earth,
the peoples of the nations, call one of these Fison, which
broadly girdles with its bright streams a quarter of the
earth beyond Hebeleac[7]: in that ancestral soil the sons 225
of men, nations near and far, find the best gold and
precious stones,[8] as the books tell us. Then the second
[river], whose name is Geon, girdles the land and govern-
ment of Ethiopia, an ample kingdom. The third is 230
Tigris, a foaming stream which encircles the people of
Assyria. Such likewise is the fourth, which men among
many a nation now widely call Eufrates....[9]

* * * * *

(_Genesis B intervenes here_.)

* * * * *

Then the Almighty King, the great Lord, came forth
into the garden about mid-day, by his divine will; for 855
our Saviour and merciful Father wished to find out
what his children were doing: he knew that they were
sinful to whom he had given perfection. Bereft of
their beatitude and stricken in spirit, they avoided his
presence by retreating among the shadows of the trees; 860
they hid themselves in dark recesses, when they heard
the holy word of the Lord and feared him. Straight-
way the King of Heaven began to call for the keeper
of the [newly] created world; the mighty Lord bade
his son come to him forthwith. He answered him then, 865
the wretched one himself, destitute of clothing, [and]
said:

"Lord of my life, I am hiding myself here because
unclothed; basely sinful, I am covering my shame with
leaves: my pain is cruel, most bitter in my heart. I dare 870
not now go forth before thy presence: I am all naked!"

X.[10]

To him then God at once replied:

"Tell me this, my son: why do you seek the shadows,
in shame? You certainly received no disgrace at my 875
hands, but on the contrary delight in all things! How
come you to know evil and hide shame and behold sor-
row and cover your body with leaves and, saddened and
crushed by the woes of life, say that you need clothing,
unless you have tasted of an apple from the tree which 880
I forbade to you by express command?"

Adam then answered him again:

"The woman, my Lord, the fair woman gave into
my hand this fruit, which I accepted in sin against thee. 885
Now I bear this manifest sign in myself: I know so much
the more of sorrow!"

Then Almighty