Classic Poem

" With your wish, sir, or without it,
He will take you soon or later!"
Said he laughing grimly; " wherefore
Do him, pray, this friendly turn!

" I've a case which, rightly stated,
Must procure me an acquittal:
Yes, the case for the Defendant
Will astonish God Himself!

" God's my Judge, and cannot therefore
As a witness speak against me;
God the Judge must be — the Jury
Men of science and discretion.

" When they call the roll, you'll challenge
All the slaves of superstition, —
Fashionable priests and poets,
And all military men;

" Thieves and publishers and critics
Shall be warn'd from off the jury, —
Ev'n philosophers and pundits
Must be keenly scrutinised.

" Politicians, Whig and Tory,
Jewish, Christian, and Agnostic,
Must be challenged — they are liars
Both by practice and profession.

" Lastly, challenge all the prying
Members of the County Council —
Prurient things of all three sexes,
Loathing Liberty and Light.

" Well I know that I shall triumph,
Since against me, as chief witness,
That disreputable person,
Jesus Josephson, is summon'd.

" I shall prove that Witness surely
The supremest of impostors —
One whom no enlighten'd thinker
Can believe upon his oath!"

As he spake, his wrinkled features
Shrivel'd up to hideous seeming,
And his eyes flash'd bright, flamboyant
With a fierce and baleful light.

" Devil!" cried I, " Prince of Devils!
Devil verily by nature,
Peace! Blaspheme not! He thou namest
Is a star above thy head!

" Man or God, or both united,
He, the beautiful Redeemer,
Far transcends in power and pity
All the draff of humankind.

" True or false, His Dream has gladden'd
Millions of created beings;
Man or God, His love hath vanquish'd
All things evil, even Death!"

As I spake, that troubled Spirit
Changed again — his gaze grew gentle —
From his face the anger faded,
And his eyes were dim with tears.

" Yea," he said, " thou speakest truly,
He thou nam'st was good and holy —
Pardon, pardon, Son of Sorrow,
Well beloved, even by me!

" Even in thy worst delusions
Thou wast holy, thou wast loving,
Yea, thy heart was great and gracious,
Tho' thine eyes were very blind.

" Yea, and thou , too, wast an outcast
All thy goodly Dream is over!
He who rules thy realm, my Jesus,
Never wore thy crown of thorns!

" Not of thee , but of that other
Who usurps thine earthly kingdom,
Spake I; not of thee , my Jesus,
But of him they name the Christ.

" Yet ... forgive me ... of thine error
Was this evil monster fashion'd;
Blindly, gently, didst thou blunder,
Out of pure excess of Love.

" Thus, perchance, of all Souls living
Least thy spirit comprehended
Him who sits beyond these vapours
Heedless of His own Creation."

Pale he stood, like one invoking
Some benign and awful Spirit;
Then he sigh'd and softly smiling
Turn'd his wistful eyes on mine.

Long he spake, with accents human,
In his own self-exculpation;
Till at last I comprehended
Meanings that at first seem'd dark.

Then, while on his pallid features
Flamed the alien lights of Heaven,
" Come!" he cried. " Hell's fires burn yonder!
Come and gaze upon my Kingdom!"

In a moment I was lifted
High in air, and wildly clinging
To the fringe of his dark raiment,
Wafted to the silent City.