Part 37 (1/2)

ADAM THE FIRST MAN

_Pater Clestis._ In the beginning before the heavens were create, In me and of me was my Son sempiternal With the Holy Ghost, in one degree or estate Of the high G.o.dhead, to me the Father coequal And this my Son was with me one G.o.d essential Without separation at any time from me.

True G.o.d he is of equal dignity.

Since the beginning my Son hath ever been Joined with his father in one essential being.

All things were create by him in each degree, In heaven and earth and have their diverse working: Without his power, was never made any thing That was wrought; but through his ordinance Each have his strength, and whole continuance.

In him is the life and the just recoverance For Adam and his, which nought but death deserved.

And this life to men is an high perseverance Or a light of faith, whereby they shall be saved.

And this light shall s.h.i.+ne among the people darkened With unfaithfulness. Yet shall they not with him take But of wilful heart his liberal grace forsake.

Which will compel me against man for to make In my displeasure, and send plagues of correction Most grievous and sharp, his wanton l.u.s.ts to slake, By water and fire, by sickness and infection Of pestilent sores, molesting his complexion; By troublous war, by dearth and painful scarceness, And after this life by an extreme heaviness.

I will first begin with Adam for his lewdness Which for an apple neglected my commandment.

He shall continue in labour for his rashness, His only sweat shall provide his food and raiment: Yea, yet must he have a greater punishment, Most terrible death shall bring him to his end To teach him how he his Lord G.o.d shall offend.

[_Here Adam falls headlong upon the earth and after rolling over four times, at last gets up._

_Adam._ Merciful Father, thy pitiful grace extend To me, careful wretch, which have me sore abused Thy precept breaking, O Lord, I mean to amend, If now thy great goodness would have me excused, Most heavenly Maker, let me not be refused, Nor cast from thy sight for one poor sinful crime; Alas! I am frail, my whole kind is but slime.

_Pater Clestis._ I wot it is so, yet art thou no less faulty Than thou hadst been made of matter much more worthy.

I gave thee reason and wit to understand The good from the evil, and not to take on hand Of a brainless mind, the thing which I forbade thee.

_Adam._ Such heavy fortune hath chiefly chanced me For that I was left to mine own liberty.

_Pater Clestis._ Then thou are blameless, and the fault thou layest to me?

_Adam._ Nay, all I ascribe to my own imbecility.

No fault in thee Lord but in my infirmity, And want of respect in such gifts as thou gavest me.

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ I say thou shalt die with thy whole posterity.

_Adam._ Yet mercy, sweet Lord, if any mercy may be.

_Pater Clestis._ 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 Clestis._ But art thou sorry from bottom of thy heart?

_Adam._ Thy displeasure is to me most heavy smart.

_Pater Clestis._ Then will I tell thee what thou shalt stick unto, Life to recover, and my good favour also.

_Adam._ Tell it me, sweet Lord, that I may thereafter go.