen 2unfd) ju beinern maa^t,

bafj

>a nmlia^e

toerfyinbert,

er

meiner

$e werben fann. SDid; jiefyt bein 23aterlanb, Unb meinet, meines fottte mid) nicfyt galten?

n
1545

33ilb ber
nicfyt

deinen, ba in beiner Seele

fottte mefyr ermgen, unb greifen lann, unb fybren,

%lofy

berlofcfyen,

2tl bie id; 2)ie

fefm,

deinen?
Soja
perre
bid),

fo biel

bu miUft

2)e ipimmelS Sege finb bei

Fimmels 2ege.
bidt)

Unb
1550

toenn e nun bein fetter felber mre,

in

SDurd) ben fein Ott, fr ben er fmpft,

3)a Sanb,

bid)

ju

bem

SSolle fhren moHte,

hntrbeft ?

$r meldte bu geboren

9ied)a

$aja
2Ba
>u
fprtd)ft

bu ba nun

toieber,

liebe >aja!

fyaft

boa) toafyrlid; beine fonberbaren

Britta KsftBg.

Grfter auftritt.

93

1555

begriffe! Sein, fein Ott! fr ben er fmbft!"

25em

eignet

ott? toaS

ift

bas fr

ein Ott,

einem 2Renfd)en eignet? ber fr ftcb Unb mie toetf 2ftuf5 f mbfen {offen ?

Da

"Sian benn,
1560

fr meldten

(Srbflojj

man

geboren,

2enn man' fr ben nicfyt ift, 23enn mein 93ater eboren ?

auf
bieb

toelcbem
fo borte
!

man

2Bal tbat

er

bir,

mir immer nur mein lud

?

So
1565

toett

bon ibm als mglid? borjufbiegeln

er bir,

2Bae tbat
2)en
9Jtit

ben

Samen

ber Vernunft,
ftreute,

er

fo rein in

meine Seele

beine* Sanbe Unfraut ober 33(umen

Siebe, liebe 2)aja, gern ju mifd;en? nun beine bunten Slumen niebt

So
(Tr

null

2luf
1570
Jgd)

meinem Soben
felber
noch,

Unb

id?

mu^

bir fagen,

fhle meinen 23oben, menn

fo febn ihn
burrf)
f leiben,

Sie

fo

entfrftet,

So

ausgejebjt

beine 23lumen, fljle

3n ihrem
1575

2)ufte,

fauerffjem ufte,
!

Dttd) fo betubt, fo fchroinbelnb

ein
brum

ebirn

SP
2:ie

beffen mehr gewohnt. ftrfern Serben nicht,

rtid)t

3>d) table

bie il>n ertragen.

9hir faMgt er mir

ju,

unb

febon bein ngel,

9ie roenig fehlte, bafj er mid> jur Nrrin

emaebt
1580

3?ocb febm' id>

mieb bor

meinem

$?ater

er $offe!
$offe
?ur
fyier
!

Taja
!

2113 ob ber SSerftanb

*joffe
!

ju

auf e mre

^offe

Senn

idb

nur reben brfte

SDarfft

bu md?t?

94
2enn war

yiatijan

in

SBeife.

ia)

ntd^t

ganj Dfyr,

fo

oft

e bir

efiel, oon beinen laubenSfyelben mid?

1585

Bu

unterhalten?
ftet

a6'

ia)

ifyren

Staaten

SRicfyt %l\(f)t

Seiounberung, unb

ifyren

Seiben
^t)r

immer frnen gern

freilief)

gejottt?

laube

tfnen

mir ba ipelbenmfjigfte
3)oa) fo biel
trftenber

2tn Urnen nie.

1590

2ar mir

bie Sefyre, bafj

Ergebenheit

ott bon unferm 2Sb,nen ber ort Siebe SDaja, ganj nnb gar nicfyt abfngt. $>a3 b,at mein SBater un fo oft gefagt,

$n

darber
1595

r)aft

bu

felbft

mit ifym

fo

oft

icb,

einberftanben,

)u benn allein,

ebauet

marum untergrbft ma bu mit ifym jugleicb,

ift

Siebe 2)aja, ba

fein

efbrd), momit mir unferm ^reunb'

ntgegenfefyn.
1600
9Jtir

am
. .

beften

%x mia)

jtoar, ja

2)enn mir,
.

baran unenblid), ob aua) er $ommt e nidb,t an unfre Sfyre? ord), SDaja Senn er e mre fyora)
liegt
! ! !

^tDetter 2tuftntt.
SRedja.

aja

unb ber empelfjerr, bem jemanb bon

Sfyre ffnet, mit ben SBorten:

aufeen bie

9?ur
$Kedja
ffjrt

fyter

herein!

jitfammen, fafH

ift'

9Kein

ftdj,

unb

tuiH tljm ju gfsen falten

fetter,

af)

dritter Slufjug.

^weiter Auftritt.

95

Tempelherr
3>ie 3U bermeiben

Grfcbien

icb

blo fo fpt, unb bod>

Wtt
1605

$a 3 U
9ha

Zs toiff bcn ^en biefe3 ftoljen KanneS ctt noch einmal banfen, ntcbt bem 2Jcanne.
fo toenig,

2>et 9Raim roitt leinen $anf, roitt ihn He ibn ber 23affereimer mill, ber bei

em
1610

Sffen
liefe

fo

gefcbftig
liefe

ftcb

ertotefen.

Xer

ftcb

fllen,

ftcb

leeren,

mir
2lud) ber

fti?te,

bir nichts,

alfo aud? ber 2ftann.

JBarb

nun
td>

fo in bie

lut

r/tneingeftofeen,

a
1615

fiel

ungefhr ihm in ben 2(rm,

ungefhr, fo
roie

2>a blieb

ich

ein

gunfen
un3 beibe

2tuf feinem Rantel, ib,m in feinen 3trmen,

33is ir>ieberum, ich
meife

erausfcbmife au3 ber tut.

3u $u
1620

banfen
noch,

^n

(ruropa treibt ber

tueit

anbern

23a ba 2ein Sbaten. Jempelberren,

giebt e
fo

nicr)t

roa*,

SDie

muffen einmal nun

fyanbeln, muffen

2ie etroa* beffer jugelernte mnbe,

oroor/l au geuer, a

au * affer Bolen.

Jempelljerr
ber
fie

mit CMtaunen unb Unrufje bie 3eit ber berradjtet

D
1625

SDaja, SDaja!

23enn

in STugenblicfen

2)e

Kummers unb
anliefe,

ber alle, meine

Saune

icb. bel

roarum jebe 2:borbe,

ihr hinterbringen ?

ie meiner 39' entfuhr,

25as
biefe
ficb.

ju enrpfinblicf; rcr/en, SDaja.

beffer mich,

^ocb, roenn

bu nur on nun an
toittft.

Sei

tt)r

vertreten

96

Watljan bev SBcife.

%<$ benfe,
1630

Ritter,

^d) benfe
$r/r

nidt)t,

bafj biefe fleinen

eueb,

tadjeln,

an ba3 erj geroorfen,

))Jcri|a

ba

fefyr

efcfyabet b/aben.

2Bie?

ib,r

hattet

Kummer?

Unb
2tt

roart mit

euerm Kummer

geiziger

euerm geben?
Sempelljen:

1635

2ie

Unb

ute, b,o!be3 inb! meine eele jroiftfjen Sluge ift bod^ a mar ba 9Kbd>en Df>r geteilt
!

nid&t,

Kein, nein, ba
}d)
b/olte.

SDenn

mar

eS nid;t, ba
l)ttt

au bem $euer
2er

mer

bie gerannt
Ijfte

Unb au bem $euer

1640

Sluf mid) geroartet

groar
Sectio

n\a)t

geholt?

berftettt
fiefj

ber

Sd>red

Sauje, unter ber er, in 9ln[cf)aituitg

if)rer,

rcie erliert.

$d) aber finb'

ergleidjeu, bi
fie

euer)

nod; ben nmlichen.

lange

fortfhrt,

um

tfjn

in feinem 9tnftctuneu ju unterbrechen.

!Kun,

bitter, fagt

eroef en ?

un

boct/,
xa)

roo
aueb,

ib/r

fo

$aft brft'

fragen, roo

S^r

io feib?

Xempelljerr

%A) bin
1645
9ftcb/t

fottte

fein.

roo

tet)

bietteid)t

!Hcri)a

2Bo
2Bo
2)a
ib,r
ift

il)r

geroefen

2lud;

bielleidit

nidjt

fotttet

fein geroefen?

nid)t

gut.

Tritter Stufjug.

3roeiter auftritt.

97

lempdljerr
Stuf

auf
?

toie

r/eif$t

bcr 33erg

2Iuf Sinai.

Btft

Saf Sinai
Diun fann
1650
icf;

IQ

fa?n

juberlfftg boa;
roafjr
. .

einmal

Erfahren, ob e

TempeHjerr

2Ba? toaS? Db'3

toa^r,

a
SBor

nod? bafelbft bcr

Drt ju feb>,
.

too 9Jiofe3

ott geftanben, als

JRctfia

9?un bas

roof;I

nid^t.

Unb baon 3)enn too er ftanb, ftanb er bor Ott. Cb' roafyr, mir jur 'nge fdjion befannt. iyft

1655

W66)V

\)

nur gern bon eudj erfahren,

nicf/t

bajj

9Da$ ee bei roeitem

fo

mbfam

fei,

Stuf biefen SBerg hinauf ju fteigen,

erab?
1660

enn i$ Serge ba mar eftiegen 23a? ^# ^^ $ &on mir

febt,
'3

aU

fo

biel

noch,

bin,

juft
?

egenteil.
ri

9iun, bitter ?

eu

ab?

Sollt mia?

nicr>t

febn?
Icmpetljerr
Setf i$ euch Ijren null.
!)ied)a

eil

ihr mich roollt

merfen

Iaffen,

bafc

^br meiner Ginfalt lcbelt, bajj ihr ltf>elt, s 2ie \& eurf bocb fo gar nid>t 23ia)tiger3
1665

2?on biefem heiligen 33erg' aller Serge

3u

fragen iueifc?

9iia)t roaf/r?

98

9Jatt)an ber SBeife.

Sempeltjerr

muf?

3$

bod) eud; mieber in bie 2tugen fefyn.

it>r

2a3? 9cun fliegt

>a Sbeln
1670
ifyr?

fie

mtber? nun
nod)
erft

berbeifjt

mie

idj

in

dienen,

%n
mix
at

groetfel^aften
id)

dienen
fyr',

Iefen mill,

2Sa

fo

fagt
er fo

beutlid)

toerfd>meigt ?

it)r

fo
2tb,

toernefymlid)

5Red)a
fie

9ted)a
erft!"

2Bie

mafyr gefagt:

$ennt

nur

2er

b,

at ?

JRedja
toon

mem ?

eud) ba gefagt ?

SempeUjerr

ennt
1675

fie

-Kur erft!"

r)at

euer SSater mir gefagt,

9?on eud) gefagt.

Unb
%<fy

idj

ntdjt

etwa aud)?

benn

nidfyt

aud)?
empdf)crr
2tttein

mo
er

ift

er

benn?

2o

ift

benn euer Sater? ^ft

?

nod)

SBeim ultan

Media Dfyne

3 h c *f
>

e] t

$empell)err
%lo<fy,

nod)

ba?

1680

D
@r

mia) bergef?lid;en
fajmerlid) mefyr.

@r
.
.

9tein,

nein; ba

ift

mirb bort unten bei

gemifj.

2)em lofter meiner mrten, ganj

reb'ten, mein' \d), mir e ab.

geb/,
icb,

rlaubt!

3$

b,o!'

tyn

dritter ufjug.

dritter auftritt.

99

a
1685

ift

meine Sacf;e.

bleibt, bitter,

bleibt.

%a) bring' ibn unerjglic^.

Xempetljerr
D^ic^t
fo,

nidjt

6r

fiebt

mir

felbft
. .

entgegen,
.

9?icbt

eucb.

aju,
bei

er f nnte

leicht
.

roer roeifc ?

ur fnnte

bem Sultan

leicbt

ibr fennt

2)en Sultan nicbt

1690

efemmen
SBenn
\a)

fein.

laubt

leicht

in berlegenheit

mir, es hat efafyr,

nicbt

geb'.
Tertia

efabj? rcaS fr efabj?

Jempetfjerr

efabr fr mid>, fr
3tia)t

eucb,

fr ibn, roenn

ia;

fdileunig, fcfyleunig geb,'. b.

Dritter

auftritt.

9leda unb
ffledja

Ta ja.
2Ba
tfmt

So
1695

fcbnell?

23ae fmmt
Safjt nur,

ift

ba3,
fiel

$aja?

an? 2ae

)m auf?

2Bas jagt ifm?

lafjt.

^dt)

benf, e$

ift

etn fcf/Iimmes

3 eu^ en

3eia*en?

unb rooon?

aja
SDafj

etmas orgelt innerhalb.

@s

foa^t,

100

yiatljan ber Setfe.

Unb

fott

nid^t

berfod;en.
eud;.
Wcrfja

Safjt ifm nur.

9hm

ift'8

an

2a
1700

ift

an mir?

mirft,

2Bte

er,

mir unbegreiflich
33alb

nun fnnt

3$r ifym bie Unrul)' all bergelten, bie @r eurf) gemalt fyat. eib nur aber aud)
9?icf)t

aHju ftreng,

nid;t

attju rad)begierig.

9ied)a

2Bobon bu

fyrid)ft,

ba magft bu felber

tuiffen.

1705

Unb

feib

benn

ifyr

bereits fo rur)ig roieber?

)a bin

id>,

ja,

ba3 bin

\d)

$aja
3enigften3
eftefyt,
bafi
ifyr

eua) feiner Unrufy' freut,

Unb

feiner

UnnuV

banfet,

ma

iijr

i|t

SSon 9?ufy' geniejjt.

J)fcri)n

9Jtir

bHig unbewut!

1710

3)enn roa

idi>

fyd)ften bir geftefyen fnnte,

mief) felbft befrembet, 2Br', bafj e$ mia^ 2luf einen folgen trm in meinem ^erjen

roie

0
1715

eine

titte pltjlia) folgen fnnen.

ein

tootter
.
.

2tnbtid, fein efprd), fein Sfyun

.

>at mid;

aja
efttigt

fa>n?

Sritier ftufjug.

dritter Stuftritt.

101

<Ketf)a

%<f)

nun

nicbt

fagen, nein

efttigt, toiH
bei

toeitem nia;t

aja
SDen
fyeif&en

junger nur

gefllt.

Media

3iun ja,

2enn bu

fo

roittft.

%fy eben
JHecfja

ni)t.

@r
2Rir eroig teert, mir eroig toerter, al
1720

roirb

2Rein Seben bleiben, roenn

9ft$t
fticfyt

aucb,

fdjon mein

$ul

mebr

bei feinem bloen

fo

tarnen

roecbfelt,

mebr mein ers,

efdb>inber, ftrf er f ablgt.

2a3
0

oft id>

an ifm benfe,
fdjroatj'
icb,

fiomm,

1725

Somm, liebe 2)aja, roieber an ba $a auf bie Halmen ftebt.

aja
ift

^enfter,

er bocb,

9Sob,I nod) ni$t ganj gefllt, ber beie unger.

JRedja

9hm
fticfyt

toerb'
ifyn

tcb.

aucb,

bie

Jahnen

roieber feljm,

blo untern Jahnen.

aja
SDiefe

lte

eginnt

aucb,

roobl ein neue! gieber nur.

Werfj

1730

2a &'! ^d) bin

9iid?t

nid)t falt.
icb,

3$

fe$e ftmbjlicb,
fefye.

minber gern, roa3

mit 9htbe

102

9?att)au ber Seije.

Dierter auftritt.
@cene: ein 5IubienjfaaI in bem
^aiafte be

alabin.

Sa labin
SdlobtU im
<gier

unb Sittaf).

eretntreten, gegen bie Xfjre.

J>er,

bringt ben ^uben

fo balb

er

fmmt.

@r

fdt)eint

fi$ eben

nicfyt

ju bereilen.

8ittal)

@r mar
1735

aud>

it)or)I

nid)t bei ber

anb,

ntd)t

gleich

3 U finden.
olobin
(Scfyroefter
!

cfymefter

5ittal)

Xr)uft bu bocr)
2tl ftnbe bir ein Xreffen

bor.

atabiit

Unb ba3
3Jiit

Saffen,

bie

id)

nidjt

gelernt ju fhren.

3d9 fott mid) fteffen, fott besorgen laffen, oll fallen legen, fott auf Iattet3 fhren.
1740

2enn

fytt'

eternt?

ju fifdien, elb 2oju ? elb einem ^uben abjubangen, elb

i$ gefannt? ba Unb Um elb

fott
f leinen

baS

2So

fytt'

icf>

ba3

alles,

al>,

toojtt?
!

Um

elb,

$u
1745

folgen

Siften

mr'

id)

enblid)

ebradjt, ber ^leinigfeiten fleinfte mir

3u Waffen?
ittal)

^ebe leinigfeit, ju
Skrfcfymfyt, bie rcf)t fia),

fefjr

Sruber.

Xritter ufjug.

Vierter auftritt.

103

Salaiu
2cibcr toabr.

Unb
175

toenn

nun

biefer ^ube gar ber gute,

ift,

Semfinft'gc -Diann
2>l?n

tte

ber erroifa) bir

ebebem beschrieben?
ritta^

C nun
2a3
E>at

bann!
Smlinge
liegt

bann fr
geijigen,

3lotl

SDte

3a nur bem
3rurtf>tfamen

beforglia^en,

3 UDen /
3Kanne.

niebt

bem

guten, nidn
ift

35em
1755

treifen

tiefer

ja fo

Scbon unfer, obne

Srfjlinge.

2>a Vergngen

3u
3)iit

b,ren,

h>ie

ein foldier

roeltf>er

breiften

Wlann fia; auereb't; BtxV entroeber er

SDte

Stricfe furj jerreifjet, ober aueb,

W\t
1760

toekber fcblauen 33orftd;t er bie

fidj>

-ftetje

Vorbei

roinbet

bie<S

Vergngen

fyaft

$>u obenbrein.
Satatitn

9iun, ba3
^dt)

ift

toafyr.

etoijj,

freue midi barauf.

3ttta^

@o
3ft'3 einer
1765

lann

bid> ja

Slud) roeiter nid>t erlegen macben.

3)enn
blojj

Gin

3 u^ e
bu

aue ber 9ftenge blojj, ift'3 wie e ^ n 3 U ^/ gegen ben

benft?

SSirft

bid>

boa) nid>t febmen, fo ju fdieinen

fieb

SBie er bie 9ttenfd>en alt'

^iehnebjr,
ib,m

2er
2t II

fieb

ibm

beffer jeigt, ber geigt

s

ftdt)

ecf,

aU

Jtarr.

104

Watyan

ber SBeife.

afabtn

o
i

mufj

77 o

<Scr)Iecr)t
(Skfylecfyt

b)anbeln,

bafs

t>on

icf> ja roor/l gar mir ber d6Ied)te mdjt

benfe?
tttal)

raun, wenn bu
(Sin jebeS )ing

fdj>led>t

fyanbeln nennft,

nad; fetner 2lrt ju brausen.

Salobin

2a
ftidjt

r/tt'

ein Seiberfopf erbaut,

ba3

er

ju befd)nen raupte?
(Sittalj

3u
Salabitt
1775

befcfynen!

&a$
$n
mit
fitl

feine,

fpitje

$)ing, beforg' id) nur,

!

meiner plumpen >anb gerbrid;t

ausgefhrt fein,
aller ^fiffigleit,
toie'3

eroanbtbeit.

9Jiag' bod) nur,

1780

mag'3!

Unb

fnnt' e3

freilie,

lieber

0 erfunben 00% $$
ift,

tua<8

tanje, toie id> lann,

fd)Ied)ter nod)

2ll beffer.
tttalj

rau'
%<fy
ftefye

bir
!

aud) nur

nicr)t

$u

wenig!

bir fr bid>
bie

2enn bu nur

roiUft.

2)aft

un

SRnner beinegleid)en boa;

1785

gern bereben mchten, nur il)r d)mert, 2# r cfyroert nur fyaht fie fo roeit gebraut. )er Softe fdj>mt fid) freilid), trenn er mit

2)em

$ucr)fe jagt

be

$ud)fe, nidbt ber Sift.

Safobtu

Unb

bafj bie
fid;

Seiber bod) fo gern ben

$u
1790

herunter Ratten!

eb
51t

Wann

nur, gel)!

^d) glaube meine Section

tonnen.

dritter Stufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

105

Sirtalj

2Sa$?

id)

foll

gebn?
Salabin

5Du

toottteft

bod) nicbt bleiben?

Sittal)

Senn aud) nicbt bleiben ... im eftd) t eud) bleiben od) ^ier im ^iebengimmer

Salabin

a
2lud>
1795

ju r/ord)en?
foll

ba
1

nicbt,

Scbtoefter, roenn

icb

beftefyn.

B^rt, fort

ber 93orb,ang raufcbt, er fmmt!

%<fy febe nacb.

bocb, bajj

u
3nbem ne

ja nid)t ba bertoeilft!

fid)

burd) bie eine Sfjre entfernt, tritt Scatfjan ,u ber anbern herein;

unb Safabin

Ijat fid)

gete|t

fnfter Huftritt.

Salabin

unb 9tatl)an.

Stritt

nf>er,

$ube

Salabin
?Rber
!

^ur

ganj

tyer!

3^ur obne gurcbt!

Marfan
3)ie bleibe beinern

^einbe

Salabin

35u nennft

bid) 9tatb an?

;

arfan

Salabin
SDcn weifen -Jcatban'

106

SRatyan ber

SGBeife.

1800

9fein.

Safabiu
2of)l
!

nennft bu bidj
9ta$ait

nitf)t,

nennt

bicfy

ba

SSolf.

ann

fein,

ba SSoK!
ofabin

)u glaubft
3Serd^tltc^)
$cf)

bodE

nicr/t,

bafj

ia^

r>on bei

olfe3

Stimme benfe?

fyabe

lngft gemnfcfyt, ben SJtann ju lennen,

SDen eg ben SSeifen nennt.

Unb
1805

trenn e

ifyn

um Bpo
9ftd)t3

nennte? 2enn bem 2SoI!e meife weiter mr' als flug? unb fhtg nur ber,
fo

25er

fia)

auf feinen Vorteil gut

Salabtn

t>erfter/t?

2luf feinen

magren Vorteil, meinft bu bod)?

SKatljatt

SDann
1810

freilie

5Der $Igfte.
Sftur

mr' ber @igennigfte Sann mr' freilief) flug unb meife

Satabtn

ein.

$a;

b/re

bieb;

2)u nnberfpredjen miKft.

Vorteile,
bie

ermeifen, ir>a

SDeS

-Jftenfrfjen

mab;re

ba $olf

nitf)t

fennt, lennft bu,

1815

aft bu u fennen menigften? gefugt, aft brber naa;gebacr/i, bai aua; allein
SUladE)t

feb/on

ben 2eifen.

)er

fieb;

jeber bnft

3u

fei"-

Dritt ufjog.

fnfter auftritt.

107

Saloin
Jiun

ber ^efcbettenheit genug!

35cmt

fie

nur immerbar gu boren, too

i^ian trocfene Vernunft erwartet, efelt. gt fpringt auf.

1820

Sa un

jur

Sacbe fommen!
!

Wxx,

aber

^(ufrtcfetxg,

^uo', aufrichtig

Matt) an

Sultan,
23itt fidSerlid) bid>
fo

icb,

bebienen, bafc

^a? beiner ferneren ^unbfrftaft mrbig bleibe.

Salafctn

Sebienen? roie?
Watljan

u
1825 5Bon allem
-}>rei3
;

foft

ba3

33efte

baben

fottft

e3

um

ben

bifligften

baben.
SttlfltU

2otoon

3Son beinen 2aren?

<Scr/cm
3ct)

@cr)acbem
Watfcan

f^>rid>ft

bu?

boct)

roor)l

nicbt

roirb

mit bir

meine Scbmefter.

(5Da8 ber orcberin!)

nicbt ju tbun.

babe mit bem

Kaufmann

1850

So

rrirft
tcb,

bu obne 3roetfel hnfien motten,

auf meinem 23ege toon
ftcb roieber reget,

9Ba

bem
etroa

^einbe,

Xzx aerbings
33emerft,

getroffen ?

2enn
Salabin
icb,

icb,

unerfyob, len

2(ucb barauf bin icb eben nicbt mit bir

1835

efteuert.
c&,

at>on

ntig habt.

$ur$

roet

fcfyon,

fo

toiel

108

Station ber SBeife.

Matf>an

ebiete, Sultan.

Sotobiu
%<fy
fyeifcfye

beuten Unterricht in gang

2a anberm, gang roa anberm.

S)a

o
1840

toeife

bift,

fo

fage mir

bocfy

einmal

bu nun

2a fr
>at bir

ein

taube, toa fr ein efetj

meiften eingeleuchtet?
^ntliait

am

Sultan,

^d) bin ein

$ub\
Safobtu
llnb
icfy

35er Gfyrift

ift

jhnfdjen un.

$on
roie

ein 9ttufelmann.

biefen brei

Religionen fann boa) eine nur

1845

SDie

it>ar)re

fein.

(Sin

SRann,

bu, bleibt ba

9Zid)t fielen,

too ber $ufall ber

eburt
bleibt,

$l)n Eingeworfen, ober

Wenn

er

bleibt er au
2Bol)lan
1850
!

fo

inficfyt, rnben, 2Bal)l be Seffern. teile beine 6infid)t mir

rnidj)

SDann mit.

Safj

bie

rnbe

Ijren,

benen

%d) felber nachgrbeln

ftyabt.

nicfyt

bie geit

Seftimmt
SDamit
1855
icf>

Safj mia) bie 3ar)l, bie biefe

berftefyt
ficr),

im Vertrauen

fie

gu meiner maclie.
micfy

rnbe
wiffen,

2ie ?

>u

ftufcefi?

wgft

mit bem 2luge?

$ann

2ol;l fein, bafj id) ber erfte

ultan

bin,

>er eine fold;e rille

l)at,

bie micfy

2)od) eines (Sultan^ thzn nicbt fo ganj

UnWrbig
1860

!prid>

Dber

bnft.

9^icr)t

toabr?

rebe bod;

roitlft

bu einen

3lugenblicf,

dritter Slufjug.

elfter Auftritt.

109

icb ju bcbcnfcn?

ut,
recbt

ia?

geb'

Um

bir.

(Db

fte

roor/t

borcbt?
icf/'^

3$

toM

fte

23iH boren, ob

gemacf/t.

bocf/

belauften,

SDenf
jurcf

nacf/!

efcbroinb benf nacb!

1865

^cb fumc

nicf/t,

3u iommen.
6t gebt in ba3 9}ebenjimmer, nadj tpeldjem dj
2itta6, begeben.

Sedier

auftritt.
allein

9tatf)an

VRir

benn?

2luf

elb gefat,
tmtt ftc fo

Unb
3Me
1S70

m 9Sa unb
!

f/m

tounberlicb

toitt

ber Sultan? nxv5?

er roiH

fo bar, fo blanf

2Babrf/eit ^JKnjc

mre

Uralte SJinje, bie gebogen roarb a ginge nocb! 2fffein fo neue 9Jinje, ie nur ber Stempel macbt, bie man aufs 33rett
!

$a,
bocb

2Ste

ift

^cb bin

Saf/rbeit.

Sabrbeit!

als ob
nocf;

roenn

9cur jblen barf, ba3

ift

fte

nun
in

nicf/t!

2ie elb in Sacf, fo

1875

ftrtcf/e
ift

man
benn

$opf
ber

3tud) 23abrbeit ein?

^a; ober er

23er

f>ier

$ube?
roof/t

Socf/ wie? ottt' er

-fabrbeit

aucf/

2)ie SBabrbcit nicbt in

fobem

toar /

3n)ar ber 23erbacbt, ba er bie 2abrf/eit nur

2(Is
1880

3U 3u

x^

Hein?
erft,

$alTe braucf/e, n)r' aucf/ gar ju Hein! em ? 2 a ^ f ur emen rofcen benn

eroi,
ins"

gerijj,
!

er ftrjtc

mit
bocf;,

2 er
SDocf/

3:bre fo

toenn
!

Sef/utfam gef/n

aus man als" Unb

3Jcan pocf/t

ftreunb

ficf)

nabt.
?

roie? toie

bas

So

t>rt

3>cb

tnu

ganj

110.
1885

ftatfym ber

SBeife.

tocfjube fein ju trotten, ge$t

fcfyon
gel;t

nicfyt.

Unb

ganj unb gar nicfyt $ube, SDenn, roenn fein $>ube, brft'

nod) minber.

2Barum
5Ricf)
9Jtit

lein

retten!

1890

-Iftfyrcfyen

a 9JlufeImann? Minber @r fmmt.

-Jlirfjt

er m'ufy

roar'g
blofj

nur fragen, $a lann

!

bie

fyeift

man
1

ah.

r fomme nur

Siebenter auftritt.

6 a lab in

unb 9tatt)au.

Salabht

(o
Sfticfyt

ift

ba $elb

bler rein!)

^d)
bift

fomm'

bir bo<f)

ju gefctjtrnnb gurcf?

9Jlit

beiner berlegung.
fyrt

)u

ju 9tanbe
!

9Zun, fo rebe

un

feine

eele.

W6d)V
1895

aucr;

bod?

>ie

ganje SBelt un fyren.

alabtu

0
$;ft -iftatfyan

gettnfj

feiner

aa;e? ^a
-ftie

ba nenn'

%<fy

einen SBeifen!
fr
fie

bie

2ar)rr)eit ju

33err/efylen,

atte auf
!

$u
1900

fe^en

Seib unb Seben

ba piel ut unb 93Iut

9lati)an

^a! ja! toann'S ntig

ift

unb

nutjt.

Sotnbiu
3Son nun
2tn barf
ia;

hoffen,

einen meiner ^itel,

SSerbefferer ber Selt

unb be efetje,

TO

9lta)t

311

fhren.

^Dritter aufjug.

(Siebenter auftritt.

111

Watfiatt

Straun, ein fcfyner itel!

2)od>,
1905

(grlaubft

Sultan, bu roobl, bir ein efd>i#t$en ju

eb' ia? mia? bir ganj bertraue,

rjr/Ien ?

2 a lab in
2Barum bas
(Sin
nirftt ?

^cb,

bin ftetS

^reunb geroefen bon efcbicbtaSen, gut

Watfjan

rjblt.

Sofyl

^a, gut erjagen, ba eben meine Saa)e nicfyt.

Salabin

ift

nun

1910

ftolj

befdjteiben?

Wtafy,
lebt'

<2cr)on roieber
ergab,!',

erjbje!

SSor grauen

^abren

ein

9Rann

in Dften,

SDer einen 9ftng bon unfdbtjbarem 2ert'

2lu3 lieber

anb
bie

befaj*.

35er Stein roar ein

Dbal, ber tmnbert febne frben fbielte,

1915

Unb Unb

blatte

geheime $raft, bor ort

5ftenfcr)en

angenehm

ju matfien, roer

^n

22as unber, WUxun in Citen barum nie SSom Ringer uc fc/ un ^ ^ e Verfgung traf,
biefer 3uberficr;t ibn trug.
35af} ifm ber

1920

2tuf eroig ibn bei feinem >aufe ju

Grbalten? Rmlicr)
3>on feinen

fo.

Gr

lief?

ben 9frng

Sbnen bem
feft,

geliebteften,

Unb
1925

fet}te

bafc

biefer roieberum

SDen 5Hing bon feinen

Sbnen bem bermacbe,

unb
ftets ber
liebfte,

er ibm

ber liebfte

fei,

112

Stotljan ber Seife.

Drm'

2tnfer/n ber

eburt, in raft allein

>e $ing, ba aubt, ber ftrft beg aufe$ roerbe. Werftet)' micb,, Sultan.

atabtn

3$
-

berfteb/

bicr).

Leiter!

Matyan

1930

biefer 9ting bon ofm gu obm, 2tuf einen Sater enblicb, bon brei b/nen,
3)ie
afle
atte

60 fam nun

brei ifym

gleicr)

gefyorfam toaren,
gleicb)

>ie

brei

er

foTglic^

ju lieben 9cur Don $eit

ia;

nicfyt

entbretfjen fonntc.

u
1935

3eit festen ib/m balb ber, balb biefer, balb

>er brte

fo

tute

jeber

fidt)

mit ifym

Mein
3)ie

befanb, unb

fein

ergiefjenb erj

gtoei nicb,t teilten turbiger 2)e ^ingeg, ben er benn aufy einem jeben

anbern

3)ie
1940

fromme a>att)b;eit
fo,

r/atte,

ju berfbretfjen.

)a3 ging nun

fo

lang e3 ging.

Slttein

@ fam jum Sterben, unb ber gute Sater mmt in Serlegenb/ett. @3 fdnnerjt it)n,

jioei

Son
1945

feinen

fmen,
51t

bie

fia)

Serlaffen, fo

frnfen.

2a

auf fein SSort

ju ttmn?

@r

fenbet ingefyeim ju einem nftler,

er,

Sei bem

nacb,

bem dufter
unb

feines Ringes,

toei anbere

beftefft,

toeber Soften
fie

9cod; aftb/e fbaren

tyeifjt,

jenem
)a<

gleicb/,

SoKfommen
1950

gleicr)

ju macben.

gelingt

2)em nftler.

)a er itjm bie Ringe bringt,

$ann
9cicb/t

felbft

ber Sater feinen 2Jcufterring

grob,

unterfa/eiben.

unb freubig

ruft

X vitter
Qt
feine

2luf ,ug.

Siebenter auftritt.

]13

Bhm,

jeben ine befonbre?

iebt jebem in3 befonbre feinen Segen,

1955

Unb

feinen Ring,

unb
iicfj

ftirbt.

fy

rft bocb,

(Sultan ?

Sttldbtn ber

^d)

fyr'

id)
311

fyre!

Rur

balb

omm mit @nbe. 2irb'3?

Statfjan
berftefyt

betroffen

con

ifjm geioanbt

beinern 5flrd)en

3>d)

bin ju 6nbe.

)enn roa3 nod) folgt,

fid)

ja bon felbft.

aum mar
i960
Jflit

ber Skter tot, fo fmtnt ein jeber

feinem Ring', unb jeber mit! ber #rft

2)e3 aufe fein.

Man

unterfud)t,

man

janft,
nidjt

Wlan

flagt.

(Srmeielid)

Umfonft, ber recbte

melier
er bes

Ring mar

SRadj einer ^Jaufe, in

2u(tan 9lntioort ermartet,

Un

it

faft fo unermeislid),

als

ber red)te laube.

Safabin

3ie? ba$ foH

1965

ie 2(ntroort

fein auf

meine ^rage?

Sott
5ftid)

blofc

entfd)ulbigen, toenn id) bie Dringe,

2JUr nidtt getrau' ju unterfcbeiben, bie

er

SSater in ber 2tbfidt

madten

liejj,

3>amit

fie nid)t ju unterfd)eiben

mren.

1970

ie Ringel
25afj bie

Spiele

Safabin
nicht mit

mir!

%a)

bcbte,

Religionen,

bie id)

bir

enannt, bod) mobl ju unterftbeiben mren, 33is auf bie Reibung, bis auf Seif unb Sranf!

114

9totl)an ber SBeife.

Unb nur oon eilen

1975

ifyrer

rnbe
auf

mdfc)t.

2)enn grnben

alle

ftcf)

nid)t

ef abrieben ober
eftfjicfyte

berliefert!
tt>o^l

Unb

efdE>td^>te?

mufj bod)

allein auf

Unb lauben angenommen werben?

reu'
9ttd)t?

9hm
1980
SDotf)

meffen Streu' unb lauben

in

jiefyt

man benn
deinen?

2lm menigften

gmeifel? <^

^ er

bereu 23lut mir finb?

inbfyeit
bie

botf)

beren, bie

$on

egeben?
1985

an un groben i>rer Siebe un% nie getufa^t, al3 roo

etufd)t ju werben un fyeilfamer mar?

2ie fann
2113
itf)

meinen Ttern weniger,

bu ben beinen glauben?

itf)

Dber

umgefefyrt,

$ann

tion bir

erlangen, bafj bu beine

ftrafft,

SSorfafyren

Sgen

um

meinen ma)t

3u
1990

wiberfpretfKn?
gilt

Dber umgefefyrt?
oon ben
Gfyriften.
-fticfyt?

)a nmlitf;e

Solabiu

(Sei bem Sebenbigen!

$cb,

2)er 5CRann

fyat

9ietf;t.

mufj berftummen.)

Nathan
2afj

auf unfre 5Ring'

Un
1995

loieber

fommen.
ftdE>,

2ie gefagt, bie

jeber fcfyrour

lme
9iitf;ter,

SSerllagten

unb

bem

Unmittelbar au feine! 3Sater anb

S)en Sting ju E>aben.

2ie autf> roafyr!

9latf;bem

@r oon

ifym lange ba $erfpretf;en fdton efyabt, bei 9ftnge< Sorrecfyt einmal ju $er SSater, 2ie nirf)t minber toafyr! eniefjen.

Xritter Sltftng.

Siebenter auftritt.

115

2000

Seteu'rte jeber, fnnc gegen

ir/n

W\6t

falfrf

geroefen fein,

unb

eh'

er biefeS

Son

ifnn,

toon

einem

foIcr)en

lieben Sater,
er feine

2(rgtr>obnen laff', eb' muff'

So
2005

gern

er

fonft

bon
fei,

ib/nen

bereit ju glauben

Srber, nur ba Sefte be falfcben SbielS

Verrter
ftcr)

Reiben, unb

er motte bie

<Sd)on au^ufinben troffen,

fd)on rd)en.

Solobin

Unb nun,

ber 3itd)ter?

9flid)

berlangt ju fyren,
Storid)!

2Ba bu ben Siebter fagen

lffeft.

ftattjan

2010

er
9fad)t

9iid)ter

fbracb,

wenn

ibr

mir nun ben Sater

fo roeif
ir)r,
ict)

balb jur Stelle

fdjafft,

eud)
SRtfcI

Son meinem

Stuble.

SDenft

bafc id)

3u
Si
2015

lfen ba bin?

Cber

Ijarret
s

ib,r,

bafs ber red)te 9ftng

t)alt!

ben 2Runb erffne?

ber red)te 9ftng

od)

3>d)

b^re

ja,

Sefitjt

bie

9unberfraft beliebt $1 mad)en,

2ftenfd)en

Sor ott unb

@ntfd)eiben!
)od) bal
2020

angenehm.

SDas mufj

Senn

nid)t

Son
%la<fy

eud)

am

meiften?

fnnen! 9hm,

bie

falfd)en 9ftnge

werben

toen lieben jroei

!

5Rad)t, fagt an

!^#r fd)toeigt?

3>ie Sftinge mirfen

nur jurcf? unb

nid)t

aufjen?

2lm meiften ?
2025

^eber D
f

^ CDt
f eib

ftd)

f eiber

nur

r ib.

alle

brei

^Betrogene Betrger!

ure 9frngc
ed)t.

<Sinb alle brei nid)t

3)er ed)te 9?ing

Sermutlid) ging berloren.

en

Serluft

3u
ie

bergen, ju erfeljen,
brei fr einen

liefj

ber Sater

mad)en.

116

Stotljan ber SBeife.

Salobin
>errlicf)!

E>errttd^

Unb
2030
glicht

alfo,

fufyr

ber dl\a)Uv fort,

ftatt

wenn

ifyr

meinen
!

efyt nur

dit,

meines brud>e, Wollt,

ift

3ftein Sftat
fie

aber ber,

il)r

nefymt

ic atf)e

bttig tute

liegt.

at bon

ud) jeber feinen -King bon feinem 23ater,

0
2035

glaube jeber
eckten.

en

fidler feinen SRing

3ftgUd), bajj ber Vater

9ftng<

nun

ie tyrannei be einen

nia)t

$n

feinem irmufe bulben motten!

er

Unb

lnger
gewifj,

SDafs

eud) atte brei geliebt,

ntdfjt

unb

gleicfy

eliebt, inbem er jWei

2040

Um
@ @

einen ju begnftigen.
eifre jeber feiner

brten mgen,
Sofylan!

unbeftodjnen
nacfy!

Von

Vorurteilen freien Siebe

ftrebe

bon

eucfy

jeber

um

bie 2ette,

)ie $raft be
2045

tetn in feinem Sfang' an

biefer $raft mit

ag

$u
Wti
9Jiit

Icg^u!

lomme

Sanftmut,

f)erjlid>er

Vertrglitftfeit,

mit 23ofyltl)un,

innigfter Ergebenheit in Ott,

^ilf! Unb wenn ficfy bann ber Steine Grfte Sei euern $inbe=$inbefinbern uern,

$u
2050

lab'

ict)

ie Wieberum bor

ber taufenb taufenb ^afyre, a wirb biefen tufyl.

2l( \a),

Sin Weif'rer -Eftann auf biefem tufyle filjen, 0 fagte ber unb fbrea^en. efyt!

Vefcfyeibne 3iitf)ter.

afabiu

Ott!

ott!

dritter ufjug.

Siebenter auftritt.

117

Salabin,
2055

Senn bu

bicb

fbleft,

biefer roeifere
.

Serfprocbne 9Jtann ju fein

Salabht
ber auf inn juitiirjt,

unb

feine

$anb

ergreift, bie er 6i

ju (Snbe

nicfjt

ieber

fafjren

lt

3$
D
Ott!
^attjait

Staub?

%$

5Jic^t?

28a

ift

bir,

Sultan?
ftatban, lieber

3alabt
-Kaiban!

2>te taufenb taufenb

cinb nocb
2060

ntcbt

2)er meine.

um. Sein eb! eb!

Watf)an

3 a ^ r beine 9ftcbter
9ftd>terftur/l
ift

nicbt

216er

fei

mein #reunb.

Unb

weiter

r/tte

Salabin mir
Salabin

nia)t

3u

fagen?
Siebte.

Xctyn
Satabtn

ar
ftatljait

nicbtl.

Unb

roarum

$$
^Dir

r/tte

noeb elegenr/eit getonfebt,

eine Sitte

borjutragen.

Satabin
Sraucr>t'3
2065

elegenr/eit ju einer Sitte ?

9tebe

118

Stefan

ber Seife.

%<$ fomm' on einer tueiten Steif, auf melrf>er

3>cr)

cfyulben eingetrieben.

SDeS baren elb ju biet.

Sebenflirf)
2070

graft

t?ab'

irf;

2)ie $eit beginnt

mieberum gu merben,
nirf>t
irf),

%) meifj
2)a
badt)t'

recfyt,

roo

ficfyer

ob

nicr)t

bu

fc>ielletdt)t

unb bamit
fyin.

meil

bocr)

in

nar/er rieg

rfobert

be elbe immer mefyr

etroag

brausen

tonnteft.

Salobin
tljm ftetf in bte 2(ugen fefjeub

^atr, an

3$
2075

mitf

nicfyt

fragen, ob 2tl=afi

33ei bir

geroefen,
mrf;t

frf)on

mit!
ein

nirfjt

uuterfucfyen,
treibt,
.

Db

birf)

fonft

Strgmotm
. .

mir biefeS

rbieten freierbingg ju tfyun

SRatJjatt

in Slrgmoljm?
bin
teert.

%<fy
!^rf>

ir)n

Safabin
Serjeib/ mir!

muf$

bir

2080

Segriffe

mar

nur gefielen,

benn
irf)

raa<

r/itft'S?

bajj

im

9?atf)ait

SDocr)

mdt)t,

ba nmltcfye

2tn mid) ju fucfyen?

alabttt

MerbingS.
Nathan

Un
>ir

beiben ja geholfen!
alle

afs
nirf;t

0
irf;

mr'
aber
fdjirfen,

meine

33arfct)aft

fann

dritter Saftag.

Siebenter auftritt.

119

a
2085

mad)t ber junge 3:empelr>err.

3fyn ja.

^bm

fennft

b,ab'

ich,

eine

groe *oft

33orber nod) ju befahlen.

Solabin

Tempelherr?
2)u wirft bod) meine fd)limmften geinbe nid)t Wlxt beinern elb' aud) Unterstufen motten?
^attinit

2090

2$ fpredk bon bem einen nur, bem bu 2)as Seben fparteft

. .

Salaiu

2)u mid>!

SBergeffen!

ennft
nid)t,

2(b!

rooran erinner ft

>ab' id) bocb, biefen

bu tyn?

3 So

n fl Iin 3 S an i
ift

er?

2Bte?

2o
2095

weit bu

tote

biel

on beiner nabe

gr ihn, burd) tyn auf mid) gefloffen? @r, @r mit efabr bes neu err/altnen 2eben,
at meine Joajter au bem geu'r
Salabt
>a!
gerettet.

r? at
55a
b,tte

er

ba*?

traun

Sem
2100

er fo

hnelt!
tb,n

bring'

b,er!

barnad) mein ruber benn habe meiner

3ft er
^ct>
fte

fab er au.

aud) getban,
nod) b,ier?

Scb>efter

3Son biefem ihren ruber, ben

nidjt
fte

efannt,

fo

oiel

erzhlet,

ba

id)

(Sein benbilb bod) aud)

mu

feb,en

laffen!

eb/, ifoV ib,n! 2ie au (Siner guten Sfyat,

2105

ebabr
od)
eh,
fo

fie

aud) fcbon bloe 2eibenfd)aft,

totel

anbre gute Sfyaten fliegen!

hol' ihn!

120

9?cttl)an

ber SSetfe.

Marljttn

inbem

er

arabin anb fahren

rfjt

Stugenblicfi!

Unb

bei

bem anbem

treibt e boa) aua;?

? l6

atabtu

2110

Mxd)t b,ord;en raffen 2te foll id) alleg ba

!

u
ir,r

21^!

bafj
!

ia;

meine
!

ir?r

u t^r

Hefter $enn

mm

erjagen?

3(6

on ber attbent

(Seite.

7ld)kt auftritt.
te @cene: unter ben <almen, in ber mije be Softer, Sempejerr 9?att)ang mrtet.
>t>o

ber

ier

ge$t,

mit fUj
tylt

felbft

tamtfenb, auf unb

oft,

618 er ro6rid)t

ba Dpfertier ermbet

ftia.

9fom gut!

%% mag

mdfo mag

nia;t

n^cr

ioiffen,

2115

2Ba in mir borgest, mag oorau nia)t mittern, ' 2a oorgelm mirb. enug, xd) bin umfonft Unb toeiter fonnt' xd) eflorm, umfonft. boa;

5TCun lomm', ma fommen 3fym au^ubeugen, mar ber treid) gu fdmea efatkn, unter ben ju fommen ia;

2Tua; mct)t al flierm?

fotl!

o
2120

ferm, u ferm fo menig lftern ie fetm, unb ber ntfd^Iu^ fie mieber aug 2)en 2lugen nie Sag @ntftf;lu&? ju laffen @ntfcr,Iu ift Borfafc, r,at, unb xd), xd)

lang unb Diel

xd)

xrxxd)

meigerte.

ie

ie mar

litt',

%d)

litte

blofe. ie

fefyn,

unb ba ef&l,'

Xritter ufjug.

