Outlawed and flying, through the dread decree
That closed all avenues to Charity,
Deeper and further doth the Immortal flee
From the Divine Immutability -
Hell in himself creating, endlessly.
Burning with hate and quenchless jealousy,
Man's Paradise of pleasure enters he,
And there descries the Woman. Round the tree
Where she alone is standing, coileth he
His serpent trail. Ah, why alone is she?
The Serpent speaks. Word all-deceitfully
Conceived, enters the Woman's ear; and she
Believing, drinks it in- oh, misery.
The foul conception of the Enemy
In flesh is formed^ when Eve conceives the lie.
Oh, dire conception of deformity,
Quenching the Light of Truth, of Charity,
God's blessed Light to darkness turning. See,
His Image fair defaced. And thou wilt be,
Adam, the death of all thy progeny.
* * *
The vision changes. Culprits though they be,
God cometh in the cool of eve, when He
Before His Face arraigns the guilty three -
Their punishment assigning- even He,
With Justice armed, yet clothed in Clemency.
Ah, death must be their portion, though they be
The best beloved of creatures: nor can He
Grant pardon; but in sad conception, she
Who gendered death, in deathly throes must be;
And both in toil work out their destiny.
Thus then they stand convicted. But will He
This blest conception from eternity
Leave to the malice of the enemy?
Ah, no: for He who judgment gives, is He
Prepared, ere time began, to set them free.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote