His tongue was cunning mischief to devise, 66 He stood on Sinai, and the chosen seed The power of Death? If one-then all. He adored the thing he stole, Thereto his sacred and immortal soul, Dishonouring his Father in the act, Slaying the Tree that bore him, branch and bole, Charging her cold remains-false witness, worse * The penitent thief. His Mother's teaching who did thus rehearse! While Satan pled, in penitential awe, The Thief breathed fervently his silent prayer, "Satan"-replied the Judge-" Why art thou here? What Sinai claimed did Golgotha fulfil, And Death e'en died with the Incarnate there. For Moses' body why disputest still? God's word hath double edge, destroys to save, And makes alive e'en while it seems to kill." Whereat th' Archfiend exclaimed-"Laws then but rave: But by the Form can we the Spirit know, But by the Letter they expression have If that uncertain be, must be e'en so The truth it represents;..for who can see, The Spirit formless, wordless?..who can show?" "Yet," said the Word eternal, "Truth shall be Is that which doth interpret, they accord- Rebukes thee!" At these words the Accuser fell As lightning flashed from heaven; the Heaven abhorred From God's right hand evanished into Hell. XVII. NOAH. THEN to that Brand thus plucked from out the fire, The Lord spake-" Stand upon thy feet!"—and lo, The entering Spirit did with life inspire, And set him on his feet, and, standing so, The penal swathings of his shame fell down From off his limbs, which now with glory glow, A mitre fair, on his anointed head; Nor heard they not, those Armies of the Dead, Nor by the Spirit reanimate alone He rose, but the same spirit pervaded wide, The triumph of redemption. There might be With thine innumerable Company, To hope, though great their wickedness and wo, Aiming at heaven by means forbid to men, Odious to Order, whence did Deluge flow. His lips the Merciful unsealed, and then "Oh Lord my God! I kneel To Thee, O Judge of Earth! Have mercy yet Were evil, and their hearts on evil set. |