,codex ,junius #aa 7,author unknown7 ,this file contains translations from the ,anglo-,saxon of the following works3 ,genesis ,a1 ,genesis ,b1 ,exodus1 ,daniel1 and ,christ and ,satan4 ,all are works found in the manuscript of ,anglo-,saxon verse known as ,junius #aa4 ,these works were originally written in ,anglo-,saxon1 sometime between the #gth and #ajth ,centuries ,a4,d4 ,although sometimes ascribed to the poet ,caedmon 7fl4 late #gth ,century71 it is generally thought that these poems do not represent the work of one single poet4 ,,bibliography3 ,other ,translations-- ,bradley1 ,s4,a4,j43 ,anglo-,saxon ,poetry 7,everyman ,press1 ,london1 #aihb7 ,critical ,editions-- ,doane1 ,a4,n4 7ed473 ,genesis ,a3 ,a ,new ,critical ,edition 7,university of ,wisconsin ,press1 ,madison1 #aigh7 ,doane1 ,a4,n4 7ed473 ,the ,saxon ,genesis3 ,an ,edition of the ,west ,saxon ,genesis ,b and the ,old ,saxon ,vatican ,genesis 7,university of ,wisconsin ,press1 ,madison1 #aiia7 ,dobbie1 ,elliot ,van,kirk 7ed473 ,the ,anglo-,saxon ,poetic ,records1 vol4 ,i--,the ,junius ,manuscript 7,columbia ,university ,press1 ,new ,york1 #aicg7 ,farrell1 ,r4,t4 7ed473 ,daniel and ,azarias 7,methuen ,co4 ,ltd41 ,london1 #aigd7 ,tolkein1 ,j4,r4,r4 7ed473 ,the ,old ,english ,exodus 7,oxford ,university ,press1 ,oxford1 #aiha7 ,,genesis 7,genesis ,a ,b7 ,,note3 ,this work is generally believed to be a composite of two separate poems1 usually referred to as ,genesis ,a 7or ,the ,earlier ,genesis7 and ,genesis ,b 7or ,the ,later ,genesis74 ,genesis ,a is the work at lines #a-bcd and #heb-bice2 ,genesis ,b is interpolated into ,genesis ,a at lines #bce-hea4 ,the reason for this interpolation is not known4 ,perhaps the original compiler preferred the version of the story presented in ,genesis ,b1 or perhaps the text of ,genesis ,a from which he was working with was missing this section4 ,adding to this confusion is evidence that ,genesis ,b appears to be a translation from an earlier and separate ,old ,saxon retelling of the biblical ,book of ,genesis1 a fragment of which 7corresponding to lines #gia-hag of ,genesis ,b7 survives4 ,genesis1 like the other poems of ,codex ,junius #aa1 is not a direct translation into ,anglo-,saxon of the ,old ,testament ,book of ,genesis4 ,rather1 it is an effort to retell the story in the poetry and style of the ,germanic ,epic1 a style still popular with the ,anglo-,saxons at the time ,junius #aa was compiled4 --,,dbk ,,contents ,,liber ,i ,genesis 7,i-,,iv7 ,genesis ,b 7,,iv-,,xiv7 ,exodus 7,,xlii-,,xlix7 ,daniel 7,l-,,lv7 ,,liber ,,ii ,christ and ,satan 7,i-,,vii7 ,the ,harrowing of ,hell 7,,viii-,,xii7 ,the ,temptation ,,liber ,i ,i 7ll4 #a-bh7 ,right is it that we praise the ,king of heaven1 the ,lord of hosts1 and love ,him with all our hearts4 ,for ,he is great in power1 the ,source of all created things1 the ,lord ,almighty4 ,never hath ,he known beginning1 neither cometh an end of ,his eternal glory4 ,ever in majesty ,he reigneth over celestial thrones2 in righteousness and strength ,he keepeth the courts of heaven which were established1 broad and ample1 by the might of ,god1 for angel dwellers1 wardens of the soul4 ,the angel legions knew the blessedness of ,god1 celestial joy and bliss4 ,great was their glory6 ,the mighty spirits magnified their ,prince and sang ,his praise with gladness1 serving the ,lord of life1 exceeding blessed in ,his splendour4 ,they knew no sin nor any evil2 but dwelt in peace for ever with their ,lord4 ,they wrought no deed in heaven save right and truth1 until the angel prince in pride walked in the ways of error4 ,then no longer would they work their own advantage1 but turned away from the love of ,god4 ,they boasted greatly1 in their banded strength1 that they could share with ,god ,his glorious dwelling1 spacious and heavenly bright4 7ll4 #bh-df7 ,then sorrow came upon them1 envy and insolence and pride of the angel who first began that deed of folly1 to plot and hatch it forth1 and1 thirsting for battle1 boasted that in the northern borders of heaven he would establish a throne and a kingdom4 ,then was ,god angered and wrathful against that host which ,he had crowned before with radiance and glory4 ,for the traitors1 to reward their work1 ,he shaped a house of pain and grim affliction1 and lamentations of hell4 ,our ,lord prepared this torture-house of exiles1 deep and joyless1 for the coming of the angel hosts4 ,well ,he knew it lay enshrouded in eternal night1 and filled with woe1 wrapped in fire and piercing cold1 smoke-veils and ruddy flame4 ,and over that wretched realm ,he spread the brooding terror of torment4 ,they had wrought grievous wrong together against ,god4 ,grim the reward they gained6 7ll4 #dg-gg7 ,fierce of heart1 they boasted they would take the kingdom1 and easily4 ,but their hope failed them when the ,lord1 ,high ,king of heaven1 lifted ,his hand against their host4 ,the erring spirits1 in their sin1 might not prevail against the ,lord1 but ,god1 the ,mighty1 in ,his wrath1 smote their insolence and broke their pride1 bereft these impious souls of victory and power and dominion and glory2 despoiled ,his foes of bliss and peace and joy and radiant grace1 and mightily avenged ,his wrath upon them to their destruction4 ,his heart was hardened against them2 with heavy hand ,he crushed ,his foes1 subdued them to ,his will1 and1 in ,his wrath1 drove out the rebels from their ancient home and seats of glory4 ,our ,lord expelled and banished out of heaven the presumptuous angel host4 ,all-wielding ,god dismissed the faithless horde1 a hostile band of woeful spirits1 upon a long1 long journey4 ,crushed was their pride1 their boasting humbled1 their power broken1 their glory dimmed4 ,thenceforth those dusky spirits dwelt in exile4 ,no cause had they to laugh aloud1 but1 racked with pangs of hell1 they suffered pain and woe and tribulation1 cloaked with darkness1 knowing bitter anguish1 a grim requital1 because they sought to strive with ,god4 7ll4 #gh-ha7 ,then was there calm as formerly in heaven1 the kindly ways of peace4 ,the ,lord was dear to all1 a ,prince among ,his thanes1 and glory was renewed of angel legions knowing blessedness with ,god4 ,,ii 7ll4 #hb-ia7 ,the citizens of heaven1 the home of glory1 dwelt again in concord4 ,strife was at an end among the angels1 discord and dissension1 when those warring spirits1 shorn of light1 were hurled from heaven4 ,behind them stretching wide their mansions lay1 crowned with glory1 prospering in grace in ,god's dominion1 a sunny1 fruitful land1 empty of dwellers1 when the accursed spirits reached their place of exile within ,hell's prison-walls4 7ll4 #ib-ajb7 ,then our ,lord took counsel in the thoughts of ,his heart how ,he might people1 with a better host1 the great creation1 the native seats and gleaming mansions1 high in heaven1 wherefrom these boastful foes had got them forth4 ,therefore with mighty power ,holy ,god ordained1 beneath the arching heavens1 that earth and sky and the far-bounded sea should be established1 earth-creatures in the stead of those rebellious foes whom ,he had cast from heaven4 7ll4 #ajc-aai7 ,as yet was nought save shadows of darkness2 the spacious earth lay hidden1 deep and dim1 alien to ,god1 unpeopled and unused4 ,thereon the ,steadfast ,king looked down and beheld it1 a place empty of joy4 ,he saw dim chaos hanging in eternal night1 obscure beneath the heavens1 desolate and dark1 until this world was fashioned by the word of the ,king of glory4 ,here first with mighty power the ,everlasting ,lord1 the ,helm of all created things1 ,almighty ,king1 made earth and heaven1 raised up the sky and founded the spacious land4 ,the earth was not yet green with grass2 the dark waves of the sea flowed over it1 and midnight darkness was upon it1 far and wide4 7ll4 #aai-acd7 ,then in radiant glory ,god's holy spirit moved upon the waters with wondrous might4 ,the ,lord of angels1 ,giver of life1 bade light shine forth upon the spacious earth4 ,swiftly was ,god's word fulfilled2 holy light gleamed forth across the waste at the ,creator's bidding4 ,over the seas the ,lord of victory divided light from darkness1 shadow from radiant light4 ,the ,lord of life gave both a name4 ,by the word of ,god the gleaming light was first called day4 ,and in the beginning of creation was ,god well pleased4 ,the first day saw the dark and brooding shadows vanish throughout the spacious earth4 ,,iii 7ll4 #ace-adc7 ,the day departed1 hasting over the dwellings of earth4 ,and after the gleaming light the ,lord1 our maker1 thrust on the first of evenings4 ,murky gloom pressed hard upon the heels of day2 ,god called it night4 ,our ,lord sundered them1 one from the other2 and ever since they follow out the will of ,god to do it on the earth4 7ll4 #adc-aec7 ,then came a second day1 light after darkness4 ,and the ,lord of life ordained a pleasant firmament amid the waters4 ,our ,lord sundered the seas and established the heavens4 ,by ,his word the ,king1 ,almighty ,god1 raised them above the earth4 ,the waters were divided under the heavens by ,his holy might2 the waters were sundered from the waters1 under the firmament4 7ll4 #aed-afh7 ,then came hasting over the earth the third fair morning4 ,not yet were the wide ways and spacious tracts useful unto ,god1 but the land lay covered by the deep4 ,the ,lord of angels1 by ,his word1 commanded that the waters come together1 which now beneath the heavens hold their course and place ordained4 ,then suddenly1 wide-stretching under heaven1 lay the sea1 as ,god gave bidding4 ,the great deep was sundered from the land4 ,the ,warden of life1 the ,lord of hosts1 beheld the dry ground far outspread4 ,and the ,king of glory called it earth4 ,for the ocean-billows and the wide-flung sea ,he set a lawful path and lettered them4444 77,,lacuna--two to three leaves missing77 ,,iv 7ll4 #afi-aia7 4444,it did not seem good to the ,lord of heaven that ,adam should longer be alone as warden and keeper of this new ,paradise4 ,wherefore the ,king1 ,almighty ,god1 wrought him an helpmeet2 the ,author of life made woman and brought her unto the man whom ,he loved4 ,he took the stuff of ,adam's body1 and secretly drew forth a rib from his side4 ,he was fast asleep in peaceful slumber2 he knew no pain nor any pang2 there came no blood from out the wound1 but the ,lord of angels drew forth from his body a growing rib1 and the man was unhurt4 ,of this ,god fashioned a lovely maid1 breathing into her life and an eternal soul4 ,they were like unto the angels4 ,the bride of ,adam was a living spirit4 ,by ,god's might both were born into the world in the loveliness of youth4 ,they knew no sin nor any evil1 but in the hearts of both there burned the love of ,god4 7ll4 #aib-aie7 ,then the ,gracious ,king1 ,lord of all human kind1 blessed these two1 male and female1 man and wife1 and spake this word3 7ll4 #aif-bje7 ,be fruitful and multiply1 and fill the green earth with your seed and increase1 sons and daughters4 ,and ye shall have dominion over the salt sea1 and over all the world4 ,enjoy the riches of earth1 the fish of the sea1 and the fowls of the air4 ,to you is given power over the herds which ,i have hallowed1 and the wild beasts1 and over all living things that move upon the earth2 all living things1 which the depths bring forth throughout the sea1 shall be subject unto you4 77,,lacuna--,one or more leaves missing77 7ll4 #bjf-bcd7 ,and our ,lord beheld the beauty of ,his works and the abundance of all fruits of this new creation3 ,paradise lay pleasant and inviting1 filled with goodly store and endless blessings4 ,bountifully a running stream1 a welling spring1 watered that pleasant land4 ,not yet did clouds1 dark with wind1 carry the rains across the spacious earth2 nathless the land lay decked with increase4 ,out from this new ,paradise four pleasant brooks of water flowed4 ,all were divisions of one beauteous stream1 sundered by the might of ,god when ,he made the earth1 and sent into the world4 ,and one of these the mortal dwellers of earth called ,pison1 which compasseth the land of ,havilah about with shining waters4 ,and in that land1 as books tell us1 the sons of men from far and near find out the best of gold and precious gems4 ,and the second floweth round about the land and borders of the ,ethiopians1 a spacious kingdom4 ,its name is ,gihon4 ,the third is ,tigris1 whose abundant stream lieth about the limits of ,assyria4 ,likewise also the fourth1 which now through many a folk-land men call ,euphrates4444 77,,lacuna--,at least one1 possibly two1 leaves missing77 7,beginning of ,genesis ,b7 ,v 7ll4 #bce-bcf7 444,eat freely of the fruit of every other tree4 ,from that one tree refrain4 ,beware of its fruit4 ,and ye shall know no dearth of pleasant things4 7ll4 #bcg-bde7 ,eagerly they bowed them down before the ,king of heaven1 and gave ,him thanks for all1 for ,his teachings and counsels4 ,and ,he gave them that land to dwell in4 ,then the ,holy ,lord1 the ,steadfast ,king1 departed into heaven4 ,and the creatures of ,his hand abode together on the earth4 ,they had no whit of care to grieve them1 but only to do the will of ,god for ever4 ,dear were they unto ,god as long as they would keep ,his holy word4 ,,vi 7ll4 #bdf-bfj7 ,the ,holy ,lord1 ,all-wielding ,god1 with mighty hand had wrought ten angel-orders in whom ,he trusted well1 that they would do ,him service1 and work ,his will4 ,therefore ,god gave them reason1 with ,his own hands shaped them1 and stablished them in bliss4 ,but one ,he made so great and strong of heart1 ,he let him wield such power in heaven next unto ,god1 so radiant-hued ,he wrought him1 so fair his form in heaven which ,god had given1 that he was like unto the shining stars4 ,he should have sung his ,maker's praise1 and prized his bliss in heaven4 ,he should have thanked his ,lord for the great boon ,he showered on him in the heavenly light1 and let him long enjoy4 ,but he turned him to a worse thing1 and strove to stir up strife against the ,highest ,lord of heaven1 who sitteth on the throne of glory4 7ll4 #bfa-bgf7 ,dear was he to our ,lord4 ,nor could it long be hid from ,god that pride was growing in ,his angel's heart4 ,he set himself against his ,leader1 scoffed at ,god with boasting1 and would not serve ,him4 ,he said his form was beautiful and bright1 gleaming and fair of hue4 ,nor could he find it in his heart to serve the ,lord ,god1 or be subject to ,him4 ,it seemed to him that he had greater strength and larger following than ,holy ,god might have4 ,many words the angel spake in his presumption4 ,by his own power alone he thought to build a stronger throne and mightier in heaven4 ,he said his heart was urging him to toil1 to build a stately palace in the north and west4 ,he said he doubted in his heart if he would still be subject unto ,god3 7ll4 #bgg-bia7 ,why should ,i slave8 quoth he4 ,i need not serve a master4 ,my hands are strong to work full many a wonder4 ,power enough have ,i to rear a goodlier throne1 a higher in the heavens4 ,why should ,i fawn for ,his favour1 or yield ,him such submission8 ,i may be ,god as well as ,he6 ,brave comrades stand about me2 stout-hearted heroes who will not fail me in the fray4 ,these valiant souls have chosen me their lord4 ,with such peers one may ponder counsel1 and gain a following4 ,devoted are these friends and faithful-hearted2 and ,i may be their lord and rule this realm4 ,it seemeth no wise right to me that ,i should cringe a whit to ,god for any good4 ,i will not serve ,him longer4 7ll4 #bib-bih7 ,now when ,god had heard all this1 how ,his angel was beginning to make presumptuous head against his ,leader1 speaking rash words of insolence against his ,lord1 needs must he make atonement for that deed1 endure the woe of strife1 and bear his punishment1 most grievous of all deaths4 ,and so doth every man who wickedly thinketh to strive with ,god1 the ,lord of might4 7ll4 #bii-cai7 ,then ,almighty ,god1 ,high ,lord of heaven1 was filled with wrath1 and hurled him from his lofty throne4 ,he had gained his ,master's hate1 and lost ,his favour4 ,god's heart was hardened against him4 ,wherefore he needs must sink into the pit of torment because he strove against the ,lord of heaven4 ,he banished him from grace and cast him into hell1 into the deep abyss where he became a devil4 ,the ,fiend and all his followers fell from heaven2 three nights and days the angels fell from heaven into hell4 ,god changed them all to devils4 ,because they heeded not ,his deed and word1 therefore ,almighty ,god hurled them into darkness1 deep under earth1 crushed them and set them in the mirk of hell4 ,there through the never-ending watches of the night the fiends endure an unremitting fire4 ,then at the dawn cometh an east wind1 and bitter frost1 ever a blast of fire or storm of frost4 ,and each must have his share of suffering wrought for his punishment4 ,their world was changed when ,god filled full the pit of hell with ,his foes6 7ll4 #cbj-cbb7 ,but the angels who kept their faith with ,god dwelt in the heights of heaven4 ,,vii 7ll4 #cbb-ccf7 ,the other fiends who waged so fierce a war with ,god lay wrapped in flames4 ,they suffer torment1 hot and surging flame in the midst of hell1 broad-stretching blaze of fire and bitter smoke1 darkness and gloom1 because they broke allegiance unto ,god4 ,their folly and the angel's pride deceived them4 ,they would not heed the word of ,god4 ,great was their punishment6 ,they fell1 through folly and through pride1 to fiery depths of flame in hell4 ,they sought another home devoid of light and filled with fire--a mighty flaming death4 ,the fiends perceived that through the might of ,god1 because of their presumptuous hearts and boundless insolence1 they had won a measureless woe4 7ll4 #ccg-cee7 ,then spake their haughty king1 who formerly was fairest of the angels1 most radiant in heaven1 beloved of his ,leader and dear unto his ,lord1 until they turned to folly1 and ,almighty ,god was moved to anger at their wantonness1 and hurled him down to depths of torment on that bed of death4 ,he named him with a name1 and said their leader should be called from thenceforth ,satan4 ,he bade him rule the black abyss of hell in place of striving against ,god4 ,satan spake--who now must needs have charge of hell and dwell in the abyss--in bitterness he spake who once had been ,god's angel1 radiant-hued in heaven1 until his pride and boundless arrogance betrayed him1 so that he would not do the bidding of the ,lord of hosts4 ,bitterness was welling in his heart2 and round him blazed his cruel torment4 ,these words he spake3 7ll4 #cee-cfg7 ,this narrow place is little like those other realms we knew1 on high in heaven1 allotted by my ,lord1 though the ,almighty hath not granted us to hold our state1 or rule our kingdom4 ,he hath done us wrong to hurl us to the fiery depths of hell1 and strip us of our heavenly realm4 ,he hath ordained that human kind shall settle there4 ,that is my greatest grief that ,adam--wrought of earth--should hold my firm-set throne and live in joy1 while we endure this bitter woe in hell4 7ll4 #cfh-chh7 ,alas6 could ,i but use my hands and have my freedom for an hour1 one winter hour1 then with this host ,i would-- ,but bands of iron crush me down1 the bondage of my chains is heavy4 ,i am stripped of my dominion4 ,firmly are hell's fetters forged upon me4 ,above me and below a blaze of fire6 ,never have ,i seen a realm more fatal--flame unassuaged that surges over hell4 ,ensnaring links and heavy shackles hold me4 ,my ways are trammelled up2 my feet are bound2 my hands are fastened4 ,closed are the doors of hell1 the way cut off4 ,i may not escape out of my bonds1 but mighty gyves of tempered iron1 hammered hot1 press hard upon me4 ,god hath set ,his foot upon my neck4 ,so ,i know the ,lord of hosts hath read the purpose of my heart1 and knew full well that strife would grow between our host and ,adam over the heavenly realm1 had ,i the freedom of my hands4 ,,viii 7ll4 #chi-djj7 ,but now we suffer throes of hell1 fire and darkness1 bottomless and grim4 ,god hath thrust us out into the black mists4 ,he cannot charge upon us any sin or evil wrought against ,him in ,his realm6 ,yet hath ,he robbed us of the light and cast us into utter woe4 ,nor may we take revenge1 nor do ,him any evil because ,he stripped us of the light4 ,he hath marked out the borders of the world1 and there created man in ,his own image1 with whom ,he hopes again to people heaven1 with pure souls4 ,we needs must ponder earnestly to wreak this grudge on ,adam1 if we may1 and on his children1 and thwart ,his will if so we may devise4 7ll4 #dja-djg7 ,no longer have ,i any hope of light wherein ,he thinketh long to joy1 in bliss among ,his angel hosts2 nor may we ever bring this thing to pass1 that we should change the purpose of ,almighty ,god4 ,let us therefore turn the heavenly kingdom from the sons of men1 since we may not possess it1 cause them to lose ,his favour and turn aside from the command ,he laid upon them4 ,then shall ,his wrath be kindled1 and ,he shall cast them out from grace4 ,they shall seek out hell and its grim gulf1 and in this heavy bondage we may have the sons of men to serve us4 7ll4 #djh-dbd7 ,begin now and plan this enterprise4 ,if ever in olden days1 when happily we dwelt in that good kingdom1 and held possession of our thrones1 ,i dealt out princely treasure to any thane1 he could not make requital for my gifts at any better time than now1 if some one of my thanes would be my helper1 escaping outward through these bolted gates1 with strength to wing his way on high where1 new-created1 ,adam and ,eve1 surrounded with abundance1 dwell on earth--and we are cast out hither in this deep abyss4 ,they are now much dearer unto ,god1 and own the high estate and rightful realm which we should have in heaven6 ,good fortune is allotted to mankind4 7ll4 #dbe-dcg7 ,my soul is sorrowful within me1 my heart is sore1 that they should hold the heavenly realm for ever4 ,but if in any wise some one of you could bring them to forsake ,god's word and teaching1 soon would they be less pleasing unto ,him6 ,if they break ,his commandment1 then will ,his wrath be kindled4 ,their high estate shall vanish2 their sin shall have requital1 and some grim penalty4 ,take thought now how ye may ensnare them4 ,i shall rest softly in these chains if they lose heaven4 ,whoso shall bring this thing to pass shall have reward for ever1 of all that we may win to our advantage1 amid these flames4 ,,ix 7ll4 #dch-dda7 ,i will let him sit next me1 whoever shall return to hell proclaiming that they have set at naught1 by word and deed1 the counsels of the ,king of heaven and been displeasing to the ,lord4 77,,lacuna--,section missing of indeterminate length477 ,,xi 7ll4 #ddb-dfj7 ,then ,god's enemy began to make him ready1 equipped in war-gear1 with a wily heart4 ,he set his helm of darkness on his head1 bound it full hard1 and fastened it with clasps4 ,many a crafty speech he knew1 many a crooked word4 ,upward he beat his way and darted through the doors of hell4 ,he had a ruthless heart4 ,evil of purpose he circled in the air1 cleaving the flame with fiendish craft4 ,he would fain ensnare ,god's servants unto sin1 seduce them and deceive them that they might be displeasing to the ,lord4 ,with fiendish craft he took his way until he came on ,adam upon earth1 the finished handiwork of ,god1 full wisely wrought1 and his wife beside him1 loveliest of women1 performing many a goodly service since the ,lord of men appointed them ,his ministers4 7ll4 #dfj-dgg7 ,and by them stood two trees laden with fruit and clothed with increase4 ,almighty ,god1 ,high ,king of heaven1 had set them there that the mortal sons of men might choose of good and evil1 weal and woe4 ,unlike was their fruit6 ,of the one tree the fruit was pleasant1 fair and winsome1 excellent and sweet4 ,that was the tree of life4 ,he might live for ever in the world who ate of that fruit1 so that old age pressed not heavily upon him1 nor grievous sickness1 but he might live his life in happiness for ever1 and have the favour of the ,king of heaven here on earth4 ,and glory was ordained for him in heaven1 when he went hence4 7ll4 #dgh-die7 ,the other tree was dark1 sunless1 and full of shadows3 that was the tree of death4 ,bitter the fruit it bore6 ,and every man must know both good and evil2 in this world abased he needs must suffer1 in sweat and sorrow1 who tasted of the fruit that grew upon that tree4 ,old age would rob him of his strength and joy and honour1 and death take hold upon him4 ,a little time might he enjoy this life1 and then seek out the murky realm of flame1 and be subject unto fiends4 ,there of all perils are the worst for men for ever4 ,and that the evil one knew well1 the wily herald of the fiend who fought with ,god4 ,he took the form of a serpent1 coiled round the tree of death by devil's craft1 and plucked the fruit1 and turned aside again where he beheld the handiwork of the ,king of heaven4 ,and the evil one in lying words began to question him3 7ll4 #dif-ejf7 ,hast thou any longing1 ,adam1 unto ,god8 ,his service brings me hither from afar4 ,not long since ,i was sitting at ,his side4 ,he sent me forth upon this journey to bid thee eat this fruit4 ,he said thy strength and power would increase1 thy mind be mightier1 more beautiful thy body1 and thy form more fair4 ,he said thou wouldest lack no good thing on the earth when thou hast won the favour of the ,king of heaven1 served thy ,lord with gladness1 and deserved ,his love4 7ll4 #ejg-eba7 ,in the heavenly light ,i heard ,him speaking of thy life1 praising thy words and works4 ,needs must thou do ,his bidding which ,his messengers proclaim on earth4 ,broad-stretching are the green plains of the world1 and from the highest realms of heaven ,god ruleth all things here below4 ,the ,lord of men will not ,himself endure the hardship to go upon this journey1 but sendeth ,his ministers to speak with thee4 ,he sendeth tidings unto thee to teach thee wisdom4 ,do ,his will with gladness6 ,take this fruit in thy hand2 taste and eat4 ,thy heart shall grow more roomy and thy form more fair4 ,almighty ,god1 thy ,lord1 sendeth this help from heaven4 7ll4 #ebb-edf7 ,and ,adam1 first of men1 answered where he stood on earth3 ,when ,i heard the ,lord1 my ,god1 speaking with a mighty voice1 ,he bade me dwell here keeping ,his commandments1 gave me this woman1 this lovely maid1 bade me take heed and be not tempted to the tree of death and utterly beguiled1 and said that he who taketh to his heart one whit of evil shall dwell in blackest hell4 ,though thou art come with lies and secret wiles1 ,i know not that thou art an angel of the ,lord from heaven4 ,lo6 ,i cannot understand thy precepts1 thy words or ways1 thy errand or thy sayings4 ,i know what things our ,lord commanded when ,i beheld ,him nigh at hand4 ,he bade