Vondel's Lucifer

Gabriel. MICHAEL.

Gabriel. The whole of Heaven glows with the fierce blaze Of tumult and of treachery. I now Command thee, as ambassador from God, And His high Throne, to rise without delay And burn out with a glow of fire and zeal These dark, polluting stains in God's great name, And in the name of the unstained Heavens. Prince Lucifer defies with trump and drum.

Michael. Has Lucifer, alas! been faithless found?

Gabriel. The third part of the Heavens swore but now 10 The standard of that fickle Morning-star Their firm allegiance, perfumed his throne With incense, even as if he were a God; And with the blasphemous sounds of godless music Him praises sang. Now hitherward they come, Thronging with mighty hordes that threaten all, How terribly! to burst with violence The gate that leads unto the armoury. A crash of tempests fierce and wild doth roar On every side. The lightnings rage and rave. 20 The thunders, in their travail laboring, Shake even the ponderous pillars of these courts. We hear no Seraphim, nor sounds of praise. Each sits apart, enwrapped in voiceless gloom. Now hushed at once are all the Angel choirs, And then again they cry aloud in grief And in their pity o'er this blind revolt Of the blessed Angel world, and o'er the fall Of the Angelic race. Aye, 'tis full time That thou perform thy charge, that thou observe 30 The sacred oath that thou, as Field-marshal, Didst swear upon the lightning's lurid edge, By God's most holy name.

[Illustration: "Each sits apart, enwrapped in voiceless gloom."]

Michael. What, then, doth move God's Stadtholder thus to oppose himself Against God, as the impious head and chief Of mad conspirators?

Gabriel. The Heavens know How loth I am to make in such a way Defence of God's most righteous cause. But oh! How terrible the wrath laid up for him! For we can find no means by which to lead 40 This erring race of blind unfortunates Along the road, the high-road of their faith. Myself saw there the radiant joy of God Itself o'ershadow with a gathering cloud Of mournfulness, until, at last. His wrath A flame enkindled in His eyes of light, Ere He, to ward the threatened blow, gave charge Unto this expedition. I then heard Awhile the plea, how there in equipoise God's Mercy stood against His Righteousness, 50 By weight of reason held. I saw, too, how The Cherubim, upon their faces fallen. Cried with one voice, "Oh! mercy, mercy. Lord; Not justice give." This dire dispute had thus Been expiated, yea, almost atoned.-- So much seemed God to mercy then inclined. And reconciliation; but as up The smell of incense rose, the smoke beneath To Lucifer, from countless censers swung. Amid the sounds of trump and choral praise, 60 The Heavens their eyes averted from such sight And such idolatry, accursed of God And Spirit and all the Hierarchies above: Then Mercy took its flight. Awake to arms! The Godhead summons thee, ere the tumult us Surprise, to tame by thine own arm these fierce Behemoths and Leviathans, who thus Most wickedly conspire.

Michael. Come, Uriel, squire! Haste speedily and bring the lightnings here; Also my armor, helm, and shield. Then bring 70 God's banner on, and blow the trumpet bold. To arms! at once, to arms! ye Thrones and Powers, Who, true and faithful, are with us arrayed. Ye legions, on! each in his place. The Heavens Have given command. Now blow the trumpet bold And beat the hollow drum, and summon here, In haste, the countless cohorts of the armed, Blow, then! My armor, I put on; for here God's honor is concerned. There's no retreat.

Gabriel. This armor fits thy form as if 'twere made 80 With thee. Behold! our glorious banner comes, From which God's name and ensign grandly beam, While yon high sun doth promise thee success. Here come the chiefs, to greet thee as the head Of the celestial legions that have sworn God's standard to uphold. Take courage, then, Prince Michael, thou shalt battle for thy God.

Michael. Aye! aye! Keep thou my place on high. We go.

Gabriel. Thy march we'll follow with our thoughts and prayers.

Lucifer. BELZEBUB. LUCIFERIANS.

Lucifer. How holds our army? How is it inclined? 90

Belzebub. The army longs, prepared, 'neath thy command, To plunge at once against Michael's armament.

Luciferians. 'Tis true; each waits for Lucifer's command To haste at once, with speedy wings and arms, To steal away from our great enemy His air and wind, and, as he lies confused In helpless swoon, to chain him forcibly.

Lucifer. How many strong our host? Wherein our strength?

Belzebub. That grows apace and sweeps on toward us with A rush and roar from every firmament, 100 Like a vast sea aglow with radiant lights. Indeed, a third part of the Heavens embrace Our side, if not the half; for Michael's tide. On every hand, each moment swiftly ebbs. The half, even of the watch and of the chiefs That round the palace guard--of every rank. Of every Hierarchy some--have forsworn Their lord. Prince Michael, even as we. Behold Archangels, Cherubim, and Seraphim Our standards bearing. Even Paradise, 110 Made mournful by the sounds of woe, grows dim In hue, and its bright verdure fades. Wherever The eye doth look, there seem signs of decay; And up above a threatening thunder-cloud Doth seem to hang. This portent bodes our bliss. We need but to begin. Already doth The crown of Heaven rest upon thy brow.

Lucifer. That sound doth please me more than Gabriel's trump. Attend and listen, ye, beneath this throne; Attend, ye chiefs; attend, ye valiant knights, 120 And hear our charge, in words both clear and brief. Ye know how far in our revengeful course, Against the Ruler of the palaces Supreme, we have advanced: so that it were For us but folly to retreat with hope Of reconciliation; how none dares To think to purify, through mercy, this Our stain indelible: necessity Must therefore be our law, a stronghold sure. From which there is no wavering nor retreat. 130 Defend ye then, ne'er looking back, with all Your might, this standard and my star: in brief The free-created state all Angels own. Let things proceed howe'er they will, press on With heart undaunted and with cheerfulness. Not even the Omnipotence on high hath power Completely to annihilate the being That ye have once, for all eternity. Received. In case ye fiercely shall attack With your whole force, and pierce with violence 140 The heart of your great foe, and chance to win: So shall the hated tyranny of Heaven Into a state of freedom then be changed, And Adam's son and seed, crowned us above In honor, with a retinue of Earth Around, shall not then chain your necks unto The fetters of a slavish bondage that Would make you sweat for him and pant beneath The brazen yoke of servitude forever. If now ye own me as the head and chief 150 Of your free state, even as just now ye swore With one full voice beneath this standard bright, So raise that binding oath again together, That we may hear; and swear allegiance And loyalty unto our morning-star,

Luciferians. We swear alike by God and Lucifer.

Belzebub. But see how Rafael with the branch of peace, Astounded and compassionate, flies down To clasp thy neck, with hope of peace and truce.

Rafael. LUCIFER.

Rafael. Oh! Stadtholder. Voice of the Power Divine, 160 What thus hath driven thee beyond the path Of duty? Wouldst thou now thyself oppose To Him, the source of all thy pomp? Wouldst thou Now rashly waver, and thus change thy faith? I hope this ne'er shall be. Alas! I faint With grief, and hang upon thy neck oppressed And wan.

Lucifer. Most righteous Rafael!

Rafael. O my joy. My longing, hear me now, I pray.

Lucifer. Speak on. So long it pleaseth thee.

Rafael. O Lucifer, Be merciful! Oh I save thyself; nor bear 170 Thy weapons thus 'gainst me, who sadly melt In tears, and pine in sorrow for thy sake. I come with medicine and mercy's balm, Sprung from the bosom of the Deity, "Who, as within His Council He decreed, Hath made thee chief of myriad crowned Powers, And thee, anointed, placed upon thy throne As Stadtholder. What folly this, that thus Deprives thee of thy wit? God hath His seal And image stamped upon thy hallowed head 180 And forehead, where all beauty seemed outpoured, With wisdom and benevolence and all That flows in streams unbounded from the fount Of every precious thing. In Paradise, Before the countenance of God's own sun, Thou shon'st from clouds of dew and roses fresh; Thy festal robes stood stiff with pearl, turquoise. And diamond, ruby, emerald, and fine gold; 'Twas thy right hand the weightiest sceptre held; And as soon as thou didst mount into the light, 190 Throughout the blazing firmament and through These shining vaults the sounds began to roll Of trumpet and of drum. And wouldst thou now So rashly hurl thyself from thy great throne? --Thus jeopardize thy glory, all this pomp? Wouldst thou thy splendors that the Heavens adorn And that obscure our glow so heedlessly Now cause to change into a shapeless lump And complication of all beasts and monsters In one, with claw of griffin, dragon's head, 200 And other horrors terrible? And shall The eyes of Heaven, the stars, see thee so low, Deprived of all thy power, thy honor, worth, And majesty, through perjuring thine oath? Prevent it, O good God, whose countenance, Amid the Blessed Light, I gaze upon, Where we, the hallowed Seven, do Him serve, Before His Throne, and shake and tremble 'neath That Majesty that on our forehead beams, That quickens, and that life doth give to all 210 That live and breathe. Lord Stadtholder, let now My prayers affect thy heart. Thou know'st my pure Intent, and heart distressed for thee. Tear off That shining crest so proud, that armor toss Aside. The battle-axe cast from this hand, Thy shield then from the other: nay, not thus, Not higher. Oh! throw it now aside. I pray. Oh! cast it down. Let fall thy streaming standard Of thine own free will, also thine outstretched wings, Before God and His splendor, ere He shall 220 From cut His Throne, the highest firmament O honor, swoop to grind thee into dust: Yea, so that of the race of Spirits, nor branch Nor root, nor life nor even memory, Remain; unless it be a state of woe, Of pain, of death and of despair, the worm Endless remorse, and a gnashing dire of teeth Should bear the name of life. Submit thou, then. Cease this attempt. I offer thee God's grace, Even with this olive-branch. Accept, or else 230 'Twill be too late.

