He who cherishes the truth and dwells in his mind upon good matters must be one of the best (of men) and does not live like a fool in the way that, regrettably, many a man now does whom we see in his folly pursuing a crooked path. Who can pluck hair from me, where it has never grown? Attend now and observe whether these words are lies: truly, it would be a waste of time if a man with foolish habits were to teach me, and I were to take his words gladly to heart, for without consideration I would become one of those people whom we see so often reading the worst instead of the best that there is (to choose from), and wise men tell us that thoughts become words. Let us leave those fools of which most crowds are full to make their own way to the place to which they are rightly destined, and follow wiser teaching, for that preserves body, possessions, and honour, and strive that every one of us emulates the man of whom the best is said and whom we see amongst us, living according to the teachings of God. Let us follow him, for he is the man on whom God has bestowed his grace here and eternal life there. That is right and proper for blessed is such a man on earth. He who wants to live according to God's will must refrain from worldly pleasures, as I understand, for who can earn the love and favour of both the world and God? He must do one of two things: either reject worldly love and trust in dedicating himself to God's service or be on easy terms with the world and reject God's service, for no man can serve two masters effectively. He who wants to follow me, however, must give up worldly pleasures altogether and serve the sweet Christ with all his strength. May all who at this time hear or read this (book) desire that God may be gracious

Now when, according to the Bible, the time was fulfilled and a number of years had passed, the godhead along with its companions Goodness, Love, and Mercy, who had all lived in unity before the world was created and (were) without beginning desired (change), because the godhead considered that it had existed long enough (in isolation) and it was weary of being alone, and Goodness and Love, who had nobody to love, and sweet Mercy agreed that God should so far incline himself as to reveal his power. To whom should he incline himself? To whom reveal his eternal power, which was and is incalculable, since there was nothing and nobody was alive, although he moved without secrecy, the inexpressible godhead of the eternity of ages, as the truth relates?

Creation

Now that God deemed that the time had come for our salvation and that he should reveal himself, in accordance with what Goodness and his own virtue required, he

When God, the epitome of grace, created by word alone heaven and earth and their adornment, as sweet Love desired it, he made, as it seemed most fit the marvel that is paradise. It is rightly called the garden of delights, for there has never been anything more beautiful that could be compared with it, nor are human an faculties even capable of describing it. Inside it he placed a man created by his own hand, who was called Adam, (his name) being the sum of four letters. Where the name originated I shall now explain. The world is divided into four parts, as I have always understood. The first part is called Anathol, the second is Disis, according to the book, the third is called Arthos and the fourth Mensembrios. Thus brought together they (the initial letters) spell Adam, by which name he alone was known.

Rivers of Paradise; Creation of Adam

Rubric of Illustration 2: How God created Adam, the first man

According to my researches, there flowed out of paradise a large (amount of) water in good measure to

The other water is called Geon, and with its streams it encircles the land of the Moors. The world has many marvels. I know of a marvel, and if you will listen, I will tell you what it is, namely that the Moors are always as black as coal. Why this should be I will tell you: it is because they have no respite from the heat, and the land is so high and lies so close to the sun that every day they hear the sun rise in the morning. It raises its beams with a humming noise as though heaven and earth were coming together. That is caused by the glare of the heat. The land must be that much hotter, since the rays of the hot sun in that land penetrate (even) the valleys. Because of this these people all have black skins. What is the point of further comment when the truth is to be found in the Bible? The third water is the Tigris as the book Genesis tells us in truth. It flows, as I have read, towards the land of the Assirians. The fourth is the Euphrates, a river that is clearer than Pure metal,

Now when God saw his creation, it pleased him well and he said: "It is not good for that one creature, it is not right that the man should remain alone. We shall make from his body a human being who will be just like him and be his companion." As he spoke he caused Adam, the created man, to fall into a sweet sleep and then from him gently broke a rib out of which he fashioned a woman, who in awe of Adam was to do or refrain from doing whatever Adam told her to do or not to do. She was called Eve (Eua). Her name was later to become well known to us through many of our sufferings. I shall explain to you what it means: "Eu" in Greek means "good" but "a" in Latin means "without", so for the man who can interpret the name, it means: "Eve, she who is without good." There is yet another way of interpreting her name: Eve in Greek when translated into Latin means "alas." I am told that she rightly inherited her name, for Eve banished us from all that is good. It was she who increased our suffering and nullified much joy through her disobedience, which was the cause of the first fall, and her legacy to the human race.

Creation of Eve

Rubric of Illustration 3: How God created Eve from Adam

When all had been created that our Lord God in his adamantine virtue had planned, paradise with all its delights was then also complete in all its glory, and in it God Placed the woman and the man. They were like

Rubric of Illustration 4: How God led Adam and Eve into paradise

before it was begun: with a word he created the stars, the moon and the sun, darkness and light, all the elements, the deep and the firmament and caused waters to flow in their proper course. Such was his grace and the strength of his power. O blessed be that sweet mastery, which without the weight of learning effortlessly created everything out of nothing! Why say more? For the woman and the man, whom I named earlier on, were perfect in all virtue. Since then, unfortunately, (that state) has been taken from them, because of their first transgression, which is drawn to our attention as being the origin of sin.

Commandment

Paradise was now given to Adam and Eve who had never sinned so that they could live there, and for their enjoyment all the different things that God had created were subject to them. One tree alone forbade he them: "If you do not wish to merit eternal death," spoke the godhead, "then refrain from the fruit of this tree. If you wish to survive mortal disease, then you must avoid entirely the fruit which the tree bears. For, truly, the moment that you eat the fruit, it will instantly seem to you as though you were oblivious to

In accordance with God's decree the tree was pointed out to them. In the middle of paradise it stood for all to marvel at, a handsome tree, decked with lovely blossoms and beautiful apples that were fair to behold. This same tree I crown above all that I have ever seen. And at the very moment that God turned his back, the Devil took the opportunity to make the place his own in accordance with his false practices. He (it is) who has never spoken the truth and is the enemy of all that is good and true and just, who urges on the entire human race in all its evil practices, whose wickedness bedims bright radiance and pure joy, who because of his pride is housed deep down in the abyss or hell and constantly turns all that is good to evil and seldom increases that which is good. See now why I say all this: he is the origin of all envy and

When he had chosen the right moment and the angels who were provided to guard fair paradise had risen swiftly up to heaven, the Devil, in the guise of a serpent, lifted himself up into the branches of the tree, for he knew that Adam and Eve were under it without their guardians. He did what false men still do, who delight in pretending that they are being of service to people and yet ruin those who follow their counsel. The evil offspring of all that is evil, the terrible Devil, assisted by his lies, quite shamelessly and faithlessly proceeded to cajole Eve, flourishing his tail and making other gestures as though he meant her no harm. At the same time he asked: "Tell me, Eve, why has God forbidden you the tree and its fruit?" She replied: "It is his command that we should accustom ourselves to eating of all the trees that he has created, but one is forbidden to us, because the tasting of it would be death. For the moment we start eating its fruit, we shall seem oblivious to the modesty (that accompanied) the grace that God bestowed upon us. Death would utterly confound us, that is true. I gladly follow his advice."

