Vondel's Lucifer

Luciferians. CHORUS OF ANGELS.

Luciferians. How oft belief proves but delusive hope! Alas! how things have changed. We deemed no rank Than ours more happy in this rising Realm,-- Yea, thought our state even like unto God's own, More blessed than Earth and e'er unchangeable.-- Till Gabriel met us with his trumpet bold, And from the golden port the hosts astounded With this new-made decree, that shall deprive The Angels of the good, the highest good, First from the Godhead's breast to them outpoured. 10 How is our glory dimmed! We now behold The beauty and the dazzling radiance That streamed so proudly from our ancient splendor In darkness quenched. We see the Hierarchies Of Heaven thrown into confusion strange, And man to such a rank, to such proud height Exalted, that we tremble even as slaves Beneath his sway. O unexpected blow And change of lot! Ah! comrades in one grief. Ah! come and gather round in groups and sigh 20 And weep with us together here. Tis time To rend this shining raiment, meet for feasts, To voice our plaints; for none can this forbid. Our gladness fades and our first sorrow dawns. Alas! alas! ye choristers of Heaven, O brothers, tear those garlands from your brows And change the blithesome livery of joy For sorrow's gruesome garb. Oh! droop your eyes. Seek shadows even as we; for sorrow shuns The light. Let each one raise his voice to ours 30 And utter fearful plaints. Drown in your grief; Sink down in mournful thought. To voice your woe, The burdened heart relieves. Now joy to groan: For groaning heals the smart. Now shout aloud, As with one voice, and follow these our woes: Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Chorus of Angels.

What plaint arises here, unpleasant sound? The Heavens shrink back in fright. This air on high Hath not been wont to hear the wail of woe On sad notes sobbing through these joyful vaults. 40 Nay, wreaths and palms and loud triumphal song And tuneful harps are far more meet for us. What can this be? Who crouches here with head Down-hanging, sad, forlorn, and needlessly Oppressed? Who gave them food for grief? Who can The reason guess? O fellow choristers, Come then, 'tis needful that we ask the cause Of their lament and this dark cloud of woe, That robs our splendor of its radiance And dims and dulls the bright translucent glow 50 Of the eternal feast. Heaven is a court Where joy and peace and all delights abound. Grief never nestled 'neath these lucid eaves, Nor woeful pain. Ah! fellow choristers. Oh! come, console them in their heaviness.

Luciferian.

Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Chorus. Companions dear in our high happiness. Oh! brothers, why? Oh! sons of the glad Light, Why thus depressed at heart? Who gave you cause Thus to complain and thus to mourn? Ye had 60 Begun to lift your heads aloft to Heaven, To bloom amid the day, whose lustre streams From God's deep glow. The Heavens brought you forth To mount in rapid flight from firmament To firmament beyond, from court to court; To flit amid the shadeless light content, In one delightful life, an endless feast; And e'er to taste the heavenly manna sweet Of God's eternity, among your friends In peaceful joys. Oh! why? This is not meet 70 For dwellers of the Spirit world. Oh! nay. Nor meet for Dominations, Powers, and Thrones, Nor for the ruling Heavens. Ye gorge your grief, And sit perplexed and dumb. Give voice to your Necessity: reveal it to your friends. Reveal your heart-sore, that we may relieve.

[Illustration: "Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?"]

