Heedless of their worth or beauty, Or of want or low attainments; Pious-minded, vain, and sinful, Fell alike to be removéd. There were some who longed his coming To relieve them of their burden, And admit them to the bright realms Which he watched, and kept, and guarded, There to rest in peace and tranquil, Sheltered from the wars and tumults, From the storms, and fears, and terrors p. 25Which were ever raging freely Throughout all the lands of Weemus. They had seen in feeble vision— Seen a ray of future glory, Of the sweet and happy pleasures In this kingdom Sero guarded; Longed and panted for admission, Toiled and labored for a passport, Fought and battled for a title To this realm where trouble is not, Till they had become the victors, And were waiting now to enter. Throughout all Nimæra’s kingdom Warning heralds Sero sent out To implore the heedless people, Raising thus their warning voices: “Turn, ye people, turn from evil, Know ye that the day is nearing For the long and weary journey Through dark valleys and wild passes To the lands of the hereafter. Be ye ready for departure, Robed and girded for the journey; For our guide, the princely Sero, Cometh; he is soon before you. If you are not waiting ready, p. 26He will not delay the journey, But will in the darkness leave you, Which ye cannot wander out of, From its terrors or its dangers, Till it take you to destruction, To an everlasting torment.” Thus the warning heralds wandered, Oft complaining, oft imploring Unto all the erring people, Unto all the slothful numbers; But they were so bound in pleasures, Were in sin and lust so tangled, That they heeded not the warning— The kind words of warning spoken; Which were lost and vainly wasted, Were as mists upon a bulwark, Bearing with them no impression, Save unto a sorry number— But a few who heard and listened, And returned from evil doing Unto ways of truth and knowledge. And of Sero let me tell you. He was keeper of the passes Leading to the land of Wisdom— Wisdom, clothed in radiant glory; And unto the lands of Darkness— p. 27Darkness, clothed in every horror. With bewailing he was girded, To that band a key suspended; He was girded with rejoicing, To that band a key suspended. These were keys wherewith he opened, Opened he therewith the wickets, To allow the people entrance As the passport they presented. Just between the wickets sat he, Wide his dusky pinions spreading, One upon each entrance holding; And above him waved a banner, In its colors dull and dismal; Deep and solemn was the motto, Was the warning written on it; Thus it was in bold description— “Woe is for the evildoer; For the upright, joy and gladness.” And a voice beside him echoed, In sonorous sounds and loudly, Tones of gladness, tones of sadness, “Hark ye, hark ye, all who 

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