2td)ter

Auftritt

121

2125

2(n

fte

berftricft,

SBat

tind.

ift

in fie berroebt ju fein,

eins.

^Bleibt

Von

ibr getrennt

3u

leben,

5Kein ob,
ftocr;

mir ganj unbenfbar, h>r' unb roo mir immer nad> bem Jobe

2130

So

finb,
liebt

aucb ba mein Job.

ber Stempelritter

freilieb,

25er Gbrift ba

2a

tr/ut'*?

3$

;5

UDenm ba?en
fyt'

freilieb.

in b

gelobten

Unb brum
2135

aud> mir

gelobt auf

m! Sanbe immerbar
liebt

3fl ba

nun

Siebe,

3)er Vorurteile

mebr

febon abgelegt.

2Ba mi mein Crben aucb?

3*

3TembelIj>err

23m er

tot,

mar bon bem

2(ugenblicf if>m tot,

mieb Kl Salabtn efangnen maebte.

>er $obf, ben

2ftein alter ?

Salabtn mir

fcfyenlte,

mr'

3>ft ein neuer, ber

bon allem

2140

9iirf)t

roeifs,

28a jenen banb.

was jenem eingeblaubert toarb, Unb ift ein beff'rer, fr

en

bterlicben
icb

3)a fbr'

immet mebr gemaebt. Statn erft mit ibm ja.

r)ter

beginn'

3$
2145

fo ju benfen, roie mein Vater

ebaebt mufj baben, roenn

Von ibm mir

ans
2(1
itjt

borgelogen.
bie

Mrcben?
nur efabr
fiel.

man

3Jircben niebt
boefy

gtaublicbe,

glaublicber mir nie,

gefd>ienen,

ba

ict)

3u
2150

ftraucbeln laufe,
rttl

lt>o

er

@r

fiel?
als*

^cb

mit

Mnnern

Wlit $inbern ftebn.

%x

feinen Veifall.

Siegt mir benn fonft?

Sein mir Unb an 3iatban? D an

Veifbiel brget
roeffen

lieber fallen,

Veifall

2(n

beffen

(Srmuntrung mebr
2155

aU

VeifaU fann e mir

9?ocb weniger gebreeben.

SSelcb

ein

^ube!

122

9fcatl)an ber Seife.

Unb

ber fo ganj nur

er,

)a fmmt

$ube fcr/einen nrill! fmmt mit $aft, glfyt heitre $reube.

je

2er fam

bom alabin

anber

$e, 9Jat^an!

Heunter auftritt.
tftatfyan unb ber

Scmpe Ifjerr.

SKatfjan

2Sie?

feib

i|r'*?

XempeHjerr
3*>r r,abt
2160

et>r lang' eud) bei

bem ultan

aufgehalten.

0 3u

lange nun mor)!

biel toerroeilt.

nidt)t.
2ll>,

^d) roarb im ingerm

Gurb, ber
ift

roar/rlid),

Mann

6ter/t feinen 9uifym.

ein 9tur/m

blo^ fein (Schatten.

SDod)
2165

lajt

t>or
.

allen
.

fingen

eud) gefcfyroinb

5Rur fagen

XempeH)err

2a?
Watljan

@r
$)af$
9ftid)

hll euer;

ftored)en,

hll,

ungefumt ir)r gu nur nad) aufe,

ib,m

lommt.

Segleitet
tr)n

roo id)

nod) fr

@rft ettoaS anberl ju berfgen I)abe,

Unb bann,

fo

geint

mir.

Xempcdjcrr
Jtatr/an,

euer

au

2170

Setret'

id)

tuieber

et)er

nid)t

dritter Sufjug.

Neunter Buf tritt.

123

<!
3fyr boct) inbe

60

feib

^nbes
cfttt

fie

bocb

f$on ba geroefen? babt 9?un? agt, gefbrocben?

tote

eucf>

9iecr>a ?

Sempelljerr

Stttetn

ber
fte

2175

9tie!

nie!

2#r

hneberfefyn

ba
fte

altert

Sfuebrucf

roerb idj nie!

mfjtet mir jur Stelle benn

\<fy

3Serf^red)en,

bajj

auf immer, immer

<oU fnnen ferm.

Watfian

2ie tooUt

ifyr,

bajj icb

ba

Serfteb"?

Jempetyerr
nacf)

einer furjen ^Sauje ifjm

plfclicf)

um

ben al faenb

2Jton 3Sater!

Kttju
iTetnpel^err
iljn

junger

2>iann

eben

fo plfclidj loieber taffenb

3cfr

bitt'

eucb,

iRat&an!
Marfan
Jempelljerr
bitt' eurf>,

9hcbt

@obn ?

Sieber junger 2Rann!

2180

9K$t Sohn?
6ucb
bei
3ieb/t ibnen

^cb
ftot're

Kaiman!

ben erften Sanben ber Statur!

^effeln
bocfy

nicbt

Segngt
Jiicbt

eucb bocb

ein IRenfcfy ju fein!

%d) bor
!

befror'

Stofjt micf)

bon eucb!

124

Statin

ber Seife.

Sieber,

lieber

$reunb!

SemJjeHjerr

2185

ofyn nid^t?

Stutft

bann

nicf)t,

bann

nidjt einmal,

Unb Sorm? wenn

@rfenntlicr/feit gutn

bergen eurer Stocbter

$er
Sludb.

Siebe fa>n ben 2eg gebafynet blatte?

bann

nicfyt

einmal,

Wenn

in

em

2luf euern 2inf

2190
j^fyr

nur beibe Warteten?

$u fcfymeljen

fcfymeigt?
5Katf)an

$#r

berrafa;t mirf), junger bitter.

Sempelljerr

^a) berrafay eua;?

ftit

berrafa)' eud), 5Katfyan,

euern eigenen ebanfen?

fie

3$

SBerfennt

botf)

in

meinem Sftunbe

nid)t?

^d berrafdb/ eud)? b/
2195

id>

einmal

toeifj,

9Sai

fr ein
ift!

taufen euer

SSater benn

eroefen

empenjerr

2Ba3

f agt

ib, r,

3^atl) an ?
ifyr

toaS ?

^n

biefem Slugenblicfe

ffylt

nirf>t,

28 SReubegier?
ftatijan

$enn
ffiob,!

feb/t

%d) fyaU

felbft

einen taufen efyebem gefannt,

fyiefj.

2200

SDer

Sonrab

SempeHjerr
9?un

Wenn

mein Sater benn

9hm tbm

fo

gefyeifjen

fytte?

dritter Slufjug.

Neunter Auftritt.

125

Nathan
2Sabrlto? ?

Ztmpttytvv
%<$ bet^e felber ja
3ft Gonrab.
nadt;

meinem

Bater,

urb

9tun
9?ia)t

Watfan
fo

mar mein onrab

bodj

euer Sater.
ihr,

enn mein Gonrab mar,

nie tocrmr)It.

22Q5

9Ba

mar Jembelberr, mar

Jempenjerr

barum!
9?atfan

2ie?
lempelfjerr

C barum
9Jcein

fnnt' er bodt)

Sater

tt>or/l

geroefen fein.
dlatfian

genau!

fetjt.

Icmpelljerr

Unb
'iDenn
2210

u)r nermtt'3 roafyrlicb, ju

nun? So
ift

toa3 bon Saftarb ober

2>er

cblag
mill eucb,

aucb nicbt ju beracbten.

23as Saniert!
2>ocr)

ror'S

ntlajjt mtcb
l^cr)

immer meiner 2(bnenbrobe.

eurer roieberum entlaffen.

Dftcbt

^n
2215

jmar, all ob icb ben geringften 3^eifel euern Stammbaum fetjte. ort behte!
fnnt
tr>n

^r

inauf belegen.
2Bev|
ict>

Slatt bor Slatt bis 2tbrab,am Unb bon ba fo weiter,

irm

felbft,

miH

icb

ir)n

felbft befa?roren.

3r/r werbet bitter.

oc$

lUfym
berbien'
icb,

'S?

(Schlug

126

SRatljon ber SBeife.

%<fy

beim eud> fd>on toa* ab

2220

9?ur bei

bem SBorte

f ffen.

? $d> tia ben Slugenblid nid;t

eucfe,

ja

SSeiter nid)t3.

Scmpelljerr
ehrijj ?

9?id;t Leiter ?

fo

ergebt!
9tat$ett

9lun lommt nur, fommt

empelf)err
9iein!

3TRtt
!

35a brennt'
2225

^d)
.

in euer

au?
it>ill

3)a3
r/ier
'

2Bob,in ?
nia)t!

ba3

nidjt!
!

eud>
f et)

ertoarten.
fie

et)t

oft

id;

fie

toieberfelni,

fo

tcr)

9?od) oft

genug.

2Bo
. .

nifyt,

fo

fab,

id)

fte

d)on

biel ju btel

WatJ>an

^d)

ttnff

micb,

mglicfyft

eilen.

^efynter auftritt.
er empetl)err
uttb ba(b barauf

2>aja.

SempeHjerr
cfyon mefyr als g'nug!

>e3 9Jtenfd;en

im

fafet fo

Unenblid) biet
2230

unb

ift

bod;

mandjmal aufy
nid;t3,

0 0
25ie

bl^Ud;
bltjlid;

boll,

bott

2lud;

bott

toobon e
rotrft

3Taugt
tttitt.

bon einer leinigfeit

taugt nichts, e
!

fei

2)od; nur ebulb

eele
in

ben aufgebunf'nen toff

fid;

Salb

einanber, fd^afft

-Kaum, unb

Sidjjt

Xritter 2tufuig.

3e^nter auftritt.

127

2235

Unb Crbnung fommcn

3um
9?ur

erftenmale

Ober

mieber.

mar, roa

2Il Siebe fenne, Siebe nicbt ?

Sieb' icb benn

icb

3ft Siebe

mas

icb

tfct

embfinbe

aja
bie ftd)

oh ber Seite

fierbeigefdjttdjen

bitter!

bitter!

2er ruft?

a,

Xemelfjcrr

$aja, tyr?
Xoja
3dj>

fyabe micty

2240

Sei iljm borbei &nnt' er uns

gefd>Iid>en.
fefyn,

2(ber nocb

mo

ibr

ba

freist.

2)rum

fommt

&o?

nf>er ju mir, hinter biefen

Saum.

2Ba3

giebt'S benn

Bo gefyeimnisboa? 9Ba
Soja
ebeunni, iuae unb jroar ein bobbelteS.

empell)err

ift'S?

^a
2245

roobl betrifft es ein

gjticfy

ju

eucfy

bringt,

a3
9hir

eine roeij?
ibr.

nur

id>,

bas anbre mit

23ie mr' e,
euer<,

menn mir
idb)

taufcbten ?
eucb

Sertraut mir S)a3 meine.

fo

bertrau'

TERit

2250

@rft meijj, roa3

2>as mirb au
9iur

2Benn nur Sergngen. meinet 0$ # an euerm mobl

xd)
iljtr

Jentpelfierr

fr

acbtet.

erbellen.

9*

immer an.
Xoja
i benft

@rft

\i)x,

id?

folge.

enn

bocfr;

Rein, err bitter,

berfitfiert,

mein

128

Slot^on ber

SDBeifc.

2255

efyeimniS lann euer; gar nidEjt nutjen, wenn 5Rur $>$ nid>t jubor ba eure f)abe. SDenn frag' icr/'3 eurf) erft ab, fo ef d)roinb
!

fjabt

%fyx nichts bertrauet.

^Bleibt

9ftein

er/eimnis bann

^F>r lo.
2260

mein er;eimni, unb ba eure feib 2)0$ armer bitter 2)ajj if?r SJtnner

@in

fold)

3u

fnnen,

er/eimm bor un SBeibern aucfy nur glaubt

!

fyahtn

Sempejerr
2)a mir ju r/aben

Oft

felbft

nirf)t

roiffen.

aj

$ann

mor/l fein,

)rum mu|

$#
$u
2265

freilie

erft,

euef;

felbft

bamit befannt

machen, fd)on bie ^reunbfcfyaft r/aben. agt: 2Ba r/iefc benn ba, baft ir/r fo $natt unb $atf
(Sud)

au bem taube mattet? bafi i^r un fitjen liefet ? bafj tr)r nun mit 9?att)an

9ttcf)t

roieberibmmt ?

Stuf eud) geroirft? roie? ober auef/, fo biet ?

2270

0
SDer

biet

fo

biel

at
Sefyrt
liebt
. . .

Siecfya

benn

fo

wenig

ifyr

be armen SSogebo,
e mir nur gleid),

an ber

Stute flebt,
!

2)oa) fennen

$urj,
roa

eftattre micr;
gefter/t

2)af$
$cr/

ifyr

fie

liebt,

bi

jum Unfinn, unb

fag'

euer;

Sempetfierr

um
2275

Unfinn?

2ar)rIidE),

tyr

SSerfte^t

eud) trefflid) brauf.

'Soja

5lun gebt mir nur

Xritter Sufjiig.

3efjnter auttritt.

129

ie Siebe
6rloffen.

ju,

ben Unfinn toiH

Jempefljerr

icb,

eueb,

2Be

er ftcb

bon

felbft

toerfte^t?
!

Gin Jembelfyerr ein ^ubenmbcben lieben

Xaja
Scheint
2280
freilieb
ift

gutoeilen

ju b,aben. bes Sinne in einer Sacbe

toenig

Sinn

3)oc&,

2lucb mebr, als toir bermuten;

unb

es tore

Sc
58on

unerhrt

beer)

nicht,

ba

uns" ber

eilanb

2luf aSegen ju ftcb jge, bie ber

felbft

luge

nicht leicht betreten hnirbe.

Icmpelfcerr

2285

So
ie

feierlich?
iorft)t,

(Unb
b,at
fte

as
fe$' idj ftatt bes" iQetlanbs"
nicr)t

benn
ic

Stecht?
fonft

^br

macfyt

:Dttdj

neubegieriger, als
getoofynt bin.

rooljl

3u

fein

aja

D!
er unber!

ba

ift

bas"

Sanb

^entpejerr

(9hm
2290

bes unberbaren.
2)ie ganje 23elt

ann

auch toobl anber fein?

ftcb

drngt

ja

hier

jufammen.)

Siebe 2)0)0,
berlangt,

9iebmt fr geftanben an, roas

ifyr

Xa%

icb

fte

liebe,
icb

bafc ich nicht begreife,

2Bie ohne

fte

leben roerbe,

bajj

2295

ehnfj? gefri?

So
fte

Xaja
fcbtort mir,
fte

bitter, fie

3ur urigen
Sie
jeitli;

u machen,

ju retten,

t)ier,

etoig bort ju retten.

130

SRatyan bei SSeife.

Unb

tte?

empelf|crr

Sie fann
ntcr)t

i$?

ann
$n

itf>

fcfymren,

mag

3n

meiner 2Rad&t

fteljt?

eurer

g.ftacfyt

2300

tefyt

e8.

3$
-Jtacfyt.

& rin S' z$ burc^ ein einzig SBort

$n

eure

^empel^err

ajj atoiber fytte?

felbft

ber SSater nichts

ei,

roa Sater!

$ater!

SDer SBater foll ftfjon muffen.

Sempellierr

Pffen, 2)aja?
ftod)
ift

er

unter Ruber
muffen.

nict)t

gefallen.

2305

@r mufj

nirf)t

5ftun,
9ftuf$

fo

muf?

er

motten,

gern

am @nbe moUen.
empeU)err
9Jhif$

unb gern
bafj

SDocb,

^a\a, menn i$ eud) nun fage,

$$

felber biefe

ait' ifym anjufa^Iagen

bereits toerfucbt?
X>aja

9a? unb
Xempel^crr
2310

er fiel nicfyt

ein?

@r

fiel

mit einem

9Jtif$laut

ein,

ber mid;

33eleibigte.

Xritter 'Miifjug.

3ef)itter auftritt.

131

ta\a

2Sa fagt

i^r?

2ie?

%bx

Rottet

Ten
^fym
^iicbt

Schatten eine unfcbes nur nacb, Recfya

blicfen laffen,

unb
?

er tr>r'

bor greuben
fid>

2315

3 urc^9 e 5

aufgefprungen 9 en ? fytte

r)tte

froftig

8cr)tr>ierigfetten

emacbt?
Icmpelfcerr

Sc

ungefhr.

Xoja

So

h>tH icb

benn

5Ricb lnger feinen 2lugenblicf bebenfen

Xempel^err
ibr bebenft

Unb

eucb bocb,?

ta\a

3o
2320

gut

^cb

Ter mann
felber bin fo
toiel
!

ift

fonft
!

ibm

Tafe er bocb gar nicbt boren roiH

Ott

fcbulbig

roeifc,

Tas
3<$
2luc-

erje blutet mir, ibn fo ju jroingen.

Xempelljerr
bitt'

eucb/, 3)aja, fefct micb furj

unb gut
aber

biefer Ungeroibeit.

S>ib

ib,r

ftoa) felber
2325

ungewi

ob, tr>a ibr toorfiabt,

@ut

ober 33fe,

3u
3#r

nennen,

Scbnblicb ober Sblicb

fcb>eigt!

%a)

bergeffen, bajj

etroas ju berfcbtoeigen babt.

Tojo

Ta3
Slnftatt ju balten.

fbornt

Sft feine ^bin,

ift

9iun, fo
ift

toifjt

benn, 9tecba

eine Gbriftin.

132

Station ber Seife.

Xempeltyttr
2330

fett

0?
@ud)
ftit

Snfcb/

euer;

lcf! at'8 fa>er gehalten? Safjt

fd)recfen
!

nidjt bie 2Ber/en

$afyret ja

Sifer fort, bcn >immel ju berolfern,

ifyr

2Senn

bie

@rbe

nicfyt

mefyr fnnt

Data
2Bie,

bitter?

Serbienet meine
2335

9^adf>rtdt)t

btefen
ift,

Spott

SDafj 9ftecr)a

eine

(Sr)rtftxn

ba freuet

Surf;, einen fyriften, einen SCempelfyerrn,

SDer

il)r

fie

liebt,

nid)t mefyr?

33efonber, ba

Sie

eine t)riftin

ift

Don eurer

2Racr}e.

3ty!
2340

fo

berftet)t ifyr'S?
irf)

0 mag '3

gelten

9?ein

Den

toitt

fel)n,

ber bie belehren fott!

fie

%i)i tcf

ift,
ift.

lngft ju fein, ft>a

ju werben

Serborben

SempeHierr
rflrt
eucf),

ober

gel) t

2)0)0

ie

ift

ein fyriftenfinb,
ift

bon 6b,rifteneltem
.

eboren,

getauft

XempeHjerr

Saftig

Unb ^atb,an?
fltO
9ttct)t

2345

%fyr

Sater

SempeHjerr
9?atr;an nid;t
^fyr,
tr>a
iljr ifyr

Sater?

SBifet

fagt?

dritter Slufjug.

3ef)iiter Stuftritt.

133

Sie
2Ri<f)

2ab,rr;eit,

bie fo oft

blut'ge Jr)rnen meinen machen. r ift ib/r 2kter nic^t

. . .

9}etn,

Ztmptiffttr

Unb
2U
2350

b/tte
r)tte
fict)

fie,

feine todjyter

nur erjogen?
eine

&a

Gfyriftenfinb als

^bin

rjogen?

anj

gemifj.

$empel!jerr

2a

fie

geboren

fei ?

Sie
fie

ie

rojjte nicf)t,
r)tt'

e nie

on ifym erfahren, bafj

eine

briftin

eboren

fei

unb

leine

^bin?
aja
9iie!

Jempettjerr
2355

@t

f>tt'

in biefem

2Bar)ne
liefj'

nidt)t

bas inb
nodb,

23lof$

auferjogen?

ba ^bcfyen $aja

3n

biefem 2Babme?
Seiber

Jempetfjerr

Katb^n
3)er meife gute 3^atr)an fytte
fitt)

2ie ?

rlaubt, bie
2360
3Serftfct)en ?

Sie
fikge

Stimme

ber 9?atur fo ju

Grgiefcung eine erjen3

ficb

ju erlenfen, bie,

felbft

gelaffen,
?

an$ anbre

nebmen mrbe

Saja,

134

9tott)an ber SBeife.

$fyr fyabt mir afterbingS

2365

folgen b/aben fann, 2a mid) bermirrt, worauf id> gleitf nict)t meifj, 2Ba mir ju tfyun. >rum lafttmir $eit. SDrum gefyt! @r !mmt fyier mieberum orbei. @r mtf)t'

33on 2id;tiglett,

ma

etma

toertraut

Un

berfallen.

ef)t!

$tf)

mr' be obe!

Xtmpttytvv
$cr)

bin t^n
fllig.

itjt

ju fprecfyen ganj
ifyr

unb gar
fagt

2370

9iirf)t

2enn

ifym begegnet,

$m

nur, bajj mir einanber bei

bem Sultan

6a;on finben mrben.

Slber lafjt
ftirf)t

merlen gegen

tfnt.

$)a

eurf)

ja

foU nur fo

2)en legten SDrucf

2375

bem

3)inge geben, fott

alle
ib;r if>r

@ua), 9ted)a megen,

33ener)men
!

2Benn
fo
lafjt

Strubel nur
aber bann
bodE)
fie

nad)

uropa
Burcf?

fb/rt,

mitf)

nid)t

entpelf)err

2)a mirb

fia)

finben.

eb/t nur, gefyt

Pierter 2luf3ug.
<rfter Huftritt.

gcene:

3n
r

ben reujgngen be3 lofter.

e r

Ter

ji

rb

ub

unb balb barauf ber

tofterfi ruber

2empe

b e rr.

3>a,

ja
fyat

er fyat fd)on Stecht,

ber ^atrtarcfy

2380

@
s

mir

fretlidt)

nod> toon attebem

Jiirf)t

toiel

gelingen toollen, roa er mir

0
s

aufgetragen.
lauter

2Barum
in in

trgt er mir
?

Slurf)
Jiitftt

foltfie

Saaten auf

^d)

fein fein,

mag
nitfjt

nicbt berreben,

2385

Stein ;ft3a}en
s

alles ftecfen,

mag mag mag

3JJein

nbtf>en nid>t

allem r)aben.

Sin

!Jrf>

barum au
mid),

ber elt gefdjieben, i;

$r
9iorf>

um

mid) fr anbre mit ber 2BeIt

erft recbt ju bermicfeln?

Xempeltjerr
mit aft auf i&n ufommenb

uter Sruber!
239

25a feib
efud)t.

ifyr

ja.

;$d)

a &' eud) lange fd)on fy

tofterbruber

W\$, err?
Jempelfjerr

$#r fennt mid)

fitofterbrubcr

fd)on nid)t mebr*

2)od),

borfi

3*

glaubte nur, bajj

135

ia?

ben errn

136

Nathan

ber SBeife

3" meinem
2395

geben lieber nie ju febm

Sefommen wrbe.

Sem
Sie

lieben ott.

Ser

Senn

icb,

r,offt'

eg ju

liebe

Ott, ber meifc

icb,

Sem erm
Db 3u
2400
icb,

faner mir ber Antrag Warb, bert

ju tb,un Oerbnnben mar.
ein offnem

@r

meifj,

gemnfcb,t,

Db,r bei

md)

finben; to|, mie

3m
Sag
@ud)

feb,r icb, mid) gefreut, ^nnerften gefreut, bafe ir/r fo runb atteg, obme oiel Scbenlcn, oon

mief't,

mag einem
bocb,,

bitter nidjt gekernt.

fyate
bocb,

9fom fommt >r

nun

nacb,gemirft

empejerr

3$r
2405

mifct
ict,

eg fcb,on,

marum

id)

fomme? $aum

SBeifj

eg felbft.
Tofterfcruber

3&* b,abt'g nun berlegt, abt nun gefunben, baf? ber ^atriard; 0 Unreal bocb, nicb,t b,at, bafc @b,r' unb elb
Surd? feinen 2Tnfcr,Iag ju geminnen, bajj @in $einb ein $einb ift, menn er unfer
2410
2(ucb,

ngel

fiebenmal gemefen mre.

fyabt
ib,r

Sag,
unb
93Iut ermogen,

Sag

nun mit

gleifdt)

Unb fommt, unb

Wein frommer,
2415

tragt eua;

roieber an.

21a;

ott

Xemptlfftrv
lieber
ia)

Wann
nid;t,

gebt

euer,

aufrieben.

Segtoegen fomm'
%d)
9Zod)
nicb,t

begmegen

toiH

benf

ben ^atriarcben fprecb,en. 9?ocr/, icb, ber jenen ^unft, mie

ia;

ebad>t, unb mottt'

um

atteg in ber 2BeIt

Sie gute Weinung

nid>t oerlieren,

bereu

Vierter 2tufjug.

rfkr auftritt.

137

2fticb

ein fo

graber, frommer, lieber Biaxin

24 inmal gerorbiget.

%<fy

lomme

blofj,

en

atriarcben ber eine Sacbe

. .

Um

9iat ju fragen

lofterbruer

in bitter, einen

3$r Pfaffen

ben Patriarchen?
? ft$

m^ttm

umfe^enb.

lempelljerr

3a,
Sft siemlicr) pfffifc$.
fojterbruber

bie

Sai)'

leia?h>obl fragt ber Pfaffe

2425

en bitter nie, 2c ritterlicb.

bie

Sacbe

fei

aud> nocb

lempelfjerr
2eiI er
3icf

bas 2?orrecbt
if>m

tyat,

ju bergebn, ba unfereiner

iicbt iebr beneibet.

^yreilicb,

n?enn

tcb

nur

%x
2430

micb ju banbeln btte,

freilieb,

roenn
r)ttc,

$cb 9iecbenfcbaft nur mir ju geben

2Bas brauebt'
eir-iffe

icb

euers"
ia?

^atriareben? 3(ber
lieber fcblecbt

inge mi

:Kacb anbrer Sitten macben,

fRacb
2435

meinem
ift

Religion

3ubem, aueb Partei, unb

gut.

aU
icb

allein
fefy'

nun

too^I,

roer

icb brob aueb nocb fo unparteiifcb glaubt,

lt, obn'. es
felbft ju

tiffen,

bod> nur feiner

fo
ift,

ZHc Stange.

2Be ba einmal nun

Sirb's fo roobl reebt fein.

138

ftcttticm

ber SSeife.

fofterlirubcr

Saju
2440

fdjroeig'
redE)t.

id)

lieber,

$)enn

id)

erftet)'

ben

erm

nid)t

empelf)err

Unb
(2afj fefyn,

bod)!

warum mir

eigentltd)
?

Um

JERad)tfprud)

ober Rat

etefyrten Rat?)

2445

^d) banf' eud), ruber, banf ben guten 2in!. Patriard) ? Sud; fr (Seib ifyr mein patriard) mitf ja bod) SJd)
!

Um 2Ba

311

tfyun!

lautem, ober

SDen fyriften mebr im Patriarchen, al

2>en Patriarchen in

bem
.

Triften fragen.

Sie afy

ift

bie

lofterfiruber

JB05U?
2450

fefyt

Rid)t toeiter,

2)er >err berfennt mid).

id)

2Ber
gut!

err,

nicr)t

Weiter

oiel Weifj,

Qat
JJcid)

oiel

ju forgen, unb

f>a6e ja

@iner orge nur gelobt.

! !

D
eud)

rt

Bleibt

hier

fmmt, ju nur ftefyn. @r fyat

2)ort

meinem lud*,
fdion

er felbft.

erblidt.

Streiter auftritt.
$er
93

r d),

tnetdjer

mit allem

geifttidjett 33

fyerauffmmt, unb bie

33omp ben einen reujgang or igen.

Sempcfljcrr
jd)

Wid)' ifym lieber au.

roter,

3Br'

nid)t

mein lann

2455

Sin bider,

freunblid)er Prlat!

Unb

Welcher prunf!

Vierter 3lufjug.

.3 ro it< r

auftritt.

139

filoftcrbrubcr

^br
iftacb,

fofftet

ifm

crft

feb,n,

>ofe

ftcb

erheben.

^fco

fmmt

6r nur bon einem &ranfen.

Xempelrierr

2ie
9ticbt

ftcb
!

ba

Salabin

roirb

febmen muffen
^atrtaref)

inbem

et n&er

fmmt,

roinft

bem ruber

ier!
2460

Xal
r?

ift

ja roofyl ber embelberr.

2Ba

tottt

lofterbruber

Sei
auf
ifin

nicht.

^atrtard)
jugefjenb,

inbem ber ruber unb ba~ efolge iurcftreten

"Jcun,

err bitter
ju feb,n!

en braben jungen SKann

Sc

gar jung!

9hm,

Sebr
!

erfreut,

@i, noeb,

mit otte ilfe, baraus

Aann

etroal ro erben.

Xtmpelfftrt
3Jiet)r,

ebrrorb'ger err,

2465

iJ3or)l

fcbroerlich,

aU

febon

ift.

Unb

eb,er

noeb,

23as weniger.
^atriareb,

3cb ronfcbe toenigftens,

afc fo ein frommer bitter lange nod?

er
2470

lieben briftenbeit, ber

3ad)e ottes

3u tyr' unb kommen blbn unb grnen mge! a* roirb benn aueb nicfyt feblen, trenn nur fein
Tie junge 3:abferfeit bem reifen State

140

9tatf|an ber Seife.

)e 3Hter folgen

toitt!

Somit
Mit bem

ir>r'

fonft

)em >errn

ju bienen?

Sempetyerr
nmlichen,

2oran

e meiner

^ugenb

fefylt,

mit SRat.

2475

9ted)t gern

^atriard)
s

J^ur

ift

ber Rat aud) anjune^men.

enM>eHjerr
SDod) blinblingS nid)t?
*atriard|

2er fagt benn

ba? @i

freilie

bie ott ifym gab, Mufc niemanb bie Vernunft, wo fie tyin 3u brausen unterlagen,

efyrt.
24 8o

2)enn

fyin ?

efyrt

fie
!

nein

2)urd) einen feiner (Sngel

urd) einen Wiener feinet

um Seiftet, Wenn un ott Mittel 2ort

aber berall
ift

ju fagen,
ein

Sefannt ju mad)en Wrbiget, ba SBofyl 25er ganzen gfyriftenfyeit, ba #e ber ird)e,

2485

Stuf irgenb eine ganj befonbre Seifc

3u
er

frbern, ju befeftigen,

wer barf
bie

id) ba nod) unterftefm,

bie

SBiUfr be
nad) Vernunft

Vernunft

erfd)affen,

u
2490

unterfud)en, unb ba3 ewige

efe$ ber ^errlidtfeit be immel, nad) en Keinen Regeln einer eiteln Sfyre 28a3 od) Neroon genug.

$u

prfen?

ift

benn, worber unfern 9tat fr

it

S)er err toerlangt?

Sempelljerr

efe|t, er/rwrb'ge* SSater,

Vierter Stufjug.

3 rce

ter auftritt.

141

2495

e fei 6in ^ube btf ein einjig inb, bat er mit ber grten Sorgfalt Gin ^Oibcben, 3u allem uten auferjogen, ba

Gr

liebe mefyr

al feine Seele, ba3

3t)n roieber mit ber frmmften Siebe liebe.

2500

Unb nun
@r
r)ab'

tr-rb'

ie* 9tb$CM

fei

unfereinem r/interbracbt, be ^suben ^ocbter nicr):,

e3 in ber ftinbfyeit aufgelefen,

efauft, geftoblen,

roas ibr h?ottt

man
fei

roiffe,

^as
2505

9Kbcr)en

fei

ein briftenfinb,
t^ab'

unb

etauft; ber ^ube

1

e nur

aU ^^n

rjogen

laff

e nur al3

^bin unb

2lte feine Jocbter fo

toerr/arren;

fagt,
roob,!

Gbrrorb'ger 8ater, roas mr' hierbei

3u tbun?
^arriartfi

W\fy fcbaubert
2510

ocb
%a
ftcb,

ju affererft

rllre

ficf>

ber fyxt, ob fo ein

@in jyaftum tw m ^ ^r/otfyef.

a
Unb

ift

ju fagen, ob ber err

ba3

9?ur blo fo bietet, ober ob'3 gefcfyerm,

fortfbrt ju gefcr)erm.

etnpeUjerr

^cb glaubte, ba3

2515

3 ei

eins,

um

euer ocbebrtorben

Meinung

Slojj ju toernebmen.
^arrtardj

Cnri
Bie
ftcb

bie

ftolje menfcr/licbe

3m

eiftlicben bocb
ift

irren fann.

a Vernunft

fet>'

ber err

2Jtit

nieten

$enn

ber borgetragne #att nur fo

142
2520

Maitym

ber SBeife.

@iu piel be Si|e, fo SDer 9Mbe nicfyt, im rnft

berlofynt
i?n

fidji

burtf^ubenfen.

3$

mi ben

>errn bamit auf ba Sweater

SerVriefen fyaben,

wo

bergletd^en

pro

Et contra fi$ mit ielem

2525

Sefyanbeln taffen. >at ber >err mia) aber ^itt^t blofj mit einer tt)eatral'fcr;en anmurre

23etfaff tonnte

3um
@r

beften;

ift

ber $all ein

$aftum;

fytt'

ftdj)

Wofyl gar in unfrer icef,

$n
2530

unfrer lieben tabt ^erufalem,

(Mugnet,

ja

albann

^empenjerr

Unb ma atebann?
^atrtardj

^ann mre
>ie

mit

bem $>uben
tooUjiefyn,

frberfamft
p>ftlia;e

trfe gu
faiferlid)e

bie

Unb

9xed)t fo

einem $rebel,

einer Saftertfyat beftimmen.

SempcUjerr

0?
^atrtarcf)

2535

Unb ^War beftimmen

2fyoftafte erfhrt,

obbefagte

9flerf)te

2)em $>uben, melier einen

en

oIftofc

ben
0?

GH)riften jur

Weiterlaufen,

Sempelljcrr

^atrinrd)

Unb
2)er mit
2540

wie bielmefyr bem Iguben,

eWalt

ein

arme-3 Gfyrtftenfinb
entreit
!

SDem 33unbe

feiner

auf

3)enn

ift

Vierter 2liif$ug.

^roeitcr auftritt.

143
?

Ifticbt

alles,

3u

fagen:

ausgenommen,

tr>a

man

$inbern tlmt, eroalt

roas bie ^ireb/

2ln inbern tlmt.

Xempelfjerr

2enn aber nun ba $inb,

Erbarmte
2545

58ieHeid)t

fetner fta) ber ^ube nicfyt, im lenb umgefommen mre?

^atxiax)

2:b ut niebts
;

ber

^ube mirb Derbrannt.

eroigen SSerberben

2>enn
*?

beffer,

G mre
(3 fo

bier

im @lenb umgefommen,

2ll bajj ju feinem

gerettet roarb.

$u
toiH,

Dem / was"

at

2550

^er ^ube Ott benn

ann, roen
er retten

orjugreif en ?
fcb,on

ott

olm' ilm retten.

Xempeltjerr
2tucb trofc ibm, follt' icb meinen,
^otriartf)

feiig

machen.

l>ut niebts! ber 2>ube wirb berbrannt.

Xempelljerr

as
5Rir nab
2555
1 !

gcr>t

33efonber ba

man

fagt,

er habe

>as*

-Dtbcben niebt fotoofyl in feinem, als"

SSielmebr in feinem

lauben auferjogen,

Unb

mefyr niebt weniger elebrt, als ber Vernunft gengt.

fie

bon ott

nicf)t

^atriartf)

Sbut
2)er

nichts

2560

^a, dion bieferwegen roert, breimal berbrannt 2Ba? ein $inb obn' allen lauben 3u h>erben!
. . .

^ube nrb berbrannt

tor'

allein

rraaebfen laffen

2ie

bie

grojje

^fliajt

144

Stefan

ber SBetfe.

3u
$)a3
2565

glauben, ganj unb gar ein inb nid)t lehren?

ift

ju arg
. .
.

9Jcid)

munbert

fel>r,

err bitter,

@ud)

felbft

Zcmpelfftxv
fyrturb'ger err, ba brige,

2enn ott mi,

in ber Seilte, ssiagegit.

^otriorrf)

9cid)t

einmal

Sftebe

2)en ^uben mir nid)t

3ur
2570

teile fd)affen ?
geh,'

^d;

fogleia)

>en nennen mir n D ba alabin, jum ultan.

ftefm
?

2Ba? mir nun

33femid)t,
ib,

nid) t
!

meifc

icf>

tat

Vermge
SDie

ber Kapitulation,

er befd;moren,

mufi un, mufj un fd)en,

fd)i$en,

Sei allen Siebten, allen Sefyren 3Me mir ju unfrer allerfyeiligften

2575

Religion nur immer reebnen brfen!

ottlob

mir Ijaben baS Original.

2ir
!

2ir l)aben feine anb, fein iegel.

^lucb,

mad)'

id)

u)m gar
2llle

Ietd)t

begreiflid),
ift,

rote

effyrcb,
2580
9iid)t

felber fr

ben (Staat e

glauben!

brgerliche SBanbe

inb aufgelfet, finb jerriffen, wenn er 9Jienfd) nid)t<3 glauben barf. >inWeg

InnWeg

gjcit

folgern $retoel

Ztmpcifftvt

d)abe,
2)en trefflid)en 2585 eniefsen fann

bajj id)
IRufje

nid)t

ermon
!

mit beff'rer

$d) bin jum alabin

erufen.

Vierter Otufjug.

3 wcitei:

auftritt.

145

^tttriartf)

^a
hll ben

5iun

-ftim

freilieb

$ann

5>cb

Sultan Vorbereiten, toenn

Gl urer

ftocbebrrorben fo gefllt.
tatriarrf)

2590

C, ob 5* SSor Salabin
!
!

^a)
(Sifer

roe iJ5/

k er

crr

M
tfym.

nabe funben

bitte

meiner nur
fein.

^m
2Ba

beften bei
treibt ber
tcr)

ibm eingebenf ju
Sottet
tb,u'
icr)
!

gjiicb,

lebiglicf.

$x

toiel

tfm',

2595

Xocb ja ber err ermgen Unb nicfyt >err bitter? bae borbin ermbnte bon

$a3
ift

tootte

roafyr,

Sem
3u

jagen

^uben, roar nur

ein

^roblema?

Xempelfjerr

in ^roblema.
efjr ab.

^atriard)

(em

icb,

tiefer

Xocb auf ben runb ju fommen fucben mu. SDaS mr' fo roieberum ein Auftrag fr
2600

en Sruber
Cr

33onaftbes.)

$ier, mein <Sor)n

fitofterbruber.

faridjt

im a&geljn mit bem

146

Nathan

ber

SEeife.

Dritter auftritt.
cene
:

ein

Zimmer im

^alafte beg

eine Sftenge Seiltet getragen,

atabin, in roeldjeS on flauen unb auf bem 53oben neben einanber

gepellt roerben.

6a (ab in

unb balb barauj Sittal).

nlabtll ber baju lmmt

92un

roar/rlict)

ba

fyat

nod) fein @nbe.

3ft

3)e 35ing nod>

i>iel

jurd!

@in flaue
2or/l

no$

bie lfte.

alabtn

o
9Bo
2605

tragt ba brige gu ittar;.

bleibt

Unb
fogleicb,
fcr/icfe?

2U*afi? $a
ficf;

2ll=afi ju

nehmen.

foH Ober ob
f)ier

^a)'

nicr/t

bielmer/r

bem Sater

ier

gttt mir e bocr) nur burcb, bie Ringer. 3rt>ar 9ttan mirb tt>or/I enblict) tyart, unb nun geroijj

oII'S fnfte foften, mir biet abjujmadten.

2610 23i3

raemgftenS bie eiber au Stgtybten

teile

3ur

fommen, mag ba3 2trmut fefm

!

Sie'S fertig roirb

>ie

benben

bei

bem rabe,
!

SBenn

nur fortger)n! 2Rit leeren >nben nur

bie
2615

Senn
nitf>t

bie @r/riftenbilger

SBenn nur

abjielm brfen

tttof|

2Ba3
33ei

fott

nun ba? 2Ba$

fott

baS elb

mir?
atabin
5Raa)' bia) babon bejaht, unb leg'

Stuf Vorrat, roenn roa brig bleibt.

Vierter 2tuf5iig.

dritter Stuftritt.

147

3ji 9?atb,an
9Jod) mit

bem Tempelherrn

nict)t

ba?

Salabitt

@r

fucbj

3^n

allerorten.
Sittaf)

Sier) bodj,
2620

was t$

ier,

^nbem mir
2>ie

fo

mein

alt

efrfnneioe burd?

nbe

ger/t,

gefunben.

yfjm ein Hein emlbe jeigenb.

calabin

2>a
2tf>

tft

er,

ift

er!

3ar

a
er!

mein 33ruber

mar

er!

at)

marfrer lieber ^junge, bajj id) bi$ 0 frr) berlor 23as t)tt' idb erft mit btr, 2625 2ln beiner Seit' erft unternommen ! Sittab,
!

2ajj mir bas

23tlb.

2turf>

fenn' idj'3 fdjon,

er

gab

63

beiner altern Srfiwefter, feiner 2itta,

SDie eine
5Rttf>t

Borgens

ib,n

fo

ganj unb gar

aus ben Strmen

letjte,

Iaffen roottt'.

2630

Der ^bn
SSor

ben er ausritt.

reiten,

unb

atiein
b,at

G mar
lie

2lb,

i6

2lf>,

Silla ftarb

ram, unb
fo
tr>eg!

mir'S nie bergeben, bajj

Iaffen.

3$

attein ibn reiten

6r

Slieb

Sittalj

Der arme Sruber

Salabin

2635

inmal 3ubem,
Sein
!

Safc

nur gut
!

bleiben mir bod? alle roeg

roer roeijj?

Der

3Tob

tft 'S

nicr)t

allein,

148

^atfjon bev Seife.

2)er einem Jngling feiner 2lrt ba $iel

SSerrdt.

@r

t?at

ber $einbe mefyr, unb oft

rliegt ber trffte

2640

ei

toie ifym

fei

$d)

gleidt)

bem

cfymdjften.
botf)

-iftun,

mufc ba 33b

mit

3)em jungen ^Tempelherrn Dergleichen, mufj

3)od) feljn, toie biet mta) meine $t)antafie
etufcfyt.
ittal)

%luv

barum
h)iff

bring'
bir

icf)'.

SCber gieb

od), gieb!
2645
SSerftefyt

3$

ba

toofyl

fagen, ba

ein toeibtf)

Slug'

am

beften.

Satabilt

ju einem SJjrfteljer, ber Ijereintritt

3ft ba?

ber STempelb; err

2er
(Sr

!omm'

ittalj

Surf)

nidjt

3u 3u
ie

ftren,

irren
fefet fic^

it)n

mit meiner Neugier

nidt)t

feitrort

auf einen ofa unb

ljjt

ben Soleier

fallen.

Safabtn

ut
ie ber
2650

fo

gut
!

toofyi fein toirb tool)I

(Unb

nun

fein Ston

2lffab 3Ton

Schlft aud;

too in meiner

eele nocfy!)

Vierter auftritt.
25er

3:etnpelf)err unb

Salabin.

Sempdljcrr

$a%

bein efangner,

Sultan

Vierter Slufuig.

SSierter auftritt.

149

Salabin

5Kein efangner?

2em
fttdbt

icb

ba Seben

fcbenfe, toerb' icb

bem

aud) bic f^-reibett fcbenfen ?

Jempelljerr

2Ba

bir jiemt

3u
2655

t^un, jiemt mir,

erft

ju bernelmten, md)t

916er, ultan, 35anf, Sorausjufe^en. Sefonbern 3>anf bir fr mein Seben ju

beteuern, ftimmt mit meinem Stanb' unb meinem

Gbarafter mcr)t.

fteljt

in allen glten

beinen ienften toieber.

Salabin

2660

9iicbt toiber

mid)
ic^

3
f?

JBrauV e nur
roar ein

^gg*

Jpnbe meb,r,

^ie gnnt'

3bm

fo

ein

Kir febmer.

meinem geinbe gern. Stttein erj aud) mebr ju gnnen, fllt

3>cb,

aDC

mi*

mit bir in nid)t3

Setrogen, braber junger 3Rann! 26^5 2Rit eel' unb 2eib mein 2ljfab.
^Ticr)

bift
!

(Sieb,

id)

lnnte

fragen, ioo bu benn bie ganje

^t

eftedt? in roeld)er ble bu gefcblafen?

^n
2670

roelcbem inniftan, bon toeld)er guten

it> biefe 53lume fort

unb
!

fort fo frifd)

(galten roorben ? iel? id) f nnte bter) Grinnem motten, roa mir bort unb bort

3ufammen

ausgefhrt.

5$

fnnte mit

Tir janfen, bajj bu in eljeimniS bod) $or mir Qtbaht, 6in Abenteuer mir
2675

od> unterfcblagen ^a, ba fnnt' J* bid) nur fb', unb niebt aud) mieb.
!

id),

toemt

9?un, mag'i!

150

Wafyan

ber Seife.

S8on biefer ffjen Trumerei

ift

immer

od; fo biet roafyr, bafj mir in meinem erbft in 2lffab roieber blhen fott. u bift

2680

Q%

bocfy

aufrieben, bitter?

Sempeffjcrr

33on bir mir fmmt

2We3,
fei

roa
toifl

toad e

ba
mir

lag

2ll 2unfd; in meiner (Seele.

Safabtn

Sogleich berfucfyen.

2685

Um ^m %m
$u

mir?

2af$
SBliebft

un ba
bei
?

bu mofyl

2II

Gtyrift,

aU

9)Zufetmann, gleicr^iel!

treiben Hantel, ober ^amerlonf, Xulban, ober beinern ^iljc, roie

roillft!

leicr/iel!

%ty fyaht nie erlangt,

-Rinbe roaa)fe.

SDa allen

Sumen

eine

Sempelljcrr

onft mrft bu mofyl

2690

aucfy

fa)roerlid>,

ber bu

bift,

)er elb, ber lieber otte<S rtner rore.

alabut
ftun

bann, roenn bu
mir ja

nicf)t

frf)lea;ter

t-on

mir

benfft,

60 mren

fyalb

fa)on richtig?

Xtmpztyttv

anj!
Srtfabilt
iljm

Me nnb

Metettb

@in 2ort?
XtmpcltyttV

@in 5ftann
2tl

hiermit
ag
!

cinfc^tagenb

empfange met>r

bu mir nehmen fonnteft.

Snlabin

(&an% ber beine!

2695

3U

we ^ eminn
er nicft

fr einen

ju biel

$am

mit?

