In Lessing’s play Nathan der Weise (1779), Nathan tells the parable of the three rings. A father owns one precious ring. He has two perfect copies made and leaves a ring to each of his three sons. When he dies, each son comes with his ring, and each wants to be head of the house. Man untersucht, man zankt, man klagt. They investigate, they quarrel, they sue. The true ring cannot be proven.
The judge will not name a winner. Denkt ihr, dass ich Rätsel zu lösen da bin? Do you think I am here to solve riddles? He offers them his Rat, statt meines Spruches, his advice instead of his verdict.
Then he adjourns the case for a very long time. When the rings’ powers show in their children’s children’s children, he will call them back. So lad’ ich über tausend tausend Jahre sie wiederum vor diesen Stuhl. In a thousand thousand years I will summon them before this seat again. Da wird ein weisrer Mann auf diesem Stuhle sitzen als ich. A wiser man than I will sit on this seat then.