Lucifer. Lord Rafael, I nor threat Nor wrath deserve. My heroes both by God And Lucifer have sworn, and under oaths To Heaven have raised this standard thus aloft. Let rumors, therefore, far and wide be spread Throughout the Heavens: I battle under God For the defence of these His choristers, And for the Charter and the Rights which were Their lawful heritage ere Adam saw The rising sun: yea, ere o'er Paradise 240 The daylight shone. No human power, no yoke Of man, shall plague the necks of Spirits, nor shall The Angel world, like any servile slave, Support the throne of Adam with its neck, Unfettered now, unless in some abyss The Heavens shall bury us, together with The sceptres, crowns, and splendors that to us The Godhead from His bosom gave, for time And for eternity! Let burst what will, I shall maintain the holy Right, compelled 250 By high necessity, thus urged at length, Though much against my will, by the complaints And mournful groans of myriad tongues. Go hence, This message bear unto the Father, whom I serve, and under whom I thus unfurl This warlike standard for our Fatherland.

Rafael. O Stadtholder, why thus disguise thy thoughts Before the all-seeing Eye? Thy purpose thou Canst not conceal. The rays flashed from His face Lay bare the darkness, the ambition that 260 Thy pregnant spirit reveals in all its shape. And lo! even now its travail hath begun This monster to bring forth. Where shall I hide Me in my fright? How rise my hairs with fear! Thou erring Morning-star, oh! spare thyself! Thou canst not satisfy Omniscience With such deceit.

Lucifer. Ambition? Say me, then, Where hath my duty suffered through neglect?

Rafael. What hast thou in thy heart of hearts resolved!-- shall mount up from here beneath, through all 270 The clouds, aye, even above God's galaxies, Into the top of Heaven, like unto God Himself; nor shall the beams of mercy fall On any Power, unless before my seat It kneel in homage down! No majesty Shall sceptre dare, nor crown, unless I shall First grant it leave out of my towering throne!" Oh! hide thy face. Fall down and fold thy wings. Have care to know a higher Power above.

[Illustration: "Thou erring Morning-star, oh! spare thyself."]

Lucifer. How now? Am I not then God's Stadtholder? 280

Rafael. That art thou, and from the unbounded Realm Thou didst receive a power determinate. Thou rulest in His name.

Lucifer. Alas! how long? Until Prince Adam shall make us ashamed: When he, placed o'er the Angel world, shall from The bounteous bosom of the Deity His crown receive, and take his seat by God.

Rafael. Even though the sovran Lord should thus divide His power with His inferiors; though He should Command that man upon his head shall place 290 The brightest crown; him consecrate the Chief Of Spirits, o'er all that crown or sceptre bear. Or e'er shall bear: learn thou submissively To bow 'neath God's decree.

Lucifer. That is the stone Whereon this battle-axe shall whet its edge.

Rafael. Thou'lt whet it rashly for thine own proud neck. Think where we are. The Heavens can bear no stain Of pride, hate, envy, or malevolence. The wrath of Deity doth threaten soon To wipe this blot away. Here not avails 300 Dissembling. Oh! that I this blasphemy Could hide from the all-seeing Sun and from The all-penetrating Eye. O Lucifer, Where is thy glory now?

Lucifer. My glory was Long since to Adam given, and to his seed. I am no longer called the eldest heir, The son first consecrate.

Rafael. Prince Lucifer, Oh! spare thyself: submit unto the wish Of the Most High. Oh! deem us worthy now To bear such joyful tidings up above. 310 Each waits with longing eyes for my return. Before thy splendor I most humbly kneel. Oh! for the sake of God, beware lest thou Encouragement shalt give to mutiny, That on thy will and word doth henceforth turn, As on its axis. Wouldst thou thus, against The courts of Heaven, this air so full of peace And holiness, for the first time disturb By the clash of countless warring myriads?-- Thus to the sound of trump and drum unfurl 320 These battle-banners bold?--Thyself to God The matchless wrestler thus oppose?

Lucifer. 'Tis we That are opposed. Were unto Adam's race But given a rank and throne, even similar To that the Angels own, 'twere to be borne. Now fly, instead, o'er all the roofs of Heaven The sparks blown from this burning in the skies. Peace! Angels all, and reverentially Your homage bring, for all that you possess, To Adam and his seed. To strive 'gainst man 330 Is the Godhead to oppose! Oh! how could God, Within His heart, so low, so deep degrade Him whom He for the mightiest sceptre formed: A worthiness once sanctified to rule, So sadly thus abase for one so low, And thus disrobe of all its splendid pomp, And cause it thus to curse the glorious dawn Of its ascent--to wish far rather that It had remained a shadow without hue, A nothing without life? For not to be 340 Is better thousand times than such a fall.

Rafael. A vassal's power is no inheritance: It stands free and apart.

Lucifer. This power is then No boon, if power it may be called.

Rafael. Thy place Maintain: or hast thou then forgot thy charge? Thy place, as Stadtholder, to thee was given That in thy wisdom thou mightst keep all things In peace and order here. And dost thou now. The perjured chief of blind conspirators. Put on this coat of mail to fight thy God? 350

Lucifer. Necessity and self-defence compelled These arms; nor wished we to engage with God. Reason would speak, even though our arms were dumb. We fight in Freedom's cause, denied this bliss?

Rafael. No bliss is glorious, where in one realm The embattled squadrons of the state must fight Against their peers. Most pitiful it is, When brothers of the selfsame order must, At last, even by their brothers be o'ercome. Oh! Stadtholder, for our sake, and for fear 360 Of God and of His threatened punishment, Send hence thy gathered legions, send them hence. Oh! melt, I pray, beneath my prayers. I hear, 'Tis terrible! the chains a-forging now, That thee shall drag, when vanquished and bound, In triumph through the skies. And hark! I hear A din, and see the hosts of Michael draw With nearing tread. 'Tis time, yea, 'tis high time, Thou cease this mad attempt.

Lucifer. What profits it Even though unto the utmost I repent 370 Here is no hope of grace.

Rafael. But I assure Thee mercy; for I now appoint myself Thy mediator up above and as Thy hostage there.

Lucifer. My star to plunge in shame And darkness: yea, to see my enemies Defiant on my throne?

Rafael. O Lucifer, Beware! I see the lake of brimstone down Below, with opened mouth, gape horribly. Shalt thou, the fairest far of all things ever By God created, henceforth serve as food 380 For the devouring bowels of Hell's abyss-- Flames never satisfied nor quenched? May God Forbid! Oh! oh! yield to our prayers. Receive This branch of peace: we offer thee God's grace.

Lucifer. What creature else so wretched is as I? On the one side flicker feeble rays of hope, While on the other yawns a flaming horror. A triumph is most dubious; defeat Most hard to shun. In such uncertainty, God and His banner to oppose?--the first 390 To be a standard to unfurl 'gainst God, His trump celestial and revealed command? --Of rebels thus to make myself the chief, And 'gainst the law of Heaven another law To oppose?--to fall into the dreadful curse Of a most base ingratitude?--to wound The mercy, love, and majesty of Him, The Father bountiful, source of all good That e'er was given or may yet be received? How have I erred so far from duty's path? 400 I have abjured my Maker: how can I Before that Light disguise my blasphemy And wickedness? Retreat availeth not. Nay, I have gone too far. What remedy? What best to do amid this hopelessness? The time brooks no delay. One moment's time Is not enough, if time it may be called, This brevity 'twixt bliss and endless doom. But 'tis too late. No cleansing for my stain Is here. All hope is past. What remedy? 410 Hark I there I hear God's trumpet blow without,

Apollion. LUCIFER. RAFAEL.

Apollion. Lord Stadtholder, awake! not now the time For loitering. God's Marshal Michael nears, With all his stars and legions, and defies Thee in the open field. The time demands That thou array for battle. Come, advance! Advance with us: we see the battle won.

Lucifer. Won? Ah! that is too soon: 'tis not commenced. The heavy bolt of war should not be weighed Too lightly.

Apollion. I saw even in Michael's face 420 The hue of fright, while all his legions pale Looked backwards. Ah! we long. O doubt it not, To humble and destroy them. Lo! here come The various chieftains with our streaming standard.

Lucifer. Each in his rank! Let each his banner ward. Now let the trump and bugle boldly blow.

Apollion. We wait upon thy word.

Lucifer. Then follow on, As I this signal give.

Rafael. Alas! but now He stood in doubt suspended: now, despair Incites him on. In what calamities, 430 Alas! shall soon the proud Archangel plunge His followers? Now may he nevermore In joy appear on high unless God shall In His compassion this prevent. Oh! come, Ye Heavenly choristers, and breathe your prayers. It may be that your supplications, rising, May yet avert this dire, impending blow: Oft prayer can break a heart of adamant.

CHORUS OF ANGELS. RAFAEL.

