Creation could repeat, yet would be loth Us to abolish, lest the adversary [God Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom Most favours; who can please him long? Me first
He ruin'd, now Mankind; whom will he next?" Matter of scorn, not to be given the foe. However I with thee have fix'd my lot, Certain to undergo like doom: if death Consort 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 state cannot be sever'd; we are one, One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself." So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. "O glorious trial of exceeding love, Illustrious evidence, example high! Engaging me to emulate; but, short Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,
Adam? from whose dear side I boast me sprung, And gladly of our union hear thee speak, One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof This day affords, declaring thee resolv'd, Rather than death, or aught than death more dread,
Shall separate us, link'd in love so dear, To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, If any be, of tasting this fair fruit ;
Whose virtue (for of good still good proceeds, Direct, or by occasion,) hath presented This happy trial of thy love, which else So eminently never had been known. Were it I thought death menac'd would ensue This my attempt, I would sustain alone The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly, assur'd Remarkably so late of thy so true, So faithful, love unequall'd: but I feel Far otherwise the event; not death, but life Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys, Taste so divine, that what of sweet before Hath touch'd my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.
On my experience, Adam, freely taste, And fear of death deliver to the winds."
So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. In recompense (for such compliance bad Such recompense best merits) from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, Against his better knowledge; not deceiv'd,' But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from ber entrails, as again In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; Sky lour'd; and, muttering thunder, some sad Wept at completing of the mortal sin [drops Original: while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate
Her former trespass fear'd, the more to sooth Him with her lov'd society; that now, As with new wine intoxicated both, They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel Divinity within them breeding wings. Wherewith to scoin the Earth: but that false fruit
Far other operation first display'd, Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move.
"Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, And elegant, of sapience no small part; Since to each meaning savour we apply, And palate call judicious; I the praise Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd. Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain'd From this delightful fruit, nor known till now True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be In things to us forbidd'n, it might be wish'd, For this one tree had been forbidden ten. But come, so well refresh'd, now let us play, As meet is, after such delicious fare; For never did thy beauty, since the day I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd With all perfections, so inflame my sense With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree !"
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent; well understood Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. Her hand he seiz'd; and to a shady bank, Thick over-head with verdant roof imbower'd, He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,
And hyacinths; Earth's freshest softest lap. There they their fill of love and love's disport Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep Oppress'd them, wearied with their amorous
Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, That with exhilarating vapour bland
About their spirits had play'd, and inmost powers Made err, was now exhal'd; and grosser sleep, Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams Encumber'd, now had left them; up they rose As from unrest; and, each the other viewing, Soon found their eyes how open'd, and their minds
How darken'd; innocence, that as a veil Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was
Just confidence, and native righteousness, And honour, from about them, naked left To guilty shame; he cover'd, but his robe Uncover'd more. So rose the Danite strong, Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap Of Philistéan Dalilah, and wak'd Shorn of his strength, they destitute and bare Of all their virtue: silent, and in face Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute: Till Adam, though not less than Eve abash'd, At length gave utterance to these words con- strain'd.
"O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear To that false worm, of whomsoever taught To counterfeit inan's voice; true in our fall, False in our promis'd rising; since our eyes Open'd we find indeed, and find we know Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; Bad fruit of knowledge; if this be to know; Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, Of innocence, of faith, of purity,
| Our wonted ornaments now soil'd and stain'd,
And in our faces evident the signs Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; Even shame, the last of evils; of the first Be sure then.-How shall I behold the face Henceforth of God or angel, erst with joy And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes
Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze Insufferably bright. O! might I here In solitude live savage; in some glade Obscur'd, where highest woods, impenetrable To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad
And brown as evening: cover me, ye pines! Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs Hide me, where I may never see them more !— But let us now, as in bad plight, devise What best may for the present serve to hide The parts of each from other, that seem most To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sew'd,
And girded on our loins, may cover round Those middle parts; that this new comer,
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean." So counsell'd he, and both together went Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renown'd, But such as at this day, to Indians known, In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms Branching so broad and long, that in the ground The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow About the mother tree, a pillar'd shade High over-arch'd, and echoing walks between : There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: those leaves
They gather'd, broad as Amazonian targe; And, with what skill they had, together sew'd, To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide Their guilt and dreaded shame! O, how unlike To that first naked glory! Such of late Columbus found the American, so girt With feather'd cincture; naked else, and wild Among the trees on isles and woody shores. Thus fenc'd, and, as they thought, their shame in part
Cover'd, but not at rest or ease of mind, They sat them down to weep; nor only tears Rain'd at their eyes, but high winds worse within
Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore Their inward state of mind, calm region once And full of peace, now tost and turbulent : For Understanding rul'd not, and the Will Heard not her lore; both in subjection now To Sensual Appetite, who from beneath Usurping over sovran Reason claim'd Superior sway: from thus distemper'd breast, Adam, estrang'd in look and alter'd style, Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd.
