XX 



THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF 

 KNOWLEDGE 



The Scriptures give no indication whatever as 

 to the size, shape or colour of the Fruit of the 

 Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which 

 grew in the midst of Eden, and it has been 

 variously interpreted. Adam is depicted with 

 an apple, a pear, a quince, a fig, according to 

 the individual opinion of the painter. Milton 

 took the tree to be an apple : 



' A goodly tree .... 

 Laden with fruit of fairest colours mixt 

 Ruddie and gold . . . 



Sharp desire I had 

 Of tasting those fair apples.' ' 



And the majority of artists have chosen that 

 fruit. It grew in every part of Europe, and, 

 except the cherry, it was almost the only culti- 

 vated fruit in Germany and the Netherlands. 



' Paradise Lost. 

 240 



