A TRAGEDY OF ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE, Written in french by Theodore Beza, and translated into English, by A. G. Finished at Powles Belchamp in Essex, the xj. of August. 1575. GEN. 15. ROM. 4. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Black Friars. 1577. THEODORE BEZA TO THE READERS, GREEting in the Lord IT is now a two years, since God granted me the grace to forsake the country where he is persecuted, to serve him according to his holy william. During which time, because that in my adversity many fancies ran in my head, I resorted to God's word, where I found two things that comforted me marvelously. The one is the infinite number of promises uttered by the mouth of him which is the truth itself, whose sayings are always matched with effect. The other is the multitude of examples, whereof even the lest are able enough, not only to encourage and hearten the weakest & faintest hearted in the world, but also to make them invincible. Which thing we must needs see to have come to pass, if we consider by what means God's truth hath been maintained to this present time. Howbeit among all them that are set afore us for example in the old testament. I find three persons, in whom (to my seeming) the Lord meant to set forth his greatest wonders: namely, Abraham, Moses, and David: in the lives of whom if men would now a days look upon themselves, they should know themselves better than they do. Therefore as I red those holy stories with wonderful pleasure and singular profit: there came a desire upon me to exercise myself in writing such matters in verse, not only of intent to consider & remember them the better, but also to praise God by all the means I could devise. For I confess, that even of nature I have delighted in poetry, & I can not yet repent me of it: nevertheless it grieveth me right sore, that the little grace which God gave me in that behalf, was employed by me in such things, as the very remembrance of them irketh me now at the heart. Therefore I gave myself as then to more holy matters, hoping to go forward in them afterward, specially in the translating of the Psalms which I am now in hand with. And would God that the great number of good wits which I know in France, would in steed of buzying themselves about unhappy inventions or imitations of vain and unhonest fancies, (for so they be, if a man judge them according to truth) rather set their minds to the magnifying of the great God, of whom they have received those so great gifts, then to the flattering of their Idols, that is to say, of their Lords and Ladies, whom they uphold in their vices by their feignings & flatterings. Of a truth it would become them better to sing a song of God, then to counterfeit a ballet of Petrarks, & to make amorous ditties, worthy to have the garland of sonnets, or to counterfeit the furies of the ancient Poets, to blaze abroad the glory of this world, or to consecrated this man or that woman to immortality, things which bear the readers on hand that the authors of them not only are mounted up to the top of their Parnassus, but also are come to the very circle of the Moon. Othersome (of which number I myself have been, to my great grief as now) writ twoedged Epigrams cutting on both sides or sharppointed & pricking at both ends. Others buzie themselves rather in overturning then in turning of things: & othersome intending to enrich our tongue, do powder it with Greek and Latin terms. But how now will some man say: I looked for a tragedy, and thou givest us a Satire. I confess that in thinking upon such madness, I was carried away and overshot myself. Nevertheless I meant not to rail upon good wits, but only to discover to them so plainly the open wrong which they do both to God and to themselves, as they might through a certain envy, take upon them to pass me in the description of such matters as I have taken taste of to their hands, according as I know that it shall be very easy for them, if the meanest of them will give himself thereto. But to come to the matter that I have in hand, it is partly tragical and partly comical: & therefore I have separated the prologue, & divided the whole into pauses, after the manner of acts in comedies, howbeit without binding of myself thereto. And because it holdeth more of the one then of the other: I thought best to name it a tragedy. As touching the manner of dealing, I have altered some small circumstances of the story, to apply myself to the company. Moreover I have followed the ground as near the text as I could, according to such conjectures as I thought most convenient for the matter and persons. And although the affections be very great, yet have I abstained from words and speeches to far estranged from the common ordinary, notwithstanding that I know it was the manner of the greeks and Latins so to do, specially in their choruses, as they termed them. But I passed so little of imitating them, that contrariwise me thinks nothing is more unseemly, than those forced translations and speeches drawn out of such a length, as they can never come to the pith of the matter: whereof I report me to Aristophanes, who justly rebuketh the Poets of his time for it so often times. Verily I have made a song without a chorus, nother have I used the terms of Strophies, Antistrophies, Epirrhemes, Parecbases, and other such words, which serve to no purpose but to amaze simple folk, seeing the use of such things is worn away, & they be not so commendable of themselves, that a man should trouble himself to bring them up again. As touching the orthography, I have willed the Printer to follow the common order, notwithstanding the fond fancies that have been set forth within these three or four years in that behalf. And I would gladly counsel the forwardest of them that have altered it, (if they were men that would take any other bodies counsel then their own) that sith they will needs reduce it to the pronouncing, that is to say, make as many fashions of writing, not only as there are countries, but also as there are persons in France: they should first learn to pronounce, before they teach men to writ. For to speak & writ after their fashion, he is not worthy to give rules of the writing of our tongue, which is not able to speak it. Which thing I speak not to blame all those that have set down their doubts in that behalf, which I grant are very needful to be reformed: but for such as set forth their dotages as certain rules for all the world to follow. Furthermore, as touching the profit that may be taken of this singular story, besides the things that are treated of it in infinite places of the Scripture, I will refer it to him that shall speak of it in the conclusion: praying you whosoever you be to accept this my small labour with as good will as I offer it you. From Lausan the first of October. 