Nathan

And so the Ring Descended, till at length it came to one Who had three sons, all dutiful alike, Whom therefore he, perforce, must love alike; Only, from time to time the first would seem Most worthy of the Ring, and then the next, And then again the third,--as each he found Alone with him, the other two not by To share his overflowing love. To each His heart’s fond weakness made him pledge the Ring. Thus all went smoothly ... while it could. But now His time to die draws near, and, sore perplexed, The good man rues that two of the three sons That trusted in his word, must soon be left Deceived, affronted.... Mark, now, his device! All secretly he summons to his aid A cunning craftsman, and commands him fashion After the pattern of his Ring, two others; No cost, no labour to be spared, to make them Like to the first, in every point alike. And so ’tis done; and when the craftsman brings The finished work, not even the father’s eye Can tell his own ring from the copies. Now Joyfully doth he summon to his side His three sons, one by one, and, one by one, Gives each his blessing--and a ring--and dies. Sultan, thou hearest me?