1.                 No more of talk where God or Angel guest

2.                 With Man, as with his friend, familiar us’d,

3.                 To sit indulgent, and with him partake

4.                 Rural repast; permitting him the while

5.                 Venial discourse unblam’d. I now must change

6.                 Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach

7.                 Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt,

8.                 And disobedience: on the part of Heaven

9.                 Now alienated, distance and distaste,

10.             Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given,

11.             That brought into this world a world of woe,

12.             Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery

13.             Death’s Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument

14.             Not less but more Heroic than the wrath

15.             Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued

16.             Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage

17.             Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous’d;

18.             Or Neptune’s ire, or Juno’s, that so long

19.             Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea’s son:

20.             If answerable style I can obtain

21.             Of my Celestial Patroness, who deigns

22.             Her nightly visitation unimplor’d,

23.             And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires

24.             Easy my unpremeditated verse:

25.             Since first this subject for heroick song

26.             Pleas’d me long choosing, and beginning late;

27.             Not sedulous by nature to indite

28.             Wars, hitherto the only argument

29.             Heroic deem’d chief mastery to dissect

30.             With long and tedious havock fabled knights

31.             In battles feign’d; the better fortitude

32.             Of patience and heroic martyrdom

33.             Unsung; or to describe races and games,

34.             Or tilting furniture, imblazon’d shields,

35.             Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds,

36.             Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights

37.             At joust and tournament; then marshall’d feast

38.             Serv’d up in hall with sewers and seneshals;

39.             The skill of artifice or office mean,

40.             Not that which justly gives heroick name

41.             To person, or to poem. Me, of these

42.             Nor skill’d nor studious, higher argument

43.             Remains; sufficient of itself to raise

44.             That name, unless an age too late, or cold

45.             Climate, or years, damp my intended wing

46.             Depress’d; and much they may, if all be mine,

47.             Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear.

48.             The sun was sunk, and after him the star

49.             Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring

50.             Twilight upon the earth, short Arbiter

51.             Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end

52.             Night’s Hemisphere had veil’d the Horizon round:

53.             When Satan, who late fled before the threats

54.             Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv’d

55.             In meditated fraud and malice, bent

56.             On man’s destruction, maugre what might hap

57.             Of heavier on himself, fearless return’d

58.             By Night he fled, and at Midnight return’d

59.             From compassing the earth; cautious of day,

60.             Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried

61.             His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim

62.             That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven,

63.             The space of seven continued nights he rode

64.             With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line

65.             He circled; four times crossed the car of night

66.             From pole to pole, traversing each colure;

67.             On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse

68.             From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth

69.             Found unsuspected way. There was a place,

70.             Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change,

71.             Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise,

72.             Into a gulf shot under ground, till part

73.             Rose up a fountain by the tree of life:

74.             In with the river sunk, and with it rose

75.             Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought

76.             Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land,

77.             From Eden over Pontus and the pool

78.             Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob;

79.             Downward as far antarctick; and in length,

80.             West from Orontes to the ocean barred

81.             At Darien; thence to the land where flows

82.             Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed

83.             With narrow search; and with inspection deep

84.             Considered every creature, which of all

85.             Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found

86.             The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field.

87.             Him after long debate, irresolute

88.             Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose

89.             Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom

90.             To enter, and his dark suggestions hide

91.             From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake

92.             Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark,

93.             As from his wit and native subtlety

94.             Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed,

95.             Doubt might beget of diabolick power

96.             Active within, beyond the sense of brute.

97.             Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief

98.             His bursting passion into plaints thus poured.

99.             More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built

100.        With second thoughts, reforming what was old!

101.        O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred

102.        For what God, after better, worse would build?

103.        Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens

104.        That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps,

105.        Light above light, for thee alone, as seems,

106.        In thee concentring all their precious beams

107.        Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven

108.        Is center, yet extends to all; so thou,

109.        Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee,

110.        Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears

111.        Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth

112.        Of creatures animate with gradual life

113.        Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man.

114.        With what delight could I have walked thee round,

115.        If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange

116.        Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,

117.        Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned,

118.        Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these

119.        Find place or refuge; and the more I see

120.        Pleasures about me, so much more I feel

121.        Torment within me, as from the hateful siege

122.        Of contraries: all good to me becomes

123.        Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state.