1550. THE ARGUMENT OF THIS TRAGEDY TAKEN OUT OF THE TWO AND twentieth chapter of Genesis. Afterwards God tried Abraham, and said unto him: Abraham. And he answered, Here I am. Then said he to him, take thine only son out of hand, even Isaac whom thou lovest, & go into the country of Morea, & there offer him up for a burnt sacrifice upon one of the hills that I will show thee. Abraham therefore rising early, saddled his ass & took two servants with him, & Isaac his son. And when he had cut wood for the burnt sacrifice, he arose and went to the place that God had told him of. The third day, Abraham looking up, saw the place a far of, and said to his servants, tarry you here with the Ass, for I and the lad will go yonder, and when we have 〈◊〉 we will come to you again. Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt sacrifice, & laid it upon Isaac his son, & took the fire and a knife in his own hand, and so they went forth together. Then said Isaac to Abraham his father. My father. Abraham answered, here I am my son. And he said, Behold here is fire and wood, but where is the Lamb for burnt sacrifice. Abraham answered, my son, God will provide him a lamb for burnt sacrifice. And they went on both together. And when they came to the place that God had spoken of, he builded an altar there, and laid the wood in order upon it, and then bound Isaac his son & laid him upon the altar above the wood, and putting forth his hand cawght the knife to strike of his sons neck. Then an Angel of the Lord cried unto him from heaven, saying Abraham, Abraham. Who answered, lo here I am. And he said unto him, lay not thy hand upon the child, nother do anything unto him. For now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not spared thine only son for my sake. &▪ Abraham looked up & saw, & behold a sheep was cawght behind him in a bush by the horns. Then Abraham went and took the sheep, and offered it up for a burnt offering in steed of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord shall see. Whereof it is said at this day of that mountain, The Lord shall be seen. And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham from out of heaven the second time, saying: I have sworn by myself saith the Lord, for as much as thou hast done this thing, & not spared thine only son, I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of the sky, & as the sand on the seas shore, and thy seed shall possess the gates of thine enemies. And all nations of the earth shall be blessed in thy seed, because thou hast obeyed my voice. The speakers. The Prologue. Abraham. Sara. Isaac. A company of shepherds of Abraham's own house divided in two parts. The Angel. Satan. THE PROLOGUE. GOd save you every eachone both great and small Of all degrees: right welcome by you all. It is now long, at lest as seems to me, Since here such press together I did see. Would God we might each week through all the year See such refort in Churches as is here. You Gentlemen and Ladies, I ye pray Give ear and hearken what I have to say. To hold your peace alonely I require. What ween you (some will say) by that desire We nother can nor will away with that. But yet you must, or else I tell you flat, That both of us our labour loose together, In speaking I, and you in coming hither. Wherefore I crave but silence at your hand, My words with patience for to understand. Both great and small, alonely do but hear, And I will tell you strange & wondrous gear. Wherefore now hearken: for the thing is great Whereof I mind this present time to treat. You think yourselves perchance to be in place, Where as you be not, now as stands the case. For Lausan is not here, it is far hence. But yet when need requires, I will dispense With all of you, that hence within an hour Each one may safely be within his bower. As now this is the land of Palestine. What? do you wonder at these words of mine? I say yet further to you, see you well Yond place? It is the house wherein doth devil A servant of the living Gods, whose name height Abraham the righteous man, the same Whose lively faith hath wone him endless fame. Anon you shall him tempted see and tried, & touched to quick with grefs that shall betide. And lastly you shall see him justified By faith, for kill (in a certain wise) Isaac his dearest son in sacrifice. And shortly, you shall see strange passions: The flesh, the world his own affections Not only shall be showed in lively hue, But, (which more is) his faith shall them subdue And that it is so, many a faithful wight, Anon shall bear me record in your sight. First Abraham, and Sara you shall see, And Isaac eke shall with them both agreed. Now are not these sufficient witnessings? Who minds therefore to see so wondrous things, We pray him only talking to forbear And unto us to give attentive ear, Assuring him that he shall see and hear No trifling toys, but grave & wondrous gear, And that we will his ears to him restore, to use them as he listeth as before. Abraham's Sacrifice. Abraham cometh out of his house & saith. ALas my God, and was there ever any, That hath endured of cumbrances so many, As I have done by fleeting too and fro, Since I my native country did forego? Or is there any living on the ground, Of benefits that hath such plenty found? Lo how thou makest mortal men to see, Thy passing goodness by calamity. And as of naught thou madest every thing: So out of ill thou causest good to spring. Was never wight so blessed at thy hand, That could thy greatness fully Understand. Full threescore years and thereto fifteen more, My life had lasted now in weal and woe. According to the course in sundry wise Appointed by thy heavenly destinies, Whose will it was I should be bred and borne Of parents rich in cattles, coin, and corn. But unto him that richest is in fee, What joy or comfort could his riches be, When he compelled, compelled was (I say) To see, to serve, and worship every day, A thousand forged gods in steed of thee, Which mad'st the heaven & earth which we do see? Thou then eftsoons didst will me to convey Myself from those