Parva fabula, pars tertia

Latina:
Postquam Deus Adamam fecisset, Satana eius custos remanebat esse. Olim quondam angelus illo venire constituit, nocere volens. Nesciens vero daemonem esse, homo serpentem vidit esse aliud animal quod appellare debiturus erat. Vir serpenti venit et dicebat, "Ave, animal sublime." Serpens, suspendens in arbore, subridebat, ut loquebatur nesciens vir.

"Quid agis? Dic mihi, quaeso, quod facias ut tibi idoneum nomen dare possim," rogavit vir, nam datus est officium ut omnia animalia terrae appellaret.

"Ave, O dilectande homo, et salve! Magnus animus sum qui vocatur Lucifer filius aurorae! Habes nomen melius mihi?" respondit serpens mala.

Perplexus, vir quaesivit, "Habes iam nomen? Sed Dominus me iussit appellare omnia animalia terrae, tacens exceptiones. Quomodo exciperis ex ceteris?"

Tum Satana exclamabat, "Nescivi te nescire! Ita res est, natus sum priusquam es. Nescis me, mi amice. Senissimus optimusque omnium sum, potentissimus et sapientissimus, surgens prae omnibus."

Vir perplexior fiebat et solum isdem verbis referre potuit, dicens Deum quam potentem et cetera esse.

Satana consensum simulavit et subito discessit, iubens Adamam salvere. Sed in hac breve mutatione est male volens vox tradita in pectorem hominis.

English:
After God had made Adam, Satan remained his guardian angel. Once, the former angel decided to come to that man, wishing to do harm. Truly ignorant of the demon's existence, the man saw that the serpent was another animal which he would have to name. The man came to the serpent and began to say, "Hail, noble animal." The serpent, hanging in the tree, smiled down on him, as the unknowing man was speaking.

"How do you do? Please tell me what you do, so that I can give you a proper name," the man asked, for a duty was given to him to name all the animals of the earth.

"Hail, sir worthy of esteem, and hello! I am the great soul who is called Lucifer, son of the dawn! Do you have a better name for me?" The evil serpent responded.

Perplexed, the man asked, "You already have a name? But the Lord commanded me to name all the animals of the earth, mentioning no exceptions. How are you excluded from the rest?"

Then Satan began to exclaim, "I didn't know you were ignorant! Of course, I was born before you. You don't know me, my friend. I am the eldest and best of all, rising before all, the mightiest and wisest one."

The man was becoming more confused and could only answer with the same words, saying how mighty God was and so forth.

Satan feigned agreement and suddenly departed, bidding Adam farewell. But in this short exchange, a malevolent voice was seeded into the heart of man.