124.        But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven

125.        To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven’s Supreme;

126.        Nor hope to be myself less miserable

127.        By what I seek, but others to make such

128.        As I, though thereby worse to me redound:

129.        For only in destroying I find ease

130.        To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed,

131.        Or won to what may work his utter loss,

132.        For whom all this was made, all this will soon

133.        Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe;

134.        In woe then; that destruction wide may range:

135.        To me shall be the glory sole among

136.        The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred

137.        What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days

138.        Continued making; and who knows how long

139.        Before had been contriving? though perhaps

140.        Not longer than since I, in one night, freed

141.        From servitude inglorious well nigh half

142.        The angelic name, and thinner left the throng

143.        Of his adorers: He, to be avenged,

144.        And to repair his numbers thus impaired,

145.        Whether such virtue spent of old now failed

146.        More Angels to create, if they at least

147.        Are his created, or, to spite us more,

148.        Determined to advance into our room

149.        A creature formed of earth, and him endow,

150.        Exalted from so base original,

151.        With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed,

152.        He effected; Man he made, and for him built

153.        Magnificent this world, and earth his seat,

154.        Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity!

155.        Subjected to his service angel-wings,

156.        And flaming ministers to watch and tend

157.        Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance

158.        I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist

159.        Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry

160.        In every bush and brake, where hap may find

161.        The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds

162.        To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.

163.        O foul descent! that I, who erst contended

164.        With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained

165.        Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime,

166.        This essence to incarnate and imbrute,

167.        That to the highth of Deity aspired!

168.        But what will not ambition and revenge

169.        Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low

170.        As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last,

171.        To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,

172.        Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils:

173.        Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed,

174.        Since higher I fall short, on him who next

175.        Provokes my envy, this new favourite

176.        Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite,

177.        Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised

178.        From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid.

179.        So saying, through each thicket dank or dry,

180.        Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on

181.        His midnight-search, where soonest he might find

182.        The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found

183.        In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled,

184.        His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles:

185.        Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,

186.        Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb,

187.        Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth

188.        The Devil entered; and his brutal sense,

189.        In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired

190.        With act intelligential; but his sleep

191.        Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn.

192.        Now, when as sacred light began to dawn

193.        In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed

194.        Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe,

195.        From the Earth’s great altar send up silent praise

196.        To the Creator, and his nostrils fill

197.        With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,

198.        And joined their vocal worship to the quire

199.        Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake

200.        The season prime for sweetest scents and airs:

201.        Then commune, how that day they best may ply

202.        Their growing work: for much their work out-grew

203.        The hands’ dispatch of two gardening so wide,

204.        And Eve first to her husband thus began.

205.        Adam, well may we labour still to dress

206.        This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower,

207.        Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands

208.        Aid us, the work under our labour grows,

209.        Luxurious by restraint; what we by day

210.        Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,

211.        One night or two with wanton growth derides

212.        Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise,

213.        Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present:

214.        Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice

215.        Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind

216.        The woodbine round this arbour, or direct

217.        The clasping ivy where to climb; while I,

218.        In yonder spring of roses intermixed

219.        With myrtle, find what to redress till noon:

220.        For, while so near each other thus all day

221.        Our task we choose, what wonder if so near

222.        Looks intervene and smiles, or object new

223.        Casual discourse draw on; which intermits

224.        Our day’s work, brought to little, though begun

225.        Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned?

226.        To whom mild answer Adam thus returned.

227.        Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond

228.        Compare above all living creatures dear!

229.        Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed,

230.        How we might best fulfil the work which here

231.        God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass

232.        Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found

233.        In woman, than to study houshold good,

234.        And good works in her husband to promote.

235.        Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed

236.        Labour, as to debar us when we need

237.        Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,

238.        Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse

239.        Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,

240.        To brute denied, and are of love the food;

241.        Love, not the lowest end of human life.

242.        For not to irksome toil, but to delight,

243.        He made us, and delight to reason joined.

244.        These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands

245.        Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide

246.        As we need walk, till younger hands ere long

247.        Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps

248.        Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:

249.        For solitude sometimes is best society,

250.        And short retirement urges sweet return.

251.        But other doubt possesses me, lest harm

252.        Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest

253.        What hath been warned us, what malicious foe

254.        Envying our happiness, and of his own

255.        Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame

256.        By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand

257.        Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find

258.        His wish and best advantage, us asunder;

259.        Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each

260.        To other speedy aid might lend at need:

261.        Whether his first design be to withdraw

262.        Our fealty from God, or to disturb

263.        Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss

264.        Enjoyed by us excites his envy more;

265.        Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side

266.        That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects.

267.        The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,

268.        Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,

269.        Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.

