Volume I Part 60 (2/2)

_Finit Actus secundus_.

INCIPIT ACTUS TERTIUS.

PATER COELESTIS. 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 venom 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 commised, 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.

Ninus hath also, and all by the devil's illusion, Through image-making upraised 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 FIDELIS. 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 COELESTIS. Abraham, my servant, for thy most faithful meaning, Both thou and thy stock shall have my plenteous blessing.

Where the unfaithful, under my curse evermore, For their vain working shall rue their wickedness sore.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light?

My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.

PATER COELESTIS. 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 FIDELIS. All that will I do, by a.s.sistance of thy goodness.

PATER COELESTIS. From Sodom and Gomorrah the abhominations call For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall: Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury, Cast not away yet the just sort with the unG.o.dly.

Paraventure 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 rechless, And so to destroy the good with the unG.o.dly.

In the judge of all be never such a fury.

PATER COELESTIS. At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty, The place will I spare for their sakes verily.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. 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 COELESTIS. Say forth, good Abraham, for ill dost thou not intend.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Happily there may be five less in the same number: For their sakes I trust thou wilt not the rest acc.u.mber.[293]

PATER COELESTIS. If I among them might find but five-and-forty, Then would I not lose for that just company.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. What if the city may forty righteous make?

PATER COELESTIS. Then will I pardon it for those same forty's sake.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Be not angry, Lord, though I speak indiscreetly.

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