The Descent into Hell Second Edition, Revised and Re-arranged, with an Analysis and Notes: To which are added, Uriel, a Fragment and Three Odes. By John A. Heraud |
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| XIV. | XIV. THE PATRIARCHS. |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
XIV. THE PATRIARCHS.
While Adam spake, reposed upon his heart
Beloved Abel, who, in the World's prime,
Watched the devoted Flock—thus set apart
Beloved Abel, who, in the World's prime,
Watched the devoted Flock—thus set apart
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For Sacrifice, when God, from Heaven sublime
Descending, in the cool of day, appointed,
For Sin, Atonement from the birth of Time.
Descending, in the cool of day, appointed,
For Sin, Atonement from the birth of Time.
—Then Adam first saw Death, hailed and arointed;
Both Curse and Cure, a refuge for the Soul,
And to redeem the flesh it kills anointed.
Both Curse and Cure, a refuge for the Soul,
And to redeem the flesh it kills anointed.
In sign whereof, a sapless barkless bole,
Man's body, for whose food all perisheth,
Attired through the mutation of the whole.
Man's body, for whose food all perisheth,
Attired through the mutation of the whole.
—Who would be clothed with Heaven must live by Faith,
As, by the organons of touch, the Mind
Discourses with the World whose life is death—
As, by the organons of touch, the Mind
Discourses with the World whose life is death—
They, in all elements' corruption, find
Life still regenerated bodily,
Still mortal, every moment recombined.
Life still regenerated bodily,
Still mortal, every moment recombined.
Thou who for man plantedst the mystick Tree,
Even in the heart of his peculiar sphere,
Hast drunk Death's Vintage thus outpoured for thee!
Even in the heart of his peculiar sphere,
Hast drunk Death's Vintage thus outpoured for thee!
—So while the Shepherd fed his flock, in fear
Unto the Mystery of Blood he bowed,
Shed for the World ere her foundations were,
Unto the Mystery of Blood he bowed,
Shed for the World ere her foundations were,
Witness of Truth;..and thus his own blood flowed.
For Labour, the great Curse, made Cain as stern
As Earth, fat with his sweat; hence he bestowed
For Labour, the great Curse, made Cain as stern
As Earth, fat with his sweat; hence he bestowed
His haughty offering as the meet return
Of one who had well-done, expecting straight
The guerdon of his toil. No man may earn
Of one who had well-done, expecting straight
The guerdon of his toil. No man may earn
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The free gift, Life eternal.—Better fate
Was thine, O Seth! who now on that same hill
Reposest, where of old, in placid state,
Was thine, O Seth! who now on that same hill
Reposest, where of old, in placid state,
The Sons of God inhabited, and still
Call on Jehovah's Name, and evermore
Worship the Highest and Invisible—
Call on Jehovah's Name, and evermore
Worship the Highest and Invisible—
The while the Children of the Vale adore
The Forms of Life, so lovely, ever new,
And of their passions make them idols store.
The Forms of Life, so lovely, ever new,
And of their passions make them idols store.
—Still shall the Sense the Understanding woo,
Enamoured of its coil, divorced from Reason;
Or Reason, pitying, grow imbruted too,
Enamoured of its coil, divorced from Reason;
Or Reason, pitying, grow imbruted too,
Eating of the same Tree, though proper treason
To his supremacy, right-absolute,
Without respect to sanctuary or season,
To his supremacy, right-absolute,
Without respect to sanctuary or season,
That makes all laws, serves none, nor hears dispute
Before or after; naked, yet unshamed,
Until he tasteth that sciential fruit,
Before or after; naked, yet unshamed,
Until he tasteth that sciential fruit,
His wants unfelt, and his desires unclaimed.
So by the Law Sin reigned, that Grace might be,
And God's high Will o'er all be known and named.
So by the Law Sin reigned, that Grace might be,
And God's high Will o'er all be known and named.
—But Man unto himself was Deity,
And manifold inventions vainly sought,
To entrench his weakness, and to make him free;
And manifold inventions vainly sought,
To entrench his weakness, and to make him free;
His eyes were opened to his naked lot;
Thanks to the shame which made him feel his need,
The sorrow that could hide and heal it not,
Thanks to the shame which made him feel his need,
The sorrow that could hide and heal it not,
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Until arrived to justify the deed,
To endure the Sorrow, to despise the Shame,
The Virgin's Son, the Woman's only Seed.
