ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. GOD and ADAM. GOD resolves to form a companion for Adam, and does so while Adam is sleeping-he then awakes Adam, and presenting to him his new associate, blesses them both; then leaves them, recommending obedience to his commands. SCENE II. ADAM and EVE. Adam receives Eve as his wife-praises her, and entreats her to join with him in revering and obeying God-she promises submission to his will, and intreats his instruction-he tells her the prohibition, and enlarges on the beauties of Paradise on his speaking of flocks, she desires to see them, and he departs to shew her the various animals. SCENE III. LUCIFER, BELIAL, SATAN. Lucifer laments his expulsion from heaven, and meditates revenge against man-the other demons relate the cause of their expulsion, and stimulate Lucifer to the revenge he meditates-he resolves to employ the Serpent. SCENE IV. The SERPENT, EVE, LUCIFER, The Serpent questions Eve-derides her fear and her obedience-tempts her to taste the apple-she expresses her eagerness to do so-the Serpent exults in the prospect of her perdition-Lucifer (who seems to remain as a separate person from the Serpent) expresses also his exultation, and steps aside to listen to a dialogue between Adam and Eve. SCENE V. EVE, and ADAM. Eve declares her resolution to taste the apple, and present it to her husband-she tastes it, and expresses unusual hope and animation-she says the Serpent has not deceived her-she feels no sign of death, and presents the fruit to her husband-he reproves her-she persists in pressing him to eathe complies-declares the fruit sweet, but begins to tremble at his own nakedness-he repents, and expresses his remorse and terror-Eve proposes to form a covering of leaves they retire to hide themselves in foliage. End of the Second Act. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. LUCIFER, BELIAL, SATAN. LUCIFER exults in his success, and the other demons applaud him. SCENE II. RAPHAEL, MICHAEL, GABRIEL. These good spirits lament the fall, and retire with awe on the appearance of God. SCENE III. GOD, EVE, ADAM. God calls on Adam-he appears and laments his nakedness-God interrogates him concerning the tree -he confesses his offence, and accuses Eve-she blames the Serpent-God pronounces his malediction, and sends them from his presence. SCENE IV. RAPHAEL, EVE, and ADAM. Raphael bids them depart from Paradise-Adam laments his destiny-Raphael persists in driving them rather harshly from the garden-Adam begs that his innocent children may not suffer for the fault of their mother-Raphael replies, that not only his children, but all his race, must suffer, and continues to drive them from the garden-Adam obeys -Eve laments, but soon comforts Adam-he at length departs, animating himself with the idea, that to an intrepid heart every region is a home. SCENE V. A CHERUB. Moralizing on the creation and fall of Adam, concludes the third and last act. |