same places quite away. And I immediately upon thy call, Left Parents, country, goods with gods & all. Yea Lord, thou knowest I witted not whither then Thou wouldst me lead, nor where me stay again: But he that followeth thee, full well may say, He goeth right: and while he holds that way He never needs to fear that he shall stray. Sara coming out of the same house saith. In thinking and bethinking me what store Of benefits I have had erst heretofore, Of thee my God which ever hast provided To keep my mind and body undefiled, And furthermore according to thy word (Which I took then as spoken but in board) Hast blessed mine aged time above all other, By giving me the happy name of mother. I am so ravished in my thought and mind, That (as I would full fain) no mean I found The lest of all the benefits to commend, Which thou my God dost daily still me sand. Yet sith alone with thee Lord here I am, I will thee thank at lest wise as I can. But is not yw my husband whom I see? I thought he had been further of from me. Abraham. Sara Sara, thy mind I well allow, Naught hast thou said but I the same avow. Come on, and let us both give thanks together For Gods great mercy since our coming hither The fruit thereof as both of us hath found: Let praise & thanks from both of us resound. Sara. Contented Sir, how might I better do, Than you to please in all you set me too? And even therefore hath God ordained me. Again, wherein can time spent better be, Than in the setting forth of God's dew praise, Whose majesty doth show itself always, Above and eke beneath before our eyes? Abraham. Of truth no better can a man devise, Than of the Lord to sing the excellence, For none can pay him other recompense For all his gifts which daily he doth sand, Than in the same, his goodness to commend. The Song of Abraham and Sara. Come on then, let us now begin to sing with hearts in one accord, The praises of the sovereign heavenly king our only God and Lord His only hand doth give us whatsoever We have, or shall hereafter have for ever. It is alonely he that doth maintain the heaven that is so high, So large in compass and in space so main: and eke the starry sky, The course whereof he stablished hath so sure, That aye withouten fail it doth endure. The skorching heat of summer he doth make, the harvest and the spring: And winters cold that maketh folk to quake, in season he doth bring. Both wethers, fair, and fowl, both sea & land, Both night and day be ruled by his hand. Alas good Lord! and what are we that thou didst choose and entertain Alonely us of all the world, and now doth safely us maintain So long a time from all the wicked routs In town & country where we come throughouts Thou of thy goodness drewest us away from places that are given To serve false gods: and at this present day hast wandringly us driven, To travel still among a thousand dangers, In nations unto whom we be but strangers. The land of Egypt in our chiefest need thou mad'st to have a care, Thy servants bodies to maintain and feed with fine and wholesome fare, And in the end compelledst pharaoh, Full sore against his will, to let us go. Four mighty Kings that were already gone away with victory, I overtook and put to flight anon before they could me spy. And so I saw the fields all stained read With blood of those which through my sword lay dead. From God received well this benefit: For he doth mind us still, As his dear friends in whom he doth delight, and we be sure he will, Perform us all things in due time and place, As he hath promised of his own free grace. To us and unto our posterity this land belongs of right, To hold in honour and felicity as God it hath behight, And we believe it surely shall be so, For from his promise God will never go. Now tremble you ye wicked wights therefore, which sowed are so thick Throughout the world, & worship now such store of gods of stone and stick, which you yourselves with wicked hands do carve, To call upon and vainly for to serve. And thou O Lord whom we do know to be the true and living God, Come from thy place, that we may one day see the vengeance of thy rood Upon thy foes, that they may come to nowght With all their gods devizd through wicked thought. Abraham. Go to my Sara, that great God of ours Hath blessed us, to th'intent that we all hours Should for his gifts which he alone doth give, Him serve and praise as long as we do live. Now let us hence and chief take good heed, We hazard not our son to much in deed, By suffering him to haunt the company Of wicked folk, with whom you see we be. A new made vessel holdeth long the scent Of that that first of all is in it penned. A child by nature near so well disposed, By bringing up is quite and clean transpozed. Sara. Sir, I do hope my duty for to do, Therefore the thing that we must look unto, Is that Gods will may be fulfilled in him. Right sure I am we shall him wield so trim, And that the Lord will bliss him so: as all Shall in the end to his high honour fall. Satan in the habit of a Monk. I go, I come, I travel night and day, I beat my brains, that by no kind of way My labour be in any wise misspent. Reign God aloft above the firmament, The earth at lest to me doth wholly draw, And that mislikes not God nor yet his law. As God by his in heaven is honoured: So I on earth by mine am worshipped. God dwells in heaven, and I on earth likewize: God maketh peace, and I do wars devise. God reigns above, and I do reign below: God causeth love, and I do hatred sow. God made the starry skies and earthy clods: I made much more: for I did make the gods. God served is by Angels full of light: And do not my fair Angels glister bright? I trow there is not one of all my swine, Whose grooyn I make not goldlike for to shine These lechers, drunkards, glutton's overfedd, Whose noses shine fair tipped with brazell red, Which wear fine precious stones upon their Are my upholders & my Cherubins. (skins, God never made a thing so perfect yet, That could the makers full perfection hit. But I have made, (whereof I glory may) A thousand worse than myself far way. For I believe and know it in my thought, therz but one God, & that myself am nowght. But yet I know there are whose foolish mind I have so turned quite against the kind, That some (which now is common long agone) Had liefer serve a thousand gods than one▪ And others have conceived in their brain, That for to think there is a God is vain. Thus since the time the man on mould was made, With