"Would thou hadst hearken'd to my words,
With me, as I besought thee, when that strange Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, I know not whence possess'd thee; we had then
Remain'd still happy; not as now, despoil'd Of all our good; sham'd, naked, miserable! Let none henceforth seek needless cause to ap- prove
The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail."
To whom, soon mov'd with touch of blame,
"What words have pass'd thy lips, Adam severe! Imput'st thou that to my default, or will Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows
But might as ill have happen'd thou being by, Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there, Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have dis cern'd
Fraud in the serpent, speaking as he spake; No ground of enmity between us known, Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm, Was I to have never parted from thy side? As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, Command me absolutely not to go, Going into such danger, as thou saidst? Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay; Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. Hadst thou been firm and fix'd in thy dissent, Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with me.”
To whom, then first incens'd, Adam replied, "Is this the love, is this the recompense Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! Express'd Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I; Who might have liv'd, and joy'd immortal bliss, Yet willingly chose rather death with thee? And am I now upbraided as the cause Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking enemy That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; And force upon free will hath here no place. But confidence then bore thee on; secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps I also err'd, in overmuch admiring What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I thought No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue That errour now, which is become my crime, And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, She first his weak indulgence will accuse."
Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; And of their vain contést appear'd no end.
Man's transgression known, the guardian-angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved;
With pity, violated not their bliss. About the new-arriv'd in multitudes The ethereal people ran, to hear and know How all befel: they towards the throne su preme,
Accountable, made haste, to make appear! With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance, And easily approv'd; when the Most High Eternal Father, from his secret cloud Amidst, in thunder utter'd thus his voice. "Assembled angels, and ye powers return'd From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd,
God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wonderous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in Hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the place of Man: to make the way easier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, accord-Nor troubled at these tidings from the Earth, ing to the track that Satan first made; then, preparing for Earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his suc- cess against Man; instead of applause is en- tertained with a general hiss by all his audi- ence, transformed with himself also suddenly into serpents according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels the final vic- tory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the present, commands his angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their off- spring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but, conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the serpent; and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication.
Which your sincerest care could not prevent, Foretold so lately what would come to pass, When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from I told ye then he should prevail, and speed On his bad errand; Man should be seduc'd, And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fall'n he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On his transgression,-death denounc'd that day?
MEAN while the heinous and despiteful act Of Satan done in Paradise; and how He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart [eye Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind [arm'd; Of Man, with strength entire, and free will, Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still re- member'd,
The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, Whoever tempted; which they not obeying Incurr'd (what could they less?) the penalty; And, manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall. Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste The angelic guards ascead, mute, and sad, For Man; for of his state by this they knew, Much wondering how the subtle fiend had stol'n
Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news From Earth arriv'd at Heaven-gate, displeas'd All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages, yet, mix'd
Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. Justice shall not return as bounty scorn'd. But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferr'd All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Easy it may be seen that I intend [Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee Man's friend, his Mediator, his design'd Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n "
So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded deity: he full Resplendent all his Father manifest Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild.
"Father Eternal, thine is to decree; Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son belov'd, May'st ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge On Earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st,
Whoever judg'd, the worst on me must light, When time shall be; for so I undertook Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain Of right, that I may mitigate their doom On me deriv'd; yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. [none Attendance none shall need, nor train, where Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd, Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd, Convict by flight, and rebel to all law : Conviction to the serpent none belongs."
Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory. Him thrones, and
Princedoms, and dominations ministrant, Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence
Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. Down he descended straight; the speed of gods Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.
Now was the Sun in western cadence low From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool,
Came the mild judge, and intercessor both, To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard Now walking in the garden, by soft winds Brought to their ears, while day declin'd; they heard,
And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud. "Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to
My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, Not pleas'd, thus entertain'd with solitude, Where obvious duty ere while appear'd unsought: Or come I less conspicuous, or what change Absents thee, or what chance detains ?-Come forth !"
He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first [pos'd; To offend; discountenanc'd both, and discomLove was not in their looks, either to God, Or to each other; but apparent guilt, And shame, and perturbation, and despair, Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answer'd brief.
"I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voi ce Afraid, being naked, hid myself." To whom The gracious Judge without revile replied. "My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd,
But still rejoic'd; how is it now become
So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree, Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?"
To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. "O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand Before my judge; either to undergo Myself the total crime, or to accuse My other self, the partner of my life; Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal, and not expose to blame By my complaint: but strict necessity Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; Lest on my head both sin and punishment, However insupportable, be all Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.This woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, And gav'st me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, And what she did, whatever in itself, Her doing seem'd to justify the deed; She gave me of the tree, and I did eat."
To whom the sovran Presence thus replied. "Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, Superior, or but equal, that to her
Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place
Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, And for thee, whose perfection far excell'd Hers in all real dignity? Adorn'd She was indeed, and lovely, to attract Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts Were such, as under government well seem'd; Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part And person, hadst thou known thyself aright." So having said, he thus to Eve in few.
Say woman, what is this which thou hast done?"