270.        To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,

271.        As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,

272.        With sweet austere composure thus replied.

273.        Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth’s Lord!

274.        That such an enemy we have, who seeks

275.        Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn,

276.        And from the parting Angel over-heard,

277.        As in a shady nook I stood behind,

278.        Just then returned at shut of evening flowers.

279.        But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt

280.        To God or thee, because we have a foe

281.        May tempt it, I expected not to hear.

282.        His violence thou fearest not, being such

283.        As we, not capable of death or pain,

284.        Can either not receive, or can repel.

285.        His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers

286.        Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love

287.        Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced;

288.        Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast,

289.        Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?

290.        To whom with healing words Adam replied.

291.        Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!

292.        For such thou art; from sin and blame entire:

293.        Not diffident of thee do I dissuade

294.        Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid

295.        The attempt itself, intended by our foe.

296.        For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses

297.        The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed

298.        Not incorruptible of faith, not proof

299.        Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn

300.        And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong,

301.        Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,

302.        If such affront I labour to avert

303.        From thee alone, which on us both at once

304.        The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare;

305.        Or daring, first on me the assault shall light.

306.        Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;

307.        Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce

308.        Angels; nor think superfluous other’s aid.

309.        I, from the influence of thy looks, receive

310.        Access in every virtue; in thy sight

311.        More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were

312.        Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,

313.        Shame to be overcome or over-reached,

314.        Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite.

315.        Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel

316.        When I am present, and thy trial choose

317.        With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?

318.        So spake domestic Adam in his care

319.        And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought

320.        Less attributed to her faith sincere,

321.        Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed.

322.        If this be our condition, thus to dwell

323.        In narrow circuit straitened by a foe,

324.        Subtle or violent, we not endued

325.        Single with like defence, wherever met;

326.        How are we happy, still in fear of harm?

327.        But harm precedes not sin: only our foe,

328.        Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem

329.        Of our integrity: his foul esteem

330.        Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns

331.        Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared

332.        By us? who rather double honour gain

333.        From his surmise proved false; find peace within,

334.        Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event.

335.        And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed

336.        Alone, without exteriour help sustained?

337.        Let us not then suspect our happy state

338.        Left so imperfect by the Maker wise,

339.        As not secure to single or combined.

340.        Frail is our happiness, if this be so,

341.        And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed.

342.        To whom thus Adam fervently replied.

343.        O Woman, best are all things as the will

344.        Of God ordained them: His creating hand

345.        Nothing imperfect or deficient left

346.        Of all that he created, much less Man,

347.        Or aught that might his happy state secure,

348.        Secure from outward force; within himself

349.        The danger lies, yet lies within his power:

350.        Against his will he can receive no harm.

351.        But God left free the will; for what obeys

352.        Reason, is free; and Reason he made right,

353.        But bid her well be ware, and still erect;

354.        Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised,

355.        She dictate false; and mis-inform the will

356.        To do what God expressly hath forbid.

357.        Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins,

358.        That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me.

359.        Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve;

360.        Since Reason not impossibly may meet

361.        Some specious object by the foe suborned,

362.        And fall into deception unaware,

363.        Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned.

364.        Seek not temptation then, which to avoid

365.        Were better, and most likely if from me

366.        Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought.

367.        Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve

368.        First thy obedience; the other who can know,

369.        Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?

370.        But, if thou think, trial unsought may find

371.        Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest,

372.        Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;

373.        Go in thy native innocence, rely

374.        On what thou hast of virtue; summon all!

375.        For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.

376.        So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve

377.        Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied.

378.        With thy permission then, and thus forewarned

379.        Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words

380.        Touched only; that our trial, when least sought,

381.        May find us both perhaps far less prepared,

382.        The willinger I go, nor much expect

383.        A foe so proud will first the weaker seek;

384.        So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

385.        Thus saying, from her husband’s hand her hand

386.        Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light,

387.        Oread or Dryad, or of Delia’s train,

388.        Betook her to the groves; but Delia’s self

389.        In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport,

390.        Though not as she with bow and quiver armed,

391.        But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude,

392.        Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought.

393.        To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned,

394.        Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled

395.        Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime,

396.        Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove.

