since you the handmaid gave And said of her you shall raise seed to me I thought this was enough to make her free I' th' house but now I see 't is otherways Favours of this kind have sudden decays However your desire I will fulfill Hagar be gone it is thy Mistress will Ang. Well said my friend for I desire the same Thy Family must from Isaack have its name And blessing too Ab. Thy will I shall obey Come Sirs get up and make no more delay The Lord commands whose laws are all to me Just though contrary they to nature be This Bread and Water take and so go hence You have abus'd your Mistress patience Though I know nothing I must not controul This peevish humour grieves my very Soul Chorus Each day hath its succeeding night Clouds sometimes darken the Suns light The Flowers that florid are to day Tomorrow Frost nips quite away Youth like a shaddow flies and age Sayth 't is my turn to tread the Stage Life must give place to grim-fac'd Death There 's nothing fixed made of Earth But all dance round and Circle make While one anothers place doth take The passions likewise have their turns One Breast with Love and Hatred burns One's sad and merry Melancholly And all sometimes are counted folly Honours and pleasures are so brittle That most wise men esteem them little In fine there 's nought but thoughts of Heaven That bringeth Wages home at Even Angel Abraham Devil Faith Flesh Despair Ang. Abra'm my faithful Servant do'st thou hear I must give thee a visit once a year Iâ—ave found thee perfect always hitherto And now I am come to try if thou wilt do What I command thee without stay or grudge Remember once thou call'd me righteous Judge Ab. I 'm here speak Lord thy Servant hears and will Count all thy precepts Just and them fulfill Ang. What could'st thou freely part withal for me Ab. What could I not since I have all from thee Ang. Then thou must take thy Son thine only Son And sacrifice him so my will is done The Mount Moriah's fittest for thy turn There thou shalt lead young Isaack and him burn This action Abraham will please me well Ab. My Lord if you command I 'le go to Hell Devil Fond fool give o're Religion makes thee mad Heav'ns Minions never yet rejoycing had Without a damp their sweet is mix'd with soure It is not possible for humane power To act what he commands being as strict As those who bid men without straw make brick Faith Give o're thou murd'ring Sp'rit do not delude The friend of God all whose commands are good If he should fear or fret at his desire Thou canst not keep him from a fiercer fire Than he is bid to kindle for his Son That 's Brimston and will last when this is done And yet will be no pleasing Sacrifice To God nor him do Abraham and be wise Flesh What Father ever yet so cruel was To Murther his own Child without a cause View but these Limbs and features of his face His sparkling Eyes then there will be no space Left in thy harden'd heart for cruelty A faithful man will never Butcher be Of humane Bodies Faith Faint flesh those Eyes and Features are but toys That fade with time and age there 's greater Joys Laid up for Isaack immortality What needs thou care then if he burned be Besides hast thou not heard how Phaenix rare Burned to ashes doth her self repair Out of the same being first a little Worm If thou believe thou need'st not fear this storm Despair Thou canst not be belov'd of God since he Bids thee perform such monstrous cruelty They say he 's merciful if it be so Thou may'st lye still and never think to go To Mount Moriah whom he loves he loves But this command rather his hatred proves Faith This is an old tone and bespeaks thee fool Know that he hath given ev'ry man his Soul Which if he back again from him requires By Famine Sword or Pestilence or Fires 'T is never to destroy that he doth this But for removall to Eternal bliss Ab. Give o're give o're now it is almost day I will no more dispute Believe and pray I will for success on my loved host I spend but time my God is at the cost He gave me Isaack and desires that he In fire and flames should from the Altar be Sent whence he came Sarah Abraham Servants Sar. My Lord I fear you have a troubled head For I could scarcely hold you in your Bed Tell me your Dream it fearful is I 'm sure For I have Dreamed too and can't endure Now when awake no not to think of it I saw a Bow from Heav'n bent and hit My darling Ab. Sarah then our Dreams are one God bids me go and burn my little Son Sar. Burn him alas I see I laugh'd too soon Then must my hopes and comforts all be gone Ab. Peace Sarah it is God requires the Lad And he shall have him if I twenty had Can I bestow them better than to give My Maker all in whom I move and live Sar. My Lord 't is but a Dream as yet forbear Such things require a double Messenger Ab. Dearest thou know'st my Dreams are always true Though such a Dream as this I never knew However honey let us with submission Part with the Lad obeying Heav'ns commission His pow'er is great so is his mercy too Thou know'st not what he is about to do