Luciferians. O brothers, can ye ask with earnestness Why we thus grieve? Did ye also not hear What Gabriel's trump revealed: how we through this New-given command, down from our state are thrust 80 Into a slavery of Earth and of As many souls as from a little blood And seed may haply spring? What have we done Amiss? how erred, that God a water-bubble, Blown full of vapid air, exalts. His sons, The Angels, to abase?--a bastardy Exalts, formed out of clay and dust? But now We stood as trusty pillars, consecrate Unto His court, adorned our various place As faithful members of His Realm; and now, 90 In one brief hour, we are expelled and shorn Of all our dignity,--oppressed, alas! Too sternly and with too much heaviness. The charter and the primal privilege Received from God are now by Him repealed. And there where we had thought to rule with God And under God, shall now this Adam reign, Triumphant in his seed and blood forever. The sun of Spirits hath set for them too soon. Ah I comrades, hear our sorrow and our woes. 100 Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Chorus. And doth the charge that Gabriel brought from God You thus disturb? This but a frenzy seems. Who dares to reprehend the high command? Who so presumptuous himself against The Godhead to oppose? To give to God His honor and His Right, to rest upon His law, this is our bounden charge. Who dares To enter here with God's Omnipotence In such dispute? His word and nod and will 110 Serve as our law and pace and precept firm. Who contradiction breathes doth break the seal Of the Most High. Obedience doth please The Ruler of this Realm far more than smell Of incense or divinest harmonies. Ye are (oh! be ye not so vain, we pray, Of boasted lineage) created more For such subjection than for rulership. O brothers, cease this wailing and lament. And bow beneath the yoke of the Power Supreme. 120

Luciferians. Say rather 'neath the yoke of swarming ants.

Chorus. Whene'er it pleases Him, ye should submit.

Luciferians. What have we done amiss? The reasons tell.

Chorus. Amiss? Impatience doth God's crown offend.

Luciferians. Through sorrow we complain, through discontent.

Chorus. Ye should instead your will resign to God.

Luciferians. We rest upon the Rights given us by law.

Chorus. Subject to God your Rights and law remain.

Luciferians. How can the greater to the lesser yield?

Chorus. Who is resigned--to serve God is to rule. 130

Luciferians. Most freely, let but man rule there below.

Chorus. Though small his lot, man lives in sweet content.

Luciferians. But man is destined for a higher lot.

Chorus. Ages shall come and go ere this shall be.

Luciferians. An age below is but an instant here.

Chorus. Thus be it, if it be command supreme.

Luciferians. Far better were this mystery ne'er disclosed.

Chorus. God in His kindness thus reveals His heart.

Luciferians. Yet kinder towards mankind, now placed above.

Chorus. Allied with God's own nature, wonderful! 140

Luciferians. O Angels, would that God did pair with you!

Chorus. What pleases God is ever rightly praised.

Luciferians. How could He thus exalt mankind so high?

Chorus. Whatever God does, or yet may do, is well.

Luciferians. How man shall dim the crown the Angels wear!

Chorus. All Angels shall the God incarnate praise.

Luciferians. And worship clay and dust down in the dust?

Chorus. And praise God's name with odors and with song.

Luciferians. And praise mankind, constrained by higher Powers?

Apollion. BELIAL. CHORUS.

Apollion. What murmur this? Dost hear a strife of tongues? 150

Belial. What throngs lament here, plunged in sable hue. With veils girt round the breast and loins? None would Believe that one among the Spirits, amid The joys unending and the feast eterne, Could mourn, did we not see this wretched throng Cast down in woeful grief. What great misfortune, What dire disaster them disturbs? Oh! how? O brothers, what doth cause this sad lament? Who hath offended you? Your Rights we'll guard. O brothers, speak. Why miserable? the cause? 160

Chorus. They make complaint of man's approaching state And triumph, as proclaimed by Gabriel's trumpet; That he outranks the Angels and that God Shall join His Being to Adam's--all the Spirits Thus made subordinate unto man's sway. This briefly, clearly, states their sorrow's cause.

Apollion. 'Tis hard such inequality to bear.

Belial. It almost goes beyond our utmost strength.

Chorus. We pray your aid this difference to compose.

Apollion. What remedy? How can we them appease? 170 They rest secure upon their lawful Rights.

Chorus. What Rights? The same power that ordaineth laws Hath might to abrogate those laws as well.

Apollion. How thus can Justice unjust verdicts speak?

Chorus. Correct God's verdicts, thou! Write thou His laws!

Belial. The child doth follow in his father's steps.

Chorus. To walk where He hath trod is Him to heed.

Apollion. The change in God's own will doth cause this strife.

Chorus. While one He setteth on a throne. He casts Another down: the one least worthy must 180 Unto the son more favored then submit.