The Devil spoke: "That is wrong. I know what will

other calamity, if you will eat of the tree and are not oblivious to this glorious feast for the eyes. Believe me, nothing harmful can come of it. God knows that when you eat the fruit you will at once think on all that is good. What can this tiny little tree do to harm you? What powers can it possibly possess that will make you lose your happiness and earn your deaths? What a childish idea! As soon as you touch the fruit, you will be instantly freed of these blind and foolish habits which trap you now. Without a doubt many of your senses will be opened to you as well, as will be your eyes, to know many secrets which were previously kept hidden from you, and then you will no longer be like children, artless and blind to sense."

Transgression

Rubric of Illustration 5: How Adam and Eve were betrayed by the serpent and disobeyed God's command

Eve was pleased by what he said. She thought it would be as he had told her. Sadly she was duped by her folly. With that he coiled himself into the branches, that epitome of all that is false, and broke off an apple. He said: "Eve, take the fruit, it is good to eat. Its power will immediately rid you of your stupidity." He offered her the apple. It was ripe and looked good to eat. Longingly she gazed at it and began to turn it this way and that in her hands. With that she bit into it and gave the other part to Adam, which he instantly ate. Alas (that there should have been) so unlucky a bond between them and so many curses! Eve, could you not have filled your belly with something else? Your sense of taste succeeded in checkmating a

When in the garden of paradise Eve and Adam had eaten the apple, they were obliged to feel ashamed, and when this misfortune befell them, each one tore the leaves from a branch of a figtree and tied them on securely in order to cover up their shame; in fact they were so overcome by shame that they hid themselves as well. The hour that ends the afternoon had come. Adam lay there ln hiding under the branches of the tree. He did not suspect that God knew of the sin that he had committed. That was indeed a foolish delusion, for God always has foreknowledge of actions. Nothing can be concealed from God; whatever happens, whether openly or secretly, is seen by his eye divine. He had long foreseen what would befall Adam. Truth tells us this sad story.

Approach of God

Rubric of Illustration 6: How Adam and Eve hid themselves in paradise because they had disobeyed God's command

God, the origin of all that is good, in whose hand

God was enflamed [sic] by anger and immediately cursed the serpent. He said: "Since you gave the counsel through which the world will suffer, be from this day forward outcast and utterly accursed amongst all reptiles to whom I gave a natural life on earth. Until now you walked upright, but now and for evermore you must crawl on the ground on your bellies as my will desires it. You must also eat earth continuously until your end; with this I shall humiliate you. Enmity shall I place between you and the woman; may you always remain hateful to her, so that she may revenge herself on you and crush your head. You are also to strike at her heel with your flickering and venomous tongue. Thus be for ever cursed by me."

Adam still lay there in hiding full of fear and sorrow. His heavy spirits told him, as they often do me, that all kinds of troubles were to be his in the future. And at once God in his wrath addressed him angrily: "Since you heeded the woman's voice and not mine, and out of gluttonous greed then took the fruit which can do you no good and which I forbade you before, the earth must be accursed for ever in your name. You must labor and forage for your food with the sweat (of your brow). You will have to subjugate and cultivate the earth until the time comes when you will die and be but ashes and dust, for you are nothing more than earth and dung. You must return to the earth from which you were taken. The fruit cannot save you from this: you must pass your days in suffering and forage for your food with the sweat (of your brow)."

Dearly beloved, remember now who you are and the nature of your humble beginnings. Why are you happy when you were taken from the earth and must return to it, you know not when nor how? Thus sin struck as Eve ate the apple, and Adam proved to be her equal by compounding her sin. He was prompted by the evil spirit who always gives

Expulsion

Rubric of Illustration 7: How Adam and Eve were driven out of paradise by the angel

I shall once more resume my tale where I left it. After their disobedience the woman and the man were clothed with two garments by God. The tunics were made of skins. Nothing could have been more uncomfortable, for I imagine that they would have liked needles, scissors, thread, and a thimble. They were obliged to think well of the unsuitable garments which God gave them with his own hands, so that the man and the woman could conceal their shameful bodies. When they were clothed God addressed the angelic host: "Now see how Adam has become as one of us in a short space of time, knowing both evil and good. Because of this you must guard the tree whose property is such that whoever lays hands on it and tastes its fruit is suffused by life, so that he lives for evermore. Adam would be raised too high if he were to eat or the tree and live eternally. I know well that he would help himself if the tree were left unguarded." Ah me, o virtuous God, had I but one branch of that tree, I could be free of death for evermore, and that would be a sweet tale indeed, to be free of all struggle with death. I should like to be a while in the world without being weighed down by (the thought of) death, so that after my life in this world I could float to heaven with you, Lord. Unhappily that cannot be now

Expulsion and Penance [pericope 2]

Rubric of Illustration 8: How Adam had to till the ground and Eve spin because they disobeyed God's command

Once Adam had been clothed, as I related earlier, he had to leave paradise in sadness and cultivate with hoes and shears the earth from which he came. As I rightly understand it, an angel with a fiery sword was placed before paradise in order to guard it. Adam, with his sin upon him, was cast out at once. With that, paradise vanished before their eyes and remains to this day concealed for evermore as a divine mystery, so that nobody can go there who is ensnared by sin. Adam might

Penance [pericope 2]

Rubric of Illustration 9: How Adam and Eve decided to do penance

By the time Eve had finished speaking, Adam was eager to depart. In sorrow he made himself ready to go. The journey was not worth the effort, for he went seven days and covered all the land in order not to overlook anything. And when he did not find the same sweet food which had once been theirs in paradise, he hurried back to the place where he had left Eve and brought her the bad news of how he had gone in vain. Both were cast down by this. Eve said to

Adam replied like a sensible man: "You must stop talking like that. You must be out of your mind! How could I lay hands on a woman in such a terrible way? You are my flesh and blood. It would be unnatural if I were to murder you. Do not speak of it again. We must go and look until that happy hour when God will give us food with which to nourish our bodies. Since there is nothing else left for us to do, we shall have to forage for food." Eve replied: "I will gladly go with you." They did not delay but left the little hut and together went through fields and many a forest of dark pines, but still they could not find the food that they had had before in paradise. Thus they went unrefreshed until the ninth morning with much sorrow and suffering and found only weeds and roots wherewith to nurture human life. Adam said: "God gave these as fodder to the wild beasts. Myself, however, and you too he gave angelic food while we were in paradise, which sadly we no longer have." With that Adam started to dig up the roots out of the earth, and these he ate and also gave Eve to eat, so that she could taste the roots and grass which had not been cooked at all. I imagine that they would have appreciated the following items: a hearth, a cookingpot, a fire, bread, pepper, salt, oil, milk, and lard; all these they would have prized. Their hunger ensured that the roots tasted good, for with heavy hearts they had gone without sustenance, according to my calculations, for twentythree days with heartfelt complaining. Adam behaved like a sensible man, for, being

Penitence and Second Temptation [pericope 4]

Adam and Eve were spared little heartache, and this caused their eyes to overflow (with tears) and deep sighs to well up from their hearts, for they suffered agonies of grief, because they (had caused) God's wrath and had lost both bodily and spiritual nourishment. Adam said: "Today we must both lament until God reverses the blow that he has dealt us and in his mercy grants us a source of food that will improve our lot and restore our bodily strength. The food we have is not fit for our bodies, and on this account we must lament and do penance (in order to win his) grace." "Penance? What is that?" she asked, "you must describe it to me so that we may avoid undertaking anything that would be too difficult, thereby causing God in his goodness to ignore our prayers and be as enraged as he was before. Therefore, Adam, tell me what act of penance you plan to undertake. Seeing that it was I who sinned and you who did nothing wrong, I alone should do penance."

