Their tendence or plantation for delight: By fountain or by fhady rivulet
He fought them both, but wifa'd his lap might find Eve feparate, he wish'd, but not with hope Of what fo feldom chanc'd, when to his wifh, Beyond his hope, Eve feparate he fpics, Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, Half fpy'd, fo thick the rofes blufhing round 426 About her glow'd, oft ftooping to fupport Each flow'r of flender ftalk, whofe head though gay
Carnation, purple', azure, or fpeck'd with gold, Hung drooping unfuftain'd; them the upflays 430 Gently with myrtle band, mindlefs the while Herself, though faireft unfupported flower, From her best prop fo far, and form fo nigh. Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd Of ftatelieft covert, cedar, pine, or palm, Then voluble and bold, now hid, now feen Among thick-woven arborets and flowers Imborder'd on each bank, the hand of Eve: Sput more delicious than thofe gardens feign'd Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renown'd Alcinous, hoft of old Laertes' fon,
Or that, not myftic, where the fapient king Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian fpcufe. Mach he the place admir'd, the perfon more. As one who long in populous city pent, Where houfes thick and fewers annoy the air, Forth iluing on a funimer's morn to breathe Among the pleafant villages and farms Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight, The fmell of grain, or tedded grafs, or kine, 450 Or dairy', each rural fight, each rural found; If chance with nymphlike ftep fair virgin pafs, What pleafing feem'd, for her now pleafes more, She molt, and in her look fums all delight: Sach pleasure took the Serpent to behold This flow'ry plat, the fweet recefs of Eve Thus early, thus alone; her heav'nly form Angelic, but more foft, and feminine, Her graceful innocence, her every air
Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, Whofe higher intellectual more I fhun, And ftrength, of courage haughty, and of limb Heroic built, though of terreftrial mold, 485 Foe not informidable, exempt from wound, I not; fo much hath Hell debas'd, and pain Infeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods, Not terrible, though terror be in love And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate, Hate ftronger, under fhow of love well feign'd, The way which to her ruin now I tend.
So fpake the enemy' of mankind, inclos'd In ferpent, inmate bad, and toward Eve Addrefs'd his way, not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as fince, but on his rear, Circular bafe of rifing folds, that tower'd Fold above fold a furging maze, his head Crefted aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect Amidit his circling fpires, that on the grafs Floted redundant: pleafing was his fhape And lovely; never fince of ferpent kind Lovelier, not thofe that in Illyria chang'd Hermione and Cadmus, or the GodIn Epidaurus; nor to which transform'd Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was feen, He with Olympias, this with her who bore Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique At first, as one who fought accefs, but fear'd 511 To interrupt, fide-long he works his way. As when a fhip by fkilful steerfian wrought Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind Veers oft, as oft fo fteers, and fhifts her fail: 515 So varied he, and of his tortuous train Curl'd many a wanton wreath in fight of Eve, To lure her eye; the bufied heard the found Of ruiling leaves, but minded not, as us'd. To fuch difport before her through the field, 520 From every beaft, more duteous at her call, Than at Circean call the herd difguis'd. He bolder now, uncall'd before her stood, But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd His turret crest, and fleck enamel'd neck, Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon the trod. His gentle dumb expreffion turn'd at length The eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad Of her attention gain'd, with ferpent tongue Organic, or impulfe of vocal air, His fraudulent temptation thus began.
Wonder not, fovran Mitrefs, if perhaps Thou canft, who art fole wonder; much less
Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain, Difpleas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze 535 Infatiate, I thus fingle, nor have fear'd Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. Fairest refemblance of thy Maker fair, Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine By gift, and thy celeftial beauty' adore With ravishment beheld, there beft beheld Where univerfally admir'd; but here In this inclosure wild, thefe beafts among, Beholders rude, and fhallow to difcern Half what in thee is fair, one man except, 2 [K]
Who fees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst
A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and ferv'd By Angels numberlefs, thy daily train.
