by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Help, father Abraham! Matches base text
Language: English
Dives: Help, father Abraham! Help, for mercy's sake! Behold my torments in this burning lake! Send Lazarus with whirlwinds, that he may These flakes of melting sulphur fan away. Abraham: What son of Hell and darkness dare molest This blessed saint, scarce warm yet on my breast? Dives: 'Tis I, great Mammon's equal one, whose lot Is only Tophet now. Abraham: I know thee not. Dives: Father, 'tis Dives, 'tis thy son, 'tis I Who, purpled o'er, faced once deliciously; Linen of Egypt then adorned my head, Who now in flames lie thus enveloped. Abraham: And can'st thou now his charity implore Whom thou saw'st lately at thy flinty door, Begging for crumbs, those crumbs that fell beside Thy o'ercharged table, and was then denied? Vain soul! Dives: Some pity take! Abraham: Remember, son, Thy dogs had pity on him; thou had'st none. Dives: Yet they were mine relieved him, O in lieu, Let him vouchsafe me but a little dew To cool my tongue. Abraham: Not the least drop of grace Can ever enter that forsaken place; Beside, th'enfathomed gulf is fixed so, That none can pass 'twixt us and you below. Dives: Then send them to my brethren lest they come To feel the weight of my eternal doom. Abraham: They've Moses to forewarn them. Dives: Oh! but they Far sooner will a dead man's voice obey. Abraham: If Sinai's roaring thunder from on high Cannot be heard, how should a dead man's cry? Chorus: 'Twill be too late to knock and call and pray, O open, Lord, open in that dreadful day; For when Death's fatal hand once shuts the door, 'Twill be too late; the gates of mercy never open more.
Composition:
- Set to music by John Blow (1649 - 1708), "Help, father Abraham!"
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 270