The Dramatic Works of G. E. Lessing Part 118

TEMPLAR.

Reverend father!

Suppose a Jew possessed an only child-- A girl--whom he with fond parental care Trained to each virtue, treasured as his soul, Whilst she, with love as ardent as his own, Repaid his love,--suppose it rumoured then That she was not the daughter of this Jew, But a poor orphan, purchased in her youth, Or stolen, or found--or anything, but still Of Christian birth, and in her youth baptised, And that the Jew had reared her in his faith, Allowed her to be thought a Jewish maid, And firmly to believe herself his child,-- Say, reverend father, what should then be done?

PATRIARCH.

I shudder at the thought! But, worthy Sir, Say, is this fact, or mere hypothesis?

That is, if your own head has framed the case, Or has it happened--does it still exist?

TEMPLAR.

That's unimportant, and could not a.s.sist Your reverence to p.r.o.nounce upon the point.

PATRIARCH.

What! unimportant! See, Sir Knight, how apt Proud reason is to err in sacred things.

'Tis of deep import; though, 'tis true, the case May be the offspring of your sportive wit, When we should straight dismiss it from our thoughts, And I should then refer you to the stage Where _pros_ and _cons_ like these are oft discussed With loud applause. But if the object be, By something better than a sleight of hand, To sound my judgment, if the thing be fact, And may have happened in our diocese, Here in our dear Jerusalem itself, Why then----

TEMPLAR.

What then?

PATRIARCH.

Then were it well, Sir Knight, To execute at once upon the Jew The penalty provided for the case, By Papal and Imperial laws, against So foul a crime, such dire iniquity.

TEMPLAR.

Indeed!

PATRIARCH.

The laws I mention have decreed That if a Jew shall to apostasy Seduce a Christian, he shall die by fire.

TEMPLAR.

Indeed!

PATRIARCH.

How much more when a Jew by force Tears from baptismal bonds a Christian child?

For all that's done to children is by force, Save what the Church shall order and perform.

TEMPLAR.

What if the child were steeped in misery, And must have died, but for this bounteous Jew?

PATRIARCH.

It matters not: the Jew should still be burnt.

'Twere better to expire in misery, Than live to suffer never-ending pains.

The Jew moreover should not have forestalled The hand of G.o.d, whom had He willed to save, Could save without him.

TEMPLAR.

Make him happy too, In spite of him.

PATRIARCH.

It matters not, the Jew Must still be burnt.

TEMPLAR.

That grieves me very much, And all the more, as people say that he Has reared the child not in his own belief, So much as in no faith at all, and taught Her neither more nor less of G.o.d than is By reason asked.

PATRIARCH.

It matters not, the Jew Must still be burnt--and for this very cause Would merit threefold death. To rear a child Without a faith! Not even teach a child The greatest of all duties--to believe!

'Tis heinous, and I'm rapt in wonder, Knight, That you yourself----

TEMPLAR.

Oh, reverend Sir, the rest In the confessional, if G.o.d allow. (_Is going_.)

PATRIARCH.

What, going! and not await my questioning!

Not name to me this infidel, this Jew!

Not find him out for me at once! But, hold!

A thought occurs. I'll to the Sultan straight.

According to the treaty we have sworn With Saladin, he must protect our creed With all the privileges, all the rights That appertain to our most holy faith.

Thank G.o.d! we have retained the deed itself, With seal and signature affixed, and we Can readily convince him, make him feel How full of peril for the state it is Not to believe. All civil bonds are rent Asunder, torn to pieces, Knight, when men Have no belief. Away, away for ever With such impiety!

TEMPLAR.

I much deplore That I want time to relish this discourse, This holy sermon. Saladin awaits My coming.

PATRIARCH.

Ah, indeed!

TEMPLAR.

And I'll prepare The Sultan for your presence, reverend Sir, If you desire.

PATRIARCH.

Why, yes! for I have heard You have found favour in the Sultan's sight.

I beg to be remembered with respect.