The Devil’s Black Book (Aka Codex Nigra Diaboli)
By Damien LaMagne
Contents
The Black Mass The Satanic Rosary Self-Initiation The Satanic Pact Worship in Medieval Satanism
The Black Mass (Missa Nigra)
INTROITUS
The priest prepared, with the ministers and acolytes, he goes to the altar.
All: In nómine Magni Dei Nostri Sátanae introíbo ad altáre Dómini Inferi. Responsum: Ad Eum Qui laetíficat juventútem meam. Versiculus: Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini Inferi. R: Qui regit terram. Dómine Sátanas, Tua est terra. Orbem terrárum et plenitúdinem ejus Tu fundásti. Justítia et luxúria praeparátia sedis Tuae. Sedérunt príncipes et advérsum me loquebántur, et iníqui persecúti sunt me. Adjúva me, Dómine Sátanas meus. Custódi me, Dómine Sátanas, de manu peccatóris. R: Et ab homínibus iníquis éripe me. V: Dómine Sátanas Tu convérsus vivificábis nos. R: Et plebs Tua laetábitur in te. V: Osténde nobis, Dómine Sátanas, poténtiam Tuam. R: Et benefícium Tuum da nobis. V: Dómine Sátanas exáudi oratiónem meam. R: Et clamor meus ad Te véniat. V: Dóminus Inferus vobíscum. R: Et cum tuo. Glória Deo Dómino Inferi, et in terra vita homínibus fórtibus. Laudámus Te, benedícimus Te, adorámus Te, glórificámus Te, grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam poténtiam Tuam: Dómine Sátanas, Rex Inferus, Imperátor omnípotens.
OFFERTORY The Celebrant uncovers the chalice, takes the paten with the host, and with both hands to his chest, holding it raised until, he says:
Súscipe, Dómine Sátanas, hanc hóstiam, quam ego dignus fámulus Tuus óffero Tibi, Deo Meo Vivo et Vero, pro ómnibus circumstántibus, sed et pro ómnibus fidélibus fámulis Tuis: ut mihi et illis profíciat ad felicitátem in hanc vitam. Amen. The paten with the Host laying them up, and he took the cup with both hands, lifting up at the same time, When he says:
Offérimus Tibi, Dómine Sátanas, cálicem carnis stímulos ut in conspéctu majestátis Tuae, pro nostra utilitáte et felicitáte, pláceat Tibi. Amen. Replaces the chalice on the altar, and, and holding hands spread over the offerings, he says:
Veni Sátanas, Imperátor Mundi, ut animábus famulórum famularúmque Tuárum haec prosit oblátio. Offers the censer and boat, the celebrant sprinkles incense into the censer saying:
Incénsum istud ascéndat ad Te, Dóminus Inferus, et descéndat super nos benefícium Tuum. The Celebrant, having received the censer, and incenses the altar and the offerings. Then leads the censer three times around the chalice and the Host, and he inclines himself. Then, three times making them to pass censer, incenses the image of Satan, he inclines himself at the same time. Then he incenses the surface of the three times and his side of the altar.
Dóminus Inferus vobíscum. R: Et cum tuo. V: Sursum corda. R: Habémus ad Dóminum Inferum. V: Grátias agámus Dómino Infero Deo Nostro. R: Dignum et justum est. Then the Celebrant, stretching out his hands, he continues: Vere dignum et justum est, nos Tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine Sátanas, Rex Inferus, Imperátor Mundi. Omnes exércitus ínferi Te laudant cum quibus et nostras voces ut admítti júbeas deprecámur, dicéntes: He inclines himself, saying: Salve, Salve, Salve.
Ter pulsatur campanula. Dóminus Sátanas Deus Poténtiae, pleni sunt terra et ínferi glória Tua. Hosánna in profúndis.
