DAJA.

Her father, truly! He shall be compelled.

TEMPLAR.

Compell'd! What, has he fallen among thieves?
Compell'd!

DAJA.

Then hear me. Nathan will consent:
He must consent.

TEMPLAR.

Consent! and must! Oh, Daja!
I have already tried to touch that chord;
It vibrates not responsive.

DAJA.

What! reject you?

TEMPLAR.

He answered me in such discordant tone
That I was hurt.

DAJA.

What say you? Did you breathe
The shadow of a wish to marry Recha.
And did not Nathan leap for joy? Did he
Draw coldly back--raise obstacles?

TEMPLAR.

He did.

DAJA.

Then I'll deliberate no moment more.

TEMPLAR (_after a pause_).

And yet you are deliberating still.

DAJA.

Nathan in all things has been ever good.
I owe him much. Did he refuse to listen?
God knows it grieves me to constrain him thus.

TEMPLAR.

I pray you, Daja, now to terminate
This dire uncertainty. But if you doubt
Whether the thing you would impart to me
Be right or wrong, worthy of shame or honour,
Then tell it not, and henceforth I'll forget
You have a secret it were well to hide.

DAJA.

Your words but spur me on to tell you all.
Then learn that Recha is no Jewess--that
She is a Christian maid.

TEMPLAR (_coldly_).

I wish you joy!
At last the tedious labour's at an end.
The birth-pangs have not hurt you. Still go on
With undiminished zeal, and people heaven
When you are fit no more to people earth.

DAJA.

How, Knight! and does the news I bring deserve
Such bitter taunts? Does it confer no joy
On you to hear that Recha is a Christian,
On you, her lover, and a Christian knight?

TEMPLAR.

And more especially since Recha is
A Christian of your making?

DAJA.