me heed ,his word1 observe it well1 and keep ,his precepts4 ,thou art not like to any of ,his angels that ever ,i have seen1 nor hast thou showed me any token that my ,lord hath sent of grace and favour4 ,therefore ,i cannot hearken to thy teachings4 ,get thee hence6 ,i have my faith set firm upon ,almighty ,god1 who with ,his own hands wrought me4 ,from ,his high throne ,he giveth all good things1 and needeth not to send ,his ministers4 ,,xii 7ll4 #edg-eej7 ,then turned the fiend with wrathful heart to where he saw ,eve standing on the plains of earth1 a winsome maid4 ,and unto her he said1 the greatest of all ills thereafter would fall on their descendants in the world3 7ll4 #eea-eeh7 ,i know ,god's anger will be roused against you1 when from this journey through far-stretching space ,i come again to ,him1 and bring this message1 that ye refuse to do ,his bidding1 as ,he hath sent commandment hither from the ,east4 ,he needs must come to speak with you1 forsooth1 nor may ,his minister proclaim ,his mission6 ,truly ,i know ,his wrath will be kindled against you in ,his heart6 7ll4 #eei-ehg7 ,but if thou1 woman1 wilt hearken to my words1 thou mayest devise good counsel4 ,bethink thee in thy heart to turn away ,his vengeance from you both1 as ,i shall show thee4 ,eat of this fruit6 ,then shall thine eyes grow keen1 and thou shalt see afar through all the world1 yea6 unto the throne of ,god1 thy ,lord1 and have ,his favour4 ,thou mayest rule the heart of ,adam1 if thou incline to do it and he doth trust thy words1 if thou wilt tell him truly what law thou hast in mind1 to keep ,god's precepts and commandments4 ,his heart will cease from bitter strife and evil answers1 as we two tell him for his good4 ,urge him earnestly to do thy bidding1 lest ye be displeasing to the ,lord your ,god4 ,if thou fulfill this undertaking1 thou best of women1 ,i will not tell our ,lord what evil ,adam spake against me1 his wicked words accusing me of falsehood1 saying that ,i am eager in transgression1 a servant of the ,fiend and not ,god's angel4 ,but ,i know well the angel race1 and the high courts of heaven4 ,long ages have ,i served the ,lord my ,god with loyal heart4 ,i am not like a devil4 7ll4 #ehh-eii7 ,so he urged with lies and luring wiles1 tempting the woman unto sin1 until the serpent's counsel worked within her--for ,god had wrought her soul the weaker--and her heart inclined according to his teaching4 ,transgressing ,god's commandment1 from the fiend she took the fatal fruit of the tree of death4 ,never was worse deed wrought for men6 ,great is the wonder that ,eternal ,god1 the ,lord1 would let so many of ,his thanes be tricked with lies by one who brought such counsel4 ,she ate the fruit and set at naught the will and word of ,god4 7ll4 #fjj-faj7 ,then could she see afar by gift of the fiend1 whose lies deceived and artfully ensnared her1 so that it came to pass the heavens appeared to her more radiant1 and the earth and all the world more fair1 the great and mighty handiwork of ,god1 though she beheld it not by human wisdom2 but eagerly the fiend deceived her soul and gave her vision1 that she might see afar across the heavenly kingdom4 ,then spake the fiend with hostile purpose--and nought of profit did he counsel3 7ll4 #faj-fbe7 ,now mayest thou behold1 most worthy ,eve1 nor need ,i tell thee1 how fair thy beauty and thy form how changed1 since thou didst trust my words and do my bidding4 ,a radiance shineth round about thee1 gleaming splendour1 which ,i brought forth from ,god on high4 ,thou mayest touch it6 ,tell ,adam what vision thou hast and power by my coming4 ,and even yet1 if he will do my bidding with humble heart1 ,i will give him of this light abundantly1 as ,i have given thee1 and will not punish his reviling words1 though he deserves no mercy for the grievous ill he spake against me4 ,so shall his children live hereafter6 ,when they do evil1 they must win ,god's love1 avert ,his doom1 and gain the favour of their ,lord for ever6 7ll4 #fbf-fce7 ,then the lovely maid1 fairest of women that ever came into this world1 went unto ,adam4 ,she was the handiwork of the ,king of heaven1 though tricked with lies and utterly undone1 so that through fiendish craft and devil's fraud she needs must be displeasing to the ,lord1 forfeit ,god's favour1 and lose her glory and her heavenly home4 ,so often evil dwelleth with that man who doth not shun it when he hath the power4 7ll4 #fcf-fdf7 ,of the fatal apples some she carried in her hands and some lay on her breast1 the fruit of the tree of death whereof the ,lord of lords1 the ,prince of glory1 had forbidden her to eat1 saying ,his servants need not suffer death4 ,the ,holy ,lord bestowed a heavenly heritage and ample bliss on every race1 if they would but forgo that fruit alone1 that bitter fruit1 which the mortal tree brought forth upon its boughs4 ,that was the tree of death which the ,lord forbade them6 7ll4 #fdg-fed7 ,but the fiend1 who hated ,god1 and loathed the ,king of heaven1 deceived with lies ,eve's heart and erring wisdom1 and she believed his words and did his bidding1 and came at last to think his counsels were indeed from ,god1 as he so cunningly had said4 ,he showed to her a token1 and gave her promise of good faith and friendly purpose4 ,then to her lord she said3 7ll4 #fee-ffe7 ,adam1 my lord6 ,this fruit is sweet and pleasing to the heart2 this radiant messenger is ,god's good angel6 ,i know by his attire he is a herald of our ,lord1 the ,king of heaven4 ,better to win his favour than his wrath6 ,if thou to-day hast spoken aught of evil1 yet will he still forgive thee1 if we will do his will4 ,of what avail this bitter strife against the herald of thy ,lord8 ,we need his favour4 ,for he may plead our cause before ,almighty ,god1 the ,king of heaven4 7ll4 #fff-fhc7 ,i can behold where in the south and east ,he who shaped the world sits veiled in splendour4 ,i see the angels circling round ,his throne1 in winged flight1 unnumbered myriads1 clothed in beauty4 ,who could give me such discernment1 except it be sent straight from ,god1 the ,lord of heaven8 ,widely may ,i hear and widely see through all the world across the broad creation4 ,i hear the hymns of rapture from on high4 ,radiance blazes on my soul without and within since first ,i tasted of the fruit4 ,lo6 my good lord6 ,i bring thee in my hand this fruit1 and give thee freely of it4 ,i do believe that it is come from ,god1 and brought by ,his command1 as this messenger declared in words of truth4 ,it is not like aught else on earth except1 as this herald saith1 it cometh straight from ,god4 ,,xiii 7ll4 #fhd-gjc7 ,long she pled1 and urged him all the day to that dark deed1 to disobey their ,lord's command4 ,close stood the evil fiend1 inflaming with desire1 luring with wiles1 and boldly tempting him4 ,the fiend stood near at hand who on that fatal mission had come a long1 long way4 ,he planned to hurl men down to utter death1 mislead them and deceive them1 that they might lose the gift of ,god1 ,his favour and their heavenly realm4 ,lo6 well the hell-fiend knew they must endure ,god's anger and the pains of hell1 suffer grim misery and woe1 since they had broken ,god's commandment1 when with his lying words he tricked the beauteous maid1 fairest of women1 unto that deed of folly1 so that she spake according to his will2 and aided her in tempting unto evil the handiwork of ,god4 7ll4 #gjd-gaf7 ,over and over the fairest of women pled with ,adam1 until she began to incline his heart so that he trusted the command the woman laid upon him4 ,all this she did with good intent1 and knew not that so many evils1 such grim afflictions1 would come upon mankind1 when she was moved to hearken to the counsels of the evil herald2 but she hoped to win ,god's favour by her words1 showing such token and such pledge of truth unto the man1 that the mind of ,adam was changed within his breast1 and his heart began to bend according to her will4 7ll4 #gag-gbf7 ,from the woman he took both death and hell1 although it did not bear these names1 but bore the name of fruit4 ,the sleep of death and fiends' seduction2 death and hell and exile and damnation--these were the fatal fruit whereon they feasted4 ,and when the apple worked within him and touched his heart1 then laughed aloud the evilhearted fiend1 capered about1 and gave thanks to his lord for both3 7ll4 #gbf-gdi7 ,now have ,i won thy promised favour1 and wrought thy will6 ,for many a day to come is man undone1 ,adam and ,eve6 ,god's wrath shall be heavy upon them1 for they have scorned ,his precepts and commandments4 ,wherefore they may no longer hold their heavenly kingdom1 but they must travel the dark road to hell4 ,thou needest not feel sorrow in thy heart1 as thou liest in thy bonds1 nor mourn in spirit that men should dwell in heaven above1 while we now suffer misery and pain in realms of darkness1 and through thy pride have lost our high estate in heaven and goodly dwellings4 ,god's anger was kindled against us because in heaven we would not bow our heads in service before the ,holy ,lord4 ,it pleased us not to serve ,him4 ,then was ,god moved to wrath and hard of heart1 and drove us into hell2 cast a great host into hell-fire1 and with ,his hands prepared again in heaven celestial thrones1 and gave that kingdom to mankind4 7ll4 #gej-gfb7 ,blithe be thy heart within thy breast6 ,for here to-day are two things come to pass3 the sons of men shall lose their heavenly kingdom1 and journey unto thee to burn in flame2 also heart-sorrow and affliction are visited on ,god4 ,whatever death we suffer here is now repaid on ,adam in the wrath of ,god and man's damnation and the pangs of death4 ,therefore my heart is healed1 my soul untrammelled in my breast4 ,all our injuries are now avenged1 and all the evil that we long have suffered4 ,now will ,i plunge again into the flame1 and seek out ,satan1 where he lieth in hell's shadows1 bound with chains4 7ll4 #gfb-gfi7 ,then the foul fiend sank downward to the wide-flung flames and gates of hell wherein his lord lay bound4 ,but ,adam and ,eve were wretched in their hearts2 sad were the words that passed between them4 ,they feared the anger of the ,lord their ,god2 they dreaded the wrath of the ,king of heaven4 ,they knew that ,his command was broken4 7ll4 #ggj-gij7 ,the woman mourned and wept in sorrow 7she had forfeited ,god's grace and broken ,his commandment7 when she beheld the radiance disappear which he who brought this evil on them had showed her by a faithless token1 that they might suffer pangs of hell and untold woe4 ,wherefore heartsorrow burned within their breasts4 ,husband and wife they bowed them down in prayer1 beseeching ,god and calling on the ,lord of heaven1 and prayed that they might expiate their sin1 since they had broken ,god's commandment4 ,they saw that their bodies were naked4 ,in that land they had as yet no settled home1 nor knew they aught of pain or sorrow2 but they might have prospered in the land if they had done ,god's will4 ,many a rueful word they uttered1 husband and wife together4 ,and ,adam spake unto ,eve and said3 7ll4 #gia-hbj7 ,o ,eve6 a bitter portion hast thou won us6 ,dost thou behold the yawning gulf of hell1 sunless1 insatiate8 ,thou mayest hear the groans that rise therefrom6 ,the heavenly realm is little like that blaze of fire6 ,lo6 fairest of all lands is this1 which we1 by ,god's grace1 might have held hadst thou not hearkened unto him who urged this evil1 so that we set at naught the word of ,god1 the ,king of heaven4 ,now in grief we mourn that evil mission6 ,for ,god ,himself bade us beware of sin and dire disaster4 ,now thirst and hunger press upon my heart whereof we formerly were ever free4 ,how shall we live or dwell now in this land if the wind blow from the west or east1 south or north1 if mist arise and showers of hail beat on us from the heavens1 and frost cometh1 wondrous cold1 upon the earth1 or1 hot in heaven1 shineth the burning sun1 and we two stand here naked and unclothed8 ,we have no shelter from the weather1 nor any store of food4 ,and the ,mighty ,lord1 our ,god1 is angry with us4 ,what shall become of us8 ,now ,i repent me that ,i prayed the ,god of heaven1 the ,gracious ,lord1 and of my limbs ,he wrought thee for my helpmeet1 since thou hast led me unto evil and the anger of my ,lord4 ,well may ,i repent to all eternity that ever ,i beheld thee with mine eyes6 ,,xiv 7ll4 #hba-hbc7 ,then spake ,eve1 the lovely maid1 fairest of women4 7,she was the work of ,god1 though led astray by power of the fiend73 7ll4 #hbd-hbf7 ,well mayest thou upbraid me1 my dear ,adam6 ,but thou canst not repent one whit more bitterly in thy heart than my heart repenteth4 7ll4 #hbf-hci7 ,and ,adam answered her3 ,if ,i but knew the will of ,god1 the penalty ,i needs must pay1 thou couldest not find one more swift to do it1 though the ,lord of heaven bade me go forth and walk upon the sea4 ,the ocean-stream could never be so wondrous deep or wide that ever my heart would doubt1 but ,i would go even unto the bottom of the sea1 if ,i might work the will of ,god4 ,i have no wish for years of manhood in the world now that ,i have forfeited the favour of my ,lord1 and lost ,his grace4 ,but we may not be thus together1 naked4 ,let us go into this grove1 and under the shelter of this wood4 7ll4 #hdj-hea7 ,and they turned and went weeping into the green wood1 and sat them down apart from one another to wait the fate the ,lord of heaven should assign them1 since they had lost their former state and portion which ,almighty ,god had given them4 ,and they covered their bodies with leaves1 and clothed them with the foliage of the wood1 for they had no garments4 ,and both together bowed in prayer2 and every morning they besought ,almighty ,god1 the ,gracious ,lord1 that ,he would not forget them1 but would teach them how to live thenceforward in the light4 7,end of ,genesis ,b7 7ll4 #heb-hff7 ,then came ,almighty ,god1 the ,glorious ,prince1 walking in the garden after the midday1 according to ,his will4 ,our ,saviour1 the ,merciful ,father1 would fain discover what ,his children did4 ,he knew their glory was gone which formerly ,he gave them4 ,sadly they stole away into the darkness of the trees1 bereft of glory1 and hid themselves in the shadows when they heard the holy voice of ,god1 and were afraid4 ,then the ,lord of heaven began to call the warden of the world1 and bade ,his son come quickly unto ,him4 ,and he made answer unto ,god1 and spake of his nakedness with shame3 7ll4 #hfg-hga7 ,i will clothe my nakedness with a garment1 my dear ,lord1 and cover my shame with leaves4 ,my heart is troubled and cast down within me4 ,i dare not come before ,thy presence1 for ,i am naked4 ,,xv 7ll4 #hgb-hha7 ,and straightway ,god made answer unto him3 ,tell me1 ,my son1 why stealest thou away into the darkness with shame8 ,thou didst not formerly feel shame before ,me1 but only joy4 ,wherefore art thou humbled and abashed1 knowing sorrow1 covering thy body with leaves1 sad of heart and wretched in thy woe1 saying thou needest clothing1 except thou hast eaten of the fruit of the tree which ,i forbade thee8 7ll4 #hhb-hhf7 ,and ,adam again made answer3 ,my ,lord6 this woman1 this lovely maid1 gave me the fruit into my hand1 and ,i took it in trespass against ,thee4 ,and now ,i clearly bear the token upon me and know the more of sorrow4 7ll4 #hhg-hie7 ,then ,almighty ,god questioned ,eve3 ,of what avail1 ,my daughter1 were ,my abundant blessings1 the new-created ,paradise and pleasant growing things1 that thou shouldest stretch thy hands with yearning unto the tree1 and pluck the apples growing on its boughs1 and eat the deadly fruit in trespass against ,me1 and give to ,adam1 when by ,my word it was forbidden to you both8 7ll4 #hie-ijb7 ,and the lovely woman1 put to shame1 made answer3 ,the serpent1 the deadly snake1 with fair words tempted me1 and eagerly enticed me to that deed of sin and evil appetite1 until ,i basely did the deed and wrought the wrong1 despoiled the tree within the wood1 as was not right1 and ate the fruit4 7ll4 #ijc-ije7 ,then our ,saviour1 the ,almighty ,lord1 decreed unto the serpent1 the guilty snake1 an endless wandering1 and said3 7ll4 #ijf-iag7 ,all thy life upon thy belly shalt thou go to and fro upon the fields of the broad earth1 accursed1 so long as life and spirit dwell within thee4 ,dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life for the grievous evil thou hast wrought4 ,the woman shall loathe and hate thee under heaven4 ,her foot shall crush thy head1 and thou shalt bruise her heel anew4 ,there shall be strife between your seed for ever1 while the world standeth under heaven4 ,now thou knowest clearly1 thou foul tempter1 what thy life shall be4 ,,xvi 7ll4 #iah-ibd7 ,and unto ,eve ,god spake in wrath3 ,turn thee from joy6 ,thou shalt live under man's dominion1 sore smitten with fear before him4 ,with bitter sorrow shalt thou expiate thy sin1 waiting for death1 bringing forth sons and daughters in the world with grief and tears and lamentation4 7ll4 #ibe-ich7 ,and on ,adam the ,eternal ,god1 ,author of life1 pronounced an evil doom3 ,thou shalt seek another home1 a joyless dwelling4 ,naked and needy shalt thou suffer exile1 shorn of thy glory4 ,thy soul and body shall be cleft asunder4 ,lo6 thou hast sinned a grievous sin4 ,therefore shalt thou labour1 winning thy portion on the earth by toil1 eating thy bread in the sweat of thy brow while thou dwellest here1 until that grim disease1 which first thou tasted in the apple1 shall grip hard at thy heart4 ,so shalt thou die4 7ll4 #ici-iea7 ,lo6 now we know how our afflictions came upon us1 and mortal misery6 ,then the ,lord of glory1 our ,creator1 clothed them with garments1 and bade them cover their shame with their first raiment4 ,he drove them forth from ,paradise into a narrower life4 ,by ,god's command a holy angel1 with a sword of fire1 closed fast that pleasant home of peace and joy behind them4 ,no wicked1 sinful man may walk therein1 but the warden has strength and power1 dear unto ,god in virtue1 who guards that life of glory4 7ll4 #ieb-ifd7 ,yet the ,almighty ,father would not take away from ,adam and from ,eve1 at once1 all goodly things1 though ,he withdrew ,his favour from them4 ,but for their comfort ,he left the sky above them adorned with shining stars1 gave them wide-stretching fields1 and bade the earth and sea and all their teeming multitudes to bring forth fruits to serve man's earthly need4 ,after their sin they dwelt in a realm more sorrowful1 a home and native land less rich in all good things than was their first abode1 wherefrom ,he drove them out after their sin4 7ll4 #ife-ihg7 ,then1 according to the word of ,god1 ,adam and ,eve begat children1 as ,god had bidden4 ,to them were born two goodly sons1 ,abel and ,cain3 the books tell us how these brothers1 first of toilers1 gained wealth and goods and store of food4 ,one1 the first-born1 tilled the fields2 the other aided with his father's cattle2 and after many days they both brought offerings to ,god4 ,the ,prince of angels1 ,lord of every creature1 lifted up ,his eyes on ,abel's offering and would not look upon the gift of ,cain4 ,and the heart of ,cain was bitter2 wrath shook his soul1 and envy burned within him4 ,then with his hands ,cain wrought a deed of shame1 struck down his brother ,abel1 and poured his blood upon the ground4 ,the earth drank in his blood poured out in murder4 7ll4 #ihg-ajja7 ,after that mortal blow came woe and tribulation4 ,from that shoot grew more and more a deadly bitter fruit1 and the boughs of sin stretched far and wide among the nations2 grievously the twigs of evil touched the sons of men 7and do so yet71 and from them grew broad blades of wickedness4 ,with lamentation must we tell that tale of evil fate1 not without cause4 ,grievous the ruin the lovely woman wrought us by that first of sins that ever men on earth had sinned against their ,maker since ,adam first was filled with breath from the mouth of ,god4 ,,xvii 7ll4 #ajjb-ajje7 ,then the ,lord of glory spake unto ,cain1 and asked where ,abel was4 ,quickly the cursed fashioner of death made answer unto ,him3 7ll4 #ajjf-ajjh7 ,i know not the coming or going of ,abel1 my kinsman1 his lot or portion2 ,i was not my brother's keeper4 7ll4 #ajjh-ajba7 ,and the ,gracious ,spirit1 ,lord of angels1 made answer unto him3 ,why hast thou slain that faithful man thy brother in thy wrath1 and his blood calleth and crieth unto ,me8 ,accursed for ever1 driven into exile1 thou shalt be punished for this deed of death6 ,the earth shall not yield thee of her pleasant fruits for thy daily need1 but by thy hands her soil is stained with holy blood4 ,therefore the green earth shall withhold from thee her beauty and her delights4 ,in sadness and dishonour shalt thou depart from thy home1 because thou hast slain thy brother1 ,abel4 ,loathed of thy kinsmen1 an exile and a fugitive1 shalt thou wander on the face of the earth4 7ll4 #ajbb-ajce7 ,and ,cain made answer unto ,him3 444 ,i need not look for pity in this world1 ,high ,king of heaven1 for ,i have lost ,thy love and favour and goodwill4 ,weary the ways my feet must wander1 in dread of woe1 whenever one shall meet me in my guilt1 near or far1 and by his hate remind me of my brother's death4 ,i shed his blood and poured his life-blood on the ground4 ,from this day hast ,thou cut me off from good6 ,thou scourgest me from home6 ,some cruel foe shall slay me4 ,and ,i must needs go forth1 accursed1 from ,thy sight1 ,o ,lord6 7ll4 #ajcf-ajdc7 ,and the ,lord of victory said unto him3 ,thou needest not yet dread death1 nor the pangs of death1 though thou shalt wander1 far from kinsmen1 with thy doom upon thee4 ,if any man shall slay thee with his hands1 on him shall fall a seven-fold vengeance1 and torment for that deed of sin4 7ll4 #ajdc-ajed7 ,and ,god1 the ,lord of glory1 set a mark upon him and a token1 lest any foe from far or near should dare to lift his hand against him2 and ,he bade him go forth in his guilt from mother and kinsmen and from all his tribe4 ,then with despairing heart1 a friendless exile1 ,cain departed out of the sight of ,god1 and chose a home and dwelling in the eastern lands1 far from his father's house2 and there a comely maiden bare him children after his kind4 7ll4 #ajee-ajgc7 ,enoch was first-born of the sons of ,cain4 ,he built a city with his kinsmen1 the first of all those strongholds under heaven which sword-girt men established2 and in the city sons were born to him4 ,irad was first-born of the sons of ,enoch2 and he begat children1 and all the tribe and race of ,cain increased4 ,and after ,irad ,mahalaleel was warden of the treasure1 in his father's stead1 until he died4 ,then ,methusael dispensed the treasure to his brothers and his kinsmen1 man for man1 till1 full of many years1 he died4 7ll4 #ajgc-ajha7 ,and at his father's death ,lamech succeeded to the treasure and the household goods4 ,two wives bare children to him in his home1 ,adah and ,zillah4 ,now one of the sons of ,lamech was called ,jabal2 and he was first of all men by his skill to stir the harp to music and its strings to song4 ,,xviii 7ll4 #ajhb-ajhi7 ,and there was also in that tribe another son of ,lamech1 called ,tubal ,cain1 a smith skilled in his craft4 ,he was the first of all men on the earth to fashion tools of husbandry2 and far and wide the city-dwelling sons of men made use of bronze and iron4 7ll4 #ajij-aajc7 ,then to his two beloved wives1 ,adah and ,zillah1 ,lamech rehearsed a tale of shame3 ,i have struck down a kinsman unto death6 ,i have defiled my hands with the blood of ,cain6 ,i smote down ,enoch's father1 slayer of ,abel1 and poured his blood upon the ground4 ,full well ,i know that for that mortal deed shall come ,god's seven-fold vengeance4 ,with fearful torment shall my deed of death and murder be requited1 when ,i go hence4 7ll4 #aajd-aaaa7 ,then another son was born to ,adam in ,abel's stead2 and his name was ,seth4 ,he was a righteous son and blessed1 a solace to his parents1 his father and mother1 ,adam and ,eve4 ,and he filled the place of ,abel in the world4 ,then ,adam spake1 the first of men3 7ll4 #aaaa-aaaf7 ,the eternal ,god of victory1 the ,lord of life1 hath vouchsafed me another son in place of my beloved whom ,cain slew4 ,so our ,lord hath stilled the sorrow of my heart4 ,to ,him be thanks6 7ll4 #aaag-aabg7 ,now1 when ,adam begat another son to be his heir1 that sturdy man had lived an hundred and thirty winters of this life in the world4 ,the writings tell us that ,adam increased his tribe on earth1 begetting sons and daughters eight hundred years4 ,and all the years of ,adam were nine hundred and thirty winters1 and he died4 7ll4 #aabh-aadb7 ,and ,seth succeeded ,adam3 at his father's death the well-loved son possessed the treasure1 and took himself a wife4 ,and ,seth lived an hundred and five winters in the world and increased his tribe1 begetting sons and daughters4 ,enos was first-born of the sons of ,seth2 and he was first of all the sons of men to call upon the name of ,god since ,adam1 first a living spirit1 set foot on the green earth4 ,seth prospered1 eight hundred and seven winters begetting sons and daughters4 ,and all the years of ,seth were nine hundred and twelve winters1 and he died4 7ll4 #aadc-aaed7 ,and after he went hence1 and the earth received the body of seed-bearing ,seth1 ,enos was warden of the heritage4 ,dear was he unto ,god6 ,he lived for ninety winters in the world1 and begat children4 ,and ,cainan was first-born of the sons of ,enos4 ,eight hundred and fifteen winters the man of wisdom lived1 at peace with ,god1 begetting sons and daughters4 ,and all the years of ,enos were nine hundred and five winters1 and he died4 7ll4 #aaee-aaff7 ,and after ,enos ,cainan ruled the tribe as lord and leader4 ,he lived seventy winters1 and begat a son4 ,an heir was born unto his house1 and his name was ,mahalaleel4 ,eight hundred and forty winters ,cainan lived1 and increased his tribe4 ,and all the years of the son of ,enos were nine hundred and ten winters1 and he died1 and his appointed days beneath the heavens were fulfilled4 ,,xix 7ll4 #aafg-aahj7 ,and after ,cainan ,mahalaleel possessed the land and treasure many a year4 ,the prince lived five-and-sixty winters1 and begat a son4 ,an heir was born unto his house1 and his kinsmen called him ,jared1 as ,i have heard4 ,mahalaleel lived long1 enjoying bliss on earth1 the joys of men1 and worldly treasure4 ,and all the years of ,mahalaleel were eight hundred five-and-ninety winters1 and he died1 and gave the land and rule unto his son4 7ll4 #aahj-aaif7 ,a long time ,jared dealt out gold to men4 ,he was a righteous prince1 a noble earl1 dear to his kinsmen ,he lived an hundred five-and-sixty winters in the world1 and1 when her time was come1 his wife brought forth her first-born1 a goodly son4 ,and his