WHEN the Lord created our wonderful world,
He asked nobody's advice, and did as He
pleased,

All after His own will, in accordance with His
own plans : He worked at it long, and He did it well.

When he was about to create man, things did not
go so well with Him, and he summoned His winged
Senate :

' Listen to me, you my mighty ones, I have called
you here that you may proffer me your advice how
man is to be made.

' Help me, children, to create him, but take good
counsel. He must resemble us, and he must be
without faults and without blemish,

' For I shall crown him as a ruler, and I shall give
him of my flame : he shall freely rule over air, and
earth, and ocean.

' Before him shall fall the bird in the air, before
his might shall fall the fish in the water and the wild
lion in the chase.'

The Senate became frightened : ' If man, who
is nothing but foam and smoke, were to rule the air,
he would soon enter heaven.'

And they answered God : ' Make him in our
image ; give him reason, give him power, but give
him no wings !

' No, he shall have no wings, for he will fly with
his sword ! Let him not enter heaven who rules
upon that earth ! '

' You are right,' God answered, ' your decision
is good ; but one exception I shall make, but one ex-
ception ! Listen to me !

' Let the poet be winged ! He shall get my highest
rank ! I will open the heavens to the master of
songs.

'And I shall choose an angel among you who
shall be ready day and night to attach the wings to
him whenever his holy song will rise.'