Chorus. O Father, who no incense, gold, Or hymnal praise dost dearer hold 440 Than the tranquil trust and soul-reposing Calmness of him who humbly heeds Thy word, and where Thy spirit leads Doth leave himself in Thy disposing: Thou seest. O Author of us all, Our Spirit-Chief his banners tall 'Gainst Thee so wickedly unfurling; And how, 'mid roar of trump and drum, On battle-chariot he doth come, So blind, and fierce defiance hurling! 450 Ah! heed not their wild blasphemy, And save from endless misery The thousand thousand ones deluded, Who, weak, and woefully misled By their proud and rebellious head, Are 'mong his legions now included.

Rafael. Spare in Thy mercy, spare, ah! spare The Stadtholder, who now would wear Thy crown of crowns, who, deifying Himself, would triumph over all: 460 From such foul stain, oh! where else shall The cleansing come, him purifying?

Chorus. Oh! suffer not that soul to die. The fairest e'er seen by Thine eye Oh I keep the Archangel e'er in Heaven; Let him atone this impious deed. And still retain his rank, we plead Let not his guilt be unforgiven. 468

Act V.

Rafael. URIEL.

Rafael. The whole of Heaven, from base to topmost crown Of her chief palaces, resounds with joy, As Michael's trumpets blow and banners wave. The field is won. Our shields shine splendidly, Shaping new suns. From every shield-sun streams A day triumphant forth. Lo! from the fight, See, Uriel proud, the armor-bearer, comes; And waves the flaming, keen, two-edged sword, That, whet with Heaven's wrath and vengeance, flashed, Amid the fray, through shield and mail and helm 10 Of diamond, left and right, through all that dared Oppose the all-piercing Power, Omnipotence. O armor-bearer, most austere, who art The executioner on high, and dost With one strong, righteous stroke compose the Wrong That would rebel against eternal Right, Blest be thy sword and arm, that thus maintain And guard the honor of our Angel Realm. What praise reserved for thee by Majesty Supreme! Oh! pray relate to us the strife: 20 Unfold to us the management of this, The first campaign in Heaven. We listen, then, In expectation rapt.

Uriel. Your wish inflames My spirit to begin, this fearful fray In calmness to describe, with sequence just, Success the army crowns that fights with God. The Field-marshal, great Michael (being warned By the envoy of Heaven, who from above Flew downward, downward swifter than a star That shoots athwart the sky, with the tidings how, 30 Against the high decree proud Lucifer Himself so openly opposed, prepared To lead his incense-swinging worshippers-- All who his standard and his morning-star Had sworn their bold allegiance), quickly donned, At Gabriel's report--that Herald true-- His scaly coat of mail, and with firm voice He forthwith then gave charge to all his chiefs, His captains, lords, and officers to place, In the name of God, the troops in battle rank, 40 That, with united forces and with all Their strength, they might sweep from the airy vast Of purest crystalline this perjured scum: To cast in darkness all those Spirits vile, Ere unawares they us surprise. Upon This charge the legions rapidly deployed Themselves in battle-line, as speedily As flies the nimble arrow from the bow. We saw there countless throngs together swarm In bright array and glowing martial pomp, 50 Until they formed, in serried rank, one firm Trilateral host that, like a triangle, Thrust out its edges sharp upon the eye. We saw a solid mass, like one dense light, Three-pointed, polished mirror-smooth, even like To diamond, and a battle-front advance By God more than by Spirit understood. The Field-marshal towered in the army's heart, Full-faced before God's banner, with the glow Of lurid lightnings in his lifted hand. 60 Who courage would preserve.--would victory And triumph e'er attain.--should first have care To make sure of and then to gain the heart.

Rafael. But where the host accursed that us would storm?

Uriel. It came into the field of daring full With all its primal faith, obedience, Honor, and oath, and what besides, forgot In this base and presumptuous attempt 'Gainst God, despite our prayers. It swiftly waxed. And pointed like a crescent moon its ends. 70 It sharpened both its points, and these, even like Two horns, closed in upon us, as amid The Zodiac the Bull doth threaten with His golden horns the other animals Celestial and the monsters that revolve Around. Upon the right horn there advanced Prince Belzebub, whose purpose was to clip Our spreading wings, and also to keep guard. The left horn to Prince Belial was assigned. Thus both stood there in shining panoply, 80 Vying in splendors grand. The Stadtholder, Now Field-marshal 'gainst God, the centre held Of this array, that he might guard the key,-- The point strategic of the legions there. The lofty standard, from whose morning-star The day did seem to stream, Apollion Behind him bore, as bravely as he could, In his full glory seated high to view.

Rafael. Alas! what dares--what dares the great Archangel Attempt? Oh! if I only could in time 90 Have brought him to desist. However, now Describe to me the aspect of their march, And with what show the Prince his legions led.

Uriel. Surrounded by his staff and retinue In green, he, wickedly impelled by hate Irreconcilable, in golden mail, That brightly shone upon his martial vest Of glowing purple, mounted then his car, Whose golden wheels with rubies were emblazed. The lion and the dragon fell, prepared 100 For speedy flight, with backs sown full of stars And to the chariot joined by pearly traces, Panted for strife, and for destruction flamed. Within his hand a battle-axe he bore, And from his left arm hung a glimmering shield, Wherein his morning-star was artfully Embossed: thus stood he poised to venture all.

Rafael. O Lucifer, thou shalt this pride repent. Thou phoenix 'mongst God's worshippers on high. How grand thou dost appear amid thy legions, 110 With helm, head, neck, and shoulders eminent! How gloriously thine armor thee becomes, As if by nature fitted to thy form! Oh! Chief of Spirits, no farther go; turn back.

Uriel. Confronted thus they stood embattled, troop By troop, each in his air and station placed, All ranked by files 'neath their respective chiefs, Both sides arrayed with fairest pomp to view. When furious drum and clarion trumpet sound, Their medley resonance nerves every arm 120 And sharpens every sword; and mounts on high Into the firmament of the holy Light Supreme, a din whereat a pregnant cloud Of darts doth burst with pealing thunder-showers Of fiery hail, a storm and tempest fierce, That makes afraid the very Heaven and shakes The pillars of its palaces. The stars And spheres, perplexed, from their appointed paths And orbits err, or on their circled watch Bewildered stand, not knowing where to turn: 130 Or East or West, or upwards or below. All that is seen is lightning flash and flame; All that is heard is thunder. What remains In its primeval place? That which was once The highest now becomes the thing most low. The squadrons, when the deep-vibrating shock Of their artillery's first volleyed roar Has died away, now struggle hand to hand With halberd, sabre, dagger, club, and spear. All stab and slash, that can. All formed by nature 140 For fell destruction and for greedy spoil Now haste to strike the violating blow. All thoughts of kin and brotherhood have ceased; Nor knoweth any one his fellow more. Above are whirling, like a cloud of dust, Proud crests of pearl with curlèd locks of hair, And plumes and wings refulgent with a gleam Drawn from the singeing lightning's glow. Behold! In rich confusion mingled, blue turquoise, With gold and diamond, necklaces of pearl, 150 And all that can adorn the hair or head. Wings lopped in twain, and broken arrows, whirl Athwart the sky. A horrid battle-cry Rises from out the cohorts clad in green: Their regiments, in danger, are compelled By our hot onset to retreat. Three times The maddened Lucifer the fight renews, And proudly stays his faltering followers, Even as a rock beats back the ocean surge That, wave on wave, with foaming rage assails 160 In vain attempt.

Rafael. Indeed, 'tis something this: To fight, armed by despair.

Uriel. Then straightway caused The valiant Michael all the trumps to sound: "Glory to God!" His legions, thus made bold By this their watchword, and by his command, Begin by circling wheels to soar aloft, To gain the wind-side of their battling foe, Who also rises, but with heavier sail, And finally to leeward slowly drifts: As if one heavenward a falcon saw, 170 Mounting with pinions bold into the sky. Ere that the drowsing herons are aware. Who in a wood, hard by a pleasant mead, Tremble with fright, when from their lofty nest They see their dreaded foe. The heron cries, And, fearful of the falcon's direful claw, Awaits him on his beak, thus to impale His enemy's soft breast from there beneath, When swoops the falcon with unerring wings Upon his prey.

Rafael. O Lucifer, for thee 180 What remedy? It seems most terrible! Now art thou in the open field, where port Nor wall defend. A horrid whirlwind soon Shall suddenly swoop down and bury thee Deep in some gulf and bottomless abyss.

Uriel. What fair perspective it was, thus to view A hemisphere or crescent moon beneath, And up above a point trilateral: To see the legions, that upon the word Of their commanding chiefs close in their ranks, 190 Or them deploy, in their battalions stand As firm as walls of iron, as if they, With all their ordnance, dumb artillery, And martial engines, there in equipoise Were placed, full-weighted 'gainst the balanced air! They hang suspended like a silent cloud, A cloud whereon the sun doth pour his beams, And which he paints with shade and varied hue And airy rainbows. So then, steeply flown Aloft, the bold celestial eagle sees 200 God's foe, the hawk, circling his flight beneath. He strikes his wings together valiantly; But brooks awhile the hawk's wild wheeling there, And vain defiance, while he flames ere long To swoop upon his feathered back and pluck His glossy plumes: when, in the aery vast, "With curvèd beak and talons he shall seize His prey, or drive it, with the wind behind, Far from his eyes. Thus they precipitate Themselves, and stream down from their place on high. 210 Even like some inland lake, or waterfall. In some far, Northern wild, that from the cliffs Dashes with thundering resonance that frights The beasts and monsters in deep-hidden dells; Where from the precipice, rocks, loosened, fall, With massive torrents and uprooted trees In countless numbers, that in their fierce plunge Crush and destroy all that the violence Of stream and stone and wood cannot withstand. The point of the advancing column strikes 220 The crescent's centre with assault most fell Of brimstone, red and blue, and flames, with stroke On stroke and quick-succeeding thunderbolts A piercing cry ascends. Their army's heart, Endangered, now begins, by slow degrees, To fail support of the accursèd one. The half-moon's bow, beneath the strain, begins To crack and break (for the ends together curve); So that they who the centre hold, must yield Before that onset fierce, and flee, if soon 230 Deliverance be not brought from their distress. Prince Lucifer, swift-driven here and there, Approaches at this cry, and fearlessly Himself exposes on his car, to show His valor in this crisis dire. This gives New heart unto the faltering ones. Then, from The foaming bit of his now furious team. He wards the feilest blows and fiercest strokes. The lion and the dragon blue, enraged, Leap forward at his word with fearful strides: 240 One bellows, bites, and rends, while poison shoots Out from the other's forkèd tongue, who thus A pest provokes, and, raving, fills the air With smoke blown from his nostrils far and wide.