Belial. Equality of grace would best become The Godhead. Now the darkness dares to dim The light celestial, while the sons of night Defy the day itself.

Chorus. Whatever doth breathe May rightly the Creator praises bring, Who each his being gave and unto each Gave his degree. Whene'er it pleaseth Him, The element of earth shall change to air, To water, or to fire; the Heaven itself, 190 To Earth; an Angel, to a beast; mankind, To Angels or to something new and strange. One Power rules over all, and thus can make The proudest tower become the humblest base. The least received is in pure money given. Here is no choice. Here wit and knowledge fail. In such unlikeness doth God's glory lie. So see we with things lightest weighed those things Of greatest weight, which thus e'en heavier grow: Thus beauty fairer glows o'er beauty glossed, 200 Hue cast o'er hue, the diamond splendor over The blue turquoise; so see 'gainst odors odors, The light intense against the glimmer dim, The galaxies unto the stars opposed. Our place within the universal plan Thus to disturb, into confusion all Things throwing that once God did there dispose And place; and all the creature may arrange: This is mis-shapen to the inmost joint. Cease, then, this murmuring. The Godhead can 210 The state of Angels miss; nor aided is By others' service; for the glorious Realm Eterne nor music needs, nor incense, nor These odors swung, nor harmonies of praise. Ungrateful Spirits, be still: your base tongues curb. Ye know not God's design. Be ye content With your established lot, and unto God And Gabriel's decree yourselves submit.

Apollion. Is then the high state of the ruling Spirits So changeable? They stand on slippery ground, 220 How pitiable their lot! how miserable!

Chorus. Because a lesser in this Realm shall reign? We shall remain as now: how are we wronged?

Belial. They are the nighest God, their refuge sure And Father: they upon His breast have lain: Now lies a lesser one more close than they.

Chorus. For one to grieve o'er others' bliss shows lack Of love, and scents of envy and of pride. Let not this stain upon the purity And brightness of the Angels thus remain. 230 To strive in concord, love, and faithfulness. The one against the other here, doth please The Father, who all things in ranks ordained.

Belial. So they maintain the rank the Heavens them gave; But hardly can endure man's slave to be.

Chorus. That's disobedience, and from their rank They thus shall fall away. Thou seest how, too, The hosts of Heaven, in golden armor clad And in appointed ranks arrayed, keep watch, Each in his turn; how this star sets and that 240 Ascends; and how not one of all on high The lustre dulls of others there more clear, Nor yet of those more dim; how some stars, too, A greater, others lesser orbits trace: Those nearest to Heaven most swift and those beyond More slowly turn: yet midst this all, among These inequalities of light, degree, And rank, of orbit, kind, and pace, thou seest No discord, envy, strife. The Voice of Him Who ruleth all this measured cadence leads, 250 That listens and Him faithfully obeys.

Belial. The firmament remains, as God decreed. Had it not pleased Him thus to disarrange The state of Angels, they would not, as now, Awake the stars from their harmonious peace, Nor thus disturb with plaints these quiet courts,

Chorus. Beware lest thou this discontent shouldst flame.

Apollion. We would this low'ring cloud might leave our sky Before it bursts and sets the vast expanse Of Heaven in flames. They grow in numbers. Who 260 Shall them appease? Who cometh hitherward?

Luciferians. BELZEBUB. CHORUS.

Luciferians. Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Belzebub. All goeth well: we gain increase. In grief The Angels now assemble, and in woe Their heads they droop together. What doth move You. Angel hosts, with sighs and groans to mourn? Can, then, the bloom of happiness thus fade? In peace all to possess that Spirit can wish From God, the Giver--doth even this content You not? Ye therefore stand in your own light. 270 And cherish mournfulness, whose cause I can Nor fathom nor discern. Come, cease your groans, Nor longer tear your standards and your robes Without a cause; but clear your clouded face And darkened forehead with new radiance, O children of the Light! The voices shrill. Whose deep-resounding songs the Godhead praise, Grow faint, displeased that ye should mingle with Their godlike melody such spurious sounds And bastard tones. Your bitter moan doth mar 280 The rhythm of the celestial palace till These vaults re-echo with your woe. The wail Of sorrow through the highest arches rolls. From sphere to sphere: nor without crime can ye By such sad discord thus the growth disturb Of God's great name and glorious majesty.

