nly alas more wise!

ANGELS

Hush! Silence! The Lord God! (_Entereth the Lord God, to
whom the Angels minister. He taketh His seat upon the throne_).

THE LORD GOD

Thank ye, my servants all.
Thank ye, good Seraphim. To all and several,
Sons of the House, God's blessing--who ne'er gave God pain.
Impeccable white Spirits, tell me once again
How goeth it with the World, my ordered Universe,
My Powers and Dominations? Michael, thou, rehearse
The glory of the Heavens. Tell me, star and star,
Do they still sing together in their spheres afar?
Have they their speech, their language? Are their voices heard?

MICHAEL

All's well with the World. Each morn, as bird to answering bird,
The Stars shout in Thy glory praise unchanged yet new.
They magnify Thy name.

THE LORD GOD

Truth's self were else untrue.
Time needs be optimist nor foul its own abode.
Else were Creation mocked--and haply I not God.
In sooth all's well with the World. And thou my Raphael,
How fare the Spirit hosts? Say, is _thy_ world, too, well?

RAPHAEL

All's well with the World. We stand, as aye, obedient.
We have no thought but Thee, no asking, no intent
More than to laud and worship, O most merciful,
Being of those that wait.

SATAN (_aside_)

The contemplative rule
Out-ministers the active. These have right to boast,
Who stand aye in His presence, beyond the Angel host.

THE LORD GOD

And none of ye grow weary?

RAPHAEL

Nay in truth.

THE LORD GOD

Not one?

SATAN (_aside_)

God is a jealous God. He doubteth Thee.

RAPHAEL

Nay, none.
We are not as the Angels.

THE LORD GOD

These have their devoirs,
The search, the novelty. Ye drowse here in your choirs,
Sleep-walkers all,--while these, glad messengers, go forth
Upon new joyous errands, Earthwards, South and North,
To visit men and cities. What is strange as Man?
What fair as his green Globe in all Creation's plan?
What ordered as his march of life, of mind, of will?
What subtle as his conscience set at grips with ill?
Their service needs no sleep who guide Man's destinies.
Speak, Gabriel, thou the last. Is Man grown grand and wise?
Hath he his pl