Vierter ufjug.

Giertet auftritt.

151

Ztmpclf)tvr

2er?
alabtit

9iatban.
Sempelljerr
allein.
fronig

9?ein.

l^d; fatn

Salabin
Selrf)

eine Sfyat toon bir!

eine folcbe

Unb
bat

toeldj

(Sin toeifeS

lud, ba

3um
2700

heften eine* folc&en 3)tanne ausfcblug.

temperen:
%a, ja!

0
9tt<$ fein
!

falt ?

3aIobin
-ftein,

junger 2Rann

toenn ott

9a ute burd) un

tlmt,

mu man

fo falt
fo

felbft

au3

33efcr>cibenr;eit

falt

9?id?t fd)einen toollen!

Jempelfjerr

(Sin jebe

ing
oft

fo
fid)

S)a$ bod) in ber 2BeIt mand)e Seiten r)at

2705

33on benen
Sie
fie

gar md)t benfen

!

ljjt,

^ufammenpaffen

Solobin

alte bid)
5?ur

immer an
roei^,
toie

bie
fie

beft',

unb

greife

er
2710

jufammenpaffen.
roiUft,

ott!
2lber,

3Senn bu

fo

fdnmerig fein

junger 2ftann,

tuerb'

Rtcf

aud) td) ja roobl auf meiner ut mit bir galten muffen? Seiber bin

2(ud) id) ein 1)ing t>on bielen Seiten, bie

Oft

nid)t

fo

red)t ju paffen

fcfc)einen

mgen.

152

Wabern

ber Seife.

2)a fdnnerjt
2715

Sftein $el)Ier

SDenn
!

emjjelf)err

2lrgrooIjm

ift

fo

wenig

fonft

olobin

$tt*3 ^aft
Sluf

9lun, fo fage
festen ja

bocl),

mit

wem
2ie?
ftorid}
!

gar, mit 9?atf>an.

^at^an 3trgh>o&n? bu?

gieb mir beineg

rilr' bia)!
erfte

$omm,
%<fy

3utrau'n

^}robe.

Xetnpetyerr

2720

miber ^atfyan nichts. 2tHein mit mir

t>abe

%d) jrn'

alabht

Unb

ber

ma?
25af$

Sempelljerr

mir

etrumt,

ein

^ube fnn' aud) wofyl ein ^ube

bafj

3u

fein berlernen,

mir wadjenb

fo

etrumt.
Solobitt

erau mit biefem machen

$empelf)err

Traume

2)u weifst bon 9?atl)an3 ocfyter, (Sultan.

2725

3$
$u

f ur

ft e

^ at

ba

tFjat

icfy

2Ba3
tfjat.

weil ilm

icfy'S

ftolj,

2)anf einzuernten,
id)

Wo

id>

^ic^t fete, berfdjmbt'

ag

fr

ag
$)er 93ater auf,

2)a3 5J{bd;en

noefy

einmal ju
er fyrt, bafj
toon

fefyn.

2ar
2730

fern,
;

er

fmmt,

er fud)t miel)

@r banft

er Wnfd)t,
fbricfjt

feine Sodjter

mir

efallen mge,

23on Reitern fernen.

2luft$t, frid;t
id;

9?un,

laffe

miefy

33efd)Waen, fomme,
(Sin 9ftbd;en
. .

fefye,

finbe Wirflid;

311),

id;

mu|

mid; fdwmen, Sultan!

Btarta SBftng.

Starte auftritt.

153

2735

2>icf>

fcbmen

Salabtu
baf; ein

icb inbrucf machte, boch

^ubenmbcben auf tt>ohI nimmermehr?

IcmpcHjerr
2>af$ biefem inbrucf,

auf ba

liebliche

efcbtofc bes SBaterS bjn, mein rafcbes erj

So
2740
^cf>

toenig 23iberftanb entgegenfefcte

ropf

ich

forang ;$um jroeitenmal in ^euer.

$enn nun

ioarb id>,

unb nun toarb

Salabin

id>

erfmbt.

SSerf a^m^t ?

Sempelljerr
$)er ioeife $ater fcbjgt

nun

toob,!

Wid}
s

tolatterbing* nicht au.

2)er ioeife SSater

erft

3Huf$
2745

aber boch

ficb

erft
!

erfunben,
Hfyat
ich,

Sefmnen.
9iicht

2ltterbing

benn ba

auch,?

rfunbete, befann

ich,

benn

2Kid> erft nidjt aua),

aU
f

fte
ift

im $euer fahrte?
boch,

g-rmah.r!

bei
fo

ott!

gar toa Schnes,

toeife,

bebcfytig

fein!

Salabiu
iftun,

nun

2750

So

fieh

boch einem Stlten titoa* nach,!

SBie lange fnnen feine Weigerungen 2)enn bauern? 2irb er benn bon bir erlangen,
2)ajj

bu

erft

^ube ioerben

fottft?

Icmpclfjerr

2Ber 2er
ioeifs ?

toeijj!

Satabtn
ber biefen

Nathan

beffer fennt.

154

SRatfym ber Seife.

emj)cfljcrr
2755

er

Slberglaub', in

bem

toir

aufgelaufen,

Verliert, and) toenn totr ifm erfennen,

SDod) feine 9Jt*ad)t md)t ber un.

ftidjt

barum
finb

(5<

alle frei,

bie ifyrer Letten flotten.

dabin

eb>
2760

reif

bemerft

)od) 9?atl)an toafyrlid), ^Ratfyan

empenjerr
2)er Aberglauben fd;limmfter
ift,
.

ben feinen
. .

$r ben ertrglichem

$u galten

afabtn
9Jtag
2Botyl fein
!

od> 9*atb>n

SempeUjerr

SDem
SDie

allein

blbe 9Jlenfd$ett ju toertrauen, bi

getofyne,

ie feuern 2Sarf)eit3tag
2765

bem

2lHein

alabin

ut!

3lber 9?att?an!
ntdt)t.

9?atfyanS

2o

3ft biefe d)toad)fyeit

cmpe(fjerr

0
Senn
gleicfytoobl

bad?t' td) aud)!

Sftenfdjien

biefer

StuSbunb aller

<So ein gemeiner

(Sr

Gfyriftenfmber gu
fie

^ube tore, bafj befommen fucfye,

aufweint,
afabitt

2770

Um

aH ^uben
fo

toie

bann?

2Ber fagt ifmt

toa nad)?

3>a3 9Jibdien

felbft,

Vierter aufjug.

Vierter auftritt.

155

2Rit roelcber er mich fbrnt, mit beren Hoffnung

Gr gern mir

gu befahlen fcbtene, roa

fie
ift

3$
2775

nicht

umfonft fr
felbft

getb,an fott haben,

feine Jocf/ter

ie 5Kbcben

nicht,

3P

ein bezettelt

Gbriftenfinb.

Satabin

$a3
emungeacbtet
Xempelfjerr
33ott'

er

bir nicht geben roottte?

fieftig

ober motte nicht

(rr
ift

ift

entbecft.

er
2780
^<f>

tolerante Scbto&er

entbecft!

merbe hinter biefen jb'fcben 2oIf

r/ilofopb/fcr/en

3
3u
Sei

Scbaf^elj unbe fcbon

bie
it)

bringen

roiffen,

n jaufen
ernft

follen

3 atabin
rufyig,
Gr/rift!

Jempclljerr

2Ba? ruhig

Gbrift ?

SSenn

^ub'

Unb
2785
-Jiicbt

iIRufelmann auf %VLt>\ auf Jcufehnann

fott

Sefteben,

attein ber Gfyrift

?

ben Triften

machen brfen

3aiabin

nodj ernfter

Jtuhig,

a^rift

lempelfjerr getanen
SDcS

Vorwurf ganje Saft

Silbe prejjt! 2(ff ao

3$
bie

fh,Ie

Salabin
ich,

3>n biefe

3ie 2(ffab
2790

2th,

toenn

rof&te,

a meiner Stelle
!

hierbei

genommen

htte

Salabin
9itcr/t
toiel

beffer!

156
SSermutlicf)

SRatljan ber SBeife.

gang

fo

braufenb!

)od), roer >at

tote

SDenn
9Jiit

bid^>

aud> fd)on gelehrt, mid) fo

er

einem
id)

Sorte ju befted;en?

$reilicr)

2Benn
2795

allel fid;

behlt,

rote

bu mir

fageft,

$ann

mid; felber
ift

faum

in

9tatr)an finben.

$nbe,

er

mein $reunb, unb meiner ^reunbe

SJhtfj feiner mit beut anbern fyabern.

Safj
nidit

)id>

roeifen!

ei) belmtfam!

ieb

tfyn

Sofort ben ct/rormern beineg $bbel prei!

2800
SSerfd^roeig',

roa beine eiftlid;feit, an ir/m

!

$u rchen, mir fo nafye legen rorbe ei feinem ^uben, feinem -Rufelmanne

3um %xo%

ein fyrift

Itmptifytvt

Salb
>odj>

ror'S bamit ju

f^>t!

2)anf ber 33lutbegier bei Patriarchen,

2805

2)e erfjeug mir ju werben graute!

olobiu

2Bie?

)u famft jum $atrtard)en

efyer

als

3u mir?
%emptlfytxv

^m

trm

ber Seibenfdmft, im Sirbel

!

)er Unentfa) loffenfyeit

SBerjety'!
id>,

3)u

roirft

58on beinern Stffab, frd)t'

2810
s

ferner

nun

Jftd;t mein* in

mir erlernten
Solabtn

rootten.

3Br'

@3
2tu3

biefe

$urd;t nid)t felbft

$ef)Iern unfre

9Jcid)

bnft,
feimt.

id)

roeife

roelcfyen

ugenb

Vierter fluftug.

fnfter auftritt.

157

$fleg' biefe ferner nur, unb jene foHen

Sei mir
1

bir roenig fcf/aben.

(

er

2tber gefy!
bitf>

2815

Sudfr

bu nun 9}atb an, wie

bring' ibn

gefugt,
bod>

Unb

gSerftnbigcn.

2Sr'
tf/un,
fei

r/er.

3*
um

mufe

euer;

jufammen

3m
3lutt)

Grnft
fotl

311

ba 9Mba?en bir Sie ift bein! rubig.

ein
!

e3

Nathan

fajon empfinben, bafj

2820

@r

ofyne

Sct)h?einef(eifcr)
!

@rjier/en brfen

gbriftenfinb

er;

2>et SempelljerT geljt ab,

unb

Sittaf) erlt

ben Sofa.

fnfter auftritt.

Sa lab in

unb

tttat).

<Bittat)

anj fonberbarl
Sotobin
elt, Sittab?
ein braber, 9Kufi mein 2(ffab niebt

in fdjner junger

Wann

gemefen fein?

tttalj

2Benn
2825

er fo

mar, unb

niebt gu biefem
!

er SM

Stempelt err toielmeb^r gef effen

b>ft

Silbe
216er

bu bod) ergeffen fnnen,

bic^

9iaa? feinen

Item

ju erfunbigen?
Solttbtn

Unb inSbefonbre mobl na$ feiner Butter? )h feine 9Jiutter t/ier ju Sanbe nie
2830

efoefen fei?

9frtf>t

mar/r?
Stttal)

25a maef/ft bu gut.

158

SWotljan ber SSeife.

Salabut

D, mglicher
Sei
I?bfrf)en

ror' nia)t

Senn

SCffab

mar

fyriftenbamen fo toiHtommen,

2luf f>bfd^e @l)riftenbamen fo erpicht,

Sajj einmal gar bie

2835

Sftebe

ging

-JRan

f^>ridE)t
!

nicfyt

$fyn toieber
2Rit

gern batoon.

enug, nun,
^Run,
ia)

r)ab'

toitt

mit allen feinen $er)lem,

aUen Saunen
!

feines

$>fm toieber I)aben

meinen erjen
!

Dfy

ba 9)lbc|en mufj

$r/m 9?at^an geben.

SReinft bu nid)t?

tal)

3$m
2840

geben?

$#m

laffen!

Safabin
2taerbing!

2Ba
ift,

f?tte

SRattyan,

obalb

er nicfyt ir SSater

fr
fo

Sftecfyt

2luf fie?
Stritt

2Ber i^r ba Seben

erhielt,
ifyr

einzig in bie Steckte be,

ber

gab.
ittalj

9Bie alfo, alabin?

2845

menn bu
6ie nur

9htr gleich ba SRbcfyen ju bir nr/mft?

Sem

unrechtmigen Sefitjer
alabtu

gleicfy

ntggeft?
r,te ba roofyl 5Rot?
ittalj

2Bor)I thtn

nicfyt

Sie

iRot

nun

liebe 9?eubegier

treibt mia) allein, bir biefen dit ju geben.

2850

>enn

t>on

gemiffen SRnnern

mag

icfy

gar

Vierter Sufjug.

Sedier

auftritt.

159

3u

gern, fo balb roie

ein

mglich hnjfen, toa3

Sie fr

-IRbaSen lieben fnnen.

2oIabin
Run,

60

fa)icf'

unb

lafc

fte

beulen.

Sitta^

35arf

tc^'

ruber?

Salabin
v

Jiur febone -JtatljanS.

-Katr/an mufe burebaus

2855

9iicf)t

glauben, bafc
toolle.

man

mit etoalt

um

bon

3bj trennen

3ittal)

Sorge

nid^t.

Salabin

%$

mufj fa;on

felbft

fefm,

Unb ia% mo 3IUaft bleibt.

5cd>fter auftritt.
geene: bie offne gtur in 9iatb,an8 aufe, gegen bie Jahnen ju, mit

im
(Sin Seil ber

erften Auftritte beS erften SlufmgeS.

liegt auSgefratnt, beren

Sparen unb ojibarfeiten

eben

bafelbft gebadjt wirb.

9?atl)an unb

2o ja.

Taja

D,

alles berrlicb

D,
2860

alles

roie

aufriefen ! nur ibr e geben fnnt.

!

alles'

2So

roirb ber

Silberftoff mit golbnen

foftet

emaebt? 23as
in Srautfleib!

er?

hnfen
ta?

SDas"

nenn'

noa;

eine Knigin berlangt

@s

bejfer.

160

Statljan ber Seife.

matyan
Srautfleib?

2Barum Srautfleib tbtn?

1>a\a

$e nun
2865

5#r
it>n

backtet

2tl

ifyr

lauftet.

baran

freilief)

nid):,

2lber roalirlid), 9?atb;an,

3)er unb fein anbrer mujj e fein!

@r

ift

3um
@in

23rautfleib wie beftettt.

SBilb

er

meifje

runb,
Strme,

ber Unfdwlb,

unb

bie golbnen

2)ie allerorten biefen 2870

runb

burd)fd)lngeln,

@in Silb bc S}etd)tumg.

Sefyt

^r?

Sltterliebft

ftcfyttt

Ba

mithelft

bu mir ba? SSon

fo

roeffen 23rautfleib

Sinnbilberft bu mir

gelehrt?

33ift

bu

enn Sraut?
$rtja

5Zun mer benn?

So)
2er benn?
2875

lieber

ott

23on treffen 33rautfleib fprid)ft bu benn?

ift

2)a3 aHeS

ja bein,

unb
$>aja

feiner anbern.

3ft

mein? ott mein fein?

^ft fr 9ted)anid)t?

28a3

id)

fr 3ffed)a mitgebracht, ba liegt

9Jtad)'
!

$n

einem anbern fallen.

nimm weg

trag'

beine (Siebenfachen fort!

58erfud)er
2880

Rein,

roren e bie $oftbarfeiten

auef)

Vierter Slufutg.

(Sedjfler auftritt.

161

er ganjen
Vorher
nitf>t

SBelt

?icr)t

rbr' an,

menn

ib/r

mir,

ftf>mrt,

t>on biefer

emsigen

(Megenbeit, bergleid*en eu# ber Fimmel

yiify jroeimal fanden mirb, ebraucb, ju maa^en.

Nathan
2885

ebraucb, ?

bon ma3 ?

elegcnr)ctt ?

rooju ?

taja

D,
<So

[teilt

eudf

nicbt fo

fremb

Rtt furzen
fie

Sorten,

2)er 2:empel^err liebt 3tecr/a, gebt

l>at

ihm.

bocb einmal eure

Snbe,

bie ein

3*
2890

lnger nicbt t-erfcbmeigen fann,

Gnbe.

(So

fmmt bas
unb

'Sftbcben
fie
ift,

mieber unter Triften,

ift

2irb mieber,

ma*
nicbt

mieber,

Sie marb;

ibr,

ir)r

fyabt

mit

all'

ma bem uten,

a
9?icr;t

mir eucb

genug oerbanfen tonnen,

auf euer >aupt

^euerfoblen

blofj

2895

efammelt.
ftattjun

ecb
2Rit einer neuen

bie alte Seier

mieber?

Saite nur belogen,

Xie, furcht'

icb,

meber ftimmt nod)

b/lt.

aja
2Bie fo?

Nathan

W\x mr'
Scb,

ber Tempelherr faion

recfyt.

^fym gnnt'

JRea)a
. .

mehr als einem

iftun,

in ber SBelt.

2900

2lllein

fyahz

nur ebulb.
Xaja

ebulb
ebulb,
ift

eure alte 2eier

nun

2Sor/l nicf/t?

162

Statljan ber 2Betfe.

Matf)an

ieb, borf)!

age 2er tommt benn

roenig
roitt.

Kur

nod) ebutb

bort? @in lofterbruber?

er/, frag' ib/n ioa er

2Ba
(Sie gef)t

roirb

er

motten

nuf

itjtt

ju unb fragt.

2905

gieb!

unb
icb,

Watljan
er/ er
bittet.

(2f$t'

irf)

nur

em

Tempelherrn

erft

betjufommen, orme

3)ie Urfacl)'

meiner Neugier ib/m ju fagen!

fie

>enn wenn

ir)m fag',
irf)

unb ber

SSerbacr)t

$ft ofyne runb, fo b/ab'

2910

ganj umfonft

)en Sater auf ba <5p'\d gefegt.)

<aja

2a

ift'g?

mitt

euer;

fprect)en.

Watf)an

ytm\, fo

lajj

ibm

lommen,

Unb

geb,

inbe.

Siebenter Zluftritt.
Statt)

an unb

ber

t oft erb ruber.

(%<fy
SDocb,

gar ju gern!
icb,

bliebe

lDar f flrm k&'S

9iea> Sater *> enn *"$* bleiben,

b,

2lud) roenn
2915

aufr/r',

e3 ju

eifcen ?
aueb,

^fyr,
r)ci^en,

$r/r

felbft
fie
ift

roerb'

icb/ borf)

immer

norf>

3Benn

erfennt, roie gern irf)M mre).

eb/!

2a

ju euern ienften,

frommer ruber?

Vierter Slufjug.

Siebenter auftritt.

163

Stiebt

eben

toiel.

filofterbruber
$>cb

freue micb, >err ftatban,

ud) annod)

rt>ot>I

ju felm.
ftatfjan

<So fennt
Sloftcrbruber
2920

if>r

mid) ?

^e nu,

toer fennt

euer)

nicr)t ?

^jfyr

r)abt

fo

manchem

5a
@r

euern tarnen in bie >anb gebrcft.

ftef;t

in meiner aud) feit Dielen 2>abren.

v

JJatbatt

nad) feinem Seute( lanpenb

ommt, Sruber, fommt,

icb

frifdV ibn auf.

lofterbruber

abt anf!
JJd)

torb' e
ibr

mtern

fteblen,

nebme

nid)t.

2925

2Benn
ud)

mir nur erlauben

toollt,

ein toenig

meinen tarnen

aufjufrifeben.

2)enn

^d) fann mid) rbmen, aud) in

@troa gelegt ju fyaben, toa
SBeracbten toar.

eure anb
ju

ntcr)t

Watfjan

2930

nefymt jur Sujje ftebenfad) Sagt, S)en SBert beffelben Don mir an.
Sloftcrbrubcr

toas? unb

35erjeir)

!yd)

febme mid)

$or

rt bod) fingen, mie id) felber nur Srft beut' an bie mein eud) bertraute ^fanb
allen
!Katf)an

Erinnert toorben.

Wlxx ertraute fanb ?

164

9htt)an ber Seife.

foftcrferuber
2935

$or furjem
2luf

faft

id)

nod) als Gsremit

unraeit ^ericfyo.

Quarantana,

2)a !am arabifd) 9iaubgefmbel, brad) JJtein otter)u3cr)en ab unb meine 3elle,

Unb
2940

fd)Iep!pte

micb,
flot)

mit

fort.

3 um lud

entfam

^d) nod),

unb

f)ierr)er

jum

Patriarchen,

Um

mir ein anber $Idjen auSjubitten, 2lUio ict) meinem Ott in infamfeit
23i

an mein

feiig

Gsnbe bienen tonne.

Nathan

%$
2945

fteb,'

auf ofylen, guter Sruber.

9Jiact
!

furj.

$)a $fanb, ba mir bertraute ^fanb

fofterferuber

ogleid), err

5ftatr/an.

Sfun, ber ^atriarcr)

SSerfprad) mir eine (Siebelei auf Xabor,

obalb

aU

eine leer,
micb,
i|t,
ir>ot)l

unb

Ijiefj

injmifa;en

3>m lofter 2950 2)a bin idj

)e StagS

aU

Saienbruber bleiben.

err 9iatb,an, unb berlange SDenn r/unbertmal auf abor.

er

^atriarrf) brauefit micb, ju allerlei,

icb)
:

2obor

groen @fel

E?abe.

$um

Stempel

Katfjan
9Jtacr,t, id?

bitt'

euer,

SHofterlintber
s

Jcun, eS

fmmt

2955

a
@
@in

b/at

ib)m

jemanb

fyeut'

ins Db/r gefegt,

lebe b/ier fyerum ein

^ube, ber
fieb,

Gb/riftenfinb als feine od)ter

r^ge.

Vierter Slufjug.

Siebenter uf tritt

165

9Jatf)an

9Ste

betroffen.

filofterbruber

rt mid nur au!

3n

^ em

r mir nun
2960

auftrgt, biefem ^uixn ftrafS,

23o

mbglirf,
ficr)

auf bie

Sbur

ju

fommen, unb
roiber
ift,

etoaltig

ob eines folgen ^rebete

Grjrnt, ber ifym bie roabre

en
2965

r/e'gen eift
aller

ba bebnft;
;

Snbe

bie

Snbe,

25ie grte Snb' un3 gilt, Otur bafc nnr, ort fei anf, fo recf>t nid)t ba toad)t 22orin fte eigentlid) beftebt

Snben

toifjen,

9Jtit

einmal mein eioiffen auf, unb mir ^llt bei, id) fnnte felber ioobl bor fyxUn

groen 2970 (Gelegenheit gegeben baben.

biefer unberjeir/ltd)

3u

Sagt

Snbe
:

at

^a^ren Gin cbtercben gebrad>t bon wenig 23od)en?

eud) ein 9?eitfned)t nid)t bor aAtje^n

2Sie ias

9hm
an

>)?atbon
freilie

atterbing3

Gi, fe$t
id).

lofterbmber

9ftid>

bod) rea)t

25er ^eitfned^t, ber bin

Nathan
2975

eib

ir)r?

lofterbruber

2Bar

35 er
ift

err, bon
reebt

mir

meinem

iaVs"

eud) braute,

ein

err bon Jilnef.

23olf

5on ^iinef!

^otban
9iicf/tig
!

166

Ttotfan ber Seife.

foftcrfirubcr
SBBctl

bie

Butter

!urj

33orr/er
3^arf)

mein'
in

geftorben mar, unb

itf>

a$a
Unb

fi<f>

ber SSater

bltjlitf) nicfyt

Werfen mufjte,

2980

JBofyirt

ba Brmcfyen ir/m
euer).

folgen tonnte,

fanbt' er'

traf id) eua;

bamit

9ftcf>t

35arun?
Watfja

(3an$ redjt!
tofterfiruber

@
2Benn mein ebdj)tni mtdj
feaW
25er braben >errn fo biet gehabt,
2985
\)

h)r'

fein

2Sunber,

betrog',

$$

r/abe

unb biefem

@r

blieb

nur gar ju furje $eit gebient. balb brauf bei SBfalon, unb toar
ein lieber >err.

2Bofyl

fonft

Watlmu

$a

roor/l!

ja tot)l

&em

icr)

fo

biel,

fo

biet

ju banfen t)abe!

2)er meb/r al einmal micr)

bem

cfymert entriffen!

lofterbruber
2990

fcfyn

0
fo

roerb't

ifyr

feines d)tercf;en
Ijaben.

@ud)

um

lieber

angenommen

>a tonnt

tfyr

benfen.
fofterbrubcr
iiftun,

wo
!

ift

benn?
?

@
2995

ift

bodj

it>or)I

nicr)t

ettoa

gar geftorben

Safjt'g lieber nid;t geftorben fein

2enn
fo
l)at

fonft

9htr niemanb

um

bie

adje

toeifj,

@3

gute Sege.

Vierter $uf,iig.

Siebenter auftritt.

167

atfjatt

at e$?
lofter&ruber

traut mir, 92atfmn!

enn
S)a3
s

febt,
irf)

icr)

gu

33enn an ba ute, tbun oermeine, gar ju nah

benfe fo
!

3000

I5a gar u Stumme grenjt, &aS ute nid)t, toeil mir ba

fo tr)u' id;

lieber

8 glimme

jloar

So

jiemlirf

juoerlaffig fennen, aber

nicbt

Set toeitem

ba ute.

33ar

ja toobl

ftatrlid), toenn
SRerf>t

bas Gbriftentd)tercben
follte,

gut oon eud) erjogen toerben

tfyr'S

3005

SDaS

Tal httet ifyr mit aller Sieb' ngt. Unb reue nun getfyan, unb mtet fo
Selobnet werben? d\
3010
freilieb,

all euer eigen d)tercben

2)a

toill

mir md)t

ein.

flger bttet ibr getban,

enn
311*

ibr bie Gbriftitt burd) bie jtoeite

anb

Gbriftin auferjieben (ffen, aber

1

So

bttet ibr

2tud) nicbt

ba $inbd)en eures $reunb Unb inber brauchen Siebe, geliebt.

SB&r'S eine! toilben 2:bierel Sieb' aud) nur,

3015

^n

folcben ^ab^ren meb,r

aH

Gbriftentum.

3um

Gfyriftentume bat' nocb immer fytifonft gefunb

ift,

Senn nur ba 2)tbd)en

unb fromm

93or euern 2lugen aufgeloadtfen

3020

3o bliebt bor ottes Unb ift benn nicf/t ba

2(uf3

Slugen,

mal

e3 toar.

ganje Gbriftentum

^ubentum gebaut? @3 b,at mid) oft ergert, bat mir ^brnen g'nug gefoftet,

168
2enn

matyan

ber SBeife.

Gfyrtften

gar

fo

fef>r

bergeffen fonnten,

2)af$ imfer

err ja

felbft

ein

^ube mar.

Wattjan
3025
%t)x,

guter 23ruber, mfjt mein ^rfracb, fein,

2Benn ajj unb

Srb/eben fottten

2%
ie
3030

wegen
h)iffen
!

einer %i)at

wegen
!

leifsnerei

fid)

gegen

einer %fyat

micb,

9?ur

ifyr,

ifyr

f ottt

^efy mt
nie bie

fie

aber mit inl

rab

9^0$ fyat mia) ie jemanb anbern ju

itelfeit berfucfyt,
erjfylen.

(Sud)

Mein
3Wein

erjt)!'

icb,

fie.

25er

frommen infalt
bie allein
-Jfcenfcb,

erjb,!'

xd) fid)

fie.

Seil

Verfielt,
3035

ma

ber gottergebne

$r Saaten abgewinnen lann.

Sfofterbntber
%i)x feib

erfyrt,

unb euer 2luge

ftefyt

bott Saffer?

^t)v traft mid) mit

bem $inbe

51t

2)arun.

$b,r Wifjt Wob,l aber nid)t, baf$ Wenig age

3utoor in atb, bie

3040
9ftit

Gtfyriften

alle

$uben

9eib unb $inb ermorbet Ratten, Wiftt

bafj unter biefen

Sot)! nid)t,

meine $rau
fia)

Wixt fieben F)offnungboIlen

Shnen
inSgefamt

SBefunben, bie in meineg 33ruber >aufe,

$u bem
3045

xd)

fie

geflchtet,

Verbrennen muffen.
fitofterbntber

ungerechter!

SBieiter Stufjug.

Be)\ttv auftritt.

169

KtOftm

%bx

tarnt,

f>att'

id)

brei

2ag' unb

Rcfo' in

Sf'

Unb Staub bor ott

eroeint?
53eiber mit

gelegen, unb gemeint,

ott aud) roobl

gered>te-t,
;

ejrnt, getobt, mid) unb bie SBett berronfd)* 3050 )er (Sbriften&eit ben unberfbnlidmen
>afj

jugefcbrooren

lofterbruber
2(cfr!

3a) glaub'! eud)

toor/l!

od) nun fam bie Vernunft attmr/Iid) roieber. Sie tyracb mit fanfter Stimm': unb bod) ift Ott! 2Soblan! $)od) mar aud) otteS $atfd)luj5 ba!
3055

omm!
2a

be, roa bu lngft begriffen ju ben fcbmerer

ift,

t)aft,

ficberlicb

nicf/t,

2tls ju begreifen ter/'

auf

"
!

^a)

roenn bu nur

roiUft.

ftanb,

unb
!

3060

Sift bu nur, bafj tcr) mi ^nbem ftiegt $om ^]ferb' unb berreiztet mir bas $inb,

^n

euern

Hantel eingebt.
icb

as
eud),

rief ju

Ott,

id)

roill

\i}x

ihr
id)

Wlxx bamals fagtet, roa

SSergeffen.

I)ab'

So

toiel

meijj id) nur, id)

nabm
e,

QaZ
3065
2ftid)

$inb, trug '3 auf mein 2ager,

fjjt'

marf

auf bie nie' unb

fd)Iucbtte,

ott, auf fteben

od) nun fcbon eine

roieber!

lofterbruber 9?att)an!

Nathan!
ein ^rift!

^br
@in

feib

ein

beff 'rer

brift! brift mar

Bei

ott,
!

tt)r

feib

nie

170

SRatljan ber SBeife.

SBofyl
9Jttd)
euer)

unl

2)enn

ma3

jum

3070

$um

Stber lafjt un lnger nidjt ^uben. inanber nur erweisen. >ter braucfyt'l StJjat
fcr)on

Gfyriften

maa)t, ba mad;t eud> mir

llnb 06 mtcfy ftebenfadje Siebe

Salb an

bie3 einj'ge frembe

fcfyon

5Rba)en banb,
ttet,

Db
3075

ber

ebanfe mid;

baft

%d) meine fteben Slm' in

Verlieren
3)ie
fott,

ifyr

auf neue

h)enn

fie

9Sor[tc^t mieber fobert,

Don meinen nben

id)

ger/orcfye

9iun ottenbs

oben

Slofterbrubcr

ba bebad)t'
!

icr)

mid?

0
3080

tnel,

euer)

anzuraten

Unb

fo

r)at'3

@udj euer guter eift fd)on angeraten!

9?ur mufj ber erfte befte mir

ntreiften motten
1

fie

nid;t

lofterbruber

9Wn,

gemifi nid)t

2er
Stuf
SJtufj
fie

ntd)t grfj're

9ted;te t)at

als

frhere

jum minbften

r)aben

\a),

lofterlmtber
$reicr)

Watfjan
3085

)ie ifym 9?atur

unb 23tut

erteilen.

lofter&ruber

0
SRein'
id;

e aud;

Vierter Itftog-

Siebenter auftritt.

171

SffttyM

Trum
Ten
3(13 fetter ober fonft al*

nennt mir nur gefdjhnnb

ober Cfym, Sttann, ber ibj alz grbet

Sibb berroanbt

^bm
3090

hritt

icb

fie

nicbt bereithalten
jebeS

fte,

Tie jebe* aufe*,

tauben* ierbe

3u fein erfdwffen unb exogen hrnrb. euern errn ^d; fyoff', ib/r ftrifjt bon biefem Unb bem efcb/Ietfite beffen mehr al* icb.
JMofterbruber

SDaS,
3095

guter 9tatf)an, roo^l

fyabt

nun

fd)merlid)

Tenn

%bx

nur gar ja fcb/on gehrt, bafc id>

3u

furje 3eit bei

ibm

geroefen.

SBifct

2#r benn nitf>t roenigften*, h>a* fr efcf/lecbt* 23ar fie nicfyt eine taufin? Tie Butter nxtr?

2Bobl mglieb

JUofterbruber
$,a, miefc bnft.
-Ji'atnau

3100

onrab bon taufen?

unb
Tocb

iefj niefct

tt>r

Sruber

mar Sembelberr?
2)a

tofterbruber

SSenn mief/*
Tafj
2Bir
id)

nia)t triegt.

fyalt

fllt

mir

ein,

bom

fel'gen
^cr)

DZoa? b,ab'.
ib,n

jog'*

errn ibm au* bem SBufen, al*

berfeb/arrten.
^attiait

ein 33cbelcben

bei 2X*fa(on

9iun?
SUofterbruber
3105

@*

ftnb ebete brin.

Sir nennen'*

ein

172
Srebier.

SRatfan ber SBeife.

a3,
nicfyt

^a
$jcf)

too^I noa;

brauchen
lefen

bacr,t'

ia;,

lann ein fyriftenmenfcr}

fann

ia;

nun

fretlid^

nicfyt

9totljan

r/ut nid>t
lafterfiruber

3^ur jur adj>e.

$n
3"o 2Sie

biefem Sajelcfyen fterm born unb hinten,

mir fagen laffen, mit be errn icr) eibeigner anb, bie Angehrigen SSon ir)m unb if>r gefcfyrieben.
SKfltljtttt

D
efyt
!

ertnfrfjt!

lauft

fyolt

mir ba

S3dt)elct)en.

efcr,nnnb

^d) bin bereit mit olb e aufzuwiegen,

3115

Unb

taufenb

San! baju

gilt!

lauft!

fofterfcruber
9tea)t

gern.

ift

2trabifdj>

aber,
86.

roa ber err

ineingef$rieben.

Einerlei

9iur

r)er

fall'

ott! wenn

id)

botf)

ba SJibdjen nod} behalten,

Unb
3120

einen folgen ibarn mir bamit

!

rlaufen fmtie

@3

au, mie' mi
fein,

2Ber

d)tr>erlia)

roof>I

9hm,
boa)

mag

ei aber benn

eroefen

ber bei

bem $atriard)en
3)a mujj

0 3u
3125

ettoa angebracht?

fragen nic^t bergeffen.

J)aja fme?

Senn

id>

e gar

$on

Vierter ufjug.

2trf)tet

auftritt.

173

21d?ter auftritt.
2>a
j

a unb 9latf)an.
unb Dertegen

<rja

eilig

2)enft boa),

Nathan!
Run!

Nathan

a arme

ftinb erfcfyraf
. .

rt>of>I

rect)t

barber!

faneft

^attiau
25er ^atriard ?

25e ultan d?roefter,

^rinjeffin ittafy
. .

Sufy

ber ^atriardj?

Kein,
3130

tttafy
fyer

rt
ljjt
fie

i^r nidjt ?

rinjeffm

<Sttlat>

dbieft

unb

ju

fia)

fyolen.

2jjt ftea^a Bolen ?

tttab
fyolen

2en?
ljjt
ljjt,
fte

^olen ?
nidjt

Nun, toenn

fte
.

<Sxttar)
. .

unb

2) er ^atriarcr;

aja
2ie
s

fommt

ifyr

benn auf ben?

Jintt)Qit

2c
3135

fyaft

bu

frjltcfr

nitf>ts

on ifym gehrt?

eroij} nia;t?

2(ua; ifym nidjrts geftedft ?

174

9tot$an ber Seife.

$>aja

Sei)? tfnn?
SRatljatt

So

finb bie

Soten?
$>aja

$orn.
SKatljan
%<fy
tttt
!

2lu

SSorficfyt

felber fprecfyen.

tomm
ift.

SBerm

fie

bod^)

nur

23om Patriarchen

nichts bafyinter

m.

Unb
3140

\d)

Soja
\d)

frchte gang ft>a anberS nodj. einzige

2Ba gt'3?

bie

bermeinte ocr/ter
tr>r'

0
$r

eine reichen

$uben

aua)
?

einen 3ERufelmann
ift

nict)t

bel
!yft

ui,
fie

toofyl

2)er Tempelr/err

brum.

brutn, toenn td;

)en jtoeen djritt nid)t aud) nod) toage, nid)t

3145

2lud;

ifyr
!

nod) felbft entbede, toer

ift!

etroft

2af$ mict) ben erften Stugenblid,

allein fie r)abe,

2)en

id>

Unb
5$
3150

ber roirb fein

fie begleite.

baju brausen!

fc>ieHeidt)t

nun

eben, toenn

ein

erfter

2inf
febaben.
ju!

$ann

untertoegen tr>enigften
-ftur

nief/t

$a, ja!

gu!

$t ober nie!

-ftur

35m

ua^.

fnfter 2Iuf3ug.
(Erfter auftritt.

Scene

ba

3immer

in SatabinS ^afafte, in toeldje bie 33eutel

bie nod) ju fefjen.

mit elb getragen roorben,

6 a labt n

unb balb barauf

ertd)iebne

Ramelutfen.

Saiabin im

ereinrreten
!

25a ftebt bae elb nun nod;

Unb niemanb

toeijj

en
3155

Sertuifd) aufjufinben, ber bermutlicb

ift,

2lns Stfacbbret irgenbioo geraten

5>aS ibn roobl feiner

Sarum

nicht

meiner? ^un,@ebulb!
(Sin

felbjt

bergejjen madbt

23a giebt's?

Jiamehtcf

@rronjd)te 9?acf/rid)t, Sultan!

2>ie

greube, Sultan!

aramane

toon

afyira fmmt,

3ft glcflicb ba, mit fiebenjtyrigem

3160

Tribut bei reiben

Dcile

Salabin
iBrab,

^brabim

2)u

bift
!

mir rabrlid) ein roillfommner 23ote! enblicb Qaht ^anf enblid) einmal
! !

2)er guten geitung.

2er

'DDJamelurf

roartenb

(9hm? nur
Salabtn

fyer

bamit!)

2Ba

mart'ft

bu?

et? nur toieber.

176

Rabatt ber SSeife.

$er aWamelutf
2)em SBittfommnen
3165

onft nid&ts?
(Safabttt

2Ba benn noa)

fonft ?

$er Ramehuf
$ein Sotenbrot?

2)en alabin mit

2)0$
9Jiit

enblid)

lernte ?

0 mr' 2Borten
2tud)

&em
ic

guten 23oten

ja ber erfte,

abjulofynen,
ein

^uljm

ber erfte,

bem

er fniferte.

Salabtn

0 nimm
3170

bir

nur

ort einen Seutel.

T^er SRantehtcf
9iein,
flir
fie

nun

nia)t!

>u fannft

nun

atte

fd^enfen motten.

Salabin
3Tro
!

omm
tr)ut

fyer

)a

fyaft

mir'3 an Gsbelmut

SRufj ir/m e faurer

3175

2tlg
9Jlir

mir ju geben. benn auefy ein,

2luf einmal ganj ein

2itt

alabin

aH

$m bu )enn jubor werben, 2a3 fmmt $bral)im bor meinem anbrer motten? alabin
jtoet.

rnft

er

gefyt ?

fieser

auufa?lagen,
!

fo

furj

Abtritt

fein ju

nia)t

fterben ?

0
3180

mujjt' er aua)

aU alabin

md)t leben.

(Bin ttJeitcr 9)?amcttf

9iun,

ultan

Safabht

Senn bu mir px melben fmmft

fnfter Stufjug.

Grfter auftritt.

177

3wetter WhtimfHJ

2)a| au% tgr/pten ber Jranport nun ba!

Satabitt

3*

toeifj

fcbon.

Swcttcr ttatnelucf

lam

idj>

bocfy

ju fpt

Safabin

3u $er

fpt?

23arum

nimm

fr beinen guten SBiHen

23eutel einen ober jhtei.

^weiter *Diamehuf
9Katf>t brei!

Safabin
3185

^a, toenn bu rerfmen fannft

2o

nimm

fte

nur.

weiter 3)iameturf

roirb

toobt nocr)

ein dritter

fommen,

roenn

Gr anbers fommen fann.

Salabin
SSKc

ba?

3weiter 5Hametutf

3 "/
@r bat aucb obalb
3190
toir

toobt ben

$afi gebrochen

enn

brei ber 2(nlunft be

Transports

SSerfidiert toaren,

fprengte jeber frifd?

SDabon.

3>er borberfte, ber ftrjt, unb fo

icb

$omm'
2)ie

nun

bor,

unb

bleib'

aucfy

oor bi in

Tie Stabt,
ffen

h>o aber

^brabim, ber Seder,

Salabin

beffer fennt.

3195

^reunb, ber eftrjte

Slot'

ter eftrjte!

ibm bca? entgegen.

178

9tatl)cm ber SBeife.

^weiter Dfoinelucf

3)a3 toerb' i$ ja

tool)!

tt)un!

Unb
fein,

trenn er
e^tae.

lebt,

ift

bie Hlfte biefer

Seutel

alabtn
iet),

meld)

ein guter ebler $erl aucf>

folcfyer

ba!

2er fann
3200

ftd>

^Kamelucfen rhmen?

Unb war' mir benn

SDafc
fie

ju benfen nicfyt erlaubt,

?

mein Seifbiel Silben Reifen

fie

gort
.

SKit
yioty

bem ebanlen,
an
ein

ju guter 2et
. .

anber yu gewnnen!
ttt brittcr Sflamehttf

(Sultan,

atabin
ift bu'S, ber ftrjte?
dritter 9)iametutf
9iein. 3205

^d) melbe nur,

2)afj

mir

TOanfor, ber bie $aratr>ane

fteigt
.

eft)rt,

bom ^ferbe

atabin

Sring'
SDa
ift

it)n

gefd)nnnb!

er ja

Streiter auftritt.
(Smtr UJtanfor unb Salabin.

alabin

2ie

ifi'S

gegangen

2iH!ominen, mir!
9Jlanfor, 9flanfor,

9fam,
t)aft

Un3

lange toarten Iaffen!

JKanfor

tiefer 33rief

gnfter ufuig.

dritter auftritt.

179

3210 23erid>tet, toas bein Stbulfaffem erft

%x Unrub/

in

bebais bm^fen muffen,

Qb' hnr e toagen burften abzugeben. Ten 3 U 9 barauf bab' i) befdtleuniget

So

biet tote mglirf

mar.
Safabin
%<fy

glaube bir

. . .

3215

Unb nimm

nur, guter 2Jianfor,

nimm
?
.

fogleicb,
.

u
9?otf>

tbuft e aber bodj

aud> gern

nimm

frifct)e

23ebecfung nur fogleia^.

meiter,

mujjt fogleidj

mut

ber eiber

groem eil

Stuf

Libanon jum Bater bringen.

Itrafvr

ern!
3220

Sebr gern!
calabin

9hir nid>t ju
Diitft

Unb nimm bir bie 33ebe<fung s ift um Libanon febtoatf.

aft bu
nicfyt

ja

alles metyr fo jicber.

ebrt? ie empelberrn Sei tofjl auf beiner ut!

3225

otntn

ftnb iuieber rege.

nur!

2o

fylt

Ter 3 U 9?
Setreiben.

^bj

3*

^itt ib,n felm,

!

unb aHe

felbft

itf>

bin fobann bei Sittafy.

Dritter auftritt.
geene
tco
:

bie

Jahnen or

9?atb,an auie,
geljt.

ber

Sempeltierr
h?iH
irf

auf unb nieber

3ns aus nun

Si<f>

einmal

nicr)t.
!

enblid) boa) toofyl

fe^ en laffen

@r

roirb

3Jian

180

Rattym ber Seife.

Semerfte mia) ja
3230
2itt'<S

fonft f o balb, fo gern noa) erleben, bafj er ficb/ Verbittet,

!

33or feinem

3u

laffen.

efyr rgerlitt).
Erbittert
3235
-ftocr;

aufe m 2a @r gegen
!

mia) fo fleiig finben id; bin boa; aber aua)

fyat

mia) benn
fagte ja,

nun

fo

ifyn ?

'

fa^Ig

er
fia)

mir

nid)t!3

ah.
tl)n

Unb alabin
ju ftimmen.
Gfyrift

$aV
2Bie?

ber
fottte

genommen,

fonft

nurflid)

n>or)I in

mir ber

Woa)
3240

tiefer niften
fiel)

aU

in il)m ber

$ube?

benn

2er fennt

reebt? 2Bie fnnt'

id) ibmt

2)en lleinen Sfaub nia)t gnnen motten, ben

@r

fieb/g gu fold)er

Angelegenheit

emad)t, ben fyriften abzujagen ? $reia), ein Heiner 9taub, ein fota) efd>b>f efd)pf ?

Unb
3245

toeffen ?

2)od) be

flaben

mer)t,

ber auf

2>e SebenS oben

tranb ben Slod

geflt

Unb
Sie

ftcr)

2ot)l

babon gemaa)t? S)e3 nftlerS boa) meb,r, ber in bem fyingemorfnen Slode

gttliche eftalt fta) backte, bie

@r
3250

bargeftettt?

21a)

$ett)a magrer 33ater

bleibt, tro

bem

fyriften,

^n

migfeit ber $ube.

Senn

ber

fie

geugte
ia)

bleibt

mir

Sie Iebigltd)

aU

6r)riftenbirne benfe,

ie fonber
3255

atte

ba mir benfe, tua3

fonnte
ib, r,

2lHein i^r fo ein

pria), er,
9ad)t!

$ube geben wa mr' an

elbft
ifyr

bir
gefiel ?

ba

SBenig!

2a)eln, mr' e3 nid)tg

2H

fanfte fd)ne
fie
ftd)

$udung
ib,

)rer SRuifeln.

2r', roa
jn ben e

Ia)eln maa)t, be -Keines unroert,

auf

rem 9ftunbe

fleibet

gnfter ufjug.

Xritter auftritt.

181
a

3260

9iein, felbft ihr Scbeln nicbt

^,)

^ a &' *$

2Sobl fcbner nocb, an 2tbertoifc, an anb, 2t n fynerei, an Scbmeicbler unb an 23ubler,

$8erfcbtt>enben febn
!

$at'>

at'S ba mir aucb bcn 23unfcb

3265

ba mid) au) bezaubert entlocft, mein Sebcn

%n
2>cb

feinem Sonnenfcbeine u berflattern?

mte

nicbt.

Unb

bin auf ben

bocr;

launifcb,

er tiefen bbern 23ert allein ibr gab? ie bae? roarum? 23enn id? ben Sbott toerbiente, 2Kit bem micb Salabin entlie 3d)on fcblimm

3270

enug, ba 3alabin e3 glauben fcmnte 5Ht flein \d) ihm ba fd)einen mute, roie
!