Luciferians. Chief Lord, whose potent word unnumbered bands Would call to arms, thou comest most opportune To soothe our misery and to prevent By thy great power this threatened injury 290 And undeserved disgrace. Shall Gabriel The sacred crown of the holy Angels place On Adam's head: through Adam's son and heir Crush God's first-born? 'Twere better far had we Not been made ere the splendor-dazzling sun His chariot mounted and in Heaven shone. The Godhead chose in vain the Spirits as guards Of these immobile courts, if thus He shall. Against their vested Rights, Himself oppose; Who guiltless to resistance are provoked 300 By dire impatience and necessity. We were rejoicing here, enraptured with The praise to God outpoured, were bowing low In deep humility, and worshipping 'Mid burning censers with devotion flamed:-- All-quivering with the rippling notes, the Heavens, From choir to choir, unto the sound gave ear-- Yea, melted slowly in delicious joy, With song and harp enchanted--when the trump Of Gabriel 'mid the rising harmony 310 Blew that decree, and midst the glory fell This sudden thunderbolt of night. There lay We all amazed, dispersed, with gloom depressed. The gladness died away. Hushed were the throats Pregnant with praise. The youngest son was given The crown, the sceptre, and the blessing, while The eldest-born, thus disinherited, By Majesty Supreme, marked as a slave Remains. That is the part obedience, Devotion, love, and faithfulness receive 320 From God's rich treasury, that mourning brings; That wrath enkindles, and thoughts of revenge, Grown out of righteous hate, to smother in His blood this upstart man, ere he shall crush The Angels in their state; and they be forced, As base and craven slaves, with fetters bound, To run before his lash and at his will, Even as he keeps the beasts beneath in awe. Chief Lord, thou canst prevent our fall, and by Our charter yet preserve our Rights: protect 330 Us by thy power. We are prepared even now To follow 'neath thy standard and command, To be thy troops. Lead on. 'Tis glorious To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.

Belzebub. Methinks that thou art wrong. O King of Lords, 'Twere better to avert this. Give no cause For mutiny or discord: give no cause Whereby Rebellion grows. What remedy? How reconcile you with the Majesty Supreme?

Luciferians. He doth transgress the holy Right 340 Once to the Angels given.

Belzebub. The lawful Rights Of subjects to transgress can them inflame, And fires enkindle that the very air Would soon consume. How poor a recompense For stainless faith! How shall we best conduct Ourselves amid this mournful hopelessness?

Luciferians. 'Twill comfort us one bold attempt to make.

Belzebub. What venture this? Adopt a softer pace.

Luciferians. This violence needs, compulsion, and revenge.

Belzebub. We might, mayhap, a safer method choose. 350

Luciferians. Delay would bring us here not gain, but loss.

Belzebub. One should his wrong with reason understand.

Luciferians. Reason doth publish here: we are oppressed.

Belzebub. With prayers ye first and best might gain your end.

Luciferians. This plot to bare would foil its execution.

Belzebub. Scarce can such plot be hidden from the light.

Luciferians. We're gaining fast, and stand in equipoise.

Belzebub. Their chance is best who with God's Marshal fight.

Luciferians. This can be righted ne'er by fright nor moan.

Belzebub. But what say Belial and Apollion? 360

Luciferians. Both are with us, and strengthen our array.

Belzebub. How gained ye them? 'Tis far, indeed, progressed.

Luciferians. The Heavens flow toward us now with teeming floods.

Belzebub. Trust not in armies formed of wavering throngs.

Luciferians. Even now advantage towers, and danger flees.

Belzebub. Who rashly dares should not advantage claim.

Luciferians. All on the issue hangs. Before the event All judgment errs. The gathered hosts demand Thee as their leader and their sovran chief In this our expedition.

