“Earth, who brought it forth, can tell thee.” “I am earth, since I was formed of earth; so I will tell the Earth to keep me no longer in suspense.” “Then speak to her, and thou shalt see.” “Mother Earth, what is this hidden mystery?” SIN. “Eat, and thou shalt be as God.” Then follow the Fall and a powerful scene depicting Nature’s confusion and grief, as she is dragged off by Satan as his slave, while Sin claims Free-will as her prey. The Artist enters and finds Knowledge, Innocence, and Grace in tears; the latter informs him of the Fall. He thus reproaches his creation for her ingratitude: “What more could I do for thee, my best design, than form thee with my own hands? I gave thee my image, a soul that cost thee nothing, and yet thou desertest me for my greatest enemy.” He then pronounces the curse upon Mankind and the Serpent, and declares he will blot out the world, the scene of their sin. The clouds break and the sea bursts its limits; the Earth trembles and struggles with the waves, and in agony calls on the Lord for mercy. In the midst of this confusion of the elements Human Nature is heard crying for help. LUCIFER. “Why callest thou for aid, if I, the only one whom it behooves to give it, delight in seeing thee annihilated?” Sin also makes the same declaration. The World alone attempts to save its queen. At last the Artist casts her a plank, saying, “Mortal, again see whom thou hast deserted, and for whom; since he whom thou hast offended saves thee, and he whom thou lovest abandons thee! One day thou wilt know of what this plank, fragment of a miraculous ark, is symbol.” The World, Nature, and Free-will are saved; the latter enters, bound with Sin, who declares that Sin and Human Nature are so nearly the same that one cannot go anywhere without the other. We have said anachronisms are frequent; the poet here even makes his characters jest about it. HUMAN NATURE. “Since here there are no real persons, and Allegory can traverse centuries in hours, it seems to me that the salute the angels are singing to this celestial aurora declares in resounding words…” MUSIC. “In heaven and on earth peace to man and glory to God.” FREE-WILL. “The story has made a fine jump from the Creation to the Flood, and I think there is going to be another, if I understand that song aright--from the Deluge to the Nativity!” The chant continues, to the infinite discomfort of Lucifer and Sin, who at last determine in their rage to disfigure Human Nature so that her Creator himself could not recognize her. Lucifer holds her hands, while Sin brands upon her brow the sign of slavery. Lucifer then commands the World to remain on guard, and let no one enter without careful scrutiny, for fear lest the Artist may attempt to avenge the wrong done him. The Artist enters, accompanied by Divine Love. They are soon discovered by the World, who exclaims: “Who goes there?” “Friends.” “Your name?” “A Man.”