University of Virginia Library

As Satan, the proud potentate of hell,
And Mammon, whilst their kindred spirits swell
With hate and malice, earth-ward urged their way
To tempt the Parents of our race astray;
Beelzebub, no dreaded rival near,
Calls the infernal hosts, from regions drear,
Alike, and midnight, round him to attend.
With the warm promise, conquerors to ascend,
Erelong, to hope and heaven, they bend the knee,
In token of the chief's supremacy,
And vow, to follow, thence, with valiant deed,
Where he, alone, their rightful prince, may lead.
Ah! glow of morn, which fades upon the sight!
Satan and Mammon, like two clouds of night,
Troubling the air, in their impetuous flight,
Now, to the verge of hell, with day behind,
Draw near, to shout their triumph o'er mankind.

The gate, which the infernal spirit holds,
On grating hinge, t' admit them, slow unfolds.
No subjects liege, the venturous chieftain hail!
He gazes round, when, thro' the twilight pale,
Illumin'd now by momentary glare,
He sees Beelzebub his sceptre bear!
Like midnight lightning swift, he darts along,
Enraged, and as the blast of vengeance strong,
Thro' th' intermediate space. He lifts his arm,
Image of might! With ill-conceal'd alarm
Beelzebub beholds, yet forth upraised
The flaming sword for war, that hell amazed,
So ponderous, and so vast! They pause awhile,
Each fearing, tho' immortal. To beguile
Th' observing crew, who doubtful seem to stand
Which to reject, which follow. One, his hand,
Mammon! uprais'd, and spake. “In such an hour
“When we have triumph'd o'er th' Almighty's power,
“And vanquish'd earth and man, so ill repaid,
“Will you withdraw from Satan, thus, your aid?
“Now, soon to rise, in God-like strength, and bold,
“And seize our seats of bliss, our crowns of gold?”
The infernal host all listen, and arise,
Darting, upon Beelzebub, fierce eyes
Of scorn and indignation, as they spurn
His guidance, and to Satan back return.
The baffled fiend looks horrible, and feels
His feeble grasp relax. He bends! He reels!
And from the sable crag, on which he stood,
Now, headlong plunged, into the stygian flood!
Satan beheld him fall, and ere the wave
Closed over him, the shout terrific gave,
And hurl'd his lance! when, thus aloud, he cried,
“That fiend is now my scorn, tho' once my pride.
“Lust of dominion him hath led astray;
“Restless, he seeks to rule who should obey,
“Who shall! no choice! The power supreme I own:
“One reigns in heaven, one here, and one alone!
“I had resolved, Beelzebub to crown
“Vice-gerent, o'er yon world: to make renou'n,
“The thirst of sovereignty, the one great sin,
“His glory, which might earth to Satan win,
“But on his fealty, I may never rest!
“Mammon, with rule supreme will I invest,
“He is the prince of self, upon whose train
“All evils follow. He, with golden chain,
“Will lead his captives on, from crime to crime,
“Blind them, and make the withering flowers of Time,
“(Its momentary joys, ill-understood,)
“Seem more to be desired than God and Good.
“To farthest age, my will, the stamp of fate!
“Mammon shall be earth's sovereign potentate.”
All hell exclaim'd, shaking their fiery chain,
In tumult wild, “Mammon o'er earth shall reign!”

His subjects now reclaim'd, all, gather near,
Of conquer'd earth, of ruin'd man, to hear.
Satan thus spake.

“Tho' doleful night is yours,
“Proud, and majestic powers! while each endures
“Pain, torment once! combined with sense of wrong,
“Wearily borne, delights to us belong,
“Soon to be won in conflict, when the spear
“In mortal strife, once more, 'gainst heaven we rear.
“Our triumphs learn.

