Know, then, thy moral ear is deaf to godly sooth!
The first who followed sense, and reason—as he thought—
Instead of God’s true light, the devil was, we’re taught.170
He judged: “The fire more noble is than sordid earth;
From fire was I created; clay gave Adam birth.
The stock from whence it springs decides each kind of fruit;
From darkness Adam’s sprung; light at my birth did suit.”
The Lord replied: “’Tis not a question of descent.
Pre-eminence is here the prize of righteous bent.
’Tis not a heritage of worldly wealth to share.