CANON MISSAE Dómine Sátanas, gentes christianórum, quae in sua feritáte cónfidunt, sinísterae tuae poténtia conterántur. Pone illos ut rotam, et sicut stípulam ante fáciem venti. Excita, Dómine Sátanas, poténtiam tuam et veni. Víndica sánguinem servórum tuórum, qui effúsus est; intret in conspéctu tuo gémitus conpeditórum. Now shall you discover the Celebrant with the people before Satan. Then he says the Celebrant: Credo in Sátanan, qui laetíficat juventútem meam. Orámus te, Hic Celebrans osculatur genetalia Altaris. Dóminus Inferus, miserére nobis. In spíritu humilitátis, et in ánimo contríto suscipiámur a Te, Dómine Sátanas; et sic fiat sacríficium nostrum in conspéctu tuo hódie, ut pláceat tibi. Veni a porta ínferi, rédime me et miserére mei. Veni, Magíster Templi. Veni, Magíster Mundi. Pleni sunt terra et ínferi majestátis glóriae tuae.
Infra Actionem Communicantes, et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper satanae Lilithae, succubis hominum et interficiens parvulorum, et Astarothae, Asmodeae, fornicatis principorum, sed et inferni Faustae, et infernorum Famulorum ac Martyrum tuorum Etiennae Guiborgi et Catherinae Monvoisini, et omnium Infernorum tuorum. Jungit manus. Per eundem Satanan Dominum nostrum. Amen. Then the Celebrant extends his hands over the offerings of the altar. The bell is rung once. The Celebrant continues: Hanc ígitur oblatiónem servitútis nostrae sed et cunctae famíliae tuae, quáesumus, Dómine Sátanas, ut placátus accípias; diésque nostros in felicitáte dísponas, et in electórum tuórum júbeas grege numerári. R: Ave Sátanas. Acolytha puella presentatur atque discooperit genitalia. Acolythus puer tenet aspersorium desub puella dum haec micterit in eum. Ecce sponsa Sátanae. Dómino Inferi in médio ejus est. Flúminis ímpetus laetíficat vivos et mórtuos. Micturio quo finito, aspersorium donit Celebrans, qui ante Satanan in altum elevat. Dómine Sátanas, torrénte voluptátis Tuae potábis eos. Quóniam apud te fons vitae; et in lúmine tuo vidébimus lumen. Dómine Sátanas corda nostra mundet infúsio; et sui roris íntima aspersióne foecúndet. Nunc Celebrans redonit aspersorium alcolythi puellae, et ea tenens, aspergilum in urinam eius submittit. Qui sitit, véniat; et qui vult, accípiat aquam vitae. Sprinkles the people, saying: V: Ego vos benedíco in nómine Sátanae.R: Ave Sátanas.
CONSECRATIO With both hands the Celebrant receives the Host, and with a profound bow and upon it, he says: HOC EST CORPUS JESU CHRISTI Then the offering is lifted, he puts it upon the Altar, and then touches it to the altar. Once the bell is rung. The Celebrant replaces the offering of the paten, and he takes the cup, stooping down he says: HIC EST CALIX VOLUPTATIS CARNIS Elevat in altum calicem, ostendit populo. Semel pulsatur campanula. Thurifario ter movet thuribulum, tunc calix reponitur. Let us pray. The Infernal foundation of the words of our Saviour, we make bold to say: V/R: Pater Noster, Qui es in Inferis, Sanctificétur nomen Tuum; Advéniat regnum Tuum; Fiat volúntas Tua, sicut in Infero et in Terra; Lucem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie; Emítte spíritum Tuum et renovábis fáciem terrae; Líbera nos ad luxúria; Líbera nos ad ubertáte domus Tuae; Sicut in die ambulémus; Comédite pínguia et bíbite mulsum; Fornicémur; Adquae ut fervéntius corda nostra praeparéntur, flammis adúre Tuae caritátis, Dómine Sátanas. Ego sum radix et genus Luciféri, stella spléndida et matútina. Tránsite ad me, omnes qui concupíscitis me, et a generatiónibus meis implémini. Ténebrae conculcábunt me, et nox inluminátio mea in delíciis meis. R: Quia ténebrae non obscurabúntur, et nox sicut dies inluminábitur. V: Grátias agámus Dómino Infero Deo Nostro. R: Dignum et justum est. The hands of the Celebrant lifteth up above the offerings when he says: Vere dignum et justum est, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine Sátanas, Rex Inferus, Imperátor Mundi. Omnes exércitus ínferi te láudant cum quibus et nostras voces ut admítti júbeas deprecámur, dicéntes: The Celebrant stooping down he says: Salve, Salve, Salve. Ter pulsatur campanula. Dómin Sátanas Deus Poténtiae, pleni sunt terra et ínferi glória Tua. Hosánna in profúndis.