Belzebub. But who could 370 Be so bereft of wit as to defend Your righteous cause, and by such course provoke The battled hosts of Heaven? Aye, to yourselves Be ye more merciful. Exempt me from This charge. I choose to hold a neutral place. Deliberation will yet make things right.

Chorus. O! brothers, hear. Through mediators take Unto God's Throne your supplications sad. More ground is won by mediation than Rebellion's steep ascent. With coolness act: 380 With reason and deliberation weigh. We will on high your Rights defend. Be calm Ye offend the crown of God, the Lord of Lords.

Luciferians. And ye, our vested Right: be ye less bold. Lord Belzebub, advance our lawful claim. Place all the legions now in battle line. We'll follow thee together.

Belzebub. Stay, O think, Ye flaming zealots, think, I pray you, farther. I will precede you to the palace grand, Unto the Throne, and there our Rights obtain 390 Through peaceful means and mutual covenants, Made voluntarily and uncompelled.

Chorus. Be still! be still! thou art by Michael spied.

[Illustration: "Be still! Be still! thou art by Michael spied!"]

Michael. BELZEBUB. LUCIFERIANS.

Michael. Where are we? What great noise arises here? This seems a court of tumult and dispute, Instead of peace, obedience, and faith. Prince Belzebub, what reasons move thee thus, Head of rebellious hordes, to aid a cause So pregnant with such godless treachery, Against that God the refuge of us all? 400

Belzebub. Mercy, O Michael! Deem us worthy words Explanatory, ere in zealous wrath Thou dost thy sentence for God's honor pass. Impute to us no guilt.

Michael. Your innocence Establish. I shall patiently attend.

Belzebub. The assemblage of so many thousand troops, Disturbed by God's command, through Gabriel's trumpet From out the Throne of Thrones proclaimed, demands Some mediation that shall quench this flame; Wherefore I came to gain a better sense 410 Of the ground of their complaints, to quell as best I could this mutiny. But they began With frantic haste and raving recklessness To force their clamorous claims upon me. I Then made attempt their forces to disperse (Let to my faith these faithful choristers Their witness bear), to counsel that they pour Their grievances before God's Throne; but 'mid This tumult and this clamor, vain my zeal, As if to calm a sea swollen to the skies. 420 Let now the Field-marshal lead on; we are Prepared to follow, if he see a way To smooth this difference.

Michael. Who dares oppose Himself to God and His most holy will? And who so bold these warlike banners thus To plant within the virgin Realm of peace? If ye through envoys wish to treat on high, For your defence, we will your cause assume And mediate with God that He forgive: Or else beware your heads! This ne'er succeeds. 430

Luciferians. And wouldst thou then oppress our holy Right By force of arms? Unto the Field-marshal They were not given for such purpose dire. We rest alone upon our vested Rights. Most bold and strong is conscious righteousness.

Michael. Least righteous he who would rebel 'gainst God.

Luciferians. We serve God. He has for His service found Us ever worthy. Let the Heavens remain In their first state. Nor let the honored sons Of the Fatherland celestial thus be placed 440 Beneath mankind in rank and dignity. For such disgrace the Thrones and Hierarchies, The Powers and Dominations, high and low, Of Spirits, of Angels, and of great Archangels, Shall ne'er endure. Ah! nay, although, forsooth, Thy lightning spear should pierce them, breast on breast, Through their most faithful hearts. From Adam's race We never shall such bold defiance brook.

Michael. I will that each depart, even as I wave My hand. He God and Godhead doth oppose. 450 Who now, forsworn, 'gainst us shall take his stand. Depart unto your posts. That is the duty Of soldiers and of loyal sons of Heaven. What violence? What impious threat is this? Who wages war, save 'neath my banner bold, Doth fight 'gainst God and doth oppose His Realm.

Luciferians. Who wards his Right need fear no violence. Nature made each defender of his Right.

Michael. 'Tis my command ye lay your weapons down. Such gathering breaks your honor and your oath. 460

Luciferians. The hosts Angelic are by nature bound In union strong. They stand or fall together. Not one alone is touched in this dispute, But one and all.

