Be Absolved By My Decree Poem by Charles van Lerberghe

Be absolved by my decree
Of all treachery
And of all malice
O my lovely Serpent, and glide
In peace, a sinuous sunbeam
Among these roses.

For it was you who taught me the truth,

The original secrets of the earth,
The mystery of all created things,
O spirit of light,
Bright spirit of fire!
For it was you who made me an equal of God.

O my beautiful Serpent, glide
Among my lilies and rove
Through the roses of my springtime;
Be crowned with bright gold and clothed
With emeralds, topaz, and with diamonds!