The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in StoryGuerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
General
The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in Story
Guerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
Epic poetry -- Adaptations
After describing how under the Judges and then under the Kings the
people of Israel will continue their career the angel designates David
as the ancestor of the Messiah, whose coming will be heralded by a
star which will serve as guide to eastern sages. He adds that this
Messiah will descend from the Most High by a virgin mother, that his
reign will extend over all the earth, and that, by bruising the
serpent's head, he will conquer Sin and Death. This promise fills
Adam's heart with joy, because it partly explains the mysterious
prophecy, but, when he inquires how the serpent can wound such a
victor's heel, Michael rejoins that, in order to overcome Satan, the
Messiah will incur the penalty of death, revealing how, after living
hated and blasphemed, he will prove by his death and resurrection that
Sin and Death have no lasting power over those who believe in his
name. Full of joy at the promise that the Messiah will lead all
ransomed souls to a happier Paradise than the one he has forfeited,
Adam declares since such good is to proceed from the evil he has done
he doubts whether he should repent.
Between the death of Christ and his second coming, the angel adds that
the Comforter will dwell upon earth with those who love their
Redeemer, helping them resist the onslaughts of Satan, and that in
spite of temptation many righteous will ultimately reach heaven, to
take the place of the outcast angels.
"Till the day
Appear of respiration to the just,
And vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him so lately promised to thy aid,
The woman's Seed, obscurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Last in the clouds from heaven to be revealed
In glory of the Father, to dissolve
Satan with his perverted world, then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,
New heavens, new earth, ages of endless date
Founded in righteousness and peace and love,
To bring forth fruits, joy, and eternal bliss."
These instructions finished, the angel bids Adam not seek to know any
more, enjoining upon him to add deeds to knowledge, to cultivate
patience, temperance, and love, promising, if he obeys, that Paradise
will reign in his heart. Then pointing out that the guards placed
around Eden are waving their flashing swords and that it is time to
awaken Eve, he bids Adam gradually impart to her all that he has
learned through angelic revelations. When they rejoin Eve, she
explains how God sent her a dream which has soothed her heart and
filled it with hope, making her realize that, although she has sinned
and is unworthy, through her seed all shall be blessed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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