The drama of earth

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Scene I

A dark Abyss. — Lucifer and Beelzebub discovered in the Mists.

Beel. It is so ! Heaven is lost ! Those realms of light Remain to those who, with victorious might, Urged back rebellion —

Luc. That had nigh usurped

Entire dominion. We have fled beyond Heaven's domination —

Beel. ' Into deepest wo ! —

Those blest retreats and those delightful vales, Did echo with celestial melodies, Till martial strains, athwart the harmony, Broke the soft cadence, setting all astir ; And the result hath been our overthrow Into this dark and horrible abvss,

Beyond the tone of peace or other sound,

Except the wail of deepest agonies,

And raging of these fiery elements.

Is all for ever lost ? Must we abide

Our sad reverses in this punishment ?

Must we endure this torturous extreme ;

For Heaven's afflictive wrath pursues us here ?

Luc. Be it not ever thus : What if I charge These fulminating lightnings too with wrath, With which we may assail heaven's fast-barred gates, And wage subversive violence beyond ? And if we thus reverse the fate of war — And if we thus regain our native heaven — And if we thus dethrone heaven's ancient King — And if we thus —

Beel. these unhappy ifs,

Forebode reverses we might further feel, And fill with dread the vast uncertainty. When raged the warfare, all our gathered strength In phalanx, an innumerable host, Thy purpose seconded with fierce array, And thou didst lead them all embattled, swift On into combat ! Then all heaven shook With hostile clamor as th' opposing hosts Of cherubim and seraphim arranged Imposing on our front, contended hard

With might that dared defy Omnipotence;

For we have learned, though we have learned too late,

He is Omnipotent who reigns in heaven.

Long time the even strife of battle raged,

Until the Son, with potent arm aloft,

Held forth a shield from which transcendent light

Flashed swift and fierce across the empyrean,

Breaking its awful volleys on our hosts,

Who fled amazed, confounded, and repulsed ;

And through heaven's walls that oped for us a way,

With tempests from his armory, pursued

Into this outer deep, where yet his wrath,

Lingering, abides, and now awakes these torments !

Is it not vain to use our hostile arms

Against such armor, and wage open war

'Gainst such a foe ?

Luc. f It will behoove us rather,

To vex, as best we can, the powers of heaven, But not assail where sure defeat awaits With deeper vengeance on our vanquished hosts ; Though we are vanquished, we are not subdued — No, an immortal hate lives in us still ; And yet our foes shall feel its influence. I know that God is the Omnipotent : The throne whereon he sits, eternally Belongs to him, and any power beside

Need not dispute heaven's empire with its King, Who, from the womb of Chaos, doth evoke Innumerable worlds. Now wily thoughts Inspire me. I will quickly venture forth Into those vasty depths : what if he make Of that consistence in which Chaos reigns, 4- world where I shall be ?

Beel. What wouldst thou do ?

Would purposed effort serve thy doing much ? Its inward portion wouldst thou melt with fire, And from its opening sides spout flaming horrors ? And while the angels yet around the throne, Sing hallelujahs loud to their Creator, Wouldst thou wake howlings in that world, and shout Such noises as would fright the empyrean — Or aught that would the least advantage us ?■

Luc. If chance direct me so that world shall be The one on which will dwell the habitants Of whom much ancient rumor did foretell — Since out of heaven's gates we have been hurled

Into this dread abyss of punishment, The tricks that I shall play upon the world

Will startle Heaven with astonishment.

Beel. 0, will they so ? That would be some return For these afflictions.

Luc. It would be some return ! —

It would be great return for these afflictions.

Beel. This shall not always be our habitation, Immured with God's immitigable wrath.

Luc. Though it be not, 't is better here to wait Awhile among these woes, than serve in heaven.

Beel. For that there may be no alternative.

