Sevmour — The Book of Adam and Eve in Ireland. 125 



these will bring out some points of interest. It must be borne in mintl that 

 the narrative in both A and V only commences after the expu.lsion of Adam 

 and Eve from Paradise (corresponding to Canto xi of S), the account of the 

 preceding events being related at length by Eve in A only. 



Cantos VI and vii. — Not represented in A or V, bi\t built up from legends. 



Canto viii. — Not represented in V. It follows A (i.e. in Eve's account of 

 the Temptation and Fall, as related by her to her children), but with some 

 slight differences. In A it is not stated directly that the Devil got into the 

 serpent's body ; nor is the latter's reward mentioned. Indeed, there is some 

 confusion with respect to the form of the tempter. At one time he is 

 represented under the form of an angel ; at another, he speaks through the 

 serpent's mouth. The concluding portion of A is somewhat different. The 

 serpent oilers to give the fruit to Eve, then pretends to change his mind, 

 makes her swear to give it to Adam, and then puts on the fruit the poison 

 of desire. Nothing is said about the half of the apple. 



Canto IX. — Also follows A, with some slight differences. In A Eve puts on 

 fig-leaves before she tempts Adam. Nothing is said about her withholding 

 information till he eats. It is Michael who sounds the trumpet. The trees 

 of Paradise bloom and lift themselves up. The curses on Adam, Eve, and the 

 serpent are given at length, and Adam is allowed to take with him perfumes. 



Canto X. — Based on God's words to Adam in A, section 28 in the Greek, 

 and is also influenced by the curse on him in section 24 of same. 



Canto XI. — Follows V, with some important additions and omissions. In 

 V Adam's long lament is entirely omitted. Eve stands in the river for 

 thirty-seven days {thirty-three in one group of mss.), and Adam for forty. 

 Nothing is said about angels coming to instruct Adam for nineteen days ; 

 but Satan comes after eighteen days (nineteen in two mss.). The writer of S 

 may have misunderstood his original. The " fasting " upon God is not 

 mentioned. The story of Eve's birth-pains is entirely omitted in S. Cain 

 brings a blade of grass to his mother. Adam has (in addition to Abel, 

 Cain, and Seth) thirty sons and thirty daughters, in all sixty-three children. 

 Nothing is said in V about the clean stone on which the herbs were laid, 

 or that Abel was born seven years after Cain, and killed at the age of 

 two hundred (one hundred and twenty-ttvo in V), or about the mark on, or 

 manner of death of, Cain. On the other hand, S entirely omits the long 

 vision which Adam relates to Seth in V. In one place S inserts a passage 

 which is found in A, but not in V, where Michael {Gabriel in S) foretells the 

 death of Abel and birth of Seth. 



Canto XII. — Follows A, especially in the opening portion, where it is 

 almost word for word with ic. The curious passage about the " altar of 