397.        Her long with ardent look his eye pursued

398.        Delighted, but desiring more her stay.

399.        Oft he to her his charge of quick return

400.        Repeated; she to him as oft engaged

401.        To be returned by noon amid the bower,

402.        And all things in best order to invite

403.        Noontide repast, or afternoon’s repose.

404.        O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,

405.        Of thy presumed return! event perverse!

406.        Thou never from that hour in Paradise

407.        Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;

408.        Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,

409.        Waited with hellish rancour imminent

410.        To intercept thy way, or send thee back

411.        Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss!

412.        For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend,

413.        Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come;

414.        And on his quest, where likeliest he might find

415.        The only two of mankind, but in them

416.        The whole included race, his purposed prey.

417.        In bower and field he sought, where any tuft

418.        Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,

419.        Their tendance, or plantation for delight;

420.        By fountain or by shady rivulet

421.        He sought them both, but wished his hap might find

422.        Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope

423.        Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish,

424.        Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,

425.        Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,

426.        Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round

427.        About her glowed, oft stooping to support

428.        Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay

429.        Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold,

430.        Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays

431.        Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while

432.        Herself, though fairest unsupported flower,

433.        From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh.

434.        Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed

435.        Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm;

436.        Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen,

437.        Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers

438.        Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve:

439.        Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned

440.        Or of revived Adonis, or renowned

441.        Alcinous, host of old Laertes’ son;

442.        Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king

443.        Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse.

444.        Much he the place admired, the person more.

445.        As one who long in populous city pent,

446.        Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air,

447.        Forth issuing on a summer’s morn, to breathe

448.        Among the pleasant villages and farms

449.        Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight;

450.        The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine,

451.        Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound;

452.        If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass,

453.        What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more;

454.        She most, and in her look sums all delight:

455.        Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold

456.        This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve

457.        Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form

458.        Angelic, but more soft, and feminine,

459.        Her graceful innocence, her every air

460.        Of gesture, or least action, overawed

461.        His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved

462.        His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:

463.        That space the Evil-one abstracted stood

464.        From his own evil, and for the time remained

465.        Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed,

466.        Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge:

467.        But the hot Hell that always in him burns,

468.        Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight,

469.        And tortures him now more, the more he sees

470.        Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon

471.        Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts

472.        Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites.

473.        Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet

474.        Compulsion thus transported, to forget

475.        What hither brought us! hate, not love; nor hope

476.        Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste

477.        Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy,

478.        Save what is in destroying; other joy

479.        To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass

480.        Occasion which now smiles; behold alone

481.        The woman, opportune to all attempts,

482.        Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh,

483.        Whose higher intellectual more I shun,

484.        And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb

485.        Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould;

486.        Foe not informidable! exempt from wound,

487.        I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain

488.        Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven.

489.        She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods!

490.        Not terrible, though terrour be in love

491.        And beauty, not approached by stronger hate,

492.        Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned;

493.        The way which to her ruin now I tend.

494.        So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed

495.        In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve

496.        Addressed his way: not with indented wave,

497.        Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear,

498.        Circular base of rising folds, that towered

499.        Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head

500.        Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes;

501.        With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect

502.        Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass

503.        Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape

504.        And lovely; never since of serpent-kind

505.        Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed,

506.        Hermione and Cadmus, or the god

507.        In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed

508.        Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen;

509.        He with Olympias; this with her who bore

510.        Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique

511.        At first, as one who sought access, but feared

512.        To interrupt, side-long he works his way.

513.        As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought

514.        Nigh river’s mouth or foreland, where the wind

515.        Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail:

516.        So varied he, and of his tortuous train

517.        Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,

518.        To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound

519.        Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used

520.        To such disport before her through the field,

521.        From every beast; more duteous at her call,

522.        Than at Circean call the herd disguised.

523.        He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood,

524.        But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed

525.        His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck,

526.        Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod.

527.        His gentle dumb expression turned at length

528.        The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad

529.        Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue

530.        Organic, or impulse of vocal air,

531.        His fraudulent temptation thus began.

532.        Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps

533.        Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm

534.        Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain,

535.        Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze

536.        Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared

537.        Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired.

