The Devil's Due by Edith Nesbit

Name: The Devil's Due
Author: Edith Nesbit

This poem tells the story of a church consecration ceremony that goes horribly wrong. The bishop and his priests arrive to perform the ritual, but just as they begin, a dark and malevolent presence interrupts the proceedings. The presence is described as having a face that is both familiar and yet not human, and it speaks in a voice that is like an infernal trumpet sound. The presence claims that the church was built with gold obtained through usury and the exploitation of the poor, and that it has been cursed by God. It declares that the church belongs to hell, not heaven, and that those who built it will be punished. As the presence speaks, the church begins to shake and tremble, and flames erupt from within. The congregation flees in terror as the building collapses, and the fire spreads to consume everything around it. In the aftermath of the disaster, the speaker reflects on the destruction of their beloved church, but takes comfort in the knowledge that the true church built by love and labor will endure in heaven. The poem explores themes of corruption, exploitation, and the dangers of building institutions on shaky moral foundations. It also touches on the idea that true spirituality cannot be bound by physical structures, and that the real church is one of love and devotion. The language and imagery used in the poem are vivid and evocative, with a strong emphasis on the sensory details of the consecration ceremony and the subsequent destruction of the church. The use of metaphor (e.g. "a face that was both familiar and yet not human") and symbolism (e.g. the flames representing hellish forces) adds depth and complexity to the poem's themes and ideas.

By Edith Nesbit · First published 1914 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Gothic · 2,034 words

First lines

A priest tells how, in his youth, a church was built by the free labour of love -- as was men's wont in those days; and how the stone and wood were paid for by one who had grown rich on usury and the pillage of the poor -- and of what chanced thereafter.

Arsenius, priest of God, I tell, For warning in your younger ears, Humbly and plainly what befel That year -- gone by a many years -- When Veraignes church was built. Ah! then Brave churches grew 'neath hands of men: We see not now their like again.

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The Devil's Due is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1914 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edith Nesbit
Date: 1914 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Gothic, Fantasy
Length: 2,034 words
Structure: 1 section, 45 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Horror — The narrative revolves around supernatural elements and evokes feelings of fear and dread.
Mystery — The plot involves the investigation of unexplained phenomena, creating suspense and intrigue.
Gothic — The story features elements of the macabre, the grotesque, and the supernatural, typical of the Gothic genre.
Fantasy — The narrative includes elements of the fantastical and the unreal.