ABRAHAM: Here am I, Lord. (_He listens with strong emotion._) O Lord, Lord, what is this thou dost require of me? Must I give up Isaac to thee, Isaac the joy of mine old age? (_There is a pause while he prays silently; then he speaks humbly._) Nevertheless, not my will, O Lord, but thine be done. (_There is another pause; then he calls._) Isaac! Isaac! (ISAAC _runs in._) ISAAC: Here am I, father. ABRAHAM: Get ye wood for a burnt-offering, and saddle ye the ass, for I will go up upon the mount to sacrifice. ISAAC: Aye, father, and shall I go with thee? ABRAHAM: Thou shalt indeed go with me, thou and the servant. Get thee gone. (ISAAC _runs out._) Not my will, O Lord, but thine! O Lord, I will trust in thee. (ISAAC _enters, carrying a bundle of fagots._) ISAAC: My father, all is ready. The ass is saddled, and I have here wood for the burnt-offering. ABRAHAM (_placing his arm about him_): Come, my son. (_They go slowly out._) (_The_ PROLOGUE _or_ SERVANT _enters._) PROLOGUE: Behold, now Abraham and Isaac approach the mountains of Moriah. I, the servant, follow after. (_He follows them._) (ABRAHAM _and_ ISAAC, _having made the circuit of the room, approach._) ABRAHAM: This is the mountain on which I shall sacrifice. (_To servant._) Abide thou yonder with the ass. I and the lad will worship; then I will come again to thee. (_The_ SERVANT _bows and withdraws._) ISAAC: My father? ABRAHAM: Here am I, my son. ISAAC: My father, behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering? ABRAHAM: O my son, God will provide the sacrifice. (_Bends over him._) O my son, before thou wert born I longed for thee, and since thou wast a little lad I have loved thee with a greater love than I have given my God. Now I am punished. For the Lord hath commanded me, saying: "Take thou thine son, thine only son whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and offer him up for a burnt-offering upon the mountains." O my son, I shall do even as the Lord hath commanded me, for all his ways are perfect. Fare thee well. (_He embraces him._) ISAAC (_fearfully_): Father--father--I--I fear-- ABRAHAM: Kneel thou upon the wood. (ISAAC _kneels_; ABRAHAM _raises his knife to slay; a voice calls from distance._) VOICE OF MESSENGER: Abraham! Abraham! ISAAC: Hark, O my father! A voice calls, "Abraham." ABRAHAM (_with knife still raised_): Here am I, Lord! (_The_ MESSENGER _enters and stays_ ABRAHAM'S _hand._) MESSENGER: O Abraham, thus saith the Lord: "Because thou hast put thy trust in me, therefore will I deliver thee. Lay not thine hand upon the lad, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me." ABRAHAM (_raising arms to heaven_): O Lord, blessed be the man that trusteth in thee.