** Now," says the old Legend *, " if it be asked wherefore the books
of Moses, in revealing the disobedience and the fall of man, are silent
as to the revolt and the fall of the angels, the reason is plain ; and, in this
God acted according to His wisdom. For, let us suppose that a certain
powerful lord hath two vassals, both guilty of the crime of treason, and
one of these is a nobleman of pure and lofty lineage, and the other a
base-bom churl: — what doth this lord? He hangs up the churl in the
market-place as a warning and example to others ; — but, for the noble-
man, fearing the scandal that may arise among the people, and perhaps
also some insult to the officers of the law, the judge causes him to be
tried secretly, and shuts him up in a dungeon ; and when judgment is
pronounced against him, he sends to his prison, and puts him privily to
death ; and when one asketh after him, the answer is only ^ He is dead :'
— and nothing more. Thus did God in respect to the rebel angels of
old; and their fate was not revealed until the redemption of man was
accomplished."

* V. II pcrfctio TiOgcndnrio. 1659.
96 SACRED AXD LEGENDARY ART.
