The Demon’s Speech

The Demon’s Speech to Tamara From “The Demon”

SWEAR by the first day of Creation, I swear by its last day, I swear by the infamy of crime and by the triumph of eternal truth; swear by the bitter torments of the Fall, by the short-lived dream of victory; I swear by my meeting with you and by our impending separation; I swear by the assembly of the spirits, brethren whom fate has subjected to me, by the swords of the passionless angels, my ever-watchful enemies; I swear by Heaven and by Hell, by all that is sacred on earth, and by you; I swear by your last glance, by your first tear, by the breath of your gentle lips, by the silken wave of your curly hair; I swear by bliss and by suffering, I swear by my love: I have renounced my old revenge, I have renounced my proud thoughts; …

henceforth the poison of insidious temptation will trouble no more the minds of men. I want to make my peace with Heaven, I want to love and to pray, I want to believe in good ; with tears of repent-ance I will efface the marks of celestial fire from my brow, now worthy of you, and let the world in peaceful ignorance end its life without me! O believe me – I alone so far have understood and appreciated you; having chosen you for my hallowed shrine, I have laid down my power at your feet; I await your love as a gift, and in exchange for a single moment I will give you eternity: in love as in enmity, believe me, Tamara, I am faithful and great. I, the free son of Ether, will take you to spheres that lie beyond the stars, and you shall be the queen of the world, my first companion; you will look without regret or concern at the earth, where there is no true happiness, no lasting beauty… …

O leave your former desires, and the pitiful world to its fate! In exchange I will reveal to you the abyss of proud knowledge. I will bring the host of my attendant spirits to your feet; I will give you, O beautiful one, airy and magic handmaidens; I will pluck for you the golden crown of the Eastern Star and will sprinkle it with the dew which I will take from the flowers at midnight; I will wind a ray of rosy sunset like a ribbon round your waist; I will imbue the air around you with a breath of pure fragrance; I will ceaselessly charm your ear with marvelous music; I will build splendid palaces of turquoise and amber; I will plunge to the bottom of the sea, I will fly above the clouds, I will give you everything the earth has to offer – love me! . . .