Except the Earth, CHRIST praises did rehearse.
And did THE LORD allow ye to go where
The sun shot splendor-to the moon all bare-
And in those regions give you breathing space-
Was the Sun made Satanic Palace Place-
For surely sinister in after years
Ye made men worship these two gracious spheres-
The Horne of Satan made a God for man-
And so contrived that subtle, devilish plan,
Of worshipping the Devil in such guise
As seemed to foolish man devoutly wise.
Did you oft come to see that awful place
That once had been a glory-now disgrace-
Peer through its blackness, and its raging storm,
The burial place of your once glorious form.
Did you in flight go round, and round, to see
Only confusion and tumultuous sea-
A horror of Great Darkness where the wind
Moaned o'er the hidden Bodies of your Kind.
Was not earth's course erratic, here and there,
Lost, wandering thing that had no atmosphere;
Where once stood palace garden fields to see
Now lashed a fury, weird, and muddy sea.
And did there come a time when suddenly
Michael, Archangel, driving thine and thee
Out from thy hovering, drove thee to a star
Where you sat down and watched it from afar.
Then from High Heaven a WONDROUS PRESENCE came-
A cloudy Pillar hiding Restless Flame-
A brooding as it were above the earth
That Ball of Desolation and of Dearth.
Then did you hear His Voice:
And lo, the horror fled, and to your sight
A softening splendor shone across the sea
Bathing the waves 'till all was fair to see.
And the next morn you peered with anxious sight-
Again that VOICE, and straightway mountain height
And hill, and plain, and prairie-and vast space—
Rose from the sea and held aloft their place.
Lo, morning after morning that same VOICE
Did will new Wonders, making earth rejoice;
'Til looking over bird, and beast, and field, and flood,
PRESENCE Contended, said:
"BEHOLD, 'TIS GOOD!"
Then didst thou see with anguish sharply keen
Envy at heart, dire hatred and vile spleen,
The Man, stand up as very Lord and King-
While new Creations to him homage bring.
Didst thou see Adam waking from repose
From his sweet bed of lily, and white rose,
Wondering to see reclining by his side
The Beauteous Eve-his gracious splendid Bride—
What spleen in heart, and eye to see the pair
Glorious, unclad, go wandering here and there,
Hand clasped in hand so lovingly together
All in the splendor of that Spring time weather.
What hate in all-desire to work them woe-
Alone did Satan on fell errand go,
For Angels had no orders to confine
Prince Lucifer by any bound or line;
Yea, often to GOD'S PRESENCE still he went-
Tho' fruitless was his asking and intent-
Yet still HIS MAKER held him not at bay,
When came the Sons of GOD on their set day,
Could also Satan enter council place,
-Complain and cavil before GOD's own face-
And why permitted thus to come and go?
Alone THE TRINITY such purpose know.
Where waited you 'til Satan did return? Surely your mind alert, and thoughts did burn, A restlessness that made all quivering As to the news Satanic hate would bring— Moving like wild beasts restless to and froSpeechless for hours-and then with braggart show A prophesying Lucifer would win
And blast the new World with the Curse of sin!
Yea, did ye boast that in a little time
These two would feel upon their souls sin's slime, Would babble hate right in the face of GODThen new world wrecked beneath chastising rod?
In my mind's eye I see the serpent stand His radiant wings the spicy breezes fanned, More subtle, winsome than all other beasts Tempting the Woman to his fatal feasts. 'Twas good to taste and it would make her wise,
She would have then Omnipotent's swift eyes
From whence no knowledge could escape or hide.
What was this Feast that Evil could provide?
Evil! what was it-and really was it known
Only to HIM who sat on Highest Throne?
No Angel she had seen could ever tell
What was this Evil-what its magic spell-
This the unknowable was at her hand!
Beneath the laden branches did she stand-
Her dainty fingers touched the golden skin-
What was the secret sweetness hid within?
She stood a tremble-drew her hand away—
What noise was that—a bird upon rose spray-
On flower alighting-where had Adam gone-
She was alone. How fair to look upon-
Tempting the fruit within her white hand lay
But from the stem 'twas not yet plucked away
And thus the silken hissing still anigh:
"He did not say that you should surely Die!" Then grew Eve's mind confused as to the words That surely without doubting were THE LORD'S!
The Serpent's question in her ear kept ringing—
To Heaven each bird had seemed to cease its singing-
Lo, there was silence in that Garden fair
Tempter and Tempted scarcely breathed there-
Out of her ears had fallen all other sound-
O'er all a silence heavy and profound—
As earth and all upon it stood to see
How far would reach her curiosity.
The velvet fingers tightened on the fruit
Her eyes, her lips were eloquently mute
Asking momentous question-Can I dare
The knowledge of This Evil with GOD share?
Full in her eyes stood curiosity:
"What is this Evil, GOD would keep from me?
He knows it-then it surely must be good
Have I in sooth His words misunderstood?"
The fingers tightened, and the will grew strong, And suddenly the World was lost to songLo, Evil entered sliming all the sweet
As Mother Eve crunched fruit betwixt her teeth.
And as Eve ate the fruit, Lo, was not there A message sent by Satan through the airAnd all misgivings vanished in the shout That like as lightning sped from mouth to mouth Until the very Pit with laughter riven
That victory to Satan wiles was given.
When Lucifer came back his face had fain
Hidden from view his victory had stain.
Upon the grandeur-for He hid the words-
"But He shall crush thy head"-that subtle threat
Not with the usual braggadocio met-
Nor did he tell a single worshipper
Who shouted wildly "Hail Prince Lucifer!"
Did not the words still rankle in his brain-
To make his victory a thing most vain-
THIS SON OF HER whom he had led astray
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