So gloz'd the Tempter, and his proem tun'd; Into the heart of Eve his words made way, 550 Though at the voice much marvelling; at length Not unamaz'd the thus in anfwer fpake. What may this mean? language of man pronounc'd By tongue of brute, and human fenfe exprefs'd? The firft at least of thefe I thought deny'd To beafts, whom God on their creation-day Created mute to all articulate found; The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reas'on, and in their actions oft appears. Thee, Serpent, fubtleft beast of all the field 560 I knew, but not with human voice indued; Redouble then this miracle, and fay, How cam'ft thou fpeakable of mute, and how To me fo friendly grown above the ret Of brutal kind, that daily are in fight: Say, for fuch wonder clames attention due.
To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd. Emprefs of this fair world, refplendent Eve, Eafy to me it is to tell thee all
What thou command'ft, and right thou shouldft be' obey'd:
I was at firit as other beafls that graze The trodden herb, of abje& thoughts and low, As was my food; nor ought but food difcern'd Or fex, and apprehended nothing high: Till on a day roving the field, chanc'd A goodly tree far diftant to behold Loaden with fruit of faireft colors mix'd, Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; When from the boughs a favory odor blown, Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my fenfe 580 Than fmell of fweeteft fenel, or the teats Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, Unfuck'd of lamb or kid, that tend their play. To fatisfy the fharp defire I had Of tafting thofe fair apples, I refolv'd
Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once Pow'rful perfuaders, quicken'd at the fcent Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me to keen. About the mofy trunk I wound me foon, For high from ground the branches would require Thy utmoft reach or Adam's: Round the tree 591 All other beafts that faw, with like defire Longing and envying food, but could not reach. Amid the tree now get, where plenty hung Tempting fo nigh, to pluck and eat my fill I fpar'd not, for fuch pleafure till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found. Sated at length, ere long I might perceive Strange alteration in me, to degree Of reafon in my inward pow'rs, and fpeech 600 Wanted not long, though to this fhape retain'd. Thenceforth to fpeculations high or deep I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind Confider'd all things visible in Heaven, In Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good; But all that fair and good in thy divine Semblance, and in thy beauty's heav'nly ray United I beheld; no fair to thine
| Equivalent or fecond, which compell'd Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come 610 And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd Sovran of creatures, univerfal Dame.
So talk'd the fpirited fly fnake; and Eve Yet more amaz'd unwary thus reply'd. Serpent, thy overpraifing leaves in doubt The virtue of that fruit, in thee first prov'd: But fay, where grows the tree, from hence how far?
For many are the trees of God that grow In Paradife, and various, yet unknown To us, in fuch abundance lies our choice, As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd, Still hanging incorruptible, till men Grow up to their provifion, and more hands Help to difburden Nature of her birth.
To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. 625 Emprefs, the way is ready, and not long, Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,
Fait by a fountain, one fmall thicket paft Of blowing myrrh and balm; if thou accept My conduct, I can bring thee thither foon. Lead then, said Eve. He leading swiftly roll'd
In tangles, and made intricate seem strait, To mifchief fwift. Hope elevates, and joy Brightens his creft; as when a wand'ring fire, Compact of unctuous vapor, which the night 635 Condenfes, and the cold environs round, Kindled through agitation to a flame, Which oft, they fay, fome evil Spi'rit attends, Hovering and blazing with delufive light, Misleads th' amaz'd night-wand'rer from his way To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool, There fwallow'd up and loft, from fuccour far. So glifter'd the dire Snake, and into fraud Led Eve our credulous mother, to the tree Of prohibition, root of all our woe; Which when the faw, thus to her guide she spake. Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming
Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to' excess; The credit of whofe virtue reft with thee, Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. But of this tree we may not tafte nor touch; God fo commanded, and left that command Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live Law to ourselves, our reafon is our law.
To whom the Tempter guilefully reply'd. 655 Indeed! hath God then faid that of the fruit Of all these garden trees ye fhall not eat, Yet Lords declar'd of all in carth or air? To whom thus Eve yet finless. Of the fruit Of each tree in the garden we may eat, But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat Thereof, nor fhall ye touch it, left ye die.
In Athens, or free Rome, where eloquence Florish'd, fince mute, to fome great cause addrefs'd
Stood in himself collected, while each Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, Sometimes in highth began, as no delay Of preface brooking through his zeal of right; So ftanding, moving, or to highth up grown, The Tempter all impaffion'd thus began.
