heir sins with other matter.

_Abraham._ Yet, merciful Lord, thy graciousness remember
To Adam and Noah, both in thy word and promise:
And lose not the souls of men in so great number
But save thine own work, of thy most discreet goodness.
I wot thy mercies are plentiful and earnest,
Never can they die nor fail, thyself enduring,
This hath faith fixed fast in my understanding.

_Pater Coelestis._ Abraham my servant, for thy most faithful meaning,
Both thou and thy stock shall have my plenteous blessing.
When the unfaithful, under my curse evermore,
For their vain working, shall rue their wickedness sore.

_Abraham._ Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light?
My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.

_Pater Coelestis._ No truly, Abraham, thou chancest upon the right,
The thing I shall do I will not hide from thee,
Whom I have blessed for thy true fidelity:
For I know thou wilt cause both thy children and servants,
In my ways to walk, and trust unto my covenants,
That I may perform with thee my earnest promise.

_Abraham._ All that I will do, by assistance of thy goodness.

_Pater Coelestis._ From Sodom and Gomor the abominations call
For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall,
Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.

_Abraham._ Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury,
Cast not away yet the just sort with the ungodly.
Peradventure there may be fifty righteous persons
Within those cities, wilt thou lose them all at once,
And not spare the place for those fifty righteous' sake
Be it far from thee such rigour to undertake.
I hope there is not in thee so cruel hardness,
As to cast away the just men with the reckless,
And so to destroy the good with the ungodly:
In the judge of all: be never such a fury.

_Pater Coelestis._ At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty,
The place will I spare for their sakes verily.

_Abraham._ I take upon me to speak here in thy presence,
More than becomes me, lord, pardon my negligence:
I am but ashes and were loth thee to offend.

_Pater Coelestis._ Say forth, good Abraham, for ill dost thou not intend.

_Abraham._ Haply there may be five less in the same number,
For thy sake I hope thou wilt not the rest accombre.[613]

_Pater Coelestis._ If I among them might find but five and forty
Them would I not lose for that just company.

_Abraham._ What if the city may forty righteous make?

_Pater Coelestis._ Then will I pa