Act 3 — Scene VIII.

The Place of Palms in the neighbourhood of the Convent, where the Templar awaits Nathan.

TEMPLAR (walking to and fro, in conflict with himself.)

The panting victim here may rest awhile.

So far 'tis well. I dare not ask myself

What change has sprung within me, nor inquire

What yet may happen. Flight has proved in vain,

And, come what may, I could no more than flee,

The stroke was far too sudden to escape.

Long--much--I strove to keep aloof, in vain.

But once to see her, e'en against my will,

To see her, and to frame a firm resolve

Never to lose her. What, then, is resolve?

Resolve is purpose--action, while--in truth--

I was but passive. But to see her once,

And feel that I was woven into her being,

Was then and still remains the self-same thing.

To live apart from her--oh, bitter thought!--

Were death; and after death--where'er we were--

'Twould there be death too. Say, then, is this love?

And doth the Templar love? A Christian loves

A Jewish maiden! Well, and what of that?

This is the holy land; holy to me,

And dear, because I have of late renounced

Full many a prejudice. What says my vow?

In the same hour that made me prisoner

To Saladin. The head he gave me back,

Was it the old one? No. I'm newly framed,

I know no fragment of the ancient forms

That bound me once. My brain is clearer now,

More fit for my paternal home above.

Now I can think as once my father thought,

If tales of him are not untruly told--

Tales that were ne'er so credible as now,

When I am stumbling where my father fell.

Fell! yet 'twere better far to fall with men

Than stand with boys. His conduct guarantees

His approbation. And what need I more

Than Nathan's approbation? Of his praise

I cannot doubt. Oh, what a Jew is he!

And yet he would appear the simple Jew.

But, see, he comes--he comes in haste--delight

Beams from his eye. But who leaves Saladin

With other looks? Ho! Nathan!