25. 
’Speak not to me, but hear!  Much shalt thou learn,
Much must remain unthought, and more untold,
In the dark Future’s ever-flowing urn:  345
Know then, that from the depth of ages old
Two Powers o’er mortal things dominion hold,
Ruling the world with a divided lot,
Immortal, all-pervading, manifold,
Twin Genii, equal Gods—­when life and thought 350
Sprang forth, they burst the womb of inessential Nought.

26. 
’The earliest dweller of the world, alone,
Stood on the verge of chaos.  Lo! afar
O’er the wide wild abyss two meteors shone,
Sprung from the depth of its tempestuous jar:  355
A blood-red Comet and the Morning Star
Mingling their beams in combat—­as he stood,
All thoughts within his mind waged mutual war,
In dreadful sympathy—­when to the flood
That fair Star fell, he turned and shed his brother’s blood. 360

27. 
’Thus evil triumphed, and the Spirit of evil,
One Power of many shapes which none may know,
One Shape of many names; the Fiend did revel
In victory, reigning o’er a world of woe,
For the new race of man went to and fro, 365
Famished and homeless, loathed and loathing, wild,
And hating good—­for his immortal foe,
He changed from starry shape, beauteous and mild,
To a dire Snake, with man and beast unreconciled.

28. 
’The darkness lingering o’er the dawn of things, 370
Was Evil’s breath and life; this made him strong
To soar aloft with overshadowing wings;
And the great Spirit of Good did creep among
The nations of mankind, and every tongue
Cursed and blasphemed him as he passed; for none 375
Knew good from evil, though their names were hung
In mockery o’er the fane where many a groan,
As King, and Lord, and God, the conquering Fiend did own,—­

29. 
’The Fiend, whose name was Legion:  Death, Decay,
Earthquake and Blight, and Want, and Madness pale, 380
Winged and wan diseases, an array
Numerous as leaves that strew the autumnal gale;
Poison, a snake in flowers, beneath the veil
Of food and mirth, hiding his mortal head;
And, without whom all these might nought avail, 385
Fear, Hatred, Faith, and Tyranny, who spread
Those subtle nets which snare the living and the dead.

30. 
’His spirit is their power, and they his slaves
In air, and light, and thought, and language, dwell;
And keep their state from palaces to graves, 390
In all resorts of men—­invisible,
But when, in ebon mirror, Nightmare fell
To tyrant or impostor bids them rise,
Black winged demon forms—­whom, from the hell,
His reign and dwelling beneath nether skies, 395
He loosens to their dark and blasting ministries.