A Tragedy of Abrahams Sacrifice, Prologue
THE PROLOGE.
GOd saue you eueryevery chone both great and small
Of all degrees: right welcom by you all.
It is now long, at least as seemes to me,
Since here such preace togither I did see.
VVould God we might each weeke through all the yeare
See such refort in Churches as is here.
Ye Gentlemen and Ladies, I ye pray
GiueGive eare and harken what I hauehave to say.
To hold your peace alonly I require.
VVhat weene you (some wil say) by that desire
VVe nother can nor will away with that.
But yit you must, or else I tell you flat,
That both of vsus our labour lose togither,
In speaking I, and you in comming hither.
VVherefore I craue but silence at your hand,
My wordes with patience for to vnderstand.
Both great and small, alonly doe but heare,
And I will tel you straunge & wondrous geere.
VVherefore now harken: for the thing is great
VVhereof I mind this present time to treate.
You thinke your selues ꝑchaūce to be in place,
VVhere as you be not, now as standes the case.
For Lausan is not here, it is farre hence.
But yit when neede requires, I will dispence
VVith all of you, that hence within an hower
Eche one may safely be within his bowre.
As now this is the land of Palestine.
VVhat? do you wōder at these words of myne?
I say yit further to you, see you well
Yon place? It is the house wherein doth dwell
A seruaunt of the liuing Gods, whose name
Hight Abraham the righteous man, the same
VVhose liuely faith hath wō him endles fame.
Anon you shall him tempted see and tryde,
& toucht to quicke with grefs that shal betide.
And lastly you shall see him iustified
By faith, for killing (in a certeine wise)
Isaac his dearest sonne in sacrifice.
And shortly, you shall see straunge passions:
The flesh, the world his owne affections
Not onelyonly shall be shewed in liuely hew,
But, (which more is) his faith shal them subdue
And that it is so, many a faithfull wight,
Anon shall beare me record in your sight.
First Abraham, and Sara you shall see,
And Isaac eke shall with them both agree.
Now are not these sufficient witnessings?
VVho minds therfore to see so wōdrous thīgs,
VVe pray him onelyonly talking to forbeare
And vntounto vsus to giuegive attentiue eare,
Assuring him that he shall see and heare
No trifling toyes, but graue & wōdrous geere,
And that we will his eares to him restore,
to vse them as he listeth as before.