d as his king bade him, and at the ruler's 2735
behest accepted friendship, love, and peace. He was
dear to God: therefore he enjoyed tranquility happily
and proceeded under the shadow of his Creator, covered 2740
by His protecting wings, while he lived. But God
was still angry at Abimeleh for the sin which he had
committed against Sarra and Abraham, when he sepa-
rated these two loving ones, the wife and the husband. 2745
He received a severe penalty for this deed: for neither
free nor slave women could reward[38] the men their
masters with children, for the Lord prevented it, until
the holy Abraham began to pray Eternal God for grace 2750
in behalf of his king. The Protector of the Angels granted
him his prayer, and restored to the king the fertility
of the free and the enslaved, men and women; again
the Ruler of the skies allowed the number of their off- 2755
spring to increase, their prosperity and possessions: the
Almighty Keeper of Mankind became mild in heart
towards Abimeleh, as Abraham entreated Him.

Then the Almighty Lord came to Sarra, as He Himself 2760
promised: Our Master, the Ruler of Life, had fulfilled His
promise to the dear man and woman. A son was be-
gotten of Abraham upon his wife, whom the Prince of
the Angels named Isaac even before the mother was great 2765
with child by the chieftain. Abraham with his own hand
set the sign upon him, as the Lord glorious in splendor
bade him, about a week from the time when his mother 2770
brought him into the world to mankind.

XXXIV.

The boy grew and throve, inasmuch as noble [traits]
were native to him from his ancestors. Abraham had
[numbered] 100 years when, to his joy, his wife bore him
a son: he had waited for this for a long time, since the 2775
Lord first through His own word foretold this day of
happiness. Now the matter so happened that his wife
once saw Ismael playing before Abraham where they
were both seated at a banquet, holy in heart, and all 2780
their household retainers were drinking and singing.
Then the noble woman spoke, as wife to husband:

"Forgive me, my dear lord, keeper of the ring! But
bid Agar depart elsewhere, and take Ismael with her. 2785
We should no longer be together, for my pleasure, if I
might have my way. Never shall Ismael share the
heritage with Isaac, my