Codex Junius 11 Part 10

Then a worse fate befell them, and they went to find a home in h.e.l.l, the foul abyss, where they must needs endure grim woe and surging flame, no more possessing radiance of glory or high-built halls in heaven; but they must needs plunge downward to those depths of fiery flame, down to the bottomless abyss, insatiate and rapacious. G.o.d only knoweth how He hath condemned that guilty host.

(ll. 34-50) The Old One crieth out of h.e.l.l, with horrible voice uttereth words accursed: "Whither is fled the glory of the angels, which we should have in heaven? This is a home of darkness, terribly bound with fettering bonds of fire. The floor of h.e.l.l is ablaze, and flaming with poison. The end is now not far when we must suffer torment, pain, and woe, no whit possessing bliss in heavenly glory, nor joy, in her high halls.

Lo! once we knew great bliss before the face of G.o.d, and songs of praise in heaven in happier hours, where now stand n.o.ble spirits round about Eternal G.o.d in His high hall, wors.h.i.+pping the Lord with words and works. And here in torment I must needs abide in bonds, nor ever hope for any better home, because of my insolent pride."

(ll. 51-64) Then answered the foul fiends, black and sinful, chained in torment: "Thou with thy lies didst teach us not to serve the Saviour! To thee alone it seemed that thou hadst power of all things in heaven and earth, that thou wert Holy G.o.d, even the Creator. Now thou art bound, thou wretched fiend, with bonds of flame. In thy splendour thou didst think the world was thine, and power of all things, and we, the angels, with thee.

Loathsome is thy face! Sorely have we suffered for thy lies!

Thou saidest that thy son was Lord of men. Now is thy woe the greater."

(ll. 65-74) So with bitter words and moaning voices the sinful spirits spake unto their lord. Christ had cast them out, and banished them from joy. They had lost the radiant light of G.o.d in heaven through overweening pride. For all their joy they had the floors of h.e.l.l and burning pain. Pale, their beauty marred, the fallen angels, miserable wretches, wandered through that loathsome pit, because of the presumptuous deeds which formerly they wrought.

II

(ll. 75-80) Then once more spake the leader of the fiends; he was chastened anew, and racked with pangs of torment. Black with fire and poison, he began to speak; no pleasant joy was this as he poured forth his words in pain:

(ll. 81-92) "I was once a holy angel, dear unto G.o.d in heaven, and knew great joy before the face of the Lord G.o.d, likewise this mult.i.tude. But I resolved in my heart to overthrow the Lord of glory, the Son of G.o.d, and have myself the power to rule the world, and all this wretched host which I have led unto a home in h.e.l.l. Bethink ye of the token and the curse, that I was banished, deep below the earth, in the bottomless abyss. I have led you all from out your native home unto a house of bondage.

(ll. 92-105) "Here is no glory of the blessed, neither wine-halls of the proud, nor worldly joys nor angel throngs, nor may we have possession of high heaven. This loathsome dwelling burns with fire. I am G.o.d's foe. Dragons dwell ever at the gates of h.e.l.l, inflamed and furious; they may not help us! This woeful house is filled with torment. In this deep darkness there is yet no place to shelter us, that we may hide therein. Here is the adder's hiss; here serpents dwell. Firmly the bonds of torment are fastened upon us. Fierce are the fiends, swarthy and black.

Here never gleameth day in the gloom of h.e.l.l-shadows, nor the radiant light of G.o.d.

(ll. 106-124) "Once I had power and glory, before I earned G.o.d's judgment on my sin in this loathsome realm, upon the floor of h.e.l.l. Now I have come, and brought a host of fiends, unto this home of darkness. But, flying forth from h.e.l.l from time to time, I needs must visit every land, and others of you also, who had part in our presumptuous deeds. We need not hope the King of glory will ever grant us a home and dwelling, as He did of old, and everlasting power. For the Son of G.o.d hath power of all things, of glory and affliction. Wherefore, downcast and wretched, I must wander far, an exile journey, stripped of glory, shorn of virtue, bereft of joy in heaven among the angels, because I said of old that I was King of glory and Lord of all."

