But first low reverence done, as to the pow'r
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 labours crown,
As reapers oft are wont their harvest-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,
Misgave him; he the falt'ring 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 met,
Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand
A bough of faireft fruit, that downy fmil'd,
New gather'd, and ambrofial smell diffus'd.
To him fhe hafted; in her face excuse
Came prologue, and apology too prompt,
Which with bland words at will, fhe thus addrefs'd:
Haft thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my ftay?
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,
The pain of abfence from thy fight. But ftrange
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear.
This tree is not, as we are told, a tree
Of danger tafted, nor to' evil unknown
Op'ning the way; but of divine effect
To open eyes, and make them gods who taste ;
L. 835. But first low rev'rence done, as to the pow'r That dwelt within.] Eve falling into idolatry upon the taste of the forbidden tree, as the first fruit of disobedience, is finely imagined. Rickardfon.
And hath been tafted fuch: the ferpent wife,
Or not restrain'd as we, or not obeying,
Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth 870
Endu'd with human voice and human fenfe,
Reas'ning to admiration, and with me.
Perfuafively hath fo prevail'd, that I
Have also tafted, and have alfo found
Th' effects to correfpond; op'ner mine eyes,
Dim 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 blifs;
Tedious, unfhar'd with thee, and odious foon.
Thou therefore alfo 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, soon as he heard
The fatal trefpafs done by Eve, amaz'd,
Aftonied flood, and blank, while horror chill
Ran through his veins, and all his joints relax'd;
From his flack hand the garland wreath'd for Eve
Down dropt, and all the faded roses fhed:
Speechless he flood, and pale; till thus at length
Firft to himself he inward filence broke:
O fairest of creation, last and best
Of all God's works, creature in whom excell'd
Whatever can to fight or thought be form'd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or fweet!
How art thou loft, how on a fudden loft,
Defac'd, deflow'r'd, and now to death devote!
Rather, how haft thou yielded to tranfgrefs
The ftrict forbiddance, how to violate
The facred fruit forbidd'n? Some curfed fraud
Of enemy hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown;
And me with thee hath ruin'd; for with thee
Certain my refolution is to die;
How can I live without thee, how forego
Thy fweet converfe and love fo dearly join'd,
To live again in thefe wild woods forlorn ?
Should God create another Eve, and I
Another rib afford, yet lofs of thee
Would never from my heart; no, no, I feel
The link of Nature draw me: fefh of flesh,
Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state
Mine never shall be parted, blifs or wo!
So having faid, as one from fad difmay
Recomforted, and, after thoughts disturb'd,
Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs,
Thus in calm mood his words, to Eve he turn'd:
Bold deed thou haft prefum'd, advent'rous Eve,
And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd,
Had it been only coveting to eye
That facred fruit, facred to abstinence,
Much more to tafte it, under ban to touch.
But paft, who can recal, or done undo?
Not God omnipotent, nor fate: yet fo
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
Is not fo heinous now, foretafted fruit,
Profan'd firft by the ferpent, by him firft
Made common and unhallow'd ere our tafte;
Nor yet on him found deadly: he yet lives,
Lives, as thou faidft, and gains to live, as man,
Higher degree of life; inducement strong
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 threat'ning, will in earnest so destroy
Us his prime creatures, dignify'd so high,
Set over all his works; which in our fall,
For us created, needs with us must fail,
Dependent made: fo God fhall uncreate,
Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labour lose :
Not well conceiv'd of God, who though his pow'r 945
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, left the adversary
Triumph, and say, Fickle their state whom God
Moft favours; who can pleafe him long? Me first
He ruin'd, now mankind; whom will he next?
Matter of fcorn, not to be giv'n 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 state cannot be fever'd, we are one,
One flesh; to lofe thee were to lofe myself.
So Adam; and thus Eve to him reply'd :
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 whose dear fide I boaft me sprung,
And gladly of our union hear thee speak,
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 so 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
This my attempt, I would fuftain alone
The worst, and not perfuade thee; rather die
Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact
Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly afsur'd
Remarkably fo late of thy fo true,
So faithful love unequall'd: but I feel
Far otherwise th' event, not death, but life-
Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys, 985 Taite fo divine, that what of sweet before
Hath touch'd my fenfe, flat feems to this, and harsh. On my experience, Adam, freely tafte,
And fear of death deliver to the winds,
So faying, fhe embrac'd him, and for joy Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love. Had fo ennobled, as of choice to' incur Divine displeasure for her fake, or death. In recompenfe (for fuch compliance bad Such recompenfe beft merits) from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With lib'ral hand: he fcrupled not to eat,, Againft his better knowledge; not deceiv'd, But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 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,
L. 1004. Original fin ;] that guilt which Chriftians fuppofe to be derived from Adam and Eve to all their pofterity. They en
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