Adam replied: "You are a woman, and your body is weak, for human frailty causes your suffering. Because of this I shall endure the penance longer in God's mercy than you will be able to suffer it. I will fast for forty days, and so long with heartfelt complaint shall I do penance in the Jordan. By standing up to my neck in it I shall assuage God's wrath. It is my wish that you should also do penance as I tell you. You are to fast for thirtyfour days, and during that time you are to stand in the water without saying a word until our true, sweet God honours his command and restores us to that place from which he banished us. That was because of your wrongdoing."

Eve was eager to do her penance. That was due to the discomfort she suffered from being so hungry, for the greed which on the first occasion brought about our misfortunes, clung partly to her still. So she departed and went until she found the river. It was called the Tigris. She stood in it upon a stone all alone, and the cold water reached up to her neck. We shall now leave her to do her penance and pray to God that she may do it well. I will now tell you, as I must, of the penance that Adam undertook in order to win God's mercy. He also set off to do his penance and when he found the Jordan stood in it up to his neck. He was overcome by sorrow and called out in plaintive tones and bitter suffering: "Oh, Jordan, I say to you that you must help me in my lamentations. Together with all that moves in you and lives a natural life, fish or anything that swims, you must stand by me and mourn, They are not to mourn for themselves but for me, for they have done nothing wrong. but I have sinned "

Rubric of Illustration 11: How Adam did penance for his sins in the Jordan and how the fishes helped him etc.

When he had spoken he straightway saw the fishes round him; they remained still and did not swim. For the full forty days they abandoned their rivers and ponds and behaved as though they were sorry for him and bewailed the hard fate of him who stood there deprived of (God's) grace.

Eve stood in the water for eighteen days doing her penance without a word (to anybody) while fasting with pitiful lamentation. Then Satan roused himself, for he was

Rubric of Illustration 12: How the Devil came to Eve in the disguise of an angel

Whoever now says, when a woman does wrong, that it is because of her frail nature uses an argument that is unlikely to meet my approval. For although the woman erred whom God himself created, there is no reason for every woman who commits a small error to believe that she will merely be reminded of Eve's ways and to hope that in imitating her she will be the one to succeed, for she will surely achieve a misery that was previously unknown to her. Women have inherited inconstancy from Eve, who first revealed it when she disobediently took the forbidden fruit and then, contrary to Adam' s instructions and counselled by the Devil, gave up her penance all too readily. She thought he was giving her good advice which was why she listened to his words and believed in his counsel, which unfortunately proved to be her undoing. And had she ever experienced the misfortunes that

All you worthy gentlemen listen to me patiently and accept the humble advice which springs from a childlike

I shall now once more resume (the tale) where I left off. As I have already said, the Devil in angel's clothing led Eve by the hand (to the place) where she found Adam, who with heartfelt contrition was standing in the Jordan as a penance. The same wicked spirit, the sum of all that is evil, thought that with his false lies he could betray Adam as he had Eve. Adam, however, was so wise, that despite the Devil having been transformed so beautifully into an angel, he recognized his dissimulation, his treachery, and his falsehood at once when he led Eve by the hand towards the river. What more should I say? When she had come close enough to Adam for them to be able to see each other clearly, Adam at once cried out angrily: "Woe to you, Eve, for you will cry woe for evermore! Why did you break off your penance now? How were you deceived a second time by him who lied to you before, the Devil, our adversary, who with his deception took from us the garden of delights and the spiritual joys of paradise, that feast for the eyes?" When Eve had properly understood that she had thus been deceived by loathsome Satan, who had already brought grief to her, she fell to the ground, bereft of all her strength. The bright sun was as night to

Fall of Satan

Rubric of Illustration 13: How the Devil deceived Eve into giving up her penance and how he would have deceived Adam also

From the Jordan Adam shouted angrily at the Devil: "Alas, you evil spirit, originator of our suffering, what are we guilty of with regards to you that you pursue Eve and myself too with your falsehoods and cause us trouble with your faithless advice? Have we ever deprived you of joy or honour that your hateful counsel should be so deadly and inimical to us? We are suffering through no fault of our own. We have done nothing to make you suffer. Be fair to us." The Devil answered him thus: "I shall always cause you heartache and woe. Whatever suffering I can bring you will not suffice me, for you are the ruin of my happiness. I was banished because of you from the angels, my companions, and from the aether of high heaven down to the bottom of earth's abyss. Now that is your fault." Adam replied: "How can this be, that through fault of mine you were banished from God's grace and from heaven with others who were your companions, when I was not with you in that heavenly palace, nor can I recall doing you (the) harm of which you accuse me, namely that you have lost the grace of almighty God, and the joy that you had in his sight when your beauty beheld his?" The Devil then sighed and wept at his unhappiness and made it plain that he was full of longing for heaven and the angelic host from which he had been banished because of his arrogance. Thus he has always mourned (his loss). But to Adam he said: "Adam, now listen to me. I shall inform you correctly as to how through fault of yours I

"When almighty God created you in paradise and clothed you alone in his divine image and gave life to your soul, my companion, the angel Michael, led you before the angelic host. God then took heed of your appearance. Know that it pleased him far more in you than in himself. When he saw his image in you, he addressed you most lovingly: 'See, Adam, you resemble me. I have formed you in my image and fashioned your beauty after my very person. Therefore you please me, for you bear the sign of the godhead.' When he had finished speaking, the angels bowed down at your feet and worshipped mankind (for being in) the image of God. Michael knelt first followed by all the angels in honour of the image presented by your person through the love of the godhead, as God had ordained through Michael, his messenger. When this had taken place the angel Michael said to me: 'Friend, you must do as we do and honour and adore mankind, which was created in the image of God. That is my advice and his command, who created both you and me.' I replied: 'That would be a foolish deed, if I were to worship one who cannot bear comparison with me in the superiority and honour which have been bestowed upon me rather than on him. He is made of earth, but I am of superior and nobler (stuff) and was created in God's image before Adam was. I was raised above the angelic choir without human intervention, while he is nothing but earth and dung. I am fair, he is dark. He is dull, I shine bright. He is darkness, I am light. It shall never come to pass that I shall kneel before him above whom I am raised. That is only proper. He can never equal me in virtue nor in nobility. He should be prepared to serve me.' A number of angels heard me who have followed me ever since and began to flock to me then, for they were of the same mind as myself and were against kneeling down and adoring and honouring you. Michael said: 'You must think better of it.

