THE SERPENT. Do not tell him yet. I have not told you the great secret.
EVE. What more is there to tell? It is I who have to do the miracle.
THE SERPENT. No: he, too, must desire and will. But he must give his desire and his will to you.
EVE. How?
THE SERPENT. That is the great secret. Hush! he is coming.
ADAM [returning] Is there another voice in the garden besides our voices and the Voice? I heard a new voice.
EVE [rising and running to him] Only think, Adam! Our snake has learnt to speak by listening to us.
ADAM [delighted] Is it so? [He goes past her to the stone, and fondles the serpent].
THE SERPENT [responding affectionately] It is so, dear Adam.
EVE. But I have more wonderful news than that. Adam: we need not live for ever.