happy luck I followed have this trade And follow will (come loss or come there gain) So long as I this habit may maintain, I say this habit wherewithal as now The world is unacquainted: but I vow The day shall come it shall be known so rife, Of every wight, both child, yea man, and wife, That nother town nor village shall scape free From seeing it to their great misery. O cowl, oh cowl, such mischief thou shalt work, And such abuse shall underneath thee lurk At high noon days: O cowl, oh cowl I say, Such mischief to the world thou shalt convey, That if it were not for the spitefulness, Wherewith my heart is frawghted in excess: Even I myself the wretched world shall rue, To see the things that shall through thee ensue. For I, than who, of all none worse can be, Am made yet worse by putting on of thee. These things shall in their time without all fail Be brought to pass. As now I will assail One Abraham, who only with his race Withstands me, and defies me to my face. In deed I have him often times assailed: But ever of my purpose I have failed. I never saw old fellow hold such tack. But I will lay such load upon his back, That (as I hope) ere long I shall him make A son of mine. I know that he doth take The true Creator for his only hold To trust unto: and that doth make him bold. In deed he hath alliance with the true Creator, who hath promised him a new Right wondrous things, according whereunto He hath already done, and still will do. But what for that? If steadfastness him fail To hold out still: what shall his hope avail? I trow I will so many blows him give, That from his hold at length I shall him drive. His elder son I fear not: and the other Shall hardly scape these hands of mine: the mother Is but a woman: as for all the meinie That serve him, they be simple souls as any Can lightly be: there is a ragged stout Of silly shepherds, nother skilled nor stout Enough against my wily sleights to stand. But hence I will and work so out of hand, To have them, that unless I miss my mark, Anon I will deceive their greatest Clerk. Abraham coming out of his house again saith. What ever thing I do or say, I weighed am thereof straight way, How meet so ever that it be, So wicked nature reigns in me. But most of all it me mislikes, And to the heart with sorrow strikes, That seeing God is never tired In helping me, yea undezyrde: I also likewise do not strain Myself, unweerie to remain, In dew and true acknowledgement Of his great mercy to me sent, As well with mouth as with my heart. The Angel. Abraham, Abraham. Abraham. Lord here I am. Angel. Go take thine only deerebeloved son, Even Isaac, and bring him to the place which height the myrrh of God: which being done, Slay him in sacrifice before my face: And burn him whole upon a hill which I Will show thee there, go high thee by and by. Abraham. What! burn him! burn him! well I will do so: But yet my God, the thing thou putst me to Seems very strange and irksome for to be: Lord, I beseech thee, wilt thou pardon me? Alas, I pray thee give me strength and power, To do that thou commandest me this hour. I well perceive and plainly now do found, That thou art angry with me in thy mind. Alas my Lord I have offended thee. O God by whom both heaven & earth made be, With whom intendest thou to be at war? And wilt thou cast thy servant down so far? Alas my son, alas, what shall I do? This matter asks advised looking too. A company of shepherds coming out of Abraham's house. The one half of them. High time it is Sirs as I trow We hie us packing on a row To our companions where they be. The other half. Even so thinks me. For if we all together were We should the lesser need to fear. Isaac. How Sirs, I pray you tarry. Will You leave me so behind you still? Shepherds. Good child abide you there, Or else our master your father And our mistress your mother may, Be angry for your going away: The time will come by God's good grace, That you shall grow and prove a pace: And then ye shall perceive the charge, Of keeping flocks in fields at large, What dangers come from hill and dale, By ravening beasts that lie in stolen, Among the coverts of the wood, To kill our cattle for their food. Isaac. And do ye think I would, Go with you though I could, Before I knew my father's mind? Shepherds. In deed a child of honest kind, And well brought up, aught evermore His fathers and his mother's lore In all his doings to obey. Isaac. I will not fail it (if I may) To die therefore: but will ye stay A while until I run and know My father's will? Shep. Yea, therefore go. The song of the Shepherds. O happy is the wight That grounds himself aright On God, and maketh him his shield: And lets the worldly wise, Which look above the skies, Go wander where they list in field. Not rich, ne poor estate, Can puff or yet abate, The godly and the faithful heart: The faithful goeth free Although he martyred be A thousand times with woe and smart. The mighty God him leeds, In chiefest of his needs, And hath of him a special care, To make him to abide, Even at the point to slide, When worst of all he seems to far. Whereof a proof we see Our master well may be: For why, the more him men assail And urge on every side: Less fear in him is spied, And less his courage doth him fail. He left his native soil, Hard famine did him foil, Which drove him into Egypt land, And there a king of might, took Sara from his sight, Unjustly even by force of hand. But straight on suit to God, The King through God's sharp rod, Did yield to him his wife straight way, And abraham never stayd, But as the King him prayed, Departed thence without delay. And during this his flight, He grew to so good plight, That Loath to part away was feign: Because, as stood the case, To little was the place, To keep the flocks of both them twain. There fell a sudden jar Between nine Kings through war, Wherein five kings were put to flight, And Loath himself, with all His goods both great and small, Away was carried clean and quite. Our faithful Master straight, On news of this conceit, Made fresh pursuit immediately: And having but as then Three hundred eighteen men, Did make the enemies all to fly. And of the rescued pray The tenth to the priest did pay. And having done each man his right, Returned home anon, With commendation, For putting so his foes to flight. But nother son he had, Nor daughter him to glad. Which thing when Sara did perceive, She put her maid in bed, To serve her husband's stead, Because