Let us divide our labors, thou where choice Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind The woodbine round this arbor, or direct The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, In yonder spring of roses intermix'd With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: For while so near each other thus all day Our task we chuse, what wonder if so near Looks intervene and smiles, or object new Casual discourse draw on, which intermits Our day's work brought to little, though begus Early, and th' hour of supper comes unearn’d. To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd: Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond Compare above all living creatures dear, Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd How we might best fulfil the works which here 230 God hath assigh'd us, nor of me shalt pass Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found In woman, than to study household good, And good works in her husband to promote. Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd Labor, as to debar us when we need Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles, for smiles from reason flow, To brute dony'd, and are of love the food, 240 Love not the lowest end of human life.
For not to irksome toil, but to delight He made us, and delight to reason join'd.
These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide As we need walk, till younger hands ere long Assist us: but if much converse perhaps Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: For solitude sometimes is best society, And short retirement urges sweet return. But other doubt possesses me, lest harm Befal thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find His wish and best advantage, us asunder, Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each To other speedy aid might lend at need; Whether his first design be to withdraw Our feälty from God, or to disturb Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side That gave thee be'ing, still shades thee, and protects. The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks, Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, With sweet austere composure thus reply'd: [lord, Offspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earth's
That such an enemy we have, who seeks Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn, And from the parting angel over-heard, As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers. But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt To God or thee, because we have a foe May tempt it, I expected not to hear. His violence thou fear'st not, being such As we, not capable of death or pain, Can either not receive, or can repel. His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd; [breast, Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?
To whom with healing words Adam reply'd: 290 Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve, For such thou art, from sin and blame entire: Not diffident of thee do I dissuade
Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe. For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor foul, suppos'd Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation: thou thyself with scorn And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, 300 Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, If such affront I labor to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare, Or daring, first on me th' assault shall light, Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce Angels; not think superfluous others aid. I from the influence of thy looks receive Access in every virtue, in thy sight
More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd
Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite. Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel When I am present, and thy trial chuse
With me, best witness of thy virtue try'd? So spake domestic Adam in his care
And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought Less attribúted to her faith sincere, Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd:
If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit straiten'd by a foe, Subtle or violent, we not endued Single with like defence, wherever met, How are we happy, still in fear of harm? But harm precedes not sin: only our foe Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem Of our integrity: his foul esteem
Sticks no dishonor on our front, but turns
Foul on himself; then wherefore shunn'd or fear'd
By us? who rather double honor gain
From his surmise prov'd false, find peace within,
Favor from Heav'n, our witness from th' event. And what is faith, love, virtue unassay'd Alone, without exterior help sustain'd? Let us not then suspect our happy state Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, As not secure to single or combin❜d. Frail is our happiness, if this be so, And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd. To whom thus Adam fervently reply'd: O Woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordain'd them; his creating hand Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created, much less man, Or aught that might his happy state secure, Secure from outward force; within himself The danger lies, yet lies within his power: Against his will he can receive no harm. But God left free the will, for what obeys Reason is free, and Reason he made right, But bid her well beware, and still erect, Lest by some fair appearing good surpris'd She dictate false, and misinform the will To do what God expressly hath forbid. Not then mistrust, but tender love injoins, That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me. Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,
Since reason not impossibly may meet
Some specious object by the foe suborn'd,
And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warn'd.
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