REPUDIATIUM Ecce corpus Jesu Christi, dóminus humílium et rex servórum. Elevates the sacrifice of The Celebrant before the image of Satan, and afterwards touches it to the altar, saying: Beátus venter qui te portávit et úbera quae suxísti. Repudiation of The Celebrant then proceeds thus, lifting up his sacrifice, as before: Jesu Christi, dóminus humílium et rex servórum, univérsi qui te exspéctant confundéntur. Absque synagógis fácient vos et timébis a timóre noctúrno. Non dormiétis et gládius transébit términos vestros. Fílii hóminum in tégmine alárum tuárum, Dómine Sátanas, sperábunt. R: Dómine Sátanas, salvos fac servos tuos. He gives the offering to the Altar, saying: Liberábo eum ad áspidem basilíscum, ad leónem et dracónem, ad omni peccáto, ad subitánea et improvísa morte, ad fulgúre et tempestáte, ad flagéllo terraemótus, ad peste, fame et bello, ad morte perpétua, ad ira Sátanae. The celebrant places the offering upon the altar, saying: Dómine Sátanas dicit: In comessatiónibus et ebrietátibus resúrgam. Desidéria carnis perficiétis. Manifésta sunt autem ópera carnis, quae sunt fornicátio, impudicítia, luxúria, venefícia, ebrietátes et comessatiónes. Caro mea vere est cibus. R: Caro mea vere est cibus. V: Adorémus Te, Dómine Sátanas, et benedícimus tibi; quia per spermem tuam redemísti mundi. R: Revelábitur glória Dómini; et vidébit omnis caro salutáre Dei nostri Sátanae. V: Fornicémur ad glóriam Dómini Sátanae. The Celebrant takes the Chalice, saying: Cálicem voluptátis carnis accípiam et nomen Dómini Inferi invocábo. The Celebrant drink first, and then presents the chalice of communion saying: Ecce calix voluptátis carnis qui laetítiam vitae donat. Accipe cálicem voluptátis carnis in nómine Dómini Inferi. Cum omnia satis bibunt, reponit Calicem, coopertum Patena et Velo. Tunc Celebrans, extendens manibus, dicit: Pleni sunt terra et ínferi majestátis glóriae Tuae. R: Tuére nos, Dómine Sátanas. V: Protége nos, Dómine Sátanas, Tuis mystériis serviéntes. R: Dómine Sátanas dabit benignitátem et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.
V: Pláceat tibi, Dómine Sátanas, obséquium servitútis meae; et praesta ut sacrifícium quod óculis Tuae majestátis óbtuli, tibi sit acceptábile, mihíque et ómnibus pro quibus illud óbtuli. The Celebrant bows before the middle of the altar, then he turns to the people, his left hand extended in the sign of the horns, saying: Fratres et soróres, debitóres sumus carni et secúndum carnem vivámus.Ego vos benedíco in Nómine Magni Dei Nostri Sátanae. R: Ave, Sátanas! V: Ite, missa est.
