ls came from elsewhere; and where it drank, they drank also
of the same; now, after it had become venomous, by reason of God's
curse, all beasts fled from its home, and would not drink of the water
it drank; but fled from it.

Chapter XVIII - The mortal combat with the serpent.

1 When the accursed serpent saw Adam and Eve, it swelled its head,
stood on its tail, and with eyes blood-red, acted like it would kill
them.

2 It made straight for Eve, and ran after her; while Adam standing by,
cried because he had no stick in his hand with which to hit the
serpent, and did not know how to put it to death.

3 But with a heart burning for Eve, Adam approached the serpent, and
held it by the tail; when it turned towards him and said to him:--

4 "O Adam, because of you and of Eve, I am slippery, and go on my
belly." Then with its great strength, it threw down Adam and Eve and
squeezed them, and tried to kill them.

5 But God sent an angel who threw the serpent away from them, and
raised them up.

6 Then the Word of God came to the serpent, and said to it, "The first
time I made you slick, and made you to go on your belly; but I did not
deprive you of speech.

7 This time, however, you will be mute, and you and your race will
speak no more; because, the first time My creatures were ruined because
of you, and this time you tried to kill them."

8 Then the serpent was struck mute, and was no longer able to speak.

9 And a wind blew down from heaven by the command of God and carried
away the serpent from Adam and Eve, and threw it on the seashore where
it landed in India.

Chapter XIX - Beasts made subject to Adam.

1 But Adam and Eve cried before God. And Adam said to Him:--

2 "O Lord, when I was in the cave, I said this to you, my Lord, the
beasts of the field would rise and devour me, and cut off my life from
the earth."

3 Then Adam, because of what had happened to him, beat his chest and
fell on the ground like a corpse. Then the Word of God came to him,
who raised him, and said to him,

4 "O Adam, not one of these beasts will be able to hurt you; because I
have made the beasts and other moving things come to you in the cave.
I did not let the serpent come with them because it might have risen
against you and made you tremble; and the fear of it should fall into
your hearts.

5 For I knew that the accursed one is wicked; therefore I would not let
it come near you with the other beasts.