nd when the sun arose, peace-candle of
men, then, as I have heard, the Lord of glory sent brimstone out
of heaven, black fire and raging flame, in vengeance upon men,
because so long in days gone by they had displeased the Lord.
The Ruler of spirits gave them their reward!

(ll. 2547-2561) And a great fear gripped the heathen race; din
arose in their cities, wailing of sinful men, a wretched people
at the point of death. All that was green in the golden cities
the flame devoured; likewise no little portion of the wide land
round about was covered with flame and terror. Fair groves and
fruits of the earth were turned to ash and glowing ember, even as
far as that grim vengeance swept the broad land of men. A
roaring flame, destroying all things high and spacious, consumed
the wealth of Sodom and Gomorrah. All this the Lord God
destroyed, and the people with it.

(ll. 2561-2575) But when Lot's wife heard the rushing flame, and
dying men within the city, she looked behind her to that place of
death. Straightway, the writings tell us, she was changed into
the likeness of a pillar of salt; and ever since, the image
(far-famed is the story) has stood in silence where that bitter
vengeance came upon her, because she would not heed the bidding
of the thanes of glory. Hard and high-towering in that spot of
earth she must abide her fate, the doom of God, till time shall
cease and the world vanish away. That is a wonder which the Lord
of glory wrought!

XXXVII

(ll. 2576-2599) And Abraham, the man of wisdom, went out alone at
dawn and came again unto the place where he had spoken with his
Lord. Far and wide he saw the fatal smoke curling upward from
the earth. Pride had come upon that people and drunkenness, and
they became too insolent in evil and bold in sin. God's
judgements they forgot, and truth, and Him who gave them wealth
and blessing in their cities. Wherefore the Prince of angels
sent a consuming flame in punishment upon them. But our Faithful
Lord was gracious, and remembered Abraham, His beloved, as oft He
did, and delivered Lot, his kinsman, when the multitude were
slain. Now Lot, the valiant, durst no longer dwell in that
stronghold for fear of God, but he departed out of the city, and
his children with him, to seek a dwelling far from the place of
slaughter, and found, at last, a cave upon the slope of a high
hill. And Lot, the blessed, dear unto God and faithful, abode
there many a day, and h