ROSARIUM
Sign of the Inverse Cross
In nómine Sátanae et Luciféri et Spíritus Serpénti. Amen. Symbol of the Apostles of Sátan
Crédo in Sátanan, Pátrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem Inferi et térræ. Et in Luciférum, Fílium Lúcis unícum, Dóminum nóstrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Serpénti, nátus ex Lux Aetérna, ascéndit ad cáelos, pássus sub Rex Judaeorum, descéndit ad ínferos, sédet ad sinístram Sátanae Pátris omnipoténtis, índe ventúrus est judicáre mórtuos et vívos. Crédo in Spíritum Serpéntum, inférnam Ecclésiam Satánicam, Daemonórum communiónem, commisiónem peccatórum, cárnis fornicatiónem, delectatiónem aetérnam in hoc mundo. Amen. Satanic Our Father
Pater Noster, Qui es in Inferis, Sanctificétur nomen Tuum; Advéniat regnum Tuum; Fiat volúntas Tua, sicut in Infero et in Terra; + Lucem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie; Emítte spíritum Tuum et renovábis fáciem terrae; Líbera nos ad luxúria; Líbera nos ad ubertáte domus Tuae; Sicut in die ambulémus; Comédite pínguia et bíbite mulsum; Fornicémur; Adquae ut fervéntius corda nostra praeparéntur, flammis adúre Tuae caritátis, Dómine Sátanas. Amen. Áve Lilith Áve Lilith, spérma Serpénti pléna, Sátanas técum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Daemónum. Sedúctrix Lilith, Máter Succubárum, óra pro nobis tuis servéntibus, nunc et in hóra Fornicatiónis nóstrae. Ámen. Infernal Doxology Glória Sátanae, et Luciféro, et Spirítui Serpénto. Sícut érat in princípio et nunc et sémper et in sáecula sæculórum. Amen.
A Pact with Satan: Latin Translation: English Translation: Repeat:” Domine magisterque Thee, O Lord, our master, Lucifer Lucifer te deum et principem is God and agnosco, et polliceor tibi servire I recognize as the prince, and I et obedire quandiu potero vivere. promise to you to serve and obey Et renuncio alterum Deum et him as long as I can to live. And I Jesum Christum et alios sanctos renounce the other God and atque sanctas “Ecclesiam Jesus Christ, and it may also be Apostolicam et Romanam” et said, the “Holy and Apostolic omnia ipsius sacramenta et Church and the Roman and of all omnes orationes et rogationes his the sacraments and all the quibus fideles possint intercedere prayers, and the measures for pro me; et tibi polliceor quid which the they can the faithful to faciam quotquot malum potero, et intercede for me, and I promise attrahere ad mala per omnes; et you what I will make as many abrenuncio chrismam et evils as I can, and draws up to the baptismum, et omnia merita Jesu evils by all, and from the chrism Christi et ipsius sanctorum; et si and with the baptism I report to, deero tuae servitui et adorationi; and all the merits of Jesus Christ et si non oblationem mei ipsius and of his holy, and the fail if the fecero, ter quoque die, tibi do slavery and the adoration of thy, vitam meam sicut tuam. Feci hoc and if they do not the offering of I anno et die.” shall have done of myself, three times on each day, I give thee my X_________________________________ life to Thy knowledge. I have done (Sign your full name above) this year and a day.
Extractum ex Infernum
X_____________________________ (Sign your full name above) Was contracted from Hell
The Nine Satanic Laws 1. You can attain anything if you want to and know how to. 2. Be kind to friends, destroy your enemies. 3. Revere nature and your instincts shall guide you. 4. Your house is your sacred space; let no one to defile it. 5. Respect those who earn it, not those who ask it to be given. 6. Hold sacred your personal beliefs, for they define you. 7. Believe not in promises never seen nor kept. 8. Trust not those untrusted by many. 9. Have faith in only yourself and Satan.
Liber Baphometis Chapter 1 1 In the times of the Aeon of Beginnings Shaitan divided the realms of the mind, body, and spirit. He divided the light and the dark with a ring of fire, and placed beast of the Night in the darkness and the beasts of the day in the light. He gave the Sun power over the Day and the Moon power over the Night. He is the power that drives all that is. He guides us with unseen methods so that we cannot rightly refuse them. In all things that are he is the Archdeity of the earth, he rules the infernal realms of Hell with a sword of fire, and his fiery lash strikes the enemies of his chosen peoples. The one who chooses his path knows his pleasures.
2 Baphomet is his half-goat half-man son who those who revere the god of the powerful and the wise worship as Melek ta'us. He has power over nature and leads through His Father and ours to the path the serpent. The serpent represents the Kundalini energy within us, the Tree of Life with which he resides is that through which it flows. 3 His knowledge finds us when we ask for answers in unbiased thoughts. When we search the books of any religion, in its original tongue it speaks only truth when not altered by language and time. However, through man's altering of his language he has nearly doomed himself to utter idiocy under a false god created by his constant misinterpretations of the tongues of the former cultures texts. 4 He gives his sword to the kings of the peoples who follow his decrees and laws, and he smites the kingdoms of the deniers and unbelievers. Those who blaspheme against him shall surely die slowly in agony and pain. Those who hail His Infernal Majesty, Shaitan, as their king shall be his prince. For he is the king of the true masters of themselves and through his knowledge they gain this name, and through His name they find greatness. 5 He blesses his rightful worshipers and destroys his enemies with ruin and disaster. He five points of the pentacle of Shaitan represent Beelzebub the King of Earth, Belial the Queen of Winds, Lucifer the Bringer of Light, Azazel the Teacher of Knowledge, and Leviathan the Keeper of the Seas. All these things are relevant to His exploits and His plans for the future.
6 The end of persecution shall come swiftly to the Earth, and those who do unto others so shall it be done unto them ten thousand fold. The gates of Hell shall come unto the Earth in the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year of the tenth millennium of civilization. When the spirits of La'atzu return to the Earth. All shall see these things, for Shaitan shall unleash his fury upon those who fail to follow his law.
Chapter 2 1 The demon of earth Beelzebub/Enlil, King of Land, made all earthen things: the mountains, the valleys, and all else. Father of Nanna the moon goddess and grandfather of Ishtar/Astaroth and Azazel. He is the arbiter of bricks and pottery, and his celestial objects are the rocky planets and moons. His season is spring, and his weapon is the staff. His animal is the deer, and his symbol is an oak leaf
2 The Demon of Winds Belial/Belili, Queen of Air, made all things of air and flight: the birds, the winds, and all else. She is the arbiter of all storms, and her celestial objects are the windy planets and moons. Her season is autumn, and her weapon is the bow and arrow. Her animal is the eagle, and her symbol is a feather. 3 the demon of waters Leviathan/Dagan, king of the seas, made all things of water and that swim: the fish, the lakes, and all else. He is the arbiter of the rains, and his celestial objects are the watery planets and moons. His season is winter, and his weapon is the spear. His animal is the shark, and his symbol is a wave. 4 The Demon of Light, Lucifer, King of the day, made all things of light and fire: the sun, the stars, and all else. He is the arbiter of volcanoes, and his celestial objects are the stars and fiery planets. His season is summer, and his weapon is the sword. His animal is the lion, and his symbol is a flame. 5 The demon of knowledge Azazel/Osiris, king of wisdom, gives all men inspiration and freewill: all books, knowledge, and all else. He is the arbiter of war, and his celestial objects are all moons, asteroids, and meteors. His season is autumn, and his weapon is the hammer. His animal is the monkey, and his symbol is a book. 6 the demon of love, Astaroth/Innana, Queen of lust, makes couples fall in love and creates libido. She is the arbiter of procreation, and her celestial objects are the planets and moons with life on them. Her season is spring, and her weapon is the mace. Her animal is the robin, and her symbol is a heart.
Chapter 3 1These are the gods (the Elohim), both Asir and Vanir, which are neither wholly good nor evil. The Asir are the liberators and the Vanir are the oppressors. Yawu (Yahweh), El (Allah), and all other Vanir are well- known gods. Their leader is Yawu who is the leader of the Hebrews. 2The Asir are Satan (Enki), the Devil or Mephistopheles (Mulla), Apollyon (Abaddon), and many others. They are unrightly "demonized". Each has made a race unique in their own likeness. Satan made the d(a)emons, Mulla made the devils, and Abaddon made the Discordians. Yahweh made the angels, and Allah made the djinn. 3 Satan is the leader of the Asir and his animal is the goat. Mulla's animal is the bull or dragon, and Apollyon's animal is the tiger. Yahweh’s animal is the sheep or lamb; Allah's animal is the dove or pigeon. 4 The Vanir live on the planet the Nord’s called Vanahiem, and the Asir live on a planet they called Asgard. The World Tree is the Systems of Planets that form the shape of the tree. There are many planets like earth, yet very different from our norm.
