Classic Poem

With mighty hand the Holy Lord,
All-Ruling God, had stablished and strengthened
Ten angel orders in whom He trusted
That they would serve Him and work His will,
Since the Holy Lord with His hands had shaped them,
Had given them reason and granted them bliss.
He made one so strong, so mighty of mind;
Gave him such power next unto God
In the heavenly kingdom; shaped him so shining;
So fair the form God fashioned for him;
That his beauty was like to the blazing stars.
He should have said praises and prayers unto God,
Prizing his bliss and blessing in heaven;
Should have thanked his Lord for His gifts in light
Which God would have let him long enjoy.
But he turned it all to a terrible outcome;
Began to stir up strife against God,
Heaven's Highest Ruler on His holy throne. . . .
" Why must I slave? What need (quoth he)
That I serve a master? My hands have might
To work many wonders. I have strength to rear
A goodlier throne, a higher in heaven.
Why must I yield or fawn for His favor
Or bow in submission? I may be God
As well as He. Brave comrades stand by me,
Stout-hearted heroes unfailing in strife.
These fighters fierce have made me their leader;
With such may one plan and muster support.
They are loyal friends and faithful of heart;
I may be their lord and rule this realm.
So it seems not good that I grovel before God
For any boon. I will obey Him no longer. "
Now when the Almighty had heard these words,
How the arrogant angel was rousing revolt
From his Lord and Leader in insolent folly,
Needs must he pay for that deed of pride,
Know the pain of that struggle, and suffer his punishment,
Most dreadful of deaths. So every man shall,
Whoever wickedly wars against God,
The Lord of might! Heaven's Ruler was roused
And hurled him in wrath from his heavenly throne. . . .
Then spoke Satan in sorrow of spirit,
Who must henceforth rule o'er the depths of hell.
Once he was white, God's angel in heaven,
Till his heart betrayed him, his haughty pride,
And he would not obey or honor the word
Of the Lord of hosts. Hell's heat was around him,
His heart surged within him; he spoke these words:
" Unlike indeed is this narrow land
To that other home that of old we held
In heaven's high realm, though we could not keep
What our Lord had granted, or govern our kingdom
Against God's will. He has wrought us wrong,
In hurling us down to the fiery depths of hell,
Deprived of heaven. He has marked those heights
For man to settle. 'Tis my greatest sorrow
That Adam, fashioned and formed of earth,
Should hold my high seat and abide in bliss
While we suffer this torture, this torment in hell.
" Woe! Alas! Could I lift my hands
And feel their strength, be free for an hour,
One winter hour, with this host I would —
But bands of iron bind me about,
Sorely the rings of my bondage ride me!
I am stripped of my kingdom. Firmly hell's fetters
Are fastened upon me; the fires burn
Above and below. A loathlier landscape
I never have seen, flame unassuaged
Surging through hell. These clasping shackles,
These cruel-hard chains, hinder my going.
Hell's doors are bolted, the ways are barred,
My hands are fastened, my feet are bound,
I can no way get free of these fettering chains.
Gratings huge of heavy iron,
Hammered hot, press hard upon me,
Wherewith God has fastened me firm by the neck.
I know full well that He knew my purpose
Of evil for Adam and all his hopes
Of the heavenly realm, had I power of my hands. . . .
" Begin now to plan and plot this assault!
If to any thane ever in days of old
When we dwelt in that good kingdom and happily held our thrones
I dealt out princely treasure, at no dearer time
Could he give me requital, repayment for gifts,
If some thane would be my helper and outward hence
Break through these bolted gates, with strength to wing
On feathered pinions circling in the sky
To where new-shaped on earth Adam and Eve
Abide in bliss surrounded with abundance,
While we are cast out hither to this deep hell.
" They now indeed are dearer unto God
And have the wealth that we should have in heaven,
Our rightful realm. The advantage lies with man!
My soul is sorrowful, my heart is sore
That they should hold the heavenly realms for ever.
If one of you can win them in any way
To forsake God's law, they will lose His love;
If they break His commandment. His mood will be roused
And all their wealth will be changed for the worse,
Their punishment made ready, some penalty grim.
Take thought how you may ensnare them. More softly then
Shall I lie in these chains if they lose the heavenly kingdom.
Whoever shall bring that to pass shall have portion for ever
In all we may win of advantage in these wide flames.
I will let him sit next myself who returns to tell,
In this hot hell, that the will of the King of heaven
Unworthily they forswore by their words and works. " . . .
Then God's enemy began to arm,
To put on his war-gear. He had a wily heart.
He placed on his head the helmet of darkness,
Fastened the buckles and bound it firm.
He had craft of speech and cunning of word.
He circled upward and darted out
Through the portals of hell. (He had a pitiless heart.)
Fell of purpose he soared in flight
Cleaving the fire with fiendish craft.
He wished to ensnare God's servants in sin,
Seduce and beguile them until they had gained God's hate.
With fiendish cunning he found his way
To where on earth he came upon Adam,
God's own handiwork wisely fashioned
And Eve beside him, fairest of women,
Serving God well in all good works
For the Maker of man had made them His stewards.
