Might the whole world but hear us.

SALADIN.

Is Nathan of his cause so confident?

Yes, that I call the sage--to veil no truth, For truth to hazard all things, life and goods.

NATHAN.

Aye, when 'tis necessary and when useful.

SALADIN.

Henceforth I hope I shall with reason bear One of my t.i.tles--"Betterer of the world And of the law."

NATHAN.

In truth a n.o.ble t.i.tle.

But, sultan, e'er I quite unfold myself Allow me to relate a tale.

SALADIN.

Why not?

I always was a friend of tales well told.

NATHAN.

Well told, that's not precisely my affair.

SALADIN.

Again so proudly modest, come begin.

NATHAN.

In days of yore, there dwelt in east a man Who from a valued hand received a ring Of endless worth: the stone of it an opal, That shot an ever-changing tint: moreover, It had the hidden virtue him to render Of G.o.d and man beloved, who in this view, And this persuasion, wore it. Was it strange The eastern man ne'er drew it off his finger, And studiously provided to secure it For ever to his house. Thus--He bequeathed it; First, to the MOST BELOVED of his sons, Ordained that he again should leave the ring To the MOST DEAR among his children--and That without heeding birth, the FAVOURITE son, In virtue of the ring alone, should always Remain the lord o' th' house--You hear me, Sultan?

SALADIN.

I understand thee--on.

NATHAN.

From son to son, At length this ring descended to a father, Who had three sons, alike obedient to him; Whom therefore he could not but love alike.

At times seemed this, now that, at times the third, (Accordingly as each apart received The overflowings of his heart) most worthy To heir the ring, which with good-natured weakness He privately to each in turn had promised.

This went on for a while. But death approached, And the good father grew embarra.s.sed. So To disappoint two sons, who trust his promise, He could not bear. What's to be done. He sends In secret to a jeweller, of whom, Upon the model of the real ring, He might bespeak two others, and commanded To spare nor cost nor pains to make them like, Quite like the true one. This the artist managed.

The rings were brought, and e'en the father's eye Could not distinguish which had been the model.

Quite overjoyed he summons all his sons, Takes leave of each apart, on each bestows His blessing and his ring, and dies--Thou hearest me?

SALADIN.

I hear, I hear, come finish with thy tale; Is it soon ended?

NATHAN.

It is ended, Sultan, For all that follows may be guessed of course.

Scarce is the father dead, each with his ring Appears, and claims to be the lord o' th' house.

Comes question, strife, complaint--all to no end; For the true ring could no more be distinguished Than now can--the true faith.

SALADIN.

How, how, is that To be the answer to my query?

NATHAN.

No, But it may serve as my apology; If I can't venture to decide between Rings, which the father got expressly made, That they might not be known from one another.

SALADIN.

The rings--don't trifle with me; I must think That the religions which I named can be Distinguished, e'en to raiment, drink and food,

NATHAN.

And only not as to their grounds of proof.

Are not all built alike on history, Traditional, or written. History Must be received on trust--is it not so?

In whom now are we likeliest to put trust?

In our own people surely, in those men Whose blood we are, in them, who from our childhood Have given us proofs of love, who ne'er deceived us, Unless 'twere wholesomer to be deceived.

How can I less believe in my forefathers Than thou in thine. How can I ask of thee To own that thy forefathers falsified In order to yield mine the praise of truth.

The like of Christians.

SALADIN.

By the living G.o.d, The man is in the right, I must be silent.

NATHAN.

Now let us to our rings return once more.

As said, the sons complained. Each to the judge Swore from his father's hand immediately To have received the ring, as was the case; After he had long obtained the father's promise, One day to have the ring, as also was.

The father, each a.s.serted, could to him Not have been false, rather than so suspect Of such a father, willing as he might be With charity to judge his brethren, he Of treacherous forgery was bold t' accuse them.

SALADIN.

Well, and the judge, I'm eager now to hear What thou wilt make him say. Go on, go on.

NATHAN.

The judge said, If ye summon not the father Before my seat, I cannot give a sentence.

Am I to guess enigmas? Or expect ye That the true ring should here unseal its lips?

But hold--you tell me that the real ring Enjoys the hidden power to make the wearer Of G.o.d and man beloved; let that decide.