THE KING'S MIRROR 269 



need of Thy forbearance and mercy than the merits of 

 my case can demand, for in my weakness I have fallen 

 into great guilt against Thee, O Lord, because of my 

 transgression," then his guilt would at once have 

 been lessened in the sight of God, inasmuch as he would 

 be seeking mercy but not defense. But when God heard 

 Adam replying as if excusing himself, He said as if in 

 wrath: " Thou shalt put no blame upon Me for creating 

 the woman; for I gave her to thee to be a delight and 

 a companion, not that thou shouldst commit law-break- 

 ing by her counsel. I even warned thee not to transgress 

 and told thee what guilt threatened if thou didst break 

 the law. Why then didst thou follow thy wife's miserable 

 advice rather than My saving counsel, if thou didst not 

 do it through pride and avarice, wishing to equal Me 

 in knowledge and therefore eager to know what was 

 not promised thee ? " 



After that God spoke to Eve: " Why didst thou egg 

 thy husband on to transgress ? " And Eve was anxious 

 that another should bear the blame for her guilt rather 

 than herself, for she spoke in this wise: " This crafty ser- 

 pent gave me that evil advice; had he not been created 

 or appeared before me, I should not have transgressed 

 or egged on my husband to transgress." When God 

 heard Eve's excuse, He spoke in His wrath: " It looks 

 to Me as if you both wish to blame Me for your law- 

 breaking: Adam blamed Me for having created thee to 

 advise with him, and now thou findest fault with Me 

 for having created the serpent. I created the serpent as 

 I created all the other beasts of the earth, but I did not 

 give him to you as a counsellor; on the contrary, I made 