By them two trees stood filled with fruit
And clothed with increase. Heaven's High King,
The Almighty, had set them that the sons of men
Might choose of good or evil, weal or woe.
Unlike was their fruit. One tree was fair,
Lovely and shining, pleasant and sweet.
That was the tree of life! He might live for ever,
Who ate of that fruit. Nor would age thereafter
Or woeful sickness work him a hurt;
But long might he live in happiness for ever,
Have here on earth the favor of heaven's King
And the glory ordained on high when he went hence.
The other tree was in shadow, sunless and dark;
That was the tree of death! Deadly its fruit!
Disgraced in this world, knowing good and evil,
He needs must suffer in sorrow and sweat
Who ate of the fruit that formed on that tree.
Old age would despoil him of deeds of strength,
Of bliss and lordship, with death for his lot.
A little time only he might joy in this life,
Then seek in the flames the most loathsome of lands,
Be subject to fiends where most fearful horrors
Afflict men for ever. That the fiend knew well,
The devil's dark steward who strove against God.
Then the fiend put on the form of the serpent
In twining coils round the tree of death;
Took of the fruit and turned him thence
To where he saw Adam, God's handiwork.
With wily falsehood from the first word
The devil began to ask of Adam:
" Have you any longing, Adam, that looks to God?
I come in His service, faring from afar;
Nor has time been long since I sat at His side.
On this errand He sent me, bade you eat of this fruit;
Said your power and might and your mind will be greater,
Your body brighter, your form more fair,
And you shall lack naught of the world's wealth.
Because you have done His will and won His favor,
And served Him with gladness, you are dear unto God.
In His heavenly light I have heard Him speak
Of your way of life, praising your words and works.
" So must you also obey the bidding
His heralds bring you hither to this land.
Wide reaching are the green realms of the world
And God, the All-Ruler, reigns in the highest heavens.
He does not wish to have the hardship
Of making this journey but sends His servants
To tell His commandments, bidding us teach
Wisdom by precept. Now do His will,
Take this fruit in your hand, taste it and eat.
Your heart will grow roomy, your form more fair.
The Lord, your God, sent this help from heaven. "
Then Adam answered where he stood on earth,
The first of men: " When I heard the Almighty,
The Victor Lord speaking with solemn voice,
And He bade me dwell here and do His will,
Gave me the woman, this glowing bride,
And bade me guard that I be not beguiled
Or ever tempted to the tree of death,
He said that blackest hell shall hold him fast
Who harbors in his heart one whit of evil.
Though you come with lies and with cunning guile
I do not know that you come from God,
An angel from heaven. I can understand nothing
Of the bidding you bring, of your errand or sayings,
Of your words or ways. But well I know
What our Saviour said when last I saw Him:
To honor His word and keep it well,
To fulfill His law. You are not like
Any of His angels that ever I saw,
Nor do I find in you any token of faith
That God has sent me as sign of His favor.
Therefore I can not hearken. Get you hence!
I fix my faith on Almighty God
Whose hands created me. From His high kingdom
He can give us all good things, though He send no servant. "
Then the tempter in anger turned unto Eve
Where he saw her standing, the lovely woman.
He said that thereafter her offspring would suffer
The worst of all evils: " I know well that God
Will be much displeased with the message I bring,
When I come from my weary journey over this long way
To tell Him you will not heed the new behest
He sends you out of the East. He only, forsooth,
Must come to instruct you; His messengers may not
Tell you His bidding! Truly I know
The Almighty's wrath will be roused against you.
" But if willingly, O woman, you hear my words
Your mind will be freer, your wit more firm
To ponder good counsel. Plan in your heart
That you both may avert the vengeance to come,
As I shall show you. Eat of this fruit!
Then your eyes shall have light to look afar
Over all the world, even unto the throne
Of your Lord in heaven, and have His favor.
Over Adam thereafter you shall have sway
If you have the will and he trusts your words.
If you tell him truly the precepts you heed
To work God's will and keep His commandments,
He will cease this strife, these evil answers,
As we both shall urge him to his own good.
Entreat him earnestly to follow your teaching
Lest you grow displeasing to the Lord, your God.
" If you can perfect this attempt, O fairest of women,
I will conceal from your Lord Adam's insolent speech,
His churlish words. He charges me with falsehood,
Says I am eager in evil, no angel of God
But a servant of fiends! Yet I know full well
All the angel orders and heaven's high span,
So long was the time I served my Lord
With loyal heart. I am not like a devil. "
And so with lies and with luring wiles
He urged the woman to that deed of evil,
Till the serpent's words began to work within her
(For God had fashioned for her a feebler mind),
And her heart inclined according to his counsel.
Defying God's bidding she took from the fiend
The fatal fruit of the tree of death.
Never was worse deed ordained for men!
Great is the wonder that Eternal God
Would ever permit so many of His servants
To be tricked with lies that came as good counsel.
She ate of the apple and set at naught
The word and the will of Almighty God.
Then she saw afar by gift of the fiend
Who misled her with lies and shrewdly deceived her
So that earth and heaven and all this world,
The mighty and wondrous work of God,
Seemed to her fairer and filled with light.
