2845 Then the powerful King put to the test His trusted servant; tried him sorely To learn if his love was lasting and certain. With strongest words he sternly said to him: "Hear me and hasten hence, O Abraham. 2850 As thou leavest, lead along with thee Thy own child Isaac! As an offering to me Thyself shalt sacrifice thy son with thy hands. When thy steps have struggled up the steep hill-side, To the height of the land which from here I shall show you-- 2855 When thine own feet have climbed, there an altar erect me, Build a fire for thy son; and thyself shalt kill him With the edge of the sword as a sacrifice to me; Let the black flame burn the body of that dear one." He delayed not his going, but began at once 2860 To prepare for departure: he was compelled to obey The angel of the Lord, and he loved his God. And then the faultless father Abraham Gave up his night's rest; he by no means failed To obey the Lord's bidding, but the blessed man 2865 Girded his gray sword, God's spirit he showed That he bore in his breast. His beasts then he fed, This aged giver of gold. To go on the journey Two young men he summoned: his son made the third; He himself was the fourth. He set forward eagerly 2870 From his own home and Isaac with him, The child ungrown, as charged by his God. Then he hurried ahead and hastened forth Along the paths that the Lord had pointed, The way through the waste; till the wondrous bright 2875 Dawn of the third day over the deep water Arose in radiance. Then the righteous man Saw the hill-tops rise high around him, As the holy Ruler of heaven had shown him. Then Abraham said to his serving-men: 2880 "O men of mine, remain here now Quietly in this place! We shall quickly return When we two have performed the task before us Which the Sovereign of souls has assigned us to do." The old man ascended with his own son 2885 To the place which the Lord had appointed for them, Went through the wealds; the wood Isaac carried-- His father the fire and the sword. Then first inquired The boy young in winters, in these words of Abraham: "Fire and sword, my father, we find here ready: 2890 Where is the glorious offering which to God on the altar Thou thinkest to bring and burn as a sacrifice?" Abraham answered (he had only one thing That he wished to perform, the will of the Father): "The Sovereign of all himself shall find it, 2895 As the Lord of men shall believe to be meet." Up the steep hill struggled the stout-hearted man,