III

(ll. 125-128) But a worse fate befell him! So the accursed spirit, doomed to woe, lamented his afflictions. (And through the foul abyss a flame of fire raged, with venom mingled):

(ll. 129-141) "I am so large of limb there is no place in this wide hall to hide me, sore wounded with my sins. Both heat and cold by turns are mingled here. At times I hear the h.e.l.l-slaves howling, mourning these realms of pain beneath the earth; at times men naked strive with serpents. All this windy hall is filled with horror! Never shall I know a happier home, nor any town or mansion; nor ever shall mine eyes behold the s.h.i.+ning world again.

(ll. 142-157) "Worse is it now for me that ever I knew the light of glory with the angels, or melody in heaven, where blessed souls are lapped in music by the Son of G.o.d. I may not injure any soul save those alone which He rejecteth. Those may I lead home into bondage, and bring them to their dwelling in the grim abyss. Changed are we all from what we were of old on high, in beauty and in honour. Oft, as disciples round our well-loved Lord, we brought the sons of glory to the Saviour's arms, and lifted up our songs of praise, and wors.h.i.+pped Him. But now I am stained with evil, and wounded with my sins. In h.e.l.l-fire burning bonds of pain shall sear my back, nor may I ever hope for any future good."

(ll. 158-162) Then once more the loathsome fiend from h.e.l.l, accursed in his woe, bewailed his endless torment. His words flew up like sparks, most like to poison, as he hissed them forth:

(ll. 162-175) "O! the majesty of G.o.d, the might of the Creator!

O! Thou Lord of heavenly hosts! Farewell to earth, and the gleaming light of day! Farewell the bliss of G.o.d, the angel hosts, the heavens above! Alas! that I have lost eternal joy, that never again with my hands may I lay hold on heaven, nor thitherward lift up mine eyes, nor hear in mine ears the ringing voice of the trumpet, because I would have driven from His throne the Lord, the Son of G.o.d, and seized myself the power of majesty and joy and bliss.

(ll. 176-188) "Then a worse fate befell me than I could well foresee! I am rejected from the heavenly host, cast out from light into this loathsome home. I may not well bethink me how I fell thus low, into this deep abyss, stained with my sins, and cast out from the world. Now I know that he will forfeit all eternal joy who thinketh not to serve the King of heaven and please the Lord. Needs must I undergo correction, vengeance and punishment and pain, stripped of every good, stained by my former deeds, because I thought to drive G.o.d from His throne, the Lord of hosts. Now, sorrowful and full of care, I needs must go an exile-journey, a wandering wide."

IV

(ll. 189-208) Then G.o.d's foe went to h.e.l.l, wherein he was abased, and his thanes with him, covetous and greedy, when the Lord G.o.d hurled them down into that burning house whose name is h.e.l.l.

Wherefore let every man take thought in his heart that he may not be displeasing to the Son of G.o.d, remembering how the black fiends were undone by pride. And let us choose as our delight the Lord of hosts, the Prince of angels, and eternal joy in heaven above. He showed that He had strength and wondrous power, when from His lofty throne He drove that great host into bondage.

Let us be mindful of the Holy Lord, eternal in glory, and choose a home on high with Christ, the Lord of all, the King of kings.

With blithe thoughts in our hearts, and peace and wisdom, let us be mindful of righteousness and truth, when we think to kneel before His royal throne, and pray the Lord for mercy.

(ll. 209-223) It behooveth him who dwelleth in these worldly joys to s.h.i.+ne in beauty when he seeketh another life, and a land much fairer than this earth. That is a land of beauty and of joy, with fruits that brightly gleam among the cities. That is a boundless realm, the home of the blessed in heaven, acceptable to Christ. Let us turn thither where, in that dear home, the Saviour sitteth, Lord of victories, and round about His throne in radiant whiteness stand angel legions and all blessed souls, the holy heavenly hosts, and praise the Lord with words and works.

Their beauty gleameth with the King of glory, world without end.