"}>erd>tHcb

Unb

ba

alle*

um

ein

2Rbd)en?
!

6urb
Wlix
3275

Gurb

bas gebt

fo nicbt.

Senf

ein

Benn

toottenbS

aja nur
tritt

roa toorgeblaubert btte,

SBad

fcbmerlicb ju ermeifen ftnbe ?

er

a
Xu3

enblicb, in
!

feinem >aufe

W\t meinem lofterbruber ? >a fo Gr ftcberlid) fcbon alle*! ift mobl gar
!

efbr) a mit
!

toertieft,

Sieb, roem
?

9Jtit

ifym ?

roei

3280

SDen ^atriarcben fcbon erraten! a! 3Sa bab' icf; Cuerfopf nun geftiftet
!

a
ob

in einj'ger #unfen biefer 8eibenfd)aft ocb unfern irns fo biet berbrennen fann! efcbroinb entf erlie bi$, roa nunmebr ju tbun!
3285

3*

null b,ier feitrorts ibrer

mrten

23teHetcbt ber lofterbruber ilm toerlt.

182

SJtotfjan bcr SBeife.

Vierter auftritt.
5iatl)an unb
s

bcr

toft

erbruber.

Jintl|nn im OMIjertommen.

fyaht

nofymaU, guter

33ruber, bieten 2)anfl

toftcrbruber

Unb

ifyr

begleicr)en

3$?
3290

toon

euer,?

mofr?
eurer nur

$r meinen igenfinn, 9Sa ibr nicfyt braucht ?

2(ud) nachgegeben fytt',
9ttd)t

euc^ aufjubringen,

%a,
ifyr

wenn

ifym

mit ewalt
icfy.

wolltet reifer fein

aU

SHofterbrubcr

2)a 23ud;
efyrt ja ofynebem
nicfyt

mir, gehrt
ift

$a ofmebem
3295

ber od)ter,

ja fo

>er ocr)ter ganjeg terlicr)e @rbe.

^e nu,
SDajj

fte
e<

fyat

ja eucb\

ott

gebe nur,
biel

ifyr

nie bereuen brft,

!

fo

gr

fte

getrau ju fyaben

Kctn &ann
2)a fann
icr)

ia)

ba?

nie.

eib unbeforgt!
lofterbruber
9?u,

nu!
.

3300

Se Patriarchen unb

bie

em!pe Ifyerren

SSermgen mir be 23fen nie

fo

toiel

3u

tfyun,

bafj irgenb

toa mitf) reuen fnnte,

fnfter 2tufjug.

Vierter auftritt.

183

efcbmeige bal
!8trft$ert,
3305
bafj

Unb

feib

ihr

beim
ift,

fo

ganj

ein

Tempelherr
fyefct?

e*

er euern Patriarchen

&lofterbrui>er

GZ fann
^Beinah/ lein anbrer fein,

3rrach furj toorber

in Jempelberr mit ihm; unb roa ich

fyrte,

DaS Hang

barnacfy.

Kttfu
G-5
ift
bocfc,

aber nur

Sin einziger
3310

ifct

in

^erufalem,
2)iefer
ift
!

Unb

biefen !enn'
ebler,

icb,.

mein #reunb.

@in junger,

s offner 3ftann

lofterbruer

35er nmliche

0$
Seiber

anj
toa

redb,t,

man
ba

ift,

unb roa
ja
toob,!

5Ran
Sticht

fein

mu

in ber 23elt,

toafjt

immer.

Nathan
nicr)t.

2o

thue, roer'3
1

3315

Slucfy

immer

ift,

fein

ScblimmfteS ober 33efte*

$Rit

euerm Suche, Sruber, trofc' ich allen, Unb geb,e graben 23eg bamit jum Sultan.
toftcrbruber

Siel

lde

^ch hll

euch,

benn nur

r)ter

berlaffen.

9Ufa
Unb
3320

habt

fie

nicht

einmal gefebn

^ocb, halb, bocb fleiig nneber.

er

Patriarch
auch,

noch,

nichts

erfhrt

$ommt 23enn nur ma

?
!

ja

fyeut'

2>ocb,

Sagt ihm

beute,

mas

ihr toollt.

184

Stotfan ber Seife.

lofterbruber

3$
gebt
tt>0f)I
!

nidjt.

e^t

ab.

*Kotf>an

33ergefjt
SDafj
id)

ung ja
r/ier

nicr/t,

33ruber

ott

mcr)t

gleicr)

unter freiem ipimmet

!

3325

Stuf meine $niee finlen lann

2Sie

fid)

)er knoten, ber fo oft mir bange machte,

ftun
5ftir

t>on

ftcr;

f eiber
icr)

Ifet

ott
bajj

mie

leicht

roirb, baf$

nun weiter auf ber 2BeIt

!

3Ridt;t

gu Verbergen t)aht
fo

icfy

or

3330 2)en SRenfa^en nun

frei

fann roanbeln
nicfyt

aU

$or
iftacr)

bir, ber bu allein ben 9Jknfrf>en

feinen Staaten braudj>ft ju rieten, bie

feiten feine

Saaten

finb,

ott!

fnfter auftritt.
9tatl)an unb ber Semvelfyerr,
ber tum ber (Seite auf
iljit

jittmmt.

mrtet,

Sfatr/an, nefymt mia) mit

ftcttyra

2er ruft?
3335

eib

ir/r

e,

bitter?

2o geroefen,

bafe

^l>r bei

bem (Sultan

eua) mdc)t treffen laffen?

Sempelljcrr

SBir finb einanber

9ttc$t bel.

fer/l

gegangen.

5ier;mt'

gnfter ufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

185

;$cr)

ni^t, aber 3a(abin

lempetljerr

3b/r roart

nur eben fort

Nathan

Unb
3340

fbracfyt

ifyn

boct/?

9cun, fo

ift

'3

gut.

empdfjerr

6r

VdxCT

un aber beibe

gufammen

fbrecben.
atf)att

SJefto

beffer.

ommt
511

9?ur mit.

$cein

ang

ftanb ofynefyin

tfym.

Sempelfjerr

^a? barf ja bocb toobl fragen, -Diatban, roer ucb, ba berlie?

9iatl)an

$br fennt ibn

Jempelfjerr
3345

bod> toofyl mcbt?

23ar' ntcbt bie gute ftaut, ber Saienbruber, e fict) ber ^atriarcb, fo gern jum Stber
SBebient ?

Nathan

$ann
Qx
atterbing.

fein!

Seim

Patriarchen

ift

$empdf|err

er

Spftfj

ift

gar nicht bel,

ie infalt bor ber Scburferei borauS

3350

3u

fcf/icfen.

Nathan
!Ja,

bie

bumme

nicbt

bie

fromme.

186

SRotyan ber SBeife.

Sempelljerr

2ln

fromme glaubt

fein ^atriarcr;.
SKatlja

$r ben
yiun
fteJ)'
icr).

2)er wirb feinem Patriarchen

fticfytg

Ungebhrliches boKjie^en Reifen.

cmpelljerr

o
3355

ftellt

er

menigften

fid^>

an.

>od>

fyat

@r

eud)

on mir beim

nict)t

gefagt?
3Son euer)?

atfjan

3Son

euer)

nun namentlich
aucr;
fdt)rr>erltct)

roor)t

nichts.

Qx

roeifj

$a

rofyl

euern tarnen?

Xtatpef$cn
d)werlicr/.
^atliait

SSon einem Tempelherren

freilief)

l)at

@r mir

gefagt

Unb mal?
9tatyan

2Bomit
3360

er

eudj

>od) ein fr allemal

ntcr/t

meinen !ann!

Xtmptlfyctt

2er

toeifj?

Sajjt bocr)

nur

r)ren.

Vlatyan
2)af$

mia; einer

Sei feinem Patriarchen angellagt

@ucr/

angeflagt

rlogen.
3365

rt

2)a3
mich,

Sempelljerr

i% mit
!

-ftatlmn

5$

feiner

unft
bin

nict)t

SDer

-Iftenfcr/,

ber irgenb etroaS abzuleugnen

fnfter Siifuig.

fnfter auftritt.

187

2>m Staube Ware.

9Ba
nicbt

icb

tbat,

bftl

tbat idj!

ocb

bin

icb

au*

ber,

ber alle, toa

Gr

tbat,

aH
ben

wobl getban bertbeib'gen mcbte.

eine Jebls micb
feften

9Ba8
3370

fct' icb

3^
Hub

icbt

fcbmen? S^ab' $orfa$ ibn ju beffern?

wie Weit mit bcm

weif; icb

etwa

nicbt,

(rs "Bienfcben bringen

fnnen?

^rt

micb,

Nathan!

3$
3375

bin be Saienbrubere Tempelherr,

fotl

"Der eucb berflagt

baben, aderbing.

3br mit ja, roa3 micb Wurmifcb macbte! toa SRetn 53lut ra allen 2lbern fteben macbte!
34> aucb id) fam, fo ganj mit Seib unb <Seef Sucb in bie 3(rme micb gu werfen, ie wie falt wie lau benn lau ^br micb empfingt
!

33&>

Si* fcfylimmer nocb alt falt, Wie abgemeffen

Utir

au*$ubeugen ibr

befliffen

Wart,

9Jtit

fragen $br 2lntWort mir ju geben fcbeinen wolltet SDa barf icb faum mir ifct nocb benfen, Wenn
gegriffnen

melden au3 ber 2uft

3385

3$

fo gelaff en bleiben.
;

rt

micfy,

Nathan

^n biefer brung fcb ltcb mir aja nacb, Unb warf mir ibr ebeimnie an ben $opf,
2>as mir ben Sluffcblufe euer rtfelbaften
^Betragens $u enthalten fcbien.
N

Jfartjan

9Bt< ba^r
Xempetljerr
339

rt

micb,

nur aue!

$a)
Unb

bilbete

mir

ein,

einmal nun ben Sbriften ^hr Wolltet, 3o abgejagt, an einen briften Wieber
ibr
Sticht

Wa*

gern berlieren.

fo

fiel

mir

ein,

188
ucr;
3395

SRot^on ber Seife.

iurj

unb gut ba Keffer an

^ntliait

bie $eb/le

ffcen.

$urj unb gut

2)a

unb gut

2So

ftecft

utc?
rt
9}att>an

3$
SDie

t^at

nicfyt retfjt!

Nrrin
euefy

3ft
3400

gefy ffig

SDaja
fein!

micr;,

$fyr feib mor/l gar

tei^ nicfyt, roaS fie fpricfyt

<Sud;t

euer;

$n
$)er

einen bfen anbel ju berimcfeln

fein!

$ann
33alb

fann

$0)

MerbingS, nur bamit

!

nicf<t

fcfyulbig.

bin ein junger Saffe,

fd)h)rmt,
tfyut

immer nur an betben nben

toiel

ju

toiel,

balb biel ju roenig

!

3Benn

lud) ba fann

fein

33erjeir/t

mir, 9lati)an.

3405

^r)r fo mirf) freilie faffet

eudj

SemeHjerr

$um
%a)

Patriarchen
S)a
ift

fyab

urj, aber

icb
nicfyt
!

ging

enannt.
l)ab'

erlogen, roie gefagt

h)m

blofj

ben $att ganj allgemein

rj^It,
3410

um

feine

Meinung

ju bernefymen.

2lu$ ba
2tl3 einen

l)tt'

unterbleiben fnnen, ja boer/!

nicfyt

2)enn fannt'

id)

ben Patriarchen

fcfyon
nicr/t
icr;

Surfen? $onnt'
-Diebe

9hir gleid; jur

ftetten?

efafyr, fo einen 33ater ju Verlieren,

3415

SDie

3)a arme 9Jcabd)en opfern ? 9?un, roa be Patriarchen, bie cfyurferei

icf>

eud)
SJhtjjt'

felber

ber

tfyut'S ?

fnfter 2uf$ug.

fnfter auftritt.

189

2o hnlich immer ftd> erblt, bat micb e ncbften 28ege3 roieber ju mir felbft
ebracbt.
3420

2)enn

bort micb, ^atban, bort midt) au!

Gkfefct,

er hnifjt'

aucb euern tarnen, roaS

?

5?un mebr, roas mebr

5Rur nebmen, toenn

@r

fann

euct)
ift

ja bas Jibct) en

fte

niemanb

abl euer.

Gr fann

fte

boa?

aus

euerm

3n
3425

lofter fcbleppen.
fte

aufe nur

2tlfo

gebt

fte

mir

ebt

6r

fott's

nur mir, unb lat ibn fcmmen. >a! toobl bleiben laffen, mir mein 2eib

3u nebmen.
iftun

ebt

fte

mir, gefcbroinb
fei

ie
ifct

fei

eure Xocbter, ober

Gbriftin,

e mcr)t!

3 ei
3430

ober 3"bin, ober feines!

!

leiaSbiel! gleid> iel

ftocb

3$

roerb'

eucb,

meber

jemals fonft in

meinem gangen Seben

3)arum befragen.

@ei, toie'S fei!

Watljan
Sfyr tor/nt

2BobI gar, baj$ mir bie

(Sefyr

Safyrr/eit

ju oerbergen

ntig?

JempeUjerr
ei,
roie'3 fei!

Nathan
3435

ucb,

3*
fte

r/ab'

e ja

ober toem es fonft ju hnffen jiemt

eine (Sfyriftin,
ift.

9?ocb nicbt geleugnet, bajj

Unb

nicbti

aU

meine ^flegetocbter
nicr)t

SBarum
3440

icb'S

aber ibr nocb

icb

entbecft?

darber braud)'
ntfcbulbigen.

nur

bei ibr micb, ju

190

SRatyan ber Steife.

Sempeffjen*

9ttd)t
Jftit

3#r
$jl>r

bie

nnt' anbern 2lugen betrauten! part Imbt ntbeefung

il)r ifyr

>a

fotlt

aud) bei
bod),

braudben.

ifyr

bafj

fie

eud) nie

barf

bod)

Rocfc

tt)r

ja,

3445

ganj ie mir!

allein,
3>d)

mit

il)r

gu fd)alten.

ebt
fie

bitt'

euer),

^attjan, gebt

mir!

$;d)

bin'3 allein,

ber

@ud) retten fann

unb

fie

jum jmeitenmale
mitt.

$a
ftun

fonnte

fonnte

aud) nid)t mefyr.

ift

bamit ju fpt.

SBie fo? i fpt?

Rttynt

an!

fei

bem Patriarchen

empeHjerr
3450

)em Patriarchen? 2)anf? irmt 2)anf? foofr? SDanf tjtte ber bei un berbienen motten?
2ofr? mofr?
2)af$

Watfan mir nun miffen,

mem

ie anbermanbt, nun miffen, meffen irmnben ie ftd)er ausgeliefert merben fann.

2)a banf ifym

3455

Xempenjerr mer
<Ratf>an

fr mel)r ifym ban!en mirb

2tu3 biefen mfjt

il)r

fie

nun aud)

erhalten,

Unb

nid)t

aus meinen.
^empelljerr

2lrme Vtzfyal
$>ir atte uftjjt,

2a3

arme dltfyal

3Ba<S

fnfter 3tuf$ug.

fnfter auftritt.

191

(ritt

lcf fr antre 3Baifen iore, roirb

!

3460

ein Unglcf
3>erroanbte ?

Station Unb
!

roo ftnb fte, biefc

atfian

2o

fte

fmb?
Urtb roer
>atfjan

Xempejen:
fte

ftnb?

Sefonbers

f/at

ein

Sruber

ficf)

gefunben,

Sei bem

ibj

um

fte

roerben mt.

Icmpelljerr

in ruber?

Sa
3465

ift

er,

biefer

(Sin eiftlicber ?

at
5^

ruber? Gin Sofort!

hren, roa
icf;

mir

93erfpred>en barf.

Wat^an
$011 beiben

glaube, ba^ er feine

ift.

ober beibe3

$cf)

fenn'

3$n

norf)

nta)t recrt.

Icmpeiljerr

Unb
Watfjan

fonft?

n
roirb

braber -Kann!

Sei bem
3470

ftcf/

9tetf>a

gar nia^t bel

Iemj>eiljerr

Sefmben.

ocb
3Iucr;

gar nitftt, 23irb 3?er)mt mir s nicf>t ungut, Nathan. ie Gbriftin fielen muffen unter Gbriften?

Ghri ^a) roetft ju roa* i$ bon eud> benfen foU

ein
!

3^"

fte

nicf;i

Unb
3475
5?ia?t

roirb fte,
enblitf;

roas

fie

lange g'nug gefpielt,

22irb ben lautern 2Sei$en,

roerben?

192

9Jatf)an ber SBeife.

2)en ib> gef't, ba8 Unfraut enblid) nid)t

rftiden ?

Unb

bai fmmert eud)

ifyr

35emungead)tet fnnt
2)af$
fte

jagen
ftdj

fo

il)r?

wenig?

bei ifyrem

ruber

nicfyt

bel

3480

23eftnben toerbe?

>enf
^fn* ja bei

id;

^off

id;

2Senn

6ie

eud)

)m mag mangeln fottte, I)at unb mid) benn nidjt nod) immer?
Xempelljerr

2Ba wirb

bei ifym ifyr

mangeln lnnen

Strb

3485

)a3 rubereren mit offen unb mit Reibung, 9ftit ^afd;merf unb mit $u, bal cb>efterd>en
3li)t reid;Iid)

g'nug berforgen?

Unb

iua brauet

@in
9iocr)

djtoefiercr/en benn mebr? @i

einen Sftann.
tfyr

freilief),

audj

ytun, nun, aua) ben, aud) ben

2Birb
349
<5cr)on

f djaffen,

ba rubereren ju feiner $eit mie er immer nur ju finben,

!

Ser

gb>iftlid;fte ber Sefte

^atr^an, 9?atfyan

Seld; einen @ngel blattet

ifyr

gebilbet,
!

en

eud)

nun anbre

fo

berfyunjen werben

Watlinit

at
3495
9locr)

feine 9?ot!

@r

toirb fid; unfrer Siebe

immer

teert

genug behaupten.
Ztmpetyttt

Sagt
)a3 nidjt!
SBon

meiner

Siebe fagt ba nid)t!

unterfcfylagen,
!

enn bie ljjt nid;i3 fid; @3 fei aud) nod) fo Hein

nidjtS,

2lucr)

feinen

tarnen

Anftei- Stufjug.

fnfter auftritt.

193
roas mit

od)
3500

r/alt

Slrgroofynt fie roob,I bereits,

3r,r borgest?
Watf|att

SJlglicb,

ob

id)

febon

nict)t

raupte,

2or;er?
$empelljerr
2lud) eben
toiel
;

fie

foll

fte

muf$

^n
Sie
3505

beiben htten, roa U)r d)icffal bror/t,

23on mir juerft erfahren.

efyer
bis"

-Kein ebanfe,

roieber niebt ju fefm, ju fpred)en,

id)
fie

2113

bie 3Keine
eile
. .

nennen brfe,

%t

roeg.

^d)

Nathan
bleibt! roor/in!
Jempetfjerr

3u

i^r

$u febn, oh biefe 9Kbd)enfeele -Ranns" genug SBotrt ift, ben einzigen 6ntfd)Iujj ju faffen
5Der
it)rcr

torbig tore!

Wattjan

2eld)en?
SempeUjerr

$en,
3510

9?ad) eud)

unb

3u

fragen

ifyrem 33ruber roeiter nid)t

Unb?
Sempetfjerr

Unb mir
2tud) raerben mte.

ju folgen,

roenn

Sie brber eines -JJtufelmannes #rau

Watfjan

bleibt

ie

ift

bei

ittab,,

bei bes"

^br trefft fie nicf>t. Sultans 3d)roefter.

!

194

SRatljan ber SBeife.

Sempclljen3515

Seit

wenn? warum?
ftti$ut

tlnb

tootft

ifyr

ba

bei ifynen

gugleicfy ben ruber finben, fommt nur mit.

Xtmptlfftvt

>en Araber?

welken?

ittafys ober Stec&ag?

OTatyatt

Seicht beibe.

ommt
Sr

nur mit!
ffjrt ifjn fort.

$}

bitt'

eud),

fommt!

Sedjfter auftritt.
cene
Sttlaf) unb
:

in ittaf)8
in

arem.

SR c cfja

Unterhaltung begriffen.

3ittnt)

2Sa3
3520

freu'
fo

idj>

mid) nid)t beiner, ffjeS SJtbcfyen

nid)t
!

ei

beflemmt nur
fei

fo angft, fo f cb, d)tern

ei munter!

gefprtfnger! vertrauter!

Wcrtm
rinjefftn,
.

ittalj

fticb,

ittab;

Rid&t bocr;

nict)t

beine greunbin

9^enn' mid) bein SRtterc^en

3525

$a

f <^>ier

aud)

fein.

^rinjeffin
beine

Renn'

Scfywefter.

^cb,
fo

fnnte ba
flug
!

jung
!

fo

fromm

2a bu

nid;t alle weifjt

!

nicbt affe mufjt

elefen baben

2>cf)

gelefen ?

ittab, ,

SDu fpotteft beiner flehten albern dEjmefter. %<fy fann faum lefen.

gnfter Saftig.

Sedjfter auftritt.

195

3talj

annft faum, Lgnerin

Media
3530

Gin toenig meinet 5Bater anb.

%d)
!

meinte,

ftord&ft

fc>on

Supern.
Sittal)

2lfferbing3
SRedja

toon

Scbern.

5Run, Sucher tirb mir

roar/rlicb,

ferner ju lefen

ctttalj

3m

gro?
9iedja

^n gansem
Sie
3535
3)iit

Grnft.
bie

9Jtein SSater liebt

ficf>

falte Sucbgelebrfamfeit,

toten
toenig.

Qtidpn ine ebirn nur

Sittn^
Gi, toas fagft bu

brcft,

3u

9Bo$l niebt febr Unrecbt 2>u toeit ?

. .

Unb

at
fo

inbeS

maner/e, toa3

Wertin
SBttfc
ia;

adein aus feinem 9Jhtnbe,

3540

bem meiften bir noa) fagen, 2Bie? too? toarum? er mieb's gelehrt.
fnnte bei
3irtat>

Unb

0
id)
freilief;

b,ngt

alfe beffer an.

So

lernt

5Rit ein bie ganje

Seele.

Sieber bat
2lucf>

ittaf; toenig ober nichts gelefen

196

gfJattjan ber Seife.

2Bte fo ?
3545

Stttaf)
^cr)

bin nid&t ftolj aufg egenteil.

briet; breift.

SlHein tte f o ?

>einrunb!
JRedja

35einrunb?

ie

ift

fo

fd^Ied^t
fid)

unb
nur

recfyt,

fo untoerfnftelt,
. . .

gang

felbft

t>nlid^>

Utalj

9atn?
JUcrija

$a
SDie 93tf)er
gjiein SSater.
tttalj

follen

un nur

feiten

laffen,

fagt

D
3550
(Sin

toa

ift

bein SSater fr

9Rann!
;Hctl)n
9ftcf>t

toaE>r?
Sittat)
JBie

nal) er

immer

bod)

3um

Biele

trifft

;Kcri)a
9^idt)t

roafyr ?

Unb

biefen Skter

ittal)

2Ba

ift

bir,

Siebe?
;Kcd).i

liefen $ater
Stttalj

Dttl

$5u toeinft?
9Zed>a

Unb
heraus
1

biefen SSater

2tf)

e mufe
.

Kein ^erg toia Suft, null Suft

fid),

SBirft

Bon Xfjrnen

bericttigt, ju tfjren g&eit.

fnfter Sufjug.

6c$ftac auftritt.

197

Stttalj

$inb, h>a
3555
efcr;ier/t

bir?

9?ecf,a?
tedja

liefen Bater
(Sott
i(f>

fott

Stef;' auf!

berlieren!

Sittad

2ie bai

et

$u?
rufyig
!

fyt! ^tmmerme^r
1

berlieren?

2>u

$u
3560

fottft bergeben biefr/ gu meiner ^eunbin, meiner Sd>roefter nid;t erboten fyaben 1

3a) bin'S ja

bin'

6ttftj
Stefy boa? nur auf
1

%$

mufj

Sonft ilfe rufen.

!Rctf)a
bte
fitf)

ermannt unb
!

auffrefjt

2(b

berjetr)'!

bergieb!

Kein Schmers

tyat

mieb bergeffen machen, roer

$u
3565

bift.

SSor Sittar; gilt fein SBinfeln, fein

23erjroeifeln.

alte, rubige Vernunft

fie

Sitt affei

ber

allein
if>r

bermgen.
fr)rt,

25e3 @acbe
ftun

biefe

bei

ber ftegt.

Sittalj

bann?
Tertia

meine greunbin, meine ebroefter iebt ba ni$t ju iebt nimmer ju, bafj mir 6in anbrer SSater aufgebrungen roerbe
9?ein,
!

Stttalj

3570

in anbrer Sater? aufgebrungen? bir? 2er fann ba? fann ba3 aucr; nur motten, Siebe

198

Statin

ber SBetfe.

;)icrt)a

2Ber?

Sfteine gute

2)a motten,

fo

bfe >aja fann

mitt

ba tonnen.

$a,
e
biet

bu fennft

2ofyl biefe gute bfe $>aja nid&t?

3575

S^un, ott bergeb' e

ie

tyat

mir
!

biet

ute
tfyr

belohn'
fo

iljr

$fe

rtuiefen

tttal)

23fe bir ? )od) maljrlid?

muf$

fie

ute

Wenig

fyaben.
3!crf]a

2)od)
Rec^>t

red)t

tel,

toiel!

tttal)

2Ber

tft

fie?
;Hcrt)a

@ine
3580

ljriftin,

bie

$n

meiner $inbl)eit mid) gepflegt, mi$ fo 2)te mir eine -Kutter $)u glaubft nid?t ebflegt

0
@3

ifyr

wenig
!

miffen laffen
)ie

Ott
1

oergelt'

aber midj
!

au$

fo

gengftet

2fti$ fo geqult

tafj

Unb
3585

ber toa3?

Warum?

2ie?
!Hcri)a
!

2ldj>

bie

3ft eine @I)rtftin

arme grau idf) fag' btr' ja muji au Siebe qulen

Sft eine on ben dfywrmerinnen, bie

25en allgemeinen, einzig wahren 2eg

fac$

ott ju miffen mahnen

gnfter Stufjug.

2od)fter auftritt.

199

3tttat)

3iun erftel/
9iedja

id)

3590

Unb
Der

fid)

gebrungen fllen, einen jeben,

btefe!

23eg!
fie

toerfef;It,

barauf ju lenfen.

tarn
afj

fnnen
biefer

aud) anber!.

enn

ift'! roabr,

23eg allein nur

fie

richtig fljrt,

Sie follen
3595

gelaffen

ifyre

greunbe

3(uf einem anbern roanbeln felm

ber in!

93erberben ftrjt, in! eroige ^erberben?

!
$ur

mflte mglitt; fein, benfelben 2ftenfd)en

felben $eit

u lieben unb ju Raffen.

2lud) ift'!

ba!

nid)t, roa! enblid) laute klagen

3600 2Jcid) ber fte u fhren sroingt.

^bv 2eufjen,
fjtt'

2#r Sarnen,
2>tt)

il?r

ebet,

if/r

2>rol?en

gern nod) lnger aufgehalten, gern!

braebte mid) bod)
nfclid).

G!
3605

immer auf ebanfen,

Sie gut unb

Unb roem

fcbmeicbelt'! bod)

^m

runbe

niebt,

fid)
fei,

gar fo roert

unb

teuer,

SSon roem'! aueb

gehalten fblen, bajj

r ben ebanfen

niebt ertragen fann, eroig

Qx muff' einmal auf

<3el>r toaljr!

un! entbehren!

Sittafj

2Wein
3610

allein

ba!

gebt ju roeit

Sem

fann

ieb

niebt! entgegenfefcen, nid)t

ebulb,

nid)t

berlegung, niebt!!
3tttafj

2Ba!? roem?
Tertia

2a!

fie

mir eben

itjt

entbedt

roill

Ijaben.

200

Statljan ber SSeife.

tttal)

ntbedt

unb tbtn

ifct ?

Mcrf)n
5ftur

eben

itjt

2ir nagten, auf

3615

bem 2Beg'

^ier^er,

uni einem

SSerfattnen @l)riftentempel.

^l^Iidj ftanb
ju fmpfen, blidte

Sie

[tili,

faxten mit

ftdj>

felbft

5Rit naffen 2lugen balb gen >immel, balb 2luf mid).

emm,
id)

fprad)

fie

enblicfy,

lajj

un

fyier

2)urd? biefen
3620

Tempel
folg'

in bie S^td^te gefyn!

ie
9Jttt

gefyt,

ifyr,

rau
ftefyt

bie roanfenben
roieber,

unb mein Sluge fdproeift Ruinen bura).

id)
feE>e

9hm

fie

unb

mid)

3ln ben berfunfnen (Stufen eine morfd>en

StltarS mit
3625
9)lit
it>r.

2Bie

hmrb mir?

aU

fie

ba

fyeifjen

freuten, mit gerungnen nben,

ftrjte
. . .

3u

meinen $fjen

ittafj

ute inbl
Lettin

Unb

0
3630

bei ber ttdKn, mand) ebet erhrt,

bie
fo

ba

roofyl

fonft

manage? 2unber

$errid>tet I)abe, mid) befd)roor

mit

93Iirfen

2)e wahren 9JtitIeib mid) befd)mor, mid) meiner

2)od? ju erbarmen
!

iuenigften,

ifyr

ju

Vergeben, roenn

fie

mir entbeden muffe,

l)abe.

2a

il)re

$iray auf mid) fr 2lnfprua)

(Ungldlid)e!

atytie

mir

!)

Media

3$

gnfter Sufsug.

Siebenter auftritt.

201

3635

2lu c6rtftlid>em eblte,

fei

getauft,
nicfyt

3 ei
(Sieb,

9iatban* ^ocbter nitft, er

nitfit

mein SSater

ott! ott! 6r

mein iater! Sittab! Sittaf?!

. .

mia; aufs neu' gu beinen ^fjen

Sittalj

9l\fy boa?!

ftef

auf!

3Rein

9tea?a!
23ruber fmmt!
fter;

auf!

Siebenter Huftritt.

a lab in

unb

bie

Sorigen.

Salabin
3640

2as

giebt's

fyier,

Sittar/?
Sittab,

Sic
Salabin

ift

bon

fta;

ott

2er

ift

's?
Sittalj

SDu

roeijjt

ja

Salabin

Unfers Nathans Socbter?

2Bas

fehlt u)r?

Sinai)

omm
bie
fiaj

boa) ju bir, inb!

SDer

Sultan

auf ben Snieen ju Salabin g&en fdjleppt, ben 8opf jur erben gefentt
ftefy'

^cfe

ni$t auf!

nicfct

efyer

auf!
!

mag

3645

es Sultan 2Tntli nidj>t erblicfen en 2lbglan$ eroiger ereajtigfeit Unb te nicbt in feinen Stugen, nia^t
2tuf feiner

efjer

efyer

Stirn berounbem

202

Statin

ber eife.

Sflfabin

Stefy

fte$

auf

@fy'

er

mir

nicfyt

berf^rid^t

Sntnbtit

Jlomm!
ei toa
e3

ia;

berfpredje

mi!
tedja
Sticht mefyr,

nidjt weniger,

3650

2ll
9flia;

meinen SSater mir ju

tym

laffen,

nnb
fonft

9coa?

3u

fein

verlangt

Rid&t toiffen.

aua) Stber macfyt benn nur ba Slut

verlangen
beifirfj

toeift ta; nicfyt, toer

mein $ater

fann.

2BPg

2>en SSater? nur ba Slut?

Ofabtlt
aufebt

%<fy

merfe

3655 2er toar

fo graufam benn, bir felbft dergleichen in ben obf ju fe^en? 3ft

toofyl

bir felbft

63 benn

fcfyon

bUig auggemad^t? ertoiefen?

SJiujj

toofyl!

9ie> SDenn SDaja teilt bon meiner 21mm'

fyaben.

Solobiu

deiner 2tmme!
9ted)a

3Me
3660

e<

fterbenb

g$r ju vertrauen

fi<$

berbunben fllte.
alabttt

ar

fterbenb
!

Stua; teafyr
9Jcaa;t

^a
!

9cia)t

aua; fafelnb fd&on

Unb
faum

toor '3

teofyl,

ba3

Blut,
nirf)t!

ba Slut attem
macfyt

lange noa) ben SSater

gnfter Sufgug.

siebenter auftritt.

203

25en 93ater eine Siere

3665

giebt

jum

bc^ften

S)aS

erfte

3ietf>t,

rroerben!

fttf

biefen

tarnen ju
bange
fein
!

2afj bir bocb nicbt

Unb
2icb

roeit

bu loa?
ftreiten,

Sobalb ber SSter

um

bicb

Den
3670

britten

9iimm
tbu'!

tt>ei

la

fie

beibe,

nimm

bann

micb,

ju beinern Sater

Sittafj

tbu's

calabtn
3jcb

Siecht guter SSater fein

Kocf)

ftnff

ein guter SSater,

!

2>oa; fyalt

biel

toa 33effre

bei.

8Ba3
fie

mir

fllt

braucbft bu

benn

3)er SSter berbauet?

2enn

nun fterben?

3675

Sei $eiten fic^> natf einem umgefebn er mit uns um bie 2Sette leben hntt
$ennft bu
nocb,

feinen?

3itta(j
iDtarf;

fie

ntcfct

errten!

Solobin

S)a hob'

icb,

atterbing^ mir toorgefetjt.

bie

rrten macbt

jjlicfyen fo

ftf>n,

Unb
3680

fottte

fcf>ne nid;t nocb,

v

fcbner

macben?

%d> habt bebten ater 9tatban, unb

9Jocb

einen

einen nocb, bierber beftefft.

?

Grrtft bu

ify

ierfc, er

2>u

roirft

mir

borf;

Urlauben, Sittab?
3ittal)

Sruber

Satabin

a
3Sor

bu ja

ibm

recbt

febr

errteft,

liebe Sftbcben!

204

ftatljan ber SBeife.

9*ed>a
3685

SSor

wem ?

errten ?

alabiu

9?un

fo

erblaffe
!

Unb

fannft

lieber

kleine eu$Ierin
2ie bu ttft

ine ftauin

tritt

herein

unb

nafjet fid) ittafj.

<5ie finb boa)

ettua

nxdc)t

fcr)on

ba?

ut

lafj

fie

euto^ nur herein.

<3ie

finb ei, 23ruber

Setter auftritt.
Statt;

an unb

ber

Sempelfjerr
Solobttt

ju ben

Sorigen.

2)icf), 2lr), meine guten lieben greunbe 3690 )icr), 9tatr;an, mufj tc^> nur ttor aen SDingen SBebeuten, bafc bu nun, fobalb bu hnttft,
!

SDein

elb fannft

hneberl) len laffen

Watt)iin

ultan
Solnbtu

9tun

fteb/

icr)

au$

ju beinen SDtenften
^ntlinit

ultan
Solabin
$)ie
3695

araroan'

ift

ba.
itf)

5$ bin

fo reia)

9iun roieber,

aU

lange nia^t geroefen.

braud)ft, fo
ib,r,

roa3 rofje

$omm,

fag' mir,

ma bu

red^>t

3u

unternehmen!

Titnn aua)

aucb,

ilj>r,

gnfter Sufjug.

tfefcter

auftritt.

205

{\bx anbeleleute,

fnnt be Baren elbeS

!

3u

iel nie

haben

Nathan

Unb roarum
37c

3?on biefer leinigfeit

^d>

juerft

febe bort

@in Dlug'

in

Jbrnen, bas ju trodfnen mir

ift.

2eit angelegner

efit auf SRet&a pt.

2a3

feblt bir?

2>u
bift

r;aft

geroeint?

bo) meine

2ocb>r nod)?

ccfia

ttein Jater

ftatfjan

28ir oerfteben uns.

3705

enug

Sei

Sei gefaxt! 23enn fonft bein erj 9?ur bein noeb ift 23enn beinern erjen fonft
beiter!
!

^ur

fein SBerluft niebt brotyt

!

Sein
!

3>ater

ijl

ir unoerloren

Tertia

deiner, feiner fonft

Sonft feiner?
3710

Icmpclljerr
-Jfun!
fo

bah

i)

mieb betrogen.
fyat

2Sas man

niebt gu oerlieren frchtet,

3Jian ju befitjen nie geglaubt, unb nie

eronfcbt.

9tecb,t

roobj!

rec^t toor>l!

2>aS

nbert,

Tae
Xuf
3715

nbert atte*!
bein ebeifc.

Salabin,
Mein,
bid)
ich,

9tat^an,
roir

famen
bieb,

hatte

herleitet, it bemh,'

nur nid)t roeiter!

Salabin

SBu

gacb

nun

roieber,

junger 3Jknn!

Soll

ae

206
$>ir

SRatljan ber SSetfe.

benn entgegen fommen? alles

?

bidf)

Erraten

9lun, bu

fyrft

ja!

fte^ft

ja,

(Sultan!

3720

@i iaJ>rIid^ (Schlimm genug, $)u nia)t gehnffer roarft!

!

Safabtn
bafs

beiner ad>e

SempeHjerr

0
otobin

bin idf'S nun.

28er

fo

auf irgenb eine 3or)lt^at tro$t,

fie

ftimmt

jurtf.
nict)t

2aS bu

gerettet,

ift

SeSroegen

bein (Eigentum,

onft

tur'

2)er Ruber, ben fein eij ins $euer jagt,

3725

gut ein elb,

Stuf D?ecf)a }itger)ent>,

roie

bu!
fie

um

beut Tempelherrn uauffjreit.

omm,

lieber SJibrfjen,

tom!

5ftimm'S mit ifym

nict)t

fo

genau.

SDenn ror'

r anberS, mr' er minber toarm unb ftolj, @r fytt' eS bleiben laffen, bia) ju retten.
2)u mufjt ifym eins frs anbre rennen.
3730

$omm
an!

Seftfmm' i^n

tfm',

maS

il)m ju

tfyun
bid)

gekernte!

Sefenn' iljm beine Siebe! trage

ifym

Unb

toenn er bia) berfdnnfyt, bir'S je

bergig
fjat

2Bie ungleid) tnefyr in biefem abritte bu

3735

gr it)n @r benn

getfyan,

als er fr bia)

2aS
fia)

fr

btdt)

getr/an? @in wenig

Seruajern laffen! ift maS l-ftecfyt's! fo @r meine SruberS, meines 2tffab, nichts

fyat
!

trgt er feine Saroe, nia;t fein erj.

$omm,

Siebe

fnfter 2tuf$ug.

?eijter auftritt.

207

Stttal)

er/!
3740

ger>,

Siebe, geb/!

@S

tft

^r
9?oa)

beine anfbarfeit noeb

immer wenig,

immer

nicfrtS.

Watfjan

alt Salabin! Salabin

2Tucr,

b/alt

Sittar/!

bu?
Nathan
ier
b/at

nodb einer mit ju fbreeben

3Ber leugnet ba ? Unftreitig, 5Ratb/an, fmmt So einem ^flegeater eine Stimme

3745

Salabin

2Kit ju

Sie

erfte,

roenn bu

roiUft.

2>u
fo

b;rft,

3$

roeif}

ber Saa;e ganje Sage.

9iia)t

ganj!

$cb rebe ni$t bon mir.

tft

ein anbrer,

2eit, roeit ein anbrer, ben idb,

Salabin,

2)od) autf> borber ju boren bitte.

Salabin

Ser?
Watfian
3750

3# r

53niber!

Salabin
3ftecJ?as

Sruber?

Watfian

3a!
;Kcrf)a

9Kein ruber

So

bab'

id;

einen 53ruber?

2empc(f)err
au feiner
roilbcn,

ftummen Sen'treitung

auffaljrenb
tft

2Bo? mo

208

Watyan
@r, biefer ruber?

ber SBeife.

Wofy

nic^t

frier?

3$

foUt'

3#n

fyier

ja treffen.

9tur ebulb!
eittpenjetT u&erft
bitter

3755

Sater aufgebunben, @r leinen ruber fr fie finben?

Sr)r einen

@r
trirb

r;at

afabht
2)a

at

norf)

gefehlt!

@r/rift!

ein fo niebriger
nicfyt

erbaut tor' ber efommen. ut!

2lffab Sippen
far)r'

nur

fo

fort!

3#m!
3760

%d)

berjeif;'

irnn gern.

2Ber

SSerjeir)'
roeifj,

toa toir

2(n feiner teil' in feinem Sllter bhten!

greunbfrfjaftlidj auf ifjn sugefjenb.

^atrlicr;, Ritter!

2trgroorm folgt auf gjtifjtrau'n!

2enn

ifyr

mid>

euer3
. .

wahren

9?amen

gleid)

etorbigt

r/ttet

Xempetljerr

2ie?

$r)r feib fein

taufen!

Xempdfftvt
2Ber bin
icr)

benn?
6urb
toon

Reifst

taufen

nidjt!

empell)err
3765

Sie

r/eifj'

ia;

benn?

gnfter Stufjug.

gefeter uftritt.

209

Nathan
>eit

2eu bon ^ilnef.

2Sie?

Sempetfierr

Nathan

3$r

ftufct?

Icmpclfjerr

3JM

fletft

er

lagt ba*?

5*,
3focf)

bcr mefyr,

mehr

euch,

fagcn fann.

2$

fira

inbeS

Gucfe feiner

Sge.

Jempcl^err
9ftc$t?

Halfan

Rann

borf

roobl fein,

a
3770

jener 9?am'

eu$

ebenfalls gebhrt.

ScmpeHjerr

a*
enn

foHt

tri)

meinen

(a*
9?atfjan

Inejj

ort irm fbred)en!)

eure Kutter

bie

war

eine Staufin.

^bx ruber, euer Cbm, ber

eurf

exogen,

em
2(1,

eure ltern eu) in eutfd)lanb liefen,

3775

Sie toieber
iefe

bon bem rauhen >immel bort bertrieben, ber r)ier ju Sanbe famen

6urb

5>ietteicbt

euch

bon Staufen, mag an angenommen haben Seib

!

&inbe*ftatt

3r/r lange frf>on mit ib,m

nun aud) herber

nod>?

GJefommen? Unb

er lebt bod)

Jempelfjerr

28a* foO

210
3780

Ration ber SBeife.

%$
@r

fagen?
felbft
ift

9fatyan!
tot.

Slfferbing*!

ift's!

%$

tarn crft mit ber legten

SSerftrfung unfern Drbeng.

2lber,

aber

3Bal

r)at

mit biefem allen

-ftetf)a

ruber

u Raffen?
9?atyan

@uer 33ater

Sempelljerr

2Bie? aud> ben

3785

$aht

if)x

gerannt?

Sluct)

ben?

Katynt

@r mar mein $reunb.

Sempelljerr

2Bar euer $reunb? Sft'3 mglich, 9?att)an

bttytt

kannte
id;
SBolf r>on fjilnef,
aber

mar

lein 2)eutfd)er

ZzmpctytTt
3t)r
roifjt

aud) ba?
s

J?ntl)nit

2Bar
ermfylt,
3790

einer 2)eutfct)en

nur

mar

eurer -Dlutter nur nact) 2)eutfd)lanb

.
. .

Stuf furge eit gefolgt

XempeHjerr

ucr;

it)r!

9fid)t met)r!

id)

bitt'
.

Slber 9ie)a3

ruber

5Wecr) a ruber

eib

Sempellierr

3d)?

id)

ir>r

ruber?

@r mein ruber?

gnfter Stufjug.

i'eter auftritt.

211

eftoifter

Salobin

Sie

efcbroifter!
roiH auf ifjn ju

jRetf)tt

2tfy!

mein ruber!

Tempelherr
=ftr

tritt

jurd

ruber!
JHctfja
Ijlt

an,

unb

toenbet
!

ftct)

ju SRattjan
!

3795

eijj nicbts

baon!

ann

nicbt fein

mct)t fein

Sein erj

2Sir ftnb einiger! ort!

Saluttt jum JemDetfjerrn

Betrger

einiger? roie? 2>as benfft bu? fannft bu benfen? felbft! enn aHe3 ift erlogen

2tn bir, eficfrt unb

Stimm' unb ang

DftcbtS bein

Bo
3800

eine

Scbroefter ni?t erfennen motten!

efy

Tempelherr
2Jiijjbeut'

a) bemrtg

tljnt

naljenb
!

aud) bu niefit mein Grftaunen, Sultan Serfenn' in einem Slugenblic!', in bem SDu fcbmerlid) beinen 21ffab je gefeben,
ifyn

ftid; t

unb midj

Huf

atfjart aueilenb.

3^r
3Jiit

nefymt
!

offen

nben

beibe

unb gebt mir,

tJJein
! !

9?atf>an!

^br gebt
me^r
!

3805

Wtix mebr,

aU

ifyr
Siecfja

mir net>mt

unenblia?

um

ben al faden b.
!

90}

meine Sjtoefter! meine Srf>toefter

Nathan

Ianba

on pnef

TempeUjerr

lanba? lanba

9tea?a nict?

212
9iid)t

3tot!)an ber SSetfe.

eure 9tedt)a mer/r gebt

ir/r

ie
3810

SSerfto^t fie

ott ^atfyan meinetwegen

?
!

ir)r

berftoftt
!

if>ren

Gfyriftennamen mieber
! !

5ftatr/an

Sarum
Unb

fie

entgelten laffen? fie!

D SDenn meiner
roa<S ?

Nathan meine Hinber

meine inber

otf)ter iruber

mr' mein ^inb

?
tritt

S^id^t
er

aud),

fobalb er

mi

3nbem

ficf)

trjren

Umarmungen

berlt,

atabtn mit unruhigem @r=

ftaunen ju feiner Sdjmefter.

Malaiin

2Ba
(Sittal)

fagft

bu,

dm>efter?

3815

13$

&n

gerhrt

tttobin

Unb
33or einer
^Bereite

id)

icb,

fer/aubere

groem

9tr/rung faft gurc!!

fo

bieb,

nur brauf,

gut bu fannft.

itta^

SBie?
Salabin
! !

Snbem

9?atl)an

ein 2ort 9tatr; an, auf ein 2Bort ju if)tn tritt, tritt ittat) ju bem efcrjraifter, itjin ifjre eilnef)mung
ju bejeigen, unb SRatljan unb afabin
fpreerjen leifer.

r'
3820

r' b,
?

boeb,,

Nathan

agteft bu

t)orr)tn

9ftcr;t

2Ba3?
afabin
2tu SDeutfcbJanb
fei
ifyr

58ater

nitf)t

etuefen,

ein geborner 2)eutfcf/er

er

nidt)t.

2a mar

benn?

roo

mar

er fonft

benn

b,er?

gnfter unug.

?efcter auftritt.

213

2)a fmt er

felbft

mir nie bertrauen motten.

roeifj

2lui feinem 5Runbe

icb

nichts

babon.

