Lessing's Nathan the Wise Author:Gotthold Ephraim Lessing General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1892 Original Publisher: W. Scott Subjects: Drama / General Drama / Continental European Literary Criticism / European / German Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the G... more »eneral Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: TEMPLAR. A brother, say you ? Well, and what is he, A soldier or a priest ? Oh, tell me quick What I may hope from him. NATHAN. I rather think That he is neither -- or is both in one -- I scarcely know him yet. TEMPLAR. What more of him ? NATHAN. I hear he is an honest man, with whom Our Recha will do well. TEMPLAR. A Christian, too ? Nathan, at times you fairly puzzle me; Be not offended, but you well may think With Christians she must play the Christian, And when she shall have played it long enough, She'll end at last by being one in fact; And then the tares will choke the precious wheat Sown in her soul by you; and yet you seem Quite unconcerned for that, and calmly say She's sure to prosper 'neath her brother's care! Nathan. Well, so I think at least, and so I hope; If she should lack for aught beneath his cae, She'll still have you and me to think of her. TEMPLAR. What can she ever chance to lack with him ? The loving brother surely will provide The darling sister with a goodly store Of food and raiment, dainty things, and gauds; And what more could sue want, unless it be A man to wed her ? Well, well, even that The loving brother in his own good time Will surely find her, if he's to be found; And then, the better Christian he is, The better chance for him. Alack, my friend, 'Tis sad you've reared an angel such as this To be perverted thus by other hands ! NATHAN. Why these regrets ? Our angel, be assured...« less