4]
You will not slay your child.

_Abraham._ Dread thee not, my child, I read
Our Lord will send of his godhead
Some kind of beast in thy stead,
Either tame or wild.

_Isaac._ Father, tell me, or I go,
Whether I shall have harm or no.

_Abraham._ Ah, dear God, that me is woe!
Thou bursts my heart in sunder.

_Isaac._ Father, tell me of this case,
Why you your drawn sword has,
And bare it naked in this place;
Thereof I have great wonder.

_Abraham._ Isaac, son, peace! I pray thee,
Thou breaks my heart even in three.

_Isaac._ I pray you, father, leave nothing from me,
But tell me what you think.

_Abraham._ O Isaac, Isaac, I must thee kill.

_Isaac._ Alas! father, 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.

_Abraham._ Oh, my son! I am sorry
To do to thee this great annoy,
God's commandment do must I,
His works are aye full mild.

_Isaac._ 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.

_Abraham._ Oh, comely creature, but I thee kill,
I grieve my God, and that full ill:
I may not work against his will
But ever obedient be.
O Isaac, son, to thee I say:
God has commanded me this day
Sacrifice--this is no nay--
To make of thy body.

_Isaac._ Is it God's will I should be slain?

_Abraham._ Yea, son, it is not for to layne;[75]
To his bidding I will be bane,[76]
Ever to his pleasing.
But that I do this doleful deed,
My Lord will not quit[77] me my meed.[78]

_Isaac._ Marry! father, God forbid
But you do your off'ring.
Father, at home your sons you shall find
That you must love by course of kind.
Be I once out of your mind,
Your sorrow may soon cease,
But you must do God's bidding.
Father, tell my mother of nothing.

_Abraham._ For sorrow I may my hands wring,
Thy mother I cannot please.
O Isaac, blessed may'st thou be!
Almost my wit I lose for thee,
The blood of thy body so free
I feel full loth to shed.

_Isaac._ Father, since you must needs do so,
Let it pass lightly and overgo;
Kneeling on my knees two,
Your blessing on me spread!

_Abraham._ My blessing, dear son, give I thee
And thy mother's with heart so free;
The blessing of the Trinity,
My dear son, on thee light!

_Isaac._ Father, I pray you hide mi