Orifel by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Orifel (also spelled Oriphiel or Orifiel) is an angel found in medieval Christian and Jewish angelology. He is typically seen as the angel governing the planet Saturn and is linked to the outermost sphere of the cosmos. Longfellow draws on this tradition to depict him as the one who brings the final, supreme gift at the Nativity.

In classical and Christian moral philosophy, Temperance is one of the four cardinal virtues, along with Prudence, Justice, and Fortitude. It embodies self-control, moderation, and balance. Longfellow refers to it as the crowning gift, as it oversees and tempers all other virtues and desires—without Temperance, even positive things can lead to harm.

The stable in Bethlehem is where Jesus was born. The bright light streaming from its windows marks the moment of the Nativity—the birth of Christ. Longfellow treats it like a stage direction instead of just a line of poetry, giving it a striking, theatrical quality.

In the medieval view of the universe, planets were positioned in concentric spheres surrounding the Earth, with Saturn being the furthest out and the slowest moving. Each of these spheres was overseen by an angel, and because of its distance, Saturn was the domain of the last angel, Orifel. Longfellow, well-versed in Dante and medieval European literature, was quite familiar with this cosmological framework.

Yes. It comes from Christus: A Mystery (1872), a three-part dramatic poem that Longfellow dedicated much of his adult life to. The first part focuses on the Nativity, featuring several angels who appear one after another, each bringing a gift. Orifel is the final angel to appear.

The temperance movement was a significant social campaign in 19th-century America that urged people to either abstain from or moderate their alcohol consumption. Longfellow wrote during this movement's peak, and by choosing to present Temperance as the ultimate divine gift, he added an immediate political and social significance for his readers, alongside its traditional theological implications.

Because Christus: A Mystery is a dramatic work intended to be read or performed like a play, the final line serves as a stage direction rather than a spoken line. Longfellow employs this technique to show rather than tell; rather than having Orifel describe the Nativity, the light simply appears. This approach exemplifies effective stagecraft.

The poem suggests that Temperance — the capacity to moderate oneself and keep desires and impulses in check — is the greatest gift heaven can give to humanity. By linking its arrival to the moment of Christ's birth, Longfellow connects this virtue directly to the Christian narrative, implying that self-restraint and balance lie at the core of the Nativity's significance.