But while the Fall consisted in Disobedience it resulted, like Satan’s, from Pride (De Civ. Dei, XIV, 13). Hence Satan approaches Eve through her Pride: first by flattery of her beauty (P.L. IX, 532–48) which ‘should be seen . . . ador’d and served by Angels’ and secondly (this is more important) by urging her selfhood to direct revolt against the fact of being subject to God at all. ‘Why,’ he asks, ‘was this forbid? Why but to keep ye low and ignorant, His worshippers?’ (IX, 703).
