Gabriel monologue (Act 3) — Vondel's Lucifer

Even thus spake Lucifer, and then he sent Prince Belial down, that he forthwith might cause Mankind to fall: who took upon himself The form of that most cunning of all beasts, The Serpent, type of wickedness itself, That he might with a gloss of words adorn His luring snares, which then those creatures pure In guileless innocence even thus received, As, swinging from the tempting bough of knowledge, 480 That lone forbidden tree, he hung aloft: "Hath God, upon the pain of death, with such Severity and at so high a price, Deprived you of the freedom of this fruit? --The taste of even the choicest tree of all? Nay, Eve, thou simple dove, indeed thou dost Mistake. But once behold this apple, pray! Aye! see how glows this radiant fruit with gold And crimson mingled! An alluring feast! Yea, daughter, nearer draw; no venom lurks up 490 In this immortal leaf. How tempts this fruit! Yea, pluck; yea, freely pluck: I promise thee All light and knowledge. Come, why shouldst thou shrink For fear of sin? Aye, taste, and thus become Equal to God Himself in cognizance, Honor and wisdom, truth and majesty: Even though He much may wish thee to deny. Thus must distinctions be discerned in things. Their nature, entities, and qualities." Forthwith begins the heart of the fair bride 500 To burn and to enkindle, till she flames To see the praised fruit, which first allures The eye: the eye the mouth, that sighs to taste. Desire doth urge the hand, all quivering, To pluck. And thus she plucks, and tastes and eats (Oh! how this shall afflict her progeny!) With Adam, and as soon as then their eyes Are opened and they see their nakedness, They deck themselves with leaves--with leaves of fig, Their shame, disgrace, and taint original-- 510 And in the trees and shadows hide themselves; But hide in vain from the all-piercing Eye. Then gradually the sky grows black. They see The rainbow, as a warning messenger And portent of God's plagues, stretched o'er the Heavens, That weep, in mourning clad. Nor wringing hands, Nor sad lament, nor cries avail the pair. Alas! the lightnings gleam, with flash on flash, And shaking thunders roll there, peal on peal. And naught is heard but sighs, and naught is seen 520 But fright and gloom. They even their shadows flee; But ne'er can 'scape that dread heart-cankering worm, The sting of conscience. Thus, with knees that knock Together, step by step they stumble on, Their faces ghastly pale, and eyes, o'er-brimmed With tears, blind to the light. How spiritless, They who but now their heads so proudly held! The sound of rustling leaf or whispering brook, The faintest noise, doth them confound; the while A pregnant cloud descends, that bursts and bears, 530 By slow degrees, a light and radiant glow, Wherein the great Supreme appears in shape Impressive, thundering with His Voice, that fells Them to the earth.