But paft who can recall, or done undoe ? Not God Omnipotent, nor fate, yet fo Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact Is not fo hainous now, foretafted fruit, Profan'd first by the ferpent, by him first Made common and unhallow'd ere our taste ; Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives, Lives, as thou faidft, and gaines 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 threatning, will in earnest so destroy Us his prime creatures, dignifi'd fo high, Set over all his works, which in our fall, For us created, needs with us must faile. Dependent made; fo God fhall uncreate, Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labour lofe,
Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power Creation could repeate, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, least the adversary
Triumph and fay; Fickle their state whom God Moft favours, who can please him long? me first He ruin'd, now mankind; whom will he next? Matter of fcorn, not to be given the foe, However I with thee have fixt my lot, Certain to undergoe 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 lose myself. So Adam, and thus Eve to him repli'd. O glorious trial of exceeding love, Illuftrious evidence, example high ! Ingaging me to emulate, but fhort Of thy perfection, how fhall I attaine, Adam, from whose dear fide I boaft me sprung, And gladly of our union hear thee fpeak, One heart, one foul in both; whereof good proof This day affords, declaring thee refolv'd, Rather than death or aught than death more dread Shall separate us, linkt in love so dear,
To undergoe with me one guilt, one crime,
If any be, of tasting this fair fruit,
Whofe vertue, for of good still, good proceeds, Direct, or by occafion hath, prefented This happie trial of thy love, which ele So eminently never had been known............... Were it I thought death menac't would enfue This my attempt, I would sustain alone The work, and not perfuade thee, rather die Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly affur'd Remarkably fo late of thy fo true,
So faithful love unequal'd; but I feel Far otherwife th'event, not death; but life Augmented, op'n'd eyes, new hopes, new joyes, Tafte fo divine, that what of sweet before
Hath toucht my fenfe, flat feems to this, and harsh.
On my experience, Adam, freely taste, And fear of death deliver to the winds.
So faying, the embrac'd him, and for joy. Tenderly wept, much won that he his love Had fo ennobl'd, as of choice to incur Divine difpleafure for her fake, or death. In recompence (for fuch compliance bade, Such recompence best merits) from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With liberal hand: he fcrupl'd not to eat Against his better knowledge, not deceav'd, But fondly overcome with femal charm. Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again In pangs, and nature gave a fecond groan, Skie lowr'd, and muttering thunder, some sad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal fin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate
Her former trefpafs fear'd, the more to footh Him with her lov'd focietie, that now
As with new wine intoxicated both
They swim in mirth, and fanifie that they feel
Divinitie within them breeding wings
Wherewith to scorn the earth: but that falle fruit
Far other operation first difplai'd,
Carnal defire enflaming, he on Eve Began to caft lafcivious eyes, the him As wantonly repai'd; in luft they burn: Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of fapience no small part,
Since to each meaning favour we apply,
And palate call'd judicious; I the praise
Yield thee, fo well this day thou hast purvey'd. Much pleasure we have loft, while we abstain'd From this delightful fruit, nor known till now True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be In things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd, For this one tree had been forbidden ten. But come, fo well refresh't, now let us play, As meet is, after such delicious fare ;. For never did thy beautie fince the day I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd With all perfections, fo enflame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever, bountie of this vertuous tree,
So faid he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood Of Eve, whofe eye darted contagious, fire. Her hand he feis'd, and to a fhadie bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd He led her nothing loath; flours were the couch,., Panfies, and violets, and asphodel,
And hyacinths, earth's freshest softest lap. There they their fill of love and loves disport Took largely, of their mutual guilt the feale, The folace of their fin, till dewie sleep Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous play. Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, That with exhilerating vapour bland
About their spirits had plaid, and inmost powers.
Made err, was now exhal'd, and groffer sleep.
Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams >< Encumber'd, now had left them, up they rose As from unreft, and each the other viewing, Soon found their eyes now op'n'd, and their minds How dark'n'd; innocence, that as a veile Had fhadow'd them from knowing ill, was gone, Juft confidence, and native righteousnefs, And honour from about them, naked left To guiltie fhame he cover'd, but his robe Uncover'd more. So rofe the Danite strong Herculean Samfon' from the harlot lap Of Philiftean Dalilah, and wak'd
Shorn of his ftrength, they destitute and bare Of all their vertue : filent, and in face Confounded long they fate, as ftruck'n mute, Till Adam, though not lefs than Eve abafht, At length gave utterance to these words conftrain'd. O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear To that falfe worm, of whomsoever taught To counterfeit man's voice, true in our fall, Falfe in our promis'd rifing; fince our eyes Op'n'd we find indeed, and find we know Both good and evil, good loft, 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 puritie,
Our wonted ornaments now foil'd and stain'd, And in our faces evident the figns
Of foul concupifcence; whence evil store; Even fhame, the last of evils; of the first Be sure then. How fhall I behold the face
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