How comes it, then, I never heard of him?
Can he refuse to lend to Saladin, Who wants for others--never for himself.
Ay, there peeps out the Jew--the vulgar Jew: Believe me, he is jealous, envious Of generosity. It seems as though To earn God's favour were his special mission. And that he may possess wherewith to give, He never lends. The law he serves, commands That he show mercy, but not complaisance. Thus him has mercy made the rudest churl In all the world. 'Tis true I have not been This long time past on friendly terms with him, But do not think that I would do him wrong, He's good in all things else, but not in that; Therefore I'll go and knock at other doors. I recollect this instant an old Moor, Who's rich and covetous: I'll go to him. (_Exit_.)
He speeds away, as though he would escape. Why so? Is he indeed himself deceived, Or would he now mislead me?
Can I guess? I scarcely know the man of whom you speak, And, for the first time, hear to-day of him.
Can it be possible you know him not Who, it is said, has visited the Of Solomon and David; knows the spell To ope their marble lids, and thence obtain The boundless stores that claim no lesser source.
Were this man's wealth by miracle procured, 'Tis not at Solomon's or David's tomb That it is found. Mere mortal fools lie there.
Or knaves!--But still his source of opulence Is more productive, more exhaustless than A cave of Mammon.
His caravans through every desert toil, His laden camels throng the public roads, His ships in every harbour furl their sails. Al-Hafi long ago has told me this, Adding, with pride, how Nathan gives away, What he esteems it noble to have earned By patient industry, for others' wants; How free from bias is his lofty soul, His heart to every virtue how unlocked, To every lovely feeling how allied!
And yet Al-Hafi spoke with coldness of him.
Not coldness, but unwillingness, as if He deemed it dangerous to praise too much, Yet knew not how to blame without a cause. Or can it be, in truth, that e'en the best Amongst a tribe can never quite escape The foibles of their race, and that, in fact, Al-Hafi has in this to blush for Nathan? But come what may, let him be Jew or not, If he be rich, that is enough for me.