nds of men the vessels
of the sacrifice, and in them drunk to devils, which formerly the
Israelites employed in holy rites before the ark of God, till
pride seduced them and drunken thoughts. So shall it be with
thee! Never would thy lord before thee lay hands of insolence
upon God's golden vessels, nor boast thereof, although it was his
legions that plundered Israel's treasure. But after the Lord of
glory showed forth His wonders upon him, the lord of nations
often spake before his people in words of truth, and said that
He alone was Lord and Ruler of creation who gave him blameless
glory in his earthly kingdom and great prosperity. But thou
deniest that He is the Living God who ruleth over devils..."

((LACUNA of indeterminate length))

CHRIST AND SATAN

LIBER II

I

THE LAMENT OF THE FALLEN ANGELS

(ll. 1-18) It is revealed to those who dwell on earth that God
had strength and power when He wrought the borders of the world.
By His wondrous might He established the sun and moon, the rocks
and earth and the oceanstream, water and clouds. By His strength
the Lord upholdeth all the deep expanse, and middle-earth. The
Son of God beholdeth from the heavens the sea and its foundations:
He numbereth every drop of the showers of rain. By His wondrous
power He hath ordained the number of the days. Even so in six
days, by His spirit's might, the Lord in heaven devised the valleys
of the world and the high hills, and founded them. Who is there
that clearly knoweth all that mighty work except Eternal God?

(ll. 19-33) Joys He dealeth out and riches. He first created
Adam, and a noble race, the angel princes, which later perished
utterly. For, it seemed to them in their hearts it well might be
that they themselves were lords of heaven, princes of glory.
Then a worse fate befell them, and they went to find a home in
hell, the foul abyss, where they must needs endure grim woe and
surging flame, no more possessing radiance of glory or high-built
halls in heaven; but they must needs plunge downward to those
depths of fiery flame, down to the bottomless abyss, insatiate
and rapacious. God only knoweth how He hath condemned that
guilty host.

(ll. 34-50) The Old One crieth out of hell, with horrible voice
uttereth words accursed: "Whither is fled the glory of the
angels, which we should have in heaven? This is a home of
darkness, terribly bound with fettering bonds of fire. The floor
of hell is ablaze,