_Adam._ "O woman, best are all things as the will of God ordains them; therefore go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." _Eve._ "With thy permission then, and thus forewarned," I go. [Enter Satan, in the form of a serpent, half man, half snake. He discovers Eve in a bower of roses, and watches her at a distance.] _Satan._ "Thoughts, whither have ye led me?--what hither brought us? Hate, not love, but all pleasure to destroy." [He approaches Eve.] "Wonder not, sovran mistress, fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, at my appearance, half man, half beast, but approach and view this goodly tree, the fruit of which such wonders work." _Eve._ "Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither," for "of this tree we may not taste or touch; thus hath our God commanded." _Satan._ "Indeed! Hath God then said, that of the fruit of all these garden trees ye shall not eat, yet lords declared of all in earth or air?" _Eve._ "Of the fruit of each tree in the garden we may eat, but of the fruit of this fair tree, amidst the garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.'" _Satan._ "O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant; mother of science! Now I feel thy power within me clear, not only to discern things in their causes, but to trace the ways of highest agents, deemed however wise. Queen of this Universe! Do not believe these rigid threats of death;--_ye shall not die_." Your tyrant ruler knows full well, that in the day ye eat thereof, ye shall be as Gods, and good from evil know. "Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste." [Satan plucks the fruit and presents it. Eve receives it, and after considerable hesitation, tastes, and finally eats it. Adam soon after enters.] _Eve._ "Hast thou not wondered at my stay? Thee have I missed;" for I have tasted of the tree to us forbidden, and such delight till now have never felt. Taste thou, [offers him the fruit,] and be a God. [Adam stands amazed and sorrowful, dropping a garland from his hand.] _Adam._ "O fairest of creation! Some cursed fraud of enemy hath beguiled thee, and me with thee hath ruined; for with thee certain my resolution is to die." [He eats.] Oh, fruit delicious, fit indeed for Gods. From us withheld, lest being Gods, we cease to obey our tyrant Lord. [They soon begin to see their true condition. They reproach each other. They discover their nakedness, make aprons of fig-leaves, and wear them. The voice of Eloheim is heard in another part of the garden.] _Elo._ "Adam, where art thou? Why hast thou fled and hid thyself? What hast thou done?" _Adam._ O Lord, my Maker and Preserver! Thy voice I heard, when thou didst walk amid the trees, but being naked, I did fear to see thy face. Confusion dire and shame filled all my soul. _Elo._ "Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou then eaten of that tree, to thee forbidden?" _Adam._ The woman whom thou gavest me did give this fruit unto my lips; and I did eat.