name was ,enoch4 ,eight hundred years his father lived1 and increased his tribe4 ,and all the years of ,jared were nine hundred five-and-sixty winters1 and he died1 and gave the land and rule unto his son1 the wise and well-loved prince4 7ll4 #aaig-abag7 ,and ,enoch ruled the folk1 led them in ways of peace1 and no wise let his sway and power lessen1 while he was lord over his kinsmen4 ,now ,enoch prospered and increased his tribe three hundred years4 ,and ,god1 the ,lord of heaven1 was gracious unto him6 ,in his natural body he entered into heavenly joy and the glory of ,god1 dying no mortal death as men do here1 the young and old1 what time ,god taketh from them wealth and substance and earthly treasure and their life2 but with the ,king of angels he departed still alive out of this fleeting life1 in the same vestments which his soul received before his mother bare him4 ,he left the people to his eldest son4 ,and all the years of ,enoch were three hundred five-and-sixty winters1 and he died4 7ll4 #abag-abbd7 ,then ,methuselah held sway among his kinsmen1 and longest of all men enjoyed the pleasures of this world4 ,he begat a multitude of sons and daughters before his death4 ,and all the years of ,methuselah were nine hundred and seventy winters1 and he died4 7ll4 #abbd-abcf7 ,and ,lamech1 his son1 succeeded him and kept the treasure4 ,long time he ruled the land4 ,he lived an hundred and two winters1 and begat children4 ,and the lord and leader of the folk lived five hundred five-and-ninety years1 enjoying many winters under heaven1 ruling the folk with wisdom4 ,and ,lamech increased his tribe1 begetting sons and daughters4 ,he called the name of the first-born ,noah2 and ,noah ruled the land after the death of ,lamech4 7ll4 #abcg-abdg7 ,now ,noah1 the lord of men1 lived five hundred winters1 as the books say1 and begat children4 ,the first-born son of ,noah was ,shem1 and the second ,ham1 and the third ,japheth4 ,and the folk grew in number under heaven1 and the multitude of the race of men increased throughout the earth4 ,the tribe of ,seth1 the well-loved prince1 was still exceeding dear to ,god1 and blessed in ,his love6 ,,xx 7ll4 #abdh-abed7 ,then the sons of ,god began to take them wives from the tribe of ,cain1 a cursed folk1 and the sons of men chose them wives from among that people1 the fair and winsome daughters of that sinful race1 against the will of ,god4 ,then the ,lord of heaven lifted up ,his voice in wrath against mankind1 and said3 7ll4 #abee-abfb7 ,lo6 ,i have not been unmindful of the sons of men1 but the tribe of ,cain hath sorely angered ,me4 ,the sons of ,seth have stirred ,my wrath against them2 they have taken them wives from among the daughters of ,my foes4 ,woman's beauty and woman's grace and the eternal fiend have taken hold upon this people who dwelt of old in peace4 7ll4 #abfc-abhd7 ,an hundred and twenty numbered winters in the world that fated folk were busied in evil4 ,then the ,lord resolved to punish those faithless spirits1 and slay the sinful giant sons1 undear to ,god1 those huge1 unholy scathers1 loathsome to the ,lord4 ,the ,king of victory beheld how great was the wickedness of men on earth1 and saw that they were bold in sin and full of wiles4 ,he resolved to bring destruction on the tribes of men1 and smite mankind with heavy hand4 ,it repented ,him exceedingly that ,he had made man1 and the first of men1 when ,he created ,adam4 ,he said that for the sins of men ,he would lay waste the earth1 and all that was upon the earth1 destroying every living thing that breathed the breath of life4 ,all this would the ,lord destroy in the days that were coming on the sons of men4 7ll4 #abhe-abie7 ,but ,noah1 the son of ,lamech1 was good and dear to ,god1 exceeding blessed1 just and meek4 ,and the ,lord knew that virtue flourished in the heart of ,noah4 ,wherefore ,god1 the ,holy ,lord of every creature1 spake unto ,noah1 declaring ,his wrath and vengeance on the sons of men4 ,for ,he saw that the earth was full of wickedness1 and its broad and fertile meadows filled with sin and defiled with uncleanness4 ,and the ,lord our ,god spake unto ,noah1 and said3 7ll4 #abif-acac7 ,i will destroy this people with a flood1 man and every living thing that the air and the seas bring forth and nourish1 birds of the air and beasts of the field4 ,but thou1 and thy sons with thee1 shall have mercy when the black waters1 the dark1 destroying floods1 shall overwhelm the hosts of sinful men4 ,begin to build thee a ship1 a mighty seahouse1 and in it make abiding-room for many1 and set a rightful place for every tribe of earth4 ,build floors within the ark1 dividing it in stories4 ,and thou shalt build it three hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high1 and fasten it firmly against the might of the waves4 ,and thou shalt take within the ark the seed of every living thing1 and the offspring of all flesh upon the earth4 ,and the ark must hold them all4 7ll4 #acad-acai7 ,and ,noah did according as ,god commanded him4 ,he hearkened unto the ,holy ,king of heaven1 and began straightway to build the ark1 a mighty sea-chest4 ,and unto his kinsmen he proclaimed destruction coming upon men1 and bitter vengeance4 ,and they heeded him not4 7ll4 #acbj-acbf7 ,then after many winters the ,faithful ,lord beheld the greatest of ocean-houses1 ,noah's vessel1 towering up1 made tight with the best of pitch within and without against the floods4 ,and it was best of all its kind1 growing more hard the more the rough waves and the black sea-streams beat up against it4 ,,xxi 7l4 #acbg7 ,then our ,lord said unto ,noah3 7ll4 #acbh-acee7 ,i give thee ,my pledge1 dearest of men1 that thou mayest go thy way1 thou and the seed of every living thing which thou shalt ferry through the deep water for many a day in the bosom of the ship4 ,lead on board the ark1 as ,i bid thee1 thy household1 thy wife and thy three sons1 and thy sons' wives with thee4 ,and take within that sea-home seven of every kind of living thing that serve as food for men1 and two of every other kind4 ,likewise of all the fruits of the earth take food for the company upon thy ship1 who with thee shall be saved from the flood6 ,care well for every creature until ,i shall cause food to grow again beneath the heavens for the survivors of the ocean floods4 ,depart now with thy household and thy host of guests1 embarking on the ship4 ,i know that thou art good1 and of a steadfast mind4 ,thou art worthy of grace and mercy1 thou and thy children4 ,lo6 for seven nights ,i shall let the rains descend upon the face of the broad earth4 ,forty days will ,i visit ,my wrath upon men1 with a deluge destroying the riches of the world and the tribes of men1 save what shall be upon the ark when the black floods begin to rise4 7ll4 #acef-acga7 ,and ,noah departed1 as the ,lord commanded1 embarking his household upon the ark1 leading up his sons into the ship1 and their wives with them4 ,all that ,almighty ,god would have for seed went in under the roof of the ark unto their food-giver1 even according as the ,mighty ,lord of hosts gave bidding by ,his word4 ,and the ,warden of that heavenly kingdom1 the ,god of victories1 locked the door of the ocean-house behind him with ,his hands1 and our ,lord blessed all within the ark with ,his blessing4 ,now ,noah1 the son of ,lamech1 had lived six hundred winters1 wise and full of years1 when he went up with the young men1 his beloved sons1 into the ark1 as ,god gave bidding4 7ll4 #acga-acii7 ,then the ,lord sent the rains from heaven1 and caused the black sea-streams to roar1 and the fountains of the deep to overflow the world4 ,the seas surged up over the barriers of the shore4 ,mighty in ,his wrath was ,he who rules the waters6 ,and ,he overwhelmed and covered the mortal sons of sin with a black deluge1 laying waste the native land and homes of men4 ,god visited their offences upon them4 ,forty days and forty nights the sea laid hold on that doomed folk4 ,dire was that disaster and deadly unto men4 ,the stormy surges of the ,king of glory quenched the life from out the bodies of that sinful host4 ,the flood1 raging beneath the heavens1 covered over all high hills throughout the spacious earth1 and lifted up the ark from the earth upon the bosom of the waters1 and all within the ark1 whom the ,lord our ,god had blessed when ,he locked the door of the ship4 ,then far and wide that best of ocean-houses and its burden floated beneath the heavens over the compass of the sea4 ,the raging terrors of the deep might not lay hold on ship or mariners1 but ,holy ,god ferried them upon the sea and shielded them4 ,fifteen cubits deep upon the hills the deluge lay4 ,that was a grievous fate6 7ll4 #adjj-adjf7 ,but no harm came nigh unto the ark1 save that it was lifted up to heaven1 when the flood destroyed all creatures on the earth2 but ,holy ,god1 the ,eternal ,king1 the ,lord of heaven1 stern of heart1 preserved the ark when ,he unleashed the ocean currents and their changing streams4 ,,xxii 7ll4 #adjg-adab7 ,and ,god1 the ,lord of victory1 was mindful of those mariners1 of the son of ,lamech1 and all the living things which the ,author of life and light had locked within the bosom of the ship against the waters' might4 ,the ,lord of hosts guided the warriors by ,his word across the world4 7ll4 #adab-adba7 ,then the welling floods began to lessen and the black tides ebbed beneath the heavens4 ,the ,just ,god turned the waters again from ,his children and stilled the downpour of the rains4 ,foamy-necked the ship fared on an hundred and fifty nights beneath the heavens1 after the flood had lifted up that best of vessels with its well-nailed sides--until at last the appointed number of the days of wrath were passed away4 7ll4 #adba-adcj7 ,and the ark of ,noah1 the greatest of seahomes1 with its burden1 rested high upon the hills which are called ,armenia4 ,there the holy son of ,lamech waited many days for ,god's faithful covenant to be fulfilled1 when the ,warden of life1 the ,lord ,almighty1 would give him respite from the perils he had suffered while the black waves bore him far and wide upon the waters over the spacious earth4 7ll4 #adca-addh7 ,the floods receded1 and those sea-tossed men1 together with their wives1 longed for the hour when they might leave their narrow home1 and step across the well-nailed sides upon the shore1 and from their prison lead out their possessions4 ,and ,noah1 the helmsman of the ark1 made trial whether the seafloods yet were ebbing under heaven4 ,after many days1 while the high hills yet harboured the seed and treasure of the tribes of earth1 the son of ,lamech let a dusky raven fly forth from the ark over the deep flood4 ,and ,noah was sure that in its need1 if so be it should find no land upon this journey1 the raven would return to him again within the ark across the wide water4 ,but ,noah's hope failed him6 ,exulting the raven perched upon the floating bodies of the dead2 the black-winged bird would not return4 7ll4 #addi-adfc7 ,and seven days after the dusky raven he let a grey dove fly forth from the ark across the deep water1 making trial whether the high and foaming floods had yet receded from any region of the green earth4 ,widely she sought her heart's desire1 circling afar1 but nowhere finding rest4 ,because of the floods she might not set foot upon the land1 nor settle on the branch of any tree because of the ocean-streams4 ,the high hills were covered by the deep4 ,and so at evening over the dusky wave the wild bird sought the ark1 settling hungry and weary into the hands of that holy man4 7ll4 #adfd-adgf7 ,and again after seven days a second dove was sent forth from the ark4 ,the wild bird circled widely till she found a refuge and a pleasant resting-place1 and settled in a tree4 ,blithe of heart1 she rejoiced that in her weariness she might find rest upon its pleasant branches4 ,she shook her feathers and flew back with a gift1 bearing as she flew a branch of an olive tree with its green blades4 ,and the prince of shipmen knew that comfort was at hand1 and a requital of their toilsome voyage4 7ll4 #adgf-adhb7 ,and again after seven days the blessed man sent forth a third wild dove4 ,and she flew not back unto the ark1 but came to land and the green forests4 ,her heart was glad2 never again would she appear under the black roof of the ark4 ,nor was there need6 ,,xxiii 7ll4 #adhc-adhd7 ,then our ,lord1 the ,warden of the heavenly kingdom1 with holy word spake unto ,noah3 7ll4 #adhe-adib7 ,for thee again on earth a fair abiding-place is founded1 blessings upon the land1 and rest from far sea-wandering4 ,depart in peace out of the ark2 go forth upon the bosom of the earth4 ,and from the high ship lead thy household1 and all the living things which graciously ,i shielded against the flood1 so long as the sea held sway and covered thy third home4 7ll4 #adic-aeaa7 ,and ,noah hearkened unto ,god with great rejoicing1 and did according as the ,voice commanded4 ,and he went out upon the shore1 and led forth from the ark all who had survived that time of woe4 ,then ,noah1 wise of counsel1 began to offer sacrifice to ,god4 ,and for an offering he took a part of all his goods which ,god had given him to enjoy1 and1 great in wisdom and in glory1 made sacrifice to ,god1 the ,king of angels4 ,and straightway our ,lord made known that ,he had blessed ,noah1 and ,noah's children1 because he had offered that thank-offering1 and in his youth by good deeds had deserved the bounteous mercies which ,almighty ,god in majesty bestowed upon him4 ,and ,god1 the ,lord of glory1 spake unto ,noah and said3 7ll4 #aeab-aeca7 ,be fruitful and multiply1 enjoying honour1 delighting in peace4 ,fill all the earth with your increase4 ,to you is given the home of your fathers1 dominion over the fish of the sea1 and the fowls of the air1 and the beasts of the field1 over all the green earth and its teeming herds4 ,never shall ye eat in blood your shameful feasts through sin defiled with blood4 ,for most he injureth himself and his soul's honour whoso shall slay another with the sword4 ,verily6 in no wise shall his heart have joy in his reward6 ,for many times more heavily will ,i avenge man's life upon his murderer1 because his sword hath prospered in violence and blood1 and his hands in death4 ,man was first fashioned in the image of ,god4 ,each hath the form of ,god and of the angels1 whoso will keep ,my holy laws4 7ll4 #aecb-aedb7 ,be fruitful and multiply1 enjoying grace on earth and every pleasant thing4 ,fill all the regions of the earth with your increase1 your issue1 and your seed4 ,and unto you ,i give ,my covenant that never again will ,i bring the waters upon the earth or a flood on the wide-stretching land4 ,oft shall ye behold the token of ,my promise in the heavens1 when ,i show forth ,my rainbow1 that ,i will keep this covenant with men while the world standeth4 7ll4 #aedc-aeed7 ,and the wise son of ,lamech1 the warden of wealth1 came forth from the ship as the flood receded1 and his three sons with him4 ,and their four wives were called ,percoba1 and ,olla1 and ,olliva1 and ,ollivani4 ,the ,faithful ,lord had saved them to survive the flood4 ,and ,noah's stout-hearted sons were ,shem and ,ham1 and the third was ,japheth4 ,from them sprang many peoples1 and all the earth was filled with the sons of men4 7ll4 #aeee-aefa7 ,then a second time ,noah began to establish a home with his kinsmen1 and to till the earth for food4 ,he toiled and wrought and planted a vineyard and sowed seed1 and laboured that the green earth might bring forth her shining harvests1 her gleaming crops1 in every season4 7ll4 #aefb-aegf7 ,and it came to pass upon a time that the blessed man lay drunk with wine in his dwelling1 and slumbered heavy with feasting1 and cast off his robe from his body1 as was not seemly1 and lay there naked of limb4 ,little did he know what evil plight was his in his dwelling1 while drunkenness had hold upon his heart within him in its holy house4 ,but his soul was fast bound in slumber1 so that in his stupor he might not cover himself with a garment1 nor hide his shame1 as was decreed for man and woman what time the thane of glory with a sword of fire behind our first great parents locked the gates of life4 7ll4 #aegg-aehh7 ,then ,ham1 the son of ,noah1 went in where his lord lay sleeping1 and would not look with reverence upon his father1 nor cover his shame4 ,but he laughed1 and told his brothers how their lord lay sleeping in his home4 ,and straightway1 covering their faces with their cloaks1 they went in unto the well-beloved to bring him succour4 ,for both were good of heart1 both ,shem and ,japheth4 7ll4 #aehh-afjc7 ,then the son of ,lamech awoke from his slumber1 and learned that ,ham had failed to show him reverence or love when he had greatest need4 ,and the holy man was grieved in his heart1 and set a curse upon his son1 saying that ,ham should be an outcast under heaven and servant to his kinsmen on the earth4 ,and the curse lay heavy upon him and on all his tribe4 ,and ,noah and his sons as freemen ruled a wide-stretching realm for three hundred and fifty winters of this life1 after the flood4 ,then he went hence4 ,and his sons possessed his wealth1 and begat children and prospered4 7ll4 #afjc-afaf7 ,children were born unto ,japheth1 a glad hearth-band of sons and daughters4 ,he was a godly man1 enjoying bliss and blessing with his children1 until his soul within his breast1 ready to depart1 must needs go forth unto the glory of ,god4 ,and ,gormer1 ,japheth's son1 dispensed his father's treasure among his friends and kinsmen1 near and dear4 ,and no little portion of the earth was filled with their increase4 7ll4 #afaf-afbh7 ,likewise sons were born unto ,ham4 ,the names of the eldest were called ,cush and ,ham1 two goodly youths1 his first-born sons4 ,and ,cush was ruler of his tribe1 dispensing joy and worldly wealth and treasure unto his brothers in his father's stead1 after ,ham died1 and his soul departed from this earthly body4 ,he ruled his tribe and gave them laws until his days were run4 ,then he gave over earthly riches and sought another life and his ,father's bosom4 7ll4 #afbh-afcf7 ,and the first-born son of ,cush1 a far-famed man1 held his ancestral seat4 ,the writings tell us that of all men then alive his strength and power were greatest4 ,he was lord of the kingdom of ,babylon1 and first of princes to exalt her glory4 ,he enlarged her borders and brought her fame4 ,,xxv 7ll4 #afcg-afci7 ,now there was yet one common tongue for all men on the earth4 ,and a great tribe was born of the stem of ,ham and a mighty people spreading far and wide4 7ll4 #afdj-affj7 ,and ,shem begat a host of free-born sons and daughters1 and1 after many winters1 went to his last rest4 ,in that tribe men were good6 ,one of the sons of ,shem was ,eber1 and from him sprang a countless race which all men dwelling in the earth call ,hebrews4 ,they departed out of the east1 taking with them all their substance1 their cattle and their goods4 ,that was a dauntless folk6 ,the heroes sought a roomier land1 a wandering folk1 in mighty multitudes1 and chose at last a fixed abode wherein to settle4 ,far and wide in days of old the leaders of that people1 with their well-loved men1 possessed the land of ,shinar1 a land of green plains and pleasant valleys4 ,and at that time they prospered greatly1 and had abundance of all good things4 7ll4 #affa-afgh7 ,then many a man besought his friend1 and one stout warrior urged another1 that1 before their multitude and the tribes of their people should be scattered again over the face of the whole earth in search of land1 they should build a city to their glory and rear a tower unto the stars of heaven1 to be a sign that they had sought the land of ,shinar1 where of old the mighty leaders of the folk had lived at ease4 ,and they sought out men for this work and deed of sin1 in rash pride showing forth their strength4 ,greedy for glory1 they reared a city with their hands1 and raised a ladder up to heaven1 and in their vain strength built a wall of stone beyond the measure of men4 7ll4 #afgh-agja7 ,then came ,holy ,god to look upon the work of the children of men1 the citadel and the tower which the sons of ,adam were beginning to rear unto heaven4 ,stern of heart1 the ,king reproved their folly1 and in ,his wrath confounded the tongues of the dwellers of earth1 and they might not prosper in their speech4 ,then the leaders of the work in pride of strength met together about the tower in many bands4 ,but no one band could understand another4 ,and they left off to build the wall of stone1 and were wretchedly sundered into tribes divided by their speech4 ,and every tribe became alien to every other tribe1 when the ,lord in ,his might sundered the speech of men4 ,so the divided sons of men were scattered on four ways in search of land4 ,and behind them the steadfast tower of stone1 and the high citadel1 stood unfinished together in the land of ,shinar4 7ll4 #agjb-agah7 ,now the tribe of ,shem increased and flourished under heaven4 ,and a certain man of that tribe1 of thoughtful heart and given to virtue1 had noble children4 ,two goodly sons were born to him1 and bred in ,babylon1 great-hearted princes named ,abraham and ,haran4 ,and the ,lord of angels was their guide and friend4 ,now ,haran had a noble son1 whose name was ,lot4 ,and ,abraham and ,lot throve excellently before the ,lord as was their nature from their elders4 ,wherefore men proclaim their virtues far and wide upon the earth4 ,,xxvi 7ll4 #agai-agbi7 ,then was the time fulfilled1 and ,abraham brought a wife unto his home1 a fair and comely woman to his dwelling4 ,and her name was ,sarah1 as the writings tell us4 ,many a winter they enjoyed the world1 prospering in peace for many a year4 ,but it was not given unto ,abraham that his comely wife should bear him children1 or an heir unto his house4 7ll4 #agcj-agdc7 ,and ,abraham's father went out with his household1 and with all their substance1 journeying through the realm of the ,chaldeans4 ,fain would the wise lord with his kinsfolk seek the land of ,canaan4 ,and ,abraham and ,lot1 his kinsmen1 dear to ,god1 departed with him out of that country4 ,the noble sons of men chose them a dwelling in the land of ,haran1 and their wives with them4 ,and ,abraham's father1 the faithful1 died in that land4 ,and all his years were two hundred and five winters1 and he departed1 full of years1 to see ,god4 7ll4 #agdd-agff7 ,then the ,holy ,warden of the heavenly kingdom1 ,eternal ,god1 said unto ,abraham3 ,go forth from this place1 and lead thy household and thy cattle with thee4 ,get thee out of the land of ,haran1 and from thy father's home4 ,journey as ,i bid thee1 dearest of men2 hearken to ,my teachings1 and seek the land of green1 wide-stretching plains1 which ,i shall show thee4 ,blessed shalt thou live in ,my protection4 ,if any of the dwellers of earth greet thee with evil1 him will ,i curse for thy sake2 and ,i will set ,my anger upon him and ,my enduring wrath4 ,but unto them that honour thee will ,i be gracious and give them all their heart's desire4 ,through thee all nations dwelling in the earth shall have ,my peace and friendship1 ,my bliss and blessing in the world4 ,the number of thy tribe1 thy sons and daughters1 shall be increased beneath the heavens1 until the earth and many a land shall be filled with thy seed4 7ll4 #agfg-aghf7 ,and ,abraham1 great in virtue and blessed with gold and silver1 departed with much substance out of the land of ,haran1 leading his herds and his possessions1 even unto the borders of the ,egyptians1 according as our ,god1 the ,lord of victory1 commanded by ,his word1 and sought a dwelling in the land of ,canaan4 ,beloved of ,god1 he came with gladness to that land1 and his wife with him1 the dear companion of his bed1 and the wife of his brother's son4 ,and his years were five-and-seventy winters when he went out from the land of ,haran1 and from his kinsmen4 ,and ,abraham was mindful of the words of the ,almighty ,father1 and journeyed through all the borders of that people1 at his ,lord's behest1 to view the land afar1 and came at last in safety1 with undaunted heart1 to ,sichem and the ,canaanites4 ,and the ,just ,lord1 the ,king of angels1 revealed ,himself to ,abraham and said3 7ll4 #aghg-agij7 ,this is the roomy land1 the beautiful1 green realm1 adorned with increase1 which ,i will give thy seed to rule4 7ll4 #agij-ahjd7 ,and there the prince builded an altar to the ,lord1 and offered up a sacrifice to ,god1 the ,lord of life1 ,protector of all souls4 ,and ,abraham departed again out of the east to view with his eyes this best of lands 7and he was mindful of the gracious promise which the ,heavenly ,warden1 the ,lord of victory1 had given by ,his holy word7 until they came with their multitudes unto a village called ,bethel4 ,out of the east their leader1 blithe of heart1 and his brother's son1 ,godfearing men1 journeyed with all their substance through far-famed lands1 and over high1 steep hills1 and chose a dwelling where the fields seemed wondrous fair4 ,,xxvii 7ll4 #ahje-ahaj7 ,and again ,abraham builded an altar1 calling earnestly on ,god1 and offered sacrifice unto the ,lord of life4 ,and ,god was gracious1 and with unsparing hand granted him reward upon the altar4 7ll4 #ahaa-ahbc7 ,and for a time thereafter the prince abode in his dwellings1 and his wife with him1 enjoying all good things1 until a grievous famine fell upon the tribes of ,canaan1 and bitter hunger1 grim as death to men within their homes4 ,then ,abraham1 wise of heart1 and chosen of the ,lord1 betook him into ,egypt to seek a place of refuge4 ,the faithful hero fled from that affliction2 too bitter was the woe4 ,and1 in the wisdom of his heart1 when he beheld the gabled palaces and high-walled towns of the ,egyptians gleaming brightly1 ,abraham began to speak unto his wife and counsel her3 7ll4 #ahbd-ahdc7 ,lo6 many a proud ,egyptian shall behold thy beauty1 maiden of elfin grace6 ,and if one look upon thee with desire1 thinking thou art my wife1 ,i fear lest1 in his longing for thy love1 some foe may slay me with the sword4 ,therefore1 ,sarah1 say thou art my sister and my kin1 if any stranger question what the bond may be between us two of alien race and distant home4 ,conceal the truth6 ,so shalt thou save my life if ,god1 our ,lord ,almighty1 who sent us on this journey1 that we might strive for honour and advantage among the ,egyptians1 will grant me ,his protection as of old1 and longer life4 7ll4 #ahdd-ahgb7 ,so ,abraham1 the dauntless earl1 came journeying with all his substance into ,egypt1 where men were alien to him and friends unknown4 ,and many a proud earl1 great in glory1 found the woman fair2 to many a bold thanes of the king she seemed of royal beauty2 and this they told their lord4 ,they little thought of any fairer maid1 but praised