“Far toward the utmost reign
“Of nature, after search, and long in vain,
“We reach'd a beauteous world; and now 'mid bowers,
“Fragrant, o'ercanopied with sumptuous flowers,
“(Ah! I must cease! Such words inflame despair!
“I will not call it lovely, tho' it were)
“We found the creature, Man. A form he bore,
“So proud and angel-like, that, not before,
“Witness'd we such, save in the upper sky.
“But let the thought abhorr'd for ever die!
“The Pair, we saw, placed in this new-made seat,
“Wherein there grew a Tree which form'd retreat,
“Both spacious and effectual from the sun,
“That, o'er their head rejoicing seem'd to run.
“Although a thousand trees around it rise,
“This tree, the Tree of Knowledge, to their eyes
“Stood, manifest, the pride of Paradise.
“Yet eminence, more lofty, it possest.
“Fruit, tempting to the eye, its boughs opprest;
“And this alone had God to Man denied,
“On penalty of death, and ruin wide,
“To him, and to his race. With subtile art,
“The Woman first we tempt. On her, apart
“From him, her lord, I soon prevail'd to taste!
“She ate and fell! Returning now in haste
“To seek the Man, she tempted him. He ate!
“When both fell headlong from their lofty state!
“Blasted thus early in their hour of prime,
“They and their offspring, to the end of time,
“Are ours! In vain the vanquish'd may retreat,
“This deed, o'er heaven, our triumph seals complete!
“Tho' far our dreary region spreads and wide,
“And deep and broad this spirit-torturing tide,
“The compass is too strait! Such hosts, erelong;
“Of beings lost, this lower world will throng,
“That, roused to fuller courage, in that day
“When we assault, in our august array,
“Heaven's phalanx, we may lift th' aspiring eye
“And scorn the doubt of final victory!”

Satan again. “Supreme in their disgrace,
“These long precursors of a countless race,
“Whose children still our outcast host must swell,
“All born in sin, who in their father fell,
“Their Maker views with hate. In high disdain,
“Terrific, at the Man thus form'd in vain.
“I heard him say. ‘Thy lot is toil and woe.
“‘The thorn, the briar, around thy path shall grow.’
“And what this means, he soon with pangs, will know!
“Never shall man in th' upper skies rejoice.
“He, like ourselves, hath made an evil choice.
“Not now, our vacant thrones, will he possess,
“Whilst, fallen, fallen, down from happiness,
“Earth scorns him, heaven rejects him. From the ground
“God call'd him into being; left unbound,
“Even to the utmost latitude, his will,
“To shun the proffer'd good, or choose the ill.
“His solemn law he spurn'd, and, his command,
“Hath he held light: now, from his Maker's hand,
“He bears the penalty. He, and his race,
“Within the Book of Life will find no place:
“But when a few short years of ceaseless care
“Have taught them, what to mourn, and how to bear,
“Their souls will sink to blackness and despair.”

When the wide roar had ceas'd all hell to shake,
Belial sedate arose, and thus bespake.
“Say! Is the world thus gain'd for ever ours,
“Seal'd with the stamp of fate? These pleasant bowers,
“Man, yet, by craft, may win; but thou, all-wise!
“Wilt choose some spirit liege, to guard the prize
“With ceaseless vigilance. All are not true,
“Tho' fair they speak, of this loud-shouting crew.
“But who shall counsel thee?”

Satan replied,
With biting scoff, nor wish'd he such to hide.
“Chieftain, and glorious! faithful ever found,
“Who friend hast none, or to betray, or wound!
“Majestic! Satan's rival! the great stay
“Of this vast multitude, thy lord away!
“Oh! fiend! that, vaunting, high thy head dost rear,
“With all thy ceaseless pains and thought austere,
“Whose deepest schemes on th'surface plain appear!
“Base as thou art, thou still may'st feel delight—
“I heard th' Almighty, ever, from his sight,
“Banish the disobedient; but, to leave
“No way, how man his state may yet retrieve,
“Thro' regions vast, an endless waste of air,
“Up to the new-made world will I repair.
“If spirit, true to ill, and loathing good,
“(And there were none beside, on this dark flood,)
“Needed had been, thou hadst before me stood;
“But now the course of war, myself will guide:
“I, to no second arm, will power confide,
“Altho' its prowess, mightiest thrones allow'd,
“But last to thee, most abject, yet most proud:
“Hence! blotted out! abased! a shape forlorn!
“Too poor to be despised, too mean for scorn.”
Turning, to the applauding concourse round,
Thus he pursued. “I will the war-note sound!
“Leave yon deserted demon, spurn'd in hell!
“We must on other theme, and nobler, dwell.
“Heaven to oppose, requires all Satan's might:
“I will ascend to wage the valiant fight,
“Legions beside; whilst, as the children rise,
“Infected, by their parents, thus our prize,
“Inveterate fiends shall follow, and intice
“To evil, of all kind—so, Paradise,
“Man shall no more behold, but his whole race,
“Be aliens from their Maker, and efface,
“By sin persisted in, the Image fair
“Of Deity, they once rejoiced to bear!
“Thus have I conquer'd earth! from age to age,
“To be my own devoted heritage!”

He ceas'd, when all th' infernal host, wide spread,
With simultaneous impulse, discord dread!
Upstarted, eager, from the fiery tide,
And, “Satan, lord o'er all!” exultant cried.
The master fiend, the shout disdain'd to hear:
His right he knew, and, on his high career,
Man, to enslave, and heaven's designs confound,
Stern, meditates, while tumult reigns around.
At length he raised his hand, and all was still,
When sternly thus he spake. “The law! My will!
“Our choicest Names, and Thrones, a countless host,
“Princedoms and Potentates, our pride, and boast,
“Now must attend on Satan's voyage, fleet,
“To seal man's ruin, and my work complete!
“Where flees the demon from yon vacant seat?
“Beelzebub I hate, yet, at this hour,
“His influence may advance his monarch's power;
“For where he is the cloud of ill must lower,
“And, soon, around, tempests their fury shower.
“Ah! Belial, too, to infamy consign'd,
“I e'en for him some abject work may find;
“Seek them, where'er their haunt, and let them learn
“Whose mandate calls, which they, in vain, must spurn.”

A host upsprung, from the sulphureous tide,
To find th' Arch-Fiends: and now, in wanderings wide,
Thro' darkness, save when lightning, and the glare
Of flaming cataract illumed the air,
They sought the lonely spirits. Long, in vain,
Thro' light and shade, they toil'd, when, lo! a chain,
From under a black mount, extending, shew'd
A cavern, with some unexplored abode.
“Beelzebub! and Belial!” loud they shout!
The demons heard th' intemperate voice without,
(As they in close debate beguiled the hour,
How best to hurl their Monarch from his power,)
And trembled. Whilst th' assailants joy proclaim'd,
They drag them forth, with shame and rage enflamed,
Reluctant, like some tide, with alter'd course,
And, to their prince, the struggling demons force.

Thus Satan spake. “Approach! We now are bound
“To yon New World, perpetual war, to sound,
“And urge, to me, obedient from their birth,
“Yet, farther from all good, the sons of earth.
“Thou, B'elzebub! shalt follow where I lead.
“I do not ask thy service. Of deep need
“Thou must exert thy blackest influence,
“In yonder vanquish'd world, o'er sight, and sense.
“Thou art the Lord of War! nor shall there be,
“E'en there, for Satan's throne, a prop like thee.
“Per-force, I place thee in that element,
“Where thou wilt thrive, the plant of discontent!
“Thou must, the restless, and the turbulent,
“Win to profoundest homage. Thou wilt guide
“Monarchs—to pant for power, and, carnage wide,
“Teach them to contemplate, without dismay:
“Thou wilt the blackest deeds, in light array,
“Make lord, with lord, and prince, with prince, engage,
“Their God, ambition! on, with hideous rage,
“Lead them, to dye, with blood, the fruitful plain,
“Whilst demons scream in air, and count the slain!

Turning to Belial, his compeer in fame,
Who near him stood and strove to hide his shame,
Both trembling, both to equal wrath awake,
Hardly restrain'd, Satan imperious spake.
“Fiend! hear thy lord! Oh! I will soothe my ire!
“Must lightnings kindle, ere the spark expire?
“Hear me, Oh! Belial. Prospects now unfold,
“Such as shall warm, afresh, thy spirit cold.
“So great! thou shalt not dwell inglorious there,
“Where now we speed. Oft will occasion fair
“Call forth thy eminence of craft and guile.
“If near, or far remote, some Being Vile
“Should pant for rule, and bound, in favour'd hour,
“From meanness to the pinnacle of power;
“In domination proud the sceptre wave,
“Proclaiming earth his empire, man his slave:
“If in yon world, one, such, should ever rise
“(Thy counterpart, whom imps and men despise!)
“Oh! Belial! thou shalt claim him, as thy prize.
“Thou, o'er his breast, imperial sway shalt gain.
“His spirit thou shalt urge, to forge the chain
“That shackles freedom. He, inspired by thee,
“Shall poison captives in their misery;
“Murder shall deem his calling: waste whole climes
“With sword and fire, and deluge them with crimes:
“By arts, surpassed not here, and subtile ways,
“Pull down the Lawful King, th' Usurper raise;
“And that his name, in th' firmament might blaze
“Of Demon Potentates, with fury blind,
“Invade the peaceful, the defenceless grind,
“Make blood his passion, and, in towering pride,
“Provoke the storm, he would, but cannot guide.
“He, urged by thee, on war, his all shall stake,
“Insult his foes, and, reckless, friends forsake;
“Now worship heaven, and now, with equal ease,
“All faiths alike, to idols bend his knees.
“Haply, some turn, in the career of fame,
“May send him to the dust, from whence he came,
“And teach, what all our sons, at last, shall learn,
“That we, awhile, can use, and then can spurn.
“Oh! that such spirit human heart might sway!
“With the warm hope of that auspicious day,
“I will the vacant throne, in hell prepare,
“And pant for one, like him, my pang to share,
“And grapple, sad and silent, with despair.
“With hearts too proud to parley, or to fear,
“Now, to the world remote our course we steer.”
He said, when up they rose, the spawn of night,
Satan, himself, the first, and urged their flight,
Vain aim! to oppose, Jehovah, infinite!

