264 THE KING'S MIRROR 



man in beauty; and I shall speak with his tongue to 

 Eve, Adam's wife, and learn from her whether they are 

 created to full freedom without obedience to law, or 

 whether God has given them laws to keep, through 

 which I may be able to ruin their covenant with Him." 

 Thereupon this envious spirit sought the serpent that 

 is now called the asp, which in those days walked with 

 upright form on two feet like man and had a face like 

 a maiden's, as we have just said. And when the evil 

 minded spirit came to Eve concealed in the body of this 

 serpent, he made use of the artifice that is called specious 

 deception, for he spoke to Eve with seductive sweetness 

 using these words: "Blessed is thy husband and thou 

 likewise." This praise he did not give them out of good 

 will; rather did he praise their happiness in order to 

 drag them into misery through hatred and envy, and 

 he used false cunning when he asked Eve to tell him 

 whether God had given everything to Adam to control 

 and to enjoy without restriction. But when Eve in re- 

 turn for his sweet words had given the desired informa- 

 tion, and he heard that death was to be their part if 

 they transgressed, he was glad, and then made use of 

 haughty arrogance in suggesting to Eve that they could 

 become like God in knowledge in this respect, that they 

 might be able to know good from evil. But he used lust- 

 ful desire when he bade her try how sweet and fragrant 

 was the apple of knowledge which was forbidden her. 

 And he employed covetous self-seeking when he caused 

 Eve to take for her own what God had earlier forbidden 

 her; for God had given everything into the power of 

 Adam and Eve, except this tree; but they longed to 



