heinous evil against 2470
the sons of men. Receive these maidens and let my
guests go free, since I will defend them against you as
well as I can, before God!"

Thereupon the crowd, the shameless race, answered 2475
him through common consent:

"It seems very right and fitting that thou shouldst
depart out of this neighborhood, thou who bereft of
friends and with the step of an exile soughtest this people
from afar, in thy need: wilt thou, if thou mayst, be our 2480
ruler here, the teacher of the people?"

Then I heard of Loth how the heathen masses gripped
him with their hands, with hostile grasp: his guests
aided him well and the righteous strangers drew him 2485
out of the clutches of the enemy back within the walls,
and then speedily closed fast the eyesight of every one
of the people of Sodoma standing around: the whole 2490
crowd of citizens forthwith became blind; nor could
they, in their evil rage, break into the house after the
guests, as they intended, but the messengers of God
were [too] active for them; the stranger had power, irre- 2495
sistible vigor, and was very severe upon the people in
[inflicting] punishment. Then the dear ministers of
peace spoke fairly to Loth, in these words:

"If thou hast a son, or dear relative, or any friend
among these people besides these maidens whom we see 2500
here, lead out of this city those who are dear to thee, with
great haste, and save thine own life, lest thou perish
with these law-breakers. For the Lord has commanded
us, because of the people's sins, to give over Sodoma and 2505
Gomorra to black flame and fire, and to slay these people,
[striking] the race in their cities with deadly horrors,
and so wreak His wrath [upon them]. It has nearly
reached the appointed time. Set out on thy way, to
save thy life: the Lord is merciful to thee...."[34] 2510

Loth then hastily answered them:

"I cannot, with these womenfolk, seek my safety
so far from here in a journey on foot. You manifest
to me kindness and fair friendship, you grant me grace 2515
and good-will. I know a lofty town near here, a little
fortress: leave me there, in honor and peace, so that we
may seek safety above, in Sigor. If you will protect that 2520
lofty fastness from the fire, we can abide in that place
unharmed, in safety, and so preserve our li