Modern.

Napoleon—(1) Le Consulat
(2) L’Empire
(3) Ste. Helène

We will now give a brief epitome of “Abraham” as a specimen, not of the best, but of the only one which we have at hand in MS.,[6] for none of the Pastorales, we believe, have ever been printed in extenso. The dramatis personæ are:

The Eternal Father, who speaks chiefly inLatin quotations from the Vulgate, and always from behind the scenes,i.e., the suspended sheets mentioned above.
Three Angels—Michael, Raphael,Gabriel—all of whom mingle quotations from the Vulgate with theirBasque.
Abraham, Sara, Agar, Isaac, andIsmael.
Lot, and Uxor (sic) Lot’swife.
Tina and Mina, Lot’s daughters.
Salamiel and Nahason, shepherds ofAbraham.
Sylva and Milla, shepherds of Lot.
Melchisedec.
Escol, a companion of Abraham.
All these names are fromthe Vulgate.Raphel (Amraphel)Kings of the Turks(Turcac).
Arioch
Thadal
Chodorlaomor
SennaabGood Kings.
Bara
Bersa
Semeber
Bala
Pharaon, King of Egypt.
Corion and Gober, Pharaon’scourtiers.
AstarochGoodSoldiers, defenders of the Holy Religion.
Telemar
Cormaim
Zuzite
Chavoq and Chorre, good giants, killed bythe Turkish kings.
Cocor, Patar; Maneton, and Catilie,inhabitants of Sodom. The last two are ladies. Maneton is a diminutivefrom Marie—Manon, Manette, Maneton; like Jeannette, Jeanneton,from Jeanne.
“Satans”—Satan andBulgifer—who swear most frightfully in French, on theprinciple, perhaps, of omne ignotum pro magnifico, andbecause swearing, while more terrible, is less mischievous when utteredin a tongue “not understanded of the people.”

Abraham is the model of a Christian, and Abraham and Pharaon both address their followers as “barons.” Satan flatteringly addresses the shepherds by the Spanish title “Caballeros” when he wants to lead them into mischief. The actors are by no means so numerous as the “rôles”; one takes several successive parts, often without change of dress, a custom which heightens not a little the difficulty of following an acted Pastorale.

There is more dramatic unity in “Abraham,” and the main plot is more skilfully conducted than might be expected from its title. The key-note of the action is given at once when Satan and Bulgifer appear on horseback in the “Place” in front of the stage, and announce their project of “tormenting Abraham,” and of “weakening the Christian Faith.” The plot then follows pretty closely the Bible narrative. Only it is Satan and Bulgifer who are the authors of all Abraham’s misfortunes and vexations; although the angels constantly appear to save him when matters are at their worst. It is the “Satans” who inflame Pharaon in Egypt with the report and sight of Sara’s beauty; it is they who stir up strife between Abraham’s and Lot’s herdsmen; they are delighted with the wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom, which they direct to suit their own purposes; they stir up war against Abraham and Lot in the persons of the Turkish kings with Biblical names. These at first conquer Lot, and one by one slay all his partisans, including the good giants Chavoq and Chorre, whose corpses are carried off by Satan to be feasted upon, with the licorish exclamation: “O what cutlets! what a fine leg!!” Then they tempt Agar, and make her quarrel with Sara. In the scene preceding the destruction of Sodom, although the angels are present, the inhabitants round Lot’s door are blinded, not by them, but “by some magician.” Lot’s wife, Uxor, when to be changed into a pillar of salt, ingeniously falls under the stage, and there the transformation takes place unseen. When Isaac is born, he is forthwith baptised. Agar and Ismael are driven into the desert, and are saved by the angel Gabriel. The play then gradually works up to the climax, the sacrifice of Isaac—the last and terrible temptation—in which the “Satans” tempt the “two Christians,” Abraham and Isaac, to unbelief and disobedience, and are foiled as ever. After this, the action languishes, Abraham dies, and the Pastorale comes to an end. All the actors appear on the stage and chant the De Profundis, then the angels sing, and all unite in a concluding chant. We give a few verses from the scene of the sacrifice as a specimen of the whole:—

Satan and Bulgifer; Abraham and Isaac.

Satan.

Abraham, art thou ignorant?