English

Piteously the stars of Heaven
Fix'd their million eyes upon him, —
While his dark form droop'd and slowly
Darken'd, like a blackening brand;

Brightness of the Angel faded
Into darkness sad and baleful, —
Old at last he seem'd and human,
Bending 'neath the load of years;

In his voice I heard no longer
Music as of stars vibrating,
Sound of solemn psalms, or pipings
Of the merry flocks of Pan:

Nay, the voice that spake unto me
Broken seem'd, like chimes discordant
Ringing over lonely uplands

... On the lonely Heath of Hampstead
I awaken'd, and beside me
Saw the woe-worn outcast standing,
Shadowy, mystical, and sad.

Even as I gazed upon him,
All the baleful hideous seeming,
Falling from him like a garment,
Left him beautiful and fair!

Lost in awe I gazed upon him!
Angel-naked stood the Devil;
Thin and tall; upon his forehead
Light, as of some dim grey Dawn!

Fair he seem'd, tho' pale and weary,
Sorrowful, but softly shining,
Beautiful, as when, ere fallen,
Seated on the morning star!

As the cold metallic Ocean
Swings and clangs around the drowning,
So the solid air around me
Swung, till sense and sight departed;

Dimly, darkly, I was conscious
That I floated swiftly onward,
Moving to a rhythmic motion
Like the beat of mighty pinions.

Suddenly, like one in slumber
Falling wildly till he wakens,
Down like lead I seem'd descending
Dizzily I knew not whither,

Till at last, I shriek'd and struggled
Blind and breathless, and awaken'd,
And beheld him standing by me

" With your wish, sir, or without it,
He will take you soon or later!"
Said he laughing grimly; " wherefore
Do him, pray, this friendly turn!

" I've a case which, rightly stated,
Must procure me an acquittal:
Yes, the case for the Defendant
Will astonish God Himself!

" God's my Judge, and cannot therefore
As a witness speak against me;
God the Judge must be — the Jury
Men of science and discretion.

" When they call the roll, you'll challenge
All the slaves of superstition, —

" Stay," he said, " and listen to me!
I am he thy conscience pictures,
I am he whom men deem evil,
Anti-Christ and Anti-God!

" I have answer'd to thy summons!
I am he whom the Almighty,
Judge as well as prosecutor,
Ever hath condemn'd unheard.

" Never has the case been stated
Properly for the Defendant —
I entreat you, listen to me!
Set me right before the world!

" Purblind as the priests and prophets
Ev'n the Poets have traduced me, —
Ev'n the Poets, tho' I love them,

Wroth to hear him still blaspheming,
Pitying, ne'ertheless, his blindness,
Since the years had snow'd upon him
And his face lookt worn and weary,

" Thinkest thou," I cried, " the Father,
Wise, omnipotent, all-seeing,
Ever would consign His children
To an anguish everlasting?

" Nay, there is no Hell, save only
Conscience working deep within us,
Warning us 'gainst sin and evil,
Ever whispering " Repent! " "

Smiling quietly, the Stranger
Answer'd, " Sin is God's invention!
Often have I doubted Heaven —

Horrified to hear such language
From a man so old and saintly,
" Sir," I said, " at first I took you
For a clergyman, or priest!

" Now I hear you thus blaspheming,
I conclude that you're no parson —
Mother Church perchance has thrust you
Scornfully beyond its doors?"

" Sir," he said, " your guess is clever!
Once I was in holy orders
(Long ago) and for my blunders
Heaven's Archbishop kick'd me out!

" Since that time, sir, I've been busy
Prowling up and down your planet,

" Take my Newspaper a moment!"
(Here I did so) " Read the headings:"
" Shipwreck of the Golden Mary —
Loss of every Soul on board!

" Earthquake in Sardinia. Twenty
Villages destroyed entirely.
Many thousand living creatures
Swallow'd in the black abysses. . . .

" Floods in China ... Decimation
Of much populated districts,
Whither, while the folk were sleeping,
Rush'd the great destroying waters ...

" Cholera in Russia! ... Famine
In the East! and millions starving! ...
Railway accident in Texas,

Suddenly from out the darkness
Sprang the Moon, and thro' the trembling
Pools of azure softly swimming
Flooded Heaven with rippling rays.

Well I knew the Naked Goddess!
Many a midnight, there in London,
She had witch'd my sense with wonder,
Stirr'd my soul to pensive dreams!

In her light the Phantoms faded,
While the lonely Heath around me,
Lit as with a ghastly daylight,
Loom'd distinct against the sky. . . .

Even then I saw before me
Something, featured like a mortal,
Sitting silent in the moonlight

Bitterly, that night of August,
All my load of woes upon me,
Bare I witness 'gainst the Serpent
Who had made me see and know.

Far away the Sword was flaming
O'er the gates of Youth and Eden —
Never, never, should I enter
Those celestial Gates again!

And the Woman? Somewhere yonder
She was sorrowing and sobbing —
Never, never, would we wander
Thro' the Garden, hand in hand!

Bitterly I cursed the Serpent!
Bitterly I cursed the Apple!
Honey in the mouth, but wormwood