Belzebub monologue (Act 1) — Vondel's Lucifer

O! Stadtholder of God's superior Powers, Alas! we hear too well, amid the praise Of choristers, a discord that makes sad The feast eterne. The charge of Gabriel Is clear. It needs no tongue of Cherubim To unfold its sense. Nor was there need to send 40 Apollion below, a nearer view To gain of Adam's realm beneath the moon. How gloriously the Godhead dealt with him Doth well appear. He hath, for his defence, Even given a life-guard, many thousands strong, While He supports his rank and dignity, As if he were the supreme Chief of Spirits. The massive gate of Heaven stands ajar For Adam's seed. An earth-worm that hath crawled Out of the dust--out of a clod of clay 50 Defies thy power. Thou shalt yet man behold O'er thee exalted, so that thou shalt fall Upon thy knees and there, abased, adore, With drooping eyes, his lofty eminence, His power and high authority. He shall, When glorified by the Omnipotent, Yet seat himself, even by the side of God, Empowered to reign beyond the farthest rounds And endless circles of eternity. That, from the bounds of time and space set free, 60 Revolve unceasingly around one God, Who is their centre and circumference. What clearer proof need we to see that God Shall glorify mankind, and us degrade? For we were born to serve, and man, to rule. Then henceforth put the sceptre from thy hand: There is another one below, who reigns, Or soon shall reign. Put off thy morning rays And wreaths of light before this sun, or else Have care to bring him in with songs of joy 70 And triumph and with honors full divine. We soon shall see the Heavens changed in state. Behold! the stars look out and from their paths Retreat, aglow with longing to receive With reverence this new and coming light.