For I may safely with the Boy return And if I do not there 's no cause to mourn We are but as were and he another May give whom thou may'st call Isaack's Brother The promiser is all-sufficient We can have no just cause then to repent Our Piety which always promise hath Of grace and freedom from Eternal Death Sar. My Lord he is your own and God your Friend Obey him mean while I will Prayers send For him to Heav'n as soon as you are gone And beg he may not give me cause to moan Who laugh'd before Ab. Go Sadle me my Ass and two of you Must go with me where yet I do not know Call my Boy softly tell him he must rise To see his Father offer Sacrifice Go to the Log-pile and choose out some wood Cleave none for use but that 's exceeding good Ser. Sir all is ready Ab. Sarah fare thee well Still hope in God the Lad may live and dwell Again with thee his Mother till he come To mans ' state or another in his room Sar. My doubts are over may the Lord direct You in your Journey for if he protect Or kill the Boy I shall leave to complain Perhaps he doth intend a greater gain Than either you or I as yet expect Kiss me dear Child and thou my God effect The present work my Husband is but clay And may stretch out his hand another way Than is thy will again kiss me my Son Then go with courage Heav'ns
Thou' rt as my Son whom God Almighty bless This he pronounced with such vehemency That Tears appear'd in his melting Eye Though Pow'r and Policy bid him refrain His face is wash'd and he returns again And bids them set on Bread 't is quickly done For all the rest together him alone And for the Egyptians by themselves whose meat Was not the same with that which Joseph eat Being unto them a great abomination To feed on such things as the Hebrew Nation Now all is ready Chaplain say the Grace And let each Stranger set as is his place He that is eldest bid him first go in And let the rest assede then Benjamin Judge you if Joseph did not give them cause To think that he once their Domestick was He can so well their Birth and Age discern They marvel at it yet doth nothing learn Come Trenchers here Carver cut up this Dish And reach me hither that same boyled Fish Sir take this Mess and you and you and you You 're welcome all they thank him with a Bow But Oh! methinks that young man is not serv'd In a Cooks Shop I would have no man starv'd Here Ramses reach the last man this from me This seen the rest did wonder why 't should be That of him he should take such special care And furnish with more than a five-fold share As Meat of all sorts so the Drink was free For Joseph said with you I 'le merry be The Grace-Cup's over now let us go on To sing of all the Rulers kindness shown Their Sacks he first commands to fill and then Their money to be put in them again Next take my Cup my Silver Cup said he And in Ben's Sack 's mouth let it hidden be With his Corn-money when he hath it paid All is perform'd My Lord as you have said The joyful Brethren e'r it was light day That Morning with their Loads are sent away Though they have scarcely past the City Walls When Hue and Cry's sent out Constable calls Stand thankless Wretches tell me what 's the cause That ye have thus ev'n broken Natures Laws And all the Rules of Hospitalitie You said we 're true men but ye robbers be My Lords both drinking and divining Cup Deny it not you you have taken up Was this requital for your Noble Feast Restor't again may be ye took 't in Jest Nay but you Jest said they we hope your Lord Hath sent you unto us with no such word For though we here be Strangers yet the chief At home we are we need not play the thief Did we not with us treble Money bring Why then should we have stol'n this petty thing If you among us do the Goblet find Hang him that took it and the rest Slaves bind You 've said enough yet it must not be so But he that took it Servant back shall go And you be blameless for it were too much That one should die and th' rest be kept for such A crime then to 't said Reuben to the rest Pull down your Sacks and open them in haste Let this unthought-of search with me begin And so go on to Brother Benjamin When all of them had narrowly been try'd Except the last then was the Cup descry'd Which brought upon them such a sudden fear That some their cloths rent some their hair did tear To see these mourning Brethren 't was great pity Loading their Asses turning to the City When Judah and his Brethren too were come To Joseph's House expecting their last doom He bow'd and said What shall we say unto My Lord What shall we speak What shall we do To prove us guiltless sure God hath found out Our hidden fault for which without all doubt He doth us punish wherefore we are thine Because the Cup is found with Benjamin The Fact is too apparent yet our God Who searcheth Hearts knows our intended load Was Corn not Plate but since it must be so His will be done and we no further go This when the man had heard he answer made I never yet on any burthens laid More than I thought was just then God forbid That