Act 4 — Scene VI.
Ernest Bell translation
The hall in Nathan's house, looking towards the palm-trees, as in the first Act. Part of the merchandise and treasures unpacked and displayed.
Nathan and Daja.
DAJA.
O, how magnificent are all these things!
How rich! they're such as none but you could give.
Where was this silver stuff with sprigs of gold
Woven? What might it cost? 'Tis what I call
A wedding garment. Is there any queen
Could wish aught richer?
NATHAN.
Why a wedding robe?
DAJA.
In buying it, you never thought of that.
But, Nathan, it must be so--it must, indeed--
'Twas made for that. See, here, the pure white ground,
Emblem of innocence; that branching gold,
Covering the virgin white on every side,
Emblem of wealth. Say, is it not divine?
NATHAN.
Why all this ingenuity of speech?
Over whose wedding dress would you display
This learning? Have you found a lover, Daja?
DAJA.
What, I?
NATHAN.
Who, then?
DAJA.
I, gracious Heaven?
NATHAN.
Who, then?
Whose wedding garment would you speak of, Daja?
All this is yours, 'tis meant for no one else.
DAJA.
What, mine! for me! I thought it was for Recha.
NATHAN.
No, what I bought for her is elsewhere packed;
'Tis in another bale. But, come, away
With all this rubbish.
DAJA.
Nathan, tempt me not,
For were these things the very costliest
In all the world, I'll touch not one of them
Till you have sworn to seize a happy chance
Which Heaven ne'er offers twice.
NATHAN.
What happy chance?
What must I seize?
DAJA.
Nathan, feign not such ignorance.
But, in one word--the Templar loves your Recha--
Give her to him, and then your sin, which I
Can hide no longer, will for ever cease.
The maid will then once more resume her place
Amongst the Christians, will again become
What she was born to, and what once she was;
And you, whom we can never thank enough
For all your goodness, will not then have heaped
More burning coals of fire upon your head.
NATHAN.
Still harping on the same old string again,
New tuned, but neither to accord nor hold.
DAJA.
How so?
NATHAN.
The Templar pleases me; 'tis true
I'd rather he, than any one, had Recha.
But patience.
DAJA.
Patience! and, say, is not that
The string you always harp on?
NATHAN.
Still, have patience
But for a few days longer. Ha! who comes?
A friar! Go ask him what his errand is.
DAJA (going).
What can he want?
NATHAN.
Give--give before he begs.
(Oh, that I knew how I could sound the Knight
Without betraying what my motive is!
For should I tell it, and my thoughts prove false,
I shall have staked the father's rights in vain.)
What is the matter?
DAJA.
He would speak with you.
NATHAN.
Let him approach. Leave us together, Daja.