She beheld it not by human vision
But the devil slyly deceived her soul
And gave her sight to see afar
O'er the heavenly kingdom. With hostile heart
The cursed one spake: (No boon was his counsel!)
" O worthy Eve! You may see for yourself
How you now have altered, nor need I tell
How bright your beauty or your form how fair,
Since you trusted my words and followed my teaching.
All round about you shines radiant light
Which I brought from God, blazing from heaven.
Lo! You may touch it! Tell Adam in truth
What vision you have, what virtue, through my coming.
Even yet, if humbly he will hear my words
I will give him abundance of this good light
Wherewith I have blessed you. Nor will I upbraid
Or charge against him his graceless speech
Though he does not deserve to have it condoned,
So great the ill will he uttered against me. "
So must their offspring live thereafter:
When they do evil they must earn God's grace,
Make amends to God for their grievous wrong
And have His help and eternal favor.
Then went unto Adam the fairest of women,
The winsomest maid that ever came into this world,
For she was the handiwork of the King of heaven,
Though so slyly ensnared and misled with lies
That through fiendish craft and the devil's cunning
She grew hateful to God, forfeited His favor,
And lost her glory and her heavenly home
For many a while. Woe to the man
Who departs not from evil when he has the power!
Some she bore in her hands, some on her breast,
Of the fatal apples, the fruit of the tree
Which God forbade her, the Giver of glory,
Saying His servants need not suffer death.
Holy God gave all men a heavenly home
And abundant blessings if they would but forgo
The fearful harvest, the bitter fruit,
Which that baleful tree bore on its branches.
Those were the boughs of death which the Lord forbade!
But the loathed of the Lord, the tempter, betrayed her
Into God's hatred, misled with lies;
Deceived Eve's soul, the woman's weak will,
Till she trusted his words and followed his teaching.
She believed that his counsel came from God
As he cunningly said and showed her a token,
A pledge of good faith and of friendly heart.
Then she said to her liege:
" Adam, my lord,
This fruit is so sweet and blithe in the breast;
This shining envoy is God's good angel;
I see by his garb he is sent by our Lord,
The Warden of heaven. Better that we
Should win his favor than have his ill will;
If today you made answer with aught of evil
He will still forgive if we do his service.
Of what avail is this venomous strife
With the angel of God? We need his good will.
He can plead our cause with the Almighty Prince,
The King of heaven. I can see from here
Where He sits in splendor in the South and East,
Who shaped this world. I can see His angels
Wheeling about Him in winged flight,
Unnumbered legions, most lovely of hosts.
Who could bestow such virtue and vision
Unless it came from the heavenly King?
" Far can I hear, far can I see
Through all the world and the wide Creation;
I can hear the hymns of rapture in heaven.
My heart is illumined from without and within
Since I ate of the apple. Here in my hands
I bring this fruit and give of it freely.
O good my lord, I do believe
It is come from God and brought by His bidding,
As in truthful words this herald has told me.
It is like naught else in all the earth
Except, as he says, it is sent by God. "
Over and over she urged him, all the long day
Driving Adam to that dark deed,
That they disobey the bidding of God.
The fiend stood near inflaming desire,
Boldly enticed him, cunningly tempted.
Full close stood the fiend who came from afar
On that fatal mission. He planned that men
Should be driven down unto utter death,
Deceived and misled so that they would lose
The Almighty's gift, the grace of God
And their heavenly home. The hell-fiend knew
They must bear God's wrath and bitter affliction,
Sore bondage in hell, because they forsook
The will of God when with lying words
He misled to that folly the lovely maid,
The fairest of women, till she spoke as he willed
And helped to seduce the work of God's hand.
Over and over the most winsome of women
Pled with Adam until Adam's mind
Began to change, and he trusted the token
The woman offered. Yet she did it all
With a loyal heart and knew not the harm,
The fearful afflictions that would follow for men,
When she hearkened to the counsel of the hateful herald.
She thought by her words to win God's favor
When she offered Adam that token of truth
And the heart of the man was moved in his breast,
And his soul was turned unto Eve's desire.
From the woman's hand he took death and hell,
Though it bore not these names but the name of fruit.
Yet the sleep of death and the devil's seduction,
Death and damnation, perdition of men,
Were the fatal fruit whereon they had feasted.
When the apple within him touched at his heart,
Then laughed aloud the fierce-hearted fiend,
Capered about, thanked his lord for both:
" Now have I won your favor and done your will.
For many a day is man undone,
Adam and Eve. They shall know God's anger
Because they neglected His word and His will. . . .
" Blithe may your heart be in your breast!
For here today are two things done:
The sons of men shall lose their heavenly mansions
And come to your kingdom to the fiery flames;
Also, heart-sorrow and grief are ordained for God.
Whatsoever of evil we suffer here
Is now repaid to Adam in the anger of God,
In man's perdition and the pangs of death.
Therefore my mind is healed, my heart made roomy,
For all our harms are avenged, and the hurt we suffered.
Now I return to the flames and seek out Satan
Where he lies in the darkness of hell loaded with chains. "