"Everyman," With Other Interludes, Including Eight Miracle Plays Part 39

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ Then will I pardon it for those same forty's sake.

_Abraham._ Be not angry, Lord, though I speak undiscreetly.

_Pater Clestis._ Utter thy whole mind and spare me not hardly.

_Abraham._ Peradventure there may be thirty found among them.

_Pater Clestis._ May I find thirty, I will nothing do unto them.

_Abraham._ I take upon me too much, Lord, in thy sight.

_Pater Clestis._ No, no, good Abraham, for I know thy faith is right.

_Abraham._ No less, I suppose, than twenty can it have.

_Pater Clestis._ Could I find twenty, that city would I save.

_Abraham._ Once yet will I speak my mind, and then no more.

_Pater Clestis._ Spare not to utter so much as thou hast in store.

_Abraham._ And what if there might be ten good creatures found?

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 circ.u.mcision 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 Clestis._ 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.

ACT IV

MOSES SANCTUS

_Pater Clestis._ Still so increaseth the wickedness of man, That I am moved with plagues him to confound.

His weakness to aid, I do the best I can, Yet he regardeth me no more than doth a hound, My word and promise in his faith taketh no ground; He will so long walk in his own l.u.s.ts at large, That naught he shall find his folly to discharge.

Since Abraham's time, which was my true elect, Ishmael have I found both wicked, fierce and cruel: And Esau in mind with hateful murder infect.

The sons of Jacob to l.u.s.ts unnatural fell, And into Egypt did they their brother sell.

Laban to idols gave faithful reverence, Dinah was corrupt through Shechem's violence.

Reuben abused his father's concubine, Judah got children of his own daughter-in-law: Yea, she in my sight went after a wicked line.

His seed Onan spilt, his brother's name to withdraw.

Achan lived here without all G.o.dly awe.

And now the children of Israel abuse my power In so vile manner that they move me every hour.

_Moses._ Pacify thy wrath, sweet Lord, I thee desire, As thou art gentle, benign, and patient, Lose not that people in fierceness of thine ire For whom thou hast shewed such tokens evident, Converting this rod into a lively serpent, And the same serpent into this rod again, Thy wonderful power declaring very plain.

For their sakes also puttest Pharaoh to pain By ten divers plagues, as I shall here declare.

By blood, frogs, and lice; by flies, death, botch and blain;[614]

By hail, by gra.s.shoppers, by darkness, and by care; By a sudden plague, all their first gotten ware, Thou slewest, in one night, for his fierce cruelness.

From that thy people withhold not now thy goodness.

_Pater Clestis._ I certify thee, my chosen servant Moses, That people of mine is full of unthankfulness.

_Moses._ Dear Lord, I know it, alas! yet weigh their weakness, And bear with their faults, of thy great bounteousness.

In a flaming bush having to them respect, Thou appointedst me their pa.s.sage to direct, And through the Red Sea thy right hand did us lead Where Pharaoh's host the flood overwhelmed indeed.

Thou wentest before them in a s.h.i.+ning cloud all day And in the dark night in fire thou shewedst their way.

Thou sentest them manna from heaven to be their food.

Out of the hard stone thou gavest them water good.

Thou appointedst them a land of milk and honey.

Let them not perish for want of thy great mercy.

_Pater Clestis._ Content they are not with foul nor yet with fair, But murmur and grudge as people in despair.

As I sent manna they had it in disdain, Thus of their welfare they many times complain.

Over Amalek I gave them the victory.

_Moses._ Most glorious Maker, all that is to thy glory.