V

(ll. 224-227) And further still, as I have heard, the fiends confessed. Their sin and punishment lay heavy on them. In their presumptuous pride they had forgot the King of glory. Straightway in other words they spake:

(ll. 228-244) "Now is it seen that we have sinned in heaven, and now must ever wage a hapless war against the might of G.o.d. We might have had our dwelling in the light of glory, in thousands serving Holy G.o.d, and chanting hymns about His throne. And while we dwelt there, and abode in bliss, came strains of heavenly music on our ears, and the voice of the trumpet. Bright of word arose the Prince of angels, and all His saints bowed down before Him. The Eternal Lord Triumphant rose and stood above us, and each day blessed that gentle throng, and His beloved Son, Shaper of souls. And G.o.d Himself was merciful to all who came within that kingdom, and had believed in Him on earth.

(ll. 245-247) "But it seemed to me that the Prince was stern and hard of heart; and I began to go forth alone among the angels, and said unto them all:

(ll. 248-253) "'I can show you enduring counsel, if ye will trust my strength. Let us scorn this mighty Prince, the Lord of hosts, and possess us of the radiance of His glory to be our own. For this is empty boasting which we have borne so long.'

VI

(ll. 254-268) "And so it was we strove to drive the Lord from His dear home, the King from out His city. But widely is it known that we must dwell in exile, in the grim depths of heil. G.o.d holdeth His kingdom. He only is the King, Eternal Lord, Creator strong and mighty, whose anger smote us down. Henceforth this host must lie here in their sin, some flying in the air and speeding over earth. But round about each spirit fire burneth, though he be up on high. Yet may he never lay his hand upon those souls who from the earth in blessedness seek heaven. But I may seize G.o.d's foes, all heathen slaves, and drag them down into the pit.

(ll. 269-278) "Some must needs wander through all lands, sowing dissension in the tribes of men throughout the earth. But I must suffer all things, in the pangs of flame, sick and sorrowful, lamenting here my lost possessions, which once I owned, while still my home was in the heavens. Will the Eternal grant us ever again a home and dwelling in the heavenly kingdom, as He did of old?"

(ll. 279-297) So wailed G.o.d's adversaries, as they burned in h.e.l.l. G.o.d, the Lord, was moved to wrath against them for their blasphemy. Wherefore should every living man, whose heart is good, resolve to banish sinful thoughts and loathsome evil. Let us be ever mindful in our hearts of the Creator's might, and prepare a green path before us unto the angels. There is Almighty G.o.d, and the Son of G.o.d will fold us in His arms, if we on earth take thought of this beforehand, and trust His holy help. Then will He not forsake us, but will grant us life among the angels, and blessed joy. The radiant Lord will show us stable dwellings, and gleaming city-walls. Brightly s.h.i.+ne the souls of the blessed, freed from sorrow, evermore possessing cities and a kingly throne.

(ll. 297-314) O may we all proclaim it, ere it be too late, and rehea.r.s.e it unto men upon the earth, unlock with skill the mysteries of G.o.d, and wisely understand them! A thousand angels shall come out to meet us, if thitherward we take our way, and have deserved this bliss on earth. He shall be blessed whoso scorneth evil and is pleasing unto G.o.d, overcoming sin as He hath said. The righteous, crowned with beauty, in their Father's kingdom, shall s.h.i.+ne like to the sun in the City of Refuge, where their Lord, the Father of mankind, shall fold them in His arms, and lovingly uplift them to the light of heaven, where they may dwell for ever with the King of glory, possessing joy of joys with the Lord G.o.d, for ever and for ever without end.

VII

(ll. 315-333) Alas! how rashly did the cursed fiend resolve to disobey the King of heaven, the Comfort-bringing Father. With venom burned and blazed the floor of h.e.l.l beneath the captive's feet. The fiends went howling through those windy halls, wailing their woe. The sin and evil of that mult.i.tude were fiercely purged by fire. Grievous their fate! And their prince, who came there first of all the host, was lettered fast in fire and flame; that was unending torment! For ever must his thanes inhabit there that loathsome realm, nor ever in heaven above hear holy joy, where they had long had pleasant service with the angels; all good things had they lost, and might not dwell save in the pit of h.e.l.l, in that accursed hall where sounds of weeping are heard afar, gnas.h.i.+ng of teeth and lamentation.

