Maria. Lead thou the way, dear father, a good shepherd to the sheep that went astray. As thou leadest, so I follow, guided by thy footsteps!
Abraham. Nay, I shall walk, my horse shall bear thee, for this stony road might cut thy tender feet.
Maria. Oh, that I ever left thee! Can I ever thank thee enough that, not by intimidation and fear, but by gentle persuasion alone, unworthy though I am, thou hast led me to repentance?
Abraham. Nought do I ask of thee but this, be now devoted to God for the remainder of thy life.
Maria. Readily I promise, earnestly will I persevere, and though the power fail me, my will shall never fail.
Abraham. It is agreed then—as ardently as before to vanity, be thou now devoted to the will divine.
Maria. Thy merits be my surety that the divine will shall be accomplished.
Abraham. Now let us hasten our departure.
Maria. Yea, hasten; for I loathe to tarry here.’
They return to the hermitage together, and Maria resumes her former mode of life in hope of redeeming the past. The drama closes with a scene between Abraham and Ephrem, who discourse on the beneficent change which familiar surroundings are already working in Maria; the angels sing rejoicing at the conversion of the sinner, says Abraham; and Ephrem adds that the repentance of the iniquitous causes greater joy in heaven than the perseverance of the just.