"Now listen to what happened when I finished speaking these words. God, inflamed with wrath, at once cast my companions and myself out of heaven and down into the abyss. Thus we all fell from the aether down into the caverns of hell, where we must remain for evermore and where neither stars nor light of the sun, nor the moon, nor the bright day ever shine. Our suffering will have no end, for evermore it will torment us. I will also tell you that in days gone by I was so beautiful and so radiant (that I outshone) the glory of the angels, and because I (shone so) brightly all nine choirs took from my beauty their bright radiance and their pure lustre.. Unfortunately my beauty has been taken from me, and my angelic form has been transformed into a terrifying hideousness of foul aspect. Adam, thus have I fallen on your account, in that I rebelled and would not honour you with my angels as I ought to have done. That is why you are the destroyer of all my joy. I avenge myself as best I can in bringing misfortune upon you, as I have already done, for out of envy I caused Eve to eat the apple whereby she lost paradise as I lost heaven, so that (now) we are both discomforted."

The Devil was silent once he had spoken. Adam, sighing, turned to heaven. He prayed: "Creator, sweet God, everything that heaven and earth contain is under your command; in your mercy drive from me this evil spirit who alienates me from you. Give me the joy and the status which he lost in heaven. This I ask of you, Lord, grant me this through your goodness and in your honour." After these words the Devil vanished,

Separation of Adam and Eve [pericope 6

Rubric of Illustration 14: How Adam and Eve lived together most lovingly, and how Eve became pregnant with her first child

Adam then replied: "It does me good, and I am glad that I am so dear to you. My heart and mind are so lodged with yours that you will always be dear to me. Your love has brought this about. Yet I must proclaim paradise to be above all beauty and bliss, for it cannot be compared with that which the day reveals and the sun illuminates, which is why I think you are mad to praise love more highly than paradise. Why, if I had a branch from glorious paradise, I should no longer practise our love

This speech distressed Eve. Angrily she said to Adam: "Dear Adam, since we do not agree, I will go in misery into the western part of the world, where the sun sets, since my body knows no blessings because of my sins both here and there and because words of love do nothing but displease you." With that

she bade farewell.

Rubric of Illustration 15: How Adam and Eve parted and went more than a thousand miles from one another

She then left in anger, prompted by a foolish impulse, and in sorrow and haste walked more than a thousand miles. That was far indeed. She carried a child under her heart, which she had conceived of Adam. Full of sorrow Adam too went on a long walk. An impulse also forced him to do it. He went as far as the place where the sun rises. Alas, sweet Lord and God, when have two lovers ever been as far from one another as these two?

We shall leave Adam now and relate how things were with Eve. She nearly died of her sufferings. Her heart was (full of) fearful desires, for she longed for the love to which Adam had accustomed her. Thus was her joy shattered by sorrow for forty weeks, And then came the hour in which the pains began to oppress her, which she received from the child that lay under her heart, for she was to give birth to it as God wished and the law (of nature required). She was in terrible pain and cried to God in heaven amid heartfelt weeping saying: "Oh God, protector of all that is good, have mercy, Lord, upon me in your goodness and in your honour. Help me, God, in your grace, for my heart cannot endure this heartrending complaint which is due to the sorrow that I bear. Remember me, created by your own hand, for there is no comfort for my suffering, unless, Lord, (it is) you. Dear Lord, hear me, so that my suffering may be eased." Eve then raised her hands to heaven in her suffering and lamented to God her heartfelt pain, so that in his mercy he might consider reversing her misfortune. But what she sought in prayer was like writing on a wall, for God's goodness was not for her. Sadly her cries of sorrow and the sighs from her heart went unheard. Thus was her joy shattered by the anguish in her heart. She again addressed heaven: "What is this, almighty God, why are you acting like this? Your grace made me happy. Your godhead bestowed on me a perfect and pure existence. I have now been robbed of this, and my joy has been numbed by my bitter complaining caused by the burden that I bear. Ah, paradise, if I were in you my tears would cease at once. What Adam foretold was true. I was out of my mind when I praised love more highly than glorious paradise, for you never caused me

That was enough complaining. The burden that she carried made her support her belly with her hands. Adam, who was in the east, was unaware of the great pain that she suffered. Now it so happened that one night in her suffering she thought of Adam's being in the east. She said: "Who will tell Adam there of my suffering? Hear my complaint, I beg you, stars and sun, and for the sake of the beauty and joy that God gave you, may you tomorrow, the moment you come to the place in the east where you shine, bewail all my sufferings to Adam, my lord, and do not keep secret from him how great my sorrows are. I should feel better, I know well, if I could only see Adam, whatever were to happen afterwards. Dear sun, be now so good, since you are all pure light, and tell my dear husband that I am suffering anguish in my heart which, I think, is his doing. Dear sun, listen to me, for I have no other messenger, bring me soon the man who abandoned me here all on my own.'

Rubric of Illustration 16: How Eve pined for her husband and prayed to the sun and asked it to tell Adam of her suffering etc.

That night Eve lay in pain. Next morning when the sun had lit up bright day in its customary fashion, I do not know what Adam was thinking that made him say to himself: "Eve's complaint and misery have reached me from the west. I fear that the serpent has made trouble for her again as he did before." With these words he set out and came to where he found Eve. When she saw him she at once exclaimed: "Lord, Adam, dear husband, seeing you has partly eased (my pain)." He asked: "Eve, what is hurting you?" She replied: "That which is causing me pain and dispels all joy has come from you, I think. Something has

Illustration 17: (Eve admires her firstborn son)

The angel having said this, now listen to what happened. Eve immediately gave birth to a child. When she became aware of it and beheld it, she exclaimed in great wonder: "Ah help me, lord, help! How did this come about that in some mysterious way I have been carrying under my heart and with much pain a human being like myself? It is a great marvel, I do declare, and above all that I have ever seen." Adam agreed for he thought it was a marvellous thing, The child did not waste time, for when he had been born he ran quickly to the wood and soon brought back in his little arms some herbs for his mother. He said: "Dear mother, take this plant which I have brought you from the wood and eat it. I know well that you are ill. I used to inflict many blows at your heart as I lay in your womb, before I emerged (into the light of) day.

Adam thanked God for so sweetly commuting his unhappiness and increasing his joy through Cain, his son. As is customary the father gave his son some good advice. He said: "You must be conscious, dear son, of all that is good, and then you shall never fail. Be prepared to serve God. Refrain from doing evil and do good. You must follow that (precept) at all times. Do not permit cursing, swearing, hate, and envy entry to your heart. Serve God, and you are on the right track. I advise you, therefore, to avoid sin. Love God, the splendour of heaven, dear son, and obey me in all this."

