PATER COELESTIS. In the beginning, before the heavens were create, In me and of me was my Son sempiternal, With the Holy Ghost, in one degree or estate Of the high Godhead, to me the father coequal, And this my Son was with me one God essential, Without separation at any time from me. True God he is, of equal dignity. Since the beginning my Son hath ever be, Joined with his Father in one essential being. All things were create by him in each degree, In heaven and earth, and have their diverse working: Without his power was never made anything, That was wrought; but through his ordinance Each have his strength and whole countenance. In him is the life and the just recoverance For Adam and his, which nought but death deserved. And this life to men is an high perseverance Or a light of faith, whereby they shall be saved. And this light shall shine among the people darkened With unfaithfulness. Yet shall they not with him take, But of wilful heart his liberal grace forsake. Which will compel me against man for to make In my displeasure, and send plagues of correction, Most grievous and sharp, his wanton lusts to slake By water and fire, by sickness and infection, Of pestilent sores molesting his complexion, By troublous war, by dearth and painful scarceness, And after this life by an extreme heaviness. I will first begin with Adam for his lewdness, Which for an apple neglected my commandment. He shall continue in labour for his rashness, His only sweat shall provide his food and raiment. Yea, yet must he have a greater punishment, Most terrible death shall bring him to his end, To teach him how he his Lord God shall offend. _Hic praeceps in terram cadit_ ADAMUS, _ac post quartum versum denuo resurgit_. ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Merciful father, thy pitiful grace extend To me careful wretch, which have me sore abused, Thy precept breaking. O Lord, I mind to amend, If thy great goodness would now have me excused; Most heavenly Maker, let me not be refused, Nor cast from thy sight for one poor sinful crime; Alas! I am frail, my whole kind is but slim. PATER COELESTIS. I wot it is so, yet art thou no less faulty, Then thou hadst been made of matter much more worthy. I gave thee reason and wit to understand The good from the evil, and not to take on hand, Of a brainless mind, the thing which I forbade thee. ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Such heavy fortune hath chiefly chanced me, For that I was left to mine own liberty. PATER COELESTIS. Then thou art blameless, and the fault thou layest to me? ADAM PRIMUS HOMO. Nay, all I ascribe to my own imbecility. No fault in thee, Lord, but in my infirmity, And want of respect in such gifts as thou gavest me. PATER COELESTIS. For that I put thee at thine own liberty, Thou oughtest my goodness to have in more regard.