O facred, wife, and wifdom-giving Plant, Mother of fcience, now I feel thy power Within me clear, not only to difcern Things in their caufes, but to trace the ways Of higheft agents, deem'd however wife. Queen of this universe, do not believe Thofe rigid threats of death; ye fhall not die : How fhould you? by the fruit? it gives you life To knowledge; by the threatner? look on me, Me who have touch'd and tasted, yet both live, And life more perfect have attain'd than fate Meant me, by vent'ring higher than my lot. 690 Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast Is open? or will God incenfe his ire For fuch a petty trefpafs, and not praise Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain Of death denounc'd, whatever thing death be, 695 Deterr'd not from achieving what might lead To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; Of good, how juft? of evil, if what is evil Be real, why not known, fince cafier fhunn'd? God therefore cannot hurt you, and be just; 700 Not juft, not God; not fear'd then, nor obey'd; Your fear itfelf of death removes the fear. Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, Why but to keep you low and ignorant, His worshippers; he knows that in the day Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, Yet are but dim, fhall perfectly be then Open'd and clear'd, and ye fhall be as Gods, Atowing both good and evil as they know. That ye thall be as Gods, fince I as Man, Internal Man, is but proportion meet; 1 brute human, ye of human Gods. Sye hail die perhaps, by putting off Human, to put on Gods; death to be wish'd, ugh threaten'd, which no worse than this can bring.
And what are Gods that Man may not become As they, participating God-like food? The Gods are firit, and that advantage use On our belief, that all from them proceeds; 1 queftion it, for this fair earth I fee, War'd by the fun, producing every kind, m nothing: if they all things, who inclos'd 4wledge of good and evil in this tree,
at whole eats thereof, forthwith attains
om without their leave? and wherein lies 725 1.`cĘenfe, that Man fhould thus attain to know? What can your knowledge hurt him, of this tree ort again his will it all be his?
ittavy, and can envy dwell
Into her heart too cafy entrance won: Fix'd on the fruit fhe gaz'd, which to behold 735 Might tempt alone, and in her ears the found Yet rung of his perfuafive words, impregn'd With reafon, to her feeming, and with truth; Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and wak'd
An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell So favory of that fruit, which with defire, Inclinable now grown to touch or tafte, Solicited her longing eyes; yet first
Paufing a while, thus to herfelf fhe mus'd.
Great are thy virtues, doubtlefs, beft of fruits, Though kept from man, and worthy to be'
Whofe tafle, too long forborn, at first affay Gave elocution to the mute, and taught The tongue not made for fpeech to speak thy praise :
Thy praise he also who forbids thy use, Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; Forbids us then to tafte, but his forbidding Commends thee more, while it infers the good By thee communicated, and our want: For good unknown, fure is not had, or had And yet unknown, is as not had at all. In plain then, what forbids he but to know, Forbids us good, forbids us to be wife? Such prohibitions bind not. But if death Binds us with after-bands, what profits then Our inward freedom? In the day we eat Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we fhall die. How dies the Serpent? he hath eat'n and lives, And knows, and fpeaks, and reafons, and difcerns, Irrational till then. For us alone
For beafts it feems: yet that one beaft which first Hath talled, envics not, but brings with joy 770 The good befall'n him, author unfufpe&, Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. What fear I then, rather what know to fear Under this ignorance of good and evil, Of God or death, of law or penalty? Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, Qf virtue to make wife; what hinders then To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? So faying, her rafh hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the fruit, fhe pluck'd, fhe eat: Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her feat Sighing through all her works gave figns of woe, That all was loft. Back to the thicket flunk The guilty Serpent, and well might, for Eve 785 Intent now wholly on her taße, nought elfe Regarded, fuch delight till then, as feem'd In fruit fhe never tafted, whether true Or fancy'd fo, through expectation high Of knowledge, nor was God-head from he thought.
Greedily the ingorg'd without restraint, And knew not eating death: Satiate at length, And highten'd as with wine, jocund and boon, Thus to herself fhe pleasingly began.
