Page:Chapters From the New Apocrypha.pdf/2

3776, having knowledge of the purpose of the Lord concerning creation, waxed curious thereupon. So he gat him straightway to heaven, and having entered therein, he sat him down, as well as he could, poor devil, because of his tail. Tell me now, O Lord, said he, what is this that I have heard with my ears concerning thy purpose? Then the Lord explained unto Satan. And Satan harkened politely till the explanation was overpast. Which is more than can be said for some of the righteous who hear my words. For they harken but a brief space, and lo! then wax they of a sudden wroth. And shy names at me, and get up quickly and hie them hence. Vexed am I, and sad for their wroth waxing and their name shying. But verily am I joyous at their hence hieing. For it is better to dwell alone eternally than to be in the company of fools who comprehend you not. Which may account in some measure for the facts, though not quite satisfactorily for the Lord's civility. Satan also was civil, yet was he filled with all manner of incredulity. This is a big contract that thou hast undertaken, O Lord, said he. And the Lord admitted that it was. I can see, said Satan, that thou canst mix chaos like dough, and spin worlds like tops. But when it comes to making a man in thine own image, O Lord, thou wilt get badly left. With that Satan gat him upon his feet, and chuckled, and said good day, and went forth unto his own place. Not many ages after that,—to wit, in the Azoic age, Satan came again to heaven, quite early. And rang, and was let in. O Lord, said he; but thou art getting on finely with thy creation. And the Lord admitted that he was. Thou hast mixed thy chaos like dough, and spun thy worlds like tops. But where is thy man that thou didst brag of aforetime? Then did the Lord not kick Satan out of heaven because of his incredulity. As the manner of so many who pass for his disciples now is. No, not a bit of it, but he sent one of his angels out into the back yard for a morsel of protoplasm. Which when Satan saw he could make nothing of but mud, or, at most, that it was like unto jelly. Then thought he that the Lord had been too previous. So he smiled and said, Is this thy man? And the Lord answered and said unto him, It hath the makings of one. But, and if it be made in thine image, O Lord, said Satan, this protoplasm is a mighty poor likeness. Then would Satan have gone: but the Lord told him not to be in a hurry, but, if he must go, to call later on.