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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| XVII. | XVII. THE HOLY OF HOLIES. |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
185
XVII. THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
Moriah! holy hill! ascend by thee
The pure of heart, the clean of hand—before
Thy “Beautiful Gate,” a sainted Company.
The pure of heart, the clean of hand—before
Thy “Beautiful Gate,” a sainted Company.
Michael the sacred ramparts hovers o'er,
The Angel of God's presence. Thus he cries,
Thus hails the Myriads, friends of God of yore;
The Angel of God's presence. Thus he cries,
Thus hails the Myriads, friends of God of yore;
—“Zion! that comes with tidings good, arise!
Now get thee up into the mountain high;
Jerusalem! lift up thy voice, thine eyes;
Now get thee up into the mountain high;
Jerusalem! lift up thy voice, thine eyes;
Lift up thy voice with strength, and fearlessly—
‘Behold your God!’—say to the Isles around.”
—Thus from above those Hosts are welcomed by
‘Behold your God!’—say to the Isles around.”
—Thus from above those Hosts are welcomed by
God's Angel; and beneath perceive, as bound
For distant bourn, four Cherub heralds wait,
And question of them, what? and whence? propound.
For distant bourn, four Cherub heralds wait,
And question of them, what? and whence? propound.
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—They, of whom thus was asked, before the gate
Of the blest City stood. Four Chariots they,
Vision whereof doth Iddo's Son relate,
Of the blest City stood. Four Chariots they,
Vision whereof doth Iddo's Son relate,
With Steeds, red, black and white, grisled and bay;
The Angel of God's presence spake again;
—“These are the Spirits four who stand alway
The Angel of God's presence spake again;
—“These are the Spirits four who stand alway
Before the Lord, and from between the twain
Of brazen mountains, firm as his decrees,
(Swift Powers of Heaven,) like rushing Winds, amain,
Of brazen mountains, firm as his decrees,
(Swift Powers of Heaven,) like rushing Winds, amain,
Go forth to do His pleasure. Such are these.
Behold! yon two wend toward the South, and call
Her people forth; that seeks the North to appease
Behold! yon two wend toward the South, and call
Her people forth; that seeks the North to appease
His Spirit there, constrained in wonderous thrall:
But to the Earth these Bay have sought to go;
Get hence, pervade the Earth.” So vanish all.
But to the Earth these Bay have sought to go;
Get hence, pervade the Earth.” So vanish all.
—And now the assembled Hosts advance, and glow
Into a hymn as they ascend the Hill,
In numbers without number, singing so.
Into a hymn as they ascend the Hill,
In numbers without number, singing so.
“Glad was I when they said to me, We will
Go up into the Temple of the Lord;
Lo, we shall dwell in Salem.”—Thus, until
Go up into the Temple of the Lord;
Lo, we shall dwell in Salem.”—Thus, until
They reached the sacred gates, did they record
Their raptures in no mortal verse; then strain
Of higher mood they raised and bolder word—
Their raptures in no mortal verse; then strain
Of higher mood they raised and bolder word—
—“Attired with majesty, the Lord doth reign,
And girt with strength. The World immoveably
Is stablished, and His Throne shall aye remain!
And girt with strength. The World immoveably
Is stablished, and His Throne shall aye remain!
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Thou art for ever! The Floods have lifted high,
O Lord! the Floods have lifted high their voice,
The Floods lift up their billows mightily—
O Lord! the Floods have lifted high their voice,
The Floods lift up their billows mightily—
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise
Of many waters, stronger than the seas—
Thy Word is sure—let all the Earth rejoice!”
Of many waters, stronger than the seas—
Thy Word is sure—let all the Earth rejoice!”
—Now those innumerable Companies
Of the Diluvian and the After-time,
According to their orders and degrees,
Of the Diluvian and the After-time,
According to their orders and degrees,
Enter the cloistered space. Men of each clime,
Of every creed, the righteous and the good,
Have entered now the nine-fold Gates sublime.
Of every creed, the righteous and the good,
Have entered now the nine-fold Gates sublime.
There in one Court that great Assembly stood,
Inner as outer, for the Wall was not,
That made distinction of belief and blood,
Inner as outer, for the Wall was not,
That made distinction of belief and blood,
Partition obsolete—a catholick spot!