O fovran, virtuous, precious of all trees 795 In Paradife, of operation bleft
To fapience, hitherto obfcur'd, infam'd, And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end Created; but henceforth my early care,
Not without fong, each morning, and due praise, Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden cafe Of thy full branches offer'd free to all; Till dieted by thee I grow mature
In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know; Though others envy what they cannot give; 805 For had the gift been theirs, it had not here Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe, Beft guide; not following thee, I had remain'd In ignorance; thou open't wifdom's way, And giv'ft accefs, though fecret fhe retire. And I perhaps am fecret; Heav'n is high, High, and remote to fee from thence diftinct Fach thing on earth; and other care perhaps May have diverted from continual watch Our great forbidder, fafe with all his fpies About him. But to Adam in what fort Shall I appear? fhall I to him make known As yet my change, and give him to partake Full happiness with me, or rather not,
But keep the odds of knowledge in my power 820 Without copartner? fo to add what wants In female fex, the more to draw his love, And render me more equal, and perhaps, A thing not undefirable, fometime Superior; for inferior who is free?
This may be well: but what if God hath feen, And death enfuc? then I fhall be no more, And Adam wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
A death to think. Confirm'd then i refolve, 830 Adam fhall share with me in blifs or woe: So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could indure, without him live no life.
So faying, from the tree her step she turn'd, But first low reverence done, as to the Power 835 That dwelt within, whofe prefence had infus'd Into the plant fciential fap, deriv'd
From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, Waiting defirous her return, had wove Of choiceft flow'rs a garland to adorn Her treffes, and her rural labors crown, As reapers oft are wont their harveit queen. Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new Solace in her return, fo long delay'd; Yet oft his heart, divine of fomething ill, Mifgave him; he the faltring measure felt, And forth to meet her went, the way fhe took That morn when first they parted; by the tree Of knowledge he muft pafs, there he her mct, Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand 850 A bough of faireft fruit, that downy fmil'd, New gather'd, and ambrofial fmeil difus'd. To him he hafted; in her face excufe Came prologue, and apology too prompt, Which with bland words at will the thus addrefs'd. Haft thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my flay? 856 Thee I have mifs'd, and thought it long, depriv'd Thy prefence, agony of love till now Not felt, nor fhall be twice, for never more
Mean I to try, what rafh untry'd I fought, 860 The pain of abfence from thy fight. But frange Hath been the caufe, and wonderful to hear: This tree is not as we are told, a tree Of danger tafted, nor to' evil unknown Opening the way, but of divine effect To open eyes, and make them Gode who tafte; And hath been tafted fuch; the ferpent wife, Or not reftrain'd as we, or not obeying, Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become, Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth Indued with human voice and human fenfe, 8;1 Reasoning to admiration, and with me Perfusively hath fo prevail'd, that I Have alfo tafted, and have also found Th' effects to correfpond: opener mine eyes, 8:5 Uim erft, dilated fpirits, ampler heart, And growing up to Godhead; which for thee Chiefly I fought, without thee can defpife. For blifs, as thou haft part, to me is blis, Tedious, unfhar'd with thee, and odious foon. Thou therefore afo tafte, that equal lot May join us, equal joy, as equal love; Left, thou not tafting, different degree Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce Deity for thee, when fate will not permit. Thus Eve with count'nance blithe her story told; But in her cheek diftemper flushing glow'd. On th' other fide, Adam, foon as he heard The fatal trefpafs done by Eve, amaz'd, Aftonied food and blank, while horror chill & Ran through his veins, and all his joints relx'd. From his flack hand the garland wreath'd for I Down dropt, and all the faded roíes thed; Speechless he food and pale, till thus at length First to himself he inward filence broke.
O faireft of creation, laft and best
Of all God's works, Creature in whom excel'd Whatever can to fight or thought be forni'd, Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! How art thou loft, how on a fudden loft, Defac'd, deflower'd, and now to death devote Rather how haft thou yielded to tranfgrefs The ftrict forbiddance, how to violate The facred fruit forbidd'n? fome curd fraud Of enemy hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown, 3. And me with thee hath ruin'd, for with thee Certain my refolution is to die :
How can I live without thee, how forgo Thy fweet converfe and love fo dearly win'd, To live again in thefe wild woods forlorn? gia) Should God create another Eve, and 1 Another rib afford, yet lofs of thee
Would never from my heart; no, no, I feel The link of nature draw me: Auth et teh, Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy ftate 915 Mine never fhall be parted, blifs or wee.
