(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 hell-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 shining
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 God. 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 worshipped Him. But now I am
stained with evil, and wounded with my sins. In hell-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 hell,
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 God, the might of the Creator!
O! Thou Lord of heavenly hosts! Farewell to earth, and the
gleaming light of day! Farewell the bliss of God, 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 God, 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 God from His throne, the Lord
of hosts. Now, sorrowful and full of care, I needs must go an
exile-journey, a wandering wide."