Michael. Would ye with weapons then In such tumultuousness the Heavens embroil? These were not given you to use 'gainst God. Abuse your power, then fear the Power Supreme.

Luciferians. The Stadtholder we hourly here await. In haste he hath been summoned to attend. We'll venture all, 'gainst Gods arraying Gods, 470 Rather than thus our Rights resign through force.

Michael. So great an indiscretion I shall never From Heaven's Stadtholder await.

Luciferians. It seems More like an indiscretion thus to place Those older and first born, like servile slaves, Beneath the yoke of him, the youngest-born. But that the Angels now defend their kind, And here against their peers, in rank and state And being, contend, is indiscretion called.

Michael. O stiff-necked kind, ye are no longer sons 480 Of Light; but rather are a bastard race, Which yields not even to God. Ye but provoke The lightning stroke and wrath implacable. Harden your hearts, lo! what calamity And what a fall for you reserved! Ye heed Nor counsel nor advice. We'll see what us Enjoined is on high by Voice Supreme. Come, then; I wish now all the choristers And hosts yet righteous and yet virtuous To part, at once, from these rebellious throngs. 490

Luciferians. Let part who will; but we shall keep together.

Michael. Come follow, O ye faithful choristers, God's Field-marshal behind.

Luciferians. Depart in peace.

Belzebub. LUCIFER. LUCIFERIANS.

Belzebub. The Field-marshal, in haste, to God hath gone, Bearing complaint. Keep heart: Prince Lucifer Speeds hitherward on winged chariot. Ye should therefore at once deliberate. Helpless the battled host without a chief: As to myself, the post is far too grave.

Lucifer. Afar and wide, the Heavens vibrate and shake 500 With the sound of your disputes. The legions stand Divided, split in twain. The tumult wins Increase. Our great necessity enjoins Much prudence here, disaster to prevent.

Luciferians. Lord Stadtholder, of all the Spirits brave. Retreat and refuge sure, we hope that thou Shalt ne'er, as Michael, doom the neck of the Angels To be thrust 'neath the feet of Adam's brood, And then, as he, go gild and bloom this shame And insult with the show of equity; 510 And with thy might sustain the bold ascent Of man, this gross and Earth-born race. To God, By him so seldom seen, what incense brings he? Why stand we charged to serve a worm so base, To bear him on our hands, to heed his voice? Made God the boundless Heavens and Angels then For him alone? 'Twere better far had we Never been made, sooth, had we never been. Oh! pity, Lucifer, do not permit Our Order now so low to be abased, 520 And, guiltless, to decline, while man, thus made The Chief of Angels, e'er shall shine and glow Amid the splendor inaccessible, Before which Seraphim as shadows fade, With dreadful trembling. If thou'lt condescend So great injustice in this Realm to quell, And shalt maintain our Rights, we swear together E'er to support thy mighty arm. Then grasp This battle-axe. Help us our Rights to ward. We swear, by force, in majesty undimmed, 530 To set thee on the Throne for Adam made. We swear with one accord support. Then grasp This battle-axe. Help us our Rights to ward.

Lucifer. My sons, upon whose faith and loyalty No stain of treason lies, all that God wills, All He demands of us, is right: I know No other law; and stay, as Stadtholder Of God, His late decree and His resolve With all my might. This sceptre which I bear, To my right hand the great Omnipotent 540 Gave, as a mark of mercy and a sign Of His love and affection for us all. Doth now His mind and heart to Adam turn, And doth it please Him now to set mankind In full dominion us above--them over Both you and me to crown, though in our charge We ne'er grew weary, yet what remedy? Who will oppose such resolution here? Had He to Adam given an equal rank, A nature like unto the Angel world, 550 It were supportable for all the sons Of Heaven, sprung from God's lineage; now let Them be displeased, if such displeasure be On high not counted as a stain. However, There is a danger on each side--to yield Through fearfulness, or boldly to oppose. I wish that your resentment He forgive.

