1807.] 
ter must have been cast in another and a 
coarser mould. 
Lessing has displayed much curious 
learning in the exact adaptation of the his- 
torical allusions, and of the manners of 
his personages to the time and place of . 
scene. The character of Saladjn is per- 
fectly in Arabian_nature; rapacious and 
profuse, bold and kind, enlightened 
enough to be tolerant, superstitious 
enough to be pious, rash and warm in bat- 
tle, in confidence, in bounty, always ge- 
nerous to friend or foe, he is the natural 
chieftain of such a band as litted him from 
a private station to the empire. His ca- 
pital and court was really the seat of let- 
ters and refinement, where a Nathan 
could be evolved, and a Conrade in- 
structed: the Crusaders were the barba- 
rians of the age; and the Christians of 
Jerusalem, as here described, were an 
intriguing faction, in alliance with the fo- 
reigninvader. Voltaire chooses the same 
time and place for the scene of his Zaire, 
but the costume of sentiment and man- 
ners Is by him less faithfully observed. 
The dialogue of this play is welladapt- 
ed to its office: it is distinguished by an 
idiomatic ordinariness of diction, whichhas 
been praised for its simplicity, which has 
been censured for its vulgarity: the state- 
her style of tragedy would il! have suited 
the gentle emotions and. philosophical 
conversations of Saladin’s family; nor 
would the witty style of comedy have 
been proper, in the midst of feelings so 
exquisite, and discussions so momentous. 
Nathan the Wise may be considered as a 
didactic poem in a dramatic form: com- 
pare it with certain dialogues of Plato, it 
would be found to carry further the art of 
impressing moral truth by the imitation 
of social conyerse. The most characte- 
ristic specimen is certainly the parable 
related by Nathan to the Sultan: we 
shall repeat it not from the old prose- 
translation of Mr. Raspe, but from the 
metrical version lately published for Mr. 
Phillips. 
NATHAN. 
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. 
é SALADIN. 
Again so proudly modest, come, begin. 
NATHAN. 
In days of yore, there dwelt in east a man, 
who from a valued hand receiv’da ring 
Montury Mac. No. 163, 
Critical Survey of Lessing’s Works. 
339 
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 God and man belov’d, who in this view, 
and this persuasion, wore it. Was it strange 
the eastern man ne’er dtew it off his finger, 
and studiously provided to secure it 
for ever to his house? Thus—He bequeath’d 
Me 
first, to the most belowed of his sons, 
ordain’d that he again should leave the ring 
to the most dear among his children—and 
that without heeding birth, the favourite sony 
in vircue of the ring Asa? should always 
remain the lord of the 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 3 
whom therefore he could not but love alike. 
At times seem’d this, now that, at times the 
third, 
(accordingly as each apart receiv’d 
the overflowings of his heart) most worthy 
to heir the ring, which with goodnatur'd weak- 
ness 
he privately to each in turn had promis’d. 
This went on for a while. But death aps 
proach’d, 
and the good father grew embarrass’d. So 
to disappoint two sons, who trust his promises 
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 ma- 
nag’d. 
The rings were brought, and e’en the father’s 
eye 
could not distinguish which had been the 
model. 
Quite overjoy’d he summons all his sons, 
takes leave of each apart, on each bestows 
his blessing and his ring, aud dies—Thou 
hearst me? 
SALADIN, | 
I hear, [ hear, come finish with thy tale ; 
is it soon ended ? 
NATHAN. 
It ts ended, sultan, 
for all that follows may be guess’d of course, 
Scarce isthe tather dead, each with his ring 
appears, and claims to be the lord o’th’ 
house. 
Comes question, strife, complaint—ali to no 
end 3 
for the gue ring could no’ more be distine 
guish’d 
than now can—the true faitn. 
SALADIN cn, 
How, how,:is that 
to be the answer to my query ?” 
Key “NATHAN, 
