PREFACE. iii 



I.^ The creatlon of the world (line 3), the sun (5), heaven (13}, 

 earth (15), light and darkness (17, 18), day and night (19, 20), the earth 

 separated from the primal material (29, 30), surrounded by the firma- 

 ment (34), the world Hke an apple (36), the mists, the current of the cold 

 watery air (44), the four chief winds, the eight sub-winds (45-52), the 

 colours of the winds (53-80), the distance from the earth to the 

 firmament (97-101), the seven planets (101-104), the distance from the 

 earth to the moon (105-1 12), the radiant heaven, that from moon to 

 sun (113 116), the windless, ethereal heaven, the distance between the 

 firmament and the sun (121), the motionless Olympus or third heaven 

 (125-128), the distance from the firmament to heaven (133-136), from 

 earth to the depths of hell (141), the five zones, the firmament round the 

 earth like its shell round an t%^ (165-169), the seventy-two windows 

 in the firmament (181, 182), with a shutter on each (188), the seventh 

 heaven revolving like a wheel (199), with the seven planets from the 

 creation (204), the signs of the zodiac (205-220), the time 30 days, 

 lo^ hours that the sun is in each, the day of the month on which it 

 enters each, the month in which it is in each sign (233-256), the division 

 of the firmament into twelve parts, the five things which every intelligent 

 man should know namely, the day of the solar month, the age of the 

 moon, the height of the tide, the day of the week, saints' festivals. 



XI. The Penance of Adam and Eve. For a week after the expulsion 

 Adam was without fire, house, drink, food, or clothing (1483-1486). 

 He laments to Eve their lost blessings (1491-1530), and admits his 

 fault (1531-1534)- Eve asks Adam to kill her, so that God may pity 

 him the more (1535-1546). Adam refuses to destroy his own flesh and 

 blood (1547-1560). Then, at Eve's request, Adam goes to seek for 

 food and finds nought but herbs (1561-1572), 'the food of the lawless 

 beasts.' He proposes to Eve to do penance, to adore the Lord in 

 silence, Eve in the Tigris for thirty days, Adam in the Jordan for 

 forty and seven, a flagstone under their feet, the water up to their necks, 

 Eve^s hair dishevelled and her eyes directed to heaven in silent prayer 

 for forgiveness (1573-1628). Adam prays the Jordan ' to fast with him 

 on God' [co troisccd lais for Did) with all its many beasts, that pardon 



^ A Middle-Irish prose abstract of part of this poem will be found in the first 

 volume of the Laws, pp. 26-30. 



b 2 