So having faid, as one from fad difmay Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb73 Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs, Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd.
Bold deed thou haft prefum'd, adventrous Ext. And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd, Had it been only coveting to eye
That facred fruit, facred to abftinence,
Much more to tafte it under ban to touch. But paft who can recall, or done undo? Not God omnipotent, nor Fate; yet fo Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact Is not fo hainous now, foretafted fruit, Profan'd firft by the ferpent, by him first Made common and unhallow'd ere our taste; Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives, Lives, as thou faidft, and gains to live as Man Higher degree of life, inducement ftrong To us, as likely tafting to attain Proportional afcent, which cannot be
But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-Gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wife,
Though threatning, will in earneft fo destroy Us his prime creatures, dignified fo high,
Set over all his works, which in our fall, For us created, needs with us muft fail, Dependent made; fo God fhall uncreate, Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labor lofe,
Not well conceiv'd of God, who though his power Creation could repeat, yet would be loath s to abolish, left the Adverfary Tmph and fay; Fickle their state whom God Moft favors; who can pleafe him long? Me first He ruin'd, now mankind; whom will he next? Matter of fcorn not to be given the Foe. However I with thee have fix'd my lot, Certain to undergo like doom; if death Confort with thee, death is to me as life;
So forcible within my heart I feel
The bond of nature draw me to my own,
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our ftate cannot be fever'd, we are one,
One fich; to lose thee were to lofe myself.
So Adam, and thus Eve to him reply'd. 960 O glorious trial of exceeding love, Illuftrious evidence, example high! Engaging me to emulate, but fhort
Of thy perfection, how fhall I attain,
Adam? from whofe dear fide I boast me fprung, And gladly of our union hear thee fpeak, One heart, one foul in both; whereof good proof This day affords, declaring thee refolv'd, Rather than death or ought than death more dread Shall feparate us, link'd in love fo dear, To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, If any be, of tafting this fair fruit, Whofe virtue (for of good ftill good proceeds, Direct, or by occafion) hath prefented This happy trial of thy love, which elfe
So eminently never had been known. Were it I thought death menac'd would enfue
So faying, the embrac'd him, and for joy 990 Tenderly wept, much won that he his love Had fo ennobled, as of choice to' incur Divine difpleafure for her fake, or death. In recompenfe (for fuch compliance bad Such recompenfe beft merits) from the bough 995 She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With liberal hand: he fcrupled not to eat Against his better knowledge, not deceiv'd, But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 1000 In pangs, and Nature gave a fecond groan, Sky lour'd, and muttering thunder, fome fad drops Wept at completing of the mortal fin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate
As with new wine intoxicated both They fwim in mirth, and fancy that they feel Divinity within them breeding wings, Wherewith to fcorn the earth: but that falfe fruit Far other operation firft difplay'd, Carnal defire inflaming; he on Eve Began to caft lafcivious eyes, fhe him As wantonly repaid; in luft they burn: Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. Eve, now I fee thou art exact of taste, And elegant, of fapience no fmall part, Since to each meaning favor we apply, And palate call judicious; I the praise Yield thee, fo well this day thou hast purvey'd. Much pleasure we have loft, while we abftain'd From this delightful fruit, nor known till now True relish, tafting; if fuch pleafure be
In things to us forbidd'n, it might be wifh'd, 1025 For this one tree had been forbidden ten. But come, fo well refrefl'd, now let us play, As meet is, after fuch delicious fare; For never did thy beauty since the day I faw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd With all perfections, fo inflame my fenfe With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever, bounty of this virtuous tree. So faid he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood Of Eve, whofe eye darted contagious fire. He hand he feiz'd, and to a fhady bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbower'd, He led her nothing loath; flow'rs were the couch, Panfics and violets, and afphodel,
There they their fill of love and love's difport Took largely, of their mutual guilt the féal, The folace of their fin, till dewy fleep Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous play.
Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 1046 That with exhilarating vapor bland
About their spi'rits had play'd, and inmoft powers Made err, was now exhal'd; and groffer fleep Bred of unkindly fumes, with confcious dreams Incumber'd, now had left them; up they rofe As from unreft, and each the other viewing, Soon found their eyes how open'd, and their minds How darken'd; innocence, that as a veil
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