ECRASIA.  Ungraceful.  You must not do that.

THE NEWLY BORN.  I will do what I like.  But there is something the matter with me.  I want to lie down.  I cannot keep my eyes open.

ECRASIA.  You are falling asleep.  You will wake up again.

THE NEWLY BORN [drowsily] What is sleep?

ACIS.  Ask no questions; and you will be told no lies. [He takes her by the ear, and leads her firmly towards the temple].

THE NEWLY BORN.  Ai! oi! ai!  Dont.  I want to be carried. [She reels into the arms of Acts, who carries her into the temple].

ECRASIA.  Come, Arjillax:  you at least are still an artist.  I adore you.

ARJILLAX.  Do you?  Unfortunately for you, I am not still a child.  I have grown out of cuddling.  I can only appreciate your figure.  Does that satisfy you?

ECRASIA.  At what distance?

ARJILLAX.  Arm’s length or more.

ECRASIA.  Thank you:  not for me. [She turns away from him].

ARJILLAX.  Ha! ha! [He strides off into the temple].

ECRASIA [calling to Strephon, who is on the threshold of the temple, going in] Strephon.

STREPHON.  No.  My heart is broken. [He goes into the temple].

ECRASIA.  Must I pass the night alone? [She looks round, seeking another partner; but they have all gone].  After all, I can imagine a lover nobler than any of you. [She goes into the temple].

It is now quite dark.  A vague radiance appears near the temple and shapes itself into the ghost of Adam.

A WOMAN’S VOICE [in the grove] Who is that?

ADAM.  The ghost of Adam, the first father of mankind.  Who are you?

THE VOICE.  The ghost of Eve, the first mother of mankind.

ADAM.  Come forth, wife; and shew yourself to me.

EVE [appearing near the grove] Here I am, husband.  You are very old.

A VOICE [in the hills] Ha! ha! ha!

ADAM.  Who laughs?  Who dares laugh at Adam?

EVE.  Who has the heart to laugh at Eve?

THE VOICE.  The ghost of Cain, the first child, and the first murderer. [He appears between them; and as he does so there is a prolonged hiss].  Who dares hiss at Cain, the lord of death?

A VOICE.  The ghost of the serpent, that lived before Adam and before Eve, and taught them how to bring forth Cain. [She becomes visible, coiled in the trees].

A VOICE.  There is one that came before the serpent.

THE SERPENT.  That is the voice of Lilith, in whom the father and mother were one.  Hail, Lilith!

Lilith becomes visible between Cain and Adam.

LILITH.  I suffered unspeakably; I tore myself asunder; I lost my life, to make of my one flesh these twain, man and woman.  And this is what has come of it.  What do you make of it, Adam, my son?