The Artist enters, Innocence bearing the palette, Knowledge the mall-stick, and Grace the brushes.
He declares his intention to show his power in the portrait his love wishes to paint, and asks the attendant Virtues to add their gifts to Human Nature.
He proceeds to work, while the Virtues call upon the sun, moon, etc., to praise the Lord.
The Artist finishes his work by breathing the breath of life into it. The picture falls, and in its place appears Human Nature, who expresses most vividly her wonder at her creation, and joins in the general anthem, “Bless the Lord.” Lucifer confesses that he and Sin are de trop, and they depart to seek some disguise in which to return and carry out their undertaking. While the chorus repeats the praises of the Lord, Human Nature naïvely asks, “How can I bless him, if I do not know him? Who will tell me who He is or who I am?”
The Artist advances and answers her question. Nature demands who he is. “I am who am, and have been, and am to be; and since thou hast been created for Love’s spouse, let thy love be grateful.”
“What command dost thou lay on me, my Love? I will never break it.”
“All that thou seest here is thine; that tree alone is mine.”
Nature asks who can ever divert her love, and is answered, “Thy Free-will.”
“What new spirit and force was created in my new being by that word, which told me that there was something in me besides myself? Voice, tell me, who is Free-will.”
Free-will appears as a rustic, and answers, “I.”