Thou mayest reclaim him, though he goeth now astray, And bring him again, of thy abundant grace, To the fold of faith, he acknowledging his trespa.s.s.

_Pater Clestis._ Thou knowest I have given to him convenient s.p.a.ce, With lawful warnings, yet he amendeth in no place.

The natural laws, which I wrote in his heart, He hath outraced, all goodness putting apart: Of health the covenant, which I to Adam made, He regardeth not, but walketh a d.a.m.nable trade.

_Noah._ All this is true, Lord, I cannot thy words reprove, Let his weakness yet thy merciful goodness move.

_Pater Clestis._ No weakness is it, but wilful working all, That reigneth in man through mind diabolical.

He shall have therefore like as he hath deserved.

_Noah._ Lose him not yet, Lord, though he has deeply swerved.

I know thy mercy is far above his rudeness, Being infinite, as all other things are in thee.

His folly therefore now pardon of thy goodness, And measure it not beyond thy G.o.dly pity.

Esteem not his fault farther than help may be, But grant him thy grace, as he offendeth so deeply, Thee to remember, and abhor his misery.

Of all goodness, Lord, remember thy great mercy, To Adam and Eve, breaking thy first commandment.

Them thou relievedst with thy sweet promise heavenly, Sinful though they were, and their lives negligent.

I know that mercy with thee is permanent, And will be ever so long as the world endure: Then close not thy hand from man, which is thy creature.

Being thy subject he is underneath thy cure, Correct him thou mayest and so bring him to grace.

All lieth in thy hands, to leave or to allure, Bitter death to give, or grant most sovereign solace.

Utterly from man avert not then thy face; But let him savour thy sweet benevolence Somewhat, though he feel thy hand for his offence.

_Pater Clestis._ My true servant Noah, thy righteousness doth move me Somewhat to reserve for man's posterity.

Though I drown the world, yet will I save the lives Of thee and thy wife, thy three sons and their wives, And of each kind two, to maintain you hereafter.

_Noah._ Blessed be thy name, most mighty merciful Maker, With thee to dispute, it were inconvenient.

_Pater Clestis._ Why dost thou say so? Be bold to speak thy intent.

_Noah._ Shall the other die without any remedy?

_Pater Clestis._ I will drown them all, for their wilful wicked folly That man hereafter thereby may know my power, And fear to offend my goodness day and hour.

_Noah._ As thy pleasure is, so might it always be, For my health thou art and soul's felicity.

_Pater Clestis._ After that this flood have had his raging pa.s.sage This shall be to thee my covenant everlasting.

The seas and waters so far never more shall rage, As all flesh to drown, I will so temper their working; This sign will I add also, to confirm the thing, In the clouds above, as a seal or token clear, For safeguard of man, my rainbow shall appear.

Take thou this covenant for an earnest confirmation Of my former promise to Adam's generation.

_Noah._ I will, blessed Lord, with my whole heart and mind.

_Pater Clestis._ Farewell then, just Noah, here leave I thee behind,

_Noah._ Most mighty Maker, ere I from hence depart, I must give thee praise from the bottom of my heart.

Whom may we thank, Lord, for our health and salvation But thy great mercy and goodness undeserved?

Thy promise, in faith, is our justification, As it was Adam's when his heart therein rested, And as it was theirs which therein also trusted.

This faith was grounded in Adam's memory, And clearly declared in Abel's innocency.

Faith in that promise old Adam did justify, In that promise faith made Eve to prophecy.

Faith in that promise proved Abel innocent, In that promise faith made Seth full obedient.

That faith taught Enoch on G.o.d's name first to call, And made Methuselah the oldest man of all.

That faith brought Enoch to so high exercise, That G.o.d took him up with him into Paradise.

Of that faith the want made Cain to hate the good, And all his offspring to perish in the flood.

Faith in that promise preserved both me and mine: So will it all them which follow the same line.

Not only this gift thou hast given me, sweet Lord, But with it also thine everlasting covenant Of trust forever, thy rainbow bearing record, Never more to drown the world by flood inconstant; Alack! I cannot to thee give praise condign, Yet will I sing here with heart meek and benign.

[_Then in a great voice he begins an antiphon, "O Oriens Splendor,"

falling upon his knees while the chorus follows with instruments, as before._

O most orient clearness, and light shining of the sempiternal brightness! O clear sun of justice and heavenly righteousness, come hither and illuminate the prisoner sitting in the dark prison and shadow of Eternal Death.

ACT III

OF FAITHFUL ABRAHAM

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 a.s.sistance of thy goodness.

_Pater Clestis._ 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 unG.o.dly.

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 unG.o.dly: In the judge of all: be never such a fury.

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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]