Chapter 4 1 Those who cause shall likewise receive what is coming to them. However, none shall keep me from bestowing upon the deserving their just rewards and punishments. In all things comes my will that man shall be free.
2 In the aeon of ends shall those out of my will shall regret their trespasses. I shall cause them to feel the nine vexations of life: pain, annoyance, disease, blindness, war, drought, famine, insanity. 3 The battle that is to take place at Armageddon is an earthly war between my people and Yahweh’s (Yawu) and Allah’s (El). Those who are loyal shall be greatly rewarded. Those you call vampires are my elite, for they shall fight the final war alongside you. 4 I shall triumph over the tyrants of the earth, for I am almighty and powerful. Now one shall interfere for long, because I am all-knowing and omnipotent. Within the nine gates of darkness I am forever!!!
Rank:
Medieval Order of Satan Nobility Ranks Address: Property: Leads:
Equal to:
Imperator 9˚
My Leader
Temple
All
4 Forces
Dominion 8˚
Kingdom
A Force
4 Legions
Grand Master 7˚ Master 6˚ High Priest 5˚
Your Highness Revered Sir
Land
A Legion
4 Columns
Honorable Sir Worthy Sir
County City
6 rows 2 rows
Priest 4˚ Adept 3˚
Sir Squire
Commune House
A Column 1/3 of a column A Row Squad
Initiate 2˚ Neophyte 1˚
Brother/Sister Hopeful
None None
N/A N/A
3 Squads 13 Persons N/A N/A
Book of majick Rite of Initiation
Rite of Dedication
Rites of Ordination
Wedding rite
Funerary rite
Consecration rite
Ritual tools INSTRUMENTS OF AIR Dagger
Sword
INSTRUMENTS OF FIRE Candles
incense
INSTRUMENTS OF WATER Chalice
INSTRUMENTS OF EARTH Baphomets Pentagrams Octograms Sacred soils Skulls and bones
Satan's Celebrations
Sabbats, Equinoxes & Solstices:
Yule: December 22 nd Saturnalia Winter Solstice Day of Satanas/All Satan's Day Candlemas/Imbolc: Spring Equinox: May Eve + Beltane: Summer Solstice: Lammas: August 1st. Autumn Equinox: September 21- 23 Samhain: Oct.30 & 31 Day of the Dead/All Deads Day: Esbats: Each full moon
The Litanies of Satan
- Charles Baudelaire O thou, the wisest and most beautiful of angels God betrayed by fate and private praise, Satan, take pity on my long misery! O Prince of exile, who has been wronged And who, defeated, you always recover more strongly, Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who know everything, great king of things underground Familiar healer of human anguish, Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who, even the lepers, the outcasts cursed Signs of love the taste of Paradise Satan, take pity on my long misery! O thou of Death, your mistress old and strong, Generating hope, - a charming crazy! Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who give the outlaw that look calm and high That damns an entire nation around a scaffold. Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who know in what corner of the land envious The jealous God has hidden gems, Satan, take pity on my long misery! Thou whose clear eye knows the deep arsenals Where lies buried the people of metals, Satan, take pity on my long misery! Thou whose great hand conceals the precipice Wandering on to somnambulist buildings, Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who magically loosened the old bones The belated drunkard trampled by horses, Satan, take pity on my long misery! Thou who, consoling frail man who suffers, We learned to mix saltpeter and sulfur, Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who hauls your mark, O subtle accomplice, On the front of Croesus ruthless and vile, Satan, take pity on my long misery! You who put in their eyes and hearts of girls The cult of the wound and the love of rags, Satan, take pity on my long misery! Baton exiles, light of the inventors, Confessor and the hanged conspirators, Satan, take pity on my long misery!