Rafael. Now will the burning strike him from on high?

Uriel. He waves his battle-axe aloft to fell God's banner, that, descending, darts the beams And fairer radiance of God's name into His glowing face. Oh! think what envy then Him filled, to see this portent on our side. 250 With battle-axe in hand, now here, now there, He parries every stroke, or breaks their force Upon his shield, till Michael comes before Him, clad in glittering armor, like a God Amid a ring of suns: "Cease, Lucifer; Give God the victory. Lay down your arms And standard; yield to God. Come, lead away This wicked crew, this impious horde. Or else, Beware thy head!" Thus shouts he from on high. The Grand Foe of God's name, stiff-necked, unmoved, 260 And more defiant at these words, renews The fight with haste precipitate, and thrice With war-axe strives to cleave the diamond shield Where glowed God's holy name. But who provokes The Deity shall feel His wrath. The axe The holy diamond strikes, but lo! rebounds, And shivers into fragments. Then aloft His right hand Michael lifts, and through the helm And head of that rebellious one he smites, Helped by the great Omnipotent, his lightnings, 270 Cleaving unto his eyes with violence So great that he falls backward, and is hurled Down from his chariot, that forthwith follows Him, whirling round and round in its descent; Thus lion, dragon, driver, all plunge down. The standard of the Star doth cease to shine, When feels Apollion my flaming sword. Whereon his banner, straightway, he doth leave As plunder in my hands; while in fierce swarms Tumultuous their warring myriads 280 Attempt, in vain, to stay the falling Chief Of all the hosts infernal, and to save Him from this fate and great calamity. Here fights Prince Belzebub, and there opposed Stands Belial. Thus their squadrons are confused: And with the Stadtholder's important fall The crescent's bow soon into shivers breaks. Then comes Apollion into the field, With all the monsters from the firmament. The giant Orion shrieks, until the sound 290 The very air makes faint; then with his club He strives to crush the head of our assault, That, heedless of Orion or his club, Moves grandly on. The Northern Bears rear back Upon their haunches, that their brutish strength May blindly us oppose. The Hydra gapes With fifty throats, that vomit poison forth. I view a gallery of battle-scenes, All happening in the fray, as far as eye Can see.

[Illustration: "Thus lion, dragon, driver, all plunge down."]

Rafael. Praise be to God! Upon your knees 300 Fall down and worship Him! O Lucifer, Ah! where now is that fickle confidence? In what strange shape shall I, alas! behold Thee soon? Where now are thy proud splendors, that All other pomp so easily outshone?

Uriel. Even as bright day to gloomy night is changed, Whene'er the sun forgets his golden glow, So in his downward fall his beauty turned To something monstrous and most horrible: Into a brutish snout his face, that shone 310 So glorious; his teeth into large fangs, Sharpened for gnawing steel; his hands and feet Into four various claws; into a hide Of black that shining skin of pearl; while from His bristled back two dragon wings did sprout. Alas! the proud Archangel, whom but now All Angels honored here, hath changed his shape into a hideous medley of seven beasts, As outwardly appears: A lion proud; A greedy, gluttonous swine; a slothful ass; 320 A fierce rhinoceros, with rage inflamed; An ape, in every part obscene and vile, By nature lewd and most lascivious; A dragon, full of envy; and a wolf Of sordid avarice. His beauteous form Is now a monster execrable, by God And Spirit and man e'er to be cursed. That beast Doth shrink to view its own deformity, And veils with darkling mists its Gorgon face.

Rafael. Thus shall Ambition learn how vain to tilt 330 For God's own crown. Where stayed Apollion?

Uriel. He saw his tide ebb when his star declined, And fled: so fled they all. Then, from above, The celestial ordnance pours forth shot on shot, With lightning flash and rolling thunders loud, Causing the monsters that into the light Have crawled to swell the rout; and pleased are all. With God's array, to aid in such pursuit! O! what a whirl of storms in one resolved! And what a noisy tumult rises round! 340 What floods sweep by! Our legions, blessed by God, Advance, and strike and crush whatever they meet. What cries of pain now burst forth everywhere, As from the fleeing hordes one hears, amid This wild confusion and this change of form In limbs and shapes, their roars and bellowings. Some yell, and others howl. What fearful frowns Those Angel faces wear, the mirrors dread Of Hell's infernal horrors. Hark! I hear Michael return, triumphant, to display, 350 Here in the light, the spoil from Angels reft. The choristers now greet him with their songs Of praise, with sound of cymbal, pipe, and drum. They come in front, and strew their laurel leaves 'Mid those celestial harmonies around.

CHORUS OF ANGELS. MICHAEL.

Chorus. Hail! to the hero, hail! Who the wicked did assail; And in the fight, o'er his might and his standard. Triumphant did prevail. Who strove for God's own crown, 360 From his high and splendid throne, Into night, with his might, hath been driven. How dazzling God's renown! Though flames the tumult fell, The valiant Michael With his hand the fierce brand can extinguish: All mutiny shall quell. God's banner he doth rear: Come, wreathe his brow austere. Now, in peace, shall increase Heaven's Palace: 370 No discord now we hear. Then to the Godhead raise. In His deathless courts, your praise. Glory bring to the King of all Kingdoms: His deeds inspire our lays.

Michael. Praise be to God! The state of things above Has changed. Our Grand Foe has met his defeat; And in our hands he leaves his standard, helm, And morning-star, and shield and banners bold. Which spoil, gained in pursuit, even now doth hang, 380 'Mid joys triumphant, honors, songs of praise, And sounds of trump, on Heaven's axis bright, The mirror clear of all rebelliousness, Of all ambition that would rear its crest 'Gainst God, the stem immovable--grand fount, Prime source, and Father of all things that are, Which from His hand their nature did receive, And various attributes. No more shall we Behold the glow of Majesty Supreme Dimmed by the damp of base ingratitude. 390 There, deep beneath our sight and these high thrones, They wander through the air and restlessly Move to and fro, all blind and overcast With shrouding clouds, and horribly deformed. Thus is his fate, who would assail God's Throne.

Chorus. Thus is his fate, who would assail God's Throne. Thus is his fate, who would, through envy, man, In God's own image made, deprive of light.

Gabriel. MICHAEL. CHORUS.

Gabriel. Alas! alas! alas! how things have changed! Why triumph here? Our triumph is in vain: 400 Ah! vain display, these plundered flags and arms!

Michael. What hear I, Gabriel?

Gabriel. Oh! Adam's fallen: The father and the stem of all mankind, Most pitiful and sad! brought to his fall So soon. He is undone.

Michael. That bursts even like A sudden thunder-peal upon our ears. Although I shudder, yet I long to hear This overthrow described. Doth then the Chief Accursed, also on Earth his warfare wage?

Gabriel. The battle o'er, he called his scattered host 410 Unto his side, though first his chieftains bold, Who to each other turned abhorring gaze; And then, to shun the swift, all-searching rays Of the all-seeing Eye, he veiled them round With gloomy mists, that formed a hollow cloud, A dark, obscure, and gruesome lair of fog, Where shone no light, where gleamed no glow of fire Save what did shine from their own blazing eyes. And in that dim, infernal consistory, High-seated 'mid his Councillors of State, 420 With bitter rage 'gainst God he thus began: "Ye Powers, who for our righteous cause have borne, With such fierce pride, this injury, 'tis time To be revengèd for our wrongs: with hate Irreconcilable and furious craft The Heavens to persecute and circumvent In their own chosen image, man, and him To smother at his birth, in his ascent, Ere that his sinews gain their promised strength And ere he multiply. 'Tis my design, 430 Both Adam and his seed now to corrupt. I know how, through transgression of the law Him first enjoined, to stain him with a blot Indelible; so that he with his seed, In soul and body poisoned, never shall Usurp the throne from which ourselves were thrust: Though it may be that some shall yet ascend On high, a number small and slight; and these Alone through thousand deaths and suffering And labor shall attain the state and crown 440 To us denied. Lo! miseries forthwith Shall follow aft in Adam's wake, and spread, From age to age, throughout the whole wide world. Even Nature shall, attainted by this blow, Almost decay, and wish again to turn To chaos and its primal nothingness. I see mankind, in God's own image made, From God's similitude debased, estranged, And tarnished, even in will and memory And understanding, while the holy light 450 Within created is obscured and dimmed: Yea, all yet in their mother's anxious womb, That wait with sorrow for their natal hour, I now, forsooth, behold a helpless prey To Death's relentless jaws. I shall exalt My tyranny with e'er-increasing pride, While you, my sons, I then shall see adored As Deities, on altars and in fanes Innumerable that tower to Heaven, where burns The sacrificial victim, 'mid the smoke 460 Of censers and the dazzling sheen of gold, In praise most reverential. I see hosts Of men, whose multitudes are even beyond The power of tongue to name--yea, all that spring From Adam's loins--for all eternity Accursed by their deeds abominable, Done in defiance of God's name. So dear To Him the cost of triumph o'er my crown."

Michael. Accursèd one, even yet to be so bold In thy defiance 'gainst thy God! Ere long 470 Thou shalt from us this blasphemy unlearn.

Gabriel. Even thus spake Lucifer, and then he sent Prince Belial down, that he forthwith might cause Mankind to fall: who took upon himself The form of that most cunning of all beasts, The Serpent, type of wickedness itself, That he might with a gloss of words adorn His luring snares, which then those creatures pure In guileless innocence even thus received, As, swinging from the tempting bough of knowledge, 480 That lone forbidden tree, he hung aloft: "Hath God, upon the pain of death, with such Severity and at so high a price, Deprived you of the freedom of this fruit? --The taste of even the choicest tree of all? Nay, Eve, thou simple dove, indeed thou dost Mistake. But once behold this apple, pray! Aye! see how glows this radiant fruit with gold And crimson mingled! An alluring feast! Yea, daughter, nearer draw; no venom lurks up 490 In this immortal leaf. How tempts this fruit! Yea, pluck; yea, freely pluck: I promise thee All light and knowledge. Come, why shouldst thou shrink For fear of sin? Aye, taste, and thus become Equal to God Himself in cognizance, Honor and wisdom, truth and majesty: Even though He much may wish thee to deny. Thus must distinctions be discerned in things. Their nature, entities, and qualities." Forthwith begins the heart of the fair bride 500 To burn and to enkindle, till she flames To see the praised fruit, which first allures The eye: the eye the mouth, that sighs to taste. Desire doth urge the hand, all quivering, To pluck. And thus she plucks, and tastes and eats (Oh! how this shall afflict her progeny!) With Adam, and as soon as then their eyes Are opened and they see their nakedness, They deck themselves with leaves--with leaves of fig, Their shame, disgrace, and taint original-- 510 And in the trees and shadows hide themselves; But hide in vain from the all-piercing Eye. Then gradually the sky grows black. They see The rainbow, as a warning messenger And portent of God's plagues, stretched o'er the Heavens, That weep, in mourning clad. Nor wringing hands, Nor sad lament, nor cries avail the pair. Alas! the lightnings gleam, with flash on flash, And shaking thunders roll there, peal on peal. And naught is heard but sighs, and naught is seen 520 But fright and gloom. They even their shadows flee; But ne'er can 'scape that dread heart-cankering worm, The sting of conscience. Thus, with knees that knock Together, step by step they stumble on, Their faces ghastly pale, and eyes, o'er-brimmed With tears, blind to the light. How spiritless, They who but now their heads so proudly held! The sound of rustling leaf or whispering brook, The faintest noise, doth them confound; the while A pregnant cloud descends, that bursts and bears, 530 By slow degrees, a light and radiant glow, Wherein the great Supreme appears in shape Impressive, thundering with His Voice, that fells Them to the earth.

[Illustration: --"Nor wringing hands, Nor sad lament, nor cries avail the pair."]

Chorus. Oh! oh! 'twere better far, Had mankind ne'er been made. This teaches them By such a juicy fruit to be beguiled.

Gabriel. "O Adam," thunders God, "where art thou hid?" "Forgive me. Lord; I flee thy countenance, Naked and all ashamed." "Who taught thee thus," Asks God, "thy shame and nakedness to know? 540 Didst dare profane thy lips with the forbidden Fruit?" "Aye, my bride, my wife, alas! did tempt." She says, "The wily Serpent hath deceived Me with this lure." Thus each the charge denies Of being the cause of their sad wretchedness.

Chorus. Mercy! What penalty hangs o'er their crime?

Gabriel. 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.

Michael. Come, Uriel, armor-bearer, who dost guard 570 The Right divine and punishest the Wrong: Take up thy flaming sword: fly down below, And drive the twain from Eden, who have dared Transgress, so rash and blind, the primal law. Go, guard the gate of the Paradise profaned, And forcibly the exiles drive away From this rare food, this tree, prolonging life. Permit not that they pluck the immortal fruit, Nor their abuse of heavenly gifts allow. Thou art placed, as sentinel, the garden over, 580 And o'er this tree. Then see that Adam shall Be driven out, and that from morn to eve He plough the field, and till the clayey ground From which, the breath of God once fashioned him, Ozias, to whose hand once God Himself With honor did entrust the ponderous hammer Of bright-hewn diamond made, also the chains Of ruby and the clamps so sharp of teeth, Go hence, and capture and securely bind The host of the infernal animals, 590 Also the lion and the dragon fell, That furiously against our standards rage. Sweep from the sky these hordes accursed, and bind Them neck and claw, and chain them forcibly. This key of the black bottomless abyss And all its dungeons is unto your care, Azarias, enjoined. Go hence, and lock All that our power assail within those vaults. Maceda, take this torch, to you this flame Is given: go light the deep lake sulphurous. 600 Down in the centre of the Earth, and there Torment thou Lucifer, who hath brought forth Such numerous horrors, in the eternal fire Unquenchable, with chilling frosts commingled: There Grief and Horror and Obduracy, And Hunger, Thirst, and comfortless Despair, The sting of Conscience, Wrath implacable, The punishments given for this mad attempt, Amid the smoke from God's deep glow concealed, Bear witness to the blasting curse of Heaven, 610 Passed on this Spirit impious, the while Shall come the promised Seed, the Reconciler, Who shall appease the blazing wrath of God, And in His wondrous love to man restore All that by Adam's trespass has been lost.

[Illustration: --"The eternal fire Unquenchable, with chilling frosts commingled."]

Chorus. Deliverer, who thus the Serpent's head Shalt bruise, and who, at the appointed time, Shalt fallen mankind cleanse from the foul taint Original, from Adam's loins derived; And who again, for frail Eve's offspring, shalt 620 Ope here, on high, a fairer Paradise, "We shall with longing tell the centuries Till the year, day, and hour when shall appear Thy promised Mercy, which its pristine bloom To pining Nature shall restore, and place Upon the throne whereout the Angels fell The souls and bodies Thou hast glorified. 627

The End.

Parallelisms Between Vondel and Milton.

Since Mr. Edmundson's book is out of print, we have been asked to give a list of his parallelisms between the "Lucifer" and Milton. This will give the student the benefit of his comparisons.

LUCIFER, ACT I. Line 13. PARADISE LOST.--Book III., line 741.

Line 22. P.L.--{V., 266-272. {II., 1012.

Line 35. P.L.--V., 426.

Line 52. P.L.--{VIII., 107. {X., 85.

Line 57. P.L.--II., 104-105.

Line 61. P.L.--IV., 227.

Line 63. P.L.--IV., 233.

Line 64. P.L.--III., 554.

Line 73. P.L.--IV., 225.

Line 78. P.L.--VII., 577.

Line 85-95. P.L.--{VII., 317. {VII., 333. {IV., 644.

Line 107. P.L.--IV., 340.

Line 115. P.L.--{V., 7. {IV., 642. {IV., 238.

Line 131. P.L.--{IV., 360-365. {IX., 457.

Line 134. P.L.--VII., 505-511.

Line 158. P.L.--{V., 137. {IV., 689.

Line 174. P.L.--{IV., 288-306. {IV., 496.

Line 180. P.L.--IX., 450-460.

Line 192. P.L.--IX., 489.

Line 193-195. P.L.--IX., 460-470.

Line 199. P.L.--IV., 304-306.

Line 203. P.L.--VIII., 40-50.

Line 260. P.L.--III., 276-290.

Line 268. P.L.--{III., 313-317. {III., 323-333.

Line 280. P.L.--V., 602.

Line 326. P.L.--V., 429.

Line 330. P.L.--X., 660-670.

Line 364. P.L.--III., 382.

LUCIFER ACT II.

Line 22. P.L.--V., line 787-792.

Line 108. P.L.--{I., 94-98. {I., 106-111.

Line 110. PARADISE REGAINED (P.R.).--III., 201-211.

Line 118. P.L.--I., 261-263.

Line 176-180. P.L.--{III., 380-382. {VIII., 65-67. {VIII., 71-75. {VIII., 168-170.

Line 197. P.L.--V., 810-825.

Line 343. P.L.--IV, 1010-1012.

Line 367. P.L.--II., 188-191.

Line 377. P.L.{--II., 188-191. {II., 343-346. {V., 254.

Line 405. P.L.--{II., 110-112. {I., 490.

LUCIFER ACT III.

Line 120. P.L.--X., 1045.

Line 238. P.L.--V., 617-627.

Line 572. P.L.--V., 708-710.

LUCIFER ACT IV.

Line 10. P.L.--V., 708-710.

Line 43. P.L.--VI., 56-59.

Line 120-155. P.L.--V., 722-802.

Line 186. P.L.--III., 383-389.

Line 207. P.L.--III., 648.

Line 251. P.L.--IV., 393.

Line 258. P.L.--II., 188-194.