To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelm'd,
Confessing soon, yet not before her judge Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied. "The serpent me beguil'd, and I did eat." Which when the Lord God heard, without delay
To judgment he proceeded on the accus'd Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer The guilt on him, who made him instrument Of mischief, and polluted from the end Of his creation; justly then accurs'd, As vitiated in nature: more to know Concern'd not Man, (since he no further knew) Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last To Satan first in sin his doom applied, Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best: And on the serpent thus his curse let fall.
"Because thou hast done this, thou art accurs'd Above all cattle, each beast of the field; Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, And dust shall eat all the days of thy life. Between thee and the woman I will put Enmity, and between thine and her seed; Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel."
So spake this oracle, then verified When Jesus, son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from HeaPrince of the air; then, rising from his grave Spoil'd principalities and powers, triumph'd In open show; and, with ascension bright, Captivity led captive through the air, The realm itself of Satan, long usurp'd; Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; Ev'n he, who now foretold his fatal bruise: And to the woman thus his sentence turn'd.
"Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply By thy conception; children thou shalt bring In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule." On Adam last thus judgment he pronounc'd. "Because thou hast hearken'd to the voice of thy wife,
And eaten of the tree, concerning which
I charg'd thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof:'
Curs'd is the ground for thy sake; thot in sorrow Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, Till thou return unto the ground; for thou Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return." So judg'd he Man, both judge and saviour sent; [day, And the instant stroke of death, denounc'd that
Remov'd far off; then, pitying how they stood Before him naked to the air, that now Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; As when he wash'd his servants' feet; so now, As father of his family, he clad
Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; And thought not much to clothe his enemies: Nor he their outward only with the skins Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, Arraying, cover'd from his Father's sight. To him with swift ascent he up return'd, Into his blissful bosom reassum'd In glory, as of old; to him appeas'd, All, though all-knowing, what had pass'd with Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.
Mean while, ere thus was sinn'd and judg'd on Earth,
Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, In counterview within the gates, that now Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame Far into Chaos, since the fiend pass'd through, Sin opening; who thus now to Death began.
"O son, why sit we here each other viewing Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives In other worlds, and happier seat provides For us, his offspring dear? It cannot be But that success attends him; if mishap, Ere this he had return'd, with fury driven By his avengers; since no place like this Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, Wings growing, and dominion given me large, Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, Or sympathy, or some connatural force, Powerful at greatest distance to unite, With secret amity, things of like kind, By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade Inseparable, must with me along :
For Death from Sin no power can separate. But, lest the difficulty of passing back Stay his return perhaps over this gulf Impassable, impervious; let us try
Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine Not unagreeable, to found a path
Over this main from Hell to that new world, Where Satan now prevails; a monument Of merit high to all the infernal host, Fasing their passage hence, for intercourse, Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn By this new felt-attraction and instinct." Whom thus the meagre shadow answer'd soon. "Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste The savour of death from all things there that Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest [live: Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid."
So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell Of mortal change on Earth. As when a flock Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, Against the day of battle, to a field, Where armies lie encamp'd, come flying, lur'd With scent of living carcasses design'd For death, the following day, in bloody fight: So scented the grim feature, and upturn'd
His nostril wide into the murky air; Sagacious of his quarry from so far.
Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark,
Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great)
Hovering upon the waters, what they met Solid or slimy, as in raging sea
Tost up and down, together crouded drove, From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell:
As when two polar winds, blowing adverse Upon the Cronian sea, together drive Mountains of ice, that stop the imagin'd way Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry, As with a trident smote, and fix'd as firm As Delos, floating once; the rest his look Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move; And with Asphaltic slime, broad as the gate, Deep to the roots of Hell the gather'd beach [on They fasten'd, and the mole immense wrought Over the foaming deep high-arch'd, a bridge Of length prodigious, joining to the wall Immoveable of this now fenceless world, Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. So, if great things to small may be compar'd, Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, Came to the sea; and, over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia join'd, And scourg'd with many a stroke the indignant
[art Now had they brought the work by wonderous Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock, Over the vex'd abyss, following the track Of Satan to the self-same place where he First lighted from his wing, and landed safe From out of Chaos, to the outside bare Of this round world with pins of adamant And chains they made all fast, too fast they made And durable! And now in little space The confines met of empyréan Heaven, And of this world; and, on the left hand, Hell With long reach interpos'd; three several ways In sight, to each of these three places led. And now their way to Earth they had descried, To Paradise first tending; when, behold! Satan, in likeness of an angel bright, Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering His zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose : Disguis'd he came ; but those his children dear Their parent soon discern'd, though in disguise. He, after Eve seduc'd, unminded slunk Into the wood fast by; and, changing shape, To observe the sequel, saw bis guileful act By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded, Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought Vain covertures; but when he saw descend The Son of God to judge them, terrified He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath Might suddenly inflict; that past, return'd By night, and listening where the hapless pair Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, Thence gather'd his own doom; which under
Not instant, but of future time, with joy
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