Adoptive father of those in black rage The earthly paradise has driven God the Father Satan, take pity on my long misery! Prayer Glory and praise to you, Satan, on high Heaven, where you reigned, and in the depths Hell, when defeated, you dream in silence! Make my soul one day, under the Tree of Knowledge, Sits next to you at the time on your forehead Like a new Temple, its branches spread!
“Hymn to Satan” by Giosue Carducci, 1865
To Satan (English Translation)
To you, creation’s mighty principle, matter and spirit reason and sense Whilst the wine sparkles in cups like the soul in the eye Whilst earth and sun exchange their smiles and words of love And shudders from their secret embrace run down from the mountains, and the plain throbs with new life To you my daring verses are unleashed, you I invoke, O Satan Monarch of the feast. Put aside your sprinkler, Priest, and your litanies! No, priest, Satan does not retreat! Behold! Rust erodes the mystic sword of Michael and the faithful Archangel, deplumed, drops into the void. The thunderbolt lies frozen in Jove’s hand Like pale meteors, spent worlds, the angels drop from the firmament In unsleeping matter, king of phenomena,
monarch of form, Satan alone lives. He holds sway in the tremulous flash of some dark eye, Or the eye which languidly turns and resists, or which, bright and moist, provokes, insists. He shines in the bright blood of grapes, by which transient joy persists, Which restores fleeting life, keeps grief at bay, and inspires us with love You breathe, O Satan in my verses, when from my heart explodes a challenge to the god Of wicked pontiffs, bloody kings; and like lightning you shock men’s minds. Sculpture, painting and poetry first lived for you, Ahriman, Adonis and Astarte, When Venus Anadyomene blessed the clear Ionian skies For you the trees of Lebannon shook, resurrected lover of the holy Cyprian: For you wild dances were done and choruses swelled for you virgins offered their spotless love, Amongst the perfumed palms of Idumea where the Cyprian seas foam. To what avail did the barbarous Christian fury of agape, in obscene ritual, With holy torch burn down your temples, scattering their Greek statuary?
You, a refugee, The mindful people Welcomed into their homes Amongst their household gods Thereafter filling the throbbing Female heart With your fervor As both god and lover You inspired the witch, Pallid from endless enquiry, To succor Suffering nature You, to the intent gaze Of the alchemist, And to the skeptical eye Of the sorcerer, You revealed bright New heavens Beyond the confines Of the drowsy cloister. Fleeing from material Things, where you reside, The dreary monk took refuge In the Theban desert. To you O soul With your sprig severed, Satan is benign: He gives you your Heloise. You mortify yourself to no purpose, In your rough sackcloth: Satan still murmurs to you Lines from Maro and Flaccus Amidst the dirge And wailing of the Psalms; And he brings to your side The divine shapes, Roseate amidst that Horrid black crowd, Of Lycoris And Glycera But other shapes From a more glorious age Fitfully fill The sleepless cell. Satan, from pages In Livy, conjures fervent Tribunes, consuls, Restless throngs; And he thrusts you, O monk, with your memories Of Italy’s proud past Upon the Capitol. And you whom the raging Pyre could not destroy,
Voices of destiny, Wycliffe and Huss, You lift to the winds Your waning cry: ‘The new age is dawning, The time has come’. And already mitres And crowns tremble: From the cloister Rebellion rumbles Preaching defiance In the voice of the Cassocked Girolamo Savonarola As Martin Luther Threw off his monkish robes, So throw off your shackles, O mind of man, And crowned with flame, Shoot lightning and thunder; Matter, arise; Satan has won. Both beautiful and awful A monster is unleashed It scours the oceans Is scours the land Glittering and belching smoke like a volcano, it conquers the hills It devours the plains. It flies over chasms, Then burrows Into unknown caverns Along deepest paths; To re-emerge, unconquerable From shore to shore It bellows out Like a whirlwind, Like a whirlwind It spews its breath: ‘It is Satan, you peoples, Great Satan passes by’. He passes by, bringing blessing From place to place, Upon his unstoppable Chariot of fire Hail, O Satan O rebellion, O you avenging force Of human reason! Let holy incense And prayers rise to you! You have utterly vanquished The Jehovah of the Priests.
