Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9.djvu/353

Rh For, since her first created day, Darkness alone e'er governed she. She lay remote from ev'ry light, With torments filled in Chaos here; God turned for ever from her sight His radiant feature's glory clear.

Within the realms she calls her own, She sees the splendour of the Son, His dreaded glories shining forth; She sees Him clad in rolling thunder, She sees the rocks all quake with wonder, When God before her stands in wrath. She sees He comes her Judge to be, She feels the awful pangs inside her, Herself to slay endeavours she, But e'en this comfort is denied her.

Now looks she back, with pains untold, Upon those happy times of old, When all these glories gave her joy; When yet her heart revered the truth, When her glad soul in endless youth And rapture dwelt, without alloy. She calls to mind with maddened thought How over man her wiles prevailed; To take revenge on God she sought, And feels the vengeance it entailed.

God was made man, and came to earth. Then Satan cried with fearful mirth: "E'en He my victim now shall be!" He sought to slay the Lord Most High, The world's Creator now must die; But, Satan, endless woe to thee!