(_The three_ SONS _of_ NOAH _enter and work upon the ark with hammer and nails, or any building tools. Occasionally comes a distant cry of_, "Ho, ho! Ark-builders!" _They look up impatiently. Presently some impish_ CHILDREN _run in._) FIRST CHILD (_jeeringly_): Ark-builders, ark-builders, where is your wit? SECOND CHILD: Ark-builders, ark-builders, when do you flit? (SHEM AND HAM _drop their tools and chase the children out, following them._ JAPHETH _continues his work at the door. Presently the children reappear, entering from the other side._) CHILDREN (_laughing merrily and pointing at ark_): Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! (JAPHETH _goes inside and slams the door._) THIRD CHILD: Ark-builder, ark-builder, come out again. CHILDREN: Ark-builder, ark-builder, where is your rain? (_They run out._) (NOAH _comes out of the door and looks anxiously up at the sky. The_ MESSENGER _enters_; NOAH _bends prostrate._) MESSENGER: God, who all this world has wrought, Heaven and earth and all of naught, Sees his people in deed and thought Are lost in sin. Man that he made he will destroy, Saving a few who are his joy, And have his servants been. Noah, a righteous man thou be, A ship hast thou ma-de me, Of trees dry and stout. Three hundred cubits is it long, And fifty broad to make it strong, Of height fifty, lest it be wrong, Thus measure it about. One window's made with skill and wit, A cubit of length and breadth is it; A door upon the side doth sit, For to come in and out. Destroy-ed all the world shall be, Save thou, thy wife and children three; And their three wives also with thee, Shall live without a doubt. (_The_ MESSENGER _goes._) NOAH (_rising and raising arms to heaven_): O Lord, I thank thee; thou art kind, That savest me from all man-kind. [Illustration: A SON OF NOAH] (_Calls._) Haste ye, children; God doth call. Hie ye, lest the water fall. Shem, Ham, Japheth, come ye here! Haste ye, haste ye, son-nes dear. (JAPHETH _enters from within ark_; SHEM _and_ HAM _enter shaking their fists angrily at_ IDOLATERS _without, who mock and jeer._) IDOLATERS (_without_): Ho, ho! Ark-builders! Ark-builders, ho, ho! SHEM: Father, the people mock at us and jeer. They say, "See Noah and his son-nes dear! Where is the flood of which they have such fear?" NOAH: Aye, let them mock, for God hath said to me: "_Thy_ house shall live; the rest shall swallowed be E'en in the mighty belly of the sea." JAPHETH: But, father, art thou sure? NOAH (_sternly_): Well? Sure of what? JAPHETH (_hastily_): Nay, nay, I see I'm wrong; I question not. NOAH: Doubt not, for God hath given a sign. Now let your wives bring food and wine, Water and fodder for the kine, And work right busily.