Hymn LVII.
1. Listen, my brethren, to Death, mocking the Evil
One: that caused the head of our race to sin, and its
mother.—2.
R., To Thee be glory that by Thy humiliation, Satan
is subdued: and that Thy abasement has exalted Adam, who was
abased.
—3.
D
., Thy great nakedness shall be seen, by
the sons of Adam; as thou mockedst his nakedness, when thou madest him
sin.—4. Eve will cease from that serpent, and rail at thee:
for thou, O Dragon, wast he that beguiled her simpleness.—5. Abel
will see him, even, Cain, who has come to thee: the disciple of
his wrath will blame his cursed master.—6.
S
., Noah who
conquered the flood, as it were death: by the mouth of Ham I
laughed at, when wine overcame him.—7.
D
., Noah was not
harmed, but thy garment, wherewith thou clothedst him: even
cursings, he put on, and became a slave.—8.
S
., Lot who
overcame anger which is, thy likeness, Death: to his daughters I
gave such counsels, as were pleasing to me.—9.
D
., And
Lot’s wife who was thy vessel hearkened, to thy counsel:
may half of thee be dried up, as thy whole vessel was dried
up!—10. Gehenna be overturned, upon thy head: as thy malice
overturned Sodom, its dwellers!—11. Floods of fire be stirred
against thee, in the resurrection: who against Moses and Elijah,
didst stir the people!—12. Let the just mock thee at the last,
and Joseph rejoice! whose brethren mocked him, set on by
thee!—13. Let vapour of smoke come in, and choke thy
senses: as the waters of the sea choked, the senses of the
wicked! —14. Let chaste women also mock thee, by whose
counsel: the daughters of Midian
mocked, the foolish people!—15.
Flame be kindled on thy head, for Samson’s sake: for by a
woman thou shavedst his locks, that lion of strength!—16.
S
., Saul whom I conquered by envy, by witchcraft conquered
thee: for he asked for and brought up Samuel, out of his
grave.—17.
D
., Slander not the living dead, for he came
not up: thou wast he that came up in the phantom for thou wast
worthy.—18. Let the commandment hang thee over the flame, thou
Evil One! for by thee they hanged Absalom, upon a tree.—19. In
the fire mayst thou see thyself humbled, among vile women! for Solomon
by thee was degraded, among profane women.—20. Justice be
measured to thee, as thou didst inflame her! even Jezebel who devoured
the prophets, thou kindledst her.—21. In fire mayst thou justly
burn, who madest them drunken! the two whom Elijah burnt up, when they
went up and assailed
him
.—22. On thee also be coals
heaped! may he see and rejoice: that Naboth in whom thou
heapedst, a pile of stones!—23. Be thou clad in scorn in the day
of judgment, before all beholders! who clothedst Gehasi in a leprosy,
by means of thy theft.—24. With lightning for a dart be thou
pierced, O Satan! who in the heart of Josiah, didst fix
thy
darts.—25. Sink thou in the dregs of Gehenna, O Satan! who didst
sink Jeremiah in the mire of the pit.—26. Daniel escaped from the
pit, whither thou didst cast him: may he have comfort in seeing
thee, in the furnace for ever!—27. Be thy wickedness returned on
thy head, Hater of man: as his wickedness was returned on the
head, of Haman thy fellow! —28. May the King’s Bride mock
thee, as did Esther: when thou beseechest her in the
judgment-day, to plead for thee!—29. Fire released the righteous
ones, whom thou hadst bound: a mighty bond be to thee, the flame
of fire!—30. Be thou torn in sunder, and may the seven brothers,
see thy defeat: the sons of Shemuni who by thy wolves, were torn
in sunder!—31. May fire triumph over thy pate, as thou didst
mock: the two heads of Nazarites, sons of the barren!—32.
May fire make mock of thy head, for mother and daughter:
triumphed over John’s head, when thou didst madden
them!—33. Flame triumphed over thy head, O Evil One: for on
the charges thou didst triumph, over John’s
head!