Advancing thence, they pass the Portico,
A priestly band, and by one spirit taught,
Advancing thence, they pass the Portico,
A priestly band, and by one spirit taught,
Wherewith inspired and guided on they go,
Nor pause 'till they the Halidom have hailed—
And lo! the Glory of the Holiest! Lo!
Nor pause 'till they the Halidom have hailed—
And lo! the Glory of the Holiest! Lo!
The Glory of the Holiest is unveiled!
The Veil, the Veil, by earthquake rent and riven,
To publick view the Holiest is detailed!
The Veil, the Veil, by earthquake rent and riven,
To publick view the Holiest is detailed!
Holiest of Sanctuaries, Shadow of Heaven,
Where God is seen in beatifick Vision;
And that on earth of this, whereof was given
Where God is seen in beatifick Vision;
And that on earth of this, whereof was given
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To Moses in the Mount sweet intuition,
Entrancing there the meekest of mankind,
In colloquy divine and dream elysian.
Entrancing there the meekest of mankind,
In colloquy divine and dream elysian.
—The Glory! oh, the Glory! All the Mind
Of all the Earth in vain thereon would gaze,
Wherein Messiah is in Mercy shrined,
Of all the Earth in vain thereon would gaze,
Wherein Messiah is in Mercy shrined,
But that his Mercy tempers the full blaze
Of godlike Majesty, from whose far stream
Recoil the Nations, with immense amaze,
Of godlike Majesty, from whose far stream
Recoil the Nations, with immense amaze,
And prostrate fall, adoring the Supreme.
There sate the God-like on his sapphire Throne,
Exalted o'er the sky-crowned Cherubim,
There sate the God-like on his sapphire Throne,
Exalted o'er the sky-crowned Cherubim,
And there-within the ambient Amber shone,
And gloriously the Bow of Promise wove,
About the Son of Man, its blended zone,
And gloriously the Bow of Promise wove,
About the Son of Man, its blended zone,
Arching the Filial Deity of Love;
Upon the obedient firmanent he trod,
Stretched forth crystalline o'er the heads above
Upon the obedient firmanent he trod,
Stretched forth crystalline o'er the heads above
Of fulminating Cherubim, and awed
The People with his Power, whenas they viewed
The perfect Man, the Coeternal God.
The People with his Power, whenas they viewed
The perfect Man, the Coeternal God.
Beneath his Coming were the Heavens subdued,
Borne on the wings of Angels, folded now;
The Chariot of their Maker. So they stood.
Borne on the wings of Angels, folded now;
The Chariot of their Maker. So they stood.
So also stood the involved Wheels below,
Great fourfold orbs irradiate all with eyes,
And elevated high, terrifick show,
Great fourfold orbs irradiate all with eyes,
And elevated high, terrifick show,
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Up to the dreadful cope that canopies
The Almighty, populous and hovered o'er,
With Seraphim, on flaming ministries.
The Almighty, populous and hovered o'er,
With Seraphim, on flaming ministries.
—But, on the footstool of his Throne before,
With humble heart a contrite Sinner lay,
Adoring him whose blood he witnessed pour,
With humble heart a contrite Sinner lay,
Adoring him whose blood he witnessed pour,
And from his cross, upon this selfsame day,
His fellow Sufferer for his Saviour owned,
And in that blood washed all his sins away,
His fellow Sufferer for his Saviour owned,
And in that blood washed all his sins away,
And his unrighteousness with faith atoned.
Swathed in the penal robes of sunken shame,
Silent he prayed to Him who sate enthroned—
Swathed in the penal robes of sunken shame,
Silent he prayed to Him who sate enthroned—
He pleaded nothing, nor could plead; no claim
Had he for pardon; and the Arch-Enemy
Summed his transgressions and denounced the same.
Had he for pardon; and the Arch-Enemy
Summed his transgressions and denounced the same.
There, in the Presence of the Lord Most High,
The Adversary stood, and urged his plea,
Disputing yet for Death 'gainst Victory.
The Adversary stood, and urged his plea,
Disputing yet for Death 'gainst Victory.