538.        Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair,

539.        Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine

540.        By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore

541.        With ravishment beheld! there best beheld,

542.        Where universally admired; but here

543.        In this enclosure wild, these beasts among,

544.        Beholders rude, and shallow to discern

545.        Half what in thee is fair, one man except,

546.        Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen

547.        A Goddess among Gods, adored and served

548.        By Angels numberless, thy daily train.

549.        So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned:

550.        Into the heart of Eve his words made way,

551.        Though at the voice much marvelling; at length,

552.        Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake.

553.        What may this mean? language of man pronounced

554.        By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed?

555.        The first, at least, of these I thought denied

556.        To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day,

557.        Created mute to all articulate sound:

558.        The latter I demur; for in their looks

559.        Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.

560.        Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field

561.        I knew, but not with human voice endued;

562.        Redouble then this miracle, and say,

563.        How camest thou speakable of mute, and how

564.        To me so friendly grown above the rest

565.        Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight?

566.        Say, for such wonder claims attention due.

567.        To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied.

568.        Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve!

569.        Easy to me it is to tell thee all

570.        What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed:

571.        I was at first as other beasts that graze

572.        The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low,

573.        As was my food; nor aught but food discerned

574.        Or sex, and apprehended nothing high:

575.        Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced

576.        A goodly tree far distant to behold

577.        Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed,

578.        Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze;

579.        When from the boughs a savoury odour blown,

580.        Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense

581.        Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats

582.        Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,

583.        Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play.

584.        To satisfy the sharp desire I had

585.        Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved

586.        Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,

587.        Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent

588.        Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.

589.        About the mossy trunk I wound me soon;

590.        For, high from ground, the branches would require

591.        Thy utmost reach or Adam’s: Round the tree

592.        All other beasts that saw, with like desire

593.        Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.

594.        Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung

595.        Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill

596.        I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour,

597.        At feed or fountain, never had I found.

598.        Sated at length, ere long I might perceive

599.        Strange alteration in me, to degree

600.        Of reason in my inward powers; and speech

601.        Wanted not long; though to this shape retained.

602.        Thenceforth to speculations high or deep

603.        I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind

604.        Considered all things visible in Heaven,

605.        Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good:

606.        But all that fair and good in thy divine

607.        Semblance, and in thy beauty’s heavenly ray,

608.        United I beheld; no fair to thine

609.        Equivalent or second! which compelled

610.        Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come

611.        And gaze, and worship thee of right declared

612.        Sovran of creatures, universal Dame!

613.        So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve,

614.        Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied.

615.        Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt

616.        The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved:

617.        But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far?

618.        For many are the trees of God that grow

619.        In Paradise, and various, yet unknown

620.        To us; in such abundance lies our choice,

621.        As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched,

622.        Still hanging incorruptible, till men

623.        Grow up to their provision, and more hands

624.        Help to disburden Nature of her birth.

625.        To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad.

626.        Empress, the way is ready, and not long;

627.        Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,

628.        Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past

629.        Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept

630.        My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon

631.        Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled

632.        In tangles, and made intricate seem straight,

633.        To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy

634.        Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire,

635.        Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night

636.        Condenses, and the cold environs round,

637.        Kindled through agitation to a flame,

638.        Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,

639.        Hovering and blazing with delusive light,

640.        Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way

641.        To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool;

642.        There swallowed up and lost, from succour far.

643.        So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud

644.        Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree

645.        Of prohibition, root of all our woe;

646.        Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.

647.        Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither,

648.        Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess,

649.        The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;

650.        Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects.

651.        But of this tree we may not taste nor touch;

652.        God so commanded, and left that command

653.        Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live

654.        Law to ourselves; our reason is our law.

655.        To whom the Tempter guilefully replied.

656.        Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit

657.        Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat,

658.        Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$?

659.        To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. Of the fruit

660.        Of each tree in the garden we may eat;

661.        But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst

662.        The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat

663.        Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

664.        She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold

665.        The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love

666.        To Man, and indignation at his wrong,

667.        New part puts on; and, as to passion moved,

668.        Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act

669.        Raised, as of some great matter to begin.

670.        As when of old some orator renowned,

671.        In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence

672.        Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed,

673.        Stood in himself collected; while each part,

674.        Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue;

675.        Sometimes in highth began, as no delay

676.        Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right:

677.        So standing, moving, or to highth up grown,

678.        The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began.

679.        O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant,

680.        Mother of science! now I feel thy power

681.        Within me clear; not only to discern

682.        Things in their causes, but to trace the ways

683.        Of highest agents, deemed however wise.

684.        Queen of this universe! do not believe

685.        Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die:

686.        How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life

687.        To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me,

688.        Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live,

689.        And life more perfect have attained than Fate

690.        Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot.

