I have not told you the great secret.
EVE. What more is there to tell? It is I who have to do the miracle.
THE SERPENT. No: he, too, must desire and will. But he must give his
desire and his will to you.
EVE. How?
THE SERPENT. That is the great secret. Hush! he is coming.
ADAM [_returning_] Is there another voice in the garden besides our
voices and the Voice? I heard a new voice.
EVE [_rising and running to him_] Only think, Adam! Our snake has learnt
to speak by listening to us.
ADAM [_delighted_] Is it so? [_He goes past her to the stone, and
fondles the serpent_].
THE SERPENT [_responding affectionately_] It is so, dear Adam.
EVE. But I have more wonderful news than that. Adam: we need not live
for ever.
ADAM [_dropping the snake's head in his excitement_] What! Eve: do not
play with me about this. If only there may be an end some day, and yet
no end! If only I can be relieved of the horror of having to endure
myself for ever! If only the care of this terrible garden may pass on
to some other gardener! If only the sentinel set by the Voice can be
relieved! If only the rest and sleep that enable me to bear it from
day to day could grow after many days into an eternal rest, an eternal
sleep, then I could face my days, however long they may last.
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