herself could not conceive. So Agar bore a son A thirteen years outronne, Whose name is called Ishmael. And to this present day, Our masters goods are aye increased passing wondrous well. Then for the covenants sake Which God himself did make, Between him and our master dear, Our master and we all, As well the great as small, At once all circumcised were. Isaac. My fellows: God hath showed himself to us, So good, so loving and so gracious, That I can never any thing yet crave Ne small ne great, but that I much more have, Than I desire. I would have gone with you (As you do know) to see full fain: but now Behold my father cometh here at hand. Abraham and Sara. But it behoveth us to understand, That if God will us any thing to do, We must straightways obedient be thereto, And nother strive nor speak against his william. Sara. In deed Sir so I think and purpose still. But yet I pray you think not strange, that I Do take this matter some what heavily. Abraham. A good heart (wife) doth show itself at need▪ Sara. That's true:▪ therefore lets be sure in deed, It is Gods will and mind we should do so. We have but this child only and no more Who yet is weak: in him stands all the trust Of all our hope, with him it falls to dust. Abraham. Nay rather in God. Sara. But give me leave to say. Abraham. Can ever God his word once said unsay▪ Not not, and therefore be you out of doubt, That God will keep▪ prospero him throughout. Sara. Yea, but will God have us to hazard him? Abraham. No hazarding it is where God doth guard him. Sara. My heart misgiveth some mishap Abraham. I nother dread nor doubt of any hap. Sara. There is in hand some secret enterpryze. Abraham. What ere it be, it doth from God aryze, Sara. At lest, if what it were you witted. Abraham. I shall ere long, if God so list. Sara. So long away the child will near abide. Abraham. For that our God will well enough provide. Sara. Yea but the ways now full of dangers are. Abraham. Who dies in following God needs never care. Sara. If he should dieth, est farewell our good days. Abraham. God doth foresett men's dying times always. Sara. It were much better here to sacrifyze. Abraham. What ever you think, God thinks otherwise▪ Sara. Well then Sir, sith it must be so The grace of God with both you go. Adieu my son. Isaac. Good mother eke adieu. Sara. My son obey thy father still, And God thee save: that if it be his will Thou mayst in health return right soon again. My child I can not me refreyne But that I needs must kiss the now. Isaac. Good mother, if it should not trouble you, I would desire you one thing ere I went. Sara. Say on my son: for I am well content To grant thee thy request. Isaac. I humbly do you pray To put this grief away. These tears of yours refreyne, I shall return again (I hope) in better plight, Than now I am in sight: And therefore stay this grief and wo. Abraham. My fellows: we have now to go Good six days journey ere we rest: See that your carriages be priest And all the things that we shall need. The Company. Sir, as for that let us take heed. Do you no more but only show your william. Abraham. On then: and God be with you still. The mighty God who of his goodness aye, From time to time even to this present day, So kind and gracious unto us hath be, Be helpful still both unto you and me. Deal wisely howsoever that you far: I hope this journey which we going are Shall be performed happily. Sara. Alas alas full little wot I When I shall see you all again. The Lord now with you all remain. Isaac. Good mother God you guide. Abraham. Farewell. The Company. God guide, and keep you through his grace. Abraham. Gowe on Sirs, let us hence apace. Satan. But is not this enough to make me mad, That whereas I make every man to gad, And all the world to follow after me, If they my finger do but held up see, And there withal set all things on a roar: Yet for all that I never could the more This false old fellow bring unto my lure, For any thing that yet I can procure? Behold he is departed from this place Gods will full bend tobey in every case, Although the matter never be so strange. But yet it may be that his mind will change, Or that he shall him sacrifyze in deed, And so he shall if I may help him speed. For if he do, than Isaac shall be dead, Whereby my heart shall be delivered Of that same fear lest God in him fulfil, The threat whereby he promised me to spill. And if he change his mind, then may I say The gold is won. for may I once so play My part, as for to make him disobey Almighty God's commandment, or repine: Then were he banished from the grace divine. That is the mark whereat I always shoot, Now high thee cowl, set forth the better foot: Let's run apace, and by some cunning drift Foil him in field, or put him to his shift. A Pawze. Abraham. My children: this is now the third day That we have traveled making little stay. Here must you tarry: as for me, I will With Isaac go yet further onward still, Unto a place from hence yet distant more Which God almighty showed me before, Where I must pray and offer sacrifice As he requires. Wherefore in any wise Abide you here, and stir not hence. But thou Son Isaac shalt go with me as now: For God requires in this behalf thy presence. The Shepherds. Sir, sith you forbidden us we will not hence. Abraham. This bundle unto him betake, And I the fire and knife will take. We shall (God willing) come again right soon But in the mean while, wots ye what to done? Pray ye to God both for yourselves and us. Alas, alas, was never wight, ywus. Shepherds. We will not fail. Abraham. That had such need as I Well Sirs, I say no more but God be wy. Shepherd's And with you too. Half the Shepherds. It greatly mazeth me, Half the Shepherds. And me likewyze. Half the Shepherds. And me too, for too see Him so dismayed which hath so stoutly borne All haps that have befallen him heretooforne. Half the Shepherds. To say he is afraid of war Debate, or strife, or any jar It were no reason: for we know, Abimelech the king did show Such honour to our maisterward, That he not only had regard To visit him, but eke did knit A league with him which lasteth yet, And as for household matters, what Can he desire which he hath not? Half the Shepherds. He lives in outward peace and rest: But age perchance doth work unrest. Half the Shepherds. Of zunnes he hath but only one But in the world more such are none. His cattle thrive in such great store, As God doth seem to give him more, Than he himself can