Salabin
3825

Unb mar

aud) fonft fein granf? fein Stbenblnber ? Watfjan

D!
@r

bafj

er ber nid)t fei,

geftanb er
.

tuofyl.

fbrad

am

liebften

-JSerfifcb

Salabtn

2Bas

roifX

id)

mebr?

@r
^utliatt

Perjif?
ift's!

erftf?

@r mar es!
.

2er?

Solabin
5ftein 33ruber
!

ganj gemifj

5Rein Slffab

ganj

3830

emifj|!

Watljan
ftun, toenn

bu

felbft

barauf

berfllft

Nimm

bie

^Berfia^rung

f>ter

in biefem 53ud;e!

3fjm ba Sreoier berretdfenb.

3aldbtn
2tb,!

e begierig aufftfitagenb

feine

>anb!

Slucb bie

erfenn'

tdb,

mieber!

JJod;

miffen

fie

Mein,
3835

roa3

fie

Nathan Don nid)ts! 5Jod) ftefyt's" babon erfahren follen

!

bei bir

SfllatHlt
3>c&,

inbeS er barin gebtattert

ntct)t

meine! SruberS $inber

meine inber 3<$ meine Neffen ie nidjt erfennen? idj? ie bir

nrieber taut

erfennen?
nicfyt?
roob,!

laffen?

ie finb's!

fte

fmb
.

es,
.
.

ittab, finb

Sie finb'S!
!

inb

beibe meinet
(Sr

beines 53ruber $inber

itjre

rennt tu

Umarmungen

214

9totfan ber Seife.

3840

2a

fyr' id)

Uta!)

ifjm folgenb

onnt'<S aud; anber, anberS fein!

Saiabht jum Tempelherrn

9?un mufit bu bod)

hjofjl,
ju

Sro^fopf, mufet midj lieben

9?ecfia

9hm

bin

irf)

bod>,

moju
nitfjt

id)
1

mid) erbot?

9Jtagft motten, ober

ittalj

$d; aud;
Srtlrtbtlt

id;

aud>

jum

empe(fjerrn jnrct
!

9Jkin ofyn! mein Slffab

meinet 2tffab Sofyn

3845

5$ beine Sinti

0
!

eml>ell)err

maren

jene

trume,

Somit
)od)

man meine $inbb,eit wiegte, bod; 39* m gfsen faaenb. mefyr aU trume
Snlbin
if>n

aufljebenb

efyt ben 33femid;t!

@r

mujjte

mag baoon, unb

tonnte mid;
!

$u

feinem 9J?rber

mad)en motten
ollfettiger

2art

Unter ftummer SBieberfjolung

Umarmungen

fat ber SBorfjang.

NOTES.

ABBREVIATIONS.

acc, accusative.
cf.,

compare.
feminine.

dat., dative.
/.,

m. or masc, masculine. M.G., Middle German. M.H.G., Middle High German.

neut., neuter.

/. and^"., following.

N.H.G.,

New High German.

gen., genitive. i.e., that is.

imflers., impersonal.

O.H.G., Old High German.

pron., pronounced.

sc, supply.

Introd., Introduction.
/.

S.D., Stage direction.

frans/., translate.

or

//.,

line or lines.

/it.,

literally.

NOTES.
Title Page.
Introite,

nam
!

et heic

DU

sunt! (Apud Gellium),

Enter for here

too

are gods

Aristotle represents the Ionian philoso-

pher Heraclitus as addressing these words to some friends who were reluctant to enter a room where he was. Lessing ascribes the words to
Aulus Gellius, in the preface of whose Noctes Atticce they had been They were thus associated interpolated in Latin form in a few editions. with the name of Gellius instead of with that of the real author Aristotle.
Lessing drama.
calls attention

by them

to the lofty

and serious character of

his

ACT
Page 7. line
2.

I.

SCENE

i.

ihr.

In the modern drama, as in modern

life,

the polite form of address is Sie with the corresponding possessive 3Ijr. In the historical drama, giving pictures of life in older periods, and in dramas of an elevated character, the earlier form of address ihr with its

corresponding possessive euer is still retained. In the present drama, however, the familir bu occurs with the corresponding possessive bftn

where we might expect the polite form. The bu as well as ihr to the Sultan Saladin and to his
in return with bu.

different characters use

sister,

and are addressed

The

familir use of bu

is

usually confined to the

narrow circle of intimate friendship; it is, however, employed with Goethe uses bu throughout his greater freedom in higher diction.
Iphigenie.
1.

3.

In the word e

tt

1 i

cb the spacing indicates emphasis,

where

italics

are

employed

in English.

1. 7.
1.

feitabr off to one side, off the direct road.

gut jUPCt bunbcrt ITTeilen. The reference is to German miles. The direct route from Babylon to Jerusalem is about 140 German or 650 English miles. In the first edition Lessing wrote gute hunbert
8.

teilen.

2l8
1.

NATHAN.

11.

1059.

io. fbcrt for frbert, which occurs in 1. 2486. The form fbert accounted for by dissimilation, that is, the unconscious change or Omission of a sound to avoid its repetition in the following syllable. Such changes are more common Similarily fobern occurs for fovbent.
is

in

populr speech but are less often retained in the literary language. In certain words, however, such as ber (M.H.G. querder), bait, the
r

has been permanently dropped. I. 11. von ber Ffanb fcblagen,

Page
II.

8.

line

to

do quickly.

18.

Scbon

roarfr, that is quite true ; fd)01t gives a

concessive force.

ig-20.
31.

Doch

Hecba

ror' bei

einem fjaare mit Derbrannt,

too.

But Recha came within a

1.

hair's breadth of'burning

beult.

bann, more usually replaced by

The fonns bann and

is

beult are

now

differentiated in meaning.

The former

used
is

in a

poral or conditional sense conjunction with causal force

tem-

for, and as an adverb in certain expressions like the present, nun benn, ivell then, where the original When Lessing wrote, temporal meaning has become somewhat faded.

then, in that case ;

beult

used as a

the distinction between the two forms was not fixed.

Page
of

9.

line 43.

The

auxiliary habe
fein in

is

omitted.

The Omission
with the

the

auxiliaries

haben and

subordinate

clauses

transposed Order was at this period more

common

than at the present

^ime.
1. 46. Daja is a well-meaning but narrow-minded and (Semiffen. Her conscience distresses her because she has overzealous Christian.

kept Recha's Christian birth a secret. L'47. Hur, indeed. Uhu' is often thus used for emphasis.

Page 10.
bange.
1.

line 48.

(Dbraericnfe, earrings,

now

usually

Chrge=

54.

nicbt.

warn, prevent, doubl, not uncommon.

1.

After verbs containing a negative meaning such as to etc., a pleonastic nid)t in the following clause was

56.

(Seit,

Is

it

not so?

is

in
is

language of South Germany.

subjunctive of gelten.

It

general confined to the populr really the $d pers. sing, of the

1. 59. Was Strffid?es vor (Sott hierbei gefcfyiefyt, whatever cul0trfltd)e8 is an adjeetive pable in the sight of God is ivrought thereby.

NOTES.
used substantively
genitive,
in

ACT

I,

SCEN'E

I.

219
originally a partitive

apposition with 2Ba.

3Sa>5

It

was

belongs equallv to each of the clauses, serving as the subject of the first and the object of the others. Nathan fears line 63. Wenn bu mtcb tjtntcrgcbft Page 11.

dependent on roaS.

that
I.

Daja has not told him the whole truth concerning Recha. The usual form is 9ierD, a masc. noun- of the mixed 65. ZTcroe.

declension.

U.66-67. Hoch malet ^euer ihre pbantafte 3U allem, was fte malt, her fancy still tinges with flame all that it paints. The verb malet is used in a factitive sense here of what is made to appear through
its

in

The longer form of the third person sing., malet, was, action. Lessing's time, not only used, as here, for the meter but was also
in ordinr}, prose.
-

common

Recha II. 68-69. balb weniger als (Eier, balb mehr als (Engel. seemed to Daja dull and listless like an animal, when awake, but when asleep and delirious she appeared to have superhuman powers.
!
1. 1.

7475.
76.

3 n bem,
Srad?

here adv., in the meantime.

Dem

of the
1.

arm
77.

mieber, her eyes grew dim again. feines 2Irmes rtiitje ftd? ent5og,/nw/ which the support zvas withdrazvit.
ftd? irjr 21tige

Kiffen.
as

same
form

origin

The original edition has ffen, which is of the English cushion and goes back to mediseval Latin,

The Lessing's form is historically more correct. comes from Middle and South German dialects, where is commonly pronounced i. It would not have been surprising if Lessing had used Riffen here, as he was himself a Middle German. In 1. 870 he uses ttnrjt for rr,t. ffen was the usual form until the last quarter of the eighteenth Century. Adelung's well-known dictienary
cussinus.
iffett

Hence

(1775) does not mention Riffen.

1.

79.

las IPunber! what wonder

!
1.

SSunber
59.

is

here a former

partitive gen. in the plural.

Page 12.
and
Diel

line 84. wenig. Early in the X.H.G. period wenig were indeclinable substantives which took a partitive genitive
:

Cp. note to

after

them

menig

red)tet*

Shriften,

few

real Christians, Luther.

In

the time of Lessing the genitive had in general given place to the At present the appositional construetion is appositional construetion. retained in the singular, but in the plural Wenig and Diel are usually

20
and

NATHAN.
inflected;

11.91119.

treated as adjectives

mit wenig elb,

mh

little

money,

but mit mcntgen Seilten, with few people.

1.

91.

subjunctive.

aus, all over; the indicative form mar is used instead of the In an unreal conditional sentence the indicative may re-

place a preterit or pluperfect subjunctive in order to give a tone of certainty to the statement.
I. 94. rjiors erfte, for frS erfte, to Start with, as thefirst installment, at first, temporarily. The closely related forms Por and fr are now

separated in meaning.

The fonn
II.

in

is

In Lessing's time they were often interchanged. preserved in the adverb \)QXtx\\' , first, at first.
alle bes

98-99.
all

bn'

Kaufes Kuufcbaft.
after

The

position of the

limiting genitive beS

Formerly

an attributive adjective is unusual. was a predicative adjective and still in large part preserves

aufe8

this character.

Thus

here, alle

is

predicative adjective, which has

moved toward

not a real attributive adjective, but a the beginning of the

In the same way we say all feine SJaterS Itt, all his fatlier^s estate. The phrase in question sounds unnatural, not because be aitfe8 Stands between alle and nnbfcfiaft, but because the genitive of a noun representing a thing usually follows
sentence for the sake of emphasis.
the governing noun.
sense, being replaced
alle
1.

The noun $nnbfd)aft has become

by enntniS (/)
.

obsolete in this

We

should

now

say

ohne

enntni be anje8.
100.

orfprctjCH, to spread out in front. line 104. mit eins, all at once ; ein is here not a case-form governed by mit, but an adverb, a former adverbial genitive.

Page

13.

I.

105.

(Empor

this Separation
II.

fte tragen for fie emportragenb. would not be admissible.

In ordinary prose

107-110. unters, untern,

for unter ba$,

unter ben

such conin

tractions are

uncommon

in elevated style, but are quite

common

colloquial language.
is

It will

be Seen throughout the drama that Lessing

send, suvimon, and, as in the present

fond of the language of the people.

1.

113.

entbieten, send

word to,

instance, urge to come, a

1. 1. 1.

word

largely confined to higher diction.

Kreatur, here used in an endearing sense. taub 311, usually taub fr or gegen, or with the simple dative. 119. nichts mentger, by no weans, literally nothing less, sc. than
114.
117.

that.

XOTES.
120.

ACT

I,

SCENE

I.

221

1.

Page
The

antreten, to approach, aecost. 14. line 125. unfers refers to Daja and those of her

faith.

contraction of the inflectional ending e to in pronominal adjective forms is now in the literary language common only in i\VL% (for eine) and fein (for feine).
1. 1.

126.
135.

roo er geblieben

ift,

what has become of him.

feines, neither one.

tot 118

(instead of masculine fetner)

either sex.
sonified.
1.
1.

Here

frer

In populr language the neuter form is often used ref erring to persons of ttienfcbenbaij and btc Scbroermut are per-

136. 140.

rcbtonner, here visionaries. See 1. 140. [erwrmen, glow with enthusiasm for,go into raptures over,
3f* &d? d ud? gefebmrmt, yet
it is

here, give oties seif up to visionary dreaiing.

1.

141.

dreaming

all the same.

The
1.

perfect participle in the predicate after the verbs fein often equivalent to the verbal noun in English.

and heien

is

144.

Page
getreten.
1.

15.

feines 3r&iben, sc. ber Sohn, the son ofno mortal. line 147. fei, belongs to both gefebroebt and bernor

148.
151.

Supply war after

bertjllt.

1.
1.

152.

ldpelnb, even wkile you smile. IPabn ; the belief in angels is

common

to Jews, Christians

and Mohammedans.
1. 154. 2lucb mir fo f! Nathan scarcely means this in the same sense as Daja. He believes in God's love for man and his watchful As care, but not that he manifests his providence by a guard of angels.

we have

new meaning
I.

noticed in the Introd., p. xxiv, Lessing was aecustomed to put into orthodox language. In the following lines he speaks

ironically of Daja's theory of angels in

which she had confirmed Recha.

lannig, moody, now replaced in this meaning by launifd); launig ordinarily means hutnorous.
156.
II.

159-160.

fo

ungeftttet

Hitterfd?aft
~vay.

3U

treiben,

to

practise

ehivalry in such

an unmannerly

1. 165. auf mid?, repeated for emphasis. Nathan says that Daja ought not to be angry with him, because in that case he would be the loser if the angel should prove to be a human being and claim Recha

as his own.

NATHAN

11.

191 -242.

ACT
Page
1.

I.

SCENE

2.

17.

line 191.

^ttttcb, pinion,

now

usually ^ittig.

Dcrmcbt, modifies geiter. line 219. Formen and foen, can and should. Page 18. 1. 225. ofmebem, without that, already; ofyne formerly governed the
196.

dative, especially in Lessing, a usage arising

from

its
;

tion with 'SR it, as batb mit, halb ohne

in the present
1.

bem

mitleib

this

frequent associause is preserved

word.
This learned word does not seem to aecord

226.

Subtilitten.

with the general character of Daja. Lessing not infrequently allows his characters to use better language than one would naturally expect of them. See Erich Schmidt'* Lessing, Vol. II, p. 711. The fine adjustment of words to character, such as

we

find in a

modern

realist like

Hauptmann, was unknown

in Lessing's day.
fit

classical authors tried in general to

Lessing and the other speech to the character, but they

did not aim at absolute precision. 1. 230. Supply bat before retten.

The Omission

of the auxiliary in

construetions where the perfect participle has assumed the form of the infinitive is common in Lessing, though unusual in the language of
to-day.
1. 232. nerfebonen, originally governed the genitive, but is now used only with the aecusative. lines 234-236. In his brief Notes to Nathan, Lessing Page 19.

quotes from Marin's Histoire de Saladin: "The Templars were not allowed to offer as ransom for their liberation anything more than their

dagger and girdle;"

case ending

lebem
=

for lebenten.

Lessing often omits the

denoting material. Buchheim states that as a matter of fact the Templars did not wear leathern, but
-en in adjeetives in -ern

white linen girdles (as Symbols of chastity). 1. 237. betueifen, (hat fcbltctjCn, here

is

decisive for

my

viezv,

an

unusual use of the verb.

1.

239.
latter

fommt.
form
is

The

Lessing uses both the forms fommt and lmmt. not unusual in authors of the i8th Century, and still

oecurs in the colloquial language, but has given place to

correct speech.
1.

fommt

in

242.

bes Had?ts.

The

8 of the

noun

is

a very early genitive

NOTES.

ACT

I,

SCEXE

2.

223

ending. The use of the masculine article has arisen from analogy with such expressions as be? iageS.
1. 1.

247. 251.

iTutt ja, tvell yes, a reluctant affirmative.

rielc jrrattjia

3db rc

'

indicating an indefinite period,

many

years.
dialect.
1.

Lessing here, as often elsewhere, uses forms from his Lusatian

258. llnglanblicbers, for Unglaublichere.

This contraction of
in the

the adjective inflectional ending es

was common

i8th Century,

but

is

not

now

Page 19.

permitted. line 260.

fettl

<5efd?n>tfter, his brothers

and

sisters.

In the i8th Century ; eid)nntfer was used as a collective noun in the singular, but now only occurs in the plural. 1. 266. Scan is a weakened form of wann. In roenn, for mann.
Lessing's time the uses of the two words were not distinct. Lessing conformed to a Middle German usage which preferred luenn. In 1. 508, however, he uses Wann in accordance with present usage, and in
1.

direct questions
in

1900 he uses Juann for Wenn. 3Satm is now used in direct and inand in certain fixed phrases as bann ltnb Wann, tenn
1.

subordinate clause with temporal or conditional force. 274. fein Spiel, an aecusative in apposilion with @nt]d)ljje and
280.
in

Gntrorfe.
1.

2lugenbrauncn,
n in the
first

for
is,

the

The stem
1.

form

in fact, the plural ending,

more common Augenbrauen. which has

clung to the singular and thus formed a

283.

new

stem.

Page

23ug, usually replaced by 23iegung, rmmung. line 284. mtlo, rde. Nathan apparently refers with 21.

conscious pride to the superiority of the eulture of the Orient over that
of Europe.

form

Bei allebem ; alle, instead of the indeclinable all. The was used from the i6th to the i8th Century, e ben Ouarf (Lessing), and is preserved in the word allebem.
1.

289.

alle

1.
1.

294. 295.

ftlbertt, see

1.

235.

The usual auxiliary of tbe passive is Werben. formerly used and continues in fll force in the imperative, and also quite frequently in the infinitive, when the latter is dependent
gehoben
fein.

2 ein was

upon a model
1.

auxiliary, as in this case.

298.

brfen, need.

224

NATHAN.

11.323385.

line 323. PCrgttgfatn, sufficient to himself, in Miss Page 22. Frothingham's translation "in himself and for himself so all sufficient." 1. 329. The contraction of an inflectional t with a preceding fcfyab't.
t was very common in the i8th A few such mutilated Century. forms have come down to us from earlier periods: roirb, labt, bt't

b or

etc.;

ber

Seamte, from
!

bev

^Beamtete, one entrusted with

an

office,

official ; etc.
1. 331Kranf 8t ttnrb bod) nicht, sc franf geroorben fein! surely has not become ill !

He

Page 23.
East.

line 334.
to

Europeans are
;

still

called

"Franks"

in the

I.339.
1.

befolben,

pay, fee

used contemptuously.

340.

gufprad?',

consolation,

now

replaced

by the

form

3^=

fpntd) (m.).
1.

344.

febonen,

genitive

is still

The neuter iuag is sometimes, especially in populr language, used where the proper case of roer would be expected. 1. 346. ihm, refers to the person indicated by roa above.

Page 24.

line 345.

now usually governs the aecusative found in elevated diction.

in prose, but the

1.360.
t|

IPtctel
tft,

anbcfyttg, fcfytnrmen
easier
it is to

feiebter,

als

gut

anb

1 tt

how muck
line 363.

indulge in pious raptures tkan

to

act virtuously,

Page 25.
1.

febon, with question order has the

same

force as obfcfjon with transposed order.

372.

it}!,

an old form of

je<jt,

very

common

in Lessing.

ACT
SD.
which
ZTatf|an
his

I.

SCENE

3.

unb

sing's personality.

ber Dermtfcfy. This scene is characteristic of LesIn private life he loved a spirited talk with a friend in

keen

intellect

might have

free play.

Nathan

as well as his

other works abounds in animated dialogues. His prose masterpiece Ernst und Falk is written entirely in the form of a dialogue.
1.

385.

Kein

ITtenfd?

mu

mffett, no one can

be compelled by

It is difficult to translate tersely the compulsion. original and preserve the play on the words mufj and muffen. W. Taylor translates : Needs

must

belongs to no

man.

NOTES.

ACT

I,

SCENE

3.

225

11.

386-87.

rparum

and (which)

Ju recognizes as right.

crfemtt, that for which they askhim infaith 2Barum has the meaning um Tva$.

The modern form would be iD^rum

roarurn now means only why. ; Supply ihr before fragt. A pronominal subject is often omitted colloquially but this usage is not common in the literary language. See note to 11. 107, 1 10, last sentence.

Page 27.

line 390.

1.
I.

392.

bes, for the prose form

n>ifj,

bcffeit.

396.

II.

demands, requires ; fein, see note to 1. 295. 396-7- IVas mar' td? an eurem Pofe? IVhat should

be at

your courl ifyou had one ? I. 398. Kocb. Nathan is a man of simple habits and mentions an He intimates oecupation which seemed to him to require little skill.
humorously that he has not much confidence
his friend.
II.

in the practical ability of

ITletn anbroerf bei eueb ju rerlerrtett, That I might unlearn my trade (i.e. begging and fasting) with you. The Dervish ironically remarks that the position of cook would be quite appropriate for him as it was diametrically opposed to

398-99. itutt ja

IVhy yes !

the spirit of his profession, and asks in the could not add the extra dignity of butler.
I.

same tone why Nathan

402.

tnor&en.

In lines 390 and 391 above

the meter has in the present case determined the form.

we have geworben, Sorben was,

however, used in Lessing's time even in piain prose.

finben, fotnnten, friegen (to get), erben, etc.,

few verbs, as

which contained within

themselves the idea of completion or an ultimate result, did not require ge in the perfect participle. Sorben, used in the formation of the
passive voiee,
II. is

the sole survival of such participles.

403-4. The commentators call attention to the fact that Saladin's father was dead at this time. Lessing paid little attention to the exaet
chronology of events.
line 408. Strumpf, stump, now Stumpf. The form Page 28. Strumpf now means stocking. Strumpf Uttb Stiel, root and branch.

Notice the
1.

alliteration,

conceming which

see L 1899.

411. trotj with genitive or sometimes dative in the meaning in spite of, but only with dative in the derived meaning equal to, vie with,
as in the present passage. 1. 418. In the following lines the Dervish says that
it

is

a greater

NATHAN.

11.418502.

evil for

the people to prey lipon the princes than for the princes to prey

upon the people. Nathan disagrees with him. The Dervish believes that Nathan would be convinced by practical experience, and invites him to take his office. He shows his own bitterness and his inability to
his intention to fiee

adapt himself to the conditions of an active life, and closes by stating from the world to the Ganges and live a life of

contemplation and self-mortification with his teachers the Parsees or Ghebers.

11.

418-421.

In the

first

draft of

Nathan, Lessing says

that the

Arabs

maxim to Aristotle. line 422. 3fyr tjabt gut reben, it is easyforyou to talk, Page 29. The expression is equivalent to an infinitive used as a noun with the
ascribe this

modifying adjective gut, you have good talking. The Dervish challenges Nathan to a test.

Kommt an, come

Page 30.
I.441.

line 437. Supply beu topf after fcbttelt. Deftcrbar, treasurer rofjjchatmteifter, giuansminifter.

The word
1.

is

applied to the minister of finance of the

.

442.

Der

the thought. for the man Al-Hafi, but hesitates to trust the treasurer Al-Hafi.

Ottoman Empire. oem. As the words are suppressed we can only infer Nathan means that he is willing to do all in his power
.
.

Page 31. line 478. (Simpel, bullfinch, a stupid bird, easy to trap, hence the derived meaning stupid fellow. Here both meanings apply.

Page 32.
sands.

line 481.

Bei fjunberttaufenben, by hundred

is

thou-

replaced by JU. 1. 483. The stem was (Einzeln, an old dative plural for einzelnen. which is found and is still reserved in such words as (SinjellDefen. eiltjel
of the oblique cases

In

modern

use bei

The n
rise to
1. 1.

extended

to the

nominative Singular, and gave

the present stem etltjeln.

485. 496. 498.

fonber, a poetic

word

for obue.

mad?e,

is

equivalent to beeile bid).

1.
is

(Srab' unter nTcufcr/CU.

life.

Al-Hafi
is

living a simple religious

He

is only contented when he unpractical and unfamiliar with

human

nature, and

becomes
men.

bitter

and pessimistic when brought

into

active contact with

Page 33.
dialectic

line 502.
common
in

[omm]

fyier

I)er.

form

North Germany from early times.

Lessing here uses a Occasional

traces of this usage appear in literature, as in Brger, Lessing

and Goethe.

NOTES.

ACT
for

I,

SCENES 4 AND
nermutud).
It
is

5.

227

1.

504.

rermutlicb,

tft

adverbially and as an attributive adjective.

icatively.

Nermutud) is now used was formerly used predin this sense.

The synonym Wabrfcheind)

now employed

ACT
1.

I.

SCENE

4.

508.

U?amt

lt

ftd?

man)

be seen t

Nathan addresses

When cannothe (i.e. a i)er tltd?t feben this mild sarcasm to Daja because
!

she constantly repeats er," without mentioning a definite person. then acknowledges that he knows whom she means.
I.

He

513.

Nathan seeks

intelligence, to free

whom
as a

she took to

kindly, but by evidence which appealed to her Daja from her illusion, and asks her if the one be an angel was actually eating dates, eating them

man, a Templar. line 515. Page 34.

&icbt rerfcbruft, Ihickly inter-woven .

II.
1. 1.

519-20.
524. 528.

ftd)

meiter abfcbfagen,

tum

to

one

siJe.

2lbfein, in present usage 2lbroc)enheit.

>ltcr>,

an ethical dative

=I

teil you.

ACT

I.

SCENE

5.

SD. (Tempelherr. The Templars were an order of knights founded about 11 18 for the purpose of protecting pilgrims who resorted to the
Holy Sepulchre. They were bound by vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. The knights had their residence originally in a building in Jerusalem built upon the site of Solomon's Temple, hence their name.
Before the time of our story they had been driven from Jerusalem by
Saladin.
1.

532.

combined

in ^angetetle

1- 533monastery, and bound by certain vows, but was not in holy Orders. " Father." duly consecrated priest was called 11.

vor langer VDeite,for mere J>astime. The words are now meaning ennui, weariness. guter Sritbcr. A laybrother was attached to an order or

535536.
!

5 tenen

511

23efebl,

at your service.

wer nur
first

fclbft

htte

Indefinite

mer or
person.

was man

English by the

meint man nur felbfi etwa must often, as here, be rendered into Note here the use of trjer with the force of
htte

2 28

NATHAN.

11.

541571.

ienn man, a usage not confined to the present case

fragen

tft

leine

djanbe, mer ein 2>ing uid)t

1.

541.

beut f?ernt

lwetfi.

of inferiors, the use of

i.e. the Templar. In the respectful language err with the article, instead of a personal pro-

noun
I.

in the

second person,

still

occurs.
of

544.

pilcjennaf}!.

The monasteries

the middle ages were

famous

for their hospitality as at the present time.

Foreigners are

still

entertained at the Latin Convent in Jerusalem.

Page 36.
fommt aber
him
to use

lines

545-46.

fomm' aber

ber fjerr nur,

etc.,

for

nur, etc.

The submissive

spirit of the

Laybrother leads
is,

an indirect form of

command

instead of the direct, that

the third person of the subjunctive with the subject err, instead of the second person of the simple imperative. Compare with 1. 541. In Baumgarten's Allgemeine Welt- Historie there is a II. 549-51.

passage warning foreigners against a free use of dates, as they were This is probably the liable to heat the blood, and ulcers might result. source of Lessing's lines, as the book was well known to him.
!

555-

ftd?

Page 37.
Da.
1. 1.

erfunben, line 561.

now

replaced by

ftd)

erfunbigen.
ift

Supply in thought 2Bie mabr

e before

567.
568.

Dem

1. 570. Krcti3 The red cross the Templars' mantles signified innocence and purity. indicated their willingness to shed their blood for their faith. 1. 571. Kenn' ja tcb's! The subject is here placed last for emThe removal of the subject from its usual position, brings the phasis.

for neugierig. ueubegtericj, rare and poetical, see Introd. p. Patriarchen. For this character bas rote auf meinem ntantel. The white color of

verb into the

first

place.

This order was once quite

common

but

is

now

confined to colloquial language, as there now prevails a feeling This old that a verb should not introduce a declarative sentence.
still

word-order, however,

survives in a veiled form; the subject is emphasis toward the end of the sentence, and its place at the head of the sentence is, at least in a formal way, supplied at the by the indeclinable eS, which serves as a provisional subject and same time makes it seem that the verb Stands in its customary place, namely the second place @8 irren in fllen tooit fo milicher 9?atur delicate nature even wiser wen roeijere 9Jinner, In cases of such

removed

for the sake of

felbft

NOTES.
err.

ACT

I,

SCENE

5.

229
is

This word-order cannot be used

when

the subject

a pronoun.
f ulier

Hence

the veiled form could not be used in the sentence in the text.
still

See Wunderlich 's Unsere Umgangssprache, p. 262, and for

explanation Weisse's

German Grammar, pages

439, 436.

This is the first subordinate clause of a 1- 573Set}' idi binju. long conditional sentence, the principal proposition of which begins with fo in 1. 578. (Eebnin, a fortress north of Ptolemals near Tyre, on This stronghold, among others, was taken by the the way to Sidon.

violation of the truce here

emirs of Saladin on his victorious march to Jerusalem in 1187. The mentioned was probably not historic, but

other instances occur where a truce was broken by the Templars.

Saffenjtittftan. Sttllftanb line 577. Selbjma^tgfter felbft als panjtgfler, with nineteen others, literally, myself as the twentieth. The reduced
1-

574-

Page 38.

I
or

weak form

is

fte] jclbe britte, etc.

perhaps more common: felbbritt, reduced from [id), er, This entire construction, however, is little used

in ordinary prose.
1.

591.

patnarcfye, a form not

it

uncommon

in the i8th Century,

now

usually

-atriard).

form,

and hence

Lessing himself employed generali}- the shorter is probable that he adds the e here for the sake of

meter.

aufbehalten, now usually replaced by aufberoabreit. The article is now used before the names of 595- 2tuf Sinai. mountains. Christian pilgrims were allowed, aecording to the terms of the truce, to visit the Holy Sepulchre and other sacred places.
1.

593.

I.

Page 39.

line 596.

febon, surely.

phasis to the Statement.

As here The good Laybrother

jd)on often gives

tries to

em-

comfort the

Templar with the assurance

him.
II.

that there are great things yet in stre for

607-8.

<r htte bureb

to

He would like
to
1.

ben errn ein Brtefcben gern beftet, have a note delivered by you. For ben erm see note
?

541.

1.

609.

Das, bas mre bas (Sefcbft, bas

. .

That then was

the business

The

past subjunetive in questions often, as here,

some unexpected result, or dissent. Supply after Das the words nad} eurer SCnftcbt, aecording your view. Set is subjunetive of indirect Statement.
expresses surprise at
1.

610.

to

230
I.

NATHAN.
611.

11.

611673.

II.

Supply the Infinitive fein after tnobj. 611-612. fagt ber patriard?. Notice how often

in the following

He desires to speech the Laybrother uses these words. Templar understand that not he himself but the Patriarch
sible for the

make
is

the

message he bears.

responsomewhat similar passage occurs in

Act

3,

Scene

Page 40.
fcben.

line 622.

2,

of Lessing's

Minna

von Barnhelm.
usually replaced

ficb befeuert, is

by

ftd)

um

1. 632. Knig Philipp, Philip Augustus II of France. expect here the name of King Richard I of England.

We

Philip

might had

gone back

to

did not use Richard's

France leaving Richard in command. Perhaps Lessing name here because it would have been contrary

to the character of the latter to

engage

in

underhanded negotiations

during a truce.

made

line 641. (Es nllig ttneber losgeht. Richard had a truce with Saladin on September 1, 1192. I.essing represents Saladin as having taken measures to resume the war, in case hostilities

Page 41.

should be resumed by the Christians.

1.

646. 653.

JPaffenftilieftanb,

now

Saffeitftillftanb.

1.

Supply the auxiliary before erarttben.

bod? (hat's just wkat 1 thought ! The verb is placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis. In earlier periods this usage was quite common, but to-day there prevails a The older feeling that a verb should not begin a declarative sentence.

Page 42.

See note to

1.

230.

line 658.

Z)ad?r'

icfy's

common
tnette,

usage survives in colloquial language to a limited extent. It in sentences containing a bod), also elsewhere

is
:

especially

Unb

id)

@ie haben

roieber einen (Sterf'ucben gebatfen."

$ab

id) aitrh"

(Fontane). 1. 660. rpar, here

1.

= aber, but

introduces a different word-order.

Deftc. ausgattern, a populr word for anfinbig ntadjen. This story about the fortress on Mount Lebanon is an invention of

661.

Lessing.
1.

663. 664.

ftecfen, a

common
11.

colloquial

word

= erborgen

fein.

1. 1.

See note to

403-4.
despatck, an idiomatic
to kill.

671.

einem ben (Saraus madpeu, min,

:= einen tten,
iHaronitetl.

colloquial expression
1.

673.

The Maronites were

a martial Christian sect

NOTES.
inhabiting the slopes of
faith

ACT

I,

SCENE

5.

23 1

Mount Lebanon. They held the monothelite which was repudiated by the Council of Constantinople in 680. As early as the Crusades (1182) they had entered into relations with the westem church, with which they united in 1445. Lessing mentions
them
1.
I.

f tue! = Stretch. 675-77. Unb >er patriareb

675.
to

as they

would naturally be acquainted with the way.

btt' aud? 5U btefem

maefent

ITtarttte

mtd? erfebrt?

me

out

And you mean to say that the Patriarch has also picked become this trus/y man t The subjunetive in the sentence is
1.

the same as the one described in the note to

in such use
:

609.

Two

tenses oeeur

the preterit denotes present time, the pluperfect past time. In 1. 709 we have an example of the present time, in 1. 675 of past time. line 678. prolemats, now called Acca or in the Page 43.

French form Acre.

II.

688-89.

3*

raubt'
to

ihm

feine, Does the Patriarch suppose that

n>oY ^ cm Sttklbhl mein eben fcbulbig, unb I who owe my life

698.
rerlautert rootle

Saladin could rob him ofhis own f

Page 44.
1.

line

= erlaufet.

In certain

expressions roollen has but a

weak

force or

is

almost pleonastic.

beaiuben, now replaced by begnabigen. Ctttlcucbtett, 701. fo was, something or ot/ier, a colloquialism. appear as a light, be clear. Translate 11. 700-701 freely, because some699.
1.

thing or other in your features, your bearing, reminded him of his

brother.
I.

703.

rore bas gcrot

Can
.

that really be true !

. .

niebts in metner Seele? Could 704-706. Die Hatur btt' nature form in me a single feature of thy brother's likeness with
II.

noiing in
I.

my

soul

709.

leuijft,

to correspond / an absolute form

= lgt.
for r>on

In

1.

717 Lessing uses

See note to
1.

the latter form.

Page 45.
742, below.

SD.

von metten,

freitem.

II. 716-717. mein pafet magert, run my chances. This expression, formed in imitation of the French hazarder le paquet, has not found

general aeeeptance.
1.

718-719. The proverb

in this

form has not been found

in

any

collection, although there are similar ones.

Monk and woman

are re-

232

NATHAN.

11.

730762.

them

presented as the devil's claws, as he, according to the Templar, uses to get men within his power.

Page 46.
11. 1.
I.

line 730.
now

735736. 737.

Steine
Sirta,

= Gbelfteine.
-

JOarutn, see note

to

I,

386.

usually (Sbuta.

742.

Supply id) before faitfe. See note to 1. 390. ror allen, for um allem. Lessing very often used an n

in

the slrong dative of adjeetives

Page 47.

and pronouns instead of an nt. lines 742-743. Vor allen muffen, above
. . .

all the

circumstances require that he should be called the Good. 3K(fen denotes a necessity that lies in the nature of things, while Jollen denotes a

moral Obligation.
u?te fdmell ein 21ugenblid? Dorber ift. The Templar he should go to Nathan, he would probably find that Nathan's momentary inipulse to be generous to him had already passed
II.

748-749.
if

thinks that

away.
1.

757.

Kned?t, here trooper.

I.

758.

The Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was drowned

in the river

He was on his way to the Calycadnus, in Asia Minor, in June, 11 90. Holy Land to take part in the third Crusade. In Act 5, Scene 7, it
said that she has

Here it is appears, that Daja had been with Nathan for many years. been with him only since the Emperor's death, which would be about two years, as the time of the play is about 1192.
Lessing allowed the Templar to make his ironical remark about the death of the Emperor's trooper without suspecting that the date of the

poor fellow's death would be

learned
critics.

later subjeeted to the

erfaufeit, a coarser

word than

et'tl'infen,

keen scrutiny of here adds to

the sarcasm of the passage.

758-761. The Templar here antieipates Daja and ironically reit from her. Lessing employed a similar device in Minna von Barnhelm, Act 1, Scene 12, where
II.

lates

her slory himself, as he had heard

he causes Just to interrupt Werner's story by asking permission to

this time himself.
1.

teil it

762.

e^fylen.

Lessing wrote erlebten here, but

in

11.

390, 392,

394, however,

erjl)leit,

conforming to the present orthography.

The

form erjeblen corresponds to the original pronunciation, while the new The pronunciation spelling erjfylett rests upon the analogy with ^,&\)\.

NOTES.

ACT

II,

SCENE

I.

233
e (e)

has been modified by the change in spelling, the closed

the open vowel
.

becoming

Page 48.
original form
to

line 771.
was erugen,

ereignen.
later

Lessing wrote
;

erugnen.

The

erugnen

ftd)

bring before the eyes, hence kappen. The with the verb eignen and hence has assumed the form of the 11. 776-777. rom alfe laffen to keep at a distance.
,

ereignen means literally word has been confounded

latter.

I. 778. ein plumper Sdbwab, a blunt Swabian. Lessing represents bluntness as a characteristic of Swabians. populr impression of

Swabian character
trick,

finds expression in the

word 3djniabenjtreidj, stupid

to a populr saying a

a blunder that results from slowness of understanding. According " tili his Swabian does not become " bright

fortieth year (Sdiroabenaiter).

II. 778-780. lies ITtbcbens Bilb ift lngjt most a confession that Recha's picture had been

mar.

This

is

al-

in his soul,

though

he

is

unwilling to acknowledge
it

it

even to himself.

He

struggles with

this affection, for

is

opposed

to all his

former views.

To

his

mind

there can be

no

credit in having anything to

do with a Jew.

1. 782. Daja is preparing to disclose her secret, but is interrupted by the abrupt departure of the Templar. 1. 784. VDas, is often used in exclamations with the force of Warum.

1.
1.

786.
787.

beu lieber 235r, illmannered German. SD. von roeiten, for on weitem. See note to

1.

742.

ACT
Page 50. line 788.
the game.
1.

IL
bift

SCENE

1.

Wo

bu ? Saladin's thoughts are not on

boeb.

789.

Zlxdbt

gut?

3^? baAtc

should think the contrary. This subjunetive called the subjunetive of cautious Statement is very common in German, in softening a State-

not playing well?

ment or
in bc
that.
"h.

asserting something politely.

The

adversative force here lies

^ur mich,

uttb

faum.

For me you do

though hardly
an expert
in

Sittah speaks as she does from modesty, for Al-Hafi, chess, speaks of Sittah (11. 1457-1458) as playing well.
1.

791.

unbebeeft,

now

usually ungebeeft.

234
11.

NATHAN.
791-792.
is,

II.

79t SSO.

ttt

to

fork, that
!

to

make

bie (Sbel jte^ctt, now replaced by bie (Sbel geben, a move which threatens tvvo pieces.

793-

3^?

fe t5 c

Dor

-^
/

a ^vance

and protect

it

(that

is

the threat-

ened king). Page 51.

1.

line 795.

Bue,

loss.

what will the wager be? H.800-801. Das marft bu ntcbt permitten ? The form penmtten is really the corrupted form of the present participle. In Emilia Galotti, Act 2, Scene 7, 1. 1, Lessing uses the participial form. The use of the
800.
gilt's, surely; literally,

Was

present participle with the verb fein corresponding to our progressive form, was in early New High German quite common, but must now al-

ways be replaced by the simple tense. Thus, instead of ba roavft blt The presntcbt evmnten, we would now say ba oennuteteft bu nicht.
ent participle is occasionally found with fein, but only when it has lost its verbal force and is used as an adjeetive @r tt>CU' leibeitb, he was
:

sick.
I.

802.

as this piece
II.

Knigin. The mention of the queen here is an anachronism, was not introduced into the game until 1525. 804-805. meine tatlfenb Dinar', my thousand dinars, the sum
the Byzantine denarius.

that
coin,

formed the stake.

named from
806.

silver coin deriving its

I.

The dinar was an Arabic and Persian gold The naserin was a small name from the Calif Naser.
.

mit

^leifj, intentionally

II.

807-808.

Doch babet

ftnb' id?

meine Hecbnung
es?
Sittah,

nicb,t,

but

I do

not gain anything by that. line 820. Page 52.

So

bleibt

somewhat

asks him whether he intends to adhere to his move.

Sittah's piece attacked
I.

boppelt Scfyad?,

surprised,

both the king and the queen.

replaced by 2(b$ugjd)ad), check by discovery,
is

821.
is,

2lbfcbacb,

now

that

move by which

a piece

unmasked which unexpectedly

to

assails

the hostile king.

II.

826-827.

Page 53.
and

lines 828-830.

T>a5 ttntt mir nichts, It makes no difference

Sittah's

me.

remark

refers

to the generous

chivalric character of Saladin, especially in his relation to

sister of the

women.

At the request of the

a captured fortress.
1.

defeated prince, Saleh, he returned

in

830.

toofyl

Ut

is

more commonly used

such cases. Formerly

NOTES.
was
regularly used

ACT

n,

SCENE

I.

235

ft)of)l

as the adverb corresponding to the adjeclive

is also used adverbially, and rooljt is in general only used as a predicative adjective in the meaning of gefunb, well (in The old adverbial force of irjobl, however, remains in partichealth) .

gut.

Xow, however, gut

ipal

Compounds, as
831.

roofolriecftenb,

fragrant, and in certain set expres-

sions, as, ich ronicfte

1.

mohl
FettlC

51t

3^

habe

I hope you will sleep well. mehr, / renounce her. Saladin abandons
fcfjlafen,

his

in the Koran (Sure 5) forother things images of men or animals. The use of carved chessmen was thereby forbidden and piain, smooth pieces employed.
I.

queen as practically defenceless. passage 839. Die glatten Steine.

bids

among
is

Saladin

here represented as superior to narrow religious prejudice.

The historic Saladin was a strict Mohammedan and would not have made light of the preeepts of his religion. II. 841-842. ab' id? mit t)em 3 mau kenn gefpielt ? Saladin, at
first

somewhat petulantly

lays the

blame of

his

bad playing upon the

uncarved chessmen and hence asks why, indeed, he had been playing with the meaningless smooth pieces, as he had not played with the

Iman (more
1.

correctly

842.

Perluft

rotll

Imam, priest) Porroanb,

848-849.

Ihe loser seeks excuse, literally loss

requires excuse.

Page 52.

lines

Surely not your absent mindedness as a play upon the verb jerftreuet in
.'

Deine gerftreuung freilid? nid?t The word ^eijtreuung is intended

!

1.

848, which has the double

mean-

Saladin intends the word in the latter sense, ing of diverl, distract. while Sittah, half-facetiously, half-reproachfully, takes the word in the
former.
1.

851.

gierig, here

eifrig, eagerly,

is

now

used in the sense of

greedily.

I.853.
1.

Hur

3U

Lei

it (i.e.

war) come

Supply ba Schroert be-

tre ge,ogen.

854.
857.
is

Stilieftan for gtififtanD

SSaffenftillftanb.

1.

Sittah

Htcbarbs 3ruber. The marriage of Richard's brother and an invention of Lessing. By the introduetion of this ineident

and the suggested marriage of Melek and Richard's

sister, 11. 859-60, Lessing prepares the way for the discussion of certain general characteristics of the Christians from a Mohammedan standpoint.

236
11.

NATHAN.
858-59.

11.

858892.

Richard and Saladin had a mutual admiration for one

another, a fact that Walter Scott

makes

use of in his novel, the Talis-

man.
11. The sister of 859-60. This marriage was actually planned. Richard referred to was Joan, the widow of King William of Sicily,

whom

she had accompanied to the East.

Saladin favored this project,

but religious prejudice on the part of Queen Joan and Opposition to the union of those of different faiths prevented it from being carried out.
line 864. nicht faul, a populr expression with the Page 55. meaning not slow.
1. 867. Du feunft bie ifyriften nicht. Sittah, as a Mohammedan, of course takes an unfavorable view of Christianity, which she does not

understand.

It is characteristic of

allows Sittah to State her

to see truths

own
and

Lessing, that he, the Christian author, cause so effectively. His nature led him

on

all

sides

to recognize truth

even

in error, perverted

though
truth.

it

may have

been.

He

aimed

to give adequate expression to all

1. 870. Jlbercjlcmbett. To Sittah, a firm believer in Mohammedanism, the faith of the Christian was only superstion. rDtrjt for ttmrjt,

seasons.
I.

See note to
2luf reu'

1.

77.

875.

unb (Slaube, on faith.

II.

875-76.

Doch was (Eua.enb?

2)orh rioju rebe

icf)

on ber

Sltgeilb ?

But why should I speak ofvirtue ?

11. 879-80. for the name. 11. 880-82.

um
Du

ben

Hamen
.

ift

ifmen nur 3U

tr/un, they care only

metnft

wolltet,

Why eise

do you think they should

demand that you and Melek

shouldfirst bear the Christian

name

before

you as husband or wife could consent to love as Christians ? The neuter (SrjCgemabJ means either husband or wife. 1. 886. ITtann Uttb IHnntn, husband and wife. Lessing purposely chose the biblical terms used in Gen. 2, 23, to indicate that the idea of conjugal love outdates Christianity, going back to the primal
creation.

Page 56.

line 889.

Die (Tempelherren.

Lessing in a few lines

They were characterized aptly describes the Order of Templars. by a warlike and secular spirit than by religious fervor.
1.

more

892.

21FPa.

See note to

1.

678.

Acca was

at this time in posses-

NOTES.
sion of the Christians.

ACT

II,

SCENE

2.

237

marriage, Richard's
1.

Saladin

was

to

According to the conditions of the proposed bestow Palestine upon his brother, and
as her dowry. ITCncb, they play the

sister receive

Acca

896.

fpielen

ftC bett

monk,

i.e.

in order to

retain their hold

on Acca, they allege

IVkal

religious scruples against the

proposed marriage.
I.902.
1. 1.

&im?
Tas

tum f
beim
fottfi?

903.

irrte bieb

IVhat

eise perplexed you

then?
plural

908.
is

allerorten, adverbial genitive, everyrvhere ; the

weak

of

Crt

preserved only in a few adverbial Compounds,

as, Dieltrortflt,

allerorten.

