When still the world—though every wile was tried—
Staggered the upward way, did Satan sit
In dusky musing by the steep roadside.
That curled in white defiance of his wit
For ever heavenward ; and companies
That late he left astray and desolate.
Clambered, by rocks and crags and crevices.
Back, ever back, to that small path and strait.
And passed him all tmheeding,—Shaving found
A Saviour busy on whatever ground
They fell in bitterness. Then rose the fiend
And robed himself in white, and, stern and calm,
(The Saviour's image), patiently he leaned
Hard by a signpost, there with wide-flung palm
To show a stiff and rocky way to hell.
And many of the good and pious fell.

But lo ! the Saviour laughed, and taking on
The likeness of the devil, stood upon
The other side, and into chosen ears
Poured fruitful blasphemies. So now appears
A crowd of white ones whom a holy devil
Holds spellbound with appearances of evil.
Whilst all the sooted host of saved sweep upward cheerily
And drag the astonished world along to liberty.