Then poor little Isaac went down on his knees and entreated his father to spare him: “Alas! father,” he sobbed, “is that your will, Your own child here for to spill Upon this hill’s brink? If I have trespassed in any degree With a rod you may beat me; Put up your sword, if your will be, For I am but a child.... Would God my mother were here with me! She would kneel upon her knee, Praying you, father, if it might be, For to save my life.” By this time Mistress Harpham was crying, and so were many other mothers in the crowd, while they listened to the boy’s voice, and the words of Abraham as he explained to his son that this terrible thing must come to pass because it was God’s command. Isaac listened, and, forgetting himself, tried very sweetly to comfort his poor father, begging him not to linger, but to do the deed quickly. “Father, tell my mother of nothing,” he implored, anxious to spare her the knowledge of his fate; and then he asked that a handkerchief might be tied over his eyes to prevent him from seeing the flash of the sword. Most of the women hid their own eyes while poor little Isaac was bound and laid upon the altar; when the boy spoke again, for the last time, they sobbed aloud. “Now, father, I see that I shall die! Almighty God in Majesty, My soul I offer unto Thee; Lord, to it be kind.” Margery could not look when Abraham, snatching up the sword, held it high over the child’s head, and it was only when she heard a gentle voice that she dared to take her hands from her eyes. “Abraham, My servant dear!” “Look up! He’s not going to be hurt,” whispered Colin. “The angel has come. _Two_ angels!” With great relief Margery gazed at them. They were beautiful, she thought, with their long golden wings, and their white gowns; and she loved them for coming to save poor little Isaac. She saw that Abraham had dropped his sword, and she heard his trembling voice saying, “_Lo, Lord! I am already here._” “Lay not thy sword in any manner On Isaac, thy dear darling!” replied one of the gracious angels, while the other pointed to a ram which was struggling in a thicket of bushes close by, and bade Abraham sacrifice the animal instead of his only son. Then Abraham rejoiced, and offered praise to God: “Ah, Lord of heaven, and King of bliss! Thy bidding I shall do, I wis; Sacrifice here to me sent is, And all, Lord, through Thy grace. A hornèd wether here I see, Among the briars tied is he. To Thee offered it shall be Anon, right in this place.” Margery drew a long breath when, just before the curtains were closed, she saw Abraham unbinding and embracing his poor little son. But even then the play was not quite over, for again the messenger rode forward, and, placing himself in front of the pageant, explained to the audience that Isaac was a type of Christ, and that the sacrifice was meant to foreshadow His death upon the Cross. These were the words of his message: