was Lilith the wife of Adam: (Eden bower's in flower.) Not a drop of her blood was human, But she was made like a soft sweet woman.
Lilith stood on the skirts of Eden; (And O the bower of the hour!) She was the first that thence was driven; With her was hell and with Eve was heaven.
In the ear of the Snake said Lilith : —
(Eden bower's in flower.) 'To thee I come when the rest is over; A snake was I when thou wast my lover.
'I was the fairest snake in Eden: (And O the bower and the hour!) By the earth's will, new form and feature Made me a wife for the earth's new creature.
'Take me thou as I come from Adam: (Eden bower's in flower.) Once again shall my love subdue thee; The past is past and I am come to thee.
'O but Adam was thrall to Lilith! (And O the bower and the hour!) All the threads of my hair are golden, And there in a net his heart was holden.
'O and Lilith was queen of Adam! (Eden bower's in flower.) All the day and the night together My breath could shake his soul like a feather.
'What great joys had Adam and Lilith! —
(And O the bower and the hour!) Sweet close rings of the serpent's twining, As heart in heart lay sighing and pining.
What bright babes had Adam and Lilith! —
(Eden bower's in flower.) Shapes that coiled in the woods and waters, Glittering sons and radiant daughters.
'O thou God, the Lord God of Eden! (And O the bower and the hour!) Say, was this fair body for no man, That of Adam's flesh thou mak'st him a woman?
'O thou Snake, the King-snake of Eden! (Eden bower's in flower.) God's strong will our necks are under, But thou and I may cleave it in sunder.
'Help, sweet Snake, sweet lover of Lilith! (And O the bower and the hour!) And let God learn how I loved and hated Man in the image of God created.
'Help me once against Eve and Adam! (Eden bower's in flower.) Help me once for this one endeavour, And then my love shall be thine for ever!
'Strong is God, the fell foe of Lilith: (And O the bower and the hour!) Nought in heaven or earth may affright him; But join thou with me and we will smite him.
'Strong is God, the great God of Eden: (Eden bower's in flower.) Over all he made he hath power; But lend me thou thy shape for an hour!
'Lend thy shape for the love of Lilith! (And O the bower and the hour!) Look, my mouth and cheek are ruddy, And thou art cold, and fire is my body.
'Lend thy shape for the hate of Adam! (Eden bower's in flower.) That he may wail my joy that forsook him, And curse the day when the bride-sleep took him.
'Lend thy shape for the shame of Eden! (And O the bower and the hour!) Is not the foe-God weak as the foeman When love grows hate in the heart of a woman?
'Would'st thou know the heart's hope of Lilith? (Eden bower's in flower.) Then bring thou close thine head till it glisten Along my breast, and lip me and listen.
'Am I sweet, O sweet Snake of Eden? (And O the bower and the hour!) Then ope thine ear to my warm mouth's cooing And learn what deed remains for our doing.
'Thou didst hear when God said to Adam: —
(Eden bower's in flower.) "Of all this wealth I have made thee warden; Thou'rt free to eat of the trees of the garden:
'"Only of one tree eat not in Eden; (And O the bower and the hour!) All save one I give to thy freewill,-- The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."
'O my love, come nearer to Lilith! (Eden bower's in flower.) In thy sweet folds bind me and bend me, And let me feel the shape thou shalt lend me!
'In thy shape I'll go back to Eden; (And O the bower and the hour!) In these coils that Tree will I grapple, And stretch this crowned head forth by the apple.
'Lo, Eve bends to the breath of Lilith! (Eden bower's in flower.) O how then shall my heart desire All her blood as food to its fire!
'Lo, Eve bends to the words of Lilith! —
(And O the bower and the hour!) "Nay, this Tree's fruit, — why should ye hate it, Or Death be born the day that ye ate it?
'"Nay, but on that great day in Eden, (Eden bower's in flower.) By the help that in this wise Tree is, God knows well ye shall be as He is."
'Then Eve shall eat and give unto Adam; (And O the bower and the hour!) And then they both shall know they are naked, And their hearts ache as my heart hath ached.
'Aye, let them hide in the trees of Eden, (Eden bower's in flower.) As in the cool of the day in the garden God shall walk without pity or pardon.
'Hear, thou Eve, the man's heart in Adam! (And O the bower and the hour!) Of his brave words hark to the bravest: — "This the woman gave that thou gavest."