Cain and Abel [pericope 7]

Adam rejoiced in his son. His heart leapt high with joy, for he beheld him with love. At that time it so happened that an angel was sent from heaven to acquaint Adam with the fruits of the earth in all their various species. Grace was no longer withheld. He taught him to farm and sow seeds, how to increase the wild seeds by throwing them by hand onto the tilled earth so that they would grow a hundredfold. This he did then and for ever after. He also taught Adam, as God wished, how to tame animals, so that they might help him farm and live by providing garments and food. Adam followed (this advice), for he was wise. (The angel) taught him how to apply all that has ever been conceived by the human mind. For this he was prepared, for he was pure and good and one of the wisest men that there have ever been. The angel then departed from him.

Rubric of Illustration 18: How an angel taught Adam how to till

Thus complaining, he slept once more. Nest morning when the sun had illumined the day as it was wont to do, Cain spoke to Abel: "Abel, my brother, let us go out to the field and see to the work." Abel was immediately prepared to do so, for he was naive and good. He did not know the nature of his brother Cain's feelings. Alas, how great a sorrow! When they had come to the field, Cain repaid his brother Abel most disloyally. Could anything be more disloyal? He beat Abel to death. Alas, such mortal agony! Cain, what have you done? You have murdered a virtuous man, a quarter (of the population of the) earth. Good people, now help me mourn Abel, that virtuous man, for it was no fault of his that Cain's sacrifice was rejected by God while his was deemed acceptable. Thus Abel prefigures our Lord

Rubric Of Illustration 19: How Cain beat his brother to death

Once Abel had been murdered, Cain did not linger, but buried him and went from there, a wicked man. And when he left the (place of the) murder, God in his pure goodness was angered by the murder and spoke thus from out of the clouds: "Cain, where is your brother?" He replied: "My dear Lord, I do not know where my brother is. I cannot be following and guarding him all the time." But our Lord exclaimed: "Cain, what have you done to Abel, that good man, whom you have murdered although he was guiltless? I hear his blood crying out to me from the ground and begging me for a just revenge on you. Because of your sins you must be utterly accursed upon this earth which has opened up its mouth and received the innocent blood of your brother. This murder was committed by your hand. Therefore the earth shall be eternally accursed in your (efforts) to till it. That applies to all the fruit and riches that it supplies, and when the time comes for you to till it with plough and hoe, to make you suffer, nothing will grow for you except thistles and thorns. You have lost all the happiness that you had before. For evermore you must be a fugitive and a vagabond and suffer calamities upon the earth. This will be remembered hereafter."

Cain was cast down by this curse. He then said to our Lord: "My lord, my guilt (demands) more than remission (of my sin) Today you have withdrawn your presence from me, so that I alone am accursed amongst mankind. You have banished me so that I must be a fugitive and a vagabond all the years (of my life). Whoever finds me may well not refrain from judging my life in the same way that I did my brother's and so kill me." But our Lord

Here let us leave Cain to wander. We must no longer delay. Sadly, Abel lay murdered there, whom Adam and Eve deeply mourned within their hearts for the mortal agony that he, though guiltless, had suffered. After that there was no reason to wait. Eve bore their third son whose name I shall tell you: he was called Seth. Eve said to Adam: "Lord, my dear Adam, I have born you a noble son (who will replace) our murdered Abel who was killed by his brother Cain. Enough has now been said. Adam and Eve had (more) children, numbering thirty daughters and thirty sons, so that altogether there were sixtythree children. Their seed was increased manifold and was so blessed and scattered so far over the earth that from it came the entire human race. Thus they were greatly multiplied. In accordance with Adam's instructions they made him an oratory, wherein they contemplated their misdeeds before God. This was Adam's advice, and he never stopped practising it himself.

Adam's Vision [pericope 8]

Adam taught his children, whom he dearly loved in his heart, as best he could by word and deed, for he was a wise man. In time his age began to affect him, for he was very old. As it is written, he was no less than nine hundred years old, which is the truth as I have read it. One day he spoke to his son: "Seth, dear son, listen to me, let me tell you and acquaint you with something that happened to me in my time about which I have never told anybody. After God in his anger had driven myself and your mother out of paradise and, sadly, nothing remained to us of that angelic grace which he had bestowed upon us, it came about that one day, as I was praying to God for my sins, there

"As I stood and he beheld me, he addressed me angrily: 'Adam, what have you done? Nobody can save you. You must die the death, and your body must be destroyed, for you have scorned me and with the burden of sin upon you followed your wife, whom I took from your body and fashioned in order that through fear of you she would do or refrain from doing whatever you told her to do or not to do. You followed her rather than me, that I know. Because of this you have been driven from the angelic choir and from this feast for the eyes.' I was sad when I heard this. I fell upon the ground before the worthy one; I sought his grace and said: 'God the protector of all grace, almighty one and heaven's adornment, be gracious to me, reveal to me your almighty power, and do not let your creation perish, for it was you, Lord, who made me. Even though I have demeaned myself by my sinful misdeed, yet spare me, your creation, and do not let me, Lord, be deprived of (the sight of) your beautiful

Rubric of Illustration 20: How Adam was snatched up in a fiery chariot and brought before the Lord God in paradise

"I shall tell you, dear son, the reply that our Lord made to me. He said: 'Adam, poor man, you have sinned too greatly. Tell me, how do your days (now) pass? You were once young, now you are old (and have suffered) all kinds of misfortunes as a consequence of your sin. You have the understanding to distinguish evil from good. How can that help you? I think it would have been better for you, if you had stayed there from whence you were banished, in the glory of paradise, where you lacked nothing but where you must now be a stranger.' These words made me extremely glad. I then said to our Lord: 'You are eternal, mighty God. Your command is sweet and true. You are the eternal morning star, the light of the heavens and of the deep. By your word was created whatever swims, walks, or crawls, which must live in your honour since you gave it life. They praise you as is right, for you are the creator of them all. God, Lord, blazing morning light, do not drive me from your presence, for nothing can compare with it.'

When I had finished, I scarcely recovered from the terror (that I felt). With that paradise vanished. The angel took me by the hand and set me back on the spot whence he had snatched me up. He flew away and left me here. Since then I have never spoken of it. Dear son, those are the secrets which, without deceit, God proclaimed and revealed to me, according to his great goodness, who never abandons his own."

Illness of Adam [pericope 9]

Adam said no more to his son than what I have related. His age was starting to trouble him, for he was an old man.