I should any keep but him who did Convey away my Cup 't is only he That I adjudge my Servant for to be As for the rest let them go home in peace I 'le use him well although he live by Grace Then Judah with a look that spoke his fears Said Good my Lord graciously deign your ears Unto a few things that I must express About my Brother Ben. his business Didst thou not strictly of us all enquire If we had yet a Brother more or Sire We answer'd Yes a comely aged man Call'd Israel and dwells in Canaan Who keeps at home with him our youngest Brother His Darling being dead who was another Which two fair Rachel to our Father bore This makes him love the living Lad the more And thee require of us more earnestly His coming down that thou might set thine Eye Upon him but we all with one accord Said this can scarce be granted to my Lord For if his Father part with him we fear He will not live with us another year At this thou vexed from us turn'd thy Face Say'ng bring him down or else my wonted Grace I will withdraw which when we did go home We told our ancient Father all in sum But had no answer till at last he said Rise get you down to Egypt for more aid But we remembring this thy threatning word Said none of us dare speak unto the Lord Or see his Face unless our Brother go To Egypt with us Surely it was so Which when our Father heard he sigh'd and said I thought the Corn had been already paid Must I the pledge of Rachel's love forsake Or else want Corn which I do so much lack Certainly this is hard I am right loath Seeing one is not now to part with both Poor Josephs death torments me yet with grief Only this Boy he gives me some relief If ye then seek me of him to deprive I must breath out my last and ye ne'r thrive This Sir said he if any truth there be In man was said by him and more to me You being Judge can any thing be worse Than for a Child to have the Fathers curse But if I could dispense with that what can I say to him when come to Canaan His life being bound with his of this I 'm sure Without the one the other can't endure Besides to him for this I surety came Saying if he come not let me bear the blame For ever Now let me the favour find To stay in place of him pray Sir be kind And send the Boy unto his Father back With joy that he in him may pleasure take Great Sir if you old Age admire relief Grant be not Author of our Fathers grief This dext ' rous Plea with Joseph took such place As it was soon known by his changed Face Whose frowns do vanish and his threats
will be done Ab. Behold my Servants do not you espy Above the rest a hill stands very high I and my little man must yonder go Mean while abide ye here Ser. My Lord why so May we not bear our Master company Ab. No If ye did perhaps ye'd hinder me From acting th' highest piece of Piety That ever yet was heard or seen with Eye Ser. Have we not seen the Sacrifice before Ab. 'T is true and yet in this will be much more Faith Resolution needful than when I For smaller matters Sacrifice or pray Ser. Good my Lord let us go to see the sight Ab. No no I cannot it will you affright Ser. We must contented be and you obey Hoping you will not from us make long stay Ab. I will return assoon as I have done 'T will be no pleasure to stay there alone Ser. Alone you cannot be this little Boy Can make a Wilderness a place of joy Ab. But I must leave him there my God commands Ser. First dearest Master tye your Servants hands For we will sooner far resolve to dye Than see you actor of such cruelty This is in jest Ab. No I must Sacrifice The Boy Heav'n bids me who I 'm sure is wife If I do freely act what he commands He either will approve or hold my hands Tnink you that I can any other thing Value above my All-sufficient King No no it is his mind and 't shall be mine In spight of all who ' gainst it do combine I think his Mother hath the greatest cause Who willingly submits to Heav'ns Lawes Bidding me act what my good God hath said For proof thereof she him incouraged To suffer valiantly Ser. Sir We are not to quest'on your intent Being our Master but a good event We will implore Ab. Come come my pretty boy This cloudy day may end in Sun-shine Joy Take up the Wood my Son I 'ave knife and fire We must fulfillers be of Heav'ns desire Chorus Eternal Wisdom when he made Sun Moon and Stars to each he said Take you your turnes you must the day Govern and you your Scepter sway I' th' night when men are gone to rest And think to sleep with quiet Breast This is Heav'ns Lawes and yet we see That men then most unquiet be Abram from Heaven hears a voice Which quickly marr'd his new made joys It bids him go and burn his Son Which is no sooner said than done And Sarah who in all mens thought Would have Abraham counted nought For harbouring such cruelty In 's Breast as he should Butcher be To his own Child contents and says Husband we may have happy days When Isaack 's gone then why should we Strive Abrams hinderers to be Go on Sir let your high desire Be hallowed with Heav'ns fire Isaack Abraham Angel Epilogue Isa O Father Father one thing yet we lack 〈◊〉 Lamb for offering you 'ave forgot to take â—hall I run back and make a quick return Ab. No no you need not that which I must burn God will provide come let us go together â—e find a Lamb my Boy when I come thither Isa Doth any clean Beast pasture on that hill Ab. That work which God begins he will fufill â—ut hark my Child dost thou not fear my God Isa Why doubt you that Ab. Then this thy load of Wood Must thee consume Isa But Father doth your God such Sacrifice equire Ab. It seems so now Isa Father be wise The Dev'l can change into a Saint of light May be 't was he that call'd you in the night Ab. No Child God's promise goeth far with me Who faith that none shall ever tempted be Above what they are able I do not fear Nor needest thou to shed a guiltless tear Isa My tender limbs will ne're endure the heat Ab. He 'll send his Angels to wipe off the sweat Isa My dearest Father is your heart so hard Can nothing this your enterprize retard Ab. Nothing my Child though I be full of love And grieve to kill thee yet since my Jehove Commands My faith doth overcome my sense And makes me with humanity dispence Boy thou must dye Isa I 'm glad it is for God Ab. None other should have made me lay this load On Isaacks tender shoulders Now my Child We 're at the place where I must Altar build Dig up the Turf and let us raise the Earth Isa Ah Father I 'm already out of Breath The thoughts of Death with the Sun's melting heat O'recometh me Oh see how I do sweat Is' t done enough Abra. Not yet it must bâ— higher That all the ashes may fall from the fire Now 't is enough come Child bring me the Wooâ— Isa 'T is here my Father Ab. It is very good All 's done so far my Boy thou must be bound Is Your will be done O that I may not swoun But with undaunted courage yield my breath To him who power hath of life and death â—t is my Maker's will and I submit â—oping by him to be kept from the pit â—â—fernal He will raise me up again With Saints and Angels ever to remain â—ehold my hands I 'le fold them for your ease Ab. Son knew I any way my God to please 〈◊〉 would not touch thee Isa I am now grown strong â—nd valiant too I count this death no wrong Abr. Thou must get up before I bind thy feet Isa Sir that your will I should perform is meet â—ow bind not hard I will not struggle much â—ut dearest Father kill me at first touch â—he knife is sharp enough and you are strong Ab. Dear Child I tremble and may strike thee wrong Isa Hold Father but a little let me pray 〈◊〉 Heav'n and first Lord teach me what to say â—y God look on me with a tender Eye â—nd pardon all my sins of Infancy â—â—en my Eyes before the knife come down â—hat while I live I may leap at the Crown â—epar'd for Martyrs Lord let me inherit â—e blessings promis'd by thy holy Spirit â—all call thy Angels to receive that Soul â—ho ne're as yet did willingly controul Thy will Sir now strike on for I have done Ab. No I must pray too e're I can go on O All-sufficient whose purer Eye Look'th with abhorrence on all cruelty Accept this Sacrifice make strong my arm Since thou best know'st that I intend no harm To my dear Child but that I may the name Receive when done of faithful Abraham Lord I believe raise feeble hand and heart To give the blow Now Child I strike Here. O! who holds mâ— Arm Ang. Stay Abram stay and do not any harm Unto thy Son I minded but to try If I could in thy faith a flaw espy Look but behind thee there 's the Sacrifice Lay hold of it and let young Isaack rise I 'm sure thou lov'st me 'bove each Earthly thing Since thou wast willing to make offering Of thy own flesh Touch not the hopeful Boy But let him to his Mother go with Joy
what to say To still their clamour only that they may Repair to thee for answer and receive What thou thinks meet I know 't is bread they crave The Famine now grown over all the Earth And every Creature suffering under dearth The Store-houses were opened and meat The moneyed Egyptians did eat Yet though he sold to many of the store The Famine waxed daily more and more Neither did Egypt only Victuals want But in all other Countryes Food was scant Yea even in Cana'n which was wont to be For plenteousness the Worlds Granary The Famine plac'd it self in every Face Which Jacob seeing cryed out Alass What shall we do we 'd better ne'r been born Then die for hunger yet I hear there 's Corn In Egypt up then get you down and try If of the Ruler you can any buy Go thither therefore all of you save one Him leave with me I cannot be alone Father said they our lives we owe to you Can we refuse then what you bid us do No Benjamin shall stay till we are come With all our Asses fully loaden home Your blessing Sir e'r we our Journey take We are all ready only that we lack That God's and mine your Journey prosper may Till ye return I 'le never cease to pray Your Money make full weight entreat the man Tell him the Famine's great in Canaan And that with others you are come to buy Egyptian Corn your wants that may supply