"Yea, my lord Satan," quoth they, "do this thing, And let us hear thy words, for they are sweet." Then he made answer, "By a messenger Have I this day been warned. There is a deed I may not tell of, lest the people add Scorn to a Coming Greatness to their faults. Why this? Who careth when about to slay, And slay indeed, how well they have deserved Death, whom he slayeth? Therefore yet is hid A meaning of some mercy that will rob The nether world. Now look to it,--'Twere vain Albeit this deluge He would send indeed, That we expect the harvest; He would yet Be the Master-reaper; for I heard it said, Them that be young and know Him not, and them That are bound and may not build, yea, more, their wives, Whom, suffering not to hear the doom, they keep Joyous behind the curtains, every one With maidens nourished in the house, and babes And children at her knees,--(then what remain!) He claimeth and will gather for His own. Now, therefore, it were good by guile to work, Princes, and suffer not the doom to fall. There is no evil like to love. I heard Him whisper it. Have I put on this flesh To ruin his two children beautiful, And shall my deed confound me in the end, Through awful imitation? Love of God, I cry against thee; thou art worst of all." BOOK IV. Now while these evil ones took counsel strange, The son of Lamech journeyed home; and, lo! A company came down, and struck the track As he did enter it. There rode in front Two horsemen, young and noble, and behind Were following slaves with tent gear; others led Strong horses, others bare the instruments O' the chase, and in the rear dull camels lagged, Sighing, for they were burdened, and they loved The desert sands above that grassy vale. And as they met, those horsemen drew the rein, And fixed on him their grave untroubled eyes; He in his regal grandeur walked alone, And had nor steed nor follower, and his mien Was grave and like to theirs. He said to them, "Fair sirs, whose are ye?" They made answer cold, "The beautiful woman, sir, our mother dear, Niloiya, bear us to great Lamech's son." And he, replying, "I am he." They said, "We know it, sir. We have remembered you Through many seasons. Pray you let us not; We fain would greet our mother." And they made Obeisance and passed on; then all their train, Which while they spoke had halted, moved apace, And, while the silent father stood, went by, He gazing after, as a man that dreams; For he was sick with their cold, quiet scorn, That seemed to say, "Father, we own you not. We love you not, for you have left us long,-- So long, we care not that you come again."