Codex Junius 11 | Page 6

unto the shining
stars. He should have sung his Maker's praise, and prized his bliss in
heaven. He should have thanked his Lord for the great boon He
showered on him in the heavenly light, and let him long enjoy. But he
turned him to a worse thing, and strove to stir up strife against the
Highest Lord of heaven, who sitteth on the throne of glory.
(ll. 261-276) Dear was he to our Lord. Nor could it long be hid from
God that pride was growing in His angel's heart. He set himself against
his Leader, scoffed at God with boasting, and would not serve Him. He
said his form was beautiful and bright, gleaming and fair of hue. Nor
could he find it in his heart to serve the Lord God, or be subject to Him.
It seemed to him that he had greater strength and larger following than
Holy God might have. Many words the angel spake in his presumption.
By his own power alone he thought to build a stronger throne and
mightier in heaven. He said his heart was urging him to toil, to build a
stately palace in the north and west. He said he doubted in his heart if
he would still be subject unto God:
(ll. 277-291) "Why should I slave?" quoth he. "I need not serve a
master. My hands are strong to work full many a wonder. Power
enough have I to rear a goodlier throne, a higher in the heavens. Why
should I fawn for His favour, or yield Him such submission? I may be
God as well as He! Brave comrades stand about me; stout-hearted
heroes who will not fail me in the fray. These valiant souls have chosen
me their lord. With such peers one may ponder counsel, and gain a
following. Devoted are these friends and faithful-hearted; and I may be
their lord and rule this realm. It seemeth no wise right to me that I
should cringe a whit to God for any good. I will not serve Him longer."
(ll. 292-298) Now when God had heard all this, how His angel was
beginning to make presumptuous head against his Leader, speaking

rash words of insolence against his Lord, needs must he make
atonement for that deed, endure the woe of strife, and bear his
punishment, most grievous of all deaths. And so doth every man who
wickedly thinketh to strive with God, the Lord of might.
(ll. 299-319) Then Almighty God, High Lord of heaven, was filled with
wrath, and hurled him from his lofty throne. He had gained his Master's
hate, and lost His favour. God's heart was hardened against him.
Wherefore he needs must sink into the pit of torment because he strove
against the Lord of heaven. He banished him from grace and cast him
into hell, into the deep abyss where he became a devil. The Fiend and
all his followers fell from heaven; three nights and days the angels fell
from heaven into hell. God changed them all to devils. Because they
heeded not His deed and word, therefore Almighty God hurled them
into darkness, deep under earth, crushed them and set them in the mirk
of hell. There through the never-ending watches of the night the fiends
endure an unremitting fire. Then at the dawn cometh an east wind, and
bitter frost, ever a blast of fire or storm of frost. And each must have his
share of suffering wrought for his punishment. Their world was
changed when God filled full the pit of hell with His foes!
(ll. 320-322) But the angels who kept their faith with God dwelt in the
heights of heaven.
VII
(ll. 322-336) The other fiends who waged so fierce a war with God lay
wrapped in flames. They suffer torment, hot and surging flame in the
midst of hell, broad-stretching blaze of fire and bitter smoke, darkness
and gloom, because they broke allegiance unto God. Their folly and the
angel's pride deceived them. They would not heed the word of God.
Great was their punishment! They fell, through folly and through pride,
to fiery depths of flame in hell. They sought another home devoid of
light and filled with fire -- a mighty flaming death. The fiends
perceived that through the might of God, because of their
presumptuous hearts and boundless insolence, they had won a
measureless woe.
(ll. 337-355) Then spake their haughty king, who formerly was fairest
of the angels, most radiant in heaven, beloved of his Leader and dear
unto his Lord, until they turned to folly, and Almighty God was moved
to anger at their wantonness, and hurled him down to depths of torment

on that bed of death. He named him with a name, and said their leader
should