When Man, in state of innocence, untried,
Gazed on the Tree of Life, and ate, and died,
The angel, who recorded human deed,
Up to heaven's thrones fled with disastrous speed;
The beryl gate, self open'd as he past,
And the dread news thro' heaven brief twilight cast.
The harp of gold, in plaintive note, and slow,
Murmur'd the doubtful sound, allied to woe;
The note, portentous, thoughtful, Cherubs feel,
Whilst thicker clouds the Throne of God conceal.

Ah! who is that, amid the ranks on high,
Enthroned in more than angel majesty?
Whose sun-like face, awhile, forbears to shine,
Compassion in his look, and love divine?
Ah! who is that, beside Jehoyah's throne,
Whose sway, the faithful powers delighted own?
On whom th' adoring seraphs fix their gaze,
And, at the sight, redouble songs of praise?—
Messiah! grief, if transient grief might be,
In him, disturbs the mind of Deity.
O'er the wide range of heaven's extended plains,
The harp breathes slow, and silence now maintains,
When, from the misty throne, a murmur faint,
Went forth, at which, the Seraphim, and Saint,
Fill'd with o'erwhelming awe, bent low their head,
And, on the ground, their palms celestial spread.
The Father spake.

“Messiah, Oh, my Son!
“Man his short race of innocence hath run!
“My only law, my one command, he spurn'd,
“And, choosing ill, from life immortal turn'd!
“Rebellion swept fair spirits from the sky,
“And Man must pay the penalty and die!”

Suspense, thrice heighten'd thro' the heaven, prevail'd!
The harp still mute, the voice harmonious fail'd!
Angels, tho' trembling at the sentence dread,
Gave the “Amen!” and deeper bow'd the head.
After a pause, such as the heaven before
Ne'er witness'd, when, their Maker to adore,
Angels awhile forgot, as one awake,
From what on earth were woe, Messiah spake.

“Father, revered, the clouds thy presence screen,
“And shades on shades, still deepening, intervene.
“At thy displeasure, at thy frown severe,
“The heavens, with all their glory, disappear!
“And, must the world, created late so fair,
“Th' o'erwhelming weight of thy displeasure bear?
“The sun that rose immaculate as bright,
“Fall from the sky, and sink in endless night?
“Must Man, the voice, “Depart!” unceasing hear,
“Nor one faint hope his drooping spirit cheer?”

Whilst joy, the spring of heaven, forgot to flow,
From the thick cloud, there came the accent slow;
“My law, my justice, satisfied must be,
“And all that is—obedience yield to me!”

Messiah spake. “Father, all infinite!
“Great Source of Good, without whom heaven were night!
“Through wide eternity, that endless chain,
“Hath e'er thy Son preferr'd the prayer in vain?
“Oh, hear! On me didst thou bestow yon earth!
“Arch-angels hymn'd hosannah's at its birth!
“And when, thro' heaven, at first, its race begun,
“The stars rejoiced! whilst I, thine only Son,
“If the excess of love might increase know
“Felt, through my heart, affection deeper flow.
“Must such a scene, so bright, no longer shine,
“Where all was good, the work, the glory thine?
“Ere the first sun, in shrouded pomp, declines,
“Shall hell, in triumph, frustrate heaven's designs?
“Is there no hope for Man? Within I feel
“The secret love, the power of pity steal!”

