260 THE KING'S MIRROR 



XLVII 



A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF VERDICTS AND PENALTIES 

 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE STORY OF 



LUCIFER'S REBELLION AND DOWNFALL 



AND OF THE SIN AND PUNISHMENT 

 OF THE FIRST MAN AND WOMAN 



Son. I must ask you not to take offence if the ques- 

 tions which I wish to bring up should seem childish and 

 ill advised; but since I do not fully understand the sub- 

 ject that I intend to ask about next, it may also be that 

 there are others who do not understand it any better 

 than I. And it is that matter about the serpent, which, 

 you said, came to Eve, and speaking to her like a man 

 egged her on to transgress the law. Now I wish to ask 

 whether the serpent, unlike other beasts, was created 

 with power of speech; or whether other animals could 

 speak in those days, though now they ar,e all dumb ; and 

 for what reason the serpent wished to lead the woman 

 into transgression. 



Father. We have had a very lengthy speech before us, 

 and if we were to comment on the whole, it would lengthen 

 very much a discussion that is already long; but certain 

 it is, we have spoken very few words which would not 

 be in need of comment, if a well informed man, who 

 thoroughly understands all these speeches, should come 

 to the task. But I believe it is more advisable for us to 

 continue as we have been doing since we began our con- 

 versation, and leave the task of glossing our remarks to 

 others who may hear them later and are willing to do 

 the work with faithful care. Still, inasmuch as every 