To endure the Sorrow, to despise the Shame,
The Virgin's Son, the Woman's only Seed.
—A God unto himself, Man read his Name
In all things, and his Nature multiplied
Among heaven's hosts, and idolized the same,
In all things, and his Nature multiplied
Among heaven's hosts, and idolized the same,
In sensual selfishness, and wilful pride
But carnal. Hence Rapacity and Lust;
And civil Violence was deified—
But carnal. Hence Rapacity and Lust;
And civil Violence was deified—
Moods of the fleshly mind, for aye-unjust
And cruel, seeking its own good alone,
Unsocial, and unfaithful to its trust;
And cruel, seeking its own good alone,
Unsocial, and unfaithful to its trust;
Yet understanding not aright its own,
Soon sorrowing, if repenting not, in sorrow
That hath repentance none,—and none atone.
Soon sorrowing, if repenting not, in sorrow
That hath repentance none,—and none atone.
—Children of Seth! from whom these mountains borrow
Their patriarchal name—Man's Yesterday
Of rest was your's—and wherefore came the Morrow?
Their patriarchal name—Man's Yesterday
Of rest was your's—and wherefore came the Morrow?
Leisure divine! sweet peace beyond display!
And Man conversed with heaven in vision pure,
And silence, till the flesh dissolved away,
And Man conversed with heaven in vision pure,
And silence, till the flesh dissolved away,
And God was all-in-all. How sweetly sure
Faith aimed at heaven, and Reason walked the skies,
Hope pierced the clouds, and Love abode secure!
Faith aimed at heaven, and Reason walked the skies,
Hope pierced the clouds, and Love abode secure!
Perpetual Sabbath made the Spirit wise,
And Thought o'er Thought piled up, from heaven to heaven
Soared unto God, and solved all mysteries—
And Thought o'er Thought piled up, from heaven to heaven
Soared unto God, and solved all mysteries—
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O happy ye—who, of the Curse forgiven,
Held not the plough, nor gloried in the goad,
Nor in the furrows quenched the spirit's leven!
Held not the plough, nor gloried in the goad,
Nor in the furrows quenched the spirit's leven!
Happy, appointed Ones!—free from the load
Of labour, upon whom the Sabbath-Rest,
Redeemed by God descending, is bestowed!
Of labour, upon whom the Sabbath-Rest,
Redeemed by God descending, is bestowed!
—Not so the Fratricidal Race, unblest,
Like the wild Ass unclean, untaught, untamed,
Rude Nature's vigour working in their breast,
Like the wild Ass unclean, untaught, untamed,
Rude Nature's vigour working in their breast,
God's Judgement in their Destiny proclaimed,
Living to labour,—labouring to live,
Hopeless in Death—of Hell and Darkness named.
Living to labour,—labouring to live,
Hopeless in Death—of Hell and Darkness named.
Inventive Labour! cunning to deceive
Thyself, and skilful to no end but this,
Still to be doing, never to achieve—
Thyself, and skilful to no end but this,
Still to be doing, never to achieve—
What profitest?—though all, to such excess,
Man cannot utter it, be full of thee—
The Eye unsatisfied, the Ear no less—
Man cannot utter it, be full of thee—
The Eye unsatisfied, the Ear no less—
Sore travail, and the vainest vanity
Ordained to exercise the Sons of Men—
Who getteth Wisdom, where thy trials be?
Ordained to exercise the Sons of Men—
Who getteth Wisdom, where thy trials be?
—Lo, by his Anvil sits the Smith, and when
Pondering his work, the vapours of the fire
Waste his swart flesh—he sighs in his hot den,
Pondering his work, the vapours of the fire
Waste his swart flesh—he sighs in his hot den,
Noise in his ears, his eyes, nay—his desire,
Watchful to fashion, polish and complete,
The thing he makes for others to admire.
Watchful to fashion, polish and complete,
The thing he makes for others to admire.
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Not in the Council shall he have a seat,
Nor such as he—who know not to declare
Justice or Judgement, rude and indiscreet.
Nor such as he—who know not to declare
Justice or Judgement, rude and indiscreet.
—Behold, the Student labours in his sphere
To work out knowledge, yet doth Wisdom miss,
Who comes unforced, or is already there,
To work out knowledge, yet doth Wisdom miss,
Who comes unforced, or is already there,
Encradled with his infant energies
Whom she makes sacred. Subtle she and pure,
Yet permeating all complicities—
Whom she makes sacred. Subtle she and pure,
Yet permeating all complicities—
But shall be found in none of these, besure;
Self-resident, or in the Eternal Mind
Her dwelling doth invisibly endure.
