in Abraham's Sacrifice — Golding, Arthur, trans.; Beza, Theodore
Metadata
Play
Abraham's Sacrifice
Author
Golding, Arthur, trans.; Beza, Theodore
Year (catalogued)
1577
First performance
1575
Decade
1570s
Genre
Biblical
Play type
Closet Translation
Speech prefix(es)
Shepherds. | Shep. | The Shepherds. | Shepherds | Halfe the Shepherds. | The one halfe of them. | The other halfe. | The Companie. | The Company.
Words
428
Characters
2117
Typicality
0.53 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A10192
BritDrama no.
581
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 3 (numps, numpes, blastfield, wares, parson, nidden…). Matches are highlighted.
maisterward, That he not only had regard To visit him, but eke did knit A league with him which lasteth yet, And as for household matters, what Can he desire which he hath nat? He lives in outward peace and rest: But age perchance does work unrest. Of zunnes he hath but only one But in the world more such are none. His cattle thrive in
Full speech
Good child abide you there, Or else our master your father And our mistress your mother may, Be angry for your going away: The time will come by Gods good grace, That you shall grow and prove a pace: And then you shall perceive the charge, Of keeping flocks in fields at large, What dangers come from hill and dale, By ravening beasts that lie in stale, Among the coverts of the wood, To kill our cattle for their foe. In deed a child of honest kind, And well brought up, ought evermore His father's and his mother's lore In all his doings to obey. We will not fail. Yea, therefore go. Sir, sith you forbid us we will not hence. And with you too. It greatly mazeth me, And me likewyze. And me too, for too see Him so dismayed which hath so stoutly born All haps that have befallen him heretooforne. To say he is afraid of war Debate, or strife, or any jar It were no reason: for we know, Abimelech the king did show Such honour to our maisterward, That he not only had regard To visit him, but eke did knit A league with him which lasteth yet, And as for household matters, what Can he desire which he hath nat? He lives in outward peace and rest: But age perchance does work unrest. Of zunnes he hath but only one But in the world more such are none. His cattle thrive in such great store, As God does seem to give him more, Than he him self can wish or crave. Nothing you can so perfect have, But always somewhat is amiss. I pray to God him so to bliss, As soon to cure this his disease. Amen, say I, if it him please. Sure I suppoze how ere the case does stand He hath this time some weighty thing in hand. The best I think that can be now espied, Is for too draw us one aside, That each of us may by him self alone Pray God to send our master which is gone, A safe return with gladness. gowe. I will not be behind I trow. High time it is Sirs as I trow We High us packing on a row To our companions where they be. Even so thinks me. For if we all together were We should the lesser need to fear. Sir, as for that let us take heed. Do you no more but only show your will. God guide, and keep you through his grace.
Plot summary
Plot — Abraham's Sacrifice
In their old age, Abraham and Sara have been blessed with a son, Isaac. They show concern for his proper upbringing and give thanks for God’s mercy. However, Satan has designs on Abraham’s soul. An angel brings Abraham God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, and, despite Sara’s reluctance, he sets out with his shepherds on the three-day journey to the place of sacrifice. Satan rejoices at a situation in which he cannot lose: either Isaac will die, thus removing a long-term threat, or Abraham will disobey God and be damned. As they approach the appointed place, Abraham leaves the shepherds and goes on alone with Isaac. On arrival, Isaac is puzzled by the absence of any sacrificial offering. Abraham struggles with himself. Can he trust the angel? Since God has told him that Isaac will be father to a far-flung race of people, will the sacrifice negate a prophecy? He becomes resolute, and confronts Isaac with the knife. The child begs for mercy, but submits himself to God’s will and is bound. As Abraham is about to strike, the angel stops him: he has proven his love for God, and is given a sheep as an alternative offering, and the promise of divine favour in times to come.