the winsome loveliness of ,sarah more highly to their prince1 until he bade them bring the lovely woman to his hall4 ,and the lord of men1 dispenser of treasure1 bade them show honour upon ,abraham4 ,but the ,lord ,god visited ,his anger upon ,pharaoh because of his love of the woman2 bitterly the prince of men atoned1 and all his household4 ,he knew why the ,lord afflicted him with plagues6 ,then the prince of ,egypt called ,abraham before him1 who was sore afraid2 and he gave him his wife again and his consort1 and bade him seek friends elsewhere1 other princes and another folk4 ,and he bade his thanes and serving men conduct him1 uninjured and with honour1 out from among that people1 that he might be at peace4 7ll4 #ahgc-ahhi7 ,so ,abraham took his possessions and went out from the land of ,egypt4 ,brave men conveyed the maiden1 the bride with rings adorned1 and they led their flocks and earthly riches unto ,bethel to their olden dwellings again1 wife and wealth and worldly treasure4 ,they began to build there1 to found a city1 and renew their halls and establish a home4 ,and they builded an altar in the plain near that which ,abraham had built aforetime to his ,god1 when he came out of the west4 ,and there the blessed man of noble heart gave praise anew unto the name of the ,eternal ,lord1 offering sacrifice unto the ,prince of angels1 and giving thanks abundantly unto the ,lord of life for all ,his grace and mercy4 7ll4 #ahij-aijj7 ,then ,abraham and ,lot abode in that place1 having the fullness of their desires1 enjoying bliss1 until no longer could they prosper in that land together1 with their possessions1 but those righteous men must needs seek elsewhere some roomier dwelling-place4 ,for often quarrels rose between the followers of these faithful men1 and strife among their shepherds4 ,then holy ,abraham1 mindful of honour1 spake fairly unto ,lot3 7ll4 #aijj-aiai7 ,i am thy father's brother in blood kinship1 and thou my brother's son4 ,no strife shall rise1 no feud grow up1 between us two4 ,god will not suffer that4 ,we two are kinsmen2 naught else shall there be between us save goodness and enduring love4 ,now1 ,lot1 take thought how strong men dwell about our borders1 mighty tribes with thanes and allies1 men of valour1 the tribe of the ,canaanites and the tribe of the ,perizzites4 ,they will not give us of their land6 ,therefore let us go forth from this place1 and seek out roomier fields4 ,i give good counsel1 son of ,haran1 for us both1 and speak the truth4 ,i give thee choice1 my son6 ,take thought1 and ponder in thy heart on which hand thou wilt bend thy course1 thou and thy cattle4 ,the choice is thine6 7ll4 #aibj-aidd7 ,then ,lot departed to view the green earth and the land that lies by ,jordan4 ,and it was watered with rivers1 and covered with pleasant fruits1 bright with running streams1 and like the ,paradise of ,god before our ,lord gave over ,sodom and ,gomorrah unto fire and black flame1 because of the sins of men4 ,and there the son of ,haran chose him a dwelling and a settlement in the city of ,sodom4 ,and thither he took from ,bethel all his substance1 rings and household treasure and riches and twisted gold4 ,and he abode by ,jordan many a year4 ,the place was fair1 but those that dwelt therein were impious and hateful unto ,god4 ,the race of ,sodomites were bold in sin1 in deeds perverse1 working eternal folly4 ,lot would not adopt the customs of that people1 but turned him from their practices1 their sin and shame1 though he must needs dwell in the land4 ,he kept him pure and spotless and of patient heart among that people1 mindful of ,god's commands1 most like as if he knew not what that nation did4 7ll4 #aide-aiei7 ,and ,abraham abode thenceforth in the dwellings of the ,canaanites4 ,and the ,lord of men1 the ,king of angels1 was his defender1 granting him his heart's desires and worldly wealth and love and favour4 ,wherefore the tribes of men1 the children of baptism1 exalt his praise full widely under heaven4 ,he served the ,lord with gladness while he lived on earth1 holy and wise of heart4 ,never need any man lack shelter or defence1 nor be afraid and fearful before ,god1 whoso1 in return for ,his protection1 with discerning heart1 with wit and word and understanding1 in thought and deed will serve ,him till his death6 ,,xxviii 7ll4 #aifj-aigb7 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 ,chedorlaomer1 king of the ,elamires1 a bold folk-captain1 marshalled an army1 and ,amraphel of ,shinar and a mighty host were joined with him4 ,four kings with a great multitude departed into the south against ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,and all the land about ,jordan was overrun with armed men and hostile bands4 ,many a trembling maiden1 pale with fear1 must needs endure a foe's embrace4 ,many a warrior perished1 sick with wounds1 guarding their wives and treasure4 7ll4 #aigc-aihi7 ,against them from the south five kings went forth to war with battle-hosts and marching squadrons4 ,fain would they guard the city of ,sodom against the foe4 ,twelve winters long that folk had given toll and tribute to the ,northmen1 and would no more enrich the lord of ,elam with their treasure1 but they rebelled against him4 ,onward the hosts advanced1 intent on death4 7,loud sang the javelins47 ,amid the spears the blackbird1 dewy-feathered1 croaked in hope of carrion4 ,in multitudes1 with steadfast hearts1 the warriors hastened till the hosts were gathered from afar1 from south and north1 helmeted men4 7ll4 #aihi-bjjc7 ,then was hard hand-play2 crashing of weapons1 storming of death-darts1 tumult of battle4 ,from out the sheaths men snatched their ring-decked1 keen-edged swords4 ,there might an earl have his fill of fighting1 whoso was not yet sated with war4 ,the ,northmen smote the people of the south4 ,in the shock of shields the men of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 dispensers of gold1 lost many a well-loved comrade4 ,and they fled away from the place of battle and saved their lives4 ,behind them1 slain with spears and smitten with the swordedge1 their well-loved comrades1 sons of princes1 fell in death4 7ll4 #bjjc-bjag7 ,and the lord of ,elam had the victory1 and held the place of battle2 and those who escaped the sword fled away to seek a stronghold4 ,the foemen took their gold and sacked their splendid treasure-cities1 ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,women were torn from their sheltering homes1 widow and maid1 bereft of friends4 ,and the foe led ,abraham's kinsman captive out of the city of ,sodom1 with all his substance4 ,but truly may we tell these war wolves' fate after the battle1 boasting their victory1 leading ,lot captive away1 and with him the goods of the people and gold of the ,southmen4 ,,xxix 7ll4 #bjah-bjch7 ,for a certain man who survived the battle and the sword came running unto ,abraham1 the ,hebrew prince1 and told him the disaster1 the fate of ,lot1 and how the men of ,sodom1 and their strength1 were sorely smitten4 ,and ,abraham told these tidings to his friends2 the faithful man besought his well-loved comrades1 ,aner and ,mamre and ,eshcol1 to bear him aid1 saying that it was grievous to his heart and greatest of all sorrows1 that his brother's son should suffer thraldom4 ,he bade those valiant men devise a plan to free his kinsman1 and his wife with him4 ,and quickly the three brothers spake1 and healed the sorrow of his heart with manful words1 and pledged their faith to ,abraham to aid him1 and avenge his wrath upon his foes1 or fall in death4 7ll4 #bjci-bjei7 ,then the holy man bade his hearth-retainers take their weapons4 ,three hundred and eighteen wielders of the ashen spear he gathered1 loyal-hearted men1 of whom he knew that each would stoutly bear his linden shield to battle4 ,and ,abraham went out1 and the three earls who had pledged their faith1 together with a great company of their people4 ,he would fain redeem his kinsman1 ,lot1 from his distress4 ,brave were the warriors1 stoutly bearing their bucklers upon the march4 ,and when these war-wolves had journeyed nigh unto the camp1 the son of ,terah1 wise of heart1 bespake his captains 7great was his need that they should wage grim war on either flank1 and hard hand-play against the foe7 and said that easily the ,holy1 ,everlasting ,lord could speed their fortunes in the spear-strife4 7ll4 #bjfj-bjhc7 ,then1 in the shades of night1 as ,i have heard1 the warriors dared the battle4 ,in the camp rose din of shields and spears1 death of bowmen1 crash of battle arrows4 ,bitterly the sharp spears pierced the hearts of men4 ,in throngs their foemen1 warriors and comrades1 fell in death1 where laughing they had borne away the spoil4 ,and victory and glory of war forsook the strife of the ,northmen4 ,no twisted gold did ,abraham offer in ransom for his brother's son1 but battle2 he smote and slew the foe in war4 ,and the ,lord of heaven smote in his behalf4 ,four armies fled1 the kings and captains of the folk4 ,behind them lay the goodly host of hearth-retainers1 cold in death1 and in their track lay those who sacked the homes of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and bore away the young men and the gold4 ,lot's uncle gave them grim requital6 ,and the lords of the army of ,elam1 shorn of their glory1 continued in flight until they came nigh unto ,damascus4 7ll4 #bjhc-bjie7 ,then ,abraham betook him to the track of their retreat1 and beheld the flight of the foe4 ,lot was redeemed1 and his possessions2 the women returned with joy4 ,far and wide upon the field of slaughter the birds were tearing at the bodies of those foemen of the free4 ,and ,abraham brought the treasure of the ,southmen1 their wives and children1 unto their homes again1 and maidens to their kinsmen4 ,never did any man of living men with tiny band go forth more worthily to battle than those who rushed against that mighty host4 ,,xxx 7ll4 #bjif-bajf7 ,southward the tidings of battle were borne to the people of ,sodom3 news of their fierce foes' flight4 ,the lord of the folk1 bereft of earls and desolate of friends1 went out unto ,abraham1 to meet him4 ,and with him journeyed ,salem's treasure-warden1 ,melchizedek the mighty1 the bishop of the folk4 ,he came with gifts1 gave ,abraham fair greeting1 the lord of armed men1 and blessed him with ,god's blessing1 and said3 7ll4 #bajg-babj7 ,well hast thou borne thee among men1 before ,his eyes who gave thee glory in the battle--that is1 ,god the ,lord1 who brake the power of thy foes1 and let thee hew thy way to safety with the sword1 regain the spoil1 and fell thine enemies4 ,they perished in the track of their retreat4 ,the marching host throve not in battle1 but ,god put them to flight4 ,with ,his hands ,he shielded thee against the force of greater numbers in the battle because of the holy covenant which thou dost keep with the ,lord of heaven4 7ll4 #baba-babe7 ,and the prince laid his hand upon him and blessed him1 and ,abraham gave a tenth part of all the booty unto the bishop of ,god4 ,then unto ,abraham spake the battle-king1 the prince of ,sodom1 bereft of his warriors 7he had need of favour73 7ll4 #babf-bace7 ,restore me now the maidens of my people whom thou hast rescued with thy host from evil bondage4 ,keep thou the twisted gold that was my people's1 the wealth and treasure4 ,but let me lead again in freedom to their native land and wasted dwellings the children of my people1 the women and lads and widows in their affliction4 ,our sons are dead and all our nobles1 save a few only who must guard with me the marches of our land4 7ll4 #bacf-bach7 ,and straightway1 crowned with valour and victory and glory1 ,abraham made answer before the earls4 ,right nobly spake he3 7ll4 #baci-bafj7 ,i say to thee1 ,o prince of men1 before the ,holy ,lord of earth and heaven1 there is no worldly treasure ,i will take1 nor scot nor shilling of what ,i have redeemed for thee among the bowmen1 great prince and lord of men1 lest that thou afterward shouldest say that ,i grew rich with the riches of ,sodom and its olden treasure4 ,but thou mayest take hence with thee all that booty which ,i won for thee in battle1 save only the portion of these lordly men1 of ,aner1 and of ,mamre1 and of ,eshcol4 ,i will not willingly deprive these warriors of their right1 for they upheld me in the shock of battle and fought to thine advantage4 ,depart now1 taking home the well-wrought gold1 and lovely maidens1 the daughters of thy people4 ,thou needest not to dread the onrush of thy foes1 or war of the ,northmen1 but the blood-stained birds of prey are resting on the mountain slopes1 gorged with the slain of their armies4 7ll4 #bafa-bafg7 ,then the king departed to his home with the booty which the holy ,hebrew prince1 mindful of honour1 had given him4 ,and the ,lord of heaven appeared again unto ,abraham1 comforting the noble man of heart with holy speech1 and said3 7ll4 #bafh-bagb7 ,great shall be thy reward6 ,let not thy heart be shaken1 doing ,my will4 ,thou needest have no whit of dread if thou wilt keep ,my precepts1 but ,i will shield thee with ,my hands1 and shelter thee from every evil1 so long as thy life endureth4 ,be not afraid4 ,,xxxi 7ll4 #bagc-bahf7 ,and ,abraham1 full of years and noble deeds1 made answer to his ,lord and asked3 ,what comfort canst ,thou give me1 ,lord of spirits1 who am thus desolate8 ,no need have ,i to heap up treasure for any child of mine1 but after me my kinsmen shall enjoy my wealth4 ,thou grantest me no son1 and therefore sorrow presseth on my heart4 ,i can devise no counsel4 ,my steward goeth to and fro rejoicing in his children1 and firmly thinketh in his heart that after me his sons shall be my heirs4 ,he seeth that no child is born to me4 7ll4 #bahg-bbae7 ,and straightway ,god made answer unto him3 ,never shall son of thy steward inherit thy goods2 but thine own son shall have thy treasure when thy flesh lieth cold4 ,behold the heavens6 ,number their jewels1 the shining stars1 that shed their wondrous beauty far and wide1 and blaze so brightly over the spacious sea4 ,so shall thy tribe be and thy seed for number4 ,let not thy heart be troubled4 ,yet shall thy wife conceive and bear a son1 great in goodness1 to be warden of thy wealth1 when thou art gone4 ,be not cast down4 ,i am the ,lord who1 many a year ago1 brought thee forth from out the land of the ,chaldeans1 with but a few1 and gave thee this wide realm to rule4 ,i give thee now ,my promise1 prince of ,hebrews1 thy seed shall settle many a spacious kingdom1 the regions of the world from the ,egyptian borders even unto ,euphrates1 and where the ,nile hems in a mighty land and the sea limits it4 ,all this shall thy sons inhabit2 each tract and tribal realm and lofty stone-built city1 whatsoever those three waters and their foaming floods encircle with their streams4 7ll4 #bbaf-bbai7 ,now ,sarah's heart was heavy that she bare no goodly son to gladden ,abraham2 with bitter grief she spake unto her husband3 7ll4 #bbbj-bbcc7 ,the ,lord of heaven hath denied me to increase thy tribe1 or bear thee children under heaven4 ,i have no hope that we shall have a son to stay our house4 ,my heart is sad4 ,my lord1 do now according as ,i bid thee4 ,here is a virgin subject unto thee1 a comely maid1 a daughter of the ,egyptian people4 ,bid her go quickly to thy bed and thou shalt prove if by this woman the ,lord will send an heir unto thy house4 7ll4 #bbcd-bbdf7 ,and the blessed man gave ear unto the woman's counsels1 and bade his handmaid go unto his bed1 according as his wife had counselled him4 ,and the maiden conceived by ,abraham1 and her heart grew arrogant4 ,she stubbornly began to vex her mistress1 was insolent1 insulting1 evil-hearted1 and would not willingly be subject to her1 but straightway entered into strife with ,sarah4 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 the woman told her sorrow to her lord1 speaking with bitter grief3 7ll4 #bbdg-bbee7 ,thou hast not done me right or justice6 ,since first my handmaid1 ,hagar1 knew thy bed1 according as ,i counselled thee1 thou sufferest her to vex me day by day in word and deed4 ,but her atonement shall be bitter if ,i may still rule over my own maid1 dear ,abraham4 ,and may ,almighty ,god1 the ,lord of lords1 be judge between us4 7ll4 #bbef-bbfj7 ,and straightway ,abraham1 wise of heart1 made answer3 ,never will ,i let thee be dishonoured while we two live4 ,but thou shalt deal with thine handmaid even according as it pleaseth thee4 ,,xxxii 7ll4 #bbfa-bbgj7 ,then was the wife of ,abraham hard of heart and hostile-minded1 ruthless1 and merciless against her handmaid1 and bitterly declared her hate4 ,and the maiden fled from thraldom and oppression1 and would not brook punishment or retribution for what she wrought against ,sarah4 ,but she fled into the wilderness4 ,and there a thane of glory1 an angel of the ,lord1 found her sad of heart and questioned her3 7ll4 #bbga-bbgb7 ,whither art thou hastening1 unhappy girl1 handmaid of ,sarah8 7ll4 #bbgc-bbgi7 ,and straightway she answered him3 ,devoid of all good things1 in misery1 ,i fled away out of my dwelling1 from the hate of my lady1 from injury and wrong4 ,here in the wilderness with tear-stained face ,i shall abide my doom1 when from my heart grim hunger or the wolf shall tear my soul and sorrow4 7ll4 #bbhj-bbie7 ,and the angel answered her3 ,seek not to flee away and leave thy lord1 but return again1 deserve honour1 be of humble heart1 constant in virtue1 and faithful to thy lord4 ,thou1 ,hagar1 shalt bring forth a son to ,abraham4 ,and ,i say unto thee that men shall call him ,ishmael4 ,he shall be terrible1 and swift to war2 his hand shall be against the tribes of men1 his kinsmen4 ,many shall war upon him bitterly4 ,and from that prince shall spring a race and an unnumbered tribe4 ,return again to seek thy lord1 and dwell with them that have thee in possession4 7ll4 #bbif-bcje7 ,and she hearkened unto the angel's counsel1 and returned again unto her lord1 according as the holy messenger of ,god commanded in words of wisdom4 ,and ,abraham had lived for six-and-eighty winters in the world when ,ishmael was born4 ,and the boy grew strong and throve according as the angel1 the faithful minister of peace1 had told the maid4 ,and after thirteen years the ,lord1 ,eternal ,god1 said unto ,abraham3 7ll4 #bcjf-bcbe7 ,dearest of men1 keep well our covenant as ,i shall show thee1 and ,i will prosper thee and honour thee in every season4 ,be swift to work ,my will4 ,i will be mindful of the covenant and pledge ,i gave thee to thy comfort1 because thy soul was sad4 ,thou shalt sanctify thy household1 and set a victor-sign on every male1 if thou wilt have in ,me a lord or faithful friend unto thy people4 ,i will be lord and shepherd of this folk if ye will serve ,me in your hearts1 and keep ,my laws4 ,and each male child that cometh into the world1 among this people1 shall be devoted unto ,me in seven nights' time1 by the victor-token1 or else cut off from all the world with persecution1 and exiled from all good4 7ll4 #bcbe-bccg7 ,do as ,i bid thee3 ,i will be gracious unto you if ye will use that token of true faith4 ,thy wife shall bear a son1 and men shall call him ,isaac4 ,thou shalt not need to shame thee for him1 but ,i will grant him grace divine1 by ,my great might1 and many a friend4 ,he shall receive ,my blessing and ,my bliss1 ,my love and favour4 ,from him shall spring a mighty people and many a valiant leader1 rulers of kingdoms1 lords of the world1 renowned afar4 ,,xxxiii 7ll4 #bcch-bcdg7 ,then ,abraham laid his face upon the ground and pondered these sayings in his heart with scorn4 ,for he deemed that never the day would come when ,sarah1 his greyhaired wife1 would bear a son4 ,full well he knew that she had lived an hundred winters in the world4 ,and full of years he spake unto the ,lord3 7ll4 #bcdh-bceb7 ,may ,ishmael live according to ,thy laws1 ,o ,lord1 and render ,thee a thankful and a steadfast spirit1 an earnest heart to do ,thy will1 by night and day1 in word and deed4 7ll4 #bcec-bced7 ,and graciously ,eternal ,god1 ,almighty ,lord1 made answer3 7ll4 #bcee-bcfi7 ,yet shall ,sarah bear a son1 though old in winters1 and fate shall be fulfilled according to ,my word4 ,i will bless ,ishmael1 thy firstborn1 with ,my blessing as thou dost ask1 that his days may be long in the land1 and his race may multiply4 ,this will ,i grant thee4 ,so also will ,i prosper ,isaac1 thy younger son1 who is not yet born1 with every good and pleasant thing all the days of his life4 ,and ,i will surely keep ,my covenant with him and holy faith1 and show him favour4 7ll4 #bcgj-bcha7 ,and ,abraham did even as ,eternal ,god commanded1 and1 in accordance with his ,lord's behest1 he set the sign of the covenant upon his son1 and bade his bondmen also bear that holy token4 ,he was wise of heart1 and mindful of the covenant and pledge which ,god had given him1 and he himself received the glorious sign4 ,god1 the ,mighty ,king1 increased his glory in the world4 ,and he strove in all his ways to work the will of his ,lord4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing77 7ll4 #bchb-bchi7 ,but the woman laughed at the ,lord of hosts with derision2 full of years1 she pondered those sayings in her heart with scorn4 ,she had no faith that ,his words would be fulfilled4 ,and when the ,lord of heaven heard that in her bower the wife of ,abraham laughed in unbelief1 then spake the ,holy ,god3 7ll4 #bcij-bcih7 ,lo6 ,sarah trusteth not ,my word4 ,yet all shall be fulfilled according as ,i promised thee in the beginning4 ,i tell thee truly1 at this self-same season thy wife shall bear a son4 ,and when ,i come again unto this dwelling ,my word shall be fulfilled1 and thine eyes shall behold thy son1 dear ,abraham4 ,,xxxiv 7ll4 #bcii-bdjg7 ,and alter these words they departed swiftly away from the place of oracle4 ,the holy spirits turned their steps 7and the ,prince of light was their companion7 till they beheld high ,sodom's city-walls4 ,they saw high halls towering above precious treasure and mansions above ruddy gold4 ,and the ,righteous ,lord of heaven held long discourse with ,abraham3 7ll4 #bdjh-bdah7 ,i hear loud tumult in this city and brawling of sinful men1 the boastful words of tipplers drunk with ale1 and evil speech of multitudes within their walls4 ,heavy are the sins of this people and the offences of these faithless men4 ,but ,i will search out what this people do1 ,o ,hebrew prince1 and whether they sin so greatly in their thoughts and deeds as their evil tongues speak fraud and guile4 ,verily brimstone and black flame1 bitter and grim and fiercely burning1 shall visit vengeance on these heathen folk4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing477 ,,xxxv 7ll4 #bdai-bdcg7 ,and so these men abode their punishment and woe within their walls1 and their wives with them4 ,proud in their strength1 they repaid ,god evil for good until the ,lord of spirits1 ,prince of life and light1 could no longer withhold ,his wrath4 ,stern of heart1 ,god sent two mighty messengers among them who came at even-tide unto the city of ,sodom4 ,they came upon a man sitting in the gate of the city1 even the son of ,haran1 and they appeared as young men before the eyes of the sage4 ,then the servant of the ,lord arose and went unto the strangers1 and greeted them with kindness2 he was mindful of what is right and fitting among men1 and offered them a shelter for the night4 ,and the noble messengers of ,god made answer3 7ll4 #bdch-bddj7 ,we thank thee for the favour thou hast showed us4 ,yet do we think to bide here quietly beside this street until the time of the dawn1 when ,god shall send again the sun4 7ll4 #bdda-bdec7 ,then ,lot fell at their feet1 and knelt upon the ground before his guests1 and offered them food and rest1 the shelter of his house1 and entertainment4 ,and they accepted the kindness of the prince with thanks1 and went in quickly with him unto his dwelling as the ,hebrew earl pointed them the way4 ,and the lordly hero1 wise of heart1 gave them fair entertainment in his hall1 until the evening light vanished away4 ,then night came1 hard upon the heels of day1 and clothed the ocean-streams with darkness1 and all the glory of the world1 seas and wide-stretching land4 7ll4 #bdec-bdff7 ,then in great throngs the dwellers of ,sodom1 young and old1 undear to ,god1 came to demand the strangers1 in multitudes encompassed ,lot about1 and his guests4 ,they bade him lead the holy heralds out from the lofty hall into their power4 ,shamelessly they said that they would know these men4 ,of decency they had no heed4 ,then swiftly ,lot arose1 deviser of counsel1 and went forth from his dwelling2 the son of ,haran1 mindful of wisdom1 spake unto all that gathering of men3 7ll4 #bdfg-bdgf7 ,within my house two stainless daughters dwell4 7,neither of them yet has known a man47 ,do now as ,i bid you and forsake this sin4 ,them will ,i give you rather than that ye work this shame against your nature1 and grievous evil against the sons of men4 ,take now the maidens and leave my guests in peace1 for ,i will defend them against you before ,god1 if so ,i may4 7ll4 #bdgg-bdhd7 ,and all that multitude of godless men with one accord made answer unto him3 ,this seemeth meet and very right3 that thou leave this land6 ,an exile1 from afar thou camest to this country1 desolate of friends1 and lacking food4 ,and now wilt thou be judge over us1 if so may be1 and teach our people8 7ll4 #bdhe-bdii7 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 the heathen leaders laid hand on ,lot and seized him4 ,but his guests1 the righteous strangers1 brought him aid1 and drew him within his dwelling from out the clutches of these cruel men4 ,and straightway the eyes of all those standing round about were darkened2 and suddenly the host of city-dwellers became blind4 ,they might not storm the halls1 with savage hearts against the strangers1 as they strove to do1 but stoutly the ministers of ,god withstood them4 ,lot's guests had sturdy strength1 and smote the host with vengeance4 ,fairly the faithful ministers of peace spake unto ,lot3 7ll4 #bejj-beab7 ,if thou have any son1 or kinsman dear among this people1 or any friend of these maidens whom we here behold1 lead forth in haste from the city those dear to thee1 and save thy life1 lest thou too perish with these faithless men4 ,because of the sins of ,sodom and ,gomorrah the ,lord hath bidden give them over to fire and black flame1 to smite the people in their dwellings with the pangs of death1 and work ,his vengeance4 ,the hour is nigh at hand4 ,flee upon the paths of earth1 and save thy life4 ,to thee the ,lord is gracious4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing477 ,,xxxvi 7ll4 #beac-bebf7 ,and straightway ,lot made answer unto them3 ,i may not wander so far hence1 afoot1 in search of safety1 with these women4 ,but ye may fairly show me love and friendship1 and grant me grace and favour4 ,i know a little high-built town not far from here2 there grant me rest and respite1 in ,zoar to find safety4 ,if ye will shield that lofty stronghold from the flame1 we may abide there for a time secure1 and save our lives4 7ll4 #bebf-becd7 ,and friendly was the righteous angels' answer3 ,thou shalt receive this boon1 since thou hast spoken of the city4 ,go quickly to that stronghold1 and we will grant thee peace and our protection4 ,we will not wreak ,god's vengeance on these faithless men1 nor slay this sinful race1 till thou hast brought thy children unto ,zoar1 and thy wife with them4 7ll4 #bece-bedg7 ,then ,abraham's kinsman hastened to the stronghold4 ,he swiftly journeyed with his women1 and stayed not foot until he led his children into ,zoar1 under the city-gates1 and his wife with them4 ,and when the sun arose1 peace-candle of men1 then1 as ,i have heard1 the ,lord of glory sent brimstone out of heaven1 black fire and raging flame1 in vengeance upon men1 because so long in days gone by they had displeased the ,lord4 ,the ,ruler of spirits gave them their reward6 7ll4 #bedg-befa7 ,and a great fear gripped the heathen race2 din arose in their cities1 wailing of sinful men1 a wretched people at the point of death4 ,all that was green in the golden cities the flame devoured2 likewise no little portion of the wide land round about was covered with flame and terror4 ,fair groves and fruits of the earth were turned to ash and glowing ember1 even as far as that grim vengeance swept the broad land of men4 ,a roaring flame1 destroying all things high and spacious1 consumed the wealth of ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,all this the ,lord ,god destroyed1 and the people with it4 7ll4 #befa-bege7 ,but when ,lot's wife heard the rushing flame1 and dying men within the city1 she looked behind her to that place of death4 ,straightway1 the writings tell us1 she was changed into the likeness of a pillar of salt2 and ever since1 the image 7far-famed is the story7 has stood in silence where that bitter vengeance came upon her1 because she would not heed the bidding of the thanes of glory4 ,hard and high-towering in that spot of earth she must abide her fate1 the doom of ,god1 till time shall cease and the world vanish away4 ,that is a wonder which the ,lord of glory wrought6 ,,xxxvii 7ll4 #begf-beii7 ,and ,abraham1 the man of wisdom1 went out alone at dawn and came again unto the place where he had spoken with his ,lord4 ,far and wide he saw the fatal smoke curling upward from the earth4 ,pride had come upon that people and drunkenness1 and they became too insolent in evil and bold in sin4 ,god's judgements they forgot1 and truth1 and ,him who gave them wealth and blessing in their cities4 ,wherefore the ,prince of angels sent a consuming flame in punishment upon them4 ,but our ,faithful ,lord was gracious1 and remembered ,abraham1 ,his beloved1 as oft ,he did1 and delivered ,lot1 his kinsman1 when the multitude were slain4 ,now ,lot1 the valiant1 durst no longer dwell in that stronghold for fear of ,god1 but he departed out of the city1 and his children with him1 to seek a dwelling far from the place of slaughter1 and found1 at last1 a cave upon the slope of a high hill4 ,and ,lot1 the blessed1 dear unto ,god and faithful1 abode there many a day1 and his two daughters with him4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing477 7ll4 #bfjj-bfbj7 ,thus did they1 and the elder daughter went in first unto their father's bed1 as he lay drunk with wine4 ,and the old man knew not when the maidens came unto his bed1 but his mind and wit were clouded within him1 and1 drunk with wine1 he knew not the coming of the maids4 ,and the lovely sisters conceived1 and bare sons unto their aged father4 ,lot's older daughter called her son's name ,moab4 ,and the younger called her son's name ,ammon1 as the sacred writings say4 ,of these princes sprang a countless folk1 two famous peoples4 ,one tribe men call the ,moabites1 a far-famed race2 the other tribe men call the ,ammonites4 ,,xxxviii 7ll4 #bfba-bfbg7 ,then the brother of ,haran departed with his wife and household and with all his substance to be subject unto ,abimelech4 ,and ,abraham said unto men1 of ,sarah1 his wife1 ,she is my sister1 and thereby saved his life4 ,for well he knew he had few friends or kinsfolk among that people4 ,and the prince sent forth his thanes and bade them bring him ,abraham's wife4 7ll4 #bfbh-bfcg7 ,then a second time1 while dwelling among alien people1 ,abraham's wife was taken from her husband1 and given into a stranger's arms4 ,but the ,eternal ,lord sustained them as ,he oft had done4 ,our ,saviour came at night unto the king as he lay drunk with wine4 ,the ,king of truth spake unto the prince in a dream1 and in anger denounced him3 7ll4 #bfch-bfda7 ,the wife of ,abraham hast thou taken from him1 and for this deed of evil death shall smite thy soul within thy breast4 7ll4 #bfda-bfeb7 ,and1 heavy with feasting1 the lord of sin began to speak in his slumber3 ,o ,prince of angels1 wilt ,thou ever1 in ,thine anger1 suffer a life to fail which liveth with righteous ways and upright heart1 and seeketh mercy at ,thy hands8 ,i questioned not the woman1 but she said that she was ,abraham's sister4 ,and ,i have wrought no evil against her1 nor any sin4 7ll4 #bfec-bfff7 ,then again a second time the ,righteous ,lord1 ,eternal ,god1 spake unto him in his dream1 and said3 ,o prince of men1 if thou reck aught of longer living in the world1 restore this woman unto ,abraham to be his wife4 ,he is wise and righteous1 and may behold the ,king of glory and speak with ,him4 ,but thou shalt perish with thy goods and treasure1 if thou withhold this woman from the prince4 ,but if that just and patient man will intercede for thee1 he may prevail with ,me to let thee live unharmed1 enjoying blessings1 friends1 and treasure all the days of thy life4 7ll4 #bfff-bfgd7 ,then in fear the warden of the people awoke from his slumber1 and bade summon his counsellors4 ,smitten with tenor1 ,abimelech told them the words of ,god4 ,and they feared ,god's vengeance on that deed1 according to the dream4 ,then the king in haste called ,abraham before him4 ,the mighty prince said unto him3 7ll4 #bfge-bfij7 ,tell me now what evil ,i have done thee1 ,hebrew prince1 since first thou camest to our land with thy possessions1 that now so fiercely thou shouldest lay a snare before me4 ,lo1 ,abraham6 a stranger to this people1 thou wouldest entrap us1 and defile with sin4 ,thou saidest ,sarah was thy sister and thy kin6 ,through her thou wouldest have done me grievous hurt and endless evil4 ,we harboured thee with honour1 in friendly wise allotting thee a dwelling in this realm1 and lands for thine enjoyment4 ,but in no friendly way dost thou reward or thank us for our favours4 ,,xxxix 7ll4 #bfia-bgaf7 ,and ,abraham answered3 ,i did it not in guile or hatred1 nor yet to work thee any woe4 ,but ,i was far from mine own people1 prince of men1 and shielded me by craft from1 violence and death4 ,since ,holy ,god first led me forth of old from the home of my lord and father1 desolate of friends1 ,i have visited many a people1 many an alien race1 and this woman with me4 ,and ever this fear was in my heart1 seeing ,i was a stranger1 lest some foe should slay me1 and take this woman to himself4 ,wherefore ,i said that ,sarah was my sister1 and this ,i told the war-smiths everywhere on earth where we two homeless needs must dwell with strangers4 ,and so ,i did in this land also1 mighty prince1 when ,i came under thy protection4 ,i knew not if the fear of ,god ,almighty was among this people1 when first ,i came here4 ,therefore1 with care1 ,i hid from thee and from thy thanes the truth1 that ,sarah was my wife and shared my bed4 7ll4 #bgag-bgbb7 ,then ,abimelech began to endow ,abraham with treasure1 and gave him his wife again2 and because he had taken his wife he gave him1 to boot1 wandering herds and servants and gleaming silver4 ,and the lord of men said also unto ,abraham3 7ll4 #bgbc-bgbf7 ,abide with us and choose thee a dwelling in this land1 and an abode whereso it pleaseth thee2 thee must ,i keep4 ,be thou a faithful friend1 and we will give thee riches4 7ll4 #bgbg-bgce7 ,and the dispenser of treasure spake also unto ,sarah1 and said3 ,no need hath ,abraham1 thy lord1 to reproach thee1 ,o maiden of elfin beauty1 because thou hast trod my halls4 ,with gleaming silver will ,i make requital for this wrong4 ,care not to go forth from this folk-land1 seeking elsewhere unknown friends1 but dwell ye here4 7ll4 #bgcf-bgda7 ,and ,abraham did according to the bidding of the prince1 accepting the friendship offered by his lord1 with love and favour4 ,dear was he unto ,god2 knowing great blessedness and peace1 and walking in his ,lord's protection and under the shelter of ,his wings1 so long as his life endured4 7ll4 #bgdb-bgei7 ,yet was ,god still angered against ,abimelech for the wrong he had wrought against ,sarah and against ,abraham1 in severing the bonds of these beloved1 man and wife4 ,he suffered woe and bitter punishment2 the maidens1 slave nor free1 might not bear children to their lords1 but ,god denied them1 till holy ,abraham prayed his ,lord1 ,eternal ,god1 for mercy4 ,and the ,lord of angels granted him his prayer1 and for the king restored fertility to man and maid1 to slave and free4 ,the ,lord of heaven suffered again their number to increase1 their riches and possessions2 and the ,almighty ,warden of mankind was merciful of heart unto ,abimelech1 as ,abraham besought ,him4 7ll4 #bgfj-bgga7 ,then the ,almighty ,lord came unto ,sarah1 according to ,his word2 our ,god1 the ,lord of life1 fulfilled ,his promise to ,his dear ones1 the man and woman4 ,his wife brought forth a son to ,abraham1 and1 ere his mother had conceived him1 the ,prince of angels called him ,isaac4 ,and ,abraham with his own hand set the glorious sign upon him within the week his mother bare him4 ,,xl 7ll4 #bggb-bggg7 ,and the boy grew strong and throve and his nature was noble4 ,now ,abraham had lived an hundred winters in the world when his wife1 with thankful heart1 brought forth a son4 ,and he had waited long for that event since first the ,lord1 by ,his own word1 announced the day of joy4 7ll4 #bggh-bghc7 ,and it came to pass upon a time that the woman saw ,ishmael playing before ,abraham as they sat with holy hearts at meat together1 and all their household drank and revelled4 ,then said his wife1 the noble woman1 to her lord3 7ll4 #bghc-bgia7 ,beloved lord1 and warden of treasure1 grant me a boon6 ,bid ,hagar go forth from among us1 and ,ishmael with her4 ,no longer shall we dwell together1 if ,i may rule and have my will4 ,never shall ,ishmael1 after thee1 divide the heritage with ,isaac1 my son1 when thou hast given up the ghost from out thy body4 7ll4 #bgia-bgif7 ,then it grieved ,abraham in his heart that he must drive his own son into exile2 but ,god1 the ,just and ,righteous1 succoured him4 ,he knew that the heart of the man was heavy with sorrow4 ,the ,king of angels1 the ,eternal ,lord1 said unto ,abraham3 7ll4 #bgig-bhjc7 ,let care and sorrow vanish from thy heart1 and hearken unto the woman1 thy wife4 ,bid ,hagar go forth from this land1 and ,ishmael1 the lad1 with her4 ,and ,i will multiply his race1 and stablish them with ample blessings1 as ,i have promised by ,my word4 7ll4 #bhjd-bhjf7 ,and the man hearkened unto his ,lord1 and drove them forth in sadness from his dwelling1 the woman and his son4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing477 7ll4 #bhjg-bhca7 ,clear is it that the ,just ,god1 ,lord of heaven1 is with thee1 granting thee triumph by ,his might and wisdom1 and strengthening thy heart with grace divine4 ,therefore ye throve in all your dealings1 with friend or foe1 in word or deed4 ,with ,his hands the ,lord ,god prospered thee in all thy ways4 ,that is full widely known unto the city-dwellers6 ,graciously grant me now1 ,i pray thee1 ,hebrew prince1 thy promise and thy pledge1 that thou wilt be a faithful friend to me1 according to the kindness ,i have done thee since1 wretched and in exile1 thou camest from afar unto this land4 ,requite it now with kindness that ,i grudged thee not of land or favour4 ,be gracious to this nation1 my people1 if the ,lord our ,god1 who ruleth the fates of men1 will grant thee to extend the borders of this people1 dealing out wealth to warriors of the shield1 and treasure to the brave4 7ll4 #bhcb-bhcc7 ,and ,abraham gave a pledge unto ,abimelech that he would do according to his prayer4 ,,xli 7ll4 #bhcd-bhde7 ,and the ,hebrew prince1 the blessed son of ,terah1 abode a long time in the land of the ,philistines1 wretched and in exile4 ,and the ,lord of angels assigned him a dwelling-place1 and the city-dwelling sons of men call that land ,beersheba4 ,there the holy man built a lofty city wherein to dwell1 and planted a grove and raised an altar1 and on the altar made ample offerings and sacrifice to ,god1 who granted him life and blessing under heaven4 7ll4 #bhdf-bhdi7 ,then the ,mighty ,lord made a trial of the prince1 and proved his strength1 and sternly spake unto him1 saying3 7ll4 #bhej-bhei7 ,abraham6 ,betake thee quickly on a journey1 and with thee lead thine only son4 ,thou shalt offer thy son ,isaac unto ,me in sacrifice4 ,when thou hast mounted the steep downs and the slope of the high land which ,i will show thee1 there shalt thou build an altar1 and kindle a flame1 slay thy son with the sword1 and burn his body with black flame1 and offer it a sacrifice to ,me4 7ll4 #bhfj-bhgg7 ,he delayed not the journey1 but swiftly made him ready4 ,for the word of the ,lord of angels was terrible to him1 and his ,lord was dear4 ,the blessed ,abraham rested not nor slept nor spurned his ,lord's behest1 but the holy man girded him with a grey sword1 and showed that fear of the ,lord of spirits abode in his heart4 ,the aged dispenser of gold began to saddle his asses1 and bade two young men journey with him2 his son was the third1 and he the fourth4 ,and he went out from his house with ,isaac1 the lad1 according as ,god commanded4 ,he went with speed and hastened on the paths of earth1 according as the ,lord marked out the way across the waste1 until1 in gleaming glory1 the dawn of the third day arose over the deep water4 7ll4 #bhgg-bhhj7 ,then the blessed man beheld the high hills towering up1 as the ,lord of heaven had told him4 ,and ,abraham said unto his servants3 7ll4 #bhha-bhhd7 ,abide ye here in this place1 and we two will come again1 when we have worshipped ,god4 7ll4 #bhhe-bhhi7 ,and the prince and his son departed across the weald to the place which the ,lord had showed him2 the lad carried wood1 and the father bare fire and sword4 ,and the lad1 young in winters1 spake unto ,abraham and said3 7ll4 #bhij-bhib7 ,here have we fire and sword1 my lord6 ,but where is the fair burnt-offering thou thinkest to sacrifice to ,god8 7ll4 #bhic-bhif7 ,and ,abraham answered 7firm was his resolve to do as ,god had bidden73 ,that will the ,righteous ,lord1 the ,warden of mankind1 provide as seemeth right to ,him4 7ll4 #bhig-bijh7 ,stout of heart he mounted the high downs1 and his son with him1 according as ,eternal ,god commanded1 until he stood upon the ridge of the high land in the place which the ,firm and ,faithful ,lord had showed him4 ,and there he built a pyre and kindled a flame and bound his son1 hand and foot1 and laid ,isaac1 the lad1 on the altar1 and seized his sword by the hilt4 ,with his own hand he would have slain him1 and quenched the flame with the blood of his son4 7ll4 #bijh-biac7 ,then a thane of ,god1 an angel from on high1 called unto ,abraham with a loud voice4 ,in stillness he abode the herald's message and answered the angel4 ,swiftly the glorious minister of ,god addressed him from the heavens3 7ll4 #biad-bibb7 ,slay not thy son1 dear ,abraham1 but take the lad from the altar alive4 ,the ,god of glory is gracious unto him6 ,great shall thy reward be1 ,hebrew prince1 true meed of victory and ample gifts1 at the holy hands of the ,heavenly ,king4 ,the ,lord of spirits will bless thee with ,his blessing because ,his love and favour were dearer unto thee than thine own son4 7ll4 #bibc-bicf7 ,the altar-fire stood kindled4 ,the ,lord of men had gladdened the heart of ,abraham1 kinsman of ,lot1 when ,he restored to him his son1 alive4 ,and the blessed man1 brother of ,haran1 looked over his shoulder and beheld a ram standing not far off1 caught fast in the brambles4 ,and ,abraham took it1 and laid it upon the altar in the stead of his son1 and drawing his sword made ready an offering and an altar smoking with the blood of the ram1 and sacrificed that offering to ,god1 and gave ,him thanks for all the loving kindness which the ,lord had showed him1 early and late4 ,,exodus ,,xlii 7ll4 #a-g7 ,lo6 far and wide throughout the earth we have heard how the laws of ,moses1 a wondrous code1 proclaim to men reward of heavenly life for all the blessed after death1 and lasting gain for every living soul4 ,let him hear who will6 7ll4 #h-bb7 ,on him the ,lord of hosts1 the ,righteous ,king1 showed honour in the wilderness1 and the ,eternal ,ruler gave him might to work great wonders4 ,he was beloved of ,god1 a lord of men1 a wise and ready leader of the host1 a bold folk-captain4 ,affliction came upon the tribe of ,pharaoh1 the enemy of ,god1 when the ,lord of victories entrusted to the bold folk-leader his kinsmen's lives1 and gave the sons of ,abraham a dwelling and an habitation4 ,great was his reward6 ,the ,lord was gracious unto him and gave him weapon-might against the terror of his foes1 wherewith he overcame in battle many a warrior1 and the strength of hostile men4 7ll4 #bb-cd7 ,and first the ,lord of hosts spake unto him and told him many wonders1 how the ,triumphant ,lord in wisdom wrought the world1 and the compass of the earth1 and the arching heavens2 and told ,his own name1 which the sons of men1 wise patriarchs of old1 knew not before1 though they knew many things4 ,and the ,lord honoured the leader of the host1 the foe of ,pharaoh1 and strengthened him with righteous strength on his departure1 when1 of old1 in punishment that mighty host was drenched with death4 7ll4 #ce-ec7 ,wailing arose at the fall of their princes2 their hall-joys were hushed and their treasure was scattered4 ,fiercely at midnight ,he smote the oppressors1 slaying their firstborn1 laying their watchmen low4 ,wide the destroyer's path1 and the way of the fell folk-slayer6 ,the whole land mourned the dead4 ,the host departed4 ,loud was the voice of their wailing1 little their joy6 ,locked were the hands of the laughter-makers2 the multitude had leave to go its way1 a wandering folk4 ,the ,fiend was robbed and all the hosts of hell4 ,heaven's might came upon them2 their idols fell4 ,that was a glorious day through all the world when the host went forth6 ,many a year the vile ,egyptians suffered bondage1 because they thought for ever to refuse to ,moses' kinsmen1 if ,god would let them1 their longing for the journey of their heart's desire4 7ll4 #ed-fb7 ,the host was ready4 ,the prince who led them was stalwart and bold4 ,he passed by many a stronghold with his people1 leaders and lands of many hostile men1 by narrow1 lonely paths and unknown ways1 until at last they marched1 in armour1 against the ,ethiopian realm4 ,their lands were covered with a cloud1 their border-homes upon the mountain-slopes4 ,past these1 with many a hindrance1 ,moses led his people4 ,,xliii 7ll4 #fc-fg7 ,and two nights after they escaped their foes ,god bade the noble prince to make encampment about the town of ,etham in the marchlands1 with all his force1 a mighty army1 and tumult of the host4 7ll4 #fh-hh7 ,with anxious hearts they hastened on their northward way2 they knew that southward lay the ,ethiop's land1 parched hill-slopes and a race burned brown by the heat of the sun4 ,but ,holy ,god shielded that folk against the fiery heat1 stretching a covering over the flaming heavens1 and over the burning air a holy veil4 ,a cloud widestretching severed earth from heaven1 and led the host2 burning and heavenly bright the fiery flame was quenched4 ,the warriors marvelled1 most joyous of hosts4 ,the shelter of the day-shield moved across the heavens2 ,god in ,his wisdom had covered the course of the sun with a sail1 though earth-dwelling men knew not the mast-ropes1 nor might behold the yards1 nor understand the way in which that greatest of tents was fastened4 ,so ,he showed honour and glory upon the faithful6 7ll4 #hh-ig7 ,then was a third encampment to the comfort of the folk4 ,the army all beheld the holy sail1 the gleaming marvel of the sky1 towering above them4 ,and all that folk1 the men of ,israel1 perceived that there the ,lord of hosts was present to measure out a camp4 ,before them moved two columns in the heavens1 fire and cloud1 sharing alike the service of the ,holy ,spirit1 the journey of brave-hearted men1 by day and night4 7ll4 #ih-ajf7 ,and in the dawn1 as ,i have heard1 the valiant-hearted blared forth their trumpetcalls1 in peals of thunder4 ,and all the host1 the band of the brave1 arose and made them ready1 according as ,moses1 their glorious leader1 gave bidding to ,god's people4 ,they beheld their guide go forth before them measuring out the path of life4 ,the sail governed their journey1 and after it1 with joyful hearts1 the seamen trod their path through the great waters4 ,loud was the tumult of the host4 ,,lxiv 7ll4 #ajf-acd7 ,each evening rose a heavenly beacon1 a second wondrous marvel after the setting of the sun1 a pillar of flame shining in splendour over the hosts of men4 ,bright were its shining beams above the warriors2 their bucklers gleamed1 the shadows vanished away4 ,no secret place could hide the deep night-shadows4 ,heaven's candle burned4 ,needs must this new night warden watch above the host1 lest in the stormy weather grey heath and desert-terror should overcome their souls with sudden fear4 ,streaming locks of fire had their guide1 and shining beams1 menacing the host with flame and terror1 and threatening destruction to that people in the waste1 except they swiftly hearkened unto ,moses4 ,armour gleamed1 and bucklers glistened as the warriors took their steadfast way4 ,and over the troops and high above the host stood the banner1 moving as they moved1 even unto the stronghold of the sea at the land's end4 ,and there they pitched a camp and rested1 for they were weary4 ,stewards brought the warriors food and strengthened them4 ,and when the trumpet sang they stretched themselves upon the hills1 shipmen within their tents4 ,that was the fourth encampment and pause of the shield-men by the ,red ,sea4 7ll4 #ace-ada7 ,there dread tidings of inland pursuit came unto the army4 ,a great fear fell upon them1 and dread of the host4 ,so the exiles abode the coming of the fierce pursuers1 who long had crushed those homeless men and wrought them injury and woe4 ,they heeded not the covenant which the ancient king had given aforetime4444 77,,lacuna--,two leaves missing477 ,,xlv 7ll4 #adb-aec7 4444who became the people's heir and had their treasure1 and greatly throve4 ,all this the ,egyptian race forgot when their wrath was stirred by a quarrel4 ,they wrought great wrong to ,moses' kinsmen1 broke the covenant1 and slew them4 ,their hearts were filled with faithlessness and rage1 the mighty passions of men4 ,they would fain requite the gift of life with evil1 that the people of ,moses might pay for that day's work in blood1 if almighty ,god would prosper their destructive journey4 7ll4 #aed-afi7 ,then the hearts of the earls were hopeless within them as they beheld the shining bands1 the hosts of ,pharaoh1 marching from out the south1 uplifting a forest of lances1 with banners waving above them1 a great host treading the border-paths4 ,their spears were in array1 shields gleamed and trumpets sang2 the battle line rolled on4 ,over dead bodies circling screamed the birds of battle1 dewy-leathered1 greedy for war1 dark carrion lovers4 ,in hope of food1 the wolves1 remorseless beasts of slaughter1 sang a grim eveningsong2 dogging the march of the foe1 they abode the coming of death2 the march warders howled in the midnight4 ,the doomed soul fled2 the host was compassed about4 7ll4 #agj-aii7 ,now and again the proud thanes of the host measured the mile-paths on their steeds4 ,the prince of men rode forth before the troops1 the war-king raised the standard2 the battle-warden bound on helm and chinguard 7banners gleamed7 in expectation of war1 shook his armour1 and bade his warlike host1 his firm-ranked cohorts1 go boldly into battle4 ,the foe beheld with hostile eyes the coming of the landsmen4 ,about him fearless fighters moved2 grey wolves of war went forward to the onslaught thirsting for battle1 loyal of heart4 ,he chose the flower of his people for that service1 two thousand far-famed heroes of high birth1 kings and kinsmen4 ,and each led out his men1 and all the warriors that he well could muster in the appointed time4 ,the young men were gathered together1 the kings in their pomp4 ,frequently sounding1 the well-known voice of the horn signalled the host where the war-troop of heroes should bear their arms4 ,so the dark horde was marshalled2 throng after throng1 in thousands1 hasted thither1 a countless host4 ,they were resolved1 in vengeance for their brothers1 to slay the tribes of ,israel with the sword1 at the break of day4 7ll4 #bjj-bjh7 ,then a sound of wailing arose in the camp1 an evening-song of woe4 ,a great fear was upon them2 the nets of death encompassed them about4 ,the fatal tidings flew abroad2 tumult arose4 ,the foe were resolute1 a horde in armour gleaming1 until the mighty angel who upheld that host scattered the proud and hateful multitude1 so that no more might one behold another's face2 but their journey was divided4 7ll4 #bji-bbj7 ,all that long night the fugitives had respite1 though foes beset them upon either hand1 on the one side that great host1 on the other side the sea4 ,they had no way of escape nor any hope of their inheritance1 but halted on the hills in shining armour with foreboding of ill4 ,and all the band of kinsmen watched and waited for the coming of the greater host until the dawn1 when ,moses bade the earls with brazen trumpets muster the folk1 bade warriors rise and don their coats of mail1 bear shining arms1 take thought on valour1 and summon the multitude with signal-beacons unto the sandy shore of the sea4 7ll4 #bbj-bcb7 ,the leaders bold obeyed the battle-signal2 the host made ready4 ,the seamen heard the trumpet-summons1 and struck their tents upon the hills4 ,the army was astir4 ,they numbered off twelve companies of valiant men to form the van of battle against their foes' grim wrath4 ,the host was in