Satan

Below the bottom of the great Abyss,

There where one centre reconciles all things,

The world's profound heart pants; there placed

Mischief's old Master! close about him clingsA curled knot of embracing snakes, that

His correspondent cheeks: these loathsome

Hold the perverse prince in eternal ties,

Fast bound since first he forfeited the skies.

Heaven's golden-winged herald late he

To a poor Galilean virgin sent;

How long the bright youth bowed, and with what

Immortal flowers to her fair hand present:

He saw the old Hebrew's womb neglect the

Of age and barrenness; and her Babe prevent His birth by his devotion, who

Betimes to be a saint before a man!

Yet, on the other side, fain would he start Above his fears, and think it cannot be:

He studies Scripture, strives to sound the

And feel the pulse of every prophecy,

He knows, but knows not how, or by what

The heaven-expecting ages hope to seeA mighty Babe, whose pure, unspotted

From a chaste virgin womb should bless the earth!

But these vast mysteries his senses smother,

And reason, — for what's faith to him! — devour,

How she that is a maid should prove a mother,

Yet keep inviolate her virgin flower:

How God's eternal Son should be man's brother,

Poseth his proudest intellectual power;

How a pure spirit should incarnate be,

And life itself wear death's frail livery.

That the great angel-blinding light should

His blaze, to shine in a poor shepherd's eye;

That the unmeasured God so low should

As prisoner in a few poor rags to lie; milk should drink,

Who feeds with nectar Heaven's fair family;

That a vile manger his low bed should

Who in a throne of stars thunders above.

That He whom the sun serves, should faintly

Through clouds of infant flesh: that He the

Eternal Word would be a child, and weep;

That He who made the fire should feel the cold;

That Heaven's high Majesty his court should

In a clay-cottage, by each blast controlled:

That Glory's self should serve our griefs and fears:

And free Eternity submit to years.