Codex Junius 11 | Page 4

wrapped in fire and piercing cold, smoke-veils and ruddy
flame. And over that wretched realm He spread the brooding terror of
torment. They had wrought grievous wrong together against God. Grim
the reward they gained!
(ll. 47-77) Fierce of heart, they boasted they would take the kingdom,
and easily. But their hope failed them when the Lord, High King of
heaven, lifted His hand against their host. The erring spirits, in their sin,
might not prevail against the Lord, but God, the Mighty, in His wrath,
smote their insolence and broke their pride, bereft these impious souls
of victory and power and dominion and glory; despoiled His foes of
bliss and peace and joy and radiant grace, and mightily avenged His
wrath upon them to their destruction. His heart was hardened against
them; with heavy hand He crushed His foes, subdued them to His will,
and, in His wrath, drove out the rebels from their ancient home and
seats of glory. Our Lord expelled and banished out of heaven the
presumptuous angel host. All-wielding God dismissed the faithless
horde, a hostile band of woeful spirits, upon a long, long journey.
Crushed was their pride, their boasting humbled, their power broken,
their glory dimmed. Thenceforth those dusky spirits dwelt in exile. No
cause had they to laugh aloud, but, racked with pangs of hell, they
suffered pain and woe and tribulation, cloaked with darkness, knowing
bitter anguish, a grim requital, because they sought to strive with God.
(ll. 78-81) Then was there calm as formerly in heaven, the kindly ways

of peace. The Lord was dear to all, a Prince among His thanes, and
glory was renewed of angel legions knowing blessedness with God.
II
(ll. 82-91) The citizens of heaven, the home of glory, dwelt again in
concord. Strife was at an end among the angels, discord and dissension,
when those warring spirits, shorn of light, were hurled from heaven.
Behind them stretching wide their mansions lay, crowned with glory,
prospering in grace in God's dominion, a sunny, fruitful land, empty of
dwellers, when the accursed spirits reached their place of exile within
Hell's prison-walls.
(ll. 92-102) Then our Lord took counsel in the thoughts of His heart
how He might people, with a better host, the great creation, the native
seats and gleaming mansions, high in heaven, wherefrom these boastful
foes had got them forth. Therefore with mighty power Holy God
ordained, beneath the arching heavens, that earth and sky and the
far-bounded sea should be established, earth-creatures in the stead of
those rebellious foes whom He had cast from heaven.
(ll. 103-119) As yet was nought save shadows of darkness; the spacious
earth lay hidden, deep and dim, alien to God, unpeopled and unused.
Thereon the Steadfast King looked down and beheld it, a place empty
of joy. He saw dim chaos hanging in eternal night, obscure beneath the
heavens, desolate and dark, until this world was fashioned by the word
of the King of glory. Here first with mighty power the Everlasting Lord,
the Helm of all created things, Almighty King, made earth and heaven,
raised up the sky and founded the spacious land. The earth was not yet
green with grass; the dark waves of the sea flowed over it, and
midnight darkness was upon it, far and wide.
(ll. 119-134) Then in radiant glory God's holy spirit moved upon the
waters with wondrous might. The Lord of angels, Giver of life, bade
light shine forth upon the spacious earth. Swiftly was God's word
fulfilled; holy light gleamed forth across the waste at the Creator's
bidding. Over the seas the Lord of victory divided light from darkness,
shadow from radiant light. The Lord of life gave both a name. By the
word of God the gleaming light was first called day. And in the
beginning of creation was God well pleased. The first day saw the dark
and brooding shadows vanish throughout the spacious earth.
III

(ll. 135-143) The day departed, hasting over the dwellings of earth.
And after the gleaming light the Lord, our maker, thrust on the first of
evenings. Murky gloom pressed hard upon the heels of day; God called
it night. Our Lord sundered them, one from the other; and ever since
they follow out the will of God to do it on the earth.
(ll. 143-153) Then came a second day, light after darkness. And the
Lord of life ordained a pleasant firmament amid the waters. Our Lord
sundered the seas and established the heavens. By His word the King,
Almighty God, raised them above the earth. The waters were divided
under the heavens by His holy might; the waters were sundered from
the waters, under the firmament.
(ll. 154-168) Then came hasting over the earth the third fair morning.
Not yet were