the mortal combat with the serpent.

1 when the accursed serpent saw adam and eve, it swelled its head, stood on its tail, and with eyes blood-red, acted like it would kill them.

2 it made straight for eve, and ran after her; while adam standing by, cried because he had no stick in his hand with which to hit the serpent, and did not know how to put it to death.

3 but with a heart burning for eve, adam approached the serpent, and held it by the tail; when it turned towards him and said to him:—

4 "o adam, because of you and of eve, i am slippery, and go on my belly." then with its great strength, it threw down adam and eve and squeezed them, and tried to kill them.

5 but god sent an angel who threw the serpent away from them, and raised them up.

6 then the word of god came to the serpent, and said to it, "the first time i made you slick, and made you to go on your belly; but i did not deprive you of speech.

7 this time, however, you will be mute, and you and your race will speak no more; because, the first time my creatures were ruined because of you, and this time you tried to kill them."

8 then the serpent was struck mute, and was no longer able to speak.

9 and a wind blew down from heaven by the command of god and carried away the serpent from adam and eve, and threw it on the seashore where it landed in india.