Introduction

The Jeu d'Adam was a twelfth-century French mystery play, which depicts the conversation between Eve and the Devil in the Garden of Eden. These excerpts are from the detailed stage directions provided by an anonymous author.

Stage Directions

[Initial stage directions]

Let Paradise be set up in a somewhat lofty place; let there be put about it curtains and silken hangings, at such an height that those persons who shall be in Paradise can be seen from the shoulders upward; let there be planted sweet-smelling flowers and foliage; let divers trees be therein, and fruits hanging upon them, so that it may seem a most delectable place. Then let the Savior come, clothed in a dalmatic, and let Adam and Eve be set before him. Let Adam be clothed in a red tunic; Eve, however, in a woman's garment of white, and a white silken wimple; and let them both stand before the Figure [Figura, i.e., God]; but Adam a little nearer, with composed countenance; Eve, however, with count[enance] a little more subdued. And let Adam himself be well instructed when he shall make his answers, lest in answering he be either too swift or too slow. Let not only Adam, but all the persons, be so instructed that they shall speak composedly and shall use such gestures as become the matter whereof they are speaking; and in uttering the verses, let them neither add a syllable nor take away, but let them pronounce all clearly; and let those things that are to be said be said in their due order. Whoever shall speak the name of Paradise, let him look back at it and point it out with his hand.

[The stage directions for the temptation scene read as follows]

Then a serpent, cunningly put together, shall ascend along the trunk of the forbidden tree, unto which Eve shall approach her ear, as if hearkening unto its counsel. Thereafter, Eve shall take the apple, and shall offer it unto Adam.. . . Then shall Adam eat a part of the apple; and having eaten it, he shall straightway take knowledge of his sin; and he shall bow himself down so that he cannot be seen of the people, and shall put off his goodly garments, and shall put on poor garments of fig-leaves sewn together; and manifesting exceeding great sorrow, he shall be gin his lamentation.

[After the fall of man, Adam and Eve]

…shall be clean outside of Paradise, sad and confounded in appearance, they shall bow themselves to the ground, even unto their feet, and the Figure shall point to them with his hand, his face being turned toward Paradise; and the choir shall begin: "Behold Adam is become as one [of us]." And when this is ended, the Figure shall go back unto the church. Then shall Adam have a spade and Eve a mattock, and they shall begin to till the ground, and they shall sow wheat therein. After they shall have finished their sowing, they shall go and sit for a season in a certain place, as if wearied with their toil, and with tearful eyes shall they look back ofttimes at Paradise, beating their breasts. Meanwhile shall the Devil come and plant thorns and thistles in their tillage, and then he shall depart. When Adam and Eve come to their tillage, and when they shall have beheld the thorns and thistles that have sprung up, stricken with grievous sorrow, they shall cast themselves down upon the ground; and remaining there, they shall beat their breasts and their thighs, manifesting their grief by their gestures; and Adam shall then begin his lamentation.

[Hellmouth is the ultimate destination of the first sinners]

Then shall the Devil come, and three or four other devils with him, bearing in their hands chains and iron shackles, which they shall place on the necks of Adam and Eve. And certain ones shall push them on, others shall drag them toward Hell; other devils, however, shall be close beside Hell, waiting for them as they come, and these shall make a great dancing and jubilation over their destruction; and other devils shall, one after another, point to them as they come; and they shall take them up and thrust them into Hell; and thereupon they shall cause a great smoke to arise, and they shall shout one to another in Hell, greatly rejoicing; and they shall dash together their pots and kettles, so that they may be heard without. And after some little interval, the devils shall go forth, and shall run to and. fro in the square; certain of them, however, shall remain behind in Hell.


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