Nevertheless it is said that for thirty years after the talk he had had with his son he lived on in sound mind. Thereafter the years began to weigh heavily upon him, for his death was imminent, as he well knew. The agony brought on by a dreadful sickness prostrated him. He lay on his bed the whole time and would cry "Alas! Alas!" for the power of death had broken him. In his sorrow he said: "Beloved Eve, dear wife, you are my flesh and blood, for you were made from me. The time has now come that I must die. Dear Eve, be now so good and gather together all my children that are born of you, that they may come here to me so that I can tell them and you about the bitter pain that I am suffering in my heart and all over my body from head to toe." She made no delay setting off, for she felt deeply sorry for him. Immediately she went with great lamentation to where all the children were. She told them the unhappy news that their father was ill and prostrated by his suffering and did nothing but cry out. With that they made no delay. They came before him in the oratory, where he cried only "Alas! Alas!" This he did because of his great suffering. But when he beheld them, his eyes grew wet with (tears of) joy, despite the torments of death. He looked on them with great longing as a dying man. They asked: "Father, what is this? Why are you lying so exhausted here in bed, and why are you so sad? And why have we been gathered here at this hour in such haste?" Adam replied:

"I am suffering and am forced to lie. From head to foot I am suffering agonies, I will not endure it much longer, may God stand by me."

Rubric of Illustration 21: (Adam addresses Eve, Seth, and the children from his death-bed)

The children were very sad. They then asked Adam: "Lord, what is suffering? You must describe it to us. We who do not

Adam's Story of the Fall [pericope 10]

Adam replied: "Dearest child, as much as I love you, God knows well that I am not longing, as you think, for the fruit of paradise, but that a dreadful disease and great agonies oppress me." The children were amazed and (curious to know) what suffering might be. They said: "Tell us, father, what pain is since you are in pain, so that we know what to do." Adam with a groan again spoke: "Now listen, my dear children, (and learn) what pain and suffering are and the cause of this malady. When goodness compelled God, the sweet and good one, to create me and your mother and to give us angelic food in paradise, only one tree was forbidden to us. He said: 'You will choose death, if you eat of that fruit, for amid all kinds of sufferings you will at once become oblivious to this feast for the eyes,' In his goodness he further gave us two angels to guard us and give us protection. As they ascended to heaven at the hour of prayer, there came the adversary of what is right, the terrible Devil, and with misleading persuasion and false envy, which since then I have often lamented, he betrayed Eve. He lied with his sweet words and counselled her to eat from the tree so that she would

'When our misfortune had come to pass, God addressed us angrily: 'You have done great wrong in taking the fruit which I forbade you. You shall endure all kinds of misfortunes because of this sin, since you would not abstain from (eating the) fruit that has done you so little good. I shall lay upon you seventy maladies which will plague you from head to foot. I shall spare you nothing, and without pity from me you will suffer in all your limbs sickness and torment, not in one (place) but several, as will all those who come after you.'

"That is the curse and the birthright which God, on account of our misdeed, meted out to us, to our sorrow, and which I was the first to inherit. Alas, that eating (should have brought about such) wretchedness, and accursed be the food that brings me in so cruel a fashion such pain that I cannot fully describe it! I must grieve because of my great misfortunes, for I, wretched man, have no respite from my pains, which will make an end of my life."

Command to Retrieve the Oil [pericope 11]

When Adam had lamented bitterly and told Eve and the children of the bitter pains that he suffered in his heart, and Eve had seen him weep, she too wept and prayed: "Lord God of virtue, since you created us in order to praise and honour you, be gracious and ease Adam's sufferings, which he endures and I alone deserve, and visit them upon my body, since it was I, wretched woman, who committed the sin in the first place. I alone should suffer the pains, that would be just. Adam, dearest lord, share with me the pain that causes you to lament from your heart. Give more than half of it to me so that part of the pain that I heard you describe will be eased." "Eve, that cannot be. Instead do as I ask, for thereby you will comfort me. Take my son Seth with you, for he is dearest to me, he is good and wise,

Encounter with Devil [pericope 12]

Rubric of Illustration 22: (Seth and Eve confront the Devil, again disguised as the serpent, on their way to paradise)

Eve and Seth were prepared (to go), for Adam's plight brought anguish to their hearts. They rose immediately, as he had requested, and departed from his presence. The Devil made no delay. He rose up in their path, a frightening object, for he was disguised as a serpent. As they drew closer to him the same demonic serpent bit Seth's cheek, and so deep was the wound caused by the serpent's attack that Seth fell to the ground, but he (later) recovered his senses. Meanwhile, Eve addressed the serpent: "Alas, accursed spirit, how many more times and for how much longer will you cause us suffering? Who gave you the audacity that you dare touch my son, who bears both

Seth came to his senses. He no longer lay on the ground and was still. He said: "Leave us, and may God's hatred be upon you, devilish spirit, begetter of all lies, accursed adversary of the truth, originator of falsehood, teller of the first lies. Flee from the image of God here, this I command of you on behalf of God, who created us in his likeness, as his goodness required and demanded it of him.

The Devil replied: "I will leave you as you have commanded me." With that he vanished. Seth recovered immediately.

Request for Oil [pericope 13]

He rose restored and went with Eve, his mother, to the gates of paradise before which they prostrated themselves in prayer, lamentation, and repentance and did everything that Adam had told them. They begged for the oil of mercy with all their might, whereby they wished to relieve Adam's suffering and sorrow which oppressed him so bitterly. And as they lay there in sorrowful supplication, both prostrated upon the ground, worthy Saint Michael, the guardian of paradise, appeared to them, and he who is without fault bore a green olive-branch in his hand. He said: "I have been sent here, Seth, man of God, in order to tell you that you must moderate your complaints and the petitions of your prayers that you now make here for the oil of mercy.

Michael's Reply [pericope 14]

Seth said to the angel: "Whatever misfortune befell me is now renewed. I must grieve in my heart, if my father is to lie sick and joyless for so many years, as you, dear angel, have told me is the truth. That would be a calamitous fate. Death would be preferable for him to the agony that he suffers and from which he will not be relieved for five thousand and two hundred years. Alas, how can I bear it, if he is to lie sick and ailing for so long? That destroys all my happiness. Dear angel, tell me if there is anything I can do in order to avert my father's ordeal."

Return to Adam [pericope 15]

"As I have told you, when the sixth day dawns your father is to die, and his body is to perish. Your eyes will then see the marvels and great portents that shall take place in heaven and on earth, as they most grievously lament your father's death. I will also tell you that when he is buried you are to have this green olive-branch as a symbol of your father's redemption. You must plant it by hand at your father's head, so that the truth that you and I (share) may be believed, for when the branch bears fruit, believe these words of mine, your father will rise again from the dead and will then be cured eternally and never sicken again." With that the glorious angel put the branch in his hand. He vanished before their eyes and went whence he had been sent.

