nal bade him, set the sign
of peace on his son, by the Lord's command, and bade 2370
every one of his household of the male sex bear that
high sign,--wise in heart, and mindful of the pledge
which God had given him as assurance of good faith,--
and then himself received the exalted sign. The Lord 2375
and Just King continually advanced his glory in the
kingdom of this world, with blessings: He wrought this
for him as soon as he might first perform the will of his
Master in [every] expedition....[31]

Then the woman laughed at the Lord of Mankind not 2380
at all mirthfully, but full of years she laid away this
promise in her mind with much scorn: she did not
believe it true that the fulfilment of this promise was to
follow. But when the Ruler of Heaven heard that the 2385
wife of Abraham had given way to hopeless laughter,
in her bower, then the Holy God said:

"Sarra will not believe in the truth of my word:
nevertheless this decree shall be fulfilled, as I promised 2390
thee at first. I tell thee truth, at this very season a son
shall be born of thy wife: when I return to this same
dwelling another time, then shall my promise of increase
be fulfilled: thou shalt look upon a son, thine own child, 2395
dear Abraham!"

XXIX.

Then at once, after this speech, they departed with
speed, eager to be gone; from the place of the confer-
ence, the holy spirits made their way (the power[32] of 2400
light itself was in their midst!) until they could look
upon Sodom, the lofty city: they saw palaces tower up
above treasures, halls above red gold. Then the right-
eous Ruler of the skies began to speak with Abraham, 2405
gave him no little information.

"In this city I hear tumult, the din of sinners ex-
ceedingly loud, the vain-glory of those drunk with ale;
evil speech have the people, behind their walls: for the 2410
sins of the race, of the treacherous apostates, are heavy.
I will now find out what the men are doing, O man of
the Hebrews, [to see] whether they [actually] commit
sins so grossly in their habits and thoughts as they
perversely speak of crimes and vices: sulphur and black 2415
flame, sorely and grimly, hotly and vehemently, shall
avenge this on the heathenish people."

XXX.

The men with their wives were approaching their
punishment, sufferings within their