256 THE KING'S MIRROR 



God in wisdom beyond what was promised you." Then 

 God said to Peace that she should give a brief opinion 

 in the case. Peace answered in this wise: "Whereas 

 Thou didst appoint me to watch over Adam's safety 

 as long as there was no transgression, I now offer to 

 bring him an even greater insecurity, because he did 

 not know how to keep the great freedom which he en- 

 joyed before." Then .God said to Justice that she should 

 give judgment; and she answered in this wise: " Since 

 Adam was unable to keep the freedom that Peace had 

 secured for him, let him now suffer misery and distress 

 instead; and because he coveted knowledge of evil 

 things, let him experience evil in place of good; and 

 because he wished to make himself like God in knowl- 

 edge beyond what was permitted, and blamed God for 

 his transgression with lying excuses, let him suffer the 

 death of which he was warned before he transgressed." 

 Then God said to Mercy that she should pass judgment 

 on this transgression. Mercy replied in these words: 

 "As it is my nature to urge forbearance and clemency 

 to some degree in every case, I request that Adam be 

 not destroyed through a merciless death; but since he 

 now must repent of his error as long as he lives, let him 

 have hope of mercy and help in his death, as long as he 

 does not despair/' 



Then it was discussed whether, in case he had sons, 

 they should suffer for his sin, or be allowed to enjoy the 

 gifts and the riches that God had given him at the be- 

 ginning, but from which he had been ousted like an 

 outlaw. Justice said: "How can his sons, who will be 

 begotten in exile, enjoy those gifts that he forfeited as 