Line 351. P.L.--IV., 391-394.

Line 370. P.R.--IV., 518-520.

Line 410. P.R.--III., 204.

Line 421. P.L.--VI., 540.

LUCIFER ACT V.

Line 3. P.L.--VI., 200-206.

Line 4. P.L.--VI., 305.

Line 7. P.L.--VI., 320-323.

Line 8. P.L.--VI., 250-253.

Line 29. P.L.--IV., 556-557.

Line 43. P.L.--VI., 44-53.

Line 54. P.L.--VI., 61-63.

Line 65. P.L.--VI., 85-87.

Line 70. P.L.--IV., 977-980.

Line 85-88. P.L.--I., 533-540.

Line 94-100. P.L.--VI., 99-110.

Line 97. P.L.--XI., 240-241.

Line 101. P.L.--VI., 754-755.

Line 103. P.L.--VI., 848-849.

Line 105. P.L.--I., 286.

Line 111. P.L.--{I., 84-87. {I., 588-590.

Line 114. P.L.--V., 833-845.

Line 115. P.L.--{I., 68-71. {VI., 105-107.

Line 124. P.L.--{VI., 203-219. {VI., 546.

Line 128. P.L.--VI., 310-315.

Line 155-161. P.R.--IV., 18-25.

Line 164. P.L.--VI., 200-205.

Line 195. P.L.--IV., 1000.

Line 235. P.L.--VI., 246-255.

Line 255. P.L.--VI., 275-278.

Line 269. P.L.--VI., 324.

Line 275. P.L.--VI., 390.

Line 290. P.L.--I., 305.

Line 308. P.L.--{X., 449-454. {X., 511-529.

Line 320. P.L.--X., 510-520.

Line 328. P.L.--539-545.

Line 345. P.L.--X., 510-520.

Line 347. P.R.--IV., 423.

Line 353. P.L.--VI., 884-886.

Line 410. P.L.--I., 300-310.

Line 412. P.L.--538-545.

Line 416. P.R.--I., 39-42.

Line 417. P.L.--I., 192-195.

Line 419. P.L.--II., 1-5.

Line 426. P.L.--{I., 120-122. {I., 178-189.

Line 431. P.L.--{II., 362-375. {III., 90-96.

Line 433. P.L.--IX., 130-134.

Line 455. P.L.--X., 637.

Line 448. P.L.--XI., 500-513.

Line 457. P.L.--I., 367-373.

Line 461. P.L.--I., 381-390.

Line 488. P.L.--IX., 575-581.

Line 492. P.L.--IX., 716-732.

Line 494. P.L.--IX., 685-687.

Line 499. P.L.--IX., 679-683.

Line 500. P.L.--IX., -732-743.

Line 509. P.L.--IX., 1090-1095.

Line 519. P.L.--{IX., 780-783. {IX., 1000-1003.

Line 537-545. P.L.--Last of Book IX.

Line 553. P.L.--X., 1051-1055.

Line 560. P.L.--X., 498-499.

Line 564. P.L.--XII., 386.

Line 604. P.L.--II., 595-600.

Line 604. P.L.--I., 56-63.

Line 606. P.L.--X., 112.

Line 616-627.--Suggestion of Paradise Regained.

Note.--(1) The word _feather_, line 370, Act I., is here used by Vondel in the old sense of _pen_.

(2) The word _treason_ in the epode of the chorus of angels at the end of Act III. more literally means _treasonable ambition_.

The Critical Cult.

"I consider your version of the Lucifer the most notable literary achievement in American letters in the decade from 1890 to 1900."--Richard Watson Gilder.

"It takes a master to translate a master, and the Lucifer of Leonard Van Noppen is a re-creation of the original work; masterful, comprehensive and in every sense a finished production. Full of poetic fire and the magic of the fitting word, it has the imprint of creative genius in every line and is weighted with the personality of a powerful and vivid imagination."--Francis Grierson.

"Leonard Charles Van Noppen, the translator of Vondel's Lucifer, is a poet of extraordinary power and beauty."--Edwin Markham.

Comparing the author with George Sterling, says Mr. Markham, in his "California, the Wonderful." "In recent poetry only Mr. Leonard Van Noppen's verse is kindred in lavish word-work and ornate architecture to 'The Wine of Wizardry.' Both men create their poesies with large movement and breadth of treatment--with amplitude of sky and prodigiousness of field, with wash of sunset and rainbow, with march of stars."

"I feel glad that any sparks of mine have served to enkindle the cassia, nard and frankincense which so prodigally enrich your own altar. Continue, now, to feed their flames with all those resources which the translator of Vondel showed me so plainly that he possessed. Take up your own creative work while in your prime, and in the end you will gain more nobly won, though none more royally couched, tributes of speech than those you offer me."--Edmund C. Stedman.

"I congratulate you upon your success in the accomplishment of this very interesting piece of work and hope that it will meet with that recognition among scholars which it deserves. I think there is a large culture for the writer."--Henry Van Dyke.

"I received with much pleasure your Vondel's Lucifer, and as I read it, I was much delighted. It is a pleasure to read the English version of this work."--Josef Israels.

"I am much indebted to you for the gift of your very handsome translation of the 'Lucifer,' and I am not a little struck by the evidence of literary ability spread over all parts of the volume. I hope your spirited and scholarly enterprise may meet to the full with the success it deserves."--Edmund Gosse.

"Worthy the genius of Vondel."--Dr. Jan Ten Brink, Professor of Literature, University of Leiden.

"A beautiful book. It is almost like discovering a new Homer."--Nathan Haskell Dole.

"A grand yet exquisite work. It is no flattery to say that the issue of this book is one of the most notable events of the age, yet is it not better than praise of one's effort to feel its significance as a centre of spreading thought and inquiry! To think that you are the first to give Vondel's Lucifer to the English reading world!"--Mary Mapes Dodge.

"I was reading your translation of Vondel last year, and I was very much struck with the resemblance to Milton in form and spirit. The conception of the mental attitude of the fallen angels is one which is certainly very interesting from a psychological as well as a literary point of view."--A. Lawrence Lowell.

"The Lucifer has greatly interested me as a revelation of one at least of the main sources from which Milton gained his ideas. Your preliminary work to me seems to be admirable, and you have certainly rendered a real service both to history and literature."--Andrew D. White.

"I wish to thank you for your translation of Vondel's Lucifer. Shall I confess it? It was long ago since I read that great poet, and your work afforded me all the pleasure of an original. As for your splendid chapter, 'Life and Times of Vondel,' and your thorough and searching Lucifer's Interpretation, they cannot fail to awaken the keenest interest in the English speaking literary world."--Baron Gevers, Minister from the Netherlands to Washington.

"Mr. Van Noppen is a man of great literary power, an authority in Dutch literature and is achieving fame as a translator of the masterpieces of the Dutch language."--Edwin A. Alderman.

"Your book duly came to hand. I was delighted to see the extraordinary attention it got in 'Literature,' and I congratulate you on the wide interest it has awakened."--W.D. Howells.

"Many thanks for your curious and interesting volume, my only chance of making acquaintance with the Batavian author."--Andrew Lang.

"I want to add my small words to the panegyric and tell you with what intense interest and pleasure I have followed your astonishing success. I say astonishing because I wonder how long it is since any one has been able to stir up such keen and general interest over a classic written long ago and in a foreign tongue? How long ago has it been since any classic was so much talked of? When, pray, has a young man made such a contribution to English letters and so interested thinking and scholarly people?"--Willa Cather.

"It has become a matter of literary tradition, in Holland and out of it, that the choral drama of 'Lucifer' is the great masterpiece of Dutch literature. * * * An era of translation was sure to set in, and it is a matter of significance that its herald has even now appeared. The translation into English of Vondel's 'Lucifer' is not only in and for itself an event of more than ordinary importance in literary history, but it cannot fail to waken among us a curiosity as to what else of supreme value may be contained in Dutch literature."--William H. Carpenter, Professor of Germanic Philology, Columbia University.

"We heartily rejoice that Vondel's drama has been translated into English by an American for Americans. Were this translation an inferior one, or were it only mediocre, we should have no reason to be glad, but in this case it is otherwise. Although no translation can entirely compensate for the lack of the original it is, however, possible for the original to be followed very closely. This is well shown by this rendering, which to a high degree possesses the merit of accuracy, while, at the same time, the spirit and the character of Vondel's tragedy are felt, understood and interpreted in a remarkable manner. Whoever is in a position, by the comparison of the translation with the original, to form an individual opinion of Van Noppen's superb work, will probably be convinced, even as I have been, that here an extraordinarily difficult task has been magnificently done."--G. Kalff, Professor of Dutch Literature, University of Utrecht.

"This version of Vondel bridges the gap in the Miltonic Criticism."--Francis B. Gummere.

"Much Esteemed Sir and Friend:

The distinguished octogenarian poet and author, Nicolaas Beets, of Utrecht, Holland, wrote to Mr. Van Noppen as follows:

'Much Esteemed Sir and Friend:

* * * I have furthermore compared your translation in many a striking passage with the original, which I always held in my hand. * * * Whatever was attainable you not only tried to reach most earnestly, but you have even most excellently succeeded in attaining. You have absolutely understood and perfectly rendered the meaning, the action, the spirit and the power of the sublime original. In splendid English verse we read Vondel's soul. Whoever knows Vondel will admit this, and whoever does not at present know him will learn to know and appreciate him from your translation. * * * It is also very plain, from the essays preceding the translation, that you have made a most thorough and comprehensive study of Vondel and of his poetry in connection with the entire field of the literature and history of his time. Though having myself read, and even written, in prose as well as poetry, so much concerning Vondel, I was often so impressed by criticisms and observations in your essays that I felt impelled to revise and complete my own conceptions."