an uproar4 ,from every noble tribe among that people were chosen fifty cohorts1 under shield1 the flower of the folk4 ,and every cohort of that famous army was of a thousand warriors1 far-famed wielders of the spear4 7ll4 #bcb-bea7 ,that was a warlike band4 ,the leaders of the army welcomed not among that number the weak1 who yet because of youth could not defend them under board and byrnie against a wily foe1 who never yet had known the baleful thrust1 the bitter wound1 the insolent play of the spear over the edge of the linden shield4 ,nor might the aged1 grey-haired warriors be of service in the battle if their strength had failed them4 ,but according to their strength they joined the fray1 even according as their valour would endure with honour among men1 and their strength suffice to undergo the spearstrife4 ,the army of these sturdy men was mustered1 and ready to advance4 ,their banner rose on high1 a gleaming column1 and all abode there nigh unto the sea until their guiding beacon pierced the clouds1 and shone upon their linden shields4 ,,xlvi 7ll4 #beb-beh7 ,then a herald rose before the warriors1 a valiant leader1 and1 lifting up his shield1 he bade the captains of the host make silence1 that all the multitude might hear the words of their brave lord4 ,the shepherd of the kingdom fain would speak with holy voice unto his legions4 ,the leader of the host in words of worth addressed them3 7ll4 #bei-bge7 ,be not afraid though ,pharaoh leadeth hither this mighty host of sword-men1 a multitude of earls4 ,upon them all this day ,almighty ,god will give requital by my hand1 that they may live no longer to vex the tribes of ,israel with woe4 ,ye shall not dread doomed armies and dead men4 ,their fleeting life hath run unto the end4 ,the knowledge of ,god hath vanished from your hearts4 ,i give you better counsel1 to serve the ,god of glory1 and pray the ,lord of life for victory and grace and safety1 wherever ye may journey4 ,he is the ,eternal ,god of ,abraham1 ,creation's ,lord1 magnanimous and mighty1 who with ,his strong hand guardeth all this host4 7ll4 #bgf-bih7 ,then the lord of men spake with a loud voice before the multitude and said3 ,look now1 dearest of people1 with your eyes and behold a marvel6 ,in my right hand grasping this green rod ,i smote the ocean depths4 ,the waves rise up2 the waters form a rampartwall4 ,the sea is thrust aside4 ,the ways are dry3 grey army-roads1 ancient foundations 7never have ,i heard in all the world that men before set foot thereon71 shining plains1 imprisoned deep sea-bottoms over which of old the great waves foamed4 ,the south wind1 breath of the ocean1 hath driven them back4 ,the sea is cleft asunder2 the ebbing waters spewed up sand4 ,well ,i know ,almighty ,god hath showed you mercy1 ye bronze-clad earls4 ,most haste is best now1 that ye may escape the clutch of foes since ,god hath reared a rampart of the red seastreams4 ,these walls are fairly builded to the roof of heaven1 a wondrous wave-road4 7ll4 #bii-cji7 ,and after these words the multitude arose1 the host of the valiant4 ,the sea lay tranquil4 ,upon the sand the legions raised their standards and shining linden shields4 ,and over against the ,israelites the wall of water stood firm and upright for the space of one whole day4 ,of one mind was that company of earls4 ,the wall of water shielded them with sure defence4 ,in no wise did they scorn their holy leader's counsels as the time for deeds drew near1 when the words of their well-loved lord were ended1 and the voice of his eloquence was still4 7ll4 #caj-cah7 ,the fourth tribe led the way1 a throng of warriors1 marching through the sea upon the green sea-bottom4 ,the tribe of ,judah trod that unknown road alone1 before their kinsmen1 and ,god ,almighty gave them great reward for that day's work1 granting them glory of triumphant deeds1 that they might have dominion over kingdoms and sway their kinsmen4 ,,xlvii 7ll4 #cai-ccj7 ,as they descended on the oceanbottom that mighty tribe had lifted up their standard mid the spear-host1 high above their shields their battle ensign1 a golden lion1 bravest of beasts4 ,not long would they endure oppression by the lord of any people while they might live and lift their spears to battle4 ,in the van were strife and stubborn hand-play1 warriors valiant in the weapon-struggle1 fearless fighters1 bloody wounds and clash of helmets1 onrush of a battle-host1 as ,judah's sons advanced4 7ll4 #cca-cci7 ,behind that army proudly marched the seamen1 sons of ,reuben2 the vikings bore their bucklers over the salt sea-marsh1 a multitude of men1 a mighty legion1 advancing unafraid4 ,for his sin's sake ,reuben yielded his dominion and marched behind his kinsmen4 ,from him his brother took his right as first-born in the tribe1 his eminence and wealth4 ,yet was he ready4 7ll4 #cdj-bec7 ,and after them with thronging bands the sons of ,simeon marched1 the third division4 ,banners waved above the marching warriors2 with flashing spears the battle troop pressed on4 ,over the ocean's bosom dawn arose1 ,god's beacon1 radiant morning4 ,the multitude went forth1 the host advanced1 one mail-clad band behind another4 ,and one man only led this mighty folk1 tribe after tribe1 upon their march beneath the pillar of cloud1 whereby he won renown4 ,and each observed the right of nations and the rank of earls1 as ,moses gave them bidding4 7ll4 #bec-cfa7 ,one father had they all1 one of the patriarchs1 a well-loved leader1 wise of heart and dear unto his kinsmen1 who held the landright and begat a line of valiant men1 the tribe of ,israel1 a holy race1 ,god's own peculiar people4 ,so ancient writers tell us in their wisdom1 who best have known the lineage of men1 their kinship and descent4 7ll4 #cfb-cgf7 ,noah1 the great prince1 sailed over unknown waters1 deepest of floods that ever came on earth1 and his three sons with him4 ,within his heart he cherished holy faith4 ,wherefore he steered across the oceanstreams the richest treasure whereof ,i ever heard4 ,to save the life of all the tribes of earth the wise sea-prince had numbered out a lasting remnant1 a first generation1 male and female1 of every living kind that brought forth offspring1 more various than men now know4 ,and likewise in the bosom of their ship they bore the seed of every growing thing that men enjoy beneath the heavens4 7ll4 #cgg-cif7 ,now ,abraham's father1 as the wise men tell us1 was ninth from ,noah in lineage and descent4 ,this is the ,abraham the ,god of angels named with a name1 and gave the holy tribes into his keeping1 far and near1 and made him mighty over nations4 ,he lived in exile4 ,thereafter1 at the ,holy ,one's behest1 he took the lad1 most dear of all to him1 and they two1 son and father1 climbed together a high land unto the hill of ,sion4 ,and there1 so men have heard1 they found a covenant and holy pledge1 and saw ,god's glory4 ,and there1 in after years1 the son of ,david1 the great king1 the wisest of all earthly princes1 according to the teaching of the prophets1 built a temple unto ,god1 a holy fane1 the holiest and highest and most famous among men1 the greatest and most splendid of all temples the sons of men have built upon the earth4 7ll4 #cig-daf7 ,abraham took ,isaac1 his son1 and went to the place appointed1 and kindled the altar flame4 ,the first of murderers was not more doomed4 ,as a bequest to men he would have sacrificed his well-loved son with fire and flame1 his only heir on earth1 the best of children1 the lasting hope and comfort of his life1 for which he long had waited4 ,the farfamed man laid hand upon the lad and drew his ancient sword 7loud rang the blade71 and showed he held his son's life not more dear than to obey the ,king of heaven4 ,up rose the earl4 ,he would have slain his son1 and put the lad to death with blood-red blade1 if ,god had not withheld him4 ,the ,glorious ,father would not take his son in holy sacrifice1 but laid ,his hand upon him4 ,and out of heaven a restraining ,voice1 a ,voice of glory1 spake1 and said to him3 7ll4 #dag-dde7 ,abraham6 ,put not the lad1 thy son1 to death1 nor slay him with the sword6 ,the ,lord of all hath proven thee1 and truth is known1 that thou hast kept the covenant with ,god1 a faithful compact4 ,and that shall be to thee an everlasting peace through all the days of thy life for ever4 ,doth the son of man require a greater pledge8 ,heaven and earth may not cover the words of ,his glory1 which are ampler and greater than the regions of earth may include1 the orb of the world1 and the heavens above1 the ocean depths and the murmuring air4 ,the ,king of angels and ,wielder of fates1 ,lord of hosts1 ,dispenser of victory1 sweareth an oath by ,his life1 that men on earth with all their wisdom shall never know the number of thy tribe and kinsmen1 shield-bearing men1 to tell it truly1 except someone shall grow so wise of heart that he alone may number all the stones on earth and stars in heaven1 sand of the sea-dunes1 and salt waves of the sea4 ,but thy tribe1 the best of peoples1 free-born of their fathers1 shall dwell in the land of ,canaan between the two seas even unto the nations of ,egypt4444 77,,lacuna--,one or two leaves missing477 ,,xlviii 77,missing in ,lacuna77 ,,xlix 7ll4 #ddf-deg7 ,then all that folk was smitten with terror2 fear of the flood fell on their wretched hearts4 ,the great sea threatened death4 ,the sloping hills were soaked with blood2 the sea spewed gore4 ,in the deep was uproar1 the waves were filled with weapons2 a death-mist rose4 ,the ,egyptians turned and fled away in fear1 perceiving their peril4 ,they were shaken with horror and fain to reach their homes4 ,their boasting was humbled4 ,the dreadful rushing sea swept over them4 ,nor did any of that army come ever again to their homes1 but ,fate cut off retreat and locked them in the sea4 7ll4 #deg-dgj7 ,where before lay open roads the ocean raged4 ,the host was overwhelmed4 ,the seas flowed forth2 an uproar rose to heaven1 a moan of mighty legions4 ,there rose a great cry of the doomed1 and over them the air grew dark4 ,blood dyed the deep4 ,the walls of water were shattered2 the greatest of sea-deaths lashed the heavens4 ,brave princes died in throngs4 ,at the sea's end hope of return had vanished away4 ,war shields flashed4 ,the wall of water1 the mighty sea-stream1 rushed over the heroes4 ,the multitude was fettered fast in death1 deprived of escape1 cunningly bound4 ,the ocean-sands awaited the doom ordained when the flowing billows1 the ice-cold1 wandering sea with its salt waves1 a naked messenger of ill1 a hostile warrior smiting down its foes1 should come again to seek its ancient bed4 7ll4 #dgj-dia7 ,the blue air was defiled with blood4 ,the roaring ocean menaced the march of the seamen with terror of death1 till the ,just ,god swept the warriors away by ,moses' hand4 ,the flood foamed1 hunting them afar1 bearing them off in its deadly embrace4 ,the doomed men died4 ,the sea fell on the land2 the skies were shaken4 ,the watery ramparts crumbled1 the great waves broke1 the towering walls of water melted away1 when the ,mighty ,lord of heaven with holy hand smote the warriors and that haughty race4 ,they could not check the onrush of the sea1 nor the fury of the ocean-flood1 but it destroyed the multitude in shrieking terror4 ,the raging ocean rose on high2 its waters passed over them4 ,a madness of fear was upon them2 deathwounds bled4 ,the high walls1 fashioned by the hand of ,god1 fell in upon the marching army4 7ll4 #dia-eae7 ,with ancient sword the foamy-bosomed ocean smote down the watery wall1 the unprotecting ramparts1 and at the blow of death the great host fell asleep1 a sinful throng4 ,fast shut in they lost their lives1 an army pale with terror of the flood1 when the brown waste of waters1 the raging waves1 broke over them4 ,the flower of ,egypt perished when the host of ,pharaoh1 a mighty multitude1 was drowned4 ,the foe of ,god discovered as he sank that the ,lord of the ocean-floods was mightier than he1 and1 terrible in wrath1 with deadly power would end the battle4 ,the ,egyptians won a bitter recompense for that day's work4 ,never came any survivor of all that countless host unto his home again to tell of his journey or rehearse to the wives of heroes1 throughout the cities1 the grievous tidings1 the death of their treasure-wardens2 but a mighty sea-death came upon them all and swallowed their legions1 and slew their heralds1 and humbled their boasting4 ,for they had striven against ,god6 7ll4 #eaf-eca7 ,then on the shore of the sea ,moses1 the noble-hearted1 preached to the ,israelites1 in holy words1 eternal wisdom and enduring counsels4 ,they name it the day's work6 ,and still men find in ,scripture every law which ,god1 in words of truth1 gave ,moses on that journey4 ,if life's interpreter1 the radiant soul within the breast1 will unlock with the keys of the spirit this lasting good1 that which is dark shall be made clear1 and counsel shall go forth4 ,it hath the words of wisdom in its keeping1 earnestly teaching the heart1 that we may not lack the fellowship of ,god1 or mercy of our ,lord4 ,he giveth us1 as learned writers say1 the better and more lasting joys of heaven4 7ll4 #eca-edg7 ,this earthly joy is fleeting1 cursed with sin1 apportioned unto exiles1 a little time of wretched waiting4 ,homeless we tarry at this inn with sorrow1 mourning in spirit1 mindful of the house of pain beneath the earth wherein are fire and the worm1 the pit of every evil ever open4 ,so now arch-sinners win old age or early death2 then cometh the ,day of ,judgment1 the greatest of all glories in the world1 a day of wrath upon the deeds of men4 ,the ,lord ,himself1 in the assembly1 shall judge the multitude4 ,then shall ,he lead the souls of the righteous1 blessed spirits1 to heaven above1 wherein are light and life and joy of bliss4 ,in blessedness that host shall praise the ,lord of hosts1 the ,king of glory1 for ever and for ever4 7ll4 #edh-eeb7 ,so spake the mildest of men1 in a loud voice1 mindful of counsel1 and made great in strength4 ,in silence the host awaited his fixed will1 perceiving the wonder1 the hero's words of goodly wisdom4 ,and he spake unto the throng and said3 7ll4 #eec-efc7 ,mighty is this multitude and great our ,leader1 a strong ,support who governeth our march4 ,he hath given the tribes of ,canaan into our hands1 their cities and treasure1 and wide-stretching realms4 ,if ye will keep ,his holy precepts1 the ,lord of angels will fulfil the promise which ,he sware to our forefathers1 in days of old--that ye shall vanquish every foe and hold in victory the banquet hails of heroes between the two seas4 ,great shall be your fortune6 7ll4 #efd-egi7 ,and at these words the host was glad4 ,the trumpets sang their song of triumph1 and banners tossed to strains of joyous music4 ,the folk had reached the land4 ,the pillar of glory had led the host1 the holy legions1 under ,god's sheltering hand4 ,they rejoiced that their lives were saved from the clutch of the foe1 though boldly had those warriors ventured under the roof of the waves4 ,they beheld the walls upstanding4 ,all the seas seemed bloody unto them through which they bore their armour4 ,they rejoiced with a song of battle that they were safe4 ,the army legions lifted up their voice and praised the ,lord for that great work4 ,the mighty host in chorus1 man and maiden1 sang psalms and battle anthems1 with reverent voices chanting all these wonders4 7ll4 #ehj-eij7 ,then could be seen on the shore of the sea ,african maidens adorned with gold4 ,they raised their hands in thanks for their deliverance2 they were blithe beholding their safety2 they took heed of the spoils2 their bonds were broken4 ,on the sea-shore they dealt out the booty among the standards1 ancient treasure and raiment and shields4 ,they divided the gold and the woven cloth1 the treasure of ,joseph1 the riches of men4 ,but their foes1 the greatest of armies1 lay still in that place of death4 ,,daniel ,l 7ll4 #a-ba7 ,in ,jerusalem1 as ,i have heard1 the ,hebrews prospered1 dispensing treasure and holding kingly sway1 as well was meet1 when by the might of ,god the host and all the battle legion were given into ,moses' hand1 and in a multitude they got them forth from ,egypt4 ,that was a valiant race so long as they might rule their realm and sway their cities6 ,as long as they kept the covenant of their fathers1 great was their prosperity6 ,and ,god1 the ,warden of the heavenly kingdom1 the ,holy ,lord1 the ,prince of glory1 the ,lord of every creature1 watched over them1 and gave them strength and courage1 so that in war they conquered many nations who rose against them1 until at last pride came upon them at their wine-feasts1 drunken thoughts and devilish deeds1 and they forsook the teachings of their law1 and the might of ,god4 ,so should no man sunder his soul's love from ,god4 7ll4 #bb-cb7 ,then ,i beheld that nation walking in ways of error1 the tribe of ,israel following after sin1 and doing evil4 ,that was a grief to ,god6 ,the ,warden of the heavenly kingdom oft sent ,his holy prophets1 proclaiming knowledge to the people1 and wisdom to the host4 ,a little time they trusted in ,his counsels1 till longing for the joys of earth defrauded them of lasting wisdom1 and in the end they turned them from the laws of ,god1 and chose the ,devil's craft4 7ll4 #cc-ef7 ,then the ,lord became displeased and angered with that people whom ,he had prospered4 ,to them1 a wandering folk1 who once were dearest of mankind to ,god1 dearest of all peoples and best loved of the ,lord1 ,he had showed a highway to their lofty city and their native land1 where ,salem stood1 wailed round about and girt with battlements4 ,thither the wise men1 the ,chaldean people1 came up against the city within whose walls their wealth was stored4 ,a host rose up to smite them1 a great army1 eager for deeds of blood4 ,nebuchadnezzar1 the lord of men and prince of ,babylon1 stirred up strife against them in his city4 ,in enmity he searched the thoughts of his heart how he most easily could smite the ,israelites and take them captive4 ,from south and north he mustered savage legions1 faring westward with a band of heathen princes against that lofty town4 ,the rulers of ,israel prospered as long as the ,lord would let them6 7ll4 #eg-gh7 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 these mortal foes1 a host of unbelievers1 sacked their city4 ,from ,solomon's temple1 that glorious building1 they took red gold and jewels and silver4 ,they plundered the treasure under the walls of stone1 all such as those earls possessed1 till they had razed and wasted every stronghold which stood for a protection to that people4 ,they carried off as spoil the treasure of princes1 as much as was found there1 cattle and men2 and so returned1 with great possessions1 over the eastern roads1 leading the tribe of ,israel1 a countless host1 on a long journey unto ,babylon1 into the power of heathen judges4 ,and ,nebuchadnezzar showed no pity on the tribe of ,israel1 but made them subject unto him to be his slaves1 all such as had escaped the sword4 ,and he sent a great host of his thanes into the west to take possession of their kingdom and their wasted realm1 after the ,hebrews4 7ll4 #gi-hg7 ,he bade his prefects seek among the wretched remnant of the tribe of ,israel which of the young men they had brought there were wisest in the books of the law4 ,he wished the youths to grow in knowledge1 that they might teach him wisdom1 but not at all because he could or would be mindful to thank ,god for all the gifts which ,he had given him to his comfort4 7ll4 #hh-ajc7 ,and they found three wise and noble youths1 devout and young1 and with the fear of ,god4 ,one was ,hananiah2 the second1 ,azariah2 the third was ,mishael1 chosen of the ,lord4 ,stout of heart and thoughtful-minded the young men came before the king1 where the heathen ruler sat rejoicing in his splendour in the city of the ,chaldeans4 ,and the ,hebrew men with holy hearts spake words of wisdom and great learning unto the proud prince4 ,then the lord of ,babylon1 the haughty king1 bade his thanes and princes on their lives see to it that the three youths knew no lack of food or raiment all their life long4 ,,li 7ll4 #ajd-aae7 ,now the famous lord of ,babylon was great and glorious over all the earth1 and terrible to the sons of men4 ,he lived in insolence and heeded not the law4 ,and there came to the great king in his slumber1 when the prince had gone to his rest1 a terrible dream that hovered about his heart1 how wondrously the world was wrought1 unlike for men1 until the world's redemption4 ,truth was revealed as he slumbered1 that there would come a bitter end to every rule and to the joys of earth4 7ll4 #aaf-abi7 ,then the wolf-hearted lord of ,babylon awoke from his wine-flushed slumber4 ,his heart was not blithe2 but a fear was upon him1 and dread of the dream4 ,yet he could not recall what the vision had been4 ,and he summoned his people1 all such as were skilled in magic1 and asked the men so gathered what his dream had been1 while men lay sleeping4 ,he was shaken with terror and knew no beginning nor word of the dream2 but he bade them tell it to him4 ,troubled1 the sorcerers answered 7for wisdom was not given them to tell his dream unto the king73 7ll4 #acj-acc7 ,how may we divine so secret a thing in thy soul1 ,o king6 how thy dream hath run1 or knowledge come to thee of ,fate's decrees1 except thou tell us first the beginning of thy dream8 7ll4 #acd-add7 ,and the wolf-hearted king was vexed1 and answered his wise men3 ,ye were not so wise above all men as ye told me1 saying ye knew my fate as it should fall1 or ,i should find it in the future1 nor do ye know the dream that bringeth wisdom before this people4 ,ye shall die the death except ,i know the import of the dream that lieth heavy on my heart4 7ll4 #ade-aeg7 ,but the company there gathered might not divine or search out knowledge1 for it was denied them to tell the king his dream1 or the mysteries of fate1 until ,daniel1 the prophet1 wise and righteous1 and beloved of ,god1 came to the palace to interpret the vision4 ,he had pre-eminence among that wretched remnant who needs must serve the heathen king4 ,god gave him grace from heaven through the communion of the ,holy ,spirit2 and an angel of the ,lord rehearsed to him all the dream1 even as the king had dreamed it4 7ll4 #aeh-agg7 ,then went ,daniel at the dawn of day to tell the dream unto his lord1 recounting wisely the decrees of fate2 and soon the haughty king knew all the dream1 its end and its beginning1 that he had dreamed4 ,and ,daniel had great honour and reward in ,babylon among the scribes1 after he showed the dream unto the king which the prince of ,babylon had not been able to remember because of his sins4 ,yet could not ,daniel bring him to believe in the might of ,god1 but he began to build an idol in the plain which men called ,dura1 which was in the land of the mighty ,babylonians4 ,the city-warden1 the ruler of the realm1 reared an idol before men1 a golden image displeasing unto ,god2 he was not wise1 but redeless1 reckless1 heeding not the right4444 77,,lacuna--,one leaf missing477 7ll4 #agh-ahg7 ,the warriors listened2 and when the sound of the voice of the trumpet came to the city-dwellers1 the heathen people fell upon their knees before the image1 and bowed them down before the idol1 and worshipped it1 knowing no better wisdom4 ,wickedness they wrought and sin1 with hearts perverted1 even as their king4 ,as their lord before them1 the people turned to folly4 ,grim the reward that came on him thereafter6 ,for he had sinned4 7ll4 #ahh-bjh7 ,now there were three men of ,israel in the city of the king who would not heed their lord's decree1 nor offer up their prayers unto the idol1 though trumpets sang aloud among the host4 ,they were of the stock of ,abraham's children1 faithful men who served ,almighty ,god1 the ,everlasting ,lord in heaven above4 ,the royal youths gave men to know they would not have or hold the golden image as a god1 but only the ,great ,king1 ,shepherd of souls1 who granted them ,his grace4 ,oft they said boldly that they recked naught of the idol1 nor could the leader of the heathen people constrain them unto prayer1 nor compel them to go before the golden image which he had set up as a god4 ,these thanes said unto their lord that this was their resolve3 that they were subject to a higher power in this lofty city1 nor will we ever work idolatry1 nor worship the image which thou hast made to be thy god4 7ll4 #bji-bbc7 ,then the prince of ,babylon was angered with them1 and in wrath gave them savage answer3 grimly said that they should quickly worship1 or suffer pain and torture1 the cruel surge of flame1 except they sought protection of that worst of demons1 the golden image which he had made his god4 ,yet would the youths not hearken in their hearts unto his heathen counsels4 ,they were resolved to keep the law of ,god and not forsake the ,lord of hosts1 lest that their virtue turn to heathen folly4 ,they had no longing to seek shelter with false gods1 though bitter the death proclaimed6 ,,lii 7ll4 #bbd-bda7 ,then the fierce king was moved to anger1 and bade them kindle a furnace to torture the youths to death1 because they withstood his will4 ,the furnace was heated1 as fiercely as might be1 with cruel flames of fire4 ,and the lord of ,babylon1 savage and grim1 assembled the people1 and bade his servants bind the prophets of ,god1 and cast the young men in the flames4 ,but ,he was ready who wrought them help6 ,though the prince so fiercely thrust them into the heart of the flame1 yet a mighty messenger of ,god preserved their lives1 and brought them help from heaven1 as many learned4 ,from heaven above the ,gracious ,lord of men sent unto them ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,an angel passed within the furnace1 wherein they suffered torment1 and covered the noble youths with sheltering arms under the roof of fire4 ,and the heat of the quivering flame could not mar their beauty2 but ,god preserved them4 7ll4 #bdb-bej7 ,then the heart of the heathen prince was hardened2 he bade them quickly be burned with fire4 ,the flame rose high1 the furnace was heated2 through and through the iron glowed4 ,many a slave cast wood therein according to command4 ,brands they bore to the ruddy blaze4 ,the ruthless king would fain have built an iron wall about those righteous men1 but the flame passed over them1 beloved of ,god1 and with joy slew more than was meet4 7ll4 #bea-bfh7 ,the flame passed by the holy men and fell upon their heathen foes4 ,the youths were blithe of heart6 ,round about the furnace burned the slaves2 the fire took hold upon those evil men to their hurt1 and the prince of ,babylon beheld it4 ,blithe were the ,hebrew earls1 praying to ,god with zeal and gladness in the