Vondel's Lucifer Part 27

O brothers, can ye ask with earnestness Why we thus grieve? Did ye also not hear What Gabriel's trump revealed: how we through this New-given command, down from our state are thrust 80 Into a slavery of Earth and of As many souls as from a little blood And seed may haply spring? What have we done Amiss? how erred, that G.o.d a water-bubble, Blown full of vapid air, exalts. His sons, The Angels, to abase?--a b.a.s.t.a.r.dy Exalts, formed out of clay and dust? But now We stood as trusty pillars, consecrate Unto His court, adorned our various place As faithful members of His Realm; and now, 90 In one brief hour, we are expelled and shorn Of all our dignity,--oppressed, alas!

Too sternly and with too much heaviness.

The charter and the primal privilege Received from G.o.d are now by Him repealed.

And there where we had thought to rule with G.o.d And under G.o.d, shall now this Adam reign, Triumphant in his seed and blood forever.

The sun of Spirits hath set for them too soon.

Ah I comrades, hear our sorrow and our woes. 100 Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Chorus.

And doth the charge that Gabriel brought from G.o.d You thus disturb? This but a frenzy seems.

Who dares to reprehend the high command?

Who so presumptuous himself against The G.o.dhead to oppose? To give to G.o.d His honor and His Right, to rest upon His law, this is our bounden charge. Who dares To enter here with G.o.d's Omnipotence In such dispute? His word and nod and will 110 Serve as our law and pace and precept firm.

Who contradiction breathes doth break the seal Of the Most High. Obedience doth please The Ruler of this Realm far more than smell Of incense or divinest harmonies.

Ye are (oh! be ye not so vain, we pray, Of boasted lineage) created more For such subjection than for rulers.h.i.+p.

O brothers, cease this wailing and lament.

And bow beneath the yoke of the Power Supreme. 120

Luciferians:

Say rather 'neath the yoke of swarming ants.

Chorus:

Whene'er it pleases Him, ye should submit.

Luciferians:

What have we done amiss? The reasons tell.

Chorus:

Amiss? Impatience doth G.o.d's crown offend.

Luciferians:

Through sorrow we complain, through discontent.

Chorus:

Ye should instead your will resign to G.o.d.

Luciferians:

We rest upon the Rights given us by law.

Chorus:

Subject to G.o.d your Rights and law remain.

Luciferians:

How can the greater to the lesser yield?

Chorus:

Who is resigned--to serve G.o.d is to rule. 130

Luciferians:

Most freely, let but man rule there below.

Chorus:

Though small his lot, man lives in sweet content.

Luciferians:

But man is destined for a higher lot.

Chorus:

Ages shall come and go ere this shall be.

Luciferians:

An age below is but an instant here.

Chorus:

Thus be it, if it be command supreme.

Luciferians:

Far better were this mystery ne'er disclosed.

Chorus:

G.o.d in His kindness thus reveals His heart.

Luciferians:

Yet kinder towards mankind, now placed above.

Chorus:

Allied with G.o.d's own nature, wonderful! 140

Luciferians:

O Angels, would that G.o.d did pair with you!