Pater Cœlestis. For that I put thee at thine own liberty,
Thou oughtest my goodness to have in more regard.
Adam. Avoid it I cannot, thou layest it to me so hard.
Lord, now I perceive what power is in man,
And strength of himself, when thy sweet grace is absent,
He must needs but fall, do he the best he can,
And endanger himself, as appeareth evident;
For I sinned not so long as thou wert present;
But when thou wert gone, I fell to sin by and by,
And thee displeased. Good Lord, I ask thee mercy.
Pater Cœlestis. Thou shalt die for it and all thy posterity.
Adam. For one fault, good Lord, avenge not thyself on me,
Who am but a worm, or a fleshly vanity.
Pater Cœlestis. I say thou shalt die with thy whole posterity.
Adam. Yet mercy, sweet Lord, if any mercy may be.
Pater Cœlestis. I am immutable, I may change no decree.
Thou shalt die, I say, without any remedy.
Adam. Yet gracious Father, extend to me thy mercy,
And throw not away the work which thou hast create
To thine own image, but avert from me thy hate.
Pater Cœlestis. But art thou sorry from bottom of thy heart?
Adam. Thy displeasure is to me most heavy smart.