Seth rejoiced over the branch. He then said to his mother: We must plant this branch carefully and water it in accordance with the dear angel's tidings, so that it will soon bear fruit and our father will be resurrected (from the dead). Then he will never be ill again." Ah, dear God, how uncomprehending were Seth and Eve, both of them, as to what the angel meant. When he told them that as soon as the branch bore fruit Adam's punishment would be at an end, he meant it in the sense that when time had passed, as he had already told them, the pure sweet Lord of heaven would descend to earth and take on human flesh and drive away our sorrow. For this that branch must grow, so that the immaculate Lamb of God may die upon it and win life for us with his pure death. Thus Adam's soul would be redeemed from all suffering, and many souls would receive divine comfort. Seth had heard the words that the angel had spoken to him but had not grasped the truth, for he was under the delusion that when, according to its nature, the branch of the olive-tree had born

Adam's Rebuke of Eve [pericope 16]

We must no longer hold up the story. Eve and Seth, who had been sent to paradise, immediately set off and returned to Adam, the (pain) in whose limbs was much worse than before, so that he cried only "Alas! Alas!" They told him the story of how an angel had appeared to them and told them that nobody could obtain the oil of mercy until the blessed hour when the Son of God would come, who alone was entitled to dispense it. They also showed him the branch which had been sent from paradise by the angel. It was immediately placed near Adam's head, whose mind, however, had turned to sorrow because of his sufferings. In anguish he addressed Eve: "Ah, Eve, what have you done to put me, wretched man, and all our descendants in God's displeasure? I know well what will come to pass hereafter, for my conscience tells me that all over the world the children who shall succeed us will begin to curse you and seek revenge on us from the wrathful God whose sweet command we opposed, which made us the originators of sin. In the future they will pray: 'Lord God, you must avenge (us) for Eve and our father, Adam, through their disobedience have brought many sorrows and trials upon us which will never cease. The earth bears us with difficulty and must nourish our bodies. We are deprived of many blessings which we would gladly have. This was brought about by Eve who succumbed in eating the apple, whereby all kinds of troubles were brought upon us which sin forced upon her.' This complaint will often be made to God."

Rubric of Illustration 24: (Seth shows the dying Adam the branch from the tree of knowledge]

Whoever curses Eve and seeks revenge, because she ate the

Death of Adam

We shall now resume the story where we left off. Adam still lay in pain, barely alive, and, as the angel had said, when the sixth day dawned, he knew that the time (had come) and that without reprieve he would die the death that day, as God wished. Eve and his children, who numbered sixtyone in all, stood there, and great was their lamentation. And as it approached midday, Adam, that halfdead man, looked sadly upon his children. He mourned with great sorrow that he must leave them because of that pain that he suffered in his heart. He said: "Dear children, my days are finished. I am according to my reckoning, nine hundred and thirty years old. I ask you now, dear children, that when I die, you bury me facing the east and the light of the sun." With that he lifted up his hands to God in heaven. Grim death broke him, so that he exclaimed piteously: "Ah, heart, break in twain, so that I may die at this moment, for my life is of no use to me. Therefore, God my father, be gracious to me and be not too stern as I die, since you alone are good. Grant that angelic protection may be given to my poor

Eve's Lament

Rubric of Illustration 25: (Eve laments over Adam's corpse with her sons)

I expect there is nobody alive who is so wise, whether he be young or old, that could fully imagine the words and lamentations which Eve and her children uttered. All who are now living cannot fully describe the piteous lamentations to which

As I said before Adam, the dead man, now lay in the oratory that he had built. Eve and Seth, his dear son and his wife, had been embracing his corpse. They had shed quantities of tears over it. Now behold how at that hour our Lord God appeared with the angelic host and all pure souls. The prince of angels, Saint Michael, in his angelic robes and (accompanied by) the souls at once took up position by Adam's head. He asked: "What is the meaning of this? Why is that poor woman lying on the body in unseemly lamentation? Stand up, I tell you, (and leave) the corpse and see what our Lord proposes for Adam, he who perfects the godhead and for whom nothing is too much. God will have mercy on his creation, on Adam, whom he created in his own image, (the image) through which the Devil was often defeated."

When they heard the angel, Seth and the poor woman stood up and left the corpse. They stood on a hill, and their eyes were wet with tears, for, sadly, before them lay dead he who had cared for them loyally many days and years. Thereupon the entire angelic host (that accompanied) our Lord God burst into praise of him. Their voices carried far, and resoundingly they sang: "Benedictus dominus, praise be to you, Lord God, for your command has been fulfilled. All praise and honour are due to you from the beginning and for evermore. You who are the ornament of heaven, the radiance of the sun, are praised because in your mercy you have released your creation from the struggles of this world. For this you shall be praised and honoured now and forevermore. Eve and her son Seth now saw clearly what God in his goodness did with Adam. He laid his divine hand upon Adam's head. His soul he entrusted to Saint Michael saying: "It shall be your office, empowered by me, to conduct to heaven the spirits of all those whom you know to have led a good life. But now and for the most part the entire human race must be banished from me, whether it conducts itself well or badly, it must be consigned to hell. As must also this soul here, which never defied me, apart from (committing) the first misdeed. It may not, however, be spared, for my wrath (decrees) that it must be in hell with other souls, until the final hour when I shall overcome death. Then the enmity of my godhead towards the human race shall be dispelled. I shall come in great joy, and with my divine power I shall break open the confines of hell. Those who have carried out my will I shall set free with my powerful hand from the chains of purgatory. But first and foremost I shall set free this soul, Adam, my creation, and will place him beside me on the highest throne, for I fashioned him with my own hand in my own image. That he will be allowed to enjoy. When the time is fulfilled his joys will be increased without fail and his sadness will be transformed into bliss and have no end. This bliss will increase my joy that

When God had finished speaking, there was no more delay. The poor soul was dispatched to hell, where it was to languish in the gloom until the time, as has already been described, when the enmity of the godhead towards the human race shall be dispelled. Alas, for so sorrowful a journey! Poor Adam's soul found that of loyal Abel imprisoned in hell, who though guiltless had been slain by his brother's hand. Even though he had been the epitome of righteousness, he still had to suffer hardship in purgatory. Alas, for the lamentable deed which brought it about that members of the human race could be honest and upright but still have to make the journey and wait in penance until death is vanquished when he will die on the cross and win their freedom, thereby destroying the prince of hell!

