"Noble satisfaction, singular wholesome peace,
a festival of holiness for souls,
...[60] many the habitations,
frequent intercourse with angels.
"Lasting life, continually at God's right hand,
for ever in the brughs of Paradise,
in which, under fair aspect,
God's creatures were doing us reverence.
"All the living things under heaven
which my faithful dear God created,
under (our) control over every high place,
we it was who used to order them.
"Fire would not burn us,
water would not drown us,
nor sharp edge ...[61]
nor (was there) pestilence nor consuming disease.
"There was not among the elements of dear God,
one that would come, in heaven or earth,
against our will, to destroy us,
save only the wicked Lucifer.
"Even Lucifer
could not harm us,
while we were under law (in a) perfect course
according to mandate, according to command.
"Because we wronged dear God
who gave us everything,
on every height, all creatures together,
are (now) in opposition to us.
"It is not God who has been evil towards us,
O Eve, ruddy, gentle fair one;
it is we who have wronged the Prince,
though He provided us with lasting good."
Eve spake, for she was in distress,[62]
in sorrow, after the fall;
"O Adam, marvellous over every wild,
why do you not kill me for my sins?
"It is I who transgressed the law,
it is I who committed the transgression,
it would then be right that thou should'st slay me,
O my Lord, O Adam!