see everything, but, in reality, was not very sharp-sighted--he
approached these two beings, and charmed their eyes by the splendour of
his coat and the brilliancy of his wings. Then he interested their minds
by forming before them, with his body, definite figures, such as the
circle, the ellipse, and the spiral, the wonderful properties of which
have since been recognised by the Greeks. Adam meditated on these
figures more than Eve did. But when the serpent began to speak, and
taught the most sublime truths--those which cannot be demonstrated--he
found that Adam being made of red earth, was of too dull a nature to
understand these subtle distinctions, but that Eve, on the contrary,
being more tender and more sensitive, was easily impressed. Therefore
he conversed with her alone, in the absence of her husband, in order to
initiate her first--

DORION. Permit me, Zenothemis, to interrupt you. I speedily recognised
in the myth you have explained to us an episode in the war of Pallas
Athene against the giants. Iaveh much resembles Typhoon, and Pallas is
represented by the Athenians with a serpent at her side. But what you
have said causes me considerable doubt as to the intelligence or good
faith of the serpent of whom you have spoken. If he had really possessed
knowledge, would he have entrusted it to a woman's little head, which
was incapable of containing it? I should rather consider that he was
like Iaveh, ignorant and a liar, and that he chose Eve because she was
easily seduced, and he imagined that Adam would have more intelligence
and perception.

ZENOTHEMIS. Learn, Dorion, that it is not by perception and
intelligence, but by sensibility, that the highest and purest truths are
reached. That is why women, who, generally, are less reflective but more
sensitive than men, rise more easily to the knowledge of things divine.
In them is the gift of prophecy, and it is not without reason that
Apollo Citharedes, and Jesus of Nazareth, are sometimes represented
clad, like women, in flowing robes. The initiator was therefore
wise--whatever you may say to the contrary, Dorion--in bestowing light,
not on the duller Adam, but on Eve, who was whiter than milk or the
stars. She freely listened to him, and allowed herself to be led to the
tree of knowledge, the branches of which rose to heaven, and which was
bathed with the divine spirit as with a dew. This tree was covered with
leaves which spoke all the languages of future race