Gabriel monologue (Act 3) — Vondel's Lucifer

The woman, who hath Adam thus seduced, God threatens with the pains of tears and travail, And her subjection, and the man with care And labor, sweat and arduous slavery; 550 The soil, where man, at last, shall find his grave, With noxious weeds and great calamities; The Serpent, for the sly misuse thus made Of his most subtle tongue, shall, o'er the ground, Upon his belly creep, and live alone On dust and earth. But as a comfort sure, In such a misery, to poor mankind God promises, in truth, out of the seed And blood of the first woman, to raise up The Strong One, who shall crush the Serpent's head, 560 This Dragon vile, through deadly hate, by time Nor yet eternity to be removed. And though this raging monster make attempt To bite His heel, yet shall the Hero win; And from the strife shall come with honors crowned. I come, in the name of Him, the Highest One, To thee this sad disaster to reveal. Forthwith all things in wonted order place, Ere they, for us, shall further mischief brew.