The American Press.

"Mr. Van Noppen has produced a text which, so far as mere suppleness and naturalness go, might be taken for an original production, and his editorial labors have been considerable."--New York Tribune.

"There is reason enough for the publication in English of such a classic as the Lucifer, and it is fortunate that the work could be so artistically done."--Review of Reviews.

"To compare the two poems--Milton's Paradise Lost and Vondel's Lucifer--is as if one should contrast a great chorale by Bach or Mendelssohn with a magnificent hymn-tune by Sir Arthur Sullivan or William Henry Monk. The epic and the drama are both triumphs of skill. Why make comparisons? Rather let the world rejoice in two such possessions."--Philadelphia Record.

"It is particularly fortunate that the first English rendering of the great poem is so ably and conscientiously done. * * * Finally, the poem is illustrated by fifteen drawings in black and white by the famous Dutch artist, John Aarts, which are printed with the text."--The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer.

"If only as a literary, or as a human document, shedding light upon the methods of the greatest of English epic poets, Mr. Van Noppen's work would be of infinite value to all students. But the book which he has translated possesses, besides these adventitious claims to respect, a supreme intrinsic value. It is a drama that is everywhere great, and in passages sublime. * * * That the present translation is a good one he who reads can discern. It is strong, nervous, and rhythmical. It is, above all, good English, not a Teutonized hybrid."--New York Herald.

Mr. Van Noppen's translation is spirited and dignified, and there is a distinct lyric charm, which he has managed to preserve--a rare feat with a translator."--Charleston News and Courier.

"For the reader who desires merely the artistic comment of the pictures that thoroughly illustrate this famous old poem we might add that Mr. Aarts has caught the spirit--the pictorial beauty--of Lucifer as perhaps no other artist of the day could have done. The man himself is a poet, and he has translated into these drawings the majestic tragedy of Lucifer even as Mr. Van Noppen has translated it into stately English verse."--Brooklyn Citizen.

"Literary societies, university extension circles, and reading clubs are all here furnished with a fresh winter theme whose stages are already plotted out for the worker."--Philadelphia Inquirer.

"Vondel's Lucifer is one of the most important contributions ever made to the catholic literature of the English-speaking world. * * * As a specimen of book-making the volume is a model."--St. Louis Church Progress.

"We may consider Mr. Van Noppen's translation as a key that has unlocked a literary treasure and put within our reach a classic of Teutonic literature."--Detroit Free Press.

"The English-speaking literary world is under great obligations to the translator and publisher of this uniquely printed, illustrated, and bound volume."--Richmond Dispatch.

"The present rendering of Lucifer is by Leonard C. Van Noppen, who has made a translation which will link his name with that of the master as Edward Fitzgerald has bound his up with that of Omar Khayyam."--Buffalo News.

"A most meritorious translation of the Dutch poet's sublime tragedy, with a great deal of critical and biographical matter in the introductory sections."--Philadelphia Press.

"This careful translation of the great masterpiece of Dutch literature is one of the important books of the year."--Chicago Tribune.

"As Lucifer is the greatest work of the Dutch poet's, the fine translation and its elegant setting in the beautiful book is most gratifying."--Chicago Inter-Ocean.

"The translation is as literal as it can be made, and the sonorous tongue of its original author is heard through it all"--Chicago Times-Herald.

"The translation is an earnest and faithful rendering of the poet's ideas, and the verse is technically excellent; in fact, the translation may bid for the exalted place of the original in many libraries."--Times-Union, Albany.

"The stately sweep of the original verse has not been lost in the transference from one tongue to another. Mr. Van Noppen has, in addition to his translation of the poem, furnished a sympathetic and interesting memoir of the Life and Times of Vondel, and an elaborate, critical and scholarly Interpretation of the Lucifer."--Brooklyn Times.

"This delightfully printed book is a real work of art, and is a worthy contribution to the history of literature."--Boston Globe.

"Leonard Charles Van Noppen, the translator, has given to English literature another great classic."--Dramatic Magazine, Chicago.

"It is a very interesting event that we have Vondel's Lucifer in a scholarly, an accurate, and an admirable rendering into English."--Wilmington (N.C.) Messenger.

"If we were asked to give our opinion of this version we should express it in one word--'masterly.' The powers of expression and the richness of Vondel's thought, together with the rhythmical beauty of the poem, have been preserved in full. It is a masterpiece, and should have a place in every library."--De Grondwet (Dutch paper), Holland, Mich.

"In the essay on Vondel's Life and Times we have a singularly able and deeply interesting account of the conditions under which Vondel developed. * * * For the poem itself, like many more of the writings of Vondel, it has been recognized as a classic. Nobody can read it and not feel the sublimity of the inspiration that produced it."--San Francisco Chronicle.

"The whole thing is new and interesting--introduction, biography and poem. It opens up Dutch literature, the society of the Eglantine, a social field of poets and writers."--Baltimore Sun.

"Translator, artist and publishers are to be highly commended for the handsome and satisfactory manner in which they have combined to present this celebrated Dutch classic to American readers."--New Orleans Times-Democrat.

"The translator is Leonard Charles Van Noppen, and he is a poet himself in English. This intellectual and temperamental tendency enabled him to make a literal rendering that is not only highly accurate, but that also most admirably conserves the spirit of the original. The book is beautifully illustrated by the Dutch artist, John Aarts. From Mr. Van Noppen's interesting introductory essay on Vondel--a clear, comprehensive, and convincing exposition, as admirable in style as it is valuable in matter--we learn many interesting things concerning this old poet, this unknown Titan, whom the ablest students of literature place on the same plane with Milton, Dante, and Æschylus."--The Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia.

"In almost every, if not in every individual particular, the book is a model of what such a book should be. Intelligent and scholarly editing, thoughtful consideration for all the several needs of students as well as readers, liberal and judicious provision in the matter of accessories, a cultivated and refined taste in decoration, and a true feeling for typographical elegance in each respect of paper, type, margins, edgings, illustrations and binding unite to give this volume a character of genuine excellence and an aspect of chaste elegance such as are not often seen in a single example. The total is a result of such importance and value that we shall describe it item by item."--The Literary World, Boston.

"Mr. Van Noppen's introductory study of the Life and Times of Vondel is masterly in knowledge of the whole literary atmosphere of the day, with its grand galaxy of writers. * * * Therefore this book will serve another purpose besides that of introducing Anglo-Saxon readers to the beauties of Vondel's masterpiece: it will unfold to them as well the history of Holland's great literary period in all its wealth and beauty. In this translation of the drama itself, which is strictly faithful to the original in spirit, he has succeeded in reproducing to a considerable extent the virility, the majesty, of the original."--The Critic,

From Signed Reviews.

"Mr. Van Noppen has laid the student of Milton as well as the student of Dutch literature under weighty obligations by a translation of the drama of Lucifer which is not only true to the sense of its original, but also not unworthy of its fame."--Mayo W. Hazeltine, in New York Sun.

"Vondel's Lucifer is just as readable to-day as it was two hundred and fifty years ago, and in this translation the energetic simplicity of it abides."--George W. Smalley, in New York Herald.

"We prefer to accept Mr. Van Noppen's translation as he offers it for the worth of the poem itself, and that is sufficient for many a century."--George Henry Payne, in The Criterion.

"Mr. Van Noppen's translation of the Lucifer in this book is one for which he claims literalness to a close extent; but its fluency is not the less to be noted. Some of the best and most brilliant passages scarcely seem like a translation, so naturally and choicely do the words proceed."--Joel Benton, in The New York Times' "Review of Books."

"I spent one whole evening comparing Mr. Van Noppen's translation with the original. As far as exactness goes, as far as intimate verbal interpretation of Vondel's verse is concerned, it equals Andrew Lang's wonderful prose translation of the Iliad. By far the most difficult part of this translation must have been that of the lyrics and choral passages (after the Greek mode) with which the drama abounds. Mr. Van Noppen has preserved (at what pains) not only the metre and the rhythm, but also the rhymes, often involute and curiously doubled."--Vance Thompson, in Musical Courier.

"The work evinces not only a mastery of seventeenth century Dutch, but an insight into metrical effects and facility in reproducing them in English. This version could not have come from one who had not drilled himself for years in the theory and practice of English verse. We bespeak for the handsome volume before us a wide circulation. That such a translation has been sorely needed every student of comparative literature knows. That this need has been adequately met every impartial student of Mr. Van Noppen's version will, we believe, readily admit."--Prof. C. Alphonso Smith, Ph.D., in Modern Language Notes, Baltimore, Md., Dec, 1898.

"The intrinsic value of the work makes the publication of Mr. Van Noppen's translation an event of peculiar literary interest."--John D. Barry, in Boston Literary World.

The London Press.

