THE COOPERS:
 
 THE FALL OF MAN

Translation and annotations by Jennifer Boeh, Jonathan Holly,

 Jessica Rosenfeld, Elizabeth Villalobos

Annotations:


Translator's Note
Production Commentary
The Cooper's Role in The Fall of Man
The Corpus Christi Feast

SATAN:  My wit is in a fit of fury
        My mind inflamed in torture;
        The Godhead that I saw so clear,
        And perceived his vision of nature
        And mankind
	   I was offended by his creation
	   As he likened Man to an angel.
	   We were fair and bright,
	   Therefore I thought that he
	   Like us taken might
	   And offended me.
	  I was angst with envy
	  Of the man he created
	  But now he has given him a mate
 	  And I will go to her swiftly
	  With the intent
	  To disrupt God's plan
	  And take woman from man.
	  My anguish will cease
	  If I can betray him
	  By destroying what is his.
	  Soon I will assay.
	  Like a worm I will go to her
	  And speak with a slippery tongue.
	  Eve, Eve...
EVE:  Who is there?
SATAN:  I, a friend.
	   And I come with good fortune
	   Believe me.
	   Of all the fruit you see hanging
	   In Paradise, why do you not eat?
EVE:  Harm would assail us
	 If we take from the tree
	 All we thought to be good.
SATAN:  And why not from that one tree
	   With many others around?
EVE:  Our Lord God forbids it.
	 Neither Adam nor I
	 May pluck the fruit from
	 That tree.	
	 If we did, he said we would die
	 And our bliss would end abruptly.
SATAN:  But Eve listen to me
	   Take heed and you will learn
	   His true intentions 
        And the nature of his words.
	   I know why he forbad you
	   To eat the fruit:
	   He, like no other, knows of
	   The great virtues lying within.
	   For you will see,
	   Who eats the fruit of good and ill 
	   Will share in God's knowledge.
EVE:  Why, what are you
      That tells this tale to me?
SATAN:  A worm that knows how you
	   May be worshipped like him.
EVE:  But what worship would we win?
      It would be futile to eat the fruit
      When we already have lordship over
	 All that is good on earth.
SATAN:  No, Woman!
	   You will rise to a greater state
	   And you will do as I say.
EVE:  We will not do
      What our God will not permit.
SATAN:  No, have trust, it is benign
	   You may eat in good mind.
	   In there lies no peril
	   But worship and great winning,
	   Like God, you will be wise
	   And peer to him in all virtue
	   You will be gods
	   And have knowledge of ill and 
        Good, just as he.
EVE:  Honestly, are you speaking the truth?
SATAN:  Yes, why don't you believe me?
	   I would never tell a lie
	   Or attempt to deceive you.
	   Come, we will trust each other
	   And pluck this fruit for our food.
Eve accepts the apple.
SATAN:  Do not be abashed, but bite boldly
	   And entice Adam to amend his mood
	   And embellish his bliss.
Satan exits.
EVE:  Adam, eat this good fruit.
ADAM:  Woman, why did you take this?
	  Our lord commanded us to honor 
	  And not eat from his tree.
	  Your work will summon his wrath
	  At last you've faltered.
EVE:  No, Adam, stop grieving
      And I will say the reason why.
      A worm has taught me that 
	 We will be like gods, you and I,
	 If we eat 
	 From this tree; Adam, I beg
	 You to accept this fruit.
	 We will be as wise
	 As God in heaven
	 And venerated twice.
	 Come, eat this meat.
ADAM:  If I eat will I learn
	  truth of your words?
EVE:  Yes, bite boldly, for it is true,
	 We will be gods and know all things.
ADAM:  To win that name
	  I will taste at your coaxing.
Adam accepts and eats.
ADAM:  Oh, what have I done, but shamed!
	  Ill counsel has sent woe to me
	  Ah Eve, you are to blame
	  Your words enticed me 
	  And now I feel shame
	  
	  My body is naked and bare.
EVE:  Oh Adam, so am I.
ADAM:  For sorrow's sake why don't we sink?
	  We have grieved God almighty
	  He who made me man-
	  Broken his command cruelly
	  That, which we began.
	  This work, Eve, is evil,
	  You have made a bad bargain!
EVE:  No Adam, don't blame me!
ADAM:  If not you Eve, who then?
EVE:  The worm betrayed me, telling 
	 Tales with his loose tongue.
ADAM:  Oh, why was I coaxed 
	  By the trifles you spoke.
	  Now left alone
	  Pleading for mercy and regretting 
	  The wretched deed I have done.
	  Now our bodies are shameful
	  And we must hide them.
EVE:  Let us take these fig leaves
	 And cover our skin.
ADAM:  Right as you say so shall it be
	  For we are naked and all bare;
	  With great haste I hide myself
	  From my Lord's sight; 
	  His quick eyes!
GOD:  Adam, Adam...
ADAM:  Lord.
GOD:  Hear me now!
ADAM:  I hear you, but cannot see you.
GOD:  What was your reasoning
	 For doing these deeds?
ADAM:  Lord, Eve did me wrong
	  Feeding my mind evil seeds.
GOD:  Tell me Eve what you have gained
	 Eating the fruit I bid you leave
	 Hanging from the tree?
EVE:  Believe me Lord, a worm
	 Enticed me
	 To do that wretched deed.
GOD:  Oh, wicked worm, with trickery
	 Damned you forever
	 Now, with all my strength
	 I must curse thee.
	 On your mind the curse will lie.
      Your bodies are full of enmity
	 With all mankind at your side.
	 Earth will be your sustenance 
	 To eat and drink.
	 Also, Adam and Eve,
	 On earth you will sweat and slave
      And bleed for your food.
ADAM:  Alas, when might we sink?
	  We that have all world's good,
	  Are now cursed and soiled.
GOD:  Now drive these two to middle-
	 Earth since it is their liking and
	 Their will.
	 Adam and Eve, be gone!
	 This is no longer your dwelling;
	 May you go swiftly and
	 Sing only of sorrow.
ADAM: Then for sorrow and care
	 Our hands are our tomorrow.