Page 57.

line 914.

Supply gegangen after aus.

ACT

II.

SCENE

2.

SD. Al-Hafi appears under the moned on aecount of the arrival

expected from Egypt.
1.
1.

impression that he had been sumof the tribute which Saladin had

Saladin was Sultan of both Egypt and Syria.

917.
921.

fein, often used with the force of jebr.

Das

ift

ceiving something
out.

less

fr [et]n>as noch weniger als ntebts, that is rethan nothing, instead of reeeiving, I have to pay

Page 58.

lines 924-25.
me my good luck,
annehmen

Du gunft mir boeb mein

do

do not grudge

you

Weis gnnen ?

(Sind ? Yen

Winn, sc
when you

ihr bod) nicht

Wollt,

Why

speak of grudging

will not consent to accepl anyt/ting? Sittah, knowing the financial straits of her brother, had left in the treasury the money which she had

won.
1.

and

tries to silence

926. Sittah does not wish her brother to Al-Hafi.

know about

the matter,

1. 927. Pie ireiyen waren euer? Al-Hafi has for some time studied the position of the pieces on the board and, as a passionate lover of the game, has seen the possibility of a different result. He

discovers that Saladin has not necessarily lost.

Features of this scene

are taken from an actual oecurrence in the house of Lessing's friend,

Moses Mendelssohn.
centric character,

The latter was engaged in chess, when an ecwho was fond of the game, entered. Mendelssohn's

238

NATHAN.

11.935998.

companion was about to abandon the game and overturn the pieces, when the new-comer gave him a blow on the ear for surrendering so For particulars of this scene, see Van der Linde's readily the game.
Geschichte

und Litteratur

des Schachspiels, vol.

1,

page 193, and Erich

Schmidt 's Lessing,

Page 59.
1.

line 935.

vol. 2, p. 542.

(gilt nicht, she is useless.

938.
is

Derftefyt ficb, fo tte

immer, of

mark
(rue.
1.

a reply to Sittah's words. IPemt dud? febott, even if that be These words are a reply to the last remark of Saladin.

course, as usual.

The

re-

941.

3a
"

Oh,

you

don't ivant

to

zuin !

One

exclaims ja

fo

when
like

one's attention has been called to

viously escaped his Observation.

pay

Spiel tie (Setninft Al-Hafi thinks that Saladin's playing was as

some point which has

i

pre-

much

" I.ike play, a farce

as Sittah's receipt of the stakes.

Page 60.
Wrterbuch
of the word.
1.

line
It

958.

befcbei&en, here

artig.

Heyne

in

his

cites this

passage as an illustration of
usually

this older signification

now
;

means

modest.

962.

ficb,

by erbitten.

nerbitten, to ask, beg, in this sense now replaced Verbitten has at present the meaning of deprecale, beg to

dat

be excused from, decline.

Page 61.
1.

line 965.

nfyer treten,

to affect.

976.

auswerfen,

to set apart.

Sittah's generosity as described by Lessing may be derived I. 982. from the ineident related by Marin, in his Histoire de Saladin, II, 396. Saladin provided in his will that from his estate alms should be given to

His personal means were the poor, both Mussulmans and Christians. so limited at his death that his sister, Sittah, gave of her own wealth to
increase the bounty.

Page 62.
sc. er.

lines 985-86.

XOtx ... als

i)u,

vohe but you !

Wirb,

H.990-91. Saladin's motto is said to have been: "One cloak, horse, and one God." Lessing has properly added the word " sword " to the list, for Saladin was a successful warrior.
one
II.

995-98.

In these lines Lessing speaks from his

own

experience.

He
own

often aided his parents and other

limited resources could

members

of his family in their

struggles with unfavorable financial conditions, but

on aecount

of his

do

little.

NOTES.

ALT

II,

SCEXE

2.

239

1005. machen, avail. Retrenchment in Saladin's personal expenses would not help him much, because he already lived in the simplest manner.

PagC 63.

line

I.

II.

1007. abbittgen, to secure an abatement. 101 1-14. The meaning of Al-Hafi's witty remark

is

that the kind-

hearted spendthrift of a Sultan so hated a fll treasury that he would have impaled, or at least have had strangled, any treasurer caught with
a surplus, while one

who embezzled
for the

ran less

risk, for

he was only

dis-

missed from
1.

office.

1013.
is

broffdn

more common

erbrofteln.

Death by

stran-

ghng
I.

considered less ignoble in the Orient than that by impaling. 1017. aubern for anberm. See note to 1. 742.

without means, Uterauy Lessing also uses the same expression in the sense to be safe, providedfor, out of debt. 1. 1022. Pas fehlte noch ! That alone was lacking ! That caps the
II.

to be

1020-21. auf beut (Erocfnen fein, on dry /and, stranded like a ship.

to be

ciitnax
1.

.'

1023.
the

nimm

Pajre64.
grasps

line 1032.
Situation.

(sc.

elb) auf.

Afreunb?
detects

mein^reunb?
Sittah's

Al-Hafiatonce
designs

He

mercenary

and

he

by evasion and subterfuge to save bis friend, who, as has already been seen, was not favorably inclined toward entering into business relations with Saladin. On aecount of his truthful, straighttries

forward nature, he becomes embarrassed at times in his efforts to

rescue Nathan, and relates both favorable
friend,

and unfavorable things of

bis

and

at last leaves

them

in

doubt as to his real character.

The

truth

would have helped Nathan much more,

for the noble nature of

Saladin was always open to the impressions of honor and generosity. Later on in the drama, however, these noble characters come to know

each other.
1. 1035. The impersonal eonstruetion mid? (or mir) benft, in use in the i8th centurj-, is now replaced by id) erinnere mid).

line 1044. 3a fo See note to 1. 941. Paere 65. 1. 1048. Al-Hafi tries to convey the false impression that Nathan was once rieh but is so no longer.
!

1.

1050.
1055.

Supplv bauon after ericballt.

1.

Hub was

bei

ihm?

= Unb roae

foll id)

bei

ibm machen?

24O

NATHAN.

11.

10561112.

borgen,

either to borroiv or to lend.

to lend.

In this line

it

means

to

borrow,

but in the next two lines

1. 1056. Da Ferntt tfyr irjn. The sentence is means the opposite of what it actually states. lines 1062-63. 311 leben miffen, Page 66.

ironical

and hence
the

to

know

ways of

the world.
1. 1. 1.

1067.
1069. 1070.

trot}

Salabht. See note to 1. 411. fonber 2lnfetm [ber ^erfon], without respect ofperson. parft (or Warfen, ebern), Parsees or Ghebers, fire worSee note to
1.

shipers, a religious sect, the followers of Zoroaster.

last
I.

418,

sentence.

1078.
it,

otnt Pen (Sott

= ?ohn

tion

Ott roerbe

euch,

God reward

youfor

Page
II.

a phrase used as a neuter noun. line 1082. (Sefetj, here Biblical law. 67.

bern, (colloquially for ber ben) $u% mit ifym ge= fpannt fein, now simply mit ihm gejpannt fein or auf gekanntem gufje mit ihm fteben, to be on bad terms luith htm.

1086-87.

ACT
1.

II.

SCENE

3.

1098. Betrgen. Lessing wrote betriegen, the earlier and more correct form, which was still common in the i8th Century. The modern

form betrgen was thus written from analogy with the noun SBetriig. S3etrug, however, is derived from betrgen. Similarly mgen supplanted
the older correct form

Wegen

as

if

derived from SSage, while in fact

Sage came from luegen.

lines 1103-08. Oriental fancy loves to teil of treasPage 68. ures hidden in places accessible only to those who know the magic word. Tales are current in the Orient of treasures hidden in the graves of

Josephus in his Jewish Antiquities relates that Solomon placed great treasures in the grave of his father David, from which large sums
kings.

were taken
I.

at various times.

(Quell (m.), a form now mainly poetic for Cuetle (f.), but here probably used for metrical reasons or for variety of expression as Onelle is used 1. 11 13.

1108.

II. 1 109-12. Saladin discredits tales of hidden treasure so far as they were- associated with the names of truly great men. Only fools,

NOTES.

ACT

II,

SCENE

3.

24 1

he thinks, could have their treasures buried with them. Sittah goes further and calls them " knaves ", as they would deprive their surviving
kindred of the benefit of them.
1.

11 16.

Saumtier,

beast

of brden, here camel.

treiben,

here

journey.

1. 11 18. eh, here frher, once, referring to a point in past time. In the i8th Century the comparatives eher and eb(e) were as adverbs used in the meanings sooncr, rather, once, but the forms have since be-

come

differentiated in

meaning and

funetion.

The form

ttyv

is

still

used as an adverb in the meanings sooner, rather, but no longer in the sense of once. The form ebe, formerly an adverb and conjunetion, is

now
1.

almost exclusively used as a conjunetion in the meaning of before. 1125. eingeftimmt mit, in harmony toith.

Page 69.
the faults
1.

lines

131-32.

feinem Polfe entfliehen,

to

escape

of his people.

Be
this

Sei bem, roie ihm molle, Be that as it may, literally, with respect to that as it desires with respect to it. \Ye have in sentence two examples of the former genitive of respect or speeifica1134.
it

tion,

now

rare but

once common.

It is

now restricted

to the demonstra-

form bent and the personal pronoun if)tn in connection with the verbs fein and rooen in the impersonal construetion. We have other
tive

examples of
1.

this dative in

11.

1345 and 1347.

difficult

1138.
in

3a

This ja

is

to translate.
just

It

is

used to gain
say.

time
It is
I.

answering when one hesitates as to

ITTit.

what he should

pronounced with a short vowel.

1139.

We

find bei instead of

slip
is

editions.

It is

probably a

mit in both of the original and hence, contrary to our practice elseScbmacfyen fr (Semalt needed against the weak save their
1.

where, Lessing's language

II. 1

here altered.

140-41.

Was

braucht es bei ben

als ihre Scbnxicbe ?

What force

is

own weakness ?
1. 1.

1141.

ror, for fr.

See note to

94.

1142.

aram, now

Sie mirb ihn gan3 geroifj perloren haben, She certainly has failed to find him. The use of the future " is quite common. perfect for the perfect in "claimed probabilities
1.

Page 70.

lines 1150-51.

usually Aparem, harem, apartment for

women.

1154.

boppeln, for the more

common

Derboppeln.

242

NATHAN.
71.

11.

11571230.

Page
to

lines

1157-58.
tt^r

[2>ie]
fei,

fid?

unbefmmert
be

liege,

treffen lUotjItbat and?

eben

Wko would
life.

ttnetuemed as
ein

one whose generous deeci

11.

had saved her

1171-72. The usual word-order would

be

3)a$

ift

fr

allemal abgetban. line 1178. fter, comparative Page 72. usual fters manchmal, often.

in

form for the more

1.

1182.

meb,r,

now

usually replaced by Weiter, further.

ACT
Page 73.
now
1. 1.
I.

II.

SCENE

5.

line
id)

$aft fdjen'

1191. ^aft feben' id? mid? bes Sonberlings, mich or bem onberting.
his elastic step.

1192.

raub,, rugged.

1196. 1202.

bsn prallen (Sang,

oe^ierft, tarry, a rather unusual

word

for the

more common

bleiben.

lines 1210-13. Polleubs itjr, last ofall you, etc. The Page 74. Templar uses here the same thought which he heard the Laybrother ascribe to the Patriarch shortly before (11. 695-697). We must not assume that the Templar endorses here the Patriarch's idea. He only view.

found a grain of truth in it, and that only from his own point of His straightforward, proud nature shrank from praise for a deed which he had done upon the impulse of the moment, withoutin-

His own life, so fll of uncertainty and tending any great Service. despondency, did not seem to him at the time of risking it to be of much
value nor does he prize it highly now. He is in no humor to be praised, His inespecially by the representative of a race which he despises.

flammable nature was always ready

to say hard, unjust things, such

to

go to extremes.

He

is

here ready

as
is

but his ardent, responsive nature

are prone to say, sure to be attracted to one so truly

unhappy people

noble as Nathan.
II.

1213-14. ber

erfte,

ber befte, the first one

that

comes

along,

now more commonly ber erfte befte. 11. 1219-30. menn's auch nur bas ebeu einer 3bin mre. The Templar here caps the climax of his rudeness and narrowness by
depreciating his rescue of

Recha on the ground

that she

was a Jewess.

NOTES.

ACT

II,

SCEH1

5.

243

He

The Templar
within

thinks that with this last cruel thrust he will get rid of the Jew. feels additional irritation because there is something

him which

struggles against pride

11.

and

his old

Tews.

He

almost admits in

778-780

that Recha's picture

contempt for the had been

and we have a suspicion that he would fain be relieved of Nathan and Recha in order to calm the feelings in his own breast, which are in harmony neither with his views nor his vows.
in his soul
1.

1225.

Page 75.
1.

(Dpfer, tribute. line 1235. perrebett,

to

vow not to

do.

1238. 1249.

j-etje,
tfjn,

1.

Page 76.

line
is

replaced by $en (m.) , patch. refers to gfetfett in the next line.

now

1252.

<r

explanation here
already fallen

that in his

life

The usual bat ber (Tropfen mehr. of exposure many a rain drop had
It

upon the cloak.

is

seems, however, possible and not

unnatural here to refer the word tropfen to his

1. 1.

own

tears.

1257. 1259. 1262.

This

an

oriental

way

of expressing thanks.

The Templar here drops

his proper

the rde address

is

3ube and

calls

Nathan by
1.

name.

His feeling toward him

eud) simulate

(teilt Ullb tJerfret

and

changing. dissimulate or semble

reproduce the play upon words here. I.1268. $lobt tbre Prfung, You azoided exposing her to temptation. The Templar scarcely deserved this favorable Interpretation of
will

and dissemble

his conduet.

been

his motive, but that in fact

In his reply he implies that he feels that this should have it was not. Pride as a Templar and the
for the

usual Christian contempt and thus kept him away.

Jews overpowered his better

to

feeling,

Page 77.
1278. ence does not
1.

line 1274. tragen,

produce.
nicht roett her,

ITTtt

btefem Unterfcbteb amount to much.

ijt's

This

differ-

1. 1283. einen mafeln, or more fault with one.

commonly an einem mfeln, tofind

tjnbfd? pertragen,

1. 1284. Hur mu ber Knorr ben Knuppen " Knots and gnarls mnst live on friendly terms."
:

The meaning of the " The proverb is pot should not call the kettle black" The form Knorren is now more common than nort. The form Knubben found in the first The first form, original edition appears as nuppen in the second. however, seems to be the more common one.

244
11.

NATHAN.

IL

12851325.

some

little

1285-86. tlur mufj ein (Stpfelcfyen entfcfyoffcn, Let not Upper brauch make so bold as to boast that it alone has not
the

Sprung from
meffen.

common

earlh.

Supply JU prahlen

after

fld)

IHU'=

Page 78.
verb
is

when
upon
11.

line 1293. fidp eutbrecben, to reslrain one's seif. This only used reflexively in connection with the auxiliary tonnen and it itself, as in the passage in question, has an infinitive depending
In
first

it.

1293-95.

with being the

1.

another of his works Lessing has charged the Jews people who manifested the spirit of proselytism.

1297-01.

In his Dramaturgie (tebenteS

tcf) Lessing

se-

verely censures the fanatical and barbarous spirit of the Crusaders. 1. 1299. aufbringen/ common in the i8th Century as a transitive or
intransitive verb,

now
i.e.,

in the

former funetion replaced by the weak anf=

brngen.
1.

1301.

ffier,

in

Palestine;

1.

jetjt,

i.e.,

at

the

time of the

Crusades.
1.
1.

1310.
1315.

erjer, rather.

See note to
to

11 18.

erfennett, to fail that which he or it really is.

recognize somebody or something as It is the opposite of erlernten, hence

cannot be rendered into English by one word as we do not have a See also note to 11. 2192-2193. negative form of "recognize".

Page 79.
1-

line 132

1.

^erne, future, prospect.

brenne oor Verlangen. This change, so sudden and complete, is nevertheless in harmony with the character of the Templar. Won over by Nathan to a broader view of race and religious problems,
13233*?

former prejudice disappears, and, with the ardor of youth, forgetful and a devout Templar, he longs to see Recha.
his

of his character as a Christian partisan

1325. Unferer Hccfya. This characterization marks the complete change in the Templar's attitude. Previously he had counted it no
1.

credit to himself that

his affection freed

he should have risked his

life

for

Recha; now,

from religious prejudice, he

feels that

with Nathan he

has a

common

interest in her.

NOTES.

ACT

IT,

SCEXE

6.

245

ACT
1.

II.

SCEXE

6.

1337. OtftXtna, noble. The original meaning of ftreng is strong. took on the derived meanings strict, severe, rigid. The derivative form geftreittl was early applied to distinguished persons, in the
It later

Later it received a sense of the English dread, as in dread sovereign. broader meaning, so that it became a respectful form of address to people
of birth or Station.
be fo ift, provided that For the dative bem, see 1. 1134. 1. 1346. Spannte}, here used in the original meaning of the word, which is the same as that still found in the corresponding English word

Page

81.

line 1345.

It

was

still

used in

this sense in the i8th Century.

roenn attbers bem

true.

sparing.

The

older meaning.

present meaning is saving, a special application of the In the original meaning @parimg is now entirely

supplanted by Sd)cmuitg.
I.

1349.

boppelt, bretfacb,

common

intensive expressions, here used

life

to express Xathan's increased appreciation of life in seeing Recha's

saved and a

new

friend joined to him.

It will be remembered that Nathan has already exII. 1350-56. pressed his unwillingness to Al-Hafi to enter into business relations with He now feels differently. His feeling of indebtedness to the Saladin.

Sultan causes

him

to forget all prudential reasons

and

inclines

him

to

any

sacrifice.

11.

1352-53.

Page 82.
I.

line 1368.

Faum,

1369.

(5 fllt

for emphasis instead of simple faum. lacht attbers, [that is} true. tnelleicbt Ctrt lort, Perhaps some -word may be
llltb

Faum,

dropped.
II. 1369-70. auf cud? versaon upon you.
1.

31t

Fortunen,

to

speak of you,

to

turn

the con-

1374.

From

reasons that will

become apparent

further
his

on,

the

Templar name.

hesitates to teil his real

name, and closes by giving

adopted

1. 1378. faulen, to rot, a rather strong word, but in keeping with the blunt character of the Templar and his feeling of pain, occasioned

by the renewed sense

1.

of his loss.

1379. The Templar has become somewhat confused from Xathan's inquiry about his family.

246

NATHAN.

11.

13801437.

I. 1380. Nathan was studying the features of the Templar. He did not see clearly but had a clue. The Templar did not mention his real

name but
him.
find in the

that of his uncle,

Von

Staufen,

who had been

as a father to

Nathan, who also knew

this

Von

Staufen, could not, however,

Templar any features of the latter, but discovered a striking resemblance to another member of the family, Wolf von Filnek, who
in days gone by, a dear friend of his own. 1381-82. This clever answer of Nathan's is of course not to be taken in a literal sense but only as an evasion. The Templar feels this
II.

had been

and becomes

Page 83.
1.

line 1386.

all

the

more disconcerted.
Kunbfcfyaft,

now replaced by

SBefarmtfrhaf, t.

1392.

roerfert, here to toss.

ACT
Page 84. line 1403.
I.

II.

SCENE
gilt's.

8.

XOas
for

See note to

1.

800.

1405.

mir, a Gallicism

on mir.
. .

II.

1413-14.
is

there
1.
1.

Nathan here hints that Dein (Sctiffeu . ftnbcn. a possibility of a union between the Templar and Recha.
Hefdpctbcrttjett,

1416.
It

here

SSohlerjogenheit.

See note to

958.

now

usually

means

modesty.
to

1. 1418. (Erinnern) usually to recall derived meaning to call attention to.

lind, to remind, here in the

ACT
Page 86.
1.

II.

SCENE

9.

line 1431. Z)efterbar. See note to 1. 441. In a letter to his Bebaur'. 1432. Lessing wrote 33etaur\ brother Karl dated March I, 1772, Lessing defends this form, but

bases his defence upon a false etymology. He believed that the word was derived from trauern. It is in fact of the same origin as the The M.H.G. form of the verb is " tren," and adjeetive teuer, dear.

hence, from a historical point of view, betCUtent would be the

strict

N.H.G. form.
1.

1435.

Des IPeges, along

ein ZTarfter, a

the

road

or

upon

the road,

adverbial

genitive.
1.

1437.

^'"ggt-'d (lit.

naketf)

man.

The Dervish

will

NOTES.

ACT

II,

SCEXK

9.

247
his rags,

become a beggar again, and possess nothing but

or horses;
1. I.

no cameis

hence can only take what he himself can carry. 1444. iltit, here an adverb with the meaning too. I4t5- bis auf bie cbctt aushhlen, to utter/y ruin (financially),
out

literally to holl<rw
II.

down

to the toes.
is

1446-50.

Xathan's wealth

compared

to never

empty garners.

His wise charity has always prudently gathered and distributed his
treasures, but Al-Hafi
will so

own

now thinks that Saladin's extravagant demands exhaust his stre houses that even the members of Nathan's " poor home-bred litde family circle, whom he designates as the

mice," will perish of starvation. line 1453. r Kate folgen! The infinitive is very Page 87. common in exclamations and rhetorical questions. It depends here

upon some such word as fotf. 1. 1456. eben bay, now replaced by eben
1.

al.

Repeat rerioreu before gegeben. This dative is often difficult to render, 1. 1460. eueb, ethical dative. and sometimes cannot be rendered at all. It denotes that the person in
1459.
question takes, or
1.

is

1463.

(Er burfte
to

expected to take a special interest in the action. rebaeb, He only needed to tnove his hing
.
.

against the pa~tun

I.

avoid her

check.

1466.

Hocbe, rook, a term formerly used in chess,

(m.).
in

now

replaced

by

Jurm
II.

1469-70.

Klumpen werfen,

a colloquial expression instead

of the

more usual auf einen Saufen uerfen, to upset. line 1473. Supply ba before beit. Page 88.

1473-74. <5fetcbu>obl galt ts Feine taube Hu, And yet the stake was not a mere trifle. See note to 1. 8045. What matters the money ! 1. 1474 (Seit) bin, (Selb her an expression of disapprobation and denial not 1. 1480. 2lcfy tras
11.
! !

so strong as our that's

talk !
1.

mere nonsense !

\Ye might translate,

How you

1485.

his rle, for

These words of the Dervish are seemingly inconsistent with he is represented elsewhere throughout the drama as a
probably here refers to begging money. He lived a very and hence his wants were few and easily
little

beggar.

He
life

simple

of self-mortification,

supplied by nature or by a

piain food from

some kind

giver.

248
1.

NATHAN.
1489.

11.

14891532.

(Sebem.

Page 89.

line

See note to
1493.
tnre.
is

1.

418,

last

sentence.
eitljig,

After a Superlative,

or a

negative, the past subjunctive

often used in relative clauses where

we

use a present indicative.

1. 1498. Dclf, a frock Dervishes wore.
1.

made

of scraps and patches such as the

1499.
it is

blieb.

The

past subjunctive

would be more common here,

but
1. 1.

less forcible.

1505.

brfeit, to

need

to

(do a thing).

1506. Knall ment's hesitation.

without a mounb ^all, here used adverbially, The words denote the brief period between the shot

and the
by
ftd?.

fall

of the

game

that has been hit.

fid)

tblll,

now

replaced here

Formerly the reflexive

was used only

in the accusative, the

language
I.

dative being supplied by the forms ibm, tbr, nieit. this older usage still occurs, but only rarely.

In Lessing's

1507.
is

anbrer Sflar/

= als
!

Haue on

anberit.

The Omission
is

of al

poetic.

The Omission

of al in the predicate
all.

the remnant

of

still

older usage which did not here require al at

The Dervish II. 1508-9. tDte's eud? tnofyl bnft. ebt rootjl hopes that Nathan may fare well, that is, well according to the latter's To the Dervish it would not be called faring well. notion.
11.

1510-n. bas Seine

bertdptigen,

to settle one's

accounts, to put

one's affairs in order.

Page 90.
gelt

line 1513.

brgen,

now

usually brgen fr or erbr=

(with acc).

ACT
Page 91. line 1518.
1.
1.

III.

SCENE
at

1.

Supply before
to

td? the

words fagte

er.

1519.

nod?
rnel.
2lrj

fo balb, quite soon,

any moment.

1520.
1521. 1524.
1525.

See note

1.

84.

1.

nun, well !
i.e.

1.
I.

(Er,

ber Slugenblict.

In the i8th Century the ber r>enr>ufd?tcn 23otfd?aft. genitive of a noun was often used absolutely in exclamations, to denote that which causes annoyance or disappointment. To-day the nominative

would be more common.

II.

1530-32.

Daja earnestly hopes that Recha's acquaintance with

NOTES.
the Templar

ACT

in,

SCENE

I.

249

may

lead to

Jewish As Daja dares not betray her secret conceming church in Europe. Recha's birth, she speaks quite enigmatically here and in the following
obtt' einen berrfebenben IPunfd? aller ohne einen unfdj, ber alle anbern nidje beherridjt. The reference is to the wish to see the Templar. Notice that bie serves both as subjeet of 1. 1546. bie, those whom.

drawal from her

foster-father

more intimate relations and ultimate withand union with the Christian

Page 92.

iPnnfcbe

lines 1534-35.

The the verb errrtgen understood and objeet of the following verbs. relative clause is explained more fully by bie UTetnen in the next line.
1. 1.

1547.
1548.

ftcb

fperren

fid)

rauben.
8.
to,

Daja has in mind Isaiah, lv,

Page 93.
meaning.
1. is

line 1556.

eignen, here belong

a rather uncommon

1559.

>rbflo, spot, country,

lit.,

clod of earth.

choieer word

SrM'choe.

1. 1562. IVdS tbat er bir, etc. What {wrong) has he ever done to ycu, that you, etc. 1. 1564. ben f amen ber Dernunft. Recha calls the liberal ideas

of religion,
I.

which Nathan had imparted

to her, the seed

of reason.

1566.

llnfraut in the eyes of Nathan,

Blumen in the sight of Daja.

tbn
f leiben, hou-ez-er beauti-

II.

1570-71.
(i.e.

menn

fte

nod?

fo febn
it.

fully they

the flowers) adorn

Recha thinks that Daja's religion excites the fancy and 11. 1571-74. brings rapturous feelings, but that her own spirit is weakened by it. *= befommen, to suit, agree with. L I 577-

Page 94.
of

sufcblagen lines 1590-92. This

it

is

Xathan. JDbnen, noons ;

illusion,

rtjneil originally

one of the prominent teachings meant fancy, suppose.

'

Later the idea of

word.

Here

of thinkittg falsely became prominent in the means think, but il also implies that the process may

result in erroneous coneeptions.

1.

gen.

1595. ftcb einperfteben, agree, now replaced by fid) erftnbt Of the earlier form, the perfect participle einoerftanben is still
in certain expressions, especially in connection with
fein.
is
feilt
;

common

mit

jemanb ber etmaS einerflanben

The
also

derivative

noun 6iner=

ftubnie, understanding, agreement,

still

common.

250
1.

NATHAN.
1600.

11.16001645.

ob

Cllicfy

Cr ...

i.e.

whether the Templar thinks as Nathan

is

and

herseif, or

whether he shares the views of Daja

of vital importance

to her.
1.

1601.

(s, indefinite subjeet,

some

one.

ACT
Page 95. line 1603.
I.

III.

SCENE
tkis, i.e.

2.

Dies,

a scene like this.

scene takes place.

1604.

uttb boefy,

and neverthe/ess,

sc. the

1604-22. The Templar had previously, in his conversation with Daja, declined all thanks for reseuing Recha, on the grounds that he had performed this service in a mere mechanical way, without intending it
II.

as a kindness.

To

punish him mildly for his course, Recha

his attitude ridiculous

now

exagto

gerates his words

regard him as
11.

and renders a mere tool.

by pretending

1610-11.

mir

nichts, bir nichts, here, with perfect indifference ado, without ceremony, without asking

usually,

without much

your

permission or mine.
I.

1617.

herausfcfymeifen, a vigorous populr term for herau

Werfen.
II.

1617-18.
its

Was
use

cjtcbt CS

in that for gratitude ?

wine, where
dans.
1.

3*t (Europa.

ba

311

benFen? IVhat
it

occasion

is

there

was general, while

Europe is here associated with was prohibited to Mohamme-

1621.

ftert,

or bref= tigelernt, more commonly abgerichtet, angerichtet, more correct form than gugeterilt is gltgelehrt, but trained.

the use of lernen for lehren in the sense of teach

in classical writers.
1.
1.

is

not

uncommon

1625.
1627.

einen bel aulaffen, treat one harshly.

Pas

hiefj

fid?

3U

empftnblich. rach.cn,

that implies too

serious a revenge.

lines 1632-34. Recha manifests sympathy as soon as Page 96. she learns that the Templar has been in trouble. SD. Dergleichen, now begleichen, likewise, i.e. she also pauses, lost
in contemplation of the Templar.
1.
1.

1644.

itjo,

now

jet^t.

1645.

Wo

ihr gen?efeu ?

The Templar answered only

a part of

NOTES.
Recha's question, hence she

ACT now

III,

SCENE

3.

25 1

repeals that part of her question

which he had not answered.

I. 1646. The auxiliary ioHtet would naturally fotct fein geroefen. stand at the end of the subordinate clause. The order here was prob-

ably determined by metrical considerations. of this sentence is the same as in English.

Notice that the construetion

Formerly

this construetion

prevailed exclusively in German, but cases by another; the tense funetion

it

is

has been supplanted in most now assumed by the auxiliary

and not by the

Thus, in the present instance, the auxiliary Stands in the past perfect tense, while the infinitive is in the present ?o ihr ictteid)t nicht httet fein Jollen. Lessing employs in the present
participle.
:

instance the old construetion without a difference of meaning. Usually, however, the old construetion when retained has a different meaning
:

Sr

roill

fetjen

ihn gefeben haben, He daims to have seen him, but IDoIIen, He has wanteJ to see him.

6r

h,at

ihn

Page 97.
II.

line 1653.

n>0,

whereser.

Lessing here assumes that the belief was common that Mount Sinai was easier of ascent than descent. Critics are not agreed

1654-58.

as to Lessing's source for this Statement.

Such

superstitious beliefs

were, however,
1.

common enough.

1663.
it

here, but

lcbeln occasionally takes a genitive objeet in poetry, as is usually followed by ber (with acc). Recha fears that
is

the Templar
question.

smiling at the absurdity of her asking so simple a

line 1680. (D mich Dergeiid?en The aecusative is Page 98. used here, as the genitive is in the construetion explained in the note to 1. In prose one would usually say: 1525. ba id) ein fo Pergefjlidjer
!

Jcenid)

bin

Page 99.
one.
1.

line

1686.

einem entgegenfeben,

to look

for, expect

1687.

ba3U, moreover.

ACT
1.

III.

SCENE
happen
is

3.

1694.

anfommen,

to

befall,

to,

atiack, with the aecusative

or dative

and always with the

auxilian' fein.

in the 181 Century, but the aecusative

The dative was preferred now more common. The dative,

252
however,
is

NATHAN.
preferred in the

11.16951774.

meaning

to be (hard, easy, etc.)

for: @8

fommt mir

fauer an.

1. 1695. at n\\x,never with this meaning.

mind ;
Hft

laffeit

constantly occurs in Lessing

Page 100.
1.

line 1699.

1708.

Page
form
1.

banfen, here erbanfen, to owe. line 1717. Den bdgen junger, or 101.

ift's

an

end?,

naw

it is

your turn.

in

Compound

etfjf)ltng.er,

eager desire.

1730.

Was

Hlt ?

Why

do you speak of coldness ?

ACT
102. line

III.

SCENE

4.

1735. Scbmefter, Scbroefter! spoken in rePage proachful tone to Sittah, for forcing him to set a trap for the wealthy Jew, Nathan, and extort money from him.
tive form.

f r ftnbe . . Notice the subjuncbeor. . t>or, past indicative was earlier ftltnb, which was gradually replaced by ftanb. Though the older past indicative has yielded to the newer form, the old subjunetive ftnbe still remains in common use
1.

1736.

ftnbe

The

besides the newer form ftnbe.

1.

1738.

ftd? [teilen,

here=

fid)

tierfteen

beforgen faffen,

to

arouse

uneasiness, cause anxiety.

I.

1743.

abbangen,
us in

to extort

by intimidation.

This word

is

quite

rare, the large dictionaries

himself

teils

mentioning only this one passage. Lessing his remarks on Adelung's Dictionary that he knew of

no passage where the word oecurred, but that he had heard it in such sentences as: Sr fjat mir mein an mehr abgehngt al gefanft. As Paul justly remarks in his Wrterbuch the word is incorrectly formed.

Page 103.
II.
1.
I.

line 1748.

gar, actually, really.

1751-52.
1754.

laid here only for. liegt ja mir, is ja (0, eis things are.
ftcb

1756.

ausreb't, evades, finds excuse.

bie
XTctje

II.

1759-60.
1765.

Dorbei, in

common

prose usually an ben

9?et3en orbei.
1.

tnie ein

Page 104.
still

3nbe, line 1774.

sc. genibllrf) ift,

bcfd?nen

such as Jeivs usually are. be|d)nigen, an old form

used in the poetic language of the i8th Century.

NOTES.

ACT

III,

SCEXE

5.

253

It is

1776. 3crbrtd>t. Notice the positionof the verb in this sentence. This order Stands after the modifying phrase instead of before it. Lachmann consignificant, and is not elsewhere found in the work.
1.

jectures that jerbricht

is

the unusual word-order

a misprint for jerbridft*?. If the form is correct, is employed for the sake of emphasizing the

adverbial phrase in meiner

I.

plumpen >anb.

1777. IVi ausgefhrt fein, Requires to be carried out. Notice See note to the use of fein instead of menben in the passive inrinitive.
1.

295.

Saladin would prefer to be unsuccessful in the use of II. 1780-81. such means than to sueeeed.
11.

1786-87.

Sittah, to illustrate her point,

makes use

of a fable, such

as

was very populr in the East. fables which are among the best

Lessing himself wrote a collection of in the language. His fondness for this

form of

literary expression is manifest not only in poetry, but also in his He began his celebrated controversy with Pastor Goeze prose writings. with Eine Parabel (1778).
11.

1788-89. Uni) bafj

htten

Strange that warnen take pleasure

in bringing
artifice.

men down

to their level ! i.e.

by inducing them

to resort to

Page 105.
1.

1795.

line 1794. beftebn, to stand the test. ber Dortjang, here the curtain of the ante-chamber.

ACT
I.

III.

SCENE

5.

for

Saladin knows Nathan imperfectly, 1798. ZXnr ohne furcht he regards him as a cringing money-lender. bie, that, i.e.
!

gurcht.

line 1812. ruiberfpreeben now usually governs the aecusative (ruaS) in the present usage is the relic of an older usage which took an aecusative objeet of the thing denied. In the present instance we should say : id) bore btd) i>a$ ertuetfen, bem bu

Page 106.
The

dative.

miberipreeben
I.

roillfi.

1816.

Der, the relative pronoun.

troefene Pernunft, sober reason. Nathan already knows from Al-Hafi what the Sultan him. As a prudent man, however, he pretends to know

Page 107.
II.

line 1819.

1821-23.

desires of

254

NATHAN.

11.18271855.

nothing about it, and assumes that he has been summoned in order to consult with him concerning the purchase of goods. Kiutbfcbaft,

patronage.
I. 1827. Scfyacbertt, a Hebrew word meaning to bargain, usually, as to haggle. here, used in a contemptuous sense

=
.

II.

1834-35.
to that.

barauf bin

ich

gefteuert,

my

thoughts were not

directed

Page 108.
diction.
to

line 1837. fyetfcbett, to deutend, only used in elevated " This word comprises within itself the meanings of forbcrtl,

demand
11.

(with authority), and

in q,an$

erbittert, to beg, rei/uest."

Paul.
in etroaS

1837-38. gan$ anberm.

11.

was anberm, now more commonly

. . . eingeieitdjtet, the best.

1840-41.
1842.

Was

fr ein (Slaube

Whatfaith,

ivhal religious code has seemed to

1.

you

By reference

to his race

he indicates with dignity the views

to hold.

which he may naturally be expected

He

thus modestly chal-

lenges respect for his own faith, while recognizing the sincerity with which Saladin holds to his ancestral faith.
I. 1843. Der Judaism, just as

(Erjrift ift 3rri(d?en

uns.

Christianity has sprung from

Mohammedanism

follows

and recognizes both.

methodically he arranges his

II.

1850-54.

Saladin must have given his subject careful thought

before

summoning Nathan.

Notide

how

After assigning as motives (Etnftcbt, (Srnbe, tCarjl, he continues by taking up these points in the order given. Lessing's
subject matter.
clear intellect tended

toward an orderly disposition

of his subject-matter.

This

strict

form of

order of thought is often more in harmony with his own expression than with that of the character which he is
bie, accusative is the object of
sc.

describing.
1.
1.

1852. 1855.

beftimmr,

haben.

tgen,

to xveigh, to

to weigh there are in complete differertiation in meaning between these forms has not yet taken place. The former is the more common word, and is used transi-

English

form a mental estimate of. For the German two forms, roiegen and tgen.

tively or intransitively,

literally or
is

figuratively.

The
1098.

latter

is

usually

confined to choice language and

in

most frequently employed

1.

transitively

a figurative application.
is

See also note to

The more

usual

expression

mit bem Sluge meffen.

NOTES.

ALT

111,

SCENE

6.

255

Page 109.
(i.e.

line

1862.

Sittah) is listening.

fie

n>obl borcbt?

I wonder

if she

3<*?

TC f ^od? belauften, here,

I will,

hawever, take her by surprise.

ACT
11.

III.

SCENE

6.

1866-67.
1868.

~\>&i

bin auf (Selb gefat, 1 was expecting a

Jemand

for money.
I.

10

bar, fo blaitf, like ready money, skining as if freshly

slamped.
II.

1869-70.
1871-73.

roenn nod? uralte !lIn5C bic geroogen roarb

2IUein
fo

ifthe

truth were like ancient coin, which u-ent by weight!

11.

neue ITtnjC

nicfyt.

In ancient times

the worth of a piece of

by

its

weight.

money was determined by its intrinsic value, i.e. In modern coinage the stamp determines the value.
:

Nathan means that truth is like an ancient coin it must be weighed again and again whenever it passes to a new possessor. It cannot, like modern coins, be stamped and passed from person to person with a
definite value.
1.
1. I.

1872.
1873.

macht,

constituies.
to.

Brett, here counter.

oarf, needs
,

1874.

in raef in Kopf.
in
is

here.
{

The

and a long n) I.1875. irer

=
is

The article is only seemingly omitted probably intended to represent the colloquial in'n (i.e. in ben.
ift

bentt hier ber

3U0C? Whointhiscaseisthejeiv?

A common

always ready to buy or seil ahnost anything. In the present instance Nathan's first thought was that Saladin acted like a Jew, as he seemed to regard even truth as something marketable.

Jew

II. 1880-81. Was ift fr einen (Srofjen benn 3U flein? Lessing here puts into the mouth of Nathan a bit of his own experience. He was librarian of the Ducal Libraiy at Wolfenbttel during the last period

of his

life,

the period in which

Nathan was

written.

While here,

his

relations with the heir apparent of the

were, in

duchy, the Prince of Brunswick, general, pleasant, but the Prince did not treat his proud, sensi-

tive librarian in all things with the consideration

due to

his real worth.

Lessing was in 1776, as usual, in straitened financial circumstances and yet was earnestly hoping to be able to so improve them, that his union

256

NATHAN.

11.18811926.

with his affianced, Eva Knig, might soon become possible. He suffered keenly from the reluctance of the Prince to come to his assistance,
especially from the humiliating
final
11.

way

in

which he kept putting

ins ?aus

off

the

settlement of his claims.

1881-82.

er [trmte

mit ber ^re

fo

here, he

came

out with his requesi so abruptly, literally, he rushed into the house carrying the door with him. The figure of the door is kept up in the
following lines.
line 1885. ein Stocfjube, a thorough-going, SimonIt is not only @tO(f in Compounds has an intensive force. used with nouns but also with adjectives, ftodbtinb, ftocfbunfel, etc.

Page 110.

pure yew.
I.

1888.

Das mar's
viz.,

Nathan

refers

to

an idea which has

just

occurred to him, form of a tale.

II.

the idea of clothing his ideas of religion in the

188990.

abfpetfen, here,

to

quiet,

more commonly, however,

to

feed, or, figuratively, to

put

off (with fair

words, or an empty promise).

ACT
1.

III.

SCENE
1

7.

He
1. 1.

then the coast 1891. ift ^db has just effected the removal of Sittah from the scene.

So
31t

bas

tner rein

Now

is

clear

1892. 1899.

eib Uttb

ltnb Blut, a common rhyming phrase. English life Phrases of both kinds are quite common in German. 1. 1900. mann, now tuenn. See note to 1. 266.
1.

= 3U and limb. (gut

Hanb

(Snbe.

'i.zhzw.,

common

alliterative

phrase like the

1902.

History, in fact, mentions this as one of Saladin's

titles.

(Sefetj

means here
111.

Page

line 191
now im

religious code..
1.

In connection with the following tale study

in
1. 1.

the Introd., pp. xxvii-xxxii.

(Dften,

Por grauen 3aljren In days of yore.

/

1914. 1916.

Offen. fpieleu, here to exhibit.

ber

Page

112.

= benjenigen, mddjer. line 1926. in Kraft, now

The

simply
is

fraft,

preposition

with genitive, by virtue of. of the Substantive raft.

preposition fraft

in fact the dative

Many
and

Compare

<&\a.tt, place, attftatt

ftatt,

prepositions are instead of.

old

case-forms.

NOTES.

ACT

III,

SCENE

7.

257

1.

1927.

leader.

It is

ber ^rft, originally a Superlative meaning, the first, chief, It now usually means here used in this older meaning.

prince, especially ruling prince.

1-

1933-

ftd?

entbred>en.

See note

to

1.

1293.

I.1936.
ftd)

fein erqteigenb[ee] d>tx^, his overfiowing heart. (Srgieijenb The present participle of reflexive verbs sometimes ergieenb.
it

drops the pronoun, but more

1.
I.

commonly retains tbun? Supply ifi before 1945. tnacbctm; now insgeheim.
1944.

in prose.

Was

511

,u.

Page 113.
is

line

1957.

lUirb's?

An
is

much used when some

desired.

request or order

expression of impatience, not executed as rapidly as

The adherents of the different religions were distinII. 1971-73. guished even to their clothing and to their food and drink.
1980. Dod?, sureiy. 1981. J)o<b bercn 2?lut tcir ftnb? Sureiy [the faith\ cf tkose whose (bereit) blood we are ? bocb berctt , bic, etc., sureiy ofthose wAo,
1.

Page 114.

line

etc.

The first bereu having now the form

1.

is

a relative, the second a demonstrative, usually

berer (genitive plural).

to give a person the l. ?gen is here a genitive of cause. It is apparentlv in the plural, but it may be the genitive singular of the older form Sgen (f.), still found in early

1988.

einen ngen (trafen,

N.H.G.
1.

In

1.

3768 we
is

find the genitive singular of the

1994.

fcbtmir
fcf)trjor.

confined to elevated diction;

it

new form ?ge. is now usually

replaced by

Page 115.
1.

line 2003.

2lrgrr>obttett,

now argwhnen.
in

2006.

23e3etbeTt,

found in early N.H.G., was already rare

Lessing's time; it is now replaced by $eiben (which is, however, itself confined to elevated diction), bejichttgen, or anichnlbtgen.
1. 1.

2024.

201 1. jur Stelle fcbaffcn, to bring forward, produce. Both forms occur ^Betrger, Lessing wrote Betrteqcr.
l8th centun
.

in

the classical writers of the close of the

1.

See note to

1098.

Page 116.
1.

lines 2041-42.
biefer

<s eifre

nach

"tohis unbought,
to the

impartiai leve aspire."

2045.

Miss Frothingham.

fomme

Kraft

5U Bilf

Come

aid ofthis

power

with, etc.

258
1.

NATHAN.
2053.
fprecbett, sc. Urteil,

11.20532108.

Page 118.
f)itt

line 2070.
now

wo

pronounce judgment. tt>o ftcber bamtt bin

id) ftdjer

bomit

foK,

where I can place

(Erbieten,

it

safely.

1. I.

2072.

uafycr, here impending.

2077.

anerbieten.
genitive.

freierbinqs,
The

your) own accord, an adverbial

formations:
genitive plural
neiterbinge, etc.

of one's (here There are a number of such

original form

neiterbing?, dKerbingS, etc.

:

was the

Later the plural ending of the second

genitive singular ending 8

component was dropped, and the

after the
II.

was added,

analogy of many similar forms. 2080-81. bas nmliche an mich

31t

fucben,

now more com-

monly, mich not ntulid).

Lessing wrote nehmlid), The former spelling lingered long, favored by the false impression that the word was derived from neljmen. This spelling also corresponded to the pronunciation of the time, which is indeed still
31t

um

ba% nmliche

erfucfteit.

preserved in

many

sections of the

Midland and South.

The

present

etymological relation to 9?ame. The new spelling has ff ected the pronunciation of the word, as in the case of ergtjlen. See note to 1. 762.
its
1.

spelling nntlid) arose from the desire to

show

2083.

Nathan here

delicately uses the

word

fchjcfett

instead of

leiben or borgen, thus concealing the favor

Page 119.
is

line 2084.

which he was

to bes'tow.

Das macht

due

to the

young Templar.
poft, here,

ber junge Sempelberr, That Nathan embraces this favorable opporin this

tunity to call Saladin's attention to the Templar.

1.

2085.

sum cfmoney,

meaning now replaced by

1.

Soften (m.).
1.

2090.
2097. 2101.

fpareit, here

fcboneu

see note to

1346.

1.

barttad? [ab

er aus, he looked as if he could do such a

thing.
1.
1.

ihren for iln'em

see note to

1.

742.

2105. ctbeufcbaft usually means passion, a permanent characteristic of an individual, but is here used in the sense of sudden impidsc or feeling, a meaning often found in the i8th Century. In this latter

meaning
d} ?

it is now Paul. replaced by 21ffe!t (m.). lines 2107-8. Unb bei bem attberu Page 120.

bleibt es bocb

The other matter

it,

(i.e.

his offer of financial aid) will rcniain as

we arranged

will

it

not?

NOTES.

ACT

III,

SCENE

8.

259

ACT
1.

III.

SCENE

8.

2111.

pf ertier,

ictim.

Comraentators

differ in their
it

of this passage.

Niemeyer and Dntzer

interpret

as

if

explanation the Templar

had escaped from the block after having been wounded. Buchheim remarks " simply victim, and not as it has been interpreted, a wounded

However it may be, the context victim escaped from the block.'' represents him as a weary victim fleeing from danger.
1.

