ORIFEL. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
In this brief poem, an angel named Orifel — the outermost angel in the heavenly host — journeys from the remote, chilly expanses of Saturn to bring one last, precious gift to humanity: Temperance.
The poem
The Angel of the uttermost Of all the shining, heavenly host, From the far-off expanse Of the Saturnian, endless space I bring the last, the crowning grace, The gift of Temperance! A sudden light shines from the windows of the stable in the village below.
In this brief poem, an angel named Orifel — the outermost angel in the heavenly host — journeys from the remote, chilly expanses of Saturn to bring one last, precious gift to humanity: Temperance. The poem concludes with a sudden flash of light from a stable below, clearly signaling the birth of Christ. Longfellow presents the Nativity not as a grand spectacle but as the gentle emergence of self-restraint and balance as the greatest divine gift.
Line-by-line
The Angel of the uttermost / Of all the shining, heavenly host,
From the far-off expanse / Of the Saturnian, endless space
I bring the last, the crowning grace, / The gift of Temperance!
A sudden light shines from the windows of the stable in the village below.
Tone & mood
The tone feels ceremonial and hushed, reminiscent of a voice in a candlelit church. Orifel's speech carries the formal, measured tone of a herald announcing something important, while the last stage direction breaks away from that formality, delivering a sudden and radiant moment. The overall effect is reverent without being too weighty — it genuinely captures a sense of wonder.
Symbols & metaphors
- Saturn / Saturnian space — In medieval cosmology, Saturn was seen as the outermost planet — the boundary of the known universe. It represents the farthest point from human existence. Orifel, originating from there, indicates that this gift has journeyed the longest distance to arrive at us.
- The crowning grace — A crown rests at the top, bringing together everything below it. Referring to Temperance as the "crowning grace" elevates it above all other virtues and gifts — it is the one that keeps everything else in harmony.
- The sudden light from the stable — The light represents the star of Bethlehem and the divine glow of the Nativity captured in one image. Its sudden appearance reflects the angel's announcement — both come unexpectedly, piercing through the darkness.
- The stable in the village below — The stable is where Christ was born, yet Longfellow highlights its humble nature — it is *below*, ordinary, earthly. The poem’s main dramatic tension lies in the contrast between Orifel's cosmic journey from Saturn and the modest stable below: the greatest gift arrives in the smallest place.
Historical context
Longfellow composed this poem as part of a larger dramatic work titled *Christus: A Mystery* (1872), a trilogy he dedicated decades to writing that explores the history of Christianity from the Nativity to the medieval period and into the Puritan era. "Orifel" is found in the Nativity section, where angels present gifts to the newborn Christ. The name Orifel (also spelled Oriphiel or Orifiel) originates from medieval angelology, where he is recognized as the angel associated with Saturn and the end of ages. Longfellow was well-versed in European religious literature, including the works of Dante, and this poem reflects the tradition of linking angels with planetary spheres. Additionally, the poem is influenced by the 19th-century temperance movement in America, which Longfellow supported, infusing the ancient virtue with a contemporary relevance for his audience.
FAQ
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.