Seymour — The Book of Adam and Eve in Ireland. 123 



the sweat of their brow, with sickness, old age, and decay. He warns them 

 against the temptations of the Devih If they keep God's law. Heaven will 

 be their reward. 



Canto XI (11. 1469-2020). — For a week after their expulsion tliey are 

 without food, dwelling, fire, or clothing. Adam, in a long passage, laments 

 his condition, and contrasts his present wretched state with that in Paradise. 

 Eve takes the blame on herself, and asks Adam to kill her, for then Grod may 

 perhaps show him greater mercy. He refuses to do so. She requests him to 

 look for food, but he can only find green herbs, the support of the " senseless 

 animals." Then he suggests that they do penance, so that they may cleanse 

 away something of their sins. Eve asks for instruction in this respect. He 

 says that she is to stand in the River Tigris for thirty-three days, while he 

 will stand in the Jordan for forty-seven. She is to place a flag-stone under 

 her feet (he will do the same), stand in the water up to her neck, with her 

 hair dishev^elled, and lift up her hands every canonical hour to the Lord of 

 the Mne Orders. [Eve ? says] their lips are unclean, and Adam replies that 

 they will beseech the creatures to pray for them. Angels come to instruct 

 Adam each day for nineteen days. Adam asks the Jordan and all its 

 creatures to "fast "with him upon God. The stream stands still, and the 

 ■creatures within it gather around Adam. " All of them prayed — Adam, the 

 stream, and the multitude of animals." As a result the Nine Orders beseech 

 God, who forgives Adam. On learning this the Devil goes " like a swan, in 

 the shape of a white angel," in order to entice Eve out of the river, and so 

 injure her in respect of her penance. He says that she is killing herself, and 

 that God has sent him to fetch her out. She comes out, and as she is drying 

 herself she falls into a swoon. Lucifer conducts her to Adam, who is in the 

 Jordan. At the sight of the Devil he is seized with trembling and abhorrence, 

 and tells Eve the deception that has been practised on her, whereupon she 

 falls to the ground. Adam asks the Devil why he persecutes them. Lucifer 

 replies that he does so because it was through Adam that he fell from 

 Heaven. He was commanded by God to worship His likeness, i..e, Adam, 

 but refused to do so, because Adam was the youngest-born of created things. 

 A third part of the angels supported him in this, and were cast out of 

 Heaven. He concludes by threatening vengeance on Adam and his 

 •descendants. Adam then comes out of the stream. He and Eve are alone 

 a year without house, fire, clothing, or any food except grass, and living in 

 ■caves. Cain is born, who starts working at once, and cutting grass to help 

 his father. A description is given of him. God takes pity on Adam, and 

 sends Michael to teach him the virtue of seeds and the art of husbandry. 

 He distinguishes for him on a clean stone each herb, and shows him the 

 various utensils to be used. He bids him subjugate the animals. Seven years 



*[13] 



