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8
WIFE OF BEITH

Adam, quoth she I shall be in
In ſpite of all ſuch churles as the;
Thou art the original of all ſin,
For eating of the forbidden tree,
But for thy foul offences ſlyting free,
Adam went back and let her be,
Looking as if his noſe had bled,
Then mother Eve did at him ſpeer,
Who was it there that made ſuch din?
He ſaid a woman would be here,
For me I durſt not let her in.
I'll go ſaid she and ask her will,
Her company I would have fain.
But ay she cry d and knoked ſtill,
And in no ways would ſhe refrain.
Daughter, ſaid Eve, you will do well,
To come again another time;
Heaven's not won by ſword nor ſteel,
Nor one that's guilty of a crime.
Mother ſaid she the fault is thine,
That knocking here ſo long I ſtand.
Thy guilt is more than that of mine,
If thou wilt right'y underſtand,
Thou waſt the cauſe of all our ſin,
Wherein we were born and conceiv'd,
Our miſery thou didſt begin,
By thee thy huſband was deceiv'd.
Eve went back where Noah was
And told him all how she was blam'd
Of her great sin and firſt treſspaſs

Whereof she was ſo much asham'd.