"The dramatic masterpiece of the great Dutch poet of the seventeenth century has found a skilled and vigorous translator in Mr. Leonard Charles Van Noppen, and the sustained volume is further enriched by a careful memoir of the author of Lucifer and by an elaborate critical Interpretation of the poem. Justice is thus at last rendered to a poet of unquestionable genius and inspiration, of whom everything like a fair estimate has hitherto been hardly possible to an English reader. * * * There is no appeal to the groundlings in the style and quality of the verse, which in Mr. Van Noppen's spirited translation has a march of sustained, or, at least, of rarely failing dignity throughout, and in its intercalated choric passages is by no means wanting in lyrical charm. * * * But after half a dozen, a dozen, a score, of similar parallelisms the odds against chance and in favor of design become so overwhelming that the least mathematically minded of men will reject the former hypothesis. The 'long arm of coincidence' is not so long as all that. And, most assuredly, it is not long enough to cover the fact that Milton's Samson Agonistes followed in due course on Vondel's Samson, and that it abounds in evidences that in the matter of dramatic construction, at any rate, to leave the poetry out of the question, he was content to take his Dutch contemporary as his closely followed model."--London Literature.

"It is interesting that the first English translation of Vondel's famous play should be made in America and put forth in the old Dutch city of New York. The volume is a handsome one, elaborately gotten up."--London Daily Chronicle.

"Lucifer is a large, majestic drama, and adorned with several beautiful choric odes."--W.L. Courtney, in London Daily Telegraph.

* * * Milton undoubtedly behaved in a light-fingered fashion at the expense of Vondel, not once or twice, but often. * * * After a long lapse of time this matter is reopened by Mr. Leonard Charles Van Noppen, whose volume in praise and explanation of Vondel is a book of quite uncommon merit and charm, and one absolutely indispensable to students of Milton. * * * Of Mr. Van Noppen's success as a translator there can be only one opinion. We have read his version with surprise and delight. Vondel's Lucifer, in nearly all respects, will prove a veritable treasure for the genuine book-lover."--The London Literary World.

Board of the Queen Wilhelmina Lectureship, Columbia University

GENTLEMEN:

We, members of the "Board of the Queen Wilhelmina Lectureship, Columbia University," Professor Doctor G. Kalff, of the University of Leiden; Member Royal Academy of Sciences of Amsterdam; Leiden. President; J. Heldring, of Heldring & Pierson, Bankers, the Hague; J.W. IJzerman, President of the Royal Netherland Geographical Society at Amsterdam, the Hague; Wouter Nijhoff, President of the Dutch Publishers' Association, the Hague; Doctor H.J. Kiewiet de Jonge, President of the General Dutch Alliance, Dordrecht, Hon. Secretary, herewith plead for your co-operation with our endeavors to spread in America a knowledge of our civilization and institutions. Notwithstanding the tremendous influence of Holland upon England and the American Colonies--an influence as yet hardly guessed--the study of the Dutch and their history in the colleges and universities of America is still universally neglected. So little in fact is known of this subject and of Holland's part in civilization that there is even among scholars but little appreciation of the importance of this subject. Only at Columbia University is there any evidence of interest. Here our literary representative, Leonard C. Van Noppen, whom we have selected as the pioneer to blaze the way, has inaugurated several courses in Dutch Literature and given besides lectures on the various periods of its development. Since Columbia has been the first to co-operate with us, will not your institution be the second? If so, will you kindly address Prof. Leonard C. van Noppen, Queen Wilhelmina Lecturer, Columbia University, N.Y.? Mr. Van Noppen will be glad at any time to introduce you to this subject and to lecture on such phases of it as you may deem the most interesting.

We invite your students to our universities. Here is a field which will enrich scholarship with many discoveries. The selection of the Hague as the Capital of Peace has given Holland a new international importance. Your universities have established chairs in Icelandic, Chinese and Russian, subjects whose importance and value are incalculably less than that of Dutch. Is it not time that a beginning be made in this direction? Not even the study of the Spanish, the Italian and the French is so fertile of results as that of the civilization of the Netherlands, which, as the mother of the Teutonic Renaissance, influenced the civilization of the English-speaking world so largely. Prof. Butler will, upon application, be glad to give Mr. van Noppen leave of absence to lecture at your university. Mr. Van Noppen has given courses of lectures on this subject at the Lowell Institute, Brooklyn Institute, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Cincinnati and many other colleges and universities.

We add the following notice of his lecture at Davidson College, N.C.:

"Davidson, April 20.--It is altogether too seldom that our Southern colleges, certainly it is true of Davidson, are privileged to have with them a lecturer of the type seen in Professor Leonard Charles van Noppen of the Queen Wilhelmina Chair of Dutch Literature in Columbia University, who spoke last evening in Shearer Hall and who speaks again this evening and to-night.

"Doctor van Noppen was introduced by Professor Thomas W. Lingle, who in a brief speech told of the lecturers right by virtue of birth and training to speak on the topic selected and for a few minutes in an instructive way pointed out what Holland had contributed to Western civilization and particularly to American life and history, an introduction so full of facts marked with such accurate historical perspective that the Columbia lecturer in making acknowledgment said he felt inclined to take his seat and let Doctor Lingle continue, so familiar did he seem with the subject he himself was to present.

"To say that Doctor van Noppen's lecture was popular, in the ordinary sense of the word, would do it great injustice. It was too comprehensive in its reach, and strong in its grasp, too scholarly, too suggestive of research and prolonged investigation and study, too elaborate in phrase and too masterful in its discriminating use of choice English and ornate diction for any one to call it popular. Its purpose and its value is not of this order. Rather, after listening to such a paper, the scholar is glad that it is doubtless to appear in permanent or book form, where he can study it at leisure. To the college student it serves as a stimulus, an inspiration, an ideal to show him that in his daily routine of class room work he is only laying a foundation on which to build and with which he may begin the higher intellectual life, may start out for himself to read, to investigate and in time reduce to consistent and articulated form the results of his own weeks and months not to say years of patient toil in the great libraries.

"In a very strict sense Doctor van Noppen's first lecture was scholarly and showed clearly that it breathes a university atmosphere and is intended primarily and ultimately for the lecture hall of the Johns Hopkins University, where he is soon to deliver the series. He is just now returning from a lecture tour in the West.

"Beginning with a clever characterization of the people of Holland as a practical one, first reclaiming from the sea a land to live on, and then anchoring it to the continent, in rapid review he showed what a wonderful contribution this little country, less than Maryland, and small in everything but in history, has made to modern Christian civilization. Washed out of the soil of Germany on toward the sea--and no wonder that Germany looks with envious eyes upon it--it is the richest country imaginable. It has a per capita wealth of $12,000 as against America's $4,000. In proportion to population it has done more for civilization than any other nation, not even Greece excepted. Then followed in rapid review the facts of history in substantiation of the claim.

"Conspicuous in the claims and seemingly substantiated was in the influence of Holland in spreading abroad, notably in America, the doctrines of the equality of all men, separation of Church and State, religious freedom, freedom of the press, local self-government.

"Fine was the description of Philip of Spain, of William the Silent. Interesting was the portrayal of the work of the Chamber of Eglantine of Amsterdam, of the men of letters of Leiden and the intellectual forces leading up to and resulting in the great University in Leiden.

"Most striking of all was his brilliant description of the life and work of the great Dutch poet Vondel and the story of how Milton, the greatest of English Epic poets, has been content to follow, imitate and copy from Vondel in his Lucifer where Vondel has shown himself the great dramatist."

The "Baltimore Sun" writes of his lecture at Johns Hopkins:

"Very frequently since the day when Geoffrey Chaucer fashioned his immortal 'Canterbury Tales' upon Bocaccio's 'Decameron,' English poets have been subject to the impeachment of having borrowed (usually without proper acknowledgment) from foreign sources--borrowed material, plot, episodes, characters and, sometimes, language, embodied in whole phrases and sentences. The Elizabethan Age, pre-eminent though it was in creative literary excellence, has not escaped the challenge of its originality. French and Italian influences and writers exercised a strongly formative power upon Drayton, Sidney, Spenser and others of the elect, and even the great Bard of Stratford did not scruple at transmuting the clay of less gifted molders into the gold of his superb coinage.

"But it has not been generally recognized that Milton was such an appropriator. Accordingly, Dr. L.C. van Noppen's lecture showing that the great Puritan poet was indebted to the 'Lucifer' of Vondel, the Dutch author, for the theme, the treatment, the description and even some of the finest passages in 'Paradise Lost,' is a surprise. Yet Dr. Van Noppen makes out a very strong case. The appearance of 'Lucifer' a short time before Milton's Continental tour, which was cut short by the breaking out of the great civil war in England; the strong likelihood that Milton had heard of Vondel and his work through Roger Williams, whose sojourn in Europe had made him acquainted with 'Lucifer,' and who had instructed Milton in modern languages; Milton's association in Paris with Hugo Grotius, one of the most eminent scholars of his time, a countryman and an enthusiastic admirer of Vondel--all combine into a strong chain of circumstantial evidence, which, reinforced by the undeniable similarity and the many parallel passages in the two great works, make a conclusion which is almost imperative.

"But the conceding of Milton's debt to Vondel does not cancel our debt to Milton, whose sublime epic has given pleasure and comfort to scores of readers to whom Vondel's drama has been a sealed volume. Neither does it release our obligation to 'render unto Caesar the things that are Cæsar's.'"

Furthermore, we hope that you will consider the establishment of a chair in Dutch Literature or History and that you, in anticipation of this foundation, will from time to time send us such students as desire to make this subject their specialty. Hoping that you, after a consideration of this matter, will co-operate with us, I am

Respectfully yours for the Board of the Queen Wilhelmina Lectureship,

H.J. Kiewiet de Jonge, Hon. Secretary.

DORDRECHT (Holland), November, 1915.