Self-resident, or in the Eternal Mind
Her dwelling doth invisibly endure.
—Ask of the Abyss, where ye her place may find?
It crieth, not in me! 'Tis not in me,
Old Ocean saith; as empty is the Wind—
It crieth, not in me! 'Tis not in me,
Old Ocean saith; as empty is the Wind—
Hid from the Living is her sanctuary,
Hid from the Eyes of Heaven. Yet seek again—
Inquire of Hell and Death—they answer—We
Hid from the Eyes of Heaven. Yet seek again—
Inquire of Hell and Death—they answer—We
Heard thereof from afar, a rumour vain!
—God set her region, when He weighed the winds,
The lightning winged, and meted land and main.
—God set her region, when He weighed the winds,
The lightning winged, and meted land and main.
Seek it of Him, who is the Mind of minds—
Fear God, be wise; shun evil, would ye know:
This Rede who loves, he Understanding finds!
Fear God, be wise; shun evil, would ye know:
This Rede who loves, he Understanding finds!
—Why from that heaven-conversing Hill's calm brow,
Oh Sons of God!—permitted, were ye brought,
To look on other Beauty than what now
Oh Sons of God!—permitted, were ye brought,
To look on other Beauty than what now
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Enchants the pure of Soul, thus spirit-caught
To contemplate its Source—whence mixture strange,
Daughters of Labour with the Sons of Thought?
To contemplate its Source—whence mixture strange,
Daughters of Labour with the Sons of Thought?
—Wherefore but that the Eternal, in the change
And chance of place and season, may attain
Its perfect time, and universal range;
And chance of place and season, may attain
Its perfect time, and universal range;
And, like a Seed, expand itself, and gain
All elements its ministers, and make
Life's food, Life's self,..the sunshine and the rain—
All elements its ministers, and make
Life's food, Life's self,..the sunshine and the rain—
Or like a Spring, subdued awhile, awake
In many rivers from its hidden cell,
And bear back tribute to its parent Lake—
In many rivers from its hidden cell,
And bear back tribute to its parent Lake—
Waters of Life—Fruit incorruptible—
Who eateth of that Tree shall hunger not,
He thirsts no more who drinketh of that Well!
Who eateth of that Tree shall hunger not,
He thirsts no more who drinketh of that Well!
—Seth—Enos—Cainan—Mahalaleel devout,
Jared and Enoch and Methuselah,
Lamech and Noah, crown the Crest about
Jared and Enoch and Methuselah,
Lamech and Noah, crown the Crest about
Of that pure Hill, from Cain to Naamah,—
Who ministered at fountains, firm in faith,
Bitter as Marah, shut as Meribah!
Who ministered at fountains, firm in faith,
Bitter as Marah, shut as Meribah!
—Ye Patriarchs of a people, who, in the death
Of fear, and fear of Death, with wrath were rife,
And heeded all the heart imagineth—
Of fear, and fear of Death, with wrath were rife,
And heeded all the heart imagineth—
Yet heavenly visions pierced the veil of life,
And opened up Eternity, and showed
Superior Wisdom reconciling strife,
And opened up Eternity, and showed
Superior Wisdom reconciling strife,
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And all complete in Him, and re-endowed
With majesty of manhood most divine,
Fulness of Godhead bodily bestowed—
With majesty of manhood most divine,
Fulness of Godhead bodily bestowed—
Oh! then the floods might fall, the yeasty brine
Boil o'er, the fountains of the abyss upleap,
Broken, and in mid-air with heaven combine
Boil o'er, the fountains of the abyss upleap,
Broken, and in mid-air with heaven combine
Ruin,—'till boundless Ocean had the sweep
Of the huge World, save the Ark divine that bore
Her Remnant o'er the universal Deep!
Of the huge World, save the Ark divine that bore
Her Remnant o'er the universal Deep!