wish or crave. Half the Shepherds. Nothing ye can so perfect have, But always somewhat is amiss. I pray to God him so to bliss, As soon to cure this his disease. Half the Shepherds. Amen, say I, if it him please. Half the Shepherds. Sure I suppoze how ere the case doth stand He hath this time some weighty thing in hand. The song of the Shepherds. As huge as is the world we see With all the things that in it be, Yet nothing is so strong and sure, That can for ever here endure. Almighty God which all maintains, Can nothing spy that aye remains, Except himself: all else each one Endure short time, and soon are gone. The sun with bright and burning beams Goes casting forth his cheerful gleams, As long as day in sky doth last. Then darksome night doth over cast, All kind of things both fowl and fair, With coal-black wings aloft in air. And of the moon what shall we say, Which never keepeth at a stay? Sometimes with horns she doth appear: Sometime half 〈◊〉: now thick, now clear: Anon with round and fulsome face The night she fro the sky doth chase. The twincling stars above on high Run rolling round about the sky, One while with wether fair and clear, Another while with lowering cheer. Two days together match, and ye Them like in all points shall not see. The one doth pass more swift away, The other longer while doth stay. The one, as though it did us spite, Bereeves us of the cheerful light: The other with his colour bright Doth joy our heart and dim our sight. One burns the world with heat from skies, With frost and cold another dies. With purple, green, blue, white, and read The earth erewhile is overspread. Anon a blast of nipping cold Makes freshest things look sear and old. The rivers with their waters moist Above their banks are often hoist, And pass their bounds with rage so far, That they the ploughman's hope do mar. And afterward they fall within Their channels, running lank and thin. And therefore whoso doth him ground, On awght that in the world is found, Beneath or in the starry skies, I say I count him nothing wyze. What then of him is to be said, Whose hope on man is wholly stayed? Each living creature subject is To endless inconueniencis: And yet among them all, the sun, In all his course which he doth run, Beholdeth not a feebler wight, Than man is in his chiefest plight. For he that is most wise and stout, Is so besieged round about, And so assailed with vices strong, That often he is thrown along. What a fool is he, whose heart Thinks to be free from woe and smart, So long as he doth live on mould? But if that any creature wowld Be sure taccumplish that desire: He must go set his heart more higher. Whereof our master rightly may A good example be that way. Half the Shepherds. The best I think that can be now espied, Is for too draw us one aside, That each of us may by himself alone Pray God to sand our master which is gone, A safe return with gladness. gowe. Half the Shepherds. I will not be behind I trow. A pause. Isaac. My father. Abraham. Alas a poor father am I Isaac. Sir here is wood, with fire, and knife ready: But as for sheep or lamb I see none here. For you to offer. Abraham. O my son most dear, God will provide. Abide thou here I say, While I to God a little while do pray. Isaac. Good father go: but yet I pray you show Me whereupon this grief of yours doth grow, Which doth (I see) so greatly you appall. Abraham. At my return, my son, thou shalt know all. But in the mean time pray thyself here too▪ Isaac. It is good reason that I should so do. And therewithal I will each thing address, That first this wood may be in readiness. This billet first shall gin the order here: Then this, then that shall close together near. Thus all these things are ready now and priest. My father shall provide for all the rest. And now O God I will aside retire, To pray to thee, as reason doth require. Sara. The more we live, the more we see, alas, What life it is that in this world we pass. Was never woman borne upon the mould, That for her husband or her issue could Herself with me in happiness compare. But yet I have endured such grief and care These last three days since they went hence, that well I am not able for my life to tell, Which of the twain hath greater to me been, The former joy, or present pain I mean Which I have felt these last 3. days, since they Have been away: for nother night nor day Have I ta'en rest, because my mind doth run On nothing but my husband and my son. And of a truth I was to blame as tho, In that I suffered them away to go, And went not with them. Of the six days three, Alas but three my God, yet passed be, And yet three more my patience still must prove. Alas my God which seest me from above, Both outwardly and inwardly always, Uowtsafe to shorten these three years I say, For were they much more shorter than they be, They be not days, but months & years to me My God, thy promise puts me out of doubt: But if thou long delay the falling out, I fear I shall have need of greater strength, To bear the pain in holding out at length. Wherefore my God, now grant thou unto me I may with joy right soon my husband see, And eke mine Isaac in mine arms embrace Returned in health and safety to this place. Abraham. O God my God, thou seest my open heart, And of my thowghts thou seest each secret part, So that my case I need not to declare. Thou seest, alas thou seest my woeful care. Thou only canst me rid of my disease, By granting me (if that it might thee please) One only thing the which I dare not crave. Satan. another song than this yet must we have▪ Abraham. What? what? and is it possible that God's Behest and deed should ever be at odds? Can he deceive? even to this present day He hath kept touch in all that he did say. And can he now unsay his word? no, no. But yet it would ensue he should do so, If he my son should take away as now. What say I? O my God, my God, sith thou Dost bid me, I will do it. Is it right That I so sinful and so wretched wight, Should fall to scanning of the judgements Of thy most perfect pure commandments? Satan. My case goes ill. O cowl we must yet found Some other way tassault this hagards' mind. Abraham. It maybe that I have imagined Amiss: the more it is examined, The more the case seems strange. It was perchance Some dream or wicked fiend that at a glance Did put this matter in my head for why, So cruel offerings please not God pardie. He cursed Cain for kill of his brother: And shall I kill mine Isaac and