Now unto Zoan Jacob's Sons are come Saying is the Lord the Governor at home We come from far O let 's obtain the grace To speak and shew him our disast'rous case Lo I am here said he your business At this they bow'd to the Earth and could express Nothing his Glory and their present grief Ties up their Tongues they cannot ask relief The Prince again who all their Faces knew Stranged himself from them and angry grew Saying whence come you surely you are Spies The countenance often the heart betrayes This rough expression so encreas'd their fear That trembling they reply No Sir this year Our Syrian Land was parch'd and nothing bore Meer want made us come unto thee for store Go go you lye I know your whispering Perswadeth me that there is no such thing But Villains come the nakedness to view Of this our Land and then himself withdrew Nay Good my Lord said they our Story hear We all Sons unto one and true men are Mark what we say and if we tell you Lyes Then and not else conclude that we are Spies Tush this is nothing every man will say As much if so by that he cleared may Be but if you give not a better reason Of your down coming I will swear there 's Treason Intended Then we 're twelve reply'd the other Brethren of whom you see ten and another At home his Fathers joy and one is not Ha now that you be Spies I surely wot And so for all your words I shall you prove If you bring not to me your Fathers Love Choose out among you one and for him send Till then our Controversie cannot end Nor you be clear if you do not I swear By Pharaoh's Life that you vile Vagrants are Go bring the Lad his Face when I do see I 'le say all 's true that ye have said to me Resolve this Prison must be your abode Till all agree this do live I fear God If ye be true men then let one of you Be bound in Prison where you all are now And let the rest take Corn that may supply Your wants at home lest they for hunger die In this great Famine only bring the Boy It 's truth I seek to prove not to destroy Your lives to which they 'gree and say t' each other We guilty are concerning our dear Brother Who to his anguish't Soul so hard'ned were That when he pray'd his plaint we would not hear For which in Justice our Almighty God Doth lay on us this his afflicting Rod. Then Reuben unto them reply'd and said Did I not tell you so when fast you laid Your hands upon the Boy but did no good Therefore of us required is his blood This they among themselves in Hebrew spake Thinking that Joseph could no notice take For seeing one who as his part requir'd Interpreted what they of him desir'd And unto them what his Lords answer was They spake their minds aloud about the cause Of their distresses which when Egypt's Lord Had heard he turn'd from them without a word His sympathizing Soul swell'd so high That he must either quickly burst or cry See where Gods Spirit dwells no hatred lives He turns again communes in heart forgives Their ancient Crime yet seemingly unkind He from them Simeon takes and him doth bind And then commands his Servants for to fill Their Sacks with Corn not leaving off until They said they had enough the money he Bids put into their Sacks mouths most secretly Provision for their way bids also take Saying here 's enough I would not have you lack Nor yet diminish ought that ye have bought It 's pity you should come so far for naught Their Asses now when they all loaded had From Egypt soon they their departure made Travelling hard till it was time to bait Their Asses and themselves had need to eat Their Dinner over Beasts now to be proven'd One his Sack opens and cryes out I 'm cosen'd Did you not all see me my money pay And yet 't is here in my Sacks mouth this day This quickly made their joyful Faces lowr And curse the day and the unhappy hour When they their Brother sold It surely is For vengence said they that our God doth this Up and let 's load again till we our place In Canaan see and our old Fathers face That from his wise and long experience May gather'd be what can proceed from hence Now they 're returned home and do relate To Jacob how the Steward did them hate All which we might well by his car'age gather But Ah! said they this was not all dear Father For he would not convinced be but we Must needs be spies come Egypt for to see And though we spoke the truth all this he urg'd May come from Subtile Rogues and so be forg'd But if you will prove true said he leave one Till ye have brought me Jacob's little Son This we were forc'd to do Simeon is there And must till Ben our Brother doth repair Thither with us when we go next to buy Whose sight will work poor Sim's delivery And our free Traffick throughout all the Land Of this we have the Rulers Word and Hand But pray let 's see your Corn if it be right Said Jacob sure your Money was full weight You shall Dear Father bring the Asses nigh That we may empty't in the Granary Lift up this Sack 't is of unusual weight Pray God there be not here another slight Look here 's my Money mine and mine and mine And all of