Luc. Beelzebub, thou hast attended me, And learned thereby of my intended way To Chaos' depths, where I shall seek of chance, Direction to that portion of her realm, Which being touched by the creative Power Shall change into a world whereon shall dwell Embodied spirits — Godlike images — Of whom prophetic rumor long ago Was heard in heaven. Ere I thither go, Receive my mandate ; keep the strictest watch Along the confines of these angry floods, Lest some escape, reluctant to abide With us the issues of an adverse war ; And thus escaped, pursue their wandering course Through Chaos, till the scouts sent out from heaven, Espy them, then with searching eye pursue The darksome vastness wherein I shall lurk, And there discovering me, turn swift their flight Back to the empyrean, and acquaint

Th' Avenger that he stretch his mighty arm, And snatch us quickly out the frightened deep .Of dark consistence, then to deeper woes In blackest hell, fling us precipitant. My mandate is delivered, and beware.

Beel. 'Tis said : Thy mandate shall be my regard: But why strict watch ? Can any find a way Out this abysm ? I doubt if thou thyself Canst make thy strength of such avail ; for see What walls of adamantine darkness bound This place of torment : Dost thou think to pass Through such, and find thy pathway safe beyond ?

Luc. I do, and with these tangled lightnings, I Will pass through the cleft darkness ; there is none Of all these hosts that followed us beyond Dominion of the Throne, superior To thee, and therefore thou mayst reign as prince. I shall return to this abode again, When I have learned how to enlarge thy reign.

[Exit Lucifer, breaking his way through the darkness with lightnings, Beel. The prince of all

In this abode, Where woes appal The rebel brood,

I can abide Those torments sore, And I will chide No more.

Diabolos rises through the dark mists

Diab. 'Tis wo's extreme to tread this angry lake,

Where fiery tempests ride the murky air, And volleyed thunder's heavy movements break

On night extinguishing the ligntning's glare, While from these torments, hideous bowlings wake

Within this concave echoes of despair !

Beel. Thinkst thou that this is the extreme of wo ?

Diab. What dost thou think ? To be for ever here And suffer vengeance ? Say, canst thou endure All this?

Beel. I can endure all this and more ; What though th' Avenger hurl upon Our heads All vaster torments, still I could endure The fierce addition ; for there yet is hope That there will come a respite from these woes.

Diab. That such may be I can not comprehend. Will hurling down destruction weary Him, The Omnipotent, who drove us out of heaven, And thus come slackened vengeance ? or thinkst thou This punishment will tame us to submission

So that his wrath be quiet ? Thou dost know We could not serve in heaven, and therefore comes This dread infliction.

Beel. If the will rebel

Against strict fate, it makes itself a hell : To this endurance let the will accord Until the future show how we may turn Regard upon the vexed Creation yet.

Diab. Creation : Ay, I know thou meanest much ; Yet can we hinder the creative Power, Or mar a portion of his work, thinkst thou ? If so, when may it have accomplishment ?

Beel. I can not tell thee now, though well I know The future doth reserve advantages For us, and these, unlooked for, when they come, May startle heaven's triumphant warriors.

Diab. The present we know well and can not choose, Although we rather would be ignorant Of that we be, and of this sufferance, Yet why, if shadows of the future come To do thee service, didst thou take up arms Against th' Omnipotent, and not foresee Thyself and all these legions hurled beyond Heaven's confines, and beyond the bounds of light, Into this utter darkness — canst thou tell

So much about the past I fain would know ?

Beel. The past is past, and subject to no change : Therefore turn not reflections on the past, But rather turn thy hopes upon the future That may bring change to this unhappy durance — For to this end has Lucifer gone hence, And me appointed prince in this abysm.

Diab. He gone ? I had not thought it possible That even the mightiest could make his way Through these, vast walls of adamantine night, That do surround this depth of misery. Then why may we not follow, and escape These punishments ?

Beel. Nay, I have charge to watch

That none from this dark prison shall escape, Lest at imprudent time there should go forth These legions to th' espy of scouts from heaven, And thus bring on us vengeance multiplied.

Diab. Does he thus first attempt the desert void, And there to deviate through darkest space, Or search the crude consistence whereof worlds Innumerable are made, that he may hide From the Almighty's vengeance — he, the first Who did insinuate among these hosts Hapless rebellion — does he now command That none else flee beyond Heaven's wrath inflict,

Lest numbers should betray to Heaven's watch, Yet thinking there himself safe, where no eye Of Heaven's vigilance can search him out — He that did lead us into direst conflict, And overthrow into this dreadful deep ?