none other? Satan. Not no. Never do so. Abraham. Alas alas what meant I so to say? Forgive me, Lord, and pluck me back again From this lewd race wherein my sin 'gan go: O Lord my God deliver me from this wo. This hand of mine shall certainly him smite. For sith it is thy will, it is good right It should be done. Wherefore I will obey. Satan. But I will keep you from it if I may. Abraham. So doing I should make my God untrue. For he hath told me that there should ensue, So great a people out of this my son, As over all the earth should spread and run. And therefore if that Isaac once were killed, I see not how this covenant could be held. Alas Lord, hast thou made him then for nowght? Alas Lord, is it vain that thou so often Hast promised me such things in Isaake, As thou would never do for other's sake? Alas and can the things repealed be, Which thou so often hast promised unto me? Alas and shall my hope have such an end? Whereto should then man's hope & trusting tend? The sum of all I minded to have said, Is that to thee I heartily have prayed, To give me issue: hoping that when thou Hadst granted it, I should have lived now In joy and pleasure: but I see full well, The contrary to my desire befell. For of my sons, which were no more but twain, To put away the one myself was fain: And of the other (O hard extremity) Both father I, and tormenter must be, Yea tormenter, yea tormenter, alas. But art not thou the self same God, which was Contented for too hear me patiently, When I did pray to thee so instantly, Even in the mids of all thy wrath and ire, When Sodom thou didst mind to burn with fire? Now than my God and King, wilt thou say nay, When for myself I unto thee do pray? Whom I begat him must I now deface. O God, at leastwise grant me yet this grace. Satan. Grace? in my book that word I never found. Abraham. Some other man my son to death may wownd Alas my Lord, and must this hand of mine To such a stroke against all kind decline? How will it touch his woeful mother near, When of his violent death she needs shall here? If I allege thy will for my defence, Who will believe that thou wilt so dispense? And if men do not credit it: what fame Will fly abroad to my perpetual shame? I shall be shunned of all men more and less, As pattern of extremest cruelness. And as for thee, who will unto thee pray, Or on thy word and promise ever stay? Alas, may these whore hears of mine abide The sorrow that is likely to betide? Have I already past so many dangers, Have I so traveled countries that are strangers, In heat and cold, in thirst and hunger still, Continewally obedient to thy will: Have I so long time lived lingeringly, Now in the end to die unhappily? O heart of mine, clive, clive, asunder clive: And linger here no longer time alive. The speedier death, the lesser is the grief. Satan. Now is he down, if God sand no relief. Abraham. What said I? what intent I? O my God Which didst created and make me of a clod, Thou art my Lord, and I thy servant true. Out of my native country thou me drew. How oftentimes hast thou assured me, That unto mine this land should lotted be? And when thou gave me Isaac, didst not thou Most faithfully and constantly avow, That out of him such offspring should be bred, As should this land throughout all overspread? Then if thou wilt needs take him now away, What should I thereunto against thee say? He is thine own, I had him of thy gift. Take him therefore. Thou knowest best how to I know thou wilt to life him raze again, Rather than that thy promise should be vain. Howbeit Lord, thou knowest I am a man, No good at all or do or think I can. But yet thy power which aye is invincible, Doth to belief make all things possible. Hence flesh, hence fond affections every eachone: You human passions let me now alone. Nothing to me is good or reasonable, Which to God's will is not agreeable. Satan. Well, well, than Isaac shall die: and we What will ensue thereof shall after see. O false old hag, thou mak'st me soft to groan. Abraham. See where my son walks up & down alone. O silly child! O wretched men, death often Within our bosoms lodgeth him full soft, When furthest of we take him for too be. And therefore right great need always have we To lead such life, as if we fain would die. But wottest thou my son (alas) what I Intent to say? Isaac. What pleaseth you good father. Abraham. Alas, that word doth kill my heart the rather. Yet must I better courage to me take. Isaac my son: alas my heart doth quake. Isaac. Father, me thinks that fear hath you dismayed. Abraham. O my dear child: it is as thou hast said. Alas my God. Isaac. Sir if it may you please, Be bold to tell me what doth you diseaze. Abraham. Ah my dear child, witted thou what thing it were Mercy good Lord, thy mercy grant us here. My son my son, beholdest thou this line. This wood, this fire, and eke this knife of mine? This gear my Isac serveth all for thee. Satan. Of God and nature enemy though I be: Yet is this thing so hard a case to see, That even almost it is a grief to me. Abraham. Alas my son. Isaac. Alas my father dear, Upon my knees I humbly pray you here, My youthful years to pity, if you may. Abraham. O of mine age the only staff and stay, My darling, O my darling, feign would I That I for thee a thousand times might die: But God will have it otherwise as now. Isaac. Alas my father, mercy I kry you. Alas alas I want both tongue and hand, against you in mine own defence to stand. But see, but see my tears for nature's sake, None other fence I can or will now make against you. I am Isaac, none other But Isaac, your only by my mother. I am your son that through yourself hath life And will you let it be bereft with knife? Howbeit, if you do't to ' hay the Lord, Then on my knees I humbly do accord, To suffer all that ever God and you, Shall think expedient for too do as now. But yet what deeds, what deeds of mine deserve This death O God, my God my life preserve. Abraham. Alas my son, God hath commanded me To make an offering unto him of thee, To my great grief, to my great grief and pine, And endless wo. Isaac. Alas poor mother mine▪ How many deaths shall my death give to thee? But tell me yet, my killer who shall be? Abraham. Who? my dear son! my God my God grant grace, That I may die now present in this place. Isaac. O father mine. Abraham. Alas, no whit that name Agrees to me. yet should we be to blame If we obeyed not God. Isaac. Sir I am ready. Satan. Who would have thought he