The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: The Argument

Rintrah roars and shakes his fires in the burden'd air,

Hungry clouds swag on the deep.

Once meek, and in a perilous path

The just man kept his course along

The Vale of Death.

Roses are planted where thorns grow,

And on the barren heath

Sing the honey bees.

Then the perilous path was planted,

And a river and a spring

On every cliff and tomb;

And on the bleached bones

Red clay brought forth:

Till the villain left the paths of ease

To walk in perilous paths, and drive

The just man into barren climes.

Now the sneaking serpent walks

In mild humility;

And the just man rages in the wilds

Where lions roam.

Rintrah roars and shakes his fires in the burden'd air,

Hungry clouds swag on the deep.