Beel. Beyond these walls, but not from punishment, Hath he escaped ; for yet Heaven's wrath inflicts Enduring woes within him, and himself Is ever his own hell, as we our own — Although we curse these fiery elements That strive tempestuous. He now doth tread, Afar beyond these walls, the solitude Of ancient Chaos, which creative Power Molds into worlds, and in their circling ways Sets periods continual of time. There Lucifer has gone. What thinkst thou if his espionage search out, Some part the universe, the mystery Of the creation, and, by prudent wiles, Vex the Creator sorely by pursuing With vast destruction the ultimity Of all his works ?

Diab. I wish it may be done ;

For such revenge would lessen much our woes.

Beel. And such may be our reasonable hope.

Diab. A hope that will present us present cheer.

Imp appears through the dark mist.

Imp. I wish I were in heaven again, gathering Sweet dews, breathing the balms, and listening To best music of harps, which I can not Hear now in this dark place of torments ; but In this most hot and smoky place I hear Lamenting noise, which I help make ! I wish I were in heaven again.

Beel. If thou dost wish such wishes, thou mayst wish Till thou shalt wish that wishing wishes thus Could bring thy wish. I tell thee, wishing Imp, If thou dost have such wishes in thy thoughts, It will be better not to utter them.

Imp. More wishes thou hast uttered even now Than I have.

Beel. Tempt me not to do thee harm,

Or I will make thee wish thou couldst not speak.

Imp. Thou canst not do more harm to me than I Feel now : I will get out of this bad place.

Beel. Wilt thou ? ha ! wilt thou ? I tell thee, Imp, That thou canst not ; and if thou shouldst attempt, I will bind thee with lightnings, and cast thee down Into the uttermost deep, and pile on thee Mountains of melting adamant ! Aha ! There thou shalt ever strive in vain to give To discontent a partial utterance.

Imp. Oh ! oh ! I will not try to get away, And I will do whatever thou require.

Beel. And wilt thou ever do what I require ?

Imp. Ever, Master, if it be in my power.

Beel. Thou shalt ; and let thy disaffection ceaso From audible expression ; so shalt thou, With experiment, find what is best.

Imp. That I have done : what is there more that thou Wilt have me do ? I '11 do it quickliest.

Beel. Thou mayst wander through these sulphurous mists, Which will affect thee with a change, and make Obedience, result of willingness : Naught further yet — and yet the future may Bring much to be accomplished by thy aid.

Imp. I go, Master — I go my way through fire, And smoke, and noises ; for I must obey. [Exit Imp.

Beel. Imp was the youngest of the warring host, And hesitated whether he should join Our forces in the conflict, when all heaven Jarred heavy with the clash of armories — And lingered last of all who thence were driven ; And palest fear attended his dire way.

Diab. Although so young, and slow in choice, yet wise Perhaps as we, who, choosing quickly, chose The cause that brought upon us all this ill.

Beel. 'Tis done beyond all hope or thought of change, Except such change as gratifies revenge ; Therefore our business will be yet to do What comes in range of our vindictive power. Is not ambition now half satisfied ? We know our strength ; before, we knew it not : And what if knowledge be so dearly bought ? — 'Tis better thus by far than not to know. Here will we wander through these wrathful fires, Contriving mischief until Lucifer Shall make return from his adventure far ; Then may we know how we can bring our hate To bear effective 'gainst creative Might ! [Exemt.

SCENE II. Eden. — Enter Lucifer

Lucifer. This world from chaos rolled, at His command Who rules in the creation as in heaven, Where I could never reign ; yet in this world I will set up my everlasting kingdom, If it avail me aught that I reign here. These beasts of many kinds, fowls of the air, And finny tribes that move among the floods, Which the Creator made to suit his pleasure, Are not of my regard save to destroy : Should I destroy them it would suit my pleasure, If there be none of higher order here, On whom to wreak revenge for all our woes : — But what is he who walks the earth erect, Whose brow is throned reason, and his bearing So like an angel — rather like a God ! Creation's ultimate — the counterpart Of the creative Prototype ! — The beasts

THE DRAMA OF EARTH. Z6

Around him fawn and do him reverence,

And there submissively await him lord.

He seems the object of Heaven's chief regard,

And hence he is the object of my hate.

I further see he is accompanied

By one, his like, yet of a softer mold.

