Classic Poem

... On the lonely Heath of Hampstead
I awaken'd, and beside me
Saw the woe-worn outcast standing,
Shadowy, mystical, and sad.

Even as I gazed upon him,
All the baleful hideous seeming,
Falling from him like a garment,
Left him beautiful and fair!

Lost in awe I gazed upon him!
Angel-naked stood the Devil;
Thin and tall; upon his forehead
Light, as of some dim grey Dawn!

Fair he seem'd, tho' pale and weary,
Sorrowful, but softly shining,
Beautiful, as when, ere fallen,
Seated on the morning star!

Not on me his eyes were gazing,
But upon the far-off City;
Not to me his lips were saying,
" Lord, I loathe Thy Works and Thee!"

Once again-that outcast Angel
Turned his luminous eyes upon me, —
Dark deep eyes that seem'd to suffer
From the light they shed around them;

Rays as of the star of morning
Glimmer'd o'er him as he murmur'd
In a voice like stars vibrating:
" Thing of clay, dost know me now? "

" Yea," I said, " immortal Spirit,
Now at last I seem to know thee,
And my spirit yearns in kinship
With thy beauty and thy woe!"

Once again he cast upon me
Luminous looks of scorn and pity:
As a trembling star's reflection
Shakes in shadowy shallow waters,

Fell the glory of the Angel
On the waters of my spirit,
While I trembled, half in terror,
Half in wondering adoration.

" Thou art he, the prince of Evil,
Whom thy God created perfect,
Yet who, doubting and rebelling,
Sank to darkness and despair!"

" Yea," he answer'd, darkly frowning,
" I am he thy conscience pictures!
Lucifer once named up yonder,
Satan now re-named, the Devil!

" At the elbow of the Father
Once I stood and sang His praises —
Endless praises and hosannahs
To the crowned King of Heaven.

" So I could have sung for ever,
Drinking rapture from His presence:
In an evil hour I wander'd
From His side, to view Creation!

" And at first I sang the louder,
Marvelling at His works and wonders,
Suns and stars and constellations
Join'd my joyful hallelujah!"

As he spake he seem'd to brighten,
Dazzling all my sense with wonder, —
Round about him like a raiment
Clung a cloud of golden music!

" Such I was, His servant-angel!
Such I was, and so I worshipt!
Then from out the worlds He fashion'd
Came a wail, a lamentation.

" On the sun I stood, down-gazing,
O'er the universe around me,
And the wail grew shriller, louder,
Till my joyful song was drown'd.

" Far away, where'er my vision
Wander'd, I beheld His Angels
Watching for His lifted finger,
Now creating, now destroying;

" Here a moaning world was shrivel'd
Like an infant in the cradle;
Here a planet shrank in darkness
To a sound of souls despairing;

" Everywhere across Creation
Were the threads of Being broken,
Everywhere the Lord Almighty
Crush'd like shells the worlds He made!

" Then my soul was wroth within me,
And I cried to the Almighty:
" Evil, Lord, is Thy creation,
Since Thou sufferest pain to be!

" " Or if pity stirs within Thee
For the woes of Thy creating,
Thou art even as Thine Angels
Strong, but not Omnipotent!

" " Back on Thine own footsteps treading,
Ever slaying and re-making,
Ever bungling, Thou art only
Demigod, not God at best! "

" Then He struck me with His lightnings,
Me, and many lesser angels,
Who in pity and compassion
Echo'd my protesting cry;

" Smitten here upon the forehead,
Down I fell thro' the abysses,
Clinging wildly for a moment
To some star, as to a straw!

" Till I reached this lonely planet,
Stood upon it, and before me
Saw the naked Pair in Eden
Praising Him as I had done.

" " Tempt them, try them, undeceive them! "
Said the Father's voice from Heaven —
" But he sure that deeper knowledge
Only means more swift despair! "

" For a space I hesitated,
Seeing them so blindly happy,
Even as the beasts that perish
Knowing nought of Time or Death;

" Then I said (may Man forgive me!)
Better far to know and suffer,
Reach the stature of us angels,
Than be happy like the beasts.

" Wherefore, as thou know'st, I tempted
First the Woman, whispering to her,
While she munch'd the golden apple,
Hints of nakedness and shame.

" Then I saw the Pair forthdriven
From the golden Gates of Eden,
Hunted, while I wept for pity,
By the Bloodhound-angel, Death!"