furnace1 offering their accustomed praise1 because their lives were spared4 ,with joyful hearts they worshipped ,god1 in whose protection the fierce heat of the flame was turned away4 ,the noble youths were sheltered from the flames' assault1 and suffered naught of evil4 ,the roaring furnace was no more grievous unto them than the shining of the sun4 ,the fire harmed them not1 but in their hour of danger the flames passed over them1 and fell on those who did them evil4 ,the heathen slaves departed from the holy youths4 ,and the beauty of those cursed men was lessened1 whoso had rejoiced in that work6 7ll4 #bfi-bgh7 ,now when the haughty king beheld how in that torture a miracle was come to pass1 and believed his senses1 it seemed to him a wondrous thing4 ,the righteous men1 all three1 were walking unharmed in the fiery furnace1 and one was seen there walking with them1 an angel of ,almighty ,god4 ,no whit of harm had come upon them1 but within the furnace it was most like as when in the summer season the sun shineth1 and the dewfall cometh at dawn1 scattered by the wind4 ,it was the ,god of glory who saved them from that peril4 7ll4 #bgi-bhb7 ,then in the hot flame the holy ,azariah1 eager-hearted1 sang an inspired hymn4 ,the sinless man praised ,god and spake this word3 7ll4 #bhc-bie7 ,o ,lord of all6 ,thy might is strong to save6 ,excellent is ,thy name in all the earth1 sublime and great in glory6 ,thy laws are always sure and just and mighty1 even as ,thou art mighty4 ,wise and righteous is ,thy will1 ,o ,lord of heaven6 ,o ,god of spirits1 grant us help and favour6 ,save us1 ,o ,holy ,lord6 ,wrapped in flame1 we pray ,thee for ,thy mercy on our woe1 our thraldom and humiliation4 7ll4 #bie-cjh7 ,as we have wrought1 so hath it come to pass4 ,our fathers also1 city-dwellers1 in pride have sinned1 and broken ,thy commandments1 and scorned a holy life4 ,we are scattered over all the spacious earth and driven asunder1 cast out from grace4 ,in many lands and under many peoples our life is infamous and vile1 and we are subject to the worst of earthly kings1 and captive to grim-hearted men2 in heathen lands we suffer thraldom4 7ll4 #cji-ccb7 ,thanks be to ,thee1 ,o ,lord of hosts6 that ,thou hast laid this punishment upon us4 ,forsake us not1 ,o ,lord ,eternal1 for ,thy mercy's sake which men attribute unto ,thee1 and for the covenant1 ,o ,lord of glory1 ,shaper of spirits1 ,saviour of men6 which ,thou didst give to ,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob4 ,thou didst promise them in days of old that ,thou wouldest bless their seed1 and that a mighty nation should be born of them1 a race to be exalted as the stars of heaven that trace their wandering courses even to the strand of ocean1 and the sands of the sea-shore that form the foundations of the deep throughout the salt sea2 even so should they be numberless for untold years4 ,fulfil ,thine ancient promise now1 though few are living6 ,show forth ,thy glory and ,thy word upon us6 ,make known ,thy strength and power1 that the ,chaldean race and many nations living heathen lives may learn ,thy glory under heaven1 and know ,thou only art ,eternal ,god1 ,wielder of victory1 ,lord of hosts and all creation1 the ,righteous ,god4 7ll4 #ccc-cdd7 ,so the holy men praised the loving-kindness of the ,lord1 rehearsing the strength of ,his might4 ,then was a gleaming angel sent from heaven above1 with shining face and clothed in glory1 who came to comfort and deliver them with loving favour4 ,holy and heavenly bright1 he cast aside the blaze of the hot flame2 with mighty strength he swept away and quenched the flame of fire so that their bodies were not harmed a whir4 ,but in his wrath he hurled the fire upon their foes1 because of their deeds of evil4 7ll4 #cde-cfa7 ,then in the furnace1 when the angel came1 the air was cool and pleasant1 most like the weather in the summer season1 when rain falleth during the day and warm showers from the clouds4 ,as is the best of weather1 so was it in the furnace for their comfort through the holy might of ,god4 ,the burning flame was quenched and scattered where ,hananiah1 ,azariah1 and ,mishael1 with brave hearts1 were walking in the furnace1 and the angel with them who preserved their lives1 who was the fourth4 ,devout of heart1 the three youths praised the ,lord1 and called upon the sons of ,israel and all created things of earth to bless the ,everlasting ,god1 the ,lord of nations4 ,with understanding hearts they spake with one accord3 ,,liii 7ll4 #cfb-djh7 ,o let the beauty of the world1 and all ,thy works1 bless ,thee1 our ,gracious ,father1 the heavens and all the angels1 and the shining waters6 ,let all1 who in ,thy great creation dwell in heavenly glory1 bless the ,lord of might6 ,let all things made1 the shining orbs that circle through the heavens1 the sun and moon1 praise ,thee in their degree4 ,let the stars of heaven1 and dew and the fierce storm1 praise ,thee4 ,o let the souls of men bless the ,lord of might6 ,let burning fire and radiant summer praise ,thee4 ,let night and day and all lands1 light and darkness1 heat and cold1 praise ,thee in their degree4 ,let frost and snow and wintry weather and the flying clouds bless the ,lord of might6 ,let the swift1 shining lightnings bless ,thee6 ,let all the earth1 the hills and plains and lofty mountains1 the salt sea-waves and ocean1 and the welling springs1 praise the ,everlasting ,god1 the ,righteous ,lord6 ,let the whales1 and the birds of the air that fly in the heavens1 praise ,thee4 ,let all that move in the water1 wild beasts and all cattle1 bless ,thy name6 ,let all men praise ,thee1 yea6 let ,israel bless the ,lord1 who giveth all good things4 ,let holy men of heart1 the spirits and souls of the righteous1 praise the ,everlasting ,god1 the ,lord of life1 who giveth a reward to all4 ,let ,hananiah and ,azariah and ,mishael praise the ,lord6 ,we worship ,thee and bless ,thee1 ,lord of men1 ,almighty ,father1 and ,thee1 ,true ,son of ,god1 ,saviour of souls and ,helper of mankind1 and ,thee1 ,o ,holy ,ghost1 the ,god of wisdom4 ,we praise ,thee1 ,holy ,lord1 and worship ,thee with prayer4 ,blessed art ,thou1 and adorned with holy might for ever1 above the world's roof reigning ,king of heaven1 and ,lord of life in every land4 7ll4 #dji-dae7 ,then ,nebuchadnezzar1 the lord of that people1 spake unto the princes who stood nigh unto him and said3 ,ye beheld1 my princes1 how we cast three men to a fiery death in the blazing flames4 ,and now1 in truth1 ,i see four men therein1 except my sense deceive me4 7ll4 #daf-dbi7 ,then spake a counsellor of the king1 wise of heart and prudent of speech3 ,this is some marvel which we behold with our eyes4 ,bethink thee now1 my lord1 of what is fitting4 ,know who it is hath showed this grace upon the youths4 ,they worship ,one ,eternal ,god1 and call on ,him with zeal by every name4 ,with eager words they praise ,his ,majesty1 and say that ,he alone is ,god ,almighty1 ,wise ,king of glory1 of earth and heaven4 ,call these men forth from out the furnace1 prince of the ,chaldeans6 ,in no wise is it well that they should linger in that torture longer than thou hast need4 7ll4 #dcj-dci7 ,then the king bade the young men come before him4 ,boldly the noble youths obeyed ,his word and came as they were bidden4 ,the young men rose and went before the heathen king4 ,their fetters were burned away and the bonds of the king which were laid upon them1 but their bodies were saved from harm4 ,for their beauty was no wise injured1 nor was any harm come upon their garments1 nor their hair singed by the fire1 but in ,god's protection they came forth gladly from that gruesome horror1 wise of heart and favoured by the ,holy ,ghost4 7ll4 #ddj-deg7 ,then the angel1 a faithful servant to the ,holy ,lord1 departed up to seek eternal bliss on the high roof of the heavenly kingdom4 ,and by that marvel he had honoured those who had deserved it4 ,the young men praised the ,lord before the heathen host1 exhorting them with words of truth1 rehearsing many truthful tokens before the king1 until he too believed this was a ,god of wonders who freed them from the darkness4 ,and the mighty lord of ,babylon1 the haughty king1 decreed among his people that he was guilty unto death whoso denied this was a glorious ,god of might who freed them from that death4 ,he gave back unto ,god the remnants of ,his captive people and granted favour to his olden foes4 ,and their prosperity in ,babylon was great and their fame was known throughout the nation1 after they endured that trial by fire1 and obeyed their ,lord4 ,mighty were their counsels after ,god1 the ,holy ,warden of the heavenly kingdom1 had shielded them from harm4 7ll4 #deh-dga7 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 when the lord of ,babylon perceived the marvel that was come to pass within the flames1 he was fain to know how the youths had passed through the blaze of fire1 and overwon the terror of the heated furnace and the flames1 so that the fury of the burning brands and raging furnace had wrought ,god's prophets naught of harm1 but ,his defence had shielded them against that fearful peril4 ,and the prince commanded a council1 and summoned his people1 and there1 before the multitude so gathered1 rehearsed the event as it had come to pass1 and the miracle of ,god made known upon the youths3 7ll4 #dgb-dhe7 ,consider now the holy might and wondrous works of ,god4 ,we saw how ,he shielded the young men in the furnace from death and the leaping flames1 because they served ,him4 ,he only is the ,lord1 ,eternal and ,almighty1 who gives them glory and abundant weal who preach ,his gospel4 ,and ,he reveals ,himself by many a wonder to holy hearts who seek ,his favour4 ,it is well known that ,daniel showed me the interpretation of a secret dream1 which formerly perplexed the minds of many men among my people1 because ,almighty ,god had given him an understanding spirit in his heart1 and strength of wisdom4 7ll4 #dhf-did7 ,so spake the leader of the host1 the lord of ,babylon1 when he perceived the miracle and ,god's clear token4 ,and yet he wrought no whit the better2 pride ruled the prince4 ,his heart was insolent and the thoughts of his heart were thoughts of pride1 more than was meet1 until the ,lord ,almighty humbled him1 as ,he humbleth many who walk with arrogance4 ,,liv 7ll4 #die-ebb7 ,now a dream came unto ,nebuchadnezzar in his sleep and troubled him4 ,it seemed to him that there stood a tree upon the earth1 wondrous fair1 deeply rooted and gleaming with fruit4 ,nor was it like to other trees1 but it towered unto the stars of heaven1 so that it overshadowed the regions of the world and all the earth with its boughs and branches1 even unto the shores of the sea4 ,and as he gazed it seemed to him that the tree made shelter for the wild beasts1 and that it held food for them all1 and likewise that the birds of the air found sustenance in the fruit of the tree4 ,and it seemed to him that an angel descended from the heavens1 and spake with a loud voice1 commanding the tree to be cut down1 and the wild beasts and the birds to flee away1 when its fall should come4 ,and he bade that its fruit be cut off and its branches and boughs1 but that the roots of the tree should abide fast in the earth as a token1 until green shoots should spring again when ,god granted4 ,and he bade bind the mighty tree with brazen fetters and fetters of iron1 and thus bound cast it into torment1 that his heart might know that a mightier than he had power of correction1 against whom he might not prevail4 7ll4 #ebc-ecg7 ,then the earthly king awoke from his slumber1 and his dream was ended4 ,but fear of it was upon him1 and terror of the vision which ,god had sent him4 ,and the haughty king bade summon his people together1 and the leaders of the people1 and asked them all the import of his dream1 in no wise thinking that they knew2 but he made trial of them how they would answer4 ,then ,daniel1 the prophet of ,god1 was called unto judgment1 and the ,holy ,ghost was sent to him from heaven to strengthen his heart4 ,in him the lord of men perceived an understanding spirit and depth of counsel1 strength of wisdom1 words of judgment4 ,and once again he showed forth many a wonder1 the mighty works of ,god1 before the eyes of men4 7ll4 #ech-eej7 ,then the proud1 heathen leader of the host began to tell his fearful dream1 and all the horror of the vision that had vexed him1 and bade him tell the import of this secret thing1 bidding him speak in holy words and search his heart to tell with truth the meaning of the tree which he saw gleaming1 and declare to him the decrees of fate4 ,then he fell silent4 ,yet ,daniel clearly saw in the assembly that his prince1 the lord of men1 was guilty before ,god4 ,the prophet paused2 then ,god's herald1 skilled in the law1 made answer to the king3 7ll4 #eea-egi7 ,this1 ,o prince of men1 is no little wonder1 which thou hast seen in thy dream1 a tree as high as heaven1 and the holy words1 wrathful and full of terror1 which the angel spake--that the tree should be stripped of its branches and fall1 where formerly it stood fast1 lying joyless with the beasts1 abiding in a desert place1 its roots to remain fast in the earth in stillness for a season where it stood1 as the ,voice declared1 and then after seven years to receive increase again6 ,so shall thy fortune be brought low6 ,as the tree grew high unto heaven so art thou lord and ruler over all the dwellers of earth1 and there is none on earth to withstand thee save ,god alone4 ,he shall cut thee off from thy kingdom and drive thee into exile without friends1 and thy heart shall be changed so that there shall be no thought in thy heart of worldly joys1 nor any reason in thy mind save the ways of the wild beasts1 but thou shalt live a long time in the forest ranging with the deer4 ,thou shalt have no food save the grass of the field1 nor any fixed abiding-place1 but the showers of rain shall drench thee and harass thee even as the wild beasts1 until after seven winters thou shalt believe there is ,one ,god for all mankind1 a ,lord and ,ruler dwelling in the heavens4 7ll4 #ehj-eib7 ,yet is it pleasing unto me that the roots remained fixed in the earth1 as the ,voice declared1 and after seven seasons received increase4 ,so shall thy kingdom stand unharmed of men until thou come again4 ,take now1 my lord1 firm counsel in thy heart2 give alms2 defend the needy1 and make atonement before ,god1 ere yet the hour cometh when ,he shall drive thee from thine earthly kingdom4 ,oft for many peoples ,god abateth pain and woe1 if they but earnestly repent them of their sins1 ere ,his avenging wrath1 with fatal doom1 hath laid them low4 7ll4 #eic-eig7 ,but ,daniel was not able to speak these many words of truth1 with craft of wisdom1 to his lord1 so that the mighty ruler of the world would heed2 but pride ruled his heart4 ,and bitter was his atonement6 7ll4 #eih-fjg7 ,and as the king of the ,chaldeans ruled his realm1 and beheld the city of ,babylon in its prosperity towering up to heaven1 the city which the prince had built with many a wonder for his people1 and the fields of the ,shinarites wide-stretching round about1 then the king began to utter boastful words4 ,he became perverse and arrogant of heart1 beyond all men1 because of the special gifts which ,god had given him1 a mighty kingdom and the world to rule in the life of men3 7ll4 #fjh-faa7 ,thou art the mighty city1 famed afar1 which ,i have builded to my honour1 a spacious kingdom4 ,i will have rest in thee1 a dwelling and a home4 7ll4 #fab-fba7 ,then the lord of men was smitten for his boasting1 and driven into exile1 arrogant of heart beyond all men4 ,even as in the days of strife1 when ,god's swift wrath and anger smote him from the heavens1 ,nebuchadnezzar trod the bitterest path unto ,god's vengeance that ever living men have trod4 ,seven winters together the king of that fair city suffered torment1 a desert-life with beasts4 7ll4 #fbb-fci7 ,then the wretched man1 companion of the beasts1 looked up through the flying clouds2 and he knew in his heart that there was a ,lord and ,king of heaven1 and one ,eternal ,spirit ruling over the sons of men4 ,and he was recovered from the madness which long had been upon him1 vexing the heart and soul of the king4 ,his heart was turned again unto men and his mind unto thoughts of ,god1 after he came to know ,him4 ,and the wretched man rose up and came again among men1 a naked wanderer acknowledging his sin1 a strange exile without clothing1 and of humbler heart than the lord of men had been in his boasting4 ,behind its lord the world had stood1 behind the prince his home and native land1 unchanged for seven winters together1 so that his kingdom had not lessened under heaven until its ruler came again4 7ll4 #fdj-fef7 ,then was the lord of ,babylon once more seated upon his throne2 he had a better heart1 a clearer faith in the ,lord of life1 knowing that ,god dealeth unto every man weal or woe as ,he desireth4 ,the lord of nations was not slow to heed the counsels of his wise men1 but far and wide rehearsed the might of ,god1 where he had power of proclamation4 ,he told his people of his wanderings1 his far journeys with the beasts1 until the spirit of the ,lord ,god came upon him and thoughts of wisdom1 when he looked up to heaven4 ,fate was fulfilled1 the wonder come to pass1 the dream come true1 the punishment endured1 the doom awarded1 even as ,daniel said aforetime that the king would suffer downfall for his pride1 and earnestly proclaimed it before men1 by the might of ,god4 7ll4 #feg-fgd7 ,then for a long time ,daniel gave judgment and counsel in ,babylon unto the city-dwellers4 ,and after ,nebuchadnezzar1 comrade and companion of the wild beasts1 returned from his wandering exile1 the prince of the ,chaldeans1 the wise and mighty leader of the folk1 ruled his spacious kingdom1 guarding his treasure and the lofty city1 until death came upon him4 ,and there was no man to withstand him upon earth till ,god through death took his high kingdom from him4 ,thereafter his descendants prospered greatly in that mighty stronghold1 in the city of earls1 enjoying wealth and twisted gold1 a mighty treasure1 when their lord lay dead4 ,,lv 7ll4 #fge-fhe7 ,and after him among that people arose a third generation1 and ,belshazzar ruled the city and the kingdom until his heart grew great with insolence and hateful pride4 ,and the ,chaldean rule was ended6 ,for the ,lord bestowed the kingdom upon the ,medes and ,persians for a space of time1 and let the might of ,babylon diminish1 which the heroes should have held4 ,but ,he knew that they were sinful men who would have ruled the realm4 7ll4 #fhf-gjb7 ,the lord of the ,medes1 as he sat in his stronghold1 resolved on that which none had done before him1 that he would lay waste ,babylon1 the city of earls1 where the princes within the walls dispensed the treasure4 ,now the city of ,babylon was the most famous of all the fortresses of men1 the mightiest and most widely known of all that men inhabit1 until ,belshazzar in his boasting tempted ,god4 ,they sat at wine within their walls1 fearing not the hate of any foe1 though a hostile folk with mighty hosts in armour were coming up against them1 even against the city of ,babylon to destroy it4 ,and the ,chaldean king and his kinsmen sat feasting on the last day4 7ll4 #gjc-gaa7 ,now when the leader of the host was drunk with wine he bade them bring the treasure of ,israel1 the holy vessels of the sacrifice1 and the gold which the ,chaldean warriors and their legions had captured in ,jerusalem1 when they destroyed the might of ,judah with the sword1 boasting exceedingly1 with tumult seizing on the kindly folk and gleaming treasure1 as they plundered the temple and the shrine of ,solomon4 7ll4 #gab-gbf7 ,then was the lord of cities blithe in his heart1 boasting fiercely and defying ,god1 and said his gods were mightier to save1 and greater1 than the ,eternal ,lord of ,israel4 ,but1 as he gazed1 there came a dreadful token before men within the hall1 that he had spoken a lie before his people4 ,the hand of an angel of ,god appeared within the lofty hall1 a sight of terror1 and wrote before the eyes of men upon the wall in scarlet letters and words of mystery4 ,then the heart of the king was troubled within him and sore afraid because of the sign2 within the hall he beheld the hand of an angel writing the doom of the ,shinarites4 7ll4 #gbg-gcf7 ,but the multitude1 the host within the hall1 debated what the hand had written for a sign to the city-dwellers4 ,and many came to see the wonder4 ,they searched the thoughts of their hearts to know what the hand of the angel had written4 ,nor could the nobles and magicians read the angel's message till ,daniel1 wise and righteous1 loved of ,god1 came to the hall4 ,and his heart was filled with wisdom sent from ,god4 7ll4 #gcg-gdb7 ,then1 as ,i have heard1 the city-dwellers sought to tempt ,daniel with gifts to read the writing and tell the import of the mystery4 ,but the prophet of ,god1 skilled in the law and wise of heart1 made answer to them3 7ll4 #gdc-gfe7 ,not for gain do ,i pronounce ,god's judgments to the people1 nor of mine own strength1 but freely will ,i tell thy fate1 and the meaning of the words thou shalt not change4 ,in thine insolence thou hast given into the hands of men the vessels of the sacrifice1 and in them drunk to devils1 which formerly the ,israelites employed in holy rites before the ark of ,god1 till pride seduced them and drunken thoughts4 ,so shall it be with thee6 ,never would thy lord before thee lay hands of insolence upon ,god's golden vessels1 nor boast thereof1 although it was his legions that plundered ,israel's treasure4 ,but after the ,lord of glory showed forth ,his wonders upon him1 the lord of nations often spake before his people in words of truth1 and said that ,he alone was ,lord and ,ruler of creation who gave him blameless glory in his earthly kingdom and great prosperity4 ,but thou deniest that ,he is the ,living ,god who ruleth over devils444 77,,lacuna of indeterminate length77 ,,christ ,,and ,,satan ,,liber ,,ii ,i ,,the ,,lament ,,of ,,the ,,fallen ,,angels 7ll4 #a-ah7 ,it is revealed to those who dwell on earth that ,god had strength and power when ,he wrought the borders of the world4 ,by ,his wondrous might ,he established the sun and moon1 the rocks and earth and the oceanstream1 water and clouds4 ,by ,his strength the ,lord upholdeth all the deep expanse1 and middle-earth4 ,the ,son of ,god beholdeth from the heavens the sea and its foundations3 ,he numbereth every drop of the showers of rain4 ,by ,his wondrous power ,he hath ordained the number of the days4 ,even so in six days1 by ,his spirit's might1 the ,lord in heaven devised the valleys of the world and the high hills1 and founded them4 ,who is there that clearly knoweth all that mighty work except ,eternal ,god8 7ll4 #ai-cc7 ,joys ,he dealeth out and riches4 ,he first created ,adam1 and a noble race1 the angel princes1 which later perished utterly4 ,for1 it seemed to them in their hearts it well might be that they themselves were lords of heaven1 princes of glory4 ,then a worse fate befell them1 and they went to find a home in hell1 the foul abyss1 where they must needs endure grim woe and surging flame1 no more possessing radiance of glory or high-built halls in heaven2 but they must needs plunge downward to those depths of fiery flame1 down to the bottomless abyss1 insatiate and rapacious4 ,god only knoweth how ,he hath condemned that guilty host4 7ll4 #cd-ej7 ,the ,old ,one crieth out of hell1 with horrible voice uttereth words accursed3 ,whither is fled the glory of the angels1 which we should have in heaven8 ,this is a home of darkness1 terribly bound with fettering bonds of fire4 ,the floor of hell is ablaze1 and flaming with poison4 ,the end is now not far when we must suffer torment1 pain1 and woe1 no whit possessing bliss in heavenly glory1 nor joy1 in her high halls4 ,lo6 once we knew great bliss before the face of ,god1 and songs of praise in heaven in happier hours1 where now stand noble spirits round about ,eternal ,god in ,his high hall1 worshipping the ,lord with words and works4 ,and here in torment ,i must needs abide in bonds1 nor ever hope for any better home1 because of my insolent pride4 7ll4 #ea-fd7 ,then answered the foul fiends1 black and sinful1 chained in torment3 ,thou with thy lies didst teach us not to serve the ,saviour6 ,to thee alone it seemed that thou hadst power of all things in heaven and earth1 that thou wert ,holy ,god1 even the ,creator4 ,now thou art bound1 thou wretched fiend1 with bonds of flame4 ,in thy splendour thou didst think the world was thine1 and power of all things1 and we1 the angels1 with thee4 ,loathsome is thy face6 ,sorely have we suffered for thy lies6 ,thou saidest that thy son was ,lord of men4 ,now is thy woe the greater4 7ll4 #fe-gd7 ,so with bitter words and moaning voices the sinful spirits spake unto their lord4 ,christ had cast them out1 and banished them from joy4 ,they had lost the radiant light of ,god in heaven through overweening pride4 ,for all their joy they had the floors of hell and burning pain4 ,pale1 their beauty marred1 the fallen angels1 miserable wretches1 wandered through that loathsome pit1 because of the presumptuous deeds which formerly they wrought4 ,,ii 7ll4 #ge-hj7 ,then once more spake the leader of the fiends2 he was chastened anew1 and racked with pangs of torment4 ,black with fire and poison1 he began to speak2 no pleasant joy was this as he poured forth his words in pain3 7ll4 #ha-ib7 ,i was once a holy angel1 dear unto ,god in heaven1 and knew great joy before the face of the ,lord ,god1 likewise this multitude4 ,but ,i resolved in my heart to overthrow the ,lord of glory1 the ,son of ,god1 and have myself the power to rule the world1 and all this wretched host which ,i have led unto a home in hell4 ,bethink ye of the token and the curse1 that ,i was banished1 deep below the earth1 in the bottomless abyss4 ,i have led you all from out your native home unto a house of bondage4 7ll4 #ib-aje7 ,here is no glory of the blessed1 neither wine-halls of the proud1 nor worldly joys nor angel throngs1 nor may we have possession of high heaven4 ,this loathsome dwelling burns with fire4 ,i am ,god's foe4 ,dragons dwell ever at the gates of hell1 inflamed and furious2 they may not help us6 ,this woeful house is filled with torment4 ,in this deep darkness there is yet no place to shelter us1 that we may hide therein4 ,here is the adder's hiss2 here serpents dwell4 ,firmly the bonds of torment are fastened upon us4 ,fierce are the fiends1 swarthy and black4 ,here never gleameth day in the gloom of hell-shadows1 nor the radiant light of ,god4 7ll4 #ajf-abd7 ,once ,i had power and glory1 before ,i earned ,god's judgment on my sin in this loathsome