To them alone, upon this world is given,

Thought's interchange by speech. Are they not Gods ?

Who have such bearing, and whose images

Show such an impress of intelligence,

Where reason is the umpire ? Are they Gods ?

Together they make casual approach,

And I will be invisible among

These comprehending shades, and hear their converse.

Enter Adam and Eve.

Eve. how much happiness it is to be Where Heaven's favors are so bountiful That they administer to all our wants !

Adam. Not only to be here among these bounties Of pleasing prospects and delicious fruits, But to be here with thee, my loved companion, Is all the fullness of my earthly bliss.

Eve. When thou art happy, I am happy too — So much thy joys administer to mine ; And thus I think it will for ever be.

Adam. It will be ever thus, if we obey As willing subjects to the will of Heaven. Thou seest all these beasts which we have named, Do fawn obsequious ; we are lords of them, And they obey us ; they yield not in strength : 'Tis the superiority of mind That holds them willing in submission now. Our reason's tenure is conditional, Which with its normal influence directs Our actions that we do no being wrong, But have a love for all that God has made ; And then the soul exists in purity. If no extraneous and rebellious essence Mix with the salient currents of the life, Then will our beings ever thus remain In harmony with all the universe, And the Creator of the universe.

Eve. And is there danger that our reason be, By some rebellious essence, overcome, So that, from its abnormal influence, We would regard not universal good ?

Adam. Eve, there is an interdicted tree In th' midst of this fair garden, which, if we Partake of, dreadful ill will come upon us : And passing near, no doubt thou hast observed Its branches reaching far on every side ;

And specious is its fruit ; but if we taste, Or even touch it, we will surely die !

Eve. And yet I can not comprehend what death We would incur by eating of that fruit. Would these our bodies, in the self-same day, Cease to exist, and be entirely nothing ? Or can the meaning be, death of the soul ? I rather think the soul will never die, But will live on, and on, and on, forever.

Adam. We would not cease to be, but cease to bear The image of our Archetype divine.

That fruit has such pernicious quality, It would contaminate the fluid life, That, from the fountain, does its offices To the whole system ; and the mind would be Dragged down in deepest darkness, destitute Of thoughts of heaven and eternity ; And on the very earth — below the earth — Even lower than the beasts — our grovelling thoughts Would course in deep and dire depravity.

Eve. partner of my joys ! who taught thee thus ?

Adam. A short time since, even. when thou wast created, Which time I slept, came dreams, with sights and sounds

That waked my soul. Anon an angel came

From the bright regions just beyond the sky,

Which opened as he passed, who turned his flight

Down into Paradise, and over me

Made sudden pause, with admonition thus : —

" Adam, attend ; thy Maker will command."

Anon a voice out of the empyrean,

Came down in soft, commanding cadences: —

" Of every tree of th' garden thou mayst eat ;

But of the tree of th' knowledge of good and evil,

Thou shalt not eat of it ; for in the day

Thereof thou eatest, thou shalt surely die !"

Eve, great then was my anxiety, And fearful my misgivings ; but anon, The angel did instruct and comfort me, Admonishing obedience to Heaven,

As I have since advised. Eve, thou hast heard : My dear companion, let us e'er be wary. The orb of day now stoops before the night ; Let us go, therefore, to our couch of rest.

[Exeunt Adam and Eve.

Ldc. Go ; and ere long a living death await you, And everlasting anguish be your rest ! There is no secret out of heaven — none That seiwes not espionage. My legions vast, That are imprisoned far in vaster night,

1 shall bring hither for no little cause :

Beelzebub, whom I appointed prince

In the complaining deep, to ease the wounds

Which his expectancy had erst received

By dire expulsion from the realms of light,

With his auxiliar service here will serve me ;

And all that there bewail their miseries,

Let forth from wrathful night, shall hither come,

And find a respite doing mischief here !

I will haste thither — heaven's gate is shut ;

The day descends, and shade lies on my way ;

But yonder, as from heaven, now Uriel

Bears hitherward, and light attends his way ;

I know him well, for once we closely met

In conflict, but it now must be my care

That he shall not know me, nor whence I am ;

No doubt I can learn much to my advantage,

If I await his coming and appear

An angel as from heaven immediate —

Now with the semblance of supernal sheen,

I will dissemble so that afterward,

Myself will marvel when I think of it.