691.        Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast

692.        Is open? or will God incense his ire

693.        For such a petty trespass? and not praise

694.        Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain

695.        Of death denounced, whatever thing death be,

696.        Deterred not from achieving what might lead

697.        To happier life, knowledge of good and evil;

698.        Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil

699.        Be real, why not known, since easier shunned?

700.        God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;

701.        Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed:

702.        Your fear itself of death removes the fear.

703.        Why then was this forbid? Why, but to awe;

704.        Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant,

705.        His worshippers? He knows that in the day

706.        Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear,

707.        Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then

708.        Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods,

709.        Knowing both good and evil, as they know.

710.        That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man,

711.        Internal Man, is but proportion meet;

712.        I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods.

713.        So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off

714.        Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished,

715.        Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring.

716.        And what are Gods, that Man may not become

717.        As they, participating God-like food?

718.        The Gods are first, and that advantage use

719.        On our belief, that all from them proceeds:

720.        I question it; for this fair earth I see,

721.        Warmed by the sun, producing every kind;

722.        Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed

723.        Knowledge of good and evil in this tree,

724.        That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains

725.        Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies

726.        The offence, that Man should thus attain to know?

727.        What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree

728.        Impart against his will, if all be his?

729.        Or is it envy? and can envy dwell

730.        In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more

731.        Causes import your need of this fair fruit.

732.        Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste!

733.        He ended; and his words, replete with guile,

734.        Into her heart too easy entrance won:

735.        Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold

736.        Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound

737.        Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned

738.        With reason, to her seeming, and with truth:

739.        Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked

740.        An eager appetite, raised by the smell

741.        So savoury of that fruit, which with desire,

742.        Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,

743.        Solicited her longing eye; yet first

744.        Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused.

745.        Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits,

746.        Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired;

747.        Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay

748.        Gave elocution to the mute, and taught

749.        The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise:

750.        Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use,

751.        Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree

752.        Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;

753.        Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding

754.        Commends thee more, while it infers the good

755.        By thee communicated, and our want:

756.        For good unknown sure is not had; or, had

757.        And yet unknown, is as not had at all.

758.        In plain then, what forbids he but to know,

759.        Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise?

760.        Such prohibitions bind not. But, if death

761.        Bind us with after-bands, what profits then

762.        Our inward freedom? In the day we eat

763.        Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die!

764.        How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives,

765.        And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,

766.        Irrational till then. For us alone

767.        Was death invented? or to us denied

768.        This intellectual food, for beasts reserved?

769.        For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first

770.        Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy

771.        The good befallen him, author unsuspect,

772.        Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.

773.        What fear I then? rather, what know to fear

774.        Under this ignorance of good and evil,

775.        Of God or death, of law or penalty?

776.        Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,

777.        Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste,

778.        Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then

779.        To reach, and feed at once both body and mind?

780.        So saying, her rash hand in evil hour

781.        Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat!

782.        Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat,

783.        Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe,

784.        That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk

785.        The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve,

786.        Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else

787.        Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed,

788.        In fruit she never tasted, whether true

789.        Or fancied so, through expectation high

790.        Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought.

791.        Greedily she ingorged without restraint,

792.        And knew not eating death: Satiate at length,

793.        And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon,

794.        Thus to herself she pleasingly began.

795.        O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees

796.        In Paradise! of operation blest

797.        To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed.

798.        And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end

799.        Created; but henceforth my early care,

800.        Not without song, each morning, and due praise,

801.        Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease

802.        Of thy full branches offered free to all;

803.        Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature

804.        In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know;

805.        Though others envy what they cannot give:

806.        For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here

807.        Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe,

808.        Best guide; not following thee, I had remained

809.        In ignorance; thou openest wisdom’s way,

810.        And givest access, though secret she retire.

811.        And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high,

812.        High, and remote to see from thence distinct

813.        Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps

814.        May have diverted from continual watch

815.        Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies

816.        About him. But to Adam in what sort

817.        Shall I appear? shall I to him make known

818.        As yet my change, and give him to partake

819.        Full happiness with me, or rather not,

820.        But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power

821.        Without copartner? so to add what wants

822.        In female sex, the more to draw his love,

823.        And render me more equal; and perhaps,

824.        A thing not undesirable, sometime

825.        Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free?

