NATHAN, _in
travelling dress_.
travelling dress_.
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
Joseph of Arimathea begs the body
of Jesus, and he and Nicodemus wrap it in spices and perform the
interment. Mary and some devout women meet in John's house, to which
Nicodemus brings the crown of thorns taken from the body at burial.
The interment is solemnised by choirs of risen saints and angels.
FOOTNOTES:
[R] Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, who was born at Quedlinburg
on July 2, 1724, and died on March 14, 1803, was one of Germany's
most famous eighteenth century poets. While studying theology at Jena
University, he conceived the idea of a great spiritual epic, and
actually planned in prose the first three cantos of "The Messiah,"
which he afterwards finished at Leipzig. These were published
anonymously in the _Bremische Beitrage_ in 1748, the remaining five
appearing in 1773. Although the poem perhaps lacks in unity of
conception and precision of style, it contains many noble passages
that are admitted by critics to mark a very high order of lyrical
genius. One of the chief distinctions of Klopstock was that he was
the real inaugurator of the emancipation of the German intellect from
the superficialism of French literary ascendancy. This distinction
was generously acknowledged by Goethe, who rejoiced at Klopstock's
success in first striking the keynote of intellectual freedom in
the Fatherland. Various odes, Biblical dramas, tragedies, and hymns
constitute his other works. The "Messiah" was translated into both
English prose and verse by G. Egerstorff, his work being published at
Hamburg in 1821.
GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING[S]
Nathan the Wise
_Persons in the Drama_
SALADIN, _the Sultan_
SITTAH, _his sister_
NATHAN, _a rich Jew_
HAFI, _a Dervish_
RECHA, Nathan's _adopted daughter_
DAYA, _a Christian woman, companion to_ Recha
CONRADE, _a young Templar_
ATHANASIOS, _Patriarch of Palestine_
BONAFIDES, _a friar_
ACT I
SCENE I. --_Jerusalem. A hall in_ NATHAN'S _house_.
NATHAN, _in
travelling dress_. DAYA _meeting him_.
DAYA: 'Tis he, 'tis Nathan, thanks to God, returned,
At last!
NATHAN: Yes, Daya, thanks; but why "at last"?
'Tis far to Babylon, and gathering in
One's debts makes tardy journeying.
DAYA: Oh, Nathan! How near you came to misery; when afar,
The house took fire, and Recha, 'mid the flames,
Had all but perished.
NATHAN: Recha, O my Recha!
DAYA: Your Recha, _yours_? My conscience bids me speak----
NATHAN: See what a charming silk I bought for you
In Babylon, and these Damascus jewels.
DAYA: I shall be silent.
NATHAN: Say, does Recha know I am arrived?
DAYA: This morn of you she dreamed; Her thoughts have only been with
you and him Who saved her from the fire.
NATHAN: Ah, who is he?
DAYA: A young knight Templar lately captive ta'en,
But pardoned by the sultan. He it was
Who burst through flame and smoke; and she believes
Him but a transient inmate of the earth--
A guardian angel!
of Jesus, and he and Nicodemus wrap it in spices and perform the
interment. Mary and some devout women meet in John's house, to which
Nicodemus brings the crown of thorns taken from the body at burial.
The interment is solemnised by choirs of risen saints and angels.
FOOTNOTES:
[R] Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, who was born at Quedlinburg
on July 2, 1724, and died on March 14, 1803, was one of Germany's
most famous eighteenth century poets. While studying theology at Jena
University, he conceived the idea of a great spiritual epic, and
actually planned in prose the first three cantos of "The Messiah,"
which he afterwards finished at Leipzig. These were published
anonymously in the _Bremische Beitrage_ in 1748, the remaining five
appearing in 1773. Although the poem perhaps lacks in unity of
conception and precision of style, it contains many noble passages
that are admitted by critics to mark a very high order of lyrical
genius. One of the chief distinctions of Klopstock was that he was
the real inaugurator of the emancipation of the German intellect from
the superficialism of French literary ascendancy. This distinction
was generously acknowledged by Goethe, who rejoiced at Klopstock's
success in first striking the keynote of intellectual freedom in
the Fatherland. Various odes, Biblical dramas, tragedies, and hymns
constitute his other works. The "Messiah" was translated into both
English prose and verse by G. Egerstorff, his work being published at
Hamburg in 1821.
GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING[S]
Nathan the Wise
_Persons in the Drama_
SALADIN, _the Sultan_
SITTAH, _his sister_
NATHAN, _a rich Jew_
HAFI, _a Dervish_
RECHA, Nathan's _adopted daughter_
DAYA, _a Christian woman, companion to_ Recha
CONRADE, _a young Templar_
ATHANASIOS, _Patriarch of Palestine_
BONAFIDES, _a friar_
ACT I
SCENE I. --_Jerusalem. A hall in_ NATHAN'S _house_.
NATHAN, _in
travelling dress_. DAYA _meeting him_.
DAYA: 'Tis he, 'tis Nathan, thanks to God, returned,
At last!
NATHAN: Yes, Daya, thanks; but why "at last"?
'Tis far to Babylon, and gathering in
One's debts makes tardy journeying.
DAYA: Oh, Nathan! How near you came to misery; when afar,
The house took fire, and Recha, 'mid the flames,
Had all but perished.
NATHAN: Recha, O my Recha!
DAYA: Your Recha, _yours_? My conscience bids me speak----
NATHAN: See what a charming silk I bought for you
In Babylon, and these Damascus jewels.
DAYA: I shall be silent.
NATHAN: Say, does Recha know I am arrived?
DAYA: This morn of you she dreamed; Her thoughts have only been with
you and him Who saved her from the fire.
NATHAN: Ah, who is he?
DAYA: A young knight Templar lately captive ta'en,
But pardoned by the sultan. He it was
Who burst through flame and smoke; and she believes
Him but a transient inmate of the earth--
A guardian angel!
