'Tho' a layman I was yet ever in books might I read and learn 515 How men, for His help so faithful, should ne'er from His service turn. Since aid He begrudged us never, lest our soul unto Hell should fall, And as God Himself shall be faithful, be _thou_ faithful whate'er befall; For false ways He ever hateth--and thankful we aye should be When we think of the deed, so gracious, once wrought of His love so free! 520 For _our_ sake the Lord of Heaven in the likeness of man was made, And Truth is His name, and His nature, nor from Truth shall He e'er have strayed. And this shalt thou know most surely, God breaketh His faith with _none_. Teach thy thoughts ne'er from Him to waver, since Himself and His ways are One!' 'Wouldst thou force thy God with thine anger? He who heareth that thou hast sworn 525 Hatred against thy Maker, he shall hold thee of wit forlorn! Of Lucifer now bethink thee, and of those who must share his fall, Bethink thee, the angel nature was free from all taint of gall, Say, whence sprang that root of evil which spurred them to endless strife, And won its reward in Hell's torments, and the death of an outcast life? 530 Ashtaroth, Belcimon, and Belat, Rhadamant, yea, and many more! Pride and anger the host of Heaven with Hell's colours have painted o'er!' 'When Lucifer and his angels thus sped on their downward way, To fill their place, a wonder God wrought from the earth and clay: The son of His hands was Adam, and from flesh of Adam, Eve 535 He brought, and for Eve's transgression, I ween, all the world doth grieve. For she hearkened not her Creator, and she robbed us of our bliss. And two sons sprang forth from her body, and the elder he wrought amiss, Since envy so worked upon him that from wrath there sprang disgrace, And of maidenhood did he rob her who was mother of all his race! 540 Here many a one doth question, an the tale be to him unknown, How might such a thing have chancèd? It came but by sin alone!'