826.        This may be well: But what if God have seen,

827.        And death ensue? then I shall be no more!

828.        And Adam, wedded to another Eve,

829.        Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;

830.        A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve,

831.        Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:

832.        So dear I love him, that with him all deaths

833.        I could endure, without him live no life.

834.        So saying, from the tree her step she turned;

835.        But first low reverence done, as to the Power

836.        That dwelt within, whose presence had infused

837.        Into the plant sciential sap, derived

838.        From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while,

839.        Waiting desirous her return, had wove

840.        Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn

841.        Her tresses, and her rural labours crown;

842.        As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen.

843.        Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new

844.        Solace in her return, so long delayed:

845.        Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,

846.        Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt;

847.        And forth to meet her went, the way she took

848.        That morn when first they parted: by the tree

849.        Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met,

850.        Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand

851.        A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled,

852.        New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused.

853.        To him she hasted; in her face excuse

854.        Came prologue, and apology too prompt;

855.        Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed.

856.        Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay?

857.        Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived

858.        Thy presence; agony of love till now

859.        Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more

860.        Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought,

861.        The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange

862.        Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear:

863.        This tree is not, as we are told, a tree

864.        Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown

865.        Opening the way, but of divine effect

866.        To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste;

867.        And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise,

868.        Or not restrained as we, or not obeying,

869.        Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become,

870.        Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth

871.        Endued with human voice and human sense,

872.        Reasoning to admiration; and with me

873.        Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I

874.        Have also tasted, and have also found

875.        The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes,

876.        Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart,

877.        And growing up to Godhead; which for thee

878.        Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.

879.        For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss;

880.        Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon.

881.        Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot

882.        May join us, equal joy, as equal love;

883.        Lest, thou not tasting, different degree

884.        Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce

885.        Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.

886.        Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told;

887.        But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed.

888.        On the other side Adam, soon as he heard

889.        The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed,

890.        Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill

891.        Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed;

892.        From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve

893.        Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed:

894.        Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length

895.        First to himself he inward silence broke.

896.        O fairest of Creation, last and best

897.        Of all God’s works, Creature in whom excelled

898.        Whatever can to sight or thought be formed,

899.        Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!

900.        How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost,

901.        Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote!

902.        Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress

903.        The strict forbiddance, how to violate

904.        The sacred fruit forbidden! Some cursed fraud

905.        Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown,

906.        And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee

907.        Certain my resolution is to die:

908.        How can I live without thee! how forego

909.        Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined,

910.        To live again in these wild woods forlorn!

911.        Should God create another Eve, and I

912.        Another rib afford, yet loss of thee

913.        Would never from my heart; no no, I feel

914.        The Link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh,

915.        Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state

916.        Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.

917.        So having said, as one from sad dismay

918.        Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed

919.        Submitting to what seemed remediless,

920.        Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned.

921.        Bold deed thou hast presum’d, advent’rous Eve,

922.        And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared,

923.        Had it been only coveting to eye

924.        That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence,

925.        Much more to taste it under ban to touch.

926.        But past who can recall, or done undo?

927.        Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so

928.        Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact

929.        Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit,

930.        Profaned first by the serpent, by him first

931.        Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste;

932.        Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives;

933.        Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man,

934.        Higher degree of life; inducement strong

935.        To us, as likely tasting to attain

936.        Proportional ascent; which cannot be

937.        But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods.

938.        Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,

939.        Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy

940.        Us his prime creatures, dignified so high,

941.        Set over all his works; which in our fall,

942.        For us created, needs with us must fail,

943.        Dependant made; so God shall uncreate,

944.        Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose;

945.        Not well conceived of God, who, though his power

946.        Creation could repeat, yet would be loth

947.        Us to abolish, lest the Adversary

948.        Triumph, and say; Fickle their state whom God

949.        Most favours; who can please him long? Me first

950.        He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?

951.        Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe.

