of his, who arrived at eventide at the fortress of Sodoma, 2425
in their traveling. At the city-gate they found the
warrior, the son of Aron, sitting by himself, so that they
appeared before the eyes of the wise man as young men.
Then the servant of the Lord arose before the spirits, 2430
went forward to greet the strangers civilly, thought their
demeanor very proper and agreeable, and invited the
men to be his guests for the night. The noble messengers
of our Preserver answered him thus:

"For the courtesy which you have extended to us, 2435
accept our thanks. In this street we expect quietly
to wait for the time when the Lord shall let the sun
[go] forth again for the morning."

Then humbly Loth[33] bowed at the feet of the strangers 2440
and eagerly offered them the repose and refreshments
and shelter and service of his dwelling. They accepted
thankfully the benevolence of the good man, and followed
him forthwith inside his walls, as the Hebrew chieftain
invited them. There in his hall the generous wise- 2445
souled man gave them fair hospitality, until twilight
departed: then came night, after the close of day, and
veiled with darkness the lake-streams, seas, and broad 2450
land, and [all] the pomp of this life. Then the men of
Sodoma came, young and old, hateful to God, to demand
the strangers, with a great throng so that they surrounded 2455
Loth and his guests by the multitude of their force;
they bade [him] lead out of the lofty hall the holy mess-
engers [and put] the men in their power; they said