(ll. 334-354) They have no hope but only frost and fire, torture and pain and swarming serpents, dragons and adders and a house of darkness. He who stood within twelve miles of h.e.l.l might hear a gnas.h.i.+ng of teeth, loud and full of woe. G.o.d's adversaries wandered throughout h.e.l.l, burning with flame above and below (on every side was torture); oppressed with pain, bereft of joy, and shorn of glory, they bitterly lamented that ever they had planned to strip the Saviour of His heavenly kingdom, when they had their home on high. But He held rightfully the courts of heaven and His holy throne.

(ll. 355-364) No one is so cunning or so wise, or hath such understanding, save G.o.d alone, that he may describe the radiant light of heaven; how, by the might of G.o.d, the sun there s.h.i.+neth round about that splendid host, where angels have eternal joy, and saints chant hymns before the face of G.o.d. And there are blessed souls, who come from earth bearing in their bosoms fragrant blossoms and pleasant herbs--these are the words of G.o.d. The Father of mankind shall fold them in His arms, and with His right hand bless them and lead them to the light, where they shall have eternal life, a heavenly home, a radiant city-dwelling, for ever and for ever. He shall have bliss whoso inclineth to obey his Saviour. Well shall it be with him who may obtain it!

VIII

THE HARROWING OF h.e.l.l

(ll. 365-376) Within G.o.d's kingdom in the days of old the angel prince was called "Light-bearer," Lucifer. But he stirred up strife in heaven and turned to insolence and pride. Darkly Satan planned to build a lofty throne in heaven, with the Eternal G.o.d.

He was their lord, the prince of evil. But he repented when he needs must sink to h.e.l.l, and with his thanes must feel the Saviour's wrath; never thereafter might they look upon Eternal G.o.d for ever.

(ll. 377-384) Then terror came upon them, and cras.h.i.+ng thunder went before the Judge, who bowed and burst the doors of h.e.l.l.

And bliss came unto men when they beheld their Saviour's face.

But the hearts of that doomed folk, that dread host named aforetime, were sore afraid. They were smitten with terror throughout their windy hall, and wailed aloud:

(ll. 385-397) "Bitter is this Storm that burst upon us, the Angel Prince, the Warrior with His legions. Before Him s.h.i.+neth a fairer light than ever our eyes beheld, save when we dwelt in heaven among the angels. Now will He end, by power of His glory, the torment we inflict. Lo! this Terror cometh, with thunders before the face of G.o.d, and soon this wretched throng shall know affliction. It is the Son of G.o.d, the Lord of angels. He leadeth souls up out of h.e.l.l, and we shall be abased hereafter by His avenging wrath."

(ll. 398-407) By His might the Lord descended into h.e.l.l, unto the sons of men. For He was fain to lead forth countless thousands to their native home. Then came the sound of angel legions, and thunder at the blush of dawn. The Lord Himself had overcome the Fiend; the deadly strife began at dawn when the terror fell upon them. He let the blessed souls, the race of Adam, mount upward unto heaven. Yet Eve might not see heaven until she spake:

(ll. 408-419) "I, only, brought Thy wrath upon us, Eternal Lord, when we two ate the apple through the serpent's guile, Adam and I, as we should not have done. The fiend, who now doth burn for ever in his bonds, told us that so we should have blessing and a holy home, and heaven to rule. And we believed the words of the Accursed, and stretched our hands unto the holy tree and plucked its s.h.i.+ning fruit. Bitter the price we paid, when we must needs sink downward to this flaming pit, and there abide for many thousand winters, dreadfully burning.

(ll. 420-434) "Now I beseech Thee, Lord of heaven, by this host, the angel legions which Thou leadest hither, that I may be delivered out of h.e.l.l, with all my kindred. Three nights ago a servant of the Saviour came to h.e.l.l. Now is he fast in bondage, spent with pain, for the King of glory was incensed against him because of his presumption. Thou saidest unto us in truth that G.o.d Himself would come to all who dwell in h.e.l.l. Then everyone arose, and leaned upon his arm, and rested on his hand; though racked with pangs of h.e.l.l, yet in their torment they rejoiced because their Lord was coming unto h.e.l.l to bring them aid."