The prostrate angels to the throne on high?
Look'd up, while deeper silence fill'd the sky.
From the cloud-cover'd seat, a voice went forth,
“Oh! Son! for disobedient man, for earth,
“Thou pleadēst, but the way thou hast not shewn,
“How Justice, still attendant on this throne,
“Can, at the broken law, her frown restrain:
“Mercy but makes the threat of judgment vain!”

Messiah spake. “Father! with reverence due,
“Oh, let thy Son, his earnest prayer renew!
“Thy pure and holy law, from all, requires
“Unfeign'd regards, the heart's supreme desires,
“Devotion full. Man, with presumption high,
“Hath forfeited thy favour, and must die!
“He hath renounced his best, his only friend;
“Form'd from the dust, he must to dust descend!
“But shall he never more, in fresher bloom,
“Leave the long night, the silence of the tomb?
“Is hope for ever flown? Must his whole race,
“Thus tainted in their Head, no step retrace,
“But fall, without a help, or refuge near,
“From all the joy that beams around Thee here?”

No sound was heard. The angels, as they bent,
Turn'd toward the throne, and looks benignant sent.
When, from the cloud, once more, the voice proceeds,
“Oh! Son, beloved! Thy tongue with pity pleads,
“But how shall God be just, yet justify
“Th' ungodly, as exposed to death they lie?”

The beam of mercy, on Messiah's face,
Shone with intenser zest, and holier grace,
When, moved by love, he cried. “The guilty spare!
“Let me the weight of thy displeasure bear!
“Tho' sin hath marr'd what thou didst form to bless,
“And made thy Paradise, a wilderness;
“Let man find favour! I the debt will pay!
“Upon this head alone thine anger lay!”

Jehovah spake, whilst heaven still paus'd to hear.
“Wilt thou the burden of my anger bear,
“Oh! Son, beloved? If, in my secret will,
“The thought of mercy, I may cherish still,
“Should Justice' claim be satisfied, toward earth,
“Thus tarnish'd, in the morning of her birth?
“If I my waiting thunders should restrain,
“Nor yet regard yon world as form'd in vain,
“Wilt thou, than heaven, more innocent, more pure,
“My frown sustain, my wrath for sin endure?
“Explore some new and living way divine,
“How man may live, and still my justice shine?
“The spoiler hell o'ercome, the captive save,
“And lead, thro' death, to bliss beyond the grave?”

Heaven caught new rapture from Messiah's eye,
As thus aloud he cried—“Man shall not die!
“Joy, yet unfelt, heaven's harps and hearts shall swell!
“One shall exult o'er death, and vanquish hell!
“I, freely, will man's ransom undertake—
“These thrones, with Thee, Oh! Father! for his sake,
“A while, resign, and, to yon earth descend,
“To be the Outcast's hope, the Sinner's Friend!”

The music of that voice, with joy unknown,
The angels heard, bending around the throne,
And in spontaneous ardour, unrestrain'd,
Gave forth the voice of ecstasy, unfeign'd,
“Hail, Son of God!” Hark! still the notes ascend,
“Oh! Hail! the Outcast's hope, the Sinner's Friend!”

Jehovah spake. “Oh! Son! thy will is mine.
“Freely, to thee, yon world, I hence resign!
“Descend, and take thy own! The government,
“Rests on thy head, and thou wilt still augment,
“By all thou dost, thy Father's aim, and bring,
“To join these glorious ranks, that ever sing,
“Glory to God! a People saved from hell,
“Redeem'd, and Sanctified, with us to dwell!”

That instant, welling from the mercy seat,
Th' River of Life flow'd on with murmur sweet!
The cloud grew bright! The darkness past away!
Heaven's jasper thrones their wonted blaze display!
Waving their palms, the prostrate Seraphs rise,
Whilst loud the “Halleluia!” rends the skies!

Slow from his Father's side, the Son descends.
Gabriel he sought, whose might all might transcends,
Of heavenly order. Michael near him rose,
When thus Messiah. “Angels! our repose,
“We leave, with Mercy's banner fair unfurl'd,
“To rescue from her woes, a Fallen World!”
To the two Seraphim, thus having said,
Messiah, his majestic wing outspread,
And with his bright Attendants, thro' the skies,
Down to the Race Condemn'd, triumphant flies!