Luciferians. Lord Stadtholder, aye, grasp this battle-axe. Protect our holy Right. We'll follow thee. We'll follow on. Lead thou with speedy wings: 560 We'll perish, or triumphant overcome.

Lucifer. That breaks our oath and Gabriel's command.

Luciferians. That violates God's self, sets man above.

Lucifer. Let God His honor, Throne, and majesty Himself preserve.

Luciferians. Do thou preserve thy throne. As pillars we will stay thee, and the state Of the Angel world as well. Mankind shall never Our crown, the crown of God, tread in the dust.

Lucifer. Soon shall the Field-marshal, great Michael, armed With blessings from on high, 'gainst us appear, 570 With all his host. His army 'gainst your own-- How great the difference!

Luciferians. If not one half. At least a third part of the Spirits, thou Shalt sweep with thee, when thou shalt join our side.

Lucifer. Then shall we venture all, our favor lost To the oppressors of your lawful Right.

Luciferians. Courage, hope, insult, sorrow, and despair, Prudence and injury and vengeance for Such inequality, not otherwise Composed: all this, and what on this depends, 580 Shall nerve our arms to strike the blow.

Belzebub. Even now The Holy Realm is in our power. Whatever May be resolved, our weapons shall enforce, Our arms shall soon compel. Once place us here In battle rank, and they who waver yet, Soon toward our side shall lean.

Lucifer. I trust me, then, This violence with violence to oppose.

Belzebub. Mount, then, these steps. O bravest of the brave! Lord Stadtholder, we pray, ascend this throne, That thee we now allegiance may swear. 590

Lucifer. Prince Belzebub, bear witness; also ye, O Lords illustrious; Apollion, Bear witness thou, and thou, Prince Belial bold, That I, constrainèd by necessity And by compulsion, shall advance this cause. Thus to defend God's Realm and to ward off Our own impending ruin.

Belzebub. Then bring on Our standard, that we may, beneath its folds. Swear God allegiance and our Morning-star.

Luciferians. We swear alike by God and Lucifer. 600

Belzebub. Now bring the censers on, ye faithful hosts. Faithful to God. Praise Lucifer with bowl. Rich with perfume, and flaming candle-sticks: Him glorify with light and glow and torch. Extol him then with poem, music, song. Trumpet and pipe. It doth behoove us now Him with such pomp and splendor to attend: Raise, then, sonorous lays to his great crown.

Chorus of Luciferians:

Forward, O ye hosts, Lucifer's minions; Banners wave! 610 Marshal now your bands, spread your swift pinions-- On, ye brave! Follow your God where his drumbeats command. Guard well your Rights and Fatherland. Help him Michael now hurl to confusion, War, your mood! Fighting 'gainst Heaven for Adam's exclusion. And his brood! Follow this hero to trumpet and drum. Protect our crown, whate'er may come. 620 See, oh! see now the Morning-star shining! In that light Soon shall our foe's proud flag be declining Into night! Now in triumph we crown God Lucifer: Come worship him; revere his star.

Chorus of Angels:

_Strophe_.

What sad surprises waken. Since Heaven's civil war Burst with divisive jar; And blindly hath been taken 630 The sword for mad attempt! Who 'mong celestial legions. Or wins or falls, exempt From grief, to view in the regions Of joy such misery 'Mong their fellows and their brothers: How some, overcome, would flee, While in exile wander others? O sons of God on high, Where errs your destiny? 640

_Antistrophe_.

Alas! where now those erring Spirits? What sorcery From their dear certainty Seduced them, vainly luring Them from their rank and state? Led them to wicked daring? Our bliss became too great, Too wanton for our bearing; E'en Heaven's altitude The Angels were outgrowing; 650 And then came Envy's brood. Seeds of Rebellion sowing In the peaceful Fatherland. Who cools War's lurid brand?

_Epode_.

Doth not soon some power transcending War's fierce flames in bounds enchain, What will unconsumed remain? Treason's horrors are impending: Fires of discord shall profane Heaven and Earth and sea and plain. 660 Treason seeks her justifying In her triumph; then she would God's own mandates be defying: Treason knows nor God nor blood. 664