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_ ACT III. OF FAITHFUL ABRAHAM
Pater Cœlestis.
Mine high displeasure must needs return to man,
Considering the sin that he doth day by day;
For neither kindness nor extreme handling can
Make him to know me by any faithful way,
But still in mischief he walketh to his decay.
If he do not soon his wickedness consider,
He is like, doubtless, to perish altogether.
In my sight, he is more venym[611] than the spider,
Through such abuses as he hath exercised,
From the time of Noah to this same season hither.
An uncomely act without shame Ham commysed.[612]
When he of his father the secret parts revealed.
In like case Nimrod against me wrought abusion
As he raised up the castle of confusion.
Mirus hath also, and all by the devil's illusion
Through image-making, up raised idolatry,
Me to dishonour. And now in the conclusion
The vile Sodomites live so unnaturally
That their sin vengeance asketh continually,
For my covenant's sake, I will not drown with water,
Yet shall I visit their sins with other matter.
Abraham.
Yet, merciful Lord, thy graciousness remember
To Adam and Noah, both in thy word and promise:
And lose not the souls of men in so great number
But save thine own work, of thy most discreet goodness.
I wot thy mercies are plentiful and earnest,
Never can they die nor fail, thyself enduring,
This hath faith fixed fast in my understanding.
Pater Cœlestis.
Abraham my servant, for thy most faithful meaning,
Both thou and thy stock shall have my plenteous blessing.
When the unfaithful, under my curse evermore,
For their vain working, shall rue their wickedness sore.
Abraham.
Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light?
My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.
Pater Cœlestis.
No truly, Abraham, thou chancest upon the right,
The thing I shall do I will not hide from thee,
Whom I have blessed for thy true fidelity:
For I know thou wilt cause both thy children and servants,
In my ways to walk, and trust unto my covenants,
That I may perform with thee my earnest promise.
Abraham.
All that I will do, by assistance of thy goodness.
Pater Cœlestis.
From Sodom and Gomor the abominations call
For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall,
Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.
Abraham.
Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury,
Cast not away yet the just sort with the ungodly.
Peradventure there may be fifty righteous persons
Within those cities, wilt thou lose them all at once,
And not spare the place for those fifty righteous' sake
Be it far from thee such rigour to undertake.
I hope there is not in thee so cruel hardness,
As to cast away the just men with the reckless,
And so to destroy the good with the ungodly:
In the judge of all: be never such a fury.
Pater Cœlestis.
At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty,
The place will I spare for their sakes verily.
Abraham.
I take upon me to speak here in thy presence,
More than becomes me, lord, pardon my negligence:
I am but ashes and were loth thee to offend.
Pater Cœlestis.
Say forth, good Abraham, for ill dost thou not intend.
Abraham.
Haply there may be five less in the same number,
For thy sake I hope thou wilt not the rest accombre.[613]
Pater Cœlestis.
If I among them might find but five and forty
Them would I not lose for that just company.
Abraham.
What if the city may forty righteous make?
Pater Cœlestis.
Then will I pardon it for those same forty's sake.
Abraham.
Be not angry, Lord, though I speak undiscreetly.
Pater Cœlestis.
Utter thy whole mind and spare me not hardly.
Abraham.
Peradventure there may be thirty found among them.
Pater Cœlestis.
May I find thirty, I will nothing do unto them.
Abraham.
I take upon me too much, Lord, in thy sight.
Pater Cœlestis.
No, no, good Abraham, for I know thy faith is right.
Abraham.
No less, I suppose, than twenty can it have.
Pater Cœlestis.
Could I find twenty, that city would I save.
Abraham.
Once yet will I speak my mind, and then no more.
Pater Cœlestis.
Spare not to utter so much as thou hast in store.
Abraham.
And what if there might be ten good creatures found?
Pater Cœlestis.
The rest for their sakes might so be safe and sound,
And not destroyed for their abomination.
Abraham.
O merciful Maker, much is thy toleration
And sufferance of sin: I see it now indeed;
Vouchsafe yet of favour out of those cities to lead
Those that be faithful, though their flock be but small.
Pater Cœlestis.
Lot and his household, I will deliver all,
For righteousness sake, which is of me and not them.
Abraham.
Great are thy graces in the generation of Shem.
Pater Cœlestis.
Well, Abraham, well, for thy true faithfulness
Now will I give thee my covenant or third promise.
Look thou believe it as thou covetest righteousness.
Abraham.
Lord, so regard me as I receive it with gladness.
Pater Cœlestis.
Of many peoples the father I will make thee,
All generations in thy seed shall be blessed:
As the stars of heaven, so shall thy kindred be;
And by the same seed the world shall be redressed
In circumcision shall this thing be expressed,
As in a sure seal, to prove my promise true,
Print this in thy faith, and it shall thy soul renew.
Abraham.
I will not one jot, Lord, from thy will dissent
But to thy pleasure be always obedient,
Thy laws to fulfil, and most precious commandment.
Pater Cœlestis.
Farewell, Abraham, for here in place I leave
thee.
Abraham.
Thanks will I render, like as it shall behove me.
Everlasting praise to thy most glorious name,
Which savedst Adam through faith in thy sweet promise
Of the woman's seed, and now confirmest the same
In the seed of me. Forsooth great is thy goodness.
I cannot perceive but that thy mercy is endless.
To such as fear thee, in every generation,
For it endureth without abbreviation.
This have I printed in deep consideration,
No worldly matter can rase it out of mind.
For once it will be the final restoration
Of Adam and Eve, and other that hath sinned;
Yea, the sure health and race of mankind.
Help have the faithful thereof, though they be infect;
They, condemnation, where as it is reject.
Merciful Maker, my crabbed voice direct,
That it may break out in some sweet praise to thee;
And suffer me not thy due lauds to neglect,
But let me show forth thy commendations free.
Stop not my windpipes, but give them liberty,
To sound to thy name, which is most gracious,
And in it rejoice with heart melodious.
[Then in a loud voice he begins the antiphon,
"O rex gentium," the chorus following the same with
instruments.]
O most mighty Governor of thy people, and in heart most
desired, the hard rock and the true corner-stone, that
of two maketh one, uniting the Jews with the Gentiles
in one church, come now and relieve mankind, whom
thou hast formed of the vile earth.
FOOTNOTES
[614] blister.
[615] Joshua.
[616] benevolent. _
Read next: Act 4. Moses Sanctus
Read previous: Act 2. Noah The Just
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