Exhibit (3) (ii)

April 26, 2004

New England Variable Life Separate Account
New England Life Insurance Company
501 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In my capacity as Counsel of New England Life Insurance Company (the
"Company"), I am rendering the following opinion in connection with the filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission of an amendment to the registration
statement on Form S-6 (File No. 33-52050) under the Securities Act of 1933. This
Amendment to the Registration Statement is being filed with respect to
individual Variable Ordinary Life Insurance Policies (the "Policies") issued by
New England Variable Life Separate Account (the "Account"). It is my
professional opinion that:

     1.   The Account is a separate investment account of the Company and is
          validly existing pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of
          Massachusetts.

     2.   The Variable Ordinary Life Insurance Policies, when issued in
          accordance with the prospectus contained in the amendment to the
          Registration Statement and in compliance with applicable local law,
          are and will be legal and binding obligations of the Company in
          accordance with their terms; and

     3.   Assets attributable to reserves and other contract liabilities and
          held in the Account will not be chargeable with liabilities arising
          out of any other business the Company may conduct.

     In forming this opinion, I have made such examination of law and examined
such records and other documents as in my judgment are necessary and
appropriate.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of my name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus supplement contained in the amendment to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ Marie C. Swift
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Marie C. Swift
                                        Vice President and Counsel