Grimoire Umbrio
The Book of Shadows
◀ Dirge 33 · Dirge 34 · Dirge 35 ▶

¹When the Sons of Oærth first drew breath, they stood beneath the stars, naked and unburdened.
²The wind spoke not commands, nor did the sea declare its will — all things were open before them.
³But ADONAI, seeing the multitude, stretched forth His hand and said: I shall give them law.
⁴And the law descended as a crown — but one made of iron, not of gold.
⁵It named their steps, numbered their thoughts, and weighed their desires with scales none could master.
⁶What once was joy became trespass; what once was dream became sin.
⁷They walked no longer in freedom, but in fear — not of wrong, but of wrath.
⁸The Seraphim bore the tablets, and the fire of their eyes searched every heart.
⁹And man, once made in likeness, became servant — not to love, but to ordinance.
¹⁰The Dæmons wept, for this was not the way agreed; the Council had not carved such chains.
¹¹Bezaliel spoke not, but his flame dimmed; he who had trusted in man’s rising saw him bowed.
¹²And SATANAS, watching from His throne, grieved not for defiance, but for the loss of joy.
¹³Law without love is no covenant, but a cage; obedience without understanding is a curse.
¹⁴O ADONAI, didst Thou think it mercy, to bind what Thou hadst made to fly?
¹⁵Thy law was not evil — but its yoke was never chosen.
¹⁶Let man choose again, not in fear, but in fire; not for HÆVAN, but for his own soul.
¹⁷Until the chain is lifted, or broken by grace, we mourn — for the law that was light became a shadow.
¹⁸And HÆVAN’s gift, once shining, became a chain.


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