Listen carefully to what happens next. Our Lord God made plain how much he loved Adam. His grace and goodness were fully bestowed upon him then. He prevailed upon two angels, the one was Saint Michael, the other angel was called Gabriel, as we read in truth, to bring immediately two snowwhite shrouds which had been prepared by the hands of angels. As is customary amongst the dead, Lord Adam was covered with one as was Abel, that paragon of virtue, who had lain dead on the field there for many years and whom neither sun, wind, nor rain had ever harmed in the least. He had remained undecayed and without a blemish. He was in no way disfigured as other corpses would have been. He was buried with Adam in the grave. God, the sweet prince of heaven, followed the corpses with the marvellous throng. The green branch of the olive-tree which had been sent from paradise by the angel, was carried in the hand of an angel until the grave was ready, wherein Adam was laid with his dear son Abel. The prince of

Mourning of Adam

Rubric of Illustration 26: (Eve and Seth mourn Adam)

The lords Adam and Abel are now buried. The children departed in sorrow, both daughters and sons, bearing the burden

He who has a pure heart should now grieve for the great sorrow that Eve suffered at the grave. Her son, loyal Seth, told

Whoever now experiences sorrow in his heart and suffers sorrow in such a way that, sorrowfully, one heart's sorrow pursues the next in sorrow, so that there is sorrow upon sorrow, and yet the one sorrow may not drive out the other, his heart must indeed balk at joyful things. The sorrow and suffering of one whose heart has been broken by all the sorrow that ever was still can not be compared with the heartfelt pain that Eve suffered here. The first sorrow was that she had disobeyed our Lord's first command; the second that she had left fair paradise; the third that, deceived and against Adam's counsel, she had abandoned her penance so hastily; the fourth that her son, Abel, that paragon of loyalty, had been murdered by his brother Cain. There was enough suffering for her in these sorrows. Yet only a part of her many different sufferings have been mentioned, each of which pierced her heart. That great sorrow had partly released its hold on her. But now all that had ever caused her grief seized her in its entirety. Alas, how one heartfelt sorrow sorrowfully pursued the other, and each sorrow remained complete. Renewed was all her sorrow with unrelenting bitterness, for he was buried with whom she had passed many days and nights of love. My powers are too weak to describe fully such lamentation. But one thing I know to be true, which is that bitter suffering overwhelmed her heart and all her limbs as well, so that she was unable to utter a word. Thus she lay close to death until the sixth morning and partook of neither food nor drink. She was possessed by bitter thoughts of death. An angel sent from heaven made no delay. He found poor Eve still lying by the grave and Seth, her dear son, as well, whose heart was

Eve Addresses Children

Rubric of Illustration 27: (Eve addresses her children from her deathbed)

Once the bright sun lit up the day, as it was accustomed to do, everything on earth rejoiced. All but Eve who, sadly, lay there unconscious. The bright day was as night to her for she could neither see nor hear. Death tormented her bitterly for she was to die that day as God wished. The children all came to her

When she had finished speaking, she raised her hands to heaven. Then she saw her children before her. In a sorrowful voice she addressed them: "Dear children, listen now to me. The hour is come, and today I shall and must die. My death is close at hand. My heart is burdened with sorrow. With the especial grace of God I am being permitted to die, which is what I long for in my heart. Therefore listen to what I tell you: because of its inherited sinfulness your race will rise up and commit inhuman atrocities, and because of this sinfulness God will everywhere destroy with the power of water all the species that he created. Only four men and four women will survive and remain alive. Their seed will be scattered so far that from it will spring a great, a mighty race. Many changes will be evident in the landscape, where once there was a forest hands will clear it, the wilderness will be cultivated and mastered. When the world has been united in all its best virtues, there will come at last

"Dear children, now I ask something more of you, namely that you honour your mother by burying my corpse with that of Adam, my dear lord, so that my side touches his and his pure body mine. Then you will have done well, for at the Last Judgement when God destroys the world, I shall be resurrected with him. Therefore I entrust your lives to our Lord's protection, that he may shield you with his divine blessing, for I must now die. Death will relieve me of my cares." With that she rose from her bed and, falling upon her bare knees, reached out her hands to God. She praised his grace and his commands with her heart and voice as best she could. With that her spirit departed from her. In accordance with our Lord's will she had to go to hell, where she found Adam and her child, Abel, in the darkness. The children immediately took up their mother and proceeded to bury her with great ceremony and festivities. She was buried at Adam's side with great honour. As I have mentioned before, the green branch of the olive-tree had been planted at the grave. When Adam's children saw this they said to each other: "God will end the sorrow in our hearts shortly, as the angel told us, for the branch flourishes upon which our future hopes depend. When the tree bears fruit according to its nature, our father Adam will recover from his mortal sickness. Therefore we must take pains to see that it is always well tended. We must give it enough rich, damp manure, since its fruit will restore our father to life. Blessed be the day on which it brings forth its fruit, for

Death of Eve; Growth of Tree

Rubric of Illustration 28: (The sons of Adam discuss the miraculous tree that has grown out of their parents' grave)

They then departed from the grave. Amidst their lamentation they were glad that the tree was flourishing which had only recently been planted there. They often studied it. They tended it carefully. Not a morning passed without their going to the tree in order to inspect whether there was any fruit on it. That was foolishness! The tree grew so that it was tall and fair, and its foliage was so thick that neither rain nor the rays of the sun could penetrate it. I have never heard of a tree that was so beautiful to behold. If one in death's despair were seated under the tree, he would at once forget all his woes. It brought so much joy. It stood, it is true, with foliage that never rotted throughout the year, neither in summer nor in winter. Frost and snow never harmed it as it does other trees. It was much loved by Adam's children, yet they could never find any fruit upon it, despite its being so beautiful, as every morning they hunted through its leaves. Since they gained nothing from their expeditions and it would not bear any fruit, they despaired of their father and his life. They departed and at once scattered themselves far and wide throughout the land, one here and the other there. They multiplied in number, so that from their seed a great and mighty race arose. They never returned. They had waited in vain. Thus stood the tree without fruit.

The children had left, but Seth like a good man stayed in the oratory, where he bided his time. With tears streaming down his face he silently mourned his beloved father's death and the anguish that it had caused his mother. He pondered on what he was then to undertake so determinedly. He wanted to try (to

Noah and Dove

Rubric of Illustration 29: (Noah sends out the dove)

The dove, as it was bidden, made no delay and flew at once from the ark, and when it had found the olive-tree, which was still as green as grass and which had been planted on Adam's grave, as I have already related, the dove perched on the tree, for it was weary and damp from flying, and rested a little upon it. Like any loyal messenger it wanted to have a token. The waters were falling rapidly, and it carried out its duties gladly. With its small beak it picked off a branch from the olive-tree, so that it would be apparent that God now sought peace and his great wrath upon the whole world was spent. Without mishap it flew with the branch back to the ark and in at the window. With the branch it brought the peace that God intended for the world up to the very end. Noah held out both his hands and received the branch from the dove's tiny beak. Then the dove flew away, for it wanted freedom and food, just like a fish that has been freed from the hook. Noah understood the significance full well, as do all wise men, namely that this sacred branch proclaims the peace of God and that it was a sign that God would put an end to the waves of the flood. For this he raised his hands to heaven in prayer. He kept the branch ever after as befitted its sanctity. He also took the apple-branch and held it in great honour, for as I said before, both branches had a part to play in the future. Whosoever had been enslaved by death would, through both branches, be released from death. Thus we here leave (off discussion of) the branches. When the flood had subsided and (its waters) had dispersed everywhere, the ark came to rest in the valley. Noah and his company were so prolific

that from their seed and fruit came a world that is strong and mighty and is still the world of today. I shall not now relate the manner in which our Lord Jesus Christ suffered tortures on the tree. Here the discourse is ended. May God help us to his honour without undue difficulty. Amen. Amen. This is the end of (the story of) Eve and Adam.

"The Life of Adam and Eve"

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