Therefore it behooveth hire a full long spoon
That shal ete with a feend.

Therefore it behooveth hire a full long spoon
That shal ete with a feend.

Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.

Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.

He will give the devil his due.

He will give the devil his due.

What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.

What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.

Black it stood as night,
Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,
And shook a dreadful dart; read more

Black it stood as night,
Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,
And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head
The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
Satan was now at hand.

Satan; so call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in heaven.

Satan; so call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in heaven.

The devil, my friends, is a woman just now.
'Tis a woman that reigns in Hell.

The devil, my friends, is a woman just now.
'Tis a woman that reigns in Hell.

Abashed the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her own shape read more

Abashed the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her own shape how lovely; saw
And pined his loss.

The infernal serpent; he it was whose guile,
Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother read more

The infernal serpent; he it was whose guile,
Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind.