SCENE II

Enter the MESSENGER. (_If the play is given in-doors, this may be omitted._)

MESSENGER: Although yon sky be peaceful and serene, I pray you that the son-ne be not seen, And that instead, ye hear the thunder's roar, And lightning's flash, as ne'er ye've seen before, And rains descend as ye shall see no more.

(MESSENGER _goes._)

(NOAH _opens window; there is a loud roaring._)

NOAH: Peace! (_The noise stills._) Now forty days are fully gone, Send a dove I will anon, To see if aught of tree or stone Be dry in any place. And if this fowl come not again, It is a sign God stops the rain, And all is dry in hill and plain, By God, his grace. Go forth, O Dove, and quickly see If this flood yet doth cease; If so, return again to me With the olive branch of peace. (_He lets dove loose._)

CRIES WITHIN ARK: The dove! The dove!

JAPHETH (_appearing at window_): O father, in the east a dove is seen, And in his bill, an olive branch, right green.

(NOAH _disappears within ark and returns, bearing dove and olive twig._)

NOAH: O Lord, blessed be thou for aye, That us hath comforted this day, And turned toward us thy face. Yet once again, sweet dove, go forth, To the east, west, south and north, And find a resting place. If thou come not again to me, Then full plainly can I see The flood is over by God's piteous grace. (_He sends dove forth again._)

NOAH'S WIFE (_opening door_): The dove returns not; it is gone for aye. Let us go forth out of the ark, I pray.

NOAH: Ah, Lord, honored must thou be. All the earth's dry, I can see.

NOAH'S WIFE: Son-nes, open wide the door; See the plank be shoved ashore; Lead the animals before Right merrily.

FIRST SON'S WIFE (_beckoning others_): Sisters, come; dance and sing! The earth is all a-blossoming.

SECOND SON'S WIFE: Sing and dance with glee and mirth; For the floods have left the earth.

THIRD SON'S WIFE: Raise your voices with a shout:

ALL THREE WIVES: We're out of the ark at last! We're out!

(_The wives dance in a little circle and sing._)

_Song_ (OLD ENGLISH):

[Song: Sum-mer is i-co-men in, ... loud-ly sing, Cuc-koo! Grow-eth seed and blow-eth mead, and spring-eth the wide earth new. Sing, Cuc-koo Ewe bleat-eth af-ter lamb, cow af-ter calf doth moo, Bird greet-eth, ewe bleat-eth, loud-ly sing, Cuc-koo. ]

NOAH (_scandalized, descends upon them_): Peace! A psalm of thanks now raise, Unto God with hymns of praise, For his mighty and his wondrous ways.

(_All gather about altar of stones._)

Lord God in majesty, That such grace hath granted me Alone of mankind saved to be, Therefore make I offering meet, A sacrifice of savor sweet; And let the incense mount unto thy heavenly seat.

(JAPHETH _brings a sacrifice;_ NOAH _lays it on altar. If the play be out of doors, they offer it up by fire. Enter the_ MESSENGER.)

MESSENGER: Noah, list ye God, his will: To obey is better still Than sacrifice; and thou hast God obeyed. God doth promise now through me, Never again a flood shall be. Thou hast done in all things as he said. My bow between you and me In the firmament shall be; By this token you shall see That man and woman shall nevermore Be wasted with water as hath been before.

(_Here let a rainbow appear in the sky._) Now when falleth fast the rain, I will bring the sun again; And this bow shall plain be seen As token that my wrath and spleen Shall never wakened be. The bow-string is turned towards you; And toward me is bent the bow. That such weather shall be no mo'e, I promise thee. God's blessing, Noah, I give thee here (_Blesses him; all kneel_), For vengeance shall no more appear. And now farewell, my darling dear. (MESSENGER _goes._)

_Song_: Music; "GAUDEAMUS"

[Song: Lord God, in ma-jes-ty, Prais-es we will raise to thee. Thou hast sav-ed man and beast, From the great-est to the least. Let thy bow for-ev-er be ... Sign of love 'tween us and thee! Lord God, in ma-jes-ty, Prais-es we will raise to thee. ]

(NOAH, _his_ WIFE, _his_ SONS _and_ SONS' WIVES _move slowly off. The_ ANIMALS _form a circle and dance._)

THE PROVING OF ABRAHAM

THE PEOPLE

PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE. ABRAHAM. ISAAC, HIS SON. THE MESSENGER OR ANGEL OF GOD. ONE OR TWO SERVANTS.

THE PLACE