As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of decay, Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. The death of the frail, delicate flowers was indeed a cause of sorrow; but when the goodly trees cast off their leaves, the scene brought vividly to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living thing.

Da Adam og hans ledsager så de første tegn på forfald i visnende blomster og faldende blade, sørgede de dybere, end nutidens mennesker sørger over deres døde. Der var i sandhed grund til at sørge over de sarte blomsters døde; men når de smukke træer mistede deres blade, indprentede dette syn dem den grusomme kendsgerning, at døden er hvert levende væsens lod.