—“The Soul that sinneth, it shall die,”—said he—
Thus glozcd the Tempter and Accuser, lies
Founding on Truth, pronounced maliciously.
Thus glozcd the Tempter and Accuser, lies
Founding on Truth, pronounced maliciously.
His tongue was cunning mischief to devise,
And keen of edge for guile's infernal deed,
Satanick craft of vain logomachies.
And keen of edge for guile's infernal deed,
Satanick craft of vain logomachies.
—“He stood on Sinai, and the chosen seed
Admonished of his Law, in thunder spoken,
And the loud trumpet bade His people heed;
Admonished of his Law, in thunder spoken,
And the loud trumpet bade His people heed;
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And Him the lightning-terrours girt, in token
Both Curse and Death should swift pursue and smite
The Man by whom their prescript should be broken.
Both Curse and Death should swift pursue and smite
The Man by whom their prescript should be broken.
Is not the Sentence just; and mine, by right,
The power of Death? What hindereth then that I
Resume my own? if Reason rule, not Might.
The power of Death? What hindereth then that I
Resume my own? if Reason rule, not Might.
The violated Laws for Vengeance cry!
If one—then all. Adoring what he stole,
He sacrificed, in fond idolatry,
If one—then all. Adoring what he stole,
He sacrificed, in fond idolatry,
Thereto his sacred and immortal soul,
Dishonouring his Father in the act,
Slaying the Tree that bore him, branch and bole,
Dishonouring his Father in the act,
Slaying the Tree that bore him, branch and bole,
Remorseless Matricide, and with the fact
Charging her cold remains—false witness, worse
Than he who from his Neighbour would detract,
Charging her cold remains—false witness, worse
Than he who from his Neighbour would detract,
His Mother's teaching who did thus rehearse!
What need of more? all these his crime includes—
His Maker's name who doubts he oft would curse,
What need of more? all these his crime includes—
His Maker's name who doubts he oft would curse,
His Sabbaths break, and have his lustful moods?
Bring me the Thief who can these faults forego—
'Tis clear he coveted another's goods—
Bring me the Thief who can these faults forego—
'Tis clear he coveted another's goods—
What! was the smoking Mountain but a show?
I stand for Moses, and his written law,
And plead it to the letter. Judge thou so!”
I stand for Moses, and his written law,
And plead it to the letter. Judge thou so!”
—While Satan pled, in penitential awe,
The Thief breathed fervently his silent prayer,
Heard by his ear whose eye his spirit saw.
The Thief breathed fervently his silent prayer,
Heard by his ear whose eye his spirit saw.
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—“Satan”—replied the Judge—“Why art thou here?
What Sinai claimed did Golgotha fulfil,
And Death even died with the Incarnate there.
What Sinai claimed did Golgotha fulfil,
And Death even died with the Incarnate there.
For Moses' body why disputest still?
God's word hath double edge, destroys to save,
And makes alive even while it seems to kill.”
God's word hath double edge, destroys to save,
And makes alive even while it seems to kill.”
Whereat th' Archfiend exclaimed—“Laws then but rave:
But by the Form can we the Spirit know,
But by the Letter they expression have—
But by the Form can we the Spirit know,
But by the Letter they expression have—
If that uncertain be, must be even so
The truth it represents;..for who can see,
The Spirit formless, wordless?..who can show?”
The truth it represents;..for who can see,
The Spirit formless, wordless?..who can show?”
—“Yet,” said the Word eternal, “Truth shall be
Known by the Spirit only, although read
By the dishonest most dishonestly—
Known by the Spirit only, although read
By the dishonest most dishonestly—
The Spirit of the thing interpreted
Is that which doth interpret, they accord—
If that be faithful, error none need dread—
Is that which doth interpret, they accord—
If that be faithful, error none need dread—
Get thee behind me, Satan! Thus the Lord
Rebukes thee!”—At these words, the Accuser fell,
As lightning flashed from heaven; the Heaven abhorred,
From God's right hand, evanished into Hell.Rebukes thee!”—At these words, the Accuser fell,
As lightning flashed from heaven; the Heaven abhorred,
| The Descent into Hell | |