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解説

付記

「名を告げよ。」 「人間が創られようとしています。 彼には法律が必要でしょう。」 「この愚か者め！　永遠の昔から人の魂を憎むべく 定められた宿敵であるお前が、 その法を作る権利を求めるのか？」 「お許しください。私が願うのはただ一つ。 人間自身に法律を作らせていただきたいのです。」 ――かくして、そう定められた。

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Original

One of the Creator's lamentable mistakes, repented in sashcloth and axes. Being instated as an archangel, Satan made himself multifariously objectionable and was finally expelled from Heaven. Halfway in his descent he paused, bent his head in thought a moment and at last went back. "There is one favor that I should like to ask," said he.

Additional notes

Name it. Man, I understand, is about to be created. He will need laws. What, wretch! you his appointed adversary, charged from the dawn of eternity with hatred of his soul—you ask for the right to make his laws? Pardon; what I have to ask is that he be permitted to make them himself. It was so ordered.