Of the Picture of the Serpent tempting Eve.
In the Picture of Paradise, and delusion of our first Parents, the
Serpent is often described with humane visage; not unlike unto _Cadmus_
or his wife, in the act of their Metamorphosis. Which is not a meer
pictorial contrivance or invention of the Picturer, but an ancient
tradition and conceived reality, as it stands delivered by _Beda_ and
Authors of some antiquity; that is, that Sathan appeared not unto _Eve_
in the naked form of a Serpent, but with a Virgins head, that thereby he
might become more acceptable, and his temptation find the easier
entertainment. Which nevertheless is a conceit not to be admitted, and
the plain and received figure, is with better reason embraced.
For first, as _Pierius_ observeth from _Barcephas_, the assumption of
humane shape had proved a disadvantage unto Sathan; affording not only a
suspicious amazement in _Eve_, before the fact, in beholding a third
humanity beside her self and _Adam_; but leaving some excuse unto the
woman, which afterward the man took up with lesser reason; that is, to
have been deceived by another like her self.
Again, There was no inconvenience in the shape assumed, or any
considerable impediment that might disturb that performance in the
common form of a Serpent. For whereas it is conceived the woman must
needs be afraid thereof, and rather flie than approach it; it was not
agreeable unto the condition of Paradise and state of innocency therein;
if in that place as most determine, no creature was hurtful or terrible
unto man, and those destructive effects they now discover succeeded the
curse, and came in with thorns and briars. And therefore _Eugubinus_
(who affirmeth this Serpent was a Basilisk) incurreth no absurdity, nor
need we infer that _Eve_ should be destroyed immediately upon that
Vision. For noxious animals could offend them no more in the Garden,
than _Noah_ in the Ark: as they peaceably received their names, so they
friendly possessed their natures: and were their conditions destructive
unto each other, they were not so unto man, whose constitutions then
were antidotes, and needed not fear poisons. And if (as most conceive)
there were but two created of every kind, they could not at that time
destroy either man or themselves; for this had frustrated the command of
multiplication, destroyed a species, and imperfected the Creation. And
therefore also if Cain were the first man born, with him entred not only
the act, but the first power of murther; for before that time neither
could the Serpent nor _Adam_ destroy _Eve_; nor _Adam_ and _Eve_ each
other; for that had overthrown the intention of the world, and put its
Creator to act the sixt day over again.
Moreover, Whereas in regard of speech, and vocal conference with _Eve_,
it may be thought he would rather assume an humane shape and organs,
then the improper form of a serpent; it implies no material impediment.
Nor need we to wonder how he contrived a voice out of the mouth of a
Serpent, who hath done the like out of the belly of a Pythonissa, and
the trunk of an Oak; as he did for many years at _Dodona_.
[Sidenote: _Why_ Eve _wondered not at the serpents speaking_.]
Lastly, Whereas it might be conceived that an humane shape was fitter
for this enterprise; it being more than probable she would be amazed to
hear a Serpent speak; some conceive she might not yet be certain that
only man was priviledged with speech; and being in the novity of the
Creation, and inexperience of all things, might not be affrighted to
hear a Serpent speak. Beside she might be ignorant of their natures, who
was not versed in their names, as being not present at the general
survey of Animals, when _Adam_ assigned unto every one a name
concordant unto its nature. Nor is this my opinion, but the
determination of _Lombard_ and _Tostatus_; and also the reply of _Cyril_
unto the objection of _Julian_, who compared this story unto the fables
of the _Greeks_.