B&W composite text file (pdf, 5670kb) - NLS Digital Library
B&W composite text file (pdf, 5670kb) - NLS Digital Library
B&W composite text file (pdf, 5670kb) - NLS Digital Library
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PREFACE. iii<br />
I. 1 The creation of the world (line 3), the sun (5), heaven (13),<br />
earth (15), light and darkness (17, 18), day and night (19, 20), the earth<br />
separated from the primal material (29, 30), surrounded by the firmament<br />
(34), the world like an apple (36), the mists, the current of the cold<br />
watery air (44), the four chief winds, the eight sub-winds (45-52), the<br />
colours of the winds (53-80), the distance from the earth to the<br />
firmament (97-101), the seven planets (101-104), the distance from the<br />
earth to the moon (105-1 12), the radiant heaven, that from moon to<br />
sun (1 13-116), the windless, ethereal heaven, the distance between the<br />
firmament and the sun (121), the motionless Olympus or third heaven<br />
(125-128), the distance from the firmament to heaven (133-136), from<br />
earth to the depths of hell (141), the five zones, the firmament round the<br />
earth like its shell round an egg (165-169), the seventy-two windows<br />
in the firmament (181, 182), with a shutter on each (i8£), the seventh<br />
heaven revolving like a wheel (199), with the seven planets from the<br />
creation (204), the signs of the zodiac (205-220), the time— 30 days,<br />
\o\ hours—that the sun is in each, the day of the month on which it<br />
enters each, the month in which it is in each sign (233-256), the division<br />
of the firmament into twelve parts, the five things which every intelligent<br />
man should know— namely, the day of the solar month, the age of the<br />
moon, the height of the tide, the day of the week, saints' festivals.<br />
XI. The Penance of Adam and Eve. For a week after the expulsion<br />
Adam was without fire, house, drink, food, or clothing (1483-1486).<br />
He laments to Eve their lost blessings (1491-1530), and admits his<br />
fault (153 1-1534). Eve asks Adam to kill her, so that God may pity<br />
him the more (1535-1546). Adam refuses to destroy his own flesh and<br />
blood (1547-1560). Then, at Eve's request, Adam goes to seek for<br />
food and finds nought but herbs (1561-1572), 'the food of the lawless<br />
beasts.' He proposes to Eve to do penance, to adore the Lord in<br />
silence, Eve in the Tigris for thirty days, Adam in the Jordan for<br />
forty and seven, a flagstone under their feet, the water up to their necks,<br />
Eve's hair dishevelled and her eyes directed to heaven in silent prayer<br />
for forgiveness (1573-3628). Adam prays the Jordan 'to fast with him<br />
on God ' (co troisced lais for Did) with all its many beasts, that pardon<br />
1 A Middle-Irish prose abstract of part of this poem will be found in the first<br />
volume of the Laws, pp. 26-30.<br />
b 2