Vondel's Lucifer Part 34

Haste speedily and bring the lightnings here; Also my armor, helm, and shield. Then bring 70 G.o.d'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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d's standard to uphold. Take courage, then, Prince Michael, thou shalt battle for thy G.o.d.

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 G.o.d and Lucifer.

Belzebub:

But see how Rafael with the branch of peace, Astounded and compa.s.sionate, 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? G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.dhead 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.