Enter Uriel.

I saw thee [to Uriel] , when thy bright and airy way Turned hitherward across the evening mists. Admiring all the works of the Creator, As I, thou too, perhaps, hast hither come,

Down from th' empyreal regions to behold,

With an exploring eye, this happy world.

What joy it is to chant in heaven the praise

Of Him who hath created the blest spirits

In heaven adoring, and the many orbs

In the immensity : what joy to swell

The song loud and afar, and hear the choir

Of vast creation all in chorus join,

And tongues celestial chime the interlude

Of cadences among the rolling spheres.

Uriel. To Him all praise belongs : To Him all

heaven

Attune symphonious songs, while all His works

Accord soft harmonies.

Luc. Verily, hast thou,

While in thy wanderings, visited the orbs

Circling the day, or far beyond the light

That flows effulgent here, even in the vast

Which the creation fills, found other worlds

That, more than this, partake of heaven's regard,

Where beings dwell, highest in excellence

Of any that inhabit them ?

Uriel. None more than this ;

For here the habitation is of man,

The highest of intelligences that 1

Inhabit any orb, of whom the fame

Went forth prophetic 'mong the heavenly hosts, Long time before the mighty King did wage, Against arrayed rebellion, dreadful war, When all his enemies were overthrown, And cast out into darkness — into wo !

Luc. A loss much felt in heaven when suddenly, So many legions left their sighing harps Strewed thickly over heaven's broad champaign !

Uriel. Th' extreme necessity that did compel The swift expulsion thence, did not prevent Commiseration for the dire distress Of heaven's lost legions, whose sad harps — attuned, In their last touch, to the according praise That rang symphonious through the empyrean — Sighed forth their lingering tones in lamentation, And mournful grew the cadence, and more mournful, Till drowned with din of hostile .armaments ; And when the volleys of transcendent light From the uplifted shield of Heaven's Son, Broke on the serried ranks of rebel hosts, And turned their flight beyond the walls of heaven — The tempest even of solid light and flame, That, swift pursuing, urged the lingering, Sighed when the last of the rebellious angels Fell out the opened walls ; then turning back, Resolving to ethereal again,

Sighed heavily along the empyrean.

Oh, then did the triumphant warriors Weep sorrowful ! Again the tempest sighed, And sighing, to God's armory returned !

Luc. Does the victorious King of heaven fear, Again will rise rebellion, that he keeps His armories filled with the waiting tempests Of latent light and flame that may again, Should any exigency call them forth To do the will of Might, burst into life, And with destruction quickly overwhelm Aspiring monarchies ?

Uriel. He doth not fear

That more of his blest worshippers will fall From their estate most happy, but 'tis known, That he who first incited to rebellion — Appollyon, premier of all motive ill, Who, with his rash adherents, was cast forth Into imprisoned darkness, hath made way Beyond the bounds of that restricted night, And may, with all his reckless votaries — If he should work their way out that abysm — Again attempt — 0, vain would be th' attempt — To overthrow heaven's ancient sovereignty ; And though he should not make such vain attempt, No doubt he will essay to work his wiles

Among th' intelligences that inhabit

These new created orbs, and chiefly this,

Where man, Heaven's last and greatest work, abides,

Whom to estrange from Heaven, would bring joy

To the apostate Leader.

Luc. Ay, and throw

Echoes of laughter out th' abysm of wo !

Uriel. Yet to prevent such deprecated evil, The universal Sovereign hath, my seat, Set vigilant in the sun, from which I watch, Observing if the Foe attempt encroachment In these parts, so may providence avert His purposed mischief.

Luc. Has thy wariness

Observed aught here suspicion doth regard, That just at evening thou hast left thy seat In th' sun, and come swift hither panoplied ? My stay before thy coming, had espied None that may need thy watching, therefore grant, It would be better — would it not be better, If thou give not thy weary vigilance And service to unnecessary care ?

Uriel. I had observed such, and I tell thee that Thy words as ill become thee as thy sheen, Through which I now discover that thy shape Hath dared appear in such a speciousness,

As for a time did hide designing ill. Appollyon, false Dissembler, thou art he, Who, ere declining day to evening's shades Began to yield earth's paradise, I saw, With volumed darkness hanging on his way, Stride awkward down the mountain, out whose top Belched clouds of smoke and flames and liquid fires. Thy purpose here is to work ill . Away ! Lest fell destruction wait upon thy stay !

