ADAM [dropping the snake's head in his excitement] What! Eve: do not play with me about this. If only there may be an end some day, and yet no end! If only I can be relieved of the horror of having to endure myself for ever! If only the care of this terrible garden may pass on to some other gardener! If only the sentinel set by the Voice can be relieved! If only the rest and sleep that enable me to bear it from day to day could grow after many days into an eternal rest, an eternal sleep, then I could face my days, however long they may last. Only, there must be some end, some end: I am not strong enough to bear eternity.
THE SERPENT. You need not live to see another summer; and yet there shall be no end.
ADAM. That cannot be.
THE SERPENT. It can be.
EVE. It shall be.
THE SERPENT. It is. Kill me; and you will find another snake in the garden tomorrow. You will find more snakes than there are fingers on your hands.
EVE. I will make other Adams, other Eves.
ADAM. I tell you you must not make up stories about this. It cannot happen.
THE SERPENT. I can remember when you were yourself a thing that could not happen. Yet you are.
ADAM [struck] That must be true. [He sits down on the stone].