For how can I thy words believe,
When even God thou didst deceive?
A sea of lies art thou,—our sin
Only a drop that sea within."
"Not so," said Satan, "I serve God,
His angel now, and now his rod.
In tempting I both bless and curse,
Make good men better, bad men worse.
Good coin is mixed with bad, my brother,
I but distinguish one from the other."
"Granted," the Caliph said, "but still
You never tempt to good, but ill.
Tell then the truth, for well I know
You come as my most deadly foe."
Loud laughed the fiend. "You know me well,
Therefore my purpose I will tell.
If you had missed your prayer, I knew
A swift repentance would ensue;
And such repentance would have been
A good, outweighing far the sin.