ADAM. Fear will drive me to anything. The serpent gave me fear. Let it now give me certainty or go in fear of me.
THE SERPENT. Bind the future by your will. Make a vow.
ADAM. What is a vow?
THE SERPENT. Choose a day for your death; and resolve to die on that day. Then death is no longer uncertain but certain. Let Eve vow to love you until your death. Then love will be no longer uncertain.
ADAM. Yes: that is splendid: that will bind the future.
EVE [displeased, turning away from the serpent] But it will destroy hope.
ADAM [angrily] Be silent, woman. Hope is wicked. Happiness is wicked. Certainty is blessed.
THE SERPENT. What is wicked? You have invented a word.
ADAM. Whatever I fear to do is wicked. Listen to me, Eve; and you, snake, listen too, that your memory may hold my vow. I will live a thousand sets of the four seasons—
THE SERPENT. Years. Years.