First Voice.
What this crabbed text here meaneth
By the Word, is plain and simple,
It is Jove to whose great voice
Gods and men obedient listen.
Chrysanthus.
Jove, it must be Jove, by whom
Breath, speech, life itself are given.
Second Voice.
What the holy Gospel means
By the Word, is that great Spirit
Who was in Himself for ever,
First, last, always self-existent.
Chrysanthus.
Self-existent! first and last!
Reason cannot grasp that dictum.
First Voice.
In the beginning of the world
Jove in heaven his high throne fixéd,
Leaving less imperial thrones
To the other gods to fill them.
Chrysanthus.
Yes, if he could not alone
Rule creation unassisted.
Second Voice.
God was God, long, long before
Earth or heaven's blue vault existed,
He was in Himself, ere He
Gave to time its life and mission.
First Voice.
Worship only pay to Jove,
God o'er all our gods uplifted.
Second Voice.
Worship pay to God alone,
He the infinite, the omniscient.
First Voice.
He doth lord the world below.