Classic Poem

" Meantime, God had not been idle!
Angry at my benefactions,
He was wakening very slowly
To the peril long impending. . . .

" Over yonder where the people
Groan'd like oxen yoked together,
Goaded on o'er stony fallows
By the Princes and the Priests,

" Where the Abbe curl'd and scented
Told his beads and lay with harlots,
While the Christ of Superstition
Dallied with the Pompadour,

" I, the Devil, in indignation
Raised my periwig'd Alter Ego ,
Darling son of my adoption,
Whom the people named Voltaire!

" Diabolically smilling,
Up to Priest and Prince he strutted,
Tap'd his snuff-box, and politely
Crack'd his jokes at the Madonna!

" Nought of holy reputation
" Scaped the ribald rascal's laughter —
Far away as Rome the Churches
Echo'd with his jests profane;

" Then behold, a transformation!
Suddenly he rose transfigured,
Periwig and snuff-box vanish'd,
And an Angel stood reveal'd!

" In his hand my sword of Freedom
Flashing on the eyes of Europe, —
While the hounds of persecution
Paused, and Calas kiss'd his feet!

" Then, while far as Rome the tumult
Rang, and voices shriek'd " Destroy him! "
" Lo, 'tis Antichrist arisen!
Smite him, in the name of God! "

" At the lifting of my finger
Stormy spirits gather'd round him —
Strong and calm arose Condorcet,
Strong and fierce stood Diderot.

" Day by day the war was waging, —
I, the Devil, and my Titans,
'Gainst the God of Popes and Bibles
And His deputies on earth!

" Till at last the flames of battle
Caught the curtains of the palace, —
Panic-stricken 'mong the people
Rush'd a monarch God anointed.

" Then began the conflagration, —
Mitres, crosiera, crowns and sceptres,
Mingled up with moaning mortals,
Fed the ever increasing fires!

" I, the Devil, wept for pity,
While the bale-fires rose to Heaven, —
I, the Ishmael of the Angels,
Sicken'd at the fumes of blood.

" 'Midst that carnage all the cruel
Parasites of God were busy, —
Ignorance , His page-in-waiting,
D EATH , His master of the hounds!

" Vainly to the madden'd people
Cried my Titans, interceding
For the innocent and gentle
Seized to feed the conflagration.

" Not a hair of beast and mortal
Ever fell through me , the Devil, —
From the first my rebel spirit
Bled and wept for the afflicted.

" Death and Pain were God's conception,
Never mine, the Prince of Pity's!
If they dwell within my kingdom,
I, the Devil, am not to blame.

" I for ages after ages
Had proclaimed the truth to mortals —
" God is powerless to redeem you,
In yourselves abides salvation;

" " Love each other, help each other,
Eat the golden fruit forbidden, —
Out of Knowledge ripely gather'd
Wisdom comes and Freedom grows! " ...

" Out of evil, evil springeth, —
Even so, in Hell and Paris,
Centuries of evil sowing
Turn to aftermath of Hate!

" Lastly, from the conflagration
Sprang a spirit, man or Devil, —
Whether God or I begat him
I could never quite discover!

" Diabolically clever,
Strong as any of my Titans,
Impudent as any Devil,
Rose the little Corporal! ...

" I incline to think the fellow
Was a sort of blood-relation
Who, by lust of loot perverted,
Join'd the legions of the Lord!

" O'er the nations sick with slaughter
Many a night and day he gallopt —
God had lent him Death's White Charger
(Well described in Revelation ) —

" Death himself, afoot, ran after
With the hosts of the Grand Army,
Feeding well, where'er he followed,
On the flesh and blood of mortals. . . .

" After all, and on reflection,
I reject this Demi-devil,
Since within his soul there quicken'd
Neither love nor human kindness

" (Which, I hold, are the supremest
Qualities of true revolters); —
Yes, God played a trick upon me,
Thro' a devilish renegade!

" Down in Hell are decent people,
Honest souls who love their fellows; —
To the cruel God of Battles
I relinquish Buonaparte!"