952.        However I with thee have fixed my lot,

953.        Certain to undergo like doom: If death

954.        Consort with thee, death is to me as life;

955.        So forcible within my heart I feel

956.        The bond of Nature draw me to my own;

957.        My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;

958.        Our state cannot be severed; we are one,

959.        One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.

960.        So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied.

961.        O glorious trial of exceeding love,

962.        Illustrious evidence, example high!

963.        Engaging me to emulate; but, short

964.        Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,

965.        Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung,

966.        And gladly of our union hear thee speak,

967.        One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof

968.        This day affords, declaring thee resolved,

969.        Rather than death, or aught than death more dread,

970.        Shall separate us, linked in love so dear,

971.        To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,

972.        If any be, of tasting this fair fruit;

973.        Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds,

974.        Direct, or by occasion, hath presented

975.        This happy trial of thy love, which else

976.        So eminently never had been known?

977.        Were it I thought death menaced would ensue

978.        This my attempt, I would sustain alone

979.        The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die

980.        Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact

981.        Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured

982.        Remarkably so late of thy so true,

983.        So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel

984.        Far otherwise the event; not death, but life

985.        Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys,

986.        Taste so divine, that what of sweet before

987.        Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.

988.        On my experience, Adam, freely taste,

989.        And fear of death deliver to the winds.

990.        So saying, she embraced him, and for joy

991.        Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love

992.        Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur

993.        Divine displeasure for her sake, or death.

994.        In recompence for such compliance bad

995.        Such recompence best merits from the bough

996.        She gave him of that fair enticing fruit

997.        With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat,

998.        Against his better knowledge; not deceived,

999.        But fondly overcome with female charm.

1000.    Earth trembled from her entrails, as again

1001.    In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan;

1002.    Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops

1003.    Wept at completing of the mortal sin

1004.    Original: while Adam took no thought,

1005.    Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate

1006.    Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth

1007.    Him with her loved society; that now,

1008.    As with new wine intoxicated both,

1009.    They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel

1010.    Divinity within them breeding wings,

1011.    Wherewith to scorn the earth: But that false fruit

1012.    Far other operation first displayed,

1013.    Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve

1014.    Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him

1015.    As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn:

1016.    Till Adam thus ’gan Eve to dalliance move.

1017.    Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste,

1018.    And elegant, of sapience no small part;

1019.    Since to each meaning savour we apply,

1020.    And palate call judicious; I the praise

1021.    Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed.

1022.    Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained

1023.    From this delightful fruit, nor known till now

1024.    True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be

1025.    In things to us forbidden, it might be wished,

1026.    For this one tree had been forbidden ten.

1027.    But come, so well refreshed, now let us play,

1028.    As meet is, after such delicious fare;

1029.    For never did thy beauty, since the day

1030.    I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned

1031.    With all perfections, so inflame my sense

1032.    With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now

1033.    Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree!

1034.    So said he, and forbore not glance or toy

1035.    Of amorous intent; well understood

1036.    Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire.

1037.    Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank,

1038.    Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered,

1039.    He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch,

1040.    Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,

1041.    And hyacinth; Earth’s freshest softest lap.

1042.    There they their fill of love and love’s disport

1043.    Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal,

1044.    The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep

1045.    Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play,

1046.    Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,

1047.    That with exhilarating vapour bland

1048.    About their spirits had played, and inmost powers

1049.    Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep,

1050.    Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams

1051.    Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose

1052.    As from unrest; and, each the other viewing,

1053.    Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds

1054.    How darkened; innocence, that as a veil

1055.    Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone;

1056.    Just confidence, and native righteousness,

1057.    And honour, from about them, naked left

1058.    To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe

1059.    Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong,

1060.    Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap

1061.    Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked

1062.    Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare

1063.    Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face

1064.    Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute:

1065.    Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed,

1066.    At length gave utterance to these words constrained.

1067.    O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear

1068.    To that false worm, of whomsoever taught

1069.    To counterfeit Man’s voice; true in our fall,

1070.    False in our promised rising; since our eyes

1071.    Opened we find indeed, and find we know

1072.    Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got;

1073.    Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know;

1074.    Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void,

1075.    Of innocence, of faith, of purity,

1076.    Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained,

1077.    And in our faces evident the signs

1078.    Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store;

1079.    Even shame, the last of evils; of the first

1080.    Be sure then.--How shall I behold the face

1081.    Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy

1082.    And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes

1083.    Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze

1084.    Insufferably bright. O! might I here

1085.    In solitude live savage; in some glade

1086.    Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable

1087.    To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad

1088.    And brown as evening: Cover me, ye Pines!

1089.    Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs

1090.    Hide me, where I may never see them more!--

1091.    But let us now, as in bad plight, devise

1092.    What best may for the present serve to hide

1093.    The parts of each from other, that seem most

1094.    To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen;

1095.    Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed,

1096.    And girded on our loins, may cover round