realm1 upon the floor of hell4 ,now ,i have come1 and brought a host of fiends1 unto this home of darkness4 ,but1 flying forth from hell from time to time1 ,i needs must visit every land1 and others of you also1 who had part in our presumptuous deeds4 ,we need not hope the ,king of glory will ever grant us a home and dwelling1 as ,he did of old1 and everlasting power4 ,for the ,son of ,god hath power of all things1 of glory and affliction4 ,wherefore1 downcast and wretched1 ,i must wander far1 an exile journey1 stripped of glory1 shorn of virtue1 bereft of joy in heaven among the angels1 because ,i said of old that ,i was ,king of glory and ,lord of all4 ,,iii 7ll4 #abe-abh7 ,but a worse fate befell him6 ,so the accursed spirit1 doomed to woe1 lamented his afflictions4 7,and through the foul abyss a flame of fire raged1 with venom mingled73 7ll4 #abi-ada7 ,i am so large of limb there is no place in this wide hall to hide me1 sore wounded with my sins4 ,both heat and cold by turns are mingled here4 ,at times ,i hear the hell-slaves howling1 mourning these realms of pain beneath the earth2 at times men naked strive with serpents4 ,all this windy hall is filled with horror6 ,never shall ,i know a happier home1 nor any town or mansion2 nor ever shall mine eyes behold the shining world again4 7ll4 #adb-aeg7 ,worse is it now for me that ever ,i knew the light of glory with the angels1 or melody in heaven1 where blessed souls are lapped in music by the ,son of ,god4 ,i may not injure any soul save those alone which ,he rejecteth4 ,those may ,i lead home into bondage1 and bring them to their dwelling in the grim abyss4 ,changed are we all from what we were of old on high1 in beauty and in honour4 ,oft1 as disciples round our well-loved ,lord1 we brought the sons of glory to the ,saviour's arms1 and lifted up our songs of praise1 and worshipped ,him4 ,but now ,i am stained with evil1 and wounded with my sins4 ,in hell-fire burning bonds of pain shall sear my back1 nor may ,i ever hope for any future good4 7ll4 #aeh-afb7 ,then once more the loathsome fiend from hell1 accursed in his woe1 bewailed his endless torment4 ,his words flew up like sparks1 most like to poison1 as he hissed them forth3 7ll4 #afb-age7 ,o6 the majesty of ,god1 the might of the ,creator6 ,o6 ,thou ,lord of heavenly hosts6 ,farewell to earth1 and the gleaming light of day6 ,farewell the bliss of ,god1 the angel hosts1 the heavens above6 ,alas6 that ,i have lost eternal joy1 that never again with my hands may ,i lay hold on heaven1 nor thitherward lift up mine eyes1 nor hear in mine ears the ringing voice of the trumpet1 because ,i would have driven from ,his throne the ,lord1 the ,son of ,god1 and seized myself the power of majesty and joy and bliss4 7ll4 #agf-ahh7 ,then a worse fate befell me than ,i could well foresee6 ,i am rejected from the heavenly host1 cast out from light into this loathsome home4 ,i may not well bethink me how ,i fell thus low1 into this deep abyss1 stained with my sins1 and cast out from the world4 ,now ,i know that he will forfeit all eternal joy who thinketh not to serve the ,king of heaven and please the ,lord4 ,needs must ,i undergo correction1 vengeance and punishment and pain1 stripped of every good1 stained by my former deeds1 because ,i thought to drive ,god from ,his throne1 the ,lord of hosts4 ,now1 sorrowful and full of care1 ,i needs must go an exile-journey1 a wandering wide4 ,,iv 7ll4 #ahi-bjh7 ,then ,god's foe went to hell1 wherein he was abased1 and his thanes with him1 covetous and greedy1 when the ,lord ,god hurled them down into that burning house whose name is hell4 ,wherefore let every man take thought in his heart that he may not be displeasing to the ,son of ,god1 remembering how the black fiends were undone by pride4 ,and let us choose as our delight the ,lord of hosts1 the ,prince of angels1 and eternal joy in heaven above4 ,he showed that ,he had strength and wondrous power1 when from ,his lofty throne ,he drove that great host into bondage4 ,let us be mindful of the ,holy ,lord1 eternal in glory1 and choose a home on high with ,christ1 the ,lord of all1 the ,king of kings4 ,with blithe thoughts in our hearts1 and peace and wisdom1 let us be mindful of righteousness and truth1 when we think to kneel before ,his royal throne1 and pray the ,lord for mercy4 7ll4 #bji-bbc7 ,it behooveth him who dwelleth in these worldly joys to shine in beauty when he seeketh another life1 and a land much fairer than this earth4 ,that is a land of beauty and of joy1 with fruits that brightly gleam among the cities4 ,that is a boundless realm1 the home of the blessed in heaven1 acceptable to ,christ4 ,let us turn thither where1 in that dear home1 the ,saviour sitteth1 ,lord of victories1 and round about ,his throne in radiant whiteness stand angel legions and all blessed souls1 the holy heavenly hosts1 and praise the ,lord with words and works4 ,their beauty gleameth with the ,king of glory1 world without end4 ,v 7ll4 #bbd-bbg7 ,and further still1 as ,i have heard1 the fiends confessed4 ,their sin and punishment lay heavy on them4 ,in their presumptuous pride they had forgot the ,king of glory4 ,straightway in other words they spake3 7ll4 #bbh-bdd7 ,now is it seen that we have sinned in heaven1 and now must ever wage a hapless war against the might of ,god4 ,we might have had our dwelling in the light of glory1 in thousands serving ,holy ,god1 and chanting hymns about ,his throne4 ,and while we dwelt there1 and abode in bliss1 came strains of heavenly music on our ears1 and the voice of the trumpet4 ,bright of word arose the ,prince of angels1 and all ,his saints bowed down before ,him4 ,the ,eternal ,lord ,triumphant rose and stood above us1 and each day blessed that gentle throng1 and ,his beloved ,son1 ,shaper of souls4 ,and ,god ,himself was merciful to all who came within that kingdom1 and had believed in ,him on earth4 7ll4 #bde-bdg7 ,but it seemed to me that the ,prince was stern and hard of heart2 and ,i began to go forth alone among the angels1 and said unto them all3 7ll4 #bdh-bec7 ',i can show you enduring counsel1 if ye will trust my strength4 ,let us scorn this mighty ,prince1 the ,lord of hosts1 and possess us of the radiance of ,his glory to be our own4 ,for this is empty boasting which we have borne so long4' ,,vi 7ll4 #bed-bfh7 ,and so it was we strove to drive the ,lord from ,his dear home1 the ,king from out ,his city4 ,but widely is it known that we must dwell in exile1 in the grim depths of heil4 ,god holdeth ,his kingdom4 ,he only is the ,king1 ,eternal ,lord1 ,creator strong and mighty1 whose anger smote us down4 ,henceforth this host must lie here in their sin1 some flying in the air and speeding over earth4 ,but round about each spirit fire burneth1 though he be up on high4 ,yet may he never lay his hand upon those souls who from the earth in blessedness seek heaven4 ,but ,i may seize ,god's foes1 all heathen slaves1 and drag them down into the pit4 7ll4 #bfi-bgh7 ,some must needs wander through all lands1 sowing dissension in the tribes of men throughout the earth4 ,but ,i must suffer all things1 in the pangs of flame1 sick and sorrowful1 lamenting here my lost possessions1 which once ,i owned1 while still my home was in the heavens4 ,will the ,eternal grant us ever again a home and dwelling in the heavenly kingdom1 as ,he did of old8 7ll4 #bgi-big7 ,so wailed ,god's adversaries1 as they burned in hell4 ,god1 the ,lord1 was moved to wrath against them for their blasphemy4 ,wherefore should every living man1 whose heart is good1 resolve to banish sinful thoughts and loathsome evil4 ,let us be ever mindful in our hearts of the ,creator's might1 and prepare a green path before us unto the angels4 ,there is ,almighty ,god1 and the ,son of ,god will fold us in ,his arms1 if we on earth take thought of this beforehand1 and trust ,his holy help4 ,then will ,he not forsake us1 but will grant us life among the angels1 and blessed joy4 ,the radiant ,lord will show us stable dwellings1 and gleaming city-walls4 ,brightly shine the souls of the blessed1 freed from sorrow1 evermore possessing cities and a kingly throne4 7ll4 #big-cad7 ,o may we all proclaim it1 ere it be too late1 and rehearse it unto men upon the earth1 unlock with skill the mysteries of ,god1 and wisely understand them6 ,a thousand angels shall come out to meet us1 if thitherward we take our way1 and have deserved this bliss on earth4 ,he shall be blessed whoso scorneth evil and is pleasing unto ,god1 overcoming sin as ,he hath said4 ,the righteous1 crowned with beauty1 in their ,father's kingdom1 shall shine like to the sun in the ,city of ,refuge1 where their ,lord1 the ,father of mankind1 shall fold them in ,his arms1 and lovingly uplift them to the light of heaven1 where they may dwell for ever with the ,king of glory1 possessing joy of joys with the ,lord ,god1 for ever and for ever without end4 ,,vii 7ll4 #cae-ccc7 ,alas6 how rashly did the cursed fiend resolve to disobey the ,king of heaven1 the ,comfort-bringing ,father4 ,with venom burned and blazed the floor of hell beneath the captive's feet4 ,the fiends went howling through those windy halls1 wailing their woe4 ,the sin and evil of that multitude were fiercely purged by fire4 ,grievous their fate6 ,and their prince1 who came there first of all the host1 was lettered fast in fire and flame2 that was unending torment6 ,for ever must his thanes inhabit there that loathsome realm1 nor ever in heaven above hear holy joy1 where they had long had pleasant service with the angels2 all good things had they lost1 and might not dwell save in the pit of hell1 in that accursed hall where sounds of weeping are heard afar1 gnashing of teeth and lamentation4 7ll4 #ccd-ced7 ,they have no hope but only frost and fire1 torture and pain and swarming serpents1 dragons and adders and a house of darkness4 ,he who stood within twelve miles of hell might hear a gnashing of teeth1 loud and full of woe4 ,god's adversaries wandered throughout hell1 burning with flame above and below 7on every side was torture72 oppressed with pain1 bereft of joy1 and shorn of glory1 they bitterly lamented that ever they had planned to strip the ,saviour of ,his heavenly kingdom1 when they had their home on high4 ,but ,he held rightfully the courts of heaven and ,his holy throne4 7ll4 #cee-cfd7 ,no one is so cunning or so wise1 or hath such understanding1 save ,god alone1 that he may describe the radiant light of heaven2 how1 by the might of ,god1 the sun there shineth round about that splendid host1 where angels have eternal joy1 and saints chant hymns before the face of ,god4 ,and there are blessed souls1 who come from earth bearing in their bosoms fragrant blossoms and pleasant herbs--these are the words of ,god4 ,the ,father of mankind shall fold them in ,his arms1 and with ,his right hand bless them and lead them to the light1 where they shall have eternal life1 a heavenly home1 a radiant city-dwelling1 for ever and for ever4 ,he shall have bliss whoso inclineth to obey his ,saviour4 ,well shall it be with him who may obtain it6 ,,viii ,,the ,,harrowing ,,of ,,hell 7ll4 #cfe-cgf7 ,within ,god's kingdom in the days of old the angel prince was called ,light-bearer1 ,lucifer4 ,but he stirred up strife in heaven and turned to insolence and pride4 ,darkly ,satan planned to build a lofty throne in heaven1 with the ,eternal ,god4 ,he was their lord1 the prince of evil4 ,but he repented when he needs must sink to hell1 and with his thanes must feel the ,saviour's wrath2 never thereafter might they look upon ,eternal ,god for ever4 7ll4 #cgg-chd7 ,then terror came upon them1 and crashing thunder went before the ,judge1 who bowed and burst the doors of hell4 ,and bliss came unto men when they beheld their ,saviour's face4 ,but the hearts of that doomed folk1 that dread host named aforetime1 were sore afraid4 ,they were smitten with terror throughout their windy hall1 and wailed aloud3 7ll4 #che-cig7 ,bitter is this ,storm that burst upon us1 the ,angel ,prince1 the ,warrior with ,his legions4 ,before ,him shineth a fairer light than ever our eyes beheld1 save when we dwelt in heaven among the angels4 ,now will ,he end1 by power of ,his glory1 the torment we inflict4 ,lo6 this ,terror cometh1 with thunders before the face of ,god1 and soon this wretched throng shall know affliction4 ,it is the ,son of ,god1 the ,lord of angels4 ,he leadeth souls up out of hell1 and we shall be abased hereafter by ,his avenging wrath4 7ll4 #cih-djg7 ,by ,his might the ,lord descended into hell1 unto the sons of men4 ,for ,he was fain to lead forth countless thousands to their native home4 ,then came the sound of angel legions1 and thunder at the blush of dawn4 ,the ,lord ,himself had overcome the ,fiend2 the deadly strife began at dawn when the terror fell upon them4 ,he let the blessed souls1 the race of ,adam1 mount upward unto heaven4 ,yet ,eve might not see heaven until she spake3 7ll4 #djh-dai7 ,i1 only1 brought ,thy wrath upon us1 ,eternal ,lord1 when we two ate the apple through the serpent's guile1 ,adam and ,i1 as we should not have done4 ,the fiend1 who now doth burn for ever in his bonds1 told us that so we should have blessing and a holy home1 and heaven to rule4 ,and we believed the words of the ,accursed1 and stretched our hands unto the holy tree and plucked its shining fruit4 ,bitter the price we paid1 when we must needs sink downward to this flaming pit1 and there abide for many thousand winters1 dreadfully burning4 7ll4 #dbj-dcd7 ,now ,i beseech ,thee1 ,lord of heaven1 by this host1 the angel legions which ,thou leadest hither1 that ,i may be delivered out of hell1 with all my kindred4 ,three nights ago a servant of the ,saviour came to hell4 ,now is he fast in bondage1 spent with pain1 for the ,king of glory was incensed against him because of his presumption4 ,thou saidest unto us in truth that ,god ,himself would come to all who dwell in hell4 ,then everyone arose1 and leaned upon his arm1 and rested on his hand2 though racked with pangs of hell1 yet in their torment they rejoiced because their ,lord was coming unto hell to bring them aid4 7ll4 #dce-ddj7 ,and she lifted up her hands unto the ,king of heaven1 beseeching mercy of the ,lord for ,mary's sake3 ,lo6 ,of my daughter wast ,thou born1 ,o ,lord1 to help mankind on earth4 ,now is it seen that ,thou art ,god indeed1 the ,everlasting ,source of all creation4 ,,ix 7ll4 #dda-ded7 ,then the ,eternal ,lord let all that host mount upward unto glory4 ,but on the fiends ,he fastened bonds of torment1 and thrust them down into the depths of darkness1 bitterly abashed1 where darkly ,satan rules1 a woeful wretch1 and with him the foul fiends1 forspent with pain4 ,never may they see the light of glory1 but only bell's abyss1 nor ever hope for their return1 because the ,lord ,god was incensed against them1 and gave them bonds of torment for their portion1 and gruesome horror1 death-shadows dark and dim1 the burning pit of hell1 and fear of death4 7ll4 #dee-dfg7 ,then was there gladness when the host returned unto their native home1 and with them the ,eternal ,lord of men1 unto ,his glorious city4 ,with their hands the race of ,abraham1 the holy prophets1 bore ,him up unto ,his home4 ,even as the prophets had foretold in days of old1 the ,lord had conquered death1 and overcome the ,fiend4 ,all this befell at dawn before the blush of day1 when thunder came1 loud crashing from the heavens1 and ,god bowed down and brake the doors of hell4 ,the fiends' strength lessened when they saw the radiant light4 7ll4 #dfh-dgh7 ,and the ,son of ,god was sitting with ,his host1 and spake with words of truth3 ,wise spirits6 ,by ,my might ,i wrought you--first ,adam and this noble woman4 ,and they begat1 by ,god's will1 forty children1 so that a multitude were born thereafter on the earth1 and many a winter men dwelt in their home1 until it came to pass the fiend by deeds of evil brought ,god's mercy to an end4 ,now sin has spread through all the world6 7ll4 #dgi-dhf7 ,for in the new ,paradise ,i placed a tree with spreading branches1 whose boughs bore apples1 and ye two ate the gleaming fruit according as the fiend1 the thane of hell1 gave bidding4 ,wherefore ye journeyed to the burning depths of hell1 because ye disobeyed the word of ,god1 and tasted of this horror4 ,the foul fiend stood beside you1 and gave you evil thoughts4 7ll4 #dhg-dih7 ,but ,my heart repented that ,my handiwork should suffer prison-bondage6 ,there was no power of men1 nor might of angels1 no work of the prophets1 nor wisdom of mortal men1 that could bring you help1 but only ,god1 the ,saviour1 who had ordained that punishment in vengeance4 ,and from ,his home on high ,he came to earth1 being born of a virgin1 and suffered many tortures in the world1 and much affliction4 ,and many men1 the rulers of the state1 conspired against ,me night and day1 how they might slay ,me4 7ll4 #dii-eaa7 ,then was the time fulfilled1 and ,i had lived for three-and-thirty winters in the world before ,my passion4 ,long was ,i mindful of this multitude and of ,my home1 that ,i might lead them up from bondage to their native land1 where they may have ,god's judgments1 and the glory of the heavenly hosts1 dwelling in joy and knowing bliss of heaven1 a thousand fold4 ,upon the cross1 when sharp spears pierced ,me1 and the young man smote ,me1 hanging on the tree1 yea6 even then ,i interceded for you2 and ,i came again unto eternal joys1 and to the presence of the ,holy ,lord4 ,x 7ll4 #eab-ebc7 ,thus spake the ,lord of glory1 ,maker of mankind1 early in the morning when the ,lord ,god rose from death4 ,there was no stone so firmly fastened1 though it were bound about with iron1 that might withstand ,his wondrous might2 but the ,lord of angels went forth from ,his prison1 and bade bright angels tell ,his eleven disciples1 and say especially to ,simon ,peter that he might see ,god1 ,steadfast and ,eternal1 in ,galilee1 as he had done aforetime4 7ll4 #ebd-ecd7 ,then the disciples1 as ,i have heard1 were filled with the ,spirit1 and went together into ,galilee unto the ,holy ,son of ,god1 beholding where the ,son of the ,creator1 the ,eternal ,lord1 was risen4 ,and the disciples ran and came where the ,eternal ,lord was standing1 and fell upon the ground1 and knelt before ,his feet1 giving thanks to ,god because once more1 as it was come to pass1 they might behold the ,prince of angels4 ,and straightway ,simon ,peter spake3 7ll4 #ece-eci7 ,is it ,thou1 ,o ,lord ,god1 crowned with glory8 ,a little while ago we saw how heathen men laid grievous bonds upon ,thee6 ,and bitterly shall they repent1 when they behold their end4 7ll4 #edj-eef7 ,but some could not believe it in their hearts4 ,and one1 called ,didymus1 was dear before he laid his hand upon his ,saviour's side wherefrom ,his blood had fallen to the ground1 a bath of baptism4 ,that was a glorious deed1 the passion of the ,lord our ,god4 ,he mounted up upon the tree1 and with ,his great heart shed ,his blood upon the cross4 ,wherefore at all times men should thank their ,lord by words and works1 because ,he led us out of bondage to our home and native land1 where we may have ,god's judgments and the glory of the heavenly host1 and dwell in joy4 ,to us the radiant light of glory is revealed1 to such as have good thoughts4 ,,xi 7ll4 #eeg-efg7 ,then was the ,lord ,eternal forty days on earth1 followed of the people and revealed to men1 before the ,prince of city-dwellers brought the ,holy ,spirit to the great creation1 the heavenly kingdom4 ,the ,king of angels and the ,lord of hosts ascended up on high4 ,then came celestial melodies in holiness from heaven4 ,the hand of ,god appeared and ,he received the ,prince2 the ,lord of heaven led ,him to ,his holy home4 ,and round about ,him throngs of angels flew in thousands4 7ll4 #efh-egh7 ,and it befell1 while yet the ,saviour ,christ abode with men1 that on the night before the last ,he strengthened with ,his spirit ,his disciples1 the twelve apostles4 ,the ,living ,god ordained unnumbered souls4 ,of these was ,judas1 who betrayed the ,glorious ,lord1 our ,saviour1 to be a sacrifice4 ,little did that undertaking prosper when he sold the ,son of ,god for silver treasure4 ,the foul fiend gave him grim requital1 deep in hell4 7ll4 #egi-eif7 ,the ,son now sitteth on the right hand of the ,father2 each day the ,lord of hosts giveth help and healing to the sons of men throughout the earth4 ,full widely is it known to many men that ,he alone1 by power of ,his glory1 is ,maker and ,ruler of all created things4 ,the ,holy ,lord of angels sitteth with the prophets in heaven above2 the ,son of glory hath ,his throne amid the heavens1 and by ,his healing leadeth us up thither to the light1 where we may sit with ,god on high among the angels1 and have that radiance where ,his holy host now dwelleth1 and live in joy4 ,there is the blessedness of glory radiantly revealed6 ,let us take thought to serve the ,saviour gladly and be pleasing unto ,christ6 ,there is more glorious life than we may ever gain on earth4 ,,xii 7ll4 #eig-fjg7 ,now hath the ,great ,prince1 the ,almighty ,lord1 made intercession for us4 ,on the day of doom ,god biddeth the archangels1 with a mighty blast1 to sound the trumpet over the city-dwellings1 through all the borders of the world4 ,then shall men wake from the earth2 the dead shall arise from the dust1 through the might of ,god4 ,longest of days shall that be1 greatest of tumults1 heard afar1 when the ,saviour cometh1 the ,lord1 with clouds surrounded1 descending upon earth4 7ll4 #fjh-fae7 ,then will ,he separate the fair and foul1 the good and evil1 into two companies4 ,and the righteous shall mount to their rest at the right hand of ,god1 they shall be blithe as they enter the city1 the kingdom of ,god4 ,with ,his right hand the ,lord of creation shall bless them1 and say before all3 7ll4 #fae-fah7 ,ye are welcome6 ,enter now the heavenly kingdom1 into the light of glory4 ,there shall ye rest for ever without end4 7ll4 #fai-fbe7 ,but the guilty souls that have sinned shall stand and tremble when the ,son of ,god shall judge them by ,his wondrous might2 they shall hope they may ascend to that fair city with the angels1 as the others did4 ,but the ,eternal ,lord shall speak to them1 and say before them all3 7ll4 #fbf-fbg7 ,descend now quickly1 ye accursed1 into the house of pain4 ,i know you not4 7ll4 #fbh-fdf7 ,and straightway at these words hell's captives1 cursed spirits1 shall drag them down by thousands1 leading them thither to the home of fiends1 and thrust them deep down in the narrow pit4 ,never may they return1 but there they needs must suffer torturing pain1 imprisonment1 and bonds1 and the cold ground1 endure the depths of hell and devils' discourse1 black fiends with hate reviling them for sin1 because they often have forgot the ,lord1 ,eternal ,god1 who should have been their hope4 ,wherefore let us resolve while in the world to serve the ,saviour gladly by ,god's grace1 be mindful of the spirit's joy1 and how the blessed sons of ,god abide on high in radiant glory4 7ll4 #fdg-fee7 ,there is a golden gate adorned with gems1 enwreathed with joy1 for those who enter in ,god's kingdom1 and win the light of glory4 ,about the walls stand radiant angel spirits and blessed souls who pass from earth to heaven4 ,there are martyrs pleasing unto ,god1 and patriarchs with holy voices praising ,god1 the ,king within ,his city1 saying3 7ll4 #fef-feh7 ,thou art the ,lord of men1 the ,heavenly ,judge and ,prince of angels6 ,thou hast led the sons of earth unto this blessed home6 7ll #fei-ffb7 ,so the thanes about their ,prince shall praise the ,lord of glory4 ,there shall be song and splendour round ,his throne4 ,for ,he is ,king indeed1 and ,lord of all things in the eternal creation6 ,,the ,,temptation 7ll4 #ffc-fgc7 ,he is the ,lord1 the ,prince of angels1 who died for us2 and1 in the fullness of ,his mercy1 the ,maker of mankind once fasted forty days4 ,and it came to pass that the ,accursed ,fiend1 who was driven out of heaven and sank to hell1 tempted the ,lord of all creation1 bringing in his arms great stones1 and bidding ,him make loaves to stay ,his hunger1 if ,thou have so much power4 ,but the ,eternal ,lord made answer unto him3 7ll4 #fgd-fge7 ,knowest thou not1 accursed1 it was written4444 77,,lacuna of indeterminate length477 7ll4 #fgf-fgh7 4444save ,me alone8 ,but ,thou1 ,o ,lord of victory1 hast ordained the light for living souls1 reward unending in the heavenly kingdom1 and holy joys4 7ll4 #fgi-fhb7 ,then the malicious1 evil spirit in derision lifted ,him up in his hands1 and set ,him upon his shoulder1 and ascended a high mountain1 and placed the ,lord ,god on a peak thereof3 7ll4 #fhc-fhh7 ,gaze now full widely over the dwellers of earth4 ,the world and the inhabitants thereof will ,i give into ,thy hand4 ,take now from me the city and the shining home which ,i will give ,thee in the heavenly kingdom1 that ,thou mayest truly be the ,king of men and angels1 as ,thou hast thought4 7ll4 #fhi-gji7 ,then answered the ,eternal ,lord3 ,depart1 thou cursed ,satan1 into the house of pain2 for thee is punishment prepared1 and not ,god's kingdom4 ,by most high might ,i bid thee bring no hope to such as dwell in hell1 but tell them now of this1 thy greatest woe1 that thou hast met the ,maker of creation1 the ,lord of men4 ,get thee behind ,me6 ,know1 accursed fiend1 how measureless and wide and dreary is the pit of hell6 ,measure it with thy hands1 take hold upon its bottom4 ,go1 then1 until thou knowest all the circle of it2 measure it first from above even unto the abyss4 ,measure how broad the black mist stretches4 ,then shalt thou know more clearly that thou strivest against ,god1 when thou hast measured with thy hands how high and deep is hell1 the grim grave-house1 within4 ,go quickly1 that thou measure1 ere two hours are past1 the home allotted thee4 7ll4 #gaj-gbh7 ,then vengeance came upon the fiend4 ,satan1 the cursed monster1 fled away and sank to hell4 ,and first he measured with his hands its torment and its woe4 ,the black flame leaped against the evil spirit2 and he beheld the captives as they lay in hell4 ,and there rose a howling throughout hell1 when their eyes fell on the fiend4 ,god's foes had striven444 the black evil spirit1 so that he stood upon the floor of hell1 and it seemed to him that from the pit to the doors of hell was an hundred thousand miles in reckoning1 as the ,almighty ,lord had bidden him1 for his sin1 to measure all his torment4 ,and he remembered as he stood in the depths of hell6 ,the foul fiend with his eyes gazed through the loathsome den1 until its overwhelming horror1 the host of devils444 then mounted up444 ,with words of malice the accursed fiends began to speak and say3 7ll4 #gbh-gcj7 ,lo6 thus may evil be upon thee always6 ,thou didst not wish for good6 ,,finit ,,liber ,,ii4 ,,amen4