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Dammi il frutto gradito;

S' ubidifca a chi tanto,

Per farmi un Dio ha faticato e pianto
Ohime laffo, che feci?

Quale me fcende al cor acuta spiną

Di fubitano duolo?

Ohime qual mi fommerge

Vafto ocean di pianto?

EVA.

Laffo me, che rimiro?

O conoscenza acerba, o vista nova,
Il tutto s' arma al precipicio humano.

ADAMO.

Ahi cara libertade ove fe' gita?

EVA.

O cara libertate, o fier servaggio.

ADAMO.

Equefto è 'l dolce frutto,

Cagion di tanto amaro?
Dimmi, perche tradirmi?
Perche del ciel privarmi?
Deḥ perche me trahesti

Da lo ftato innocente

Dove lieto i godea vita felice?
Perche fogetto farmi,

Di morté a le crud armi
Tu pur, ch' eri mia vita ?

IVA.

Give me the fruit that charms thee,

And let me yield to her,

Who, to make me a god, has toiled and wept,
Alas! what have I done!

How sharp a thorn is piercing in my heart
With inftantaneous anguish;

How am I overwhelm'd

In a vast flood of tears.

Alas! what do I fee?

EVE.

Oh bitter knowledge, unexpected fight!
All is prepared for human mifery.

ADAM.

O precious liberty, where art thou fled?

EVE.

O precious liberty! O dire enthralment !

ADAM.

Is this the fruit fo fweet,

The fource of fo much bitter?

Say, why would'st thou betray me?
Ah why of heav'n deprive me?
Why make me forfeit thus
My state of innocence,

Where cheerful I enjoy a blissful life?
Why make me thus a slave
To the fierce arms of death,
Thou whom I deemed my life?

7

EVA.

Fui cieca talpa al bene,
Fui troppo occhiuta al male,
Fui d' Adamo nemica,
Fui contro Dio rubella;
E per ofar d' alzarmi,
A le porte del cielo,

A le foglie cadei del baffo inferno.

ADAMO.

Ahi qual dardo divin me fembra in cielo,
Rotar di fiamme accefo?

Ahi qual flaggello

EVA.

Laffa me ne fovrafta? Ohime fon nuda,
E con Adamo i' parlo?

ADAMO.

Nudo fon? Chi mi cela? io parto.

Io fuggo.

EVA.

Exeunt.

EVE.

I have been blind to good,
Quick fighted but to evil,
An enemy to Adam,
A rebel to my God;
For daring to exalt me

To the high gates of heav'n,

I fall prefumptuous to the depths of hell.

ADAM.

Alas, what dart divine appears in heav'n,
Blazing with circling flame?

EVE.

What punishment,

Wretch that I am, hangs o'er me? am I naked,
And speaking still to Adam?

ANALYSIS OF THE DRAMA,

ENTITLED,

La Scena Tragica d' ADAMO ed EVA;

DA TROILO LANCETTA BENACENSE.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

GOD

COMMEMORATES his creation of the heavens,

the earth, and the water-determines to make man —gives him vital spirit, and admonishes him to revere his Maker, and live innocent.

SCENE 2.

RAPHAEL, MICHAEL, GABRIEL, and ANGELS. Raphael praises the works of God-the other angels follow his example, particularly in regard to

man.

SCENE 3.

GOD and Adam.

God gives paradife to Adam to hold as a fiefforbids him to touch the apple-Adam promifes obedience.

SCENE