THE DEMONIAC. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Editor's note

The speaker begins with an urgent and heartfelt plea to Aschmedai, a demon-king from Jewish lore found in the Talmud and later Kabbalistic writings. Referring to him as the 'angel of the bottomless pit' recognizes his formidable strength, yet simultaneously appeals for mercy — a contradiction that reflects the speaker's vulnerability from the very beginning.

Editor's note

The speaker references the well-known legend where Aschmedai outsmarts and defeats King Solomon, banishing him two hundred leagues from Jerusalem. The expression 'On whom be peace!' serves as a traditional Jewish honorific for a respected figure, and placing it mid-sentence adds a liturgical, almost mournful cadence to the line. The underlying message is clear: even Solomon, the wisest and most powerful of kings, faced defeat — so it’s evident that the demon has already demonstrated his strength.

Editor's note

Solomon's downfall is clearly illustrated here: he goes from being the greatest king to a kitchen servant in a foreign land. A 'scullion' refers to the lowest kitchen worker, typically someone who scrubs pots. 'Maschkemen' is a place name that originates from the same folkloric tradition. The stark contrast between Solomon's former glory and his current humiliation supports the speaker's argument: you've already inflicted your worst on the best of men, so why continue to torment me?

Editor's note

The poem ends with intense physical pain. The speaker isn't using metaphor here — or at least wants us to truly sense the physical reality of being hurled against rocks. This transition from grand historical legend to this immediate, bleeding moment is the poem's most striking shift. It anchors all the mythology in one suffering body.