What can this mean?

TEMPLAR (_after a short pause, embracing him suddenly_).

My father!

NATHAN.

How, young man?

TEMPLAR (_withdrawing himself as suddenly_).

Call me your son! I do implore you, Nathan.

NATHAN.

Dear youth!

TEMPLAR.

And not your son! I pray you, Nathan, Conjure you, by the strongest ties of Nature, Let it content you now to be a man: Repel me not.

NATHAN.

My dearest friend!

TEMPLAR.

Say son!

Why not your son? What, if in Recha's heart Mere grat.i.tude had paved the way for love, And if we both but waited your a.s.sent To crown our union! You are silent, sir!

NATHAN.

I am astonished at your words, young Knight.

TEMPLAR.

Astonished! Do I then astonish you With your own thoughts, although you know them not When uttered by my lips. Astonished, Nathan?

NATHAN.

Would that I knew what Stauffen was your father!

TEMPLAR.

What say you, Nathan? At a time like this, Can you indulge such empty, curious thoughts?

NATHAN.

I knew a Stauffen once whose name was Conrad.

TEMPLAR.

What, if my father bore that very name?

NATHAN.

And did he so?

TEMPLAR.

I bear my father's name, I am called Conrad.

NATHAN.

So! And yet the man I knew was not your father, for, like you, He was a Templar, and was never married.

TEMPLAR.

And what of that?

NATHAN.

How?

TEMPLAR.

He might still have been My father.

NATHAN.

Nay, you jest.

TEMPLAR.

You're far too good.

What matters it? Does b.a.s.t.a.r.d wound your ear?

The race, good sir, is not to be despised.

But spare my pedigree, and I'll spare yours.

Great G.o.d! forbid my words should ever cast The smallest doubt on your ancestral tree.

You can attest it backwards, leaf by leaf, To Abraham. And from that point--I know it well, Myself--can even swear to it.

NATHAN.

Your words are bitter. Do I merit this?

What have I e'er refused you? I have but Forborn a.s.sent at the first word you spoke.

No more!

TEMPLAR.