Luc. Ha, Uriel, lookst thou so,— ha, lookst thou so ? Thou knowst me then, and thou didst hither come Upon a sunbeam from the luminous orb, To spy me out, and thither mayst return ; And thou mayst hope, the eve being more advanced, That quickly down that slanting beam of light, Speed urge thee.

Uriel. Foe of heaven, who art thou

That darest by thy minatary voice, As well as by thy evil purpose here, Subject thyself to peril ?

Luc. Thou knowst me,

Yet knowst me not ; then know that I am he Who led embattled legions into conflict That shook the founded heavens, and did set Pale terror on th' array of hostile foes ; And knowing this, if thou dost have regard

Now Uriel lifts aloft his flaming sword And Lucifer flees from impending danger.

For thy own safety, let thy flight be quick.

Uriel. Audacious Fugitive, I know that thou Didst lead thy legions all embattled on To swift discomfiture and disarray ; Then thou and all thy vanquished warriors, Through heaven's opened walls did quickly turn Your flight precipitant in fearful haste, Before descending storms of fiery hail, While in advance awaking meteors glanced In fitful mood, and glared with fitful blaze, To light you on, and on, into the deep, Where angry whirlwinds rushed to furious strife, And dashed the liquid, elemental fire On adamantine darkness that shrieked out The echoes of your wailing miseries, While lightnings fiercely flashed, and awing thunders Rolled ponderous along th' abyss of wo !

[Now Uriel lifts aloft his flaming sword. And Lucifer flees from impending danger — Just as an ostrich, when the AraVs horse Pursues, half runs, half flies, so on the earth, He leaves the impress of his cloven foot, And with his wings spread wide, and talons at Th 9 extremes, with motion quick, both ran and flew. 2*

In flight lie safety seeks : his purpose here Would work progressive ill. Night's mantle now Hangs over paradise, and sleep, no doubt, Has shut the world from man, save what through

dreams, In image, is presented to his fancy. I will at once attend him, and present Such faithful reminiscence to his spirit — Of Heaven's command, as deeply will impress His waking hours ; then will I turn my flight Direct to heaven with all anxiety ; And all the powers empyreal shall learn Recounted venture, and the Foe's design Here to usurp supremacy, no doubt. [Exit.

scene ni.

The dark Abyss. — Enter Beelzebub, Diabolos, Mammon, Typhon, Imp, and Baccho.

Diab. Long is the time that Lucifer hath left Us here in wearisome uncertainty Of his return from solitary way, On which he dared essay the lonely waste, Beyond this dark and dread imprisonment.

Beel. Though long hath been the time, if well employed, It is the best assurance of success ; Therefore, although his absence be prolonged, That need not add to our uneasiness.

Diab. Behold what fury agitates this gulf — Behold the dark floods surging billowy ; Now fiercer lightnings strike upon these walls, And the foundations of this concave shake !

Beel. This is unwonted fury, and, no doubt, Betokens the arrival of our chief : — Behold the walls of darkness open now To strokes of darting fire ! Lo now, he comes !

Enter Lucifer.

Diab. Hail, Sovereign, Chief of all these many powers That have awaited long thy welcome back !

Beel. Hail, Chieftain, hail ! The myriad of hosts, Have waited anxiously, again to greet thee.

Luc. Hail, Prince, and all these warriors that fled From domination, choosing rather wo Than servitude in heaven! — would you know What hopes lie out upon our distant way ?

Beel. Let all the vast deep be attentive now, To learn of every peril or success That hath awaited thee. No doubt some means For opportune revenge, hath fallen on Thy ventures : We would know what chances lie Beyond this darkness ; what discoveries Where works the Ancient, and where is the image Of the Creator, as foretold in heaven, If any such hath been created yet !

Luc. When I had passed these walls, my doubtful way Lay swift through solitudes of ancient night, Where the creation, at remotest verge, Encroached upon rude chaos, and forthwith, The power of law controlled that part the wild Which compassed me about, and voluble,