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.

Scene VII.

Nathan _and the_ Friar.

NATHAN.

(_Aside_. Gladly I would continue Recha's father!
And can I not be so, though I may cease
To bear the name? To her--at least to her--
I should be father still, if she but knew
How willingly I bore that title once.)
What can I do to serve you, pious brother?

FRIAR.

Not much; and yet it gives me pleasure, Nathan,
To see at least that you are still so well.

NATHAN.

You know me, then, it seems?

FRIAR.

Who knows you not?
You have impressed your name on many a hand--
It has been stamped on mine these many years.

NATHAN (_feeling for his purse_).

Come, brother, come; here's to refresh it.

FRIAR.