four noble river-streams have their outflow: these were
all partitioned out of one fair-shining water by the might
of the Lord, when he created the earth, and [were thus] 220
sent out into the world. Men dwelling on the earth,
the peoples of the nations, call one of these Fison, which
broadly girdles with its bright streams a quarter of the
earth beyond Hebeleac[7]: in that ancestral soil the sons 225
of men, nations near and far, find the best gold and
precious stones,[8] as the books tell us. Then the second
[river], whose name is Geon, girdles the land and govern-
ment of Ethiopia, an ample kingdom. The third is 230
Tigris, a foaming stream which encircles the people of
Assyria. Such likewise is the fourth, which men among
many a nation now widely call Eufrates....[9]

* * * * *

(_Genesis B intervenes here_.)

* * * * *

Then the Almighty King, the great Lord, came forth
into the garden about mid-day, by his divine will; for 855
our Saviour and merciful Father wished to find out
what his children were doing: he knew that they were
sinful to whom he had given perfection. Bereft of
their beatitude and stricken in spirit, they avoided his
presence by retreating among the shadows of the trees; 860
they hid themselves in dark recesses, when they heard
the holy word of the Lord and feared him. Straight-