(Lucifer replies)
"What greater reward shall I give to thee
according to the measure of our great crime
(than that) our union in our habits, in our wrath,
shall be for ever spoken of?"
When he found a place for the betrayal
in the likeness of the serpent's shape,
slowly he went tarrying[45]
directly to the gate of Paradise.
The serpent called outside,
"dost thou hear me, O wife of Adam?
come and converse with me, O Eve of the fair form,
beyond[46] every other."
"I have no time to talk with anyone,"
said Eve to the serpent;
"I am going out to feed
the senseless animals."
"If you are the Eve whose fame was heard
with honour in Paradise,
wife of Adam, beautiful, wide-minded,
in her I desire[47] my full satisfaction."[48]
"Whenever Adam is not here,
I am guardian of Paradise,
without weariness, O smooth, pale creature,
I attend to the needs of the animals."
(The Serpent speaks)
"How long does Adam go from thee,
on which side does he make his fair circuit,
when at any time he is not here
feeding the herds in Paradise?"