The Evil One, outdone, bethought
“What can I do to sour
The sweetness of the soul new bought
From my deforming power?”
Then several ruses he devised
But chief among them this:
From heavenly joy the soul he prised
By promising earthly bliss.
Deeds not offensive in the act
But in what by them we don’t do
They deaden, distance and distract
From doing what we ought to.
They glister but bring every hour
From golden deeds refrainment
Our days, our decades they devour
In tinsel entertainment.
Since now the bonds of sin are burst
Sin has no strong attraction
Now when the Devil does his worst
He drives to distraction!
God lends our cheek and angel bloom
Our brow a princely worth;
Both vanish in the trivial gloom,
Brought low we chew on earth.
The Architect his plan installed
And every need fulfilled:
Foundation, bricks and tools. He called
And bad his builders, “Build!”
If we neglect to do the task,
Materials thus provided,
What shall we say when he shall ask
Why we our time have bided?