would have been so steady? Isaac. Now than my father, well I see in deed That I must die. Lord help me at my need. My God, my God, now strengthen thou my mind And at thy hand such favour let me found, That of myself I may the upper hand Obtain, against this sudden death to stand. Now bind me, kill me, burn me, I am priest To suffer all, sith God so thinks it best. Abraham. Ah what a thing, a what a sight is here! Mercy good God, now for thy mercy dear. Isaac. Thou Lord hast made me and created me, Thou Lord upon the earth hast lodged me, Thou hast me given the grace to knowledge thee: Yet have I not so well obeyed thee My Lord and God as duty doth require: Which me to pardon loud I thee desire. And whereas I to you my Lord and father Have not always such honour yielded rather, As your great kindness did deserve to have: Therefore forgiveness humbly I do crave. My mother: she is now a great way hence, Wherefore my God vowtsafe her thy defence, And so preserve her through thy special grace, As she no whit be troubled at my case. Here Isaac is bound. Alas, I go to deep and darksome night: Farewell as now for aye all worldly light. But sure I am I shall at God's hand found far better things than these I leave behind. Good father, I am ready at your william. Satan. Was never child that spoke with better skill. I am ashamed, and therefore take my flight. Abraham. Alas my son, before thou leave this light And that my hand do give thunkindly blow, Upon thy mouth let me a kiss bestow. Isac my son, let this same arm of mine Which must thee kill, embrace this neck of thine Isaac. With right good will and hearty thanks. Abraham. You skies the great gods work aye glistering in our eyes Which well have seen how God (who still is true) Did me with fruit by Isaac here indew: And thou O land five times to me behight, Bear witness that my fingers do not smite This child of mine for hatred or for vengeance, But only for to yield my dew obeisance, To that great God which hath created me, And all the things that live or move or be: Who saves the good that put in him their trust, And stroyes the bad that serve their wicked lust. Bear witness that I faithful Abraham, Through gods great goodness still so steadfast am As notwithstanding all that human wit Can say or think, to make me now to flit: In one belief I ever do remain, That not one word of God doth happen vain. But now my hand, high time it is that thou Do gather strength to execute thy vow. Hear the knife falls out of his hand. That by thy kill of mine only son, Thy deadly stroke may through my heart eke run, Isaac. What do I here? Alas my father dear! Abraham. A, a, a, a. Isaac. I am at your william. Am I now well? your pleasure then fulfil. Abraham. Did ever man so piteous case yet found? Was ever any friendship yet so kind? And was there ever yet so piteous case. I die my son, I die before thy face. Isaac. Away with all this fear of yours I pray. Will you from God yet longer time me stay? Abraham. Hear he intendeth to strike him. Alas who ever yet so stout a mind Within so weak a body erst did found? Alas my son I pray thee me forgive Thy death. It kills me that thou may not live. The Angel. Abraham, Abraham. Abraham. My God here I am. Angel. Into the sheath put up thy knife, And see thou do not take his life, Nor hurt the child in any wise. For now I see before mine eyes, What love thou bearest to the Lord, And honour unto him avord, In that thou dost so willingly Thy son thus offer even to die. Abraham. O God. Isaac. O God. Abraham. O Lord a man may see. Hear he takes the sheep. How good it is obedient for to be To thee: the case is fitly furnished. I will go take him tied by the head. Angel. O Abraham. Abraham. Lord here I am. Angel. Thus saith the Lord, I promise thee By my eternal majesty, And by my Godhead: sith that thou Hast showed thyself so willing now, Me to obey, as to forbear Thy only Isaks life: I swear, That maugre Satan to his face, I will thee bliss and all thy race. Considerest thou the lighsom sky, And on the shore the gravel dry? I will increase thine offspring more, Than stars in heaven, or sand on shore. Their enemies they shall overcome, And of thy body one shall come, By whom my blessing shall spread forth On all the nations of the earth. By him the treasures of my love And mighty power, shall from above Be shedded down on all mankind, Because thou hast obeyed my mind. THE CONCLUSION. SEE here the mighty power of earnest faith, And what reward the true obedience payth Wherefore ye Lords & Ladies I you pray▪ When you from hence shall go again away, Let not this true and noble story part Out of the mind and tables of your heart. It is no lie, it is no painted tale, It is no feigned jest nor fable stolen. It is a deed, a deed right true, of one That was Gods faithful servant long agone. Wherefore ye masters and ye mistresses, You Lords and Ladies all both more and less, You rich and poor, ye sorry and ye sad, And you also whose hearts with mirth are glad, Behold, and look upon yourselves each one, In this so fair example here foregone. Such are true glasses, showing to our sight, The fair, the fowl, the crooked, and the right. For whoso doth unfeignedly endeavour (As Abraham) to keep God's sayings ever, And (notwithstanding all the reasons which His mind allegeth backward him to twitch) Doth still refer himself and all his deeds To God: with much more happy issue speeds, Than he can wish: for come there storms or winds, Come grief, come death, come cares of sundry kinds, Let earthquake come▪ let heaven & skies down fall, Let dark confusion overcovet all: The faithful heart so steadfastly is ground, As it abideth ever unconfownded. Contrariwise the man that trust 〈◊〉 His own selfwit, thereafter for to do, And standeth in his own conceit shall found, The more he goes, the more he comes behind. And every little puff and sudden blast From his right course shall quite & clean him cast Again, his own selfwilled nature will Him overthrow and all his doings spill. Now thou great God which makest us to know The great abuses which do plainly show The wretched world to be perverted quite, Make all of us to take such warning by't, As each of us may far the better by The lively faith set forth before our eye In Abraham that holy parsonage, Whose doings have been played upon this stage. Lo masters here the happy recompense Which God doth give you for your gentle silence. FINIS. All praise and thanks be given to God. Amen.