1.

2113. rotttcrn, here to spy out, trace. 21 17. ausbeuten, now aufbiegen, here
is

to

evade.

In this meaning

the verb

intransitive in

German, taking a

dative object.

The form

beugen
1.

is

usually transitive in force, but

auSbeugen was used intran-

sitively in the

iSth Century.

21 19.

jtcr

tpcigem, usually

to

refuse, here

struggle agn inst, a

meaning more common

in the

to tief) firuben, i8th Century than

now.
I.

2122.

Was

vntfcMuR ?

= ie8 rebe

id)

on ntfcbtufj?

Why

do

I speak
II.

of resolution.
litte,

2123-24.

an archaic form for

litt.

An e was

formerly often

added

to the past tense of strong verbs after the

analogy of the weak

of being bound

conjugation.

Page 121.
to her,
11.

line 2125.
ittto

1\\\ fie rcrftrtcft

fein,

woven

her very being.

there

2132-34. In gelobt in 1. 2132 and the same word in the next line is a play upon words which cannot be rendered into English.
gelobt
is

The

first

from geloben and means promised, the second one

:

is

gelobten anbe, in the promised The brum, /and, mir gelobt, forever icorthy of praise in my sight. therefore, in 1. 21 33 refers to the thought in the prineipal proposition.
in

from loben and means praised

bem

The land was an object himself from a number

prejudices besides
1. 2135. order upon
1.

of praise to

him because he had there freed

of prejudices.

Per

Vorurteile mehr, other

besides

this.

Was
me f

tnill

mein

(Drbett

aueb? What claim

dative here
is

has

my

2137.

(Scfangntlt.

The weak

the relic of a former

The weak declension had formerly a Substantive force in the usage. case of certain adjeetives. When not preceded by the article they are

2O
now
form

NATHAN.

11.21402183.

uniformly strong, except in the dative singular, where the still occurs in connection with the strong.

weak

1. 2140. einem etroas einplauberu, to talk something into one. Sinreben has the same general meaning as einplauberu with the differ-

ence that the

I.

latter

2142.

The Templar's

has the depreciating force of the simple verb. father was a Saracen who had married a

Christian wife, but he himself

now

for the first time feels at

home under

the paternal sky.

The peculiar circumstances in which he now finds II. 2144-46. himself recalls old stories about his Saracen father and his marriage to a Christian woman.
I.

2149.

ftraucfycllt, fiel.

The
faith,

father

had actually

fallen, in that

he

had brokeji
II.

his

convenanted

while the son had as yet onlystum-

bled, in that he

liberal Jew, will not merely approve of his contemplated action but will actually encour-

had contemplated breaking it. 2153-55. The Templar thinks that Nathan, the
it.

age him in

Page 122.
joy.

line 2157. glrjt bdtre ^reube, glows with serene Intransitive verbs are often used in German factitively, to denote

the effect produced by their action.

ACT
1.

III.

SCENE

9.

2161. 2162.

1.

roarb, a poetic form, in prose replaced by ruurbc. rertpeilen, here used by transitively, aitffjalteit

it
;

is

now
1.

restricted

to

an

intransitive

use,

meaning

tarry.

<urb,

now

more commonly written

2163.
ftet/t
1.

ltrt, is an abridged form for Conrad. feinen Kllfym, equah his fame.
fo,

2169. bann,

Page 123.
you promise.
it is

lines 2175-76.

common

in colloquial language for

bann

alone.

3f? r ntfjtet

bcnn rcrfprccben,
to
lie

unless

The negative idea which now seems

in

in beult

when
M.
II.

used in connection with a verb

in the subjunctive

has come from

:

the negative eil which was once present G. 'ez ensi danne daz ', now e fei beim

this construction

more commonly auf ber teile. 3itr StCC, H.2181-83. bei ben erften Banbcn ber iTatur, by the first bonds ofnature. The Templar implores Nathan to allow himself to be guided
(beim)
that.

batj,

unless

it

he in the event

NOTES.
his natural feelings rather religion.

ACT

III,

SCENE

9.

261
gemein),
i.e.

by

than by later

ties (fpt're

the

bases his plea on the principles which Nathan himself (lines 1310-13), thought should control the actions of men. line 2184. Xathan's increasing sympathy for the Page 124.

bonds of

He

in

Templar

is

shown by
1.
1.

his increasing friendliness in the

1.

form of address:

3unger Biaxin
"Jreunb in
I.

2178, lieber junger SDcann in

2179, lieber, lieber

2184.
be'xbe, i.e. rfertntUrhfeit
.

2189.

and

Siebe.

nicht ? You surely do notfail to rec2192-93. 3f? r PCrfcnnt ognize them upon my Ups ? The meaning of Berfennen is slightly different from that found in 1. 1315.
II.
. .

11. first

2194-96.

solve the mystery of the

the latter's

Nathan cannot answer the Templar directly. He must young man's birth, for he suspects that relationship to Recha may possibly be such as to prevent

their marriage.
1. 2198. ITeubegier, poetic for Neugier or9ceugierbe. The Templar misconstrues intirelv Nathan's interest in his family relations.

Page 125.
1.

1.

2206.
r>on,

Darum

2209.

So was

kind of.

ofthat! 23anFert, a coarser word than

spile

For

all that!

In

33aflarb,
1.

hence gi\ing

Dienfdjenfcfjlag, race, breed. Sdjlag G>mpare the thought in Xer Sd)tag ift aud) nicht ju Derachten with Edmund's first speech in King Lear, Act I, Scene 2.
1.

2210.

fuller expression to his bitter feelings.

2211.

(Entlat mich,

immer metner 21hnenprobe,

At
this point the

Release me,

I beg you, from producing my pedigree.

comes more
again.
1.

Templar beitself

bitter,

and

his old

contempt

for the

Jews manifests

He

ridicules their pride of ancestrj'.

The

use of ilatt

2215. Slatt ror (now fr; see note to 1. 94) Blatt, leaf by leaf. is quite appropriate, as he hasused Stammbaum, an-

cestral tree, in the preceding line.

ben 2lugenblirf, at once. Nathan tries tc Templar by the Statement that he did not desire to take advantage of his first strong feeling for Recha to bind him permanently. 1. 2226. roenn nicht. VOo nicht
quiet the

Page 126.

line 2220.
=

22

NATHAN.

11.22282322.

ACT
1. 1.

III.

SCENE

10.

Schon mefyr als g'nug, continuation of his 2231. Saugt nichts, // is not conducive tohealth. should never thus fill the mind.
1.

2228.

last

speech.
single thing

2252.

Hur immer,

is

cate that one has

1.

no objeetion

often used in imperative sentences to indito the taking place of the action.

2253.

erfidpert, an obsolete adverb

Page 128.
miffett,
infinitive

lines 2261-62.

ftcfiertid).
311

Das mir

b.aben oft felbft nid?t

prepositional

Which we

often do not knoiu that

we possess. The

here serves as an objeet of miffen and at the same time itself takes the objeet ba%. This same infinitive construetion is found in the

preceding sentence after glauben, but

ttffen.
It is,

it

sounds a

little

quaint here after

however, characteristic of Lessing's terse language. We should usually say ou bem ttr oft felbft uidjt ttuffeit, bafj wir eg In certain cases this construetion sounds more natural 28ir Ijaben.
: :

ttffen e nicht

51t

mad)en,

tbltlt, etc.

(I

am

indebted for

this

note to

Professor Schmidt-Wartenberg of the University of Chicago.) 1. 2265. Knall unb ^all, see note to Reien, here to mean.
1.

2271

Hute

= Leimrute, lime-twig,
He

for snaring birds.

1.

1506.

(Seflattre,

now

(&t$<xiitx , uttering.

In 'prose, this noun would take the definite

article

and stand before the modifying genitive be armen ^ogel. lines 2285-86. The Templar shows himself here as a Page 129.

deist, not as a Christian.

1. 1.

believes in Providence (5>orftd)t).

2287. 2289.

neubegierig, more commonly neugierig.

Ithinber, miracles.

Daja uses the word

the

in the
it

biblical

sense.

The Templar modifies

f|ier,

meaning
the

so

that

becomes be

Juuberbareu, of the zvonderful.

1.

2297.

mufj nicht muffen. See note to 1. 385. 1. 2308. Diefe Sait' itmt a^ufcfylagen, to touch this chord in him. 1. 2309. unb er fiel Iticfyt ein ? and he did not chime in f The dative was often used here lines 2313. 3^ m Page 131.
(Er

Page 130.

line 2305.

in this world.

bort, in

world to come.

in

the

i8th Century, but the aecusative

is

is

now

the usual form.

The

dative
1. 1.

probably due to French influence. 2321. fjer3e, poetic form for er$.

2322.

Fur3

unb

gut, here quickly.

NOTES.
halten, here

ACT

III,

SCEXE

IO.

263

1.

2328.

Page 132.
verted

= line 2330.

jurcfljalten.

The Templar supposes

that

Daja has con-

Recha

to Christianity.

He

ironically represents

Recha as hav-

ing been

bom over again, this time by Daja, and asks the latter if the pains of this spiritual birth were severe. 1. 2338. ITIacbe, manufacture, a word that usually has a contempI.

tuous sense.

2339.

Daja percieves the error under which the Templar has been

laboring.
II. 2341-42. was fte 5u merken perborben ifr. Daja means that Recha has been so taught by Nathan that there is no hope of her becoming a Christian by reason and conviction. line 2347. mad?en, now more commonly gemacfjt. Page 133. Formerly ge was not required before the perfect participle, hence the

and heien was exactly like the infinitive. Later the ge became necessary in the participle, but it was not used
participle of fefjen, (ffen

where an
fehen.

infinitive

depended upon the

if"t

participle.

3d) fjabe

iljn

fotntnen

The
is

participle of

other verbs assumed by analog}' the form of

the infinitive.
struetion
I.

3d) fyabe

fommen boren

(for gehrt).

This con-

on the wane.

2360.
bie

formerly
Cf.

<rgteung, now (Srgnfj. Many derivatives in ung were common, which have since been replaced by shorter forms.
rbliefung

(Goethe),
to

now

ber

Sfnblict

bie

bergebung

(Schiller),

now

bie bergabe.

I.2361. rerlen!ett,

Page 134. on my pari.

I.2368.
II.

line 2366.

lead astray.

Was
!

mir
It

31t

tbun, IVkai slwuldbe done

be the death oj

3^? mar' bes obes

would

me !

2372-73. 2lber lat eueb ja ntdbts merFen gegen ib,n, But do not permit yoursdf to betray anything to him ; eudj may be either
dative or aecusative.
1.

2376.

Benehmen,

to
it

take away.

The

prefix be has apparently a

privative force here, but

really retains its usual intensive force.

The

privative idea lies in the verb itself

and not

in the prefix.

264

NATHAN.

11.

23792438.

ACT

IV.

SCENE

1.

The Patriarch has evidently censured the Laybrother for his lack of success with the Templar. 1. 2381. rootleu is often, as here, used with a non-personal subject,
so that will

Page 135. lines 2379-82.

thing

is ascribed to a It then usually denotes that something. needed or demanded by the very circumstances of the case 3)ie SBlumett IrjoKett begoffeit fein, theflowers need watcring. In the present is
:

instance rooen denotes that

all

the circumstances in

the case
1.

seem
698.

to favor the failure of the Laybrother's efforts.

1.

See also note to

2383.

2lncb, besides.

2tud)

is

often used in questions to express

reproach or vexation on account of something that has been done.

I.

2384.

fcttt, crafty.

II.

2285-86. ITscfyen, ?nbct?en.

The diminutive

here, as often

elsewhere, expresses contempt.

Page 136.
11.

line 2396.

ferner,

hard.

2400-02. etwas runb non fid? roeifen, to re/use something ffat/y. 11. 409-10. toenn tr>re, even if he had been our angel seven times, that is, saved our life on seven occasions.
. .

1.

241 1.

mit

^leifct?

unb Blut,

withflesh

and blood,

i.e.

in the bib-

lical

sense as used in Galatians

1, 16.

The

flesh is here contrasted with

the
1.

spirit.

unb tragt eud? toieber an, and offer yourself in tum to The word rtueber, in tum, is here used because the Patriarch had already made proposals to the Templar.
2412.
kirn.

Page 137.
this

line 2423.

pfaffen, priest.

Since the Reformation

word has been used

it

that
1.

Buchheim suggests contemptuous sense. be rendered by vionk and pffftfd) in the next line by monkish.
in a

2431. braucht', need, formerly often used with the genitive, now with the aecusative. The impersonal form, however, may still take the
genitive as well as the aecusative
:

e braudjt feines 33emeife8 or feinen

SetneiS.
1.

2435.

I.

2436.

Partei, a matter ofparty. brob, for barob, poetic form

= barber, with
lange

reference to

this.
II.

2437-38.

feiner

= ber feinigen, dative, referring to Partei, party.

adje
bie

(Siner (dative)

ferfon or einer

galten, here to

aid

NOTES.
or support a person or cause.

ACT

IV,

SCENE

2.

265
feil

When

a combatant

in a

toumament,

an attendant held a pole over him for protection. The niost common meaning at present is to compete, vie with. See Schrader, Der Bilder-

schmuck der deutschen Sprache (1886),

Page 138. my real object

1.

is.

p. 190.

line 2441.

2Bantm

ir>arum mir cigentlid? 3U tbun? what ruontm or um Ina?. See note to 1. 386.
i.e.

2442.

authoritalive decree, ITTacbtfprucr),

a decree on the part

of the ecclesiastical authorities that

Nathan should give up Recha.

lauter, piain, simple.

XCIS Patriarch? How does the Patriarch concern nie? 2450-51. id? habe ja mtd) einer Sorge nur gelobt, I have indeed pledged myself to only one care, i.e. solicitude with regard to his
I.

2444.

II.

own etemal welfare. Luke x, 41-42.

The

lines

2449-51 seem

to

have a relation to

ACT

IV.
fid?

SCENE

2.

Page 139. line 2457.

ftd)

erbeben, usually,

to arise,

get up, here

aufmachen,

to sei out,

proeeed, a

meaning

still

found in the l8th

Century but
11.

now

obsolete.

2458-59.

Saladin was very simple in his dress and habits.

The

pleonastic use of nid?t in exclamations, as here, was formerly very common. The presence of nid)t is explained by the fact that such

sentences were originally questions. 1. 2459. Bier for her. See note to
1. 1.

1.

502.

2461.

Supply 3d) bin before rebr.

rather than
1. I.

2463. baraus, of him, from such a one. tarauS is here used au3 ihm, as the Statement is a general one. 2465. tDobl strengthens the idea contained in fcbroerlid?. 2469.
Xotice the solemn prelatical
1-40.

The mode of address, bem Berm, employed here by the Patriarch is the same as that used by the Laybrother, but the tone is different. The Patriarch means it simply as a form of

Page

line

style of the Patriarch's

language.

2473.

politeness.
still

This was the common polite form in the I7th Century and oecurs occasionally as such in the works of Lessing, Goethe and other authors of the classical period. Cf. note to 1. 541. II. 2478-79. roo jie bin gebort or wobm fte gehrt, where itproperly
belongs.

2 66

NATHAN.
2481. 2487.

11.24812518.

1.
I.

ba8 heifjt. [ba%] tft 3U fagen, that is to say IDifr, here in the older meaning of free, independent
in a

will,

now employed

depreciating sense, arbitrariness, caprice.

refers to the

bes, poetic form for

II.

beffert.

2490-92. The Patriarch here

655-58.

Templar's declaration

in lines

Page 141.
junctive.

line 2495.

es

fei,

we

will assume, a concessive sab-

1. 249g. frmmft. The comparative and Superlative of this adjective would more commonly be formed without mutation (Umlaut). Mutation is in general on the decline in the comparison of adjectives.

1.

251 1.

^aftum

= &atfarhe

fyypot^cfe

= Vermutung.

In the

i8th Century scholars were still fond of using Lessing foreign words. himself was not free from this habit, although he in general took pains to use pure German, especially in his finer In the literary productions.

passage in question he seems to have introduced the words intentionally to give to the language of the Patriarch a pompous learned tone.

With characteristic conceit, the prelate proceeds at once to explain his learned expressions, as he supposes that they are above the comprehension of a Templar.
1. 2513. btdptett, usually to 'co/npose (verses, dramas, etc.), here to invent (an imaginary tale, etc.), in this latter meaning now replaced by

erbittert.
1.

2515.
title

euer often remains uninflected in direct address before

titles.

The

ocfyefyranirbeu like force of the singular.

naben

is

used

in

the plural with the

1. 2518. 3 (Sctftltdpen, in Spiritual things. mit ttiebtett, by no means. Formerly uiefit, nothing, was inflected as a Substantive nom.,
:

nicht, gen., nicht (e), dat.,

nichte,

accus. nid)t.

The

old genitive
still

is

now
in a

usually

employed

for all cases.

The

dative

is,

however,

found

few expressions:
lachte eil).

M.H.G. mit

3U nicht mad)eu, to destroy, mit nid)tett (= The final u in the last form is the remnant of

the old negative adverb en, which in this expression formerly followed The old nominative and aecusative form nidht and preceded the verb.
uid)t
is
still

bleiben nicht

found in a few idiomatic expressions Jpici" ift meilteS Seun \d) mit 9Jfenfrf)en= unb mit (nominative).
:

(ugelsungeu rebete unb htte ber ?iebe nicht (aecusative).

The

ac-

NOTES.
cusative nicht

ACT

IV,

SCENE

2.

267

is now regarded as a pure adverb, having entirely supplanted the older negative adverb ne, not. line 2520. (Ein Spiel bes IPitjes, an inttlUctual Page 14-2.

diversion, bit of casuistry.

of the

In the l8th Century 2it5 assumed the force

French

esprit.

(Cf. here the

French jeu

d'esprit.)

It

now

usually
11.

means

~vit,

humor, jest.
hben, I desire once for all to refer you reference here cannot relate to the theater in the

2522-23.

3^? ^'U

to the theater.

The

year 1192, as there was no theater

thrust at

at that

time in Jerusalem.

It is

Goeze and the intolerant clergy on account of their prejudice In the controversy between Lessing and Goeze against the theater.
the latter constantly taunted the former with his relations to the theater.
11.
I.

2525-27.
2531.
2 535-

einen

mit,

now

3um heften haben, to make game or Sport of one. replaced here by an. frberfamft, immediately,

now
1-

obsolete.

obbefagt

for

oben befagt, just mentioned, belongs to the

official
II.

language.

2537-38.
2540.

Scheiterhaufen and oljfto are Synonyms

stake,

funeral pile.
1.

23unb, here bond.

Page 143.
I.

line 2542.
.

2546.
be

tDiro

gu fagen. See note to 1. 2481. rerbrattnt, equivalent to the imperative, the Je^u
the stake.

m tat
II.

burned, go to 2549-50. roas

antieipate
1.
1.

God?

2552.
2560.

. . orjugretfen, what right has then the Jeiv to intervene and pre-determine his will. to save, in the biblical sense. feiig tnacben,

i.e.

Page 144.

bieferroegen, now replaced by besroegen. lines 2565-66. The Templar, who has detected the

Patriarch's ruthless purpose,

now desires

to

break

off

the conversation by

vaguely promising to reveal more in the confessional. 1. 2570. 3^? 9 C ^' fogleid? 5um Sultan. This was, of course, a
toric impossibility, as

his-

He assumes a Convention Lessing well knew. between Saladin and the Latin church by which the decrees of the
latter

were enforced.

At the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin the

Patriarch along with all other Christians had to leave the city. Lessing represents the Patriarch as residing in the city, in aecordance with

the needs of his drama.

The passage

in question,

though contrary

to

28
history, is a splendid

NATHAN.
thrust at

11.25782634.

Goeze and an

intolerant clergy

who

invoked the assistance of the secular authorities against Lessing and his
liberal theological writings.
11.

2578-82. These

lines

remind us

forcibly of certain of Goeze's

utterances in the famous controversy.

The plurals alle, biefe, meine (and the other possessives) 1. 2580. could in Lessing's day be followed by a strong adjective, where present
usage requires a weak form.
1.

2584.
its

Sermon now means

older

here in

meaning ^Jrebigt, ser/non. Notice the change of tone in the speech of the cowardly 1. 2586. Patriarch when he learns that the Templar has been summoned by Saladin and may be on a friendly footing with him.

a dry

and tedious

homily, but

it is

used

Page 145.
1.

line

2589.

fnnben, now gefunben.

for the

See note to

402.
1.

2596.

problemct, a pedantic learned word

o5 u

more common

^vobtem.
1-

2597-

fagen, see note to

1.

2481.

ACT
1.

IV.

SCENE

3.

2602.

Des Dings,

of the stuff.

Saladin generally speaks con-

temptuously of money.
to relieve his
1.

261

1.

This particular consignment came from Nathan temporary embarrassment. bas 2ltmut, now bie 31rntUt. Formerly the word was

feminine or neuter.

The

collective sense, the poor.

neuter gender proved more tenacious in the On account of his financial embarrassment

Saladin reluctantly decides to leave the poor unprovided for until the

money from Egypt. Saladin not only allowed all Christians to visit the Holy Sepulchre but generously helped the poor and needy among them. do not know what Saladin intended to say, but it was 1. 2615. probably to refer to some generous provision which he had made for the needy and which he desired to continue.
arrival of the
1.

2612.

We

Page 147.
of time
1.

line 2630.
betn.

Der

le^tc,

i.e.

florgen.

btn, accusative
for fterbett.

an

2634.

wegbleiben, here an euphemistic expression

NOTES.

ACT

IV,

SCENF

4.

269

11.

2634-35.

Page 148.

[*S] gut lines 2637-38. Per einem

<*)

nur

[ein

Let the matter rest!

. cerrcft, Jngling Saladin intimates that the
. .

that frustrates the

aims of a youth

like this.

passion of love

mehr,
1.

He

may likewise lead a youth astray. has other enemies besides death.
aieb.
1.

<r bat ber

^einbe
1.

2643.

In the original editions

we

find gib, but in

blt

2905

gieb
gib.

and

in

506 giebt.

Gottsched recommended

giebft, er giebt,

these forms.

Other authorities of the i8th Century held different views as to In M.H.G. the quantity was short, but the long vowel
is still

gTadually prevailed; in the South and Midland the short vowel quite common in North Germany the long vowel is preferred.
;

SD. einen Sofa.

drops her
veil, in

The masculine form

is

employed where the neuter

now
!

used.

lt

of this

noun was formerly

Schleier fallen,

bett

aecordance with Oriental custom.

Saladin had not as yet heard the 1. 2648. Uno nun fein tLon Templar's voiee and is eager to ascertain whether it bears any resemblance to that of Assad.
1.

2650.

Wo =

trgenb roo.

ACT
Page 149.
1.

IV.

SCENE

4.

line

2667.

in roelcber Pble, etc.

tale.

An

allusion to

the Seven Sleepers, an Oriental

2668.
266g.

1.

T)\v, a Persian

(Sinntftan for Xitfjinniftan, land ofthe genii,fairy land. word for demon, here fairy. 23lutne refers

to the

Templar,

Page 150.
1. 1.

line 2684.
'

who was

in

the

bloom
mir.

of youth.

um
it

In the iSth Century

um

some-

times governed the dative

2685. 2686.

3 amer

on ^

expressed position. tne w 'de cloak of the Arabs.

when

dulban, now more commonly Xurbait.

Saladin was indeed quite tolerant.

Afilj

Jytljbut,

feit hat.
1.

2688.

of Lessing's time loved to dwell lipon that fact.

his

course, however, Uberalism was quite different from that of the " age of enlightenment"; he remained withal a sincere Mohammedan. Lessing uses certain features of the historical Saladin, but in general his portrait is an
ideal one.

The Of

liberal historians

270
I.

NATHAN.
2690.
1.

11.26902776.

Saladin in

(Softes (Srttier, a figure suggested by that employed by 2688.

II. 2693-94. (Ein Jort? (you give) your word? Reply: <in IHantt as a man. The usual saying is ein Rctnrt, ein 2Bort, a man is as good as his word. The order may be reversed ein Sort, eilt
! :

2Jcanu.

Page 151. Page 152.

I.

line 2709. lines 2715-16.

fcbnneric}, here difficult to please.

es mit einem tjaben,

to be

at vari-

ance with one, a colloquial expression.

2732.

Page 153.
cannot
II.

Reitern fernen, a reference to Nathan's words in 1. 1321. line 2736. boeb motjl nimmermehr? Surely, this

be the case ?

2737-38.

Page 154.

auf lines
. .

rjtn,

on the strength

of.

Ketten fpotten.

2757-58. <s ftnb nicht alle frei, bie ib,rer These words so often quoted have become a proverb.

We

see again that the Templar is a freethinker. He calls the doctrines of positive religion chains; in 1. 2182 he calls them fetters; in 1. 2755 he designates creeds as mere superstition.
1.

2762.

Dem,
blbe,

to luhich, i.e. his

own

creed.

The older, more weak-eyed. general meaning was weak, from which the present derived meanings have come. still see the older meaning in btbftlimg, weak minded,
1.

2763.

bashful, shy,

here

We

blbe 9Iugen,

trauen.

Supply
to.

1. 2764. aecustomed

vertrauen, now usually an$utier= (subjunetive of indirect discourse) afler vertrauen. iiernohttert, to become gemlnteit (with aecusative), heie
eyes,

weak
fei

etc.

ju

It

would be more common

to use here ftch gelUr)tten

is

an
1.

(with aecusative).

The form geruhne

It

subjunetive of indirect

discourse.

2767.

IXwshxnvh , paragon.

originally referred to that part of a

piece of cloth which

was exposed
2772.

to

view to serve as a sample.

to

It is

now used
kerneis of
I.

only figuratively.

Page 155.
2773.

line
was
.

fnten,

aMure, as birds by means of

to lines

com.
febteue for
fdjteil.
.
.

See note

2123-24.

2773-74. be unrewarded.
II.
1.

\\abt\\,for which service to her I should not

2776.

rter^ctteln,

to

Uar away and scatter, hence

often, to si/uan-

NOTES.
away.

ACT

IV,

SCENE

4.

27

der, trifle
its

In the present instance Derjettelt means slrayed from

proper place.
I.

2778.

[Gr] molT ober iDOe niebt

is

whether he

is

willing or not.

The
II. 11.

subjunetive

the concessive subjunetive.

2780-81.
2785-86.

Ct

Matt, vii, 15.

jtnbcu = ba
11.

oen (Ibriften machen, to act the pari 0/ a Christian. 11. 2789-90. jtcb nehmen was often as here used for fiel) benehmen. line 2795. Kann ich mich felber faum in ITatban Page 156.

erlernte id)
fieb

Jcatban fanm.
laffett, to listen to

2797-98.

meifen

reason, literally, to alloiv

one's seif to be instrueted. SSeifeil now usually as in mtterroetjen the older meaning to instruet

means
is still

to

poini, but here

preserved.

I.2799. rcbrormcr, fanatics. Saladin speaks here contemptuously only of Christian fanatics, not of Christians in general.
I. II.

2801.

2802-3.
spite to

nahe legen, to urge upon. rei feinem 3uoen

.
.

ilbrift,

benot a Christian from

1.

mere
I.

Jews or Mohammedans.
for litigier.

2804.

Blutbegier,
i.e.

See note to
!

2198.
it

II.

2810-n. laY es
itself,

fear

furcht nicht felbft the fear of losing Saladin's esteem.

biefe

UnUss

were

this

the Templar's outbursts of temper leniently. He nature that led him to err will soon lead him to repentance. the following utterance, icb roeift aus roelcben fehlem unfre

Saladin looks upon knows that the same

warm

In

feimt, he expresses his belief

(Eugenb that the noblest virtues may spring from

such impetuous natures when wisely directed. Lessing had experience with such passionate dispositions in both himself and his father. Of
the latter he has remarked tenderly gleid) }o ein hitiger Jcami."
:

rarfl 10 ein gilter linb JU=

Page 157.
1.

2819.

line 2817. rerftttbiejen, tobringtoan understanding. ^lucb fo es ITatban febon empftuben, ba, etc., Xathan

shall also indeed be

made

tofeel, that, etc.

The

irhon adds emphasis to

is

the Statement.

In the present instance the emphasis enhance the irony of the remark.
1.

intended to

2821.

biirfen, here

to

dare.

In later editions of the Bible brfen

It

assumed

meaning of the then obsolescent turren, to dare. still retained this meaning down to the present Century, especially Swiss writers. SSageu is now used in this sense.
also the

in

272

NATHAN.

11.

28302881.

ACT
1.

IV.

SCENE

5.

2830.

Das

macbft bn gut
bie

= ba

fjaft

bu

recijt

ytm are

right in

(hat.

Page 158.
1.

line 2834.
liebe

Hebe ging,

it

was rumoreJ.

Heubegier, idle curiosity. In a number of expressions lieb has lost its literal meaning. line 2854. febonen, in poetry sometimes with genitive, Page 159. usuallv however with aecusative.
2848.

Die

ACT
11.

IV.
ich

SCENE

6.

2861-62.

Das nenne
!

noch ein Hrautfleib

Thai

is

what I

call

a wedding-dress
It is often,

9?od) usually serves to

mark

a point reached in

a scale.

however, used modestly to denote that something

is

not only reaches a certain point but exceeds it, that something only of passable quality, but is really excellent.

not

Page 160.
1.

line 2864.
emblem.

3 e uun

Why, yes !

2868.

Bilb,

I. 2871. roitjeht, make a weak attempt at wit, here, in aecordance with the older meaning of 2Bii3 (see note to 1. 2520), make a weak

altempt to speak in an ingenious manner. often elsewhere has a derogatory force.

"

The

suffix

-eilt

here as so

Buchheim

translates thus:

What
II.

is this

" ingenious prattle about?

2871-72.
2873.
a

Don

aelebrt?

Ofwhose wedding

dress do

you

in-

terpret the emblems.

1.

Hratlt, betrolhed,

bride,

married;
the

woman was

called Prallt on her

designated originally one newly wedding day, also before

to apply to those
still
1. 1.

ceremony was performed. Later the meaning was extended so as who were only betrothed. The original meaning can
be clearly seen in 23rautfammer, 33rcuttbett, etc. 2875. Feiner anbem, predicate genitive, denoting possession. 2879. Siebcufad^en, things; (iebeit is much used in colloquial
It
is

language for an indefinite number.

languages and

a favorite term in various

Page 161.

line 2881.
(ie

is

of frequent use in the Bible.

Hiebt rhr' an, a

forcible populr expres-

sion for id) rubre

nid)t an,

r 11 not touch

them.

NOTES.

ACT

IV,

SCENE

7.

273

1. 1.

2883. i>eraleicbcn, such as, here used as a relative. 2886. ftcb frcmb ftCcn, to pretend not to understand.

I. 2893einem etrr>as rerbanfen, was originally to be grateful to one for, thank for, as in the present case. It now usually means to be

indebted.

The language here is closely etc. Rom. xn, 20, but the application of the figure is a litde different. Daja here means that if Nathan does not allow Recha to marry the Templar he will heap coals of fire upon his own head, that is, will call down the wrath of Heaven upon himself in spite of all
II.

2894-95.

Hiebt ^euerfobleri,

related to that in

previous kindness to her. 1. 2895. eier, fyrtt but here to be translated by song.
I.

2896.
stritig.

JTtit

einer neuen Saite nur flogen, furnished witk a

string is, of course, Daja's hope of uniting Recha and the Templar. Like the Templar in lines 536line 2905. So aieb Page 162. 537, Nathan takes it for granted that the Laybrother has come to beg.

new

The new

II.

2909-10.

fo

babe

ich

aefetjt.
:

A
I

literal translation

here

is

difficult.

We may

paraphrase

l>y

then

shall

have fruitUssfy risked

my

relation offather to her.

ACT
1.

IV.

SCENE

7.

2916.
is

(Seh

Daja's curiosity

had tempted her

to linger,

and now

Nathan

forced again to urge her to go.

line 2919. annoeb for the simple nod) was formerly Page 163. common in the official language. Though oecurring in good writers it is now seldom used. 1. 2920. 3 C nu common in populr language for je nun, for which
r

see note to

1.

2864.

Other shades of meaning oeeur in

lines

3187,

3296.
1.

2930.

2Su^e, here amends,

= Gntjtfibigung, now more

here to dwell, once a
:

common

in the derivative signification

when the reference is to peoples 3n bem brigen Xeutfd)(anb faen bie ermanen bereit* feit unbenflirber ^tit
still

Page 164. meaning and

(Fre)tag).

line 2935.
in use

penance.
fitjett,

common

274
1.

NATHAN.
2936.

11.29362982.

Jericho, which, according to legend, is the one fasted forty days and nights (hence the name).
tradition
tain.
1.

Quaratttatta, a mountain situated between Jerusalem and upon which Christ

On

account of this

many

hermits took up their abode in the caverns of the

moun-

2942.

alito, a strengthened

form

of reo

which was not uncommon

in the i8th Century.

1. 2947. Stebefet, a rare form for Sinfiebelei. (Labor, a mountain near Nazareth, according to populr belief the one upon which Christ

was

transfigured.

At the time
it.

of the Crusades a

monastery and numer-

ous hermitages were upon

Page 165.
of
tt)0,

line 2960.
is
1.

Wo

once common,

now

This mgltcr/, if possible. limited to a few set expressions.

meaning
For an-

other example see note to

2226.

1. 2961. ob, above, over, during, and, as in the present instance, on account of, used in the last meaning with the genitive or dative and in

the other
diction,

meanings with the dative.

It is

confined generally to elevated

being replaced in prose by ber, except in Austria, where it seems to be common even in prose. The causal meaning is more
widely used than the others. I. 2963. bebttfett, used sually with the accusative, though sometimes with the dative; now it is generaly replaced by bnteit. The reference is to Matt, xn, 31, the " unpardonable II. 2962-66.

The theologians of sin," namely, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Lessing's day engaged in endless and bitter controversies as to what sin was here meant. Lessing ridicules these fruitless discussions in the
present passage.
1.

2976.

ift

mir

recht

= irre

id)

mich nicht or

wenn

ich

mich nicht

irre.

line 2979. (5a33a, now written @ct$Ct (pro. afa),a Page 166. seaport once the principal city of the Philistines and at the time in question strongly fortified by thick walls. It was frequently besieged by

the

Mohammedans
is

von Filnek
toward the
1. 1.

during the Crusades. The knight known as Wolf here represented as making a rapid move (fid) Werfen)
help ward
off

city to

one

of these attacks.

2980.
2982.

trmcfyen, often used as here in the sense of helpless babe. Parnn, a stronghold and hamlet not far from Gaza.

NOTES.
bleiben, here to

ACT

IV,

SCENE

"].

275

21sFalon, Ascalon, duringfall Crusades the

It is
1.

1.

2986.

(in battle), a very

common meaning.
fortified city.

an important

on the
2987.

coast not far from Gaza.

VOobl

fonft ein lieber Berr,

was indeed besides,

i.e.,

apart

from

his military career

which ended gloriously upon the

battle-field,

dear kittd lord.

I.

is

2994. at's lieber nicht geftorben fein, not dead.

Assume rather

that she

II.

2995-96.
is

fo

bat es gute JDege, there

is

no cause of apprehension

or all
I.

well.

2996.

Hatban.

as

err 9?atbnn.
title.

He

The Laybrother had previous addressed Nathan here becomes more confidential and drops the

formal

Page 167.
I am

line 2998.

Das

icb

5U tbun rermeine, that

think

doing. Present usage requires here roas instead of ba%. Throughout the i8th Century ba was used with reference to a whole sentence,
also after Da, ae, etwa, tele, tnandjeg,

ba8 ute, ba8

S3ef!e, etc.,

Vermeinen represents the thought as a subjeetive one, hence not necessarily resting upon a basis of facL II. 3007-08. unb mtet fo belohnet werben. It will be remembered that the Patriarch insisted that the Jevv who had estranged the Christian girl from her faith should be bumed. The Laybrother thinks
ftja?.
is now awaiting Nathan. Das mill mir niebt ein, I cannot understand it or more idiomatically / carit get it into my head. 1. 3014. This may refer to the legends of children who have been

where we now employ

that a similar punishment

1.

3008.

nursed by wild animals, as those of Romulus and Remus, Genovefa,

etc.

Page 168.
1.

line 3025.
for

^iirfpracb, a rare form for grfprerher.

anberm. See note to 1. 742. 1. 3039. <5atb, once one of the five royal cities of the Philistines but at the time in question no longer in existence. This massacre is
3031.
not historical. History, however, records a long to the discredit of Christians.
list

anbern

of similar massacres

Page 169.
sing.

lines 3048-49.
into

There

lines

The

recent loss of wife

and

child,

were deeply feit by Lesand his failing health put

special

meaning

them

for him.

276
1.

NATHAN.
3048.

11.30483119.

Beider,

now

nebenher.

redeten,
meaning

to

reason with, quarrel

with.
I.

3059.

,l

& cm r at tflat ver >'

moment.

It is

now

usually

employed

as a subordinate conjunetion with the

II. 3065-66. auf fiebert bod? in place of seven, one restored.

while.
1

min

febon eines tnieber

for seven or

These lines illustrate Lessing's own views. All relig11. 3066-68. ions are manifestations of one religious life. Here the Christian Laybrother calls the Jew Nathan a Christian because he finds in him the

same

religious life

Page 170.
1.

line 3068.

which he

feels

within himself.

IPofyl

uns

It

is

well for us both

Lessing here wrote btfj ( bl8), preserving the old Elsewhere in the drama he employs bieS short quantity of the vowel. in aecordance with the usage, which is now universal.

3073.

Dies.

1. 3078. XllXXl ollenbs all" Buchheim.

Well, thafs the best of all ! or "that crowns

1.

Page 171.

3081.

Der

erfte befte, see note

1.

1213.

line 3087.

(Dbm,

poetic form for

Oheim, which

is,

however,
Dtrfei.
1.

unusual,

and

is

now

replaced in

ordinary

language by

3088.

Sipp, a quaint word

still

occasionally used,

= SSeviuanb

tev.
1.

3093.

Dem

(Sefcr/Iedpte

beffeu.

In prose

we

say here beffen

efcbledjte or beut e?di(ed)te beSjelbeit.

1. 1.

3101. 3102.

trgen.
(heu.
It

23cbelcbett.

Lessing wrote here triegen. See note to 1. 1098. This diminutive has a double suffix, e( (from
to join djeit immediately to
also used.
to

lein)

and

would have been harsh

is

33d).
1.

The form

33d)(ein

3104.

rerfebarren for begraben,

bury in

haste

or

untere-

moniously.

Page 172.
menid)
Sflenfd)
1.
1. 1.

line 3106.

<rfriftenmenfcfy,here

(!)riji.

Sbriflen*
of

is
:

more often used with a humorous touch with the force

2)aS begreift fein Sbriftenmetifd). 31 10. Supply habe before fagen.

31 11.

Seibeigen, now felbfteigen, very own.

<ibatn, rare poetic
to the Templar.

31 19.
is

word

for diroiegeri'obn.

The

reference

of course

NOTES.
crfaufen, here

ACT

V,

SCENE
a

I.

277
in

1.

3120.

frroerbeit,

meaning found only

elevated diction.

ACT
Page 173.
presence.
1.

IV.
lt

SCENE
fie 511 ftd>

8.

line 3130.

holen,

summons her

to

her

happen

ihr bemt auf ben ? How in the worlddidyou htm ? The demonstrative ber often replaces a personal pronoun when emphasis is desired, hence ben instead of ihn. 1- 3!35einem etmas ftecfen (jufterfen), to make known to one

3134.
to

Wie fommt

(hink of

secretly.

Page 174.
modern

line

3138.

ift.

The

early editions
ecft.

have

ift

here;

editions, the

more natural word

1. 3140. bie einige nermeinte (Tochter, the reputed only daughter. For the meaning of ermetnt see note to 1. 2998. 1. 3142. Put suggests here a sudden thought or suspicion.

1. 3143. Der (Tempelherr ift brnm Templar has lost her. The first step was the revelation 1. 3144.

um

fte,

sc.

gefommen, The

of her secret to the Templar.

I.3146.
1.

(Setroft

Cheerup!

The

in populr language for unterroeg^. forms untertuege (dative singular), unterlegen After the analog)- of many other (dative plural), are now obsolete. adverbs as grabe*roeg$, etc., these forms end at present in .

3150.

untermegens, common
correct

older

ACT

V.

SCENE

1.

SD. mameiucfert, Mamelukes, literally jfrzvr. Saladin's Mamelukes were carefully brought up from childhood and became much attached to him. They formed his body-guard.

Page 17.
cusative.

line

3155.

Dergcffert,

in the

frequently used with the genitive, even in

prose, but
still

i8th Century was now with

survives
in

still

ac-

The

older genitive

construction

3>ergt=

meinmdjt.
1.

3158.

Kahiro (Arabic form), now atro,

Cairo, the present

Egyptian
1.

capital.

3160.

3^ ra hi m

Arabic form for abrogant.

278

NATHAN.

11.31633202.

1. 3163. "Der guten Rettung, for the good news, literally, on accounl In prose we say, fr Die of the good nezvs, an old genitive of cause. gute 3dtuttg. Leitung was used even to the beginning of the I9th

nur rjcr batnit 1 Come Century where we now employ Dfacftvidjt. out with it, i.e. the fee which he is confidently expecting to receive.
These words are of course spoken aside. line 3166. "Sotettbrot, a messenger' s fee, originally Page 176. We now say ^Botenlohn. bread, food and then in general a reward.

I.

or, as
II.

3168. 2Iucr> eilt Kutnn, t/iat's likewise something to be Brandt translates, " a distinction that I may boast of."

prond

of,

3170-71.
3173.

Du

Fctnuft

rooden,

Even

if you would give them

Saladin at

all to me.
1.

fibelmut, nobleness of
refusal

soul, generosity.

first

construes the Mameluke's

(Xtoi}), then recognizes it as a that Saladin's financial troubles must have been very dislressing or he would not at the very start have failed to give him a handsome

money as obstinacy generous impulse. The Mameluke

to

take

the

knew

reward.

The Mameluke now

vies

with his master

in

generosity by

declining the gift which he would so gladly have received. In the meaning death I. 3176. Abtritt, euphemistic for 5ob.

it

is

now usually replaced by Abgang, Eintritt. The historian Marin teils us that Saladin had

at this

presentiment of his death, which actually occurred a year Marin's Hist. de Saladin, II, 388.

time (1192) a See later.

Page 177.
II.

lines 3186-87.
3c
!

roeun anbers, providing.

!

3187-88.

"'"

gebrochen

Why,

he

may
It is

possibly have
often, as here,

broken his neck

It is difficult

to translate aud).

used to indicate that the statement contains the reason or explanation

of

something that precedes.

11.
1-

3191-92.
3I93-

UTtb

1*0

ecfer, rogue,

Fomm' now

td?

nun

POr,

and thus I precede him.

it is

little

used, as

generally replaced by

cfilingel.

Page 178.
1.

line 3201.

3202.

3U guter e^t, at the

Supply bat before btlben. The older form of the noun last.
It is

is

et}(e), end, departure, the in this to

parting cup or meal.

in the corrupted
letjt,

now

only found
is

one expression and then

form

?etjt,

which

due

confounding with the Superlative

last.

NOTES.

ACT

V,

SCENES

AND

3.

279

ACT
Page 179.
Arabs.

V.

SCENE

2.

line 3210.
is

^Ibulfaffem, a

common name among

the

The
1.

character here mentioned

is fictitious

as well as the revolt

referred to,
1.

which

introduced to explain the delay of the transport.

bebais (pronounced in three syllables), Southern or Upper Egypt, named after the city, Thebes. 1. 3226. 3^ r etc - WOfds addressed to the slaves in the background.
321
'

ACT
1.

V.

SCENE

3.

3227.

einmal, here a strong affirmative adverb,

allemal.

The reason why

ein (mal) fr the Templar will not go into the house is

given in lines 2223-26. line 3230. Page 180.

till's
ttJerben.

used almost with the force of

as a

nod? erleben. Here motten is Formerly motten was often used

just as

mere

auxiliarv to
is

form the future

in

This usage
$u motten.
1.

now
it

only rarely found

" will " in English to-day. the finite form of the verb, but
:

in the infinitive

prevails exclusivelv

eripricht,

morgen lommen

3231.
3236.

fletyta. here often.

I.

einen 5U ftimmen,
bett er jtdVs

to

bring some one around,

literally to

tune.
II.

3240-42.

abjUfagen, which he has made of such

deep concern to
11.

wrest front

the Christians.

3244-46. The Templar assumes that Recha's unknown father

early in
life.

had abandoned her

artist
1.
1.

He

likens

him

to a slave

who had
to

floated a block of marble to the barren Strand of

life,

and Nathan

an

who had
3252.

chiseled from this block a lovely form.

3246.

jid?

briftenirne,

oaron machen, to hurry away. am ordinary Christian

girl.

2)ime,

lass,

has the force of Jtbcben, but is especially applied to girls of humble social rank and often involves reproach.
1-

3 2 53-

fotter, see

Page 181.
life
1.

lines

note to

1.

485.

3264-65.

mein eben

perflattern, flntter

my

away.
3266.

3*

mti^te

nict/t,

/ hardly know.

launtfd?,

cross.

280

NATHAN.
in
1.

11.

3268346.

He
1.
11.

has grown calmer, for

3233 he speaks

of

being febr rgerlich,

very attgry.

3268.
3 2 73-

wenn, wkat
einem

if.

[i" t>a richtige @lei] einieufen, to get on the right track.

ettDClS

3274.
3 2 75feilt

norplaubem,

gossip, to relate to

some one an
has the same

idle tale.
!

ftebetl in
in the

connection with an infinitive with

position.

311

force as
1.

same

3281.
3285.

1.

QuerFopf, perverse feilow. warten, with genitive, here

to

watch.

ACT

V.

SCENE

4.

line 3289. aufbringen, see note to 1. 1299. In lines Page 182. 2923-24 the Laybrother refused Nathan's proffer of money. In line 2930 Nathan again desired to give him money, but the Laybrother paid

no attention

to the offer.

Hence Nathan
is

thinks (lines 3291-92) that

the Laybrother, being without wants,

really richer

than he.

3299. Hu, double particle

1.

nn
is

populr language for mtll, mm. This often used to indicate that some Statement which
!

common

in

has

just

been made cannot befully sustained.

Page 183.
1.
I.

line 3305.

rjetjen,

to incite,

spur on.

3308.

3318.

barnacb, like Diel (Sliicfs,

it.

is

line 3326. Page 184. now used as an adverb or

now

usually oiel lcf.

fo oft

See note

to

1.

84.

ber

adjeetive

mir bange madjte. As bange we may say (8 tft mir bange,

:

bin bange, e8 mad)t mid) bange. Our deeds seldom II. 3332-33bte fo feiten feine CEbatcn finb. represent our highest ideals, since they are not the produet of our free choiee, but determined by the present exigency.
e mad^t
;

mir bange

or

tef)

ACT
!