And, when at length that Sea had found a shore,
The Bow of Promise arched appeased heaven,
And earth baptized rose lovelier than before,
The Bow of Promise arched appeased heaven,
And earth baptized rose lovelier than before,
From Deluge rescued, and with Man forgiven,
Who worshipped on her bosom; while supreme
God smiled on him whom he had lately riven,
Who worshipped on her bosom; while supreme
God smiled on him whom he had lately riven,
Buried in baptism, dying to redeem.—
And so the Universe itself careers,
Invisibly directed, o'er the stream
And so the Universe itself careers,
Invisibly directed, o'er the stream
Of Time, mysterious Fabrick, with its spheres
Of various Being, Orbits and Degrees,
In storm and calm, hopes manifold and fears
Of various Being, Orbits and Degrees,
In storm and calm, hopes manifold and fears
As infinite, winged by thy blast or breeze,
Eternity—surrounding like a sky
Its unintelligible voyages!
Eternity—surrounding like a sky
Its unintelligible voyages!
Yet, ever as it moves, doth audibly
The hovering spirit o'er thy Deep proclaim,
Will, Action, Law, Order, and Deity!
The hovering spirit o'er thy Deep proclaim,
Will, Action, Law, Order, and Deity!
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—And thou, thou After-World, whose birth outcame
From the tumultuous Waters, canst thou not,
In all thy progresses, attest the same?
From the tumultuous Waters, canst thou not,
In all thy progresses, attest the same?
—Hear, who hath ears to hear; and Fortune's knot,
Fate's Mystery, unravel and unseal,
Of Man and Men the Destiny and Lot.
Fate's Mystery, unravel and unseal,
Of Man and Men the Destiny and Lot.
The Work and Travail and the strong Appeal
Of Indigence on Industry for aid,
Evoke heroick Power, prophetick Zeal,
Of Indigence on Industry for aid,
Evoke heroick Power, prophetick Zeal,
Divine Emprise, Endeavour undismayed;
Until the Sum of Generation be
Complete, and the great recompence appaid.
Until the Sum of Generation be
Complete, and the great recompence appaid.
—Meantime on high Resolve, Activity,
And Will judicious, still Success awaits;
Nothing too high, nothing too low for thee,
And Will judicious, still Success awaits;
Nothing too high, nothing too low for thee,
Suiting thy station, who wouldst govern states,
Win royal greatness, or endiadem
Thy brow with laurel-wreath that antedates
Win royal greatness, or endiadem
Thy brow with laurel-wreath that antedates
Man's Immortality, or win the gem
Of Independence for thy household hearth,
And 'mong the Citizens be chief of them.
Of Independence for thy household hearth,
And 'mong the Citizens be chief of them.
The Work thou workest is a germ whose birth
Is as thyself for others, theirs for thee,
For future time, not this; for heaven, not earth—
Is as thyself for others, theirs for thee,
For future time, not this; for heaven, not earth—
Communion stronger than Necessity,
Love 'midst Contention reconciling all,
Not surer Fate, not Providence more free.
Love 'midst Contention reconciling all,
Not surer Fate, not Providence more free.
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—For thee waked Adam into life. Recall
The great and wise into remembrance; they
Wrought for their race—for thee; the unnamed and small
The great and wise into remembrance; they
Wrought for their race—for thee; the unnamed and small
Wrought for their race—for thee. Thou hailest the day
Of their wished harvest, on the level field
Treadst in the steps where first they ploughed the way.
Of their wished harvest, on the level field
Treadst in the steps where first they ploughed the way.
They have well-done. So to thy Brother yield
Wisdom and Bliss, and for thy seed complete
The noble dome where they surceased to build!
Wisdom and Bliss, and for thy seed complete
The noble dome where they surceased to build!
And then died they? die thou, and death defeat;
Perfect the task thou burnedst to fulfil,
In a happier state—thou art eternal yet—
Perfect the task thou burnedst to fulfil,
In a happier state—thou art eternal yet—
Death ends it not,—it is eternal still.
O'er Nature's wreck and Death's subdued ire,
Hovers at ease th' emancipated Will!
O'er Nature's wreck and Death's subdued ire,
Hovers at ease th' emancipated Will!
—Who of this Converse,..through the Angelick Quire,
And Spirits made perfect, mingling, as it may,
In three-fold union, the thrice-heavenly fire
And Spirits made perfect, mingling, as it may,
In three-fold union, the thrice-heavenly fire
With the infernal, and the paler ray
Of earth's more shadowy speech,..the interwoof
Sudden disparts?—how welcome?—Let them say
Whose hymn thus hails the Visitant in proof.Of earth's more shadowy speech,..the interwoof
Sudden disparts?—how welcome?—Let them say
| The Descent into Hell | |