Of perishing?
My Recha, saidst thou? She? I heard not that.
I then should not have needed any house.
Upon the point of perishing—perchance
She’s gone?—Speak out then—out—torment me not
With this suspense.—Come, tell me, tell me all.
DAYA
Were she no more, from me you would not hear it.
NATHAN
Why then alarm me?—Recha, O my Recha!
DAYA
Your Recha? Yours?
NATHAN
What if I ever were
Doomed to unlearn to call this child, my child,
DAYA
Is all you own yours by an equal title?
NATHAN
Nought by a better. What I else enjoy
Nature and Fortune gave—this treasure, Virtue.
DAYA
How dear you make me pay for all your goodness!—
If goodness, exercised with such a view,
Deserves the name.—
NATHAN
With such a view? With what?
DAYA
My conscience—
NATHAN
Daya, let me tell you first—
DAYA
I say, my conscience—
NATHAN
What a charming silk
I bought for you in Babylon! ’Tis rich,
Yet elegantly rich. I almost doubt
If I have brought a prettier for Recha.
DAYA
And what of that—I tell you that my conscience
Will no be longer hushed.
NATHAN
And I have bracelets,
And earrings, and a necklace, which will charm you.
I chose them at Damascus.
DAYA
That’s your way:—
If you can but make presents—but make presents.—
NATHAN
Take you as freely as I give—and cease.
DAYA
And cease?—Who questions, Nathan, but that you are
Honour and generosity in person;—
Yet—
NATHAN
Yet I’m but a Jew.—That was your meaning.
DAYA
You better know what was my meaning, Nathan.
NATHAN
Well, well, no more of this,