V.

SCENE
The

5.

3337-

fehlgehen,

to

miss.

assertion of

the

Templar

is

of

course a niere excuse.

Page 185.
!

line 3345setter,

bie gute

aut,

the

good

soul.

3346'

Stber,

here figuratively spy.

NOTES.

ACT

V,

SCEXE

5.

28 1

I.

self to

3350. Nathan's assertion, that pious simplicity would not allow itbe used as a tool of villany, finds its confirmation in the conduct

of the Laybrother.

Page 86.
reason

line 3351.
in

The

Patriarch was so insincere himself that

he did not believe

why
it

simple integrity. He little understood the troe the Laybrother did not execute successfully bis orders, and

ascribed
II.

to stupidity.

3354-55. The Templar does not have the same confidence in the He has seen him with Nathan, and Laybrother that Nathan has. he fears that he has betrayed him to the latter.
1. 1.

3363.

mit feiner (Sunft, by his

leave.

Erlogen, fictitions. line 3369. ^ebl, poetic for gebier or gebltritt. Page IST. I 3374J is said to.

3364.

1-337511.
I.

33773380. 3382.

<&d\\6q,fool,

tmirmtfcb, vexed, peevish. now a rare word.

abgemeffen, partieipial adverb, deliberately. 2^US ber uft jegrijfnen, literally, seited from the air, uriettrnis

founded, visionary.
II.

3391-92. einem

Page 188.
cealed.

line 3395.

abjagen, towrest something from one.

is,

fteeft,

lies,

or

more

faithfully, is con-

1- 3399gebffig, with the meaning arousing hatred, odious.

1. I.

hostile,

inimical,

now

usually

3401.
3402.
1.

jffe,
att

silly,

coneeited felfow.

beiben <nben, at both extremes.

Translate freely
:

fdproarmen, see

note to

40.

/ am a young

simpleton whose enthat u-ay,

thusiasm ahoays goes

II.
i.e.

from one extreme to the other. faffet, If you approach me in by acknowledging your fault [then I must pardon you\.
3404-05. lUenn
. . .

I.

3415.

opfern, here, expose.

fid?

3416-17. Die fo abnlid? immer same, maintains itself uniformly.

II.

erblt, which

is

ahoays the

Page 189.
1.

line 3421.

mehr, here
n>er ffir

roetter.

3429.

Feine? [Don beiben].

Page 190.

line 3455-

mebr ihm banfen

roirb,euphe-

mistic for ber ieufel.

Dntzer.

22
I.

NATHAN.
3456. ilus

11.

34563512.

Page 191.

lines
1.

biefett, referring to

^nbeit in

1.

3453.
for
biefe

3460-61.
2580.
. . .

Diefe

Perrnanbte

33er=

trjanbten, see note to

II. 3466-68. The Templar according to his 3^? glaube recfyt. callingwas both a knight and a priest. Nathan's assertion that he does not know Recha's brother well was due to the fact that he was not yet

ready to disclose the whole truth.

11.

3475-77-

Wirb

bett

erfttcfctt ?

The Templar again shows

his readiness to

how
the

loosely he holds his traditional faith,

and

recognize

good in all religions. He calls Nathan's ivheat, and mere formal religion tares.

rational

religion

pure

Page 192.
the

line 3489.
The form
number
pronoun

31t

time of

it.

feiltet" is

feiner 35ett, in due time, literally, in not a possessive but the genitive Singfeiner
:

ular of the neuter

e$.

Thus

is

used without respect to

(in

the gender or

of the subject

2Bir luaren fetner ^eit

our time) and) rfttge 33evgfteiger. 2)ie ird)e galt feiner ^nt fr We can, however, now use the appropriate bie fdpttfte in ber @tabt.
possessive here:
1. 1.

3Btr Waren ju unferer 3eit and) rftige SBergftetger.

cerrju^en, to mar, spoil. 3494. r, refers to @ngel in 1. 3492.

3493.

1. 3497. Die lgt nid? ts fidb unterfdplagen, The Templar wishes nothing in deprivation. even her name. All was dear to him. 1.

my

love will admit no Recha changed, not

3499.

Page 193.
I.

argroobnen, now argwhnen. line 3500. ob fd?on, now usually written together

forming one word obid)On.

3501.
2Iud?
t\>ZX\

tel,

now

replaced by [e$

tft] gleid) ie(, it

is

all the satne.

!

JJonil

357- IHattTtS gettuci, courageous enough, literally, man enough. is here used in a general abstract sense. In the same way we

say, id) bin nicht

err metner ^(it, whether referring

to

to

male or a

female.
II.

3510-11. nacb einem fragen,

inquire after one, here in a

derived application, to pay attention, to heed. The Templar 1. 3512. britber, in so doing.

is

determined to win
invoke Saladin's

Recha, even
aid.

if

he has to become a

Mohammedan and

NOTES.

ACT

V,

SCENE

6.

(83

ACT
Page 194.
::;:.
1.

V.

SCENE

6.

line 3525.

f&ier, archaic, poetic form for

faft,

bei

3528.

Page 195.

albern, see note to L 235. lines 3533-36. Lessing himself was a

scholars of his time.

man

of books

and one of the most distingnished

that learning sbonld be benefkent
toritl :i:>:::::.
II-

He demanded

and

fruit fcl

as the sole jnstification

3538-42. "There

is

no doobt whatever

that these Hnes contain

earty plea for the ntethod of Instruction called AnsckaMmngmnterritht (object or Observation lessons), which was first carried
practicalry

an

ont by the celebrated edncationahst Pestalozzi (1745-1827)."

r.e:r...

Bnch-

1- 3546It retains its fcbletbi, here in its older meaning, piain. former meaning onxjr in the set expression fd)ltd)t trab re d)t, piain and natural, and in a few adverbial expressions. Its usual lwammg Sud,poor, axose when that which was piain became ugl y, bad.

3554- mein 5ei3 rotll line 3555. Page 197.

fnft, Mjritart rnnst have rduf.

jbO,

I am

to.

1.

3566. ZPes, poetic foim for tnejjjien. Page 198. line 3573. miH, claims

to.

3575. The first r* refers to the SjeS, the second e8 to the Ute which Data had done to Recha.
I.

IL 3579-80. tne Cbriftin . . . gepflegt. These lines are added to fllustrate Recha's indebtedness to Daja. 1- 3581. mir, for midj. See note to L 2313.
1-

II.

3583- ngfbm, poetic form for ngftigoi. 3585-89- The fines contain a gentle thrnst at the

spirit

of prose-

lyting,
1.

which was foreign to Lessing's natnre.

358g.

Page 199.

2<m

see note to IL 1590-92. refers to bo gebt ju toeit, roem to fann id) nirbte entgegenjegtn. The dative roem osaay refers only

mahnen,

line 3611.
it is

Was

to persons, bot

pressing

no

certainly

sometimes as here employed as a neutral form exwhether the reference is to a person or thing.

Sefjen
1.

may be

nsed in the same way.

claims.

3612.

roill,

284

NATHAN.

11.3619-3707.

Page 200.
11.
1. 1.

line 3619. tu bie Hielte geben, to tnakt a short 3620-21. burebfebtueifen, is usually inseparable. 3624. Ifie warb mir [51t 2Jhtte] ?
bte (Sttlicbe refers to the Virgin

cut.

3627.

Mary.

ACT
Page 201.
11-

V.

SCENE
ftcfy,

7.

line 3640.
-

von

more commonly auer

qualities as

ftd).

3 6 45-4 6

History

mentions these

prominent in the

character of Saladin.

In the iSth Century a (b/ md?t, until. found in clauses introduced by ehe or big, when they depend upon a negative clause. The usage still oecurs especially in colloquial style, bat is avoided in choieer language.
pleonastic nidjt
is

Page 202.

line 3648.
often

I.

3649.

Supply e before Set.

II.

Recha's descent, and he

hesitates to believe
1.
it.

3656-57- The Templar had already told Saladin the story of now again hears it from Recha, but he still
fafelnb, talking deliriously. 203. line 3667. tr>cit bu was ? /'//

3661.

Page
is

here
I.

= ettuaS.

teil

you what.

Sfia

3674.

nmgefebn.

The

perfect

participle

is

often

used for an

imperative.

ACT

V.

LAST SCENE.

line 3691. einen or einem bebeuten, to give one to Page 204. unde?stand, to inform (not merely to give information but to express a mild command in the form of a communication).

lines 3699-3702. Nathan tries to restrain Saladin Page 205. from speaking of money matters at a time when his own heart and that
of

Recha
II.

are so sorely distressed.

3703-04.

Nathan

naturally infers that

Recha now knows

the

concerning her descent, and eagerly asks her if, in spite of this new light as to her birth, she remains his daughter. Her attitude is
facts

revealed by the exclamation mein SBater," which expresses her unchanged feeling toward him.
!

377-

fein

ntd?t.

double negative was formerly quite

NOTES.

ACT

V,

LAST SCEN'E.

285
It still

common

in

even the
is

literary

language to emphasize a negation.

occurs but

restricted to the language of the

common

people.

The Templar had imagined that 1. 3708. Ketnerr feiner fonft! Recha entertained the same feelings for him which he feit towards her. I n lines 2816 18 Saladin had 1. 3715. promised to intercede with Nathan in behalf of the Templar, and to procure Recha for him.
1. 3716. qacb, now usually replaced by jh, impulsive. The form gad) became obsolete in the ijth Century. Lessing attempted to renew it. line 3721. er fo auf .irgenb eine IPoblthat Page 206.

trot3t,

whoever

t/ius

presumes upon an act of kindness, that

is,

wishes to obtain

a favor in return.
1.

3724.

(Seij, usually stinginess, here in the in the i8th Century.

still

was the usual one

The

original

meaning cupidity, which meaning of the

word

is

literally,
1. 1.

eager desire for, which can eager desire for honor.

be seen in hrgeij, ambition,

3726. es mit einem genau nehmen, to be punctilious with one. 3729. Du mut ihm eins frs anbre rechnen, You must balance the one thing (the good) in his character against the other (i.e. the bad).
1!

373 1

trage
ift

bicb,

ihm

<x\\,
!

offer thyselfto
is

him.

373-

mas

Kecbt's

That

something great !

The language
for nichts

is

ironical.

1. 3737meines Brubers, meines Ufiab, nichts, poetic on meinem trber, meinem 21ffab.

1. 3738. arre, mask, hence often as in the present instancey, with reference to the mere external form.

Page 207. Page 208.

off something

lines 3743-45- jufommen, line 3754. einem etmas aufbinben, impose,

to belong.

to

palm

on one.

1.

Page 209. 3770. Pas

line 3768.

feiner ge, see note to L 1988. hie (Sott ihn fpred?en, a good spirit bade

him say
relieved

that, literally,

that

God prompted him to say that. Nathan made this explanation. He has
3775hier 5U anbe, a rather

The Templar
f aith

is

in

Nathan even when

he does not understand him.

!

uncommon

expression for hierher

in ?anb.

Page 210.

line

3783.

biefem allen.

The pronominal

all

is

286

NATHAN.

11.

37953842.

usually inflected strong without reference to the

The weak form

strong form.

word that precedes it. however, is very common after bellt and btefetll, notwithstanding the uniform advice of the grammarians to use the
atten,

Page 211.
Templar
11.

line3795.

hesitates to

this unwillingness as

See note to 1. 1098. The Betrger. acknowledge Recha as his sister. Recha construes distrust towards Nathan and herseif.
in the

light as

3796-99. Saladin construes the Templar's conduct Recha, and severely rebukes him.

same

Page 212.

line 3812.

VLnb

was
1.

[fote ich

fte

entgelten taffen] ?

He

desires to dispel the fears of the

(Sefcf/trnfter, see

Templar
260.

SD.
nhme.

note to

Ceilnebjnung, now

that he will disown Recha.

XnU

Cf. note to line 2360.

line 3825. ^ranf, see note to 1. 334. 2lbenblnber Page 213. does not add anything to ran! but simply explains it. ! 3835* erFennen, here recognize, acknowledge, in this meaning now

replaced by cuterfemten.
1.

Cf. note to

1.

2077.
is

3836.

Heffett.

The

plural of

-Jceffe

sometimes used to denote

nepheivs

and nieces.
line 3842. her " mother."

Page 214.
Recha
call

Cf. 3669.

In

1.

3524 Sittah had bidden

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Anderson, John P.
Life of Lessing.

Bibliography
;

Goedeke, Karl.
(fortgefhrt

Grundriss zur Ge-

of Lessing to 1S88, in Rolleston s

schichte der deutschen

British

Museum

London, 1889. Catalogue. Lon-

Dichtung von E. Goetze). Bd.

IV, pp. 132-134.

don, 1S90.

Elias, J. und a. Jahresberichte fr deutsche neuere Litteratur-Geschichte.

Strauch, Ph. Bibliographie zur deutschen Literatur in the Anzeiger zur

Zeitschrift

fr deutsches Altertum
Literatur.

Since 1890 (Bd.

1,

1892).

und deutsche

1884-89.

A.

BIOGRAPHV.
Schmidt, Erich. Lessing. Geschichte seines Lebens und seiner Schriften.
Bd.
1892.
I.

Boxberger, R.
sing's

Lessing's Leben, in Deutsche National-Litteratur, Les-

Werke, Thl.

14.

Berlin,

1884.

Bd.

II,

Braun, Julius.
1885; Bd.
II,

Lessing im Urteile Bd. 1, 1883, seiner Zeitgenossen.

1893; Bd.
III, 1897.

Schmidt, Julian.

Danzel (Th. W.) and Guhrauer (G. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, E.). sein Leben und seine Werke. 2.
Aufl.

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. (In the series Der neue Plutarch, herausgegeben von Rudolf von Gottschall.)

Berlin, 1880.

Sime,
Lessing's

James.

Lessing.

Second

edition.

Dntzer,
Leben.

Heinrich.
Leipzig, 1882.

London, 1879.
G. E. Lessing, sein
9.

Stahr, Adolf.
Leben.
Berlin, 1887.

Gring, Hugo.
Stuttgart, 1884.

Lessing's

Leben und seine Werke.

Aufl.

Rolleston, T.

W.

Life of Gotthold

The same.
Evans.

Translated by E.

P.

Ephriam Lessing (Great Writers series). London, 1889.

.

Boston, 1866.

GENERAL REFERENXE.
Hedge, Frederic Henry. Hours with German Classics. Boston,
1886.

Fischer, Kuno. G.E. Lessing als Reformator der deutschen Litteratur.

Fontanes,

Zwei Teile. 4 Aufl. Stuttgart, 1896. Le christiaErnst. nisme moderne, 6tude sur Lessing.
Paris, 1867.

Kont,

J.

Lessing

et

l'antiquite.

Paris, 1874.

287

2
Lehmann, August.
ber
Lessing's

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Forschungen BraunRolleston, T.
in

W.

Lessing's place

Sprache.

schweig, 1875.

Lowell, James Russell.

Among

{Contemporory Review, LXIV, p. 237.) Schmidt, Erich. Lessing. Vol. II,

PP- 682-736. (Lessing's language.)

German

literature.

my

Books.

The same.
Vol.
II.

Boston, 1879. In Lowell's Writings.

Boston, 1897.

Zarncke, F. ber den fnffssigen Iambus mit besonderer Rcksicht

Minor,

J.

Neuhochdeutsche Metrik.

Strassburg, 1893. Prolss, Robert. Geschichte des neue-

sm g>

auf seine Behandlung durch LesSchiller und Goethe. In

Goetheschriften, Leipzig, 1897.

ren Dramas. Bd. III. Leipzig, 1880.

C.

NATHAN DER

WEISE.
published by Lessing in 1779. upon the title page the date

Two
The

editions of

Nathan der Weise were

first

edition, containing 276 pages, bears

second edition contains 240 pages page 1 of the present work.

The 1779, but no mention of the publisher or the place of publication. the title page appears in faesimile on
;

Of recent editions the most important

geben von R. Boxberger, Thl.
tur, Berlin
3,

are

Lessing's Werke, herausge-

in the series

Deutsche Nation al-Litiera-

Thl. 3, Berlin (Hempel), an d Smtliche Schriften, herausgegeben von Karl Lachmann, neu durchgesehen von Franz Muncker, Bd. III, Stuttgart, 1887.
Lessing's Werke,

und Stuttgart;

1879;

The

original sketch of

Nathan

is

found in each of the above editions,

in connection with the

drama.
a.

HlSTORY AND SOURCES.

which appeared among Lessing's posthumous works, are found in
the

Lessing's correspondence, from Aug. 11, 1778, to May, 1779. Boxberger,

Thl. 3 Hempel, Thl. 20 Lachmann-Muncker, Bd. XL Fragmentary prefaces to Nathan

; ;

above

editions
;

as

follows

Hempel, Thl. Lachmann-Muncker, Bd. XI.

Boxberger, Thl. 3

21;

THE RING PARABLE.

La
poesie du moyen
ge, par

Gaston

Gesta

Romanorum, von
Berlin, 1872.

Hermann

Paris.

Paris, 1895.

Osterley.

Erich Schmidt's Lessing. pp. 491-512. The Decameron of Boccaccio. (English

The same.
Swan,

Translated by Rev. Chas.

revised

by

\V.

Hooper.

translation with

introduetion

London, 1877.

by Thomas Wright.)

London.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES PRECEDING NATHAN.
Wolfenbttler Fragmente. Boxberger, Thl. 2 1 Lachmann-Muncker, Bde.
:

289

Goeze*s Streitschriften gegen Lessing, herausgegeben von Erich Schmidt.

XII und XIII.

Lessing's writings arising from the

Deutsche Litteraturdenkmale des

18.

und

19.

Jahrhunderts, Bde. 43-

Fragments
Geistes

ber den Beweis des

Kraft, Das Testa-

45.

Stuttgart. 1893.

und der

Erich Schmidt's Lessing.

PP- 347-485-

Bd.

II,

ment Johannis, Eine Duplik, Die Parabel, Axiomata. Anti-Goeze.

Boxberger, Thl. 22 Hempel. Thl. 26: Lachmann-Muncker, Bde. XII
:

Lessing und Goeze. ein Beitrag zur

und XIII. Hermann Samuel Reimarus und seine

Schutzschrift fr die Vernnftigen Verehrer Gottes, von David Friedrich Strauss.
ten.

und Kirchgeschichte des achtzehnten Jahrhunderts, von August Boden. Leipzig und HeiLitteraturdelberg, 1862.

Gotthold
Theologe,

Ephraim

Lessing

als

Gesammelte
Bonn, 1877.

Schrif-

dargestellt

von

Carl

Bd. IV.

Schwarz, Halle, 1854.

b.

Criticisms

and Metrical Form.

Bransing's Nathan, ein Vortrag. denburg a. d. H.. 1865. Pabst, C. B. Vorlesungen ber G. E. Lessing's Nathan. Bern, 188 1.

Belling. Die Metrik Lessing's. 1887. Bulthaupt, Heinrich. Dramaturgie

des Schauspiels Oldenburg and Leipzig. 6 A I. 1S96. S. 47-76.
;

Diesterweg, A. Lessing's Nathan, in Jahrbuch fr Lehrer und

Schulfreunde.

Bnnefahrt,

J. G-

Lessing's drama-

tisches Gedicht,

Dntzer, HWeise.
Dntzer.

1865. Lessing's Nathan der Erlutert von Heinrich

Nathan der Weise. Aus seinem Inhalte erklrt von J.

Stendal, 1863.

G. Rnnefahrt.

Leipzig, 1883.

ber den fnffssigen Sauer, A. Iambus von Lessing's Nathan.

Fischer, Kuno. G. E. Lessing als Reformator der deutschen Litteratur.

Zweiter Teil,

4. Aufl.,

1896.

Fiske. John. The Unseen World and

other Essays.

VoL II, pages 486-581 of Erich Schmidt's Lessing. Spielhagen, Friedrich. Faust und
Schmidt,
Nathan.
Strauss,
Berlin. 1867.

Wien, 1879. Erich.

Boston, 1880.

Gruener. G.

The Genesis

of the

David

F.

Lessing's

Characters in Lessing's Nathan der Weise. (Publications ofthe Modern

Nathan der Weise, Ein Vortrag.

Bonn. 1877.

Language
P- 75-)

Association,

VoL

VII.

Werder, Karl.

Vorlesungen ber
Berlin, 1892.

Kpke,

Ernst

Lessing's Nathan.

Studien zu Les-

290

13IBLIOGRAPHY.

c Annotated Texts.
Brandt, H.
1895.
C. G.

New

York, 1880,

Niemeyer, E.
meyer.

Lessings Nathan der Weise, erlutert von Eduard NieLeipzig, 1887.

Buchheim,

C.

A. Oxford, 1883, 1888.

Primer, Sylvester.
d.

Boston, 1894.

Translations.
(a) English.
lated

Boylan, R. D. Plays of Lessing. Nathan the Wise and Minna von

Barnhelm, translated into English. Edited by E. Bell. Bohn's series,
1888.

from the
of

German, with a
critical
etc.

biography

Lessing and a

survey of his position, writings,

London, 1868.
Taylor, William. Nathan the Wise, a dramatic poem written originally in German, etc. [Translated into English verse by William Taylor
of

E. S. H.

Nathan the Wise, adrama in five acts abridged and translated from the German. London,
;

1874.

Frothingham, E. Nathan the Wise.

Preceded by a
brief

Norwich, 1791. Norwich.] This translation also appears in

:

account of the

poet and his work (signed H. H.), and followed by Kuno Fischer's
essay on the poem.

the following editions

of

Collection

German Authors, Tauchnitz.

Leipzig, 1868. CasselPs Vol. XXXVIII.

Vol. IX.

3d edition,

New York, 1871. revised. Nathan the Wise, a Kaiisch, I. dramatic poem. Translated into
English prose. New York, 1869. Raspe, R. E. Nathan the Wise, a
philosophical
1781.

National Library.

Willis, Robert. Nathan the Wise, a dramatic poem with an introduction on Lessing London, 1868.

and the Nathan.

drama.

London,

Wood, Andrew.
a dramatic

Nathan the Wise,

;

poem

translated into

Reich,

A.

Nathan the Wise, a

five acts
;

English blank verse.

London and

dramatic poem in

trans-

Edinburgh, 1877.

(6)

French. Hirsch,
le

Barante,

A.
de.

P
le

Baron

Nathan

Brugliere, Sage; poeme

in Chefs-

Hermann.
le

Paris, 1863.

Palmezeaux, Cubieres
Sage, ou
Juif

de. Nathan
Philosophe,

dramatique en cinq actes

d'oeuvres des thetres ctrangers, etc.

com6die heroi'que en
prose.
Paris, 1806.

trois actes

en

Tome
Friedel
thetre

7,

1822.

et

de Bonneville. Nouveau
allemand.

Salles, F. Theatre complet. Nathan

le

7me volume.

Sage,

Tome

1.

Paris, 1870.

Paris, 1783.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

29 1

(/)

Spanish.

Urange. N.

Madrid, 1883.

(d)

Iialian.
.

Traduzione Poema dramatico . Xatano il Saggio. Varese, C. con notizie biographiche e letterarie dell* authore, e un discorso di F. Strauss
.

sul

Nathane

Firenze. 1882.

There are also translations in Russian. Hebrew, modern Greek, Danish and other languages.

INDEX.
The references below are to the Notes, by lines unless otherwise specified, and to the Introduction by page. Idiomatic expressions containing a verb are entered under the head of the verb.

abbangen,

1.

1743-

appositional construetion
roa,
1.

after

abbtngen, 1. 1007. abgemeffen, L 3380. abjagen, IL 339J-9 2

59.
for

argwhnen,
.

argwhnen,

11.

2003, 3499.

2Ibfd?a4
Abtritt,
I.

1.

821.
(fid?), IL

abfd?lagcn

519-20.

2Irmut (ba8), 1. 261 1. article, Omission of, 1. 191,

apparent Omission,
ilsfalon,
1. 1.

1.

595;

3176. 2lbulfaffem, L 3210.

1874.

2986.

aecusative,
11.

in

place

of

dative,

aud?,

1759-60.
inflection,
11.

auf

11.

2383, 3187-88.
11.

tjtn,

2737-38.
for

auf was, 1. 1480. adjeetive, vveak

aufbehalten,
L 593-

aufbewahren,

2137, 2580, 3460-61, 3783.

aufbtnben, einem etwas

3754-

1.

WU,

1.

892.
I.

albern, for albernen,

alle, for au,
1.

3528.

aufbringen,
1299, 3289-

for

aufbrngeu,
for

11.

289. allen, for allem, L 742.

2lugenbrauneu,
brauen,
1.

2lugeu=
1.

allerorten, 1. 908. alliterative phrases,

1.

280. 21
1

1899.

allmo, L 2942. als, Omission of,

ausbeugen, for ausbiegen, 2Iusbuub, 1. 2767.

ausgattern,
1.

7.

1.

1507.

661.
1.

anbern,

for

anberm, . 1017, 3031.

1.

ausreben

(fid?),
1.

1756.

ngftcn, for ngfttgen,

3583.

auswerfen,
auxiliaries

976.

anfommen,
anlaffen,
1.

1.

1694.

Omission of haben

1625.

and
1. 1.

aunod?,

1.

2919.
1.

fein in subordinate clause, 43; use of fein for mcrbcu,

autragen,

3731.

295;

with

Compound
1,

tenses

antreten, L 120.

of

modal

auxiliaries,

1646.

293
bange,
1.

3326.
1. 1. 1.

commands,
545-46.

indirect form of,

11.

23anfert,

2209.
3691.
2963.
for
1.

totesten,

comparative, declineof mutation

in the,
1.

bebufen,

2499.
in the

begnaben,
699.
beiber,
bei
1.

begnabigen,

contraction of verbs
person sing., dur, 1. 2162.
1.

3rd

329.

3048.
1.

Bunberttaufenben, belauften, L 1862.

481.

banfen

benebmen,
berichtigen,

1.

2376.

bas

5eine
1.

11.

rerbanfen, 1. 1708; with gen. for banfen fr, 1. 3163. bann and benn, L 21.

1510-11.
befebeiben

= artig,

958.
1.

bann, fo, for bann, 1. 2169. baraus, for aus ihm, L 2463.
barnaefy,
1
1.

Befcbcibenbeit, L 1416.
befeuchten, for befdpnigen,

3308.
1.

774-

befeben (fid?), for

1.

fid?

umfeben,

barum, in spite of t/iat, Darun, L 2982.

bas, for roas, L 2998. dative, ethical, 1. 1460.

2206.

622.
1.

befolben,

339.

beforgen laffen, 1. I73 8 betauern, for bebauern,

-

1.

H3 2

ba^u, 1. 1687. Pefterbar, 11. 441, 1431.

Delf,
1.

betriegeu, for betrgen, 1. 1098. Betrieger, for Betrger, 11. 2024, 3795be3eiben, 1. 2006.

1498.

beufeu, mid? benft, 1. 1035. betn, with seeming negative force,

11.

2175-76.

bleiben, L 2986.
blbe,
1.

2763.
1.

bergleicbett, for besgleicben, after 1. 1641.

relative,
1.

SD.

Blutbegicr,

2804.
xxvi, xxvii, xxix.

2883.

Boccaccio, pp.

Botenbrot, L 3166. brauchen, L 2431. Braut, 1. 2S73. Bruber, Laybrother, Bcbelcben, L 3102.

dialogue, 3. SD.
bietten,
1.

spirited,

Act

I,

Scene

bidpten, for erbiebten, L 2513. 535.

1.

1.

533.

bieferroegen,

2560.

Bug, for Biegung, Bunb, 1. 2540.

brgen,
for

1.

283.

diminutive, to express contempt, H.2285-86; double suffix, 1. 3102. Dinar, 11. 804-805.
15 13.
bifj

perbrgen,

1.

for bies,
1.

1.

3073.
1.

Bue,

11.

795, 2930.

Dir,

2669.
for

boppeln
ibriftenbirne,
1.

rerboppeln,

1154.

3252.
1.

brob,

1.

2436.
1.

Cbriftenmenfd?,

3106.

broffcln, for erbroffeln,

1013.

294
brum,
for

INDEX.

um

fie,

1.

3143.

^aftum,
fafelnb,

1.
1.

25 11.

burcbfcfyroeifen, IL 3620-21.

3661.

brfcn, need
1873dare,
1.

to,

11.

298, 364, 1505,

2821.

1. 864. , ^ebi, for ^ebder, 1. 3369. febjgefjen, 1. 3337fein, 1. 9 l6 2384.

faul, ntcfyt

eben ba$,
ei?,
1.

for

eben als,
880-82.

1.

1456.

&&> forden,
ftnben,
1.

1.

1238.

11 18.
11.

2795.

gbegemarjl, <ibam, 1. 31
eignen,
ein,
1.

^ittid?, for ^ittig,

Jleifj,

19.

mit

1.

191.

1.

806.

1556.
nid?t,
1.

bas wx mir
1.

1.

3008.

1. 3231. fobern, for forbern,

fleiig,

1.

10.

eingeftimmt mit,
einlenfen,
einleuchten,
11.

1125.

fbern, for frbern,

1.

3273.

1840-41.
2140.
1.

fragen, -11.
xix.

nad? einem

10.
,11.

3510
p.

einmal,

1.

3227.
1.

Fragments,
1595.
1.

IPolfenbttel,

einplaubcrn,

einnerfter/en, (fid?),

^ranfe,

11.

334/ 3825.
758.
xvii.

ein3eln, for ein3elnen,

483.

empor

fie

tragenb, for

fie

empor=

Frederic Barbarossa, 1. Frederick the Great, p.

freierbings,
1.

tragenb, 1. 105. entbieten, 1. 113.

entbrecfyen (fid?),

2077.
1.

funbeu,
1293, 1933. 1686.
11.

for

gefunben,
for

2589.
1.

entgegenfeben,
entlaffen (fid?),

1. 1.

^rfprad?, 3 02 5#irft,
1.

^rfprecfyer,

2211.
1.

1927.
for the per-

eruguen,
<rbHo&,

for

ereignen,

771.
1.

future perfect, used

fect in
11.

irbicten, for

Verbieten,
1.

2077.

" claimed

probabilities,"

1. 1559(Ergiejjung, for <rgu,

1550-51.

2360.
(Sbel, in bie
1.

errieben (fid?),

1.

2457.

sieben,

11.

79 r ~9 2

erinnern,

1.

1418.

gad?,

3716.

erfaufen, for ermerben, 1. 3120. erfenuen, for anerfennen, 1. 3835. erfuuben (fid?), for fid? erfunbi=
gen, line 555. erlogen, 1. 334ber befte, erfte, ber ,
[38i.
11.

Gallicisms, 11. 1405, 2313, 3581. mas anberm, 11. 1837 gan3, in

38.

gar,

1.

1748.

(Saraus, einem ben

671.
<Satfi,
1.

madpeu,

1.

for er3r;Ien, 1. es, indefinite subjegt, 1. 1601.

e^erden,

1213-14, 7 2
-

3391.

(Saud?,
(Sa33a,

33772979.

euer, uninflected,

1.

2515.

1.

INDEX.
(Sebern, L 1489.
(Scffattre,

295
for

Baram,

arem,

L 2271.

gegriffen,

aus ber uft

gebiftg, L 3398. geben, tu bie Siebte

(Seij,
gelt,
l.
1.

Baut, bie gute

,

1.

1142.

1.

3345-

1.

3382.

beifeben,
ber,

1.

1837.
roeit

mit etroas

fein,

1.

1.

3619.

1278.

372456.

berausfeb meifjen, for berausroer*

fen,
1.

161 7.
article

genitive, of respect or speeification,

1.

err, with the

= personal
11.

1134.
11.

pronoun
1525, 1680,3163.
84, 3318.
11.

in the second person,

of cause,
partitive,

541, 2473.

predicative, 1. 2875. instead of the dative

BerjC, for fyr^, L 231. betjen, 1. 3305.

with

hier, for tjer,

311

11.

502, 2459.
for

von,

1.

373711.

anbe,
1.

tjierber

ins

(Sefcbmifter (bas), afterl 3818.

<5efetj,
1.

260,

SD.

3775(Selb her, bin, C5elb

ianb,

1.

1.

1474.

1082.
11.

ijocbebrnmrben,
hni,
p. xxviii.
1.

1.

2515.

gefpannt,
geftreug,
getroft,
1.

1085-86.

3142.

Gesta Romanorum,
1.

vpotbefe,

25 11.

1337.

3146.
1.

geroebneu
gierig,
gilt's,

geroobnen,
2643.
1.
,

3brabim,
1.

1.

3160.

2764.

gib, for gieb,

= eifrig, 851. 800. was

1.

for ftcb, 1. 1506. in address.l . 2. ifjr, ir>ren, for ihrem, 1. 2101.

ihm,

3man,

11.

841-42.

(Simpel, 1. 478. (Sinnijtan, L 2668.

IL 74, 3059. indicative, pasc for a past sub-

inbem, as adverb,
junetive,

Gleim, p. xvi. Goethe, p. xxxvii. Goeze, Johann Melchior, Gottsched, p. xvi.

(Sunft,
1.

1. 1499. present for imperative,

1.

2546.

p. xxi.

infinitive, in rhetorical questions,

1.

1453title,

3363.

11. baben, einen jum beften , 252527; es mit einem , 11. 2715-16; es tjat gute IPege, 11. 2995-96. galten, for 5uro?balten, 1. 2328;

1. 1945introite, see note to

ingebeim,
for
for

tfct,

jet3t,
jetjt,

1. 1.

372.
1644.

itjo,

ja,

1.

11 38.
fo,
11.

einer perfon bie Stange 2437-38.

941, 1754.

11.

3amerlonf, 1. 2685. je nun, 11. 2864, 2920.

296
Kafyiro, for Kairo,
1.

INDEX.

3158.

lieb,

1.

2848.
11.

faum

iib

Faum,

11.

1352-53.
11.

litte, for litt,

2123-24.
1.

Von, Klumpen, in
Kleist,
70.

ruerfen,
11.
1.

p. xvi.

orm ron
1469-

(Sott,

ligen, einen

1078. ftrafen,

1.

1988.

Knall unb
Knecht,
1.

^all,
754-

1506, 2265.
1284.

!Kad>e,

I.

machen

2338.
fieb beeilen,
1. 1. 496. 1005; instead of ge= 2347; ben dfyriften

Knorr,

for

Knorren,
1.

avail,

Knuppen, 1284. Fommen, auf einen

7. 3i34-

11.

1369-

macht,
,

1.

11.

2785-86;

(Saraus
1-

einem
feiig

i>tn

1.

671:

Fmmt, for fontmt, 1. 239. Knig, Amalia, p. xxii. Knig, Eva, p. xxi.
Frneu,
1.

2552.
1.

ITCacbtfprud?,

2442.

mFeln,
1926.

1.

1283.

for Fraft, , Kraft, in Kreatur, 1. 114.

2772.

I.

malet, for malt, 11. 66-67. JTtamelucfen, SD. betre 1. 3152. ITtamt unb llluuin, L 886.

Kunbfcbaft,
23-

11.

98-99, 1386, 1821-

JTtanns genug,

I.

3507.
1

Maronites,
1.

1.

673.
182, 3421.
p. xv.

Fur3 unb gut, L 2322.

mefyr, for tneiter, IL

77.

Kffeu, for Kiffen,

lcheln,
1.

Mendelssohn, Moses,
merFeu,
11.

2372-73.
nichts, U.

1663.

mir

nichts, bir

1610-

affe,
arr>e,
laffett,

3401.

11.

1. 3738. r>om fjalfe

mit, adverb,
11.

11.

742-43.
2531.
hospitality
of,
1.

776-77;

es lieber geftorben fein

for

an,

1.

1.

monasteries,
544-

2994.

launig,
ccfer,

1.

156.
I.

muffen,

11.

742-43p.
xiii.

launifcb,
1.

3266.

Mylius, Christlob,

3193-

legen, nal^e

lebern, for lebernen, 11. 234-36. 1. 2801.

eibeufcbaft, L 2105.

nacheifern, 11. 2041-42. L 242. , Ztad^ts, bes nahe legen, 1. 2801.

11.

Lessing, Theophilus, p. x. Lessing, G. E., life and work,

p. ix
ff.

an mich fuchen, nmliche, bas

2080-81.
22atb.au ber IPcife, composition,
p.

language,
Sctjt,

-mr guten
1.

p. xlvi
,

ff

xxv

ff.

1.

3202.

sources
xxvi
ff.

of

the

drama,

p.

leugft, archaic,

709.

INDEX.
ZTatban
oer IPeife, time and place of the action, p. xxxiv ff. the plot, p. xxxv ff.
the characters, p. xxxvii ff. metrieal form, p. xlivff. Goethe's estimate of, p.
xxxvii.

297
1.

(Dbrgefcbenfe,
I.390. of article,

48.
subjeet,

Omission, of pronominal
1.

595.

opfern,

1.

3415-

Pafet, mein

1.

roagen,
1070.

IL

716-

JTejfen,

nephews

and

nieces,

1.

7-

3836.

Parft, Parsees,

negative,
1-

double for emphasis,

3707-

Partei, 1. 2435. participle, perfect

icate after fein,
1.

in the pred-

ttcb.mcn (jtcb),for jid? benebmen, 11. 2789^-90; es mit einem ge=

perfect
perative,

nau nebmen,
81.

1.

3726.

nebtnlicb, for namlicb, U. 2080-

3674. dropping present

1.

141. used as

an imthe re-

ZTerre, for ITerr,

1.

65.
1.

1936. passive, fein, instead of roerben,

1.

flexive

pronoun,

Heubegier,

for

Heugier,
11.

2198.

11.

295, 1777.

neubegierig, U- 567, 2287.

nicht, pleonastic use,

54,
1.

24582518.

59,3648; mit niebten, rfibr' an, 1. 2881.

nichts roeniger,
1.

Patriarebe, 1. 591. Pedro of Arragon, p. xxvii. Pfaffe, 1. 2423. Philip Augustus II of France,
1.

19.

632.
11.

nodp,

11.

2861-62.
balb,
1.

play upon words,

2132-34.
Pofi, for poften, prall, 1. 1196.
1.

848-49,

15 19.

nun,

1.

902.
1.

2085.

ja,

247.

poenbs, 1. 3078. nu, 1. 3299.

nur, used for emphasis, immer, 1. 2252.
ob, for ber,
1.

Problema,
ptolemais,
1.

1.
1.

2596.
678.

47.

QJuarantana, 1. 2936. queen, anacronistic mention

I.802.

of,

2961.

obbefagt,

ob

febon, 2535. 3500.

1.
1.

1.

Quell,

1.

1108.
1.

fter, for fters,

n 78.

(QuerFopf,

3281.

bm, 1. 3087. obn' alle ocs aufes "Kunofcbaft,

II.98-99.

Rabbi Solomo ben Verga,

xxvii.

p.

raub,
225.
red?t,

1.

1192.

obnebem,

1.

1.

2976.

298
L 3736. Hecbt's, etwas relative, Compound ber,
,

INDEX.

fcbmrmen,
11.

1.

140.

Scbmrmer,
fcbaneng,
fein,
I.

1.

136.

1546, 1981.
1. 1892, Hanb, 311 Reimarus, Elise, pp. xx, xli. Reimarus, Hermann Samuel,
,

2709.

fcbrrmr, for fcr/mor, L 1994.

mit etmas meit

p. xixff.

1278; bes obes auf beut trocfnen

21;

tjer
,

1.

1.

11.

2368; 1020-

Richard
Hocbe,
1.

of

England,

1.

632.

Ring Parable,
1466.

the, p. xxviiff.

bern ^u mit einem ge= 11. von 1085-86; fpannt

fid?

1.

1.

1.

3640.
3111.

Hute,

1.

2271.

feitab,

7-

feibeigen,

Saladin, motto
habits,
11.

of,

11.

990-91.
dress

his simplicity in

and

felb3man3tgfter, 1. 577feiig machen, L 2552.

2458-59.
1.

Sermon,
2688.
Siebelei,

1.

2584.
1.

his liberalism,

Siebenfachen,
1.

2879.
1.

fammclu, ^euerfobjen auf eines

Kopf

2947.
736.

11.
1.

2894-95.

Saumtier,
fcbad?em,

1116.

Scr/acb, boppelt
1.

Stna, Stpp,
ftfcen,
fo

for Crftna,
1.

3088.

1.

820.

1827.
1.

fcbab't, for fcbabet, fcbaffen, 3ur Stelle

329. 201
1.
,

1. 2935. roas Don, 1. 2209. Sofa (ber), SD., 1. 2648.

1.

fonber,

11.

485, 3253of,
1.

Scheiterhaufen,
fcheuett
(fid?)
,

11.

2537-38. with genitive,

1.

1191.
fcbiene, for fcbien, L 2773. fter, ! 35 2 5-

fch,oncn, 2090. 1346. Sparung = Schonung, = ftruben, fperren

fparen
1.

spacing, use

3.

1.

(ficb)

fid?

l 15471.

Schlag, 2210.

for

ITtenfcbenfcblag,
1.

fpieleu,

1.

1914-

Stange,

einer
11.

perfott

bic

1.
,

fcblagen (von ber ?anb), fcb ledpt, 1. 3546.

fch,lteen

n.

galten,
ftcrjcn,

2437-38.

= bemeifen,

feinen

Hulnn

1.

237.
1.

2163.
in
tive

fcboU/ concessive use of,

18.

with question Order ob= fcbon, with transposed order, 1.

363-

connection with an
31t,
1.

Infini-

with
11.

3275.

used for emphasis, fchonen, IL 344, 2854. Scbtoab, ein plumper

1.

596. L 778.

ftecn freut b
etmas

ftecfcn,

663,
,

3395;

einem
ftch

1.

31351262, 1738; 2886.

1.

(fid?),
,

11.

1.

Stilleftaub, for Stillftanb,

854.

INDEX.
for

299

Stilijranb,
I.

laffenftiftanb,

574.
1.

um, with dative, 1. 2684. unbebeeft, for ungebetft, L 791.

for Unglaublicbers, licheres, L 258.

ftimmcn,
Stber,
1.

3236.
1885.

Unglaub-

3346.
1.

Stocfjube,

(trafen, einen

Strumpf,
Stcf

Streich, 1. 675. ftnbe, for ftnbe, L 1736. ftrjcn, mit ber (Xbure fo

for

gen Stumpf,

1.

unfers, for unfres, L 125.

,

L 1988.

untern,

unters,
11.

for

unter ben,

408.

unter bas,

107-10.

untermegens, L 3150.
ins

?aus subjeet,

verb, position of to denote emphasis,

1. 658. unusual position,
1. 1.

11.

1881-82.
of
;

position
1.

to

denote

emphasis,

pronominal subjunetive,

571
,

Omission of
390, 737.

perbitten

= erbitten,
1.

1776.

962.

11.

oerbauFen,
perfiattern,
pergeffen,
1.

2893.

in questions to ex-

11.

3264-65.
328.

press surprise, 11. 609, 675-77. of cautious Statement, 1. 789.

past
after

31551.
1.

pergngfam,
pertni^en, perFennen,
11.

Superlative,

1.

3493131 5, 2192.

1493-

SubtUitten, 1. 226. fud?en, bas nmlicbe an mid? II. 2080-81.

permeint, 1. 3140. cermuten, bas marft bu nid?t 11. 800-1.

1.

permutlicfy, use of in the predicate,

taub

51t,

1.
1.

117.

504.

(Eebniu,

573.

perreben, L 1235.

(Eeilneffmung, for SD. after 1. 3818.

(Teilnahme,

oerfcfyarren,

1. 1. 1.

3104.
232.
515.
1.

perfdponen,

Templar, (Tempelherr, Scene 5, SD.

321 1. (lob, bes -es fein, L 2368.
(Efyebais,
1.

Act

I,

perfd?rnFt,
perftdpert

=
1. 1.

ftcberlid?,
1.

2253.

perftnbigen,
oer3etteln,

2817.

tragen,
treiben,
treten,

1. 1.

1274. 1116.

rerjieben,
fiel,
,

2776. 1202.

nher

as

indeclinable Substantive.

1.

965.

1.

1520.
11.

triegen, for trgen, 1. 3101. (Erocfneu, auf bem fein,

riele 5tpatt3ig
11.

poenbs,

3 a ^ r ^/ ' 2 5 r 1210-13, 3078.

1.

1020-21.
trot3,
1.

por, for fr,

1141.

411.

trotten,

auf etwas
1.

L 3721.

2549-50. porFommen, 1. 3191-92.

porgreifen,
11.

(Lulban,

2686.

porplaubern,

1.

3274.

3
pors
crftc, for
1.

INDEX.
1812.

frs

erfte,

1.

94.

mtberfpredpen,
mtlb,
1.

1.

793. 1. 100. r>orfpret3cn,

porfetjen,

284.
1. 1.

IPiflfr,
1.

2487.
1957.
1.

orftefyen, for becorftebten,

1736.

mirb's?
miffen,

mtr^t, for mr3t,

IDaffenftilleftanb,
1.

870.

magen, mein pafet mgen, 1. 1855.

mtnten,
11.

646.
,

11.
1.

1062-63, 2261-62.
2113.

11.

716-17.

mittern,
JX>tt3,
1.

2520.
1.

1590-92, 3589.

mitjeln,

2871.
1.

marb, for mrbe, 1. 2161. mrten, with genitive, 1. 3286.

mo,

1.

1653.

marum, 11. 386-87, was = marum,

730.
1.

von, 1. 2209; lDunber,l. 79. wegbleiben, for fterben, 1. 2634. Ifctlc, cor langer IPcile, 1. 532.
meifeu, etmas runb von fid? 11. 2400-2; laffen, ftd?

784;

fo

mglid?,

2960.

mcfyt,

for

wenn
830.

ntdjt,

1.

2226.
mobil, for gut,
1.

mollen, pleonastic use of, 1. 698. with non-personal subjeet,

2381.
for merben, 1. 3230. morben, for gemorben, 1. 402. word-order, 11. 571, 658, 1776.

1.

1.

2797-98. meiten, for meitem, 11. 714-15, SD., 787, SD. U)em, used as a neutral form, 1.
361
1.

IPrmcb/en,

1.

2980.

murmifd?,

1.

3375-

meuig, 1. 84. wenn and mann,

geit, 3U feiner
11.

1.

3489-

266, 1900.

3erftreuen,

11
1.

848-49.
1621.

wenn
mer

= menn

anbers,

11.

3186-87.
1.

3ugelernt,

man,

536.

merfen, 1. 1392; in Klumpen 11. 1469-70. mes, for meffen, 1. 3566.

3itfommen,
,

11.

3ufd)lageu

3743-45-

befommen,l. 1577
1.

3mar

gufpracb,', for gufprud?, aber, 1. 660.

340.

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