¡¶Paradise Lost ¢ù¡·


 THE ARGUMENT

    Satan  tated guile returns as a mist by Nigo Paradise, enters into t sleeping. Adam and Eve in to to divide in several places, eac: Adam consents not, alledging t t Enemy, of  o be t not circumspect or firm enoug, to make tryal of rengt last yields: t finds le approac gazing, ttery extolling Eve above all otures. Eve o  speak, asks taind to anding not till no ans by tasting of a certain tree in ttaind boto Speecill to bring o t tree, and finds it to be tree of Kno nos induces  lengto eat; saste deliberates a  to Adam or not, at last brings , relates  t first amazd, but perceiving , resolves to perisenuating trespass, eats also of t: ts to cover to variance and accusation of one another.

 1

    NO more of talk w

    ith his Friend, familiar usd

    to sit indulgent, and ake

    Rural repast, permitting he while

    Venial discourse unblamd: I no change [ 5 ]

    tes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach

    Disloyal on t of Man, revolt,

    And disobedience: On t of heavn

    Noed, distance and distaste,

    Anger and just rebuke, and judgement givn, [ 10 ]

    t brougo this orld a world of woe,

    Sinne and h, and Miserie

    Deatask, yet argument

    Not less but more h

    Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursud [ 15 ]

    tive about troy all; or rage

    Of turnus for Lavinia disespousd,

    Or Neptuns ire or Junos, t so long

    Perplexd thereas Son;

    If ansyle I can obtaine [ 20 ]

    Of my Celestial Patroness, who deignes

    ly visitation unimplord,

    And dictates to me slumbring, or inspires

    Easie my unpremeditated Verse:

    Since first t for heroic Song [ 25 ]

    Pleasd me long ce;

    Not sedulous by Nature to indite

    arrs, o t

    rie to dissect

    itedious s [ 30 ]

    In Battels feignd; tter fortitude

    Of Patience and yrdom

    Unsung; or to describe Races and Games,

    Or tilting Furniture, emblazond Shields,

    Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds; [ 35 ]

    Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgious Knights

    At Joust and torneament; t

    Servd up in h Sewers, and Seneshals;

    tifice or Office mean,

    Not t wly gives heroic name [ 40 ]

    to Person or to Poem. Mee of these

    Nor skilld nor studious,

    Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise

    t name, unless an age too late, or cold

    Climat, or Years damp my intended wing [ 45 ]

    Deprest, and muchey may, if all be mine,

    Not  nigo my Ear.

 2

    ter arr

    Of o bring

    ter [ 50 ]

    t Day and Nigo end

    Nighe horizon round:

    an s

    Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improvd

    In meditated fraud and malice, bent [ 55 ]

    On mans destruction, maugre  hap

    Of urnd.

    By Nig Midnigurnd.

    From compassing tious of day,

    Since Uriel Regent of the Sun descrid [ 60 ]

    rance, and forehe Cherubim

    t kept tchence full of anguish drivn,

    tinud Nights he rode

    itial Line

    imes crossd t [ 65 ]

    From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure;

    On turnd, and on t averse

    From entrance or Ccealth

    Found unsuspected here was a place,

    No, t time, first wraughe change, [ 70 ]

    igris at t of Paradise

    Into a Gulf s under ground, till part

    Rose up a Fountain by tree of Life;

    In  rose

    Satan involvd in rising Mist, t [ 75 ]

    o lie  and Land

    From Eden over Pontus, and the Poole

    M?otis, up beyond the River Ob;

    Doartic; and in length

    est from Orontes to the Ocean barrd [ 80 ]

    At Darien, to the Land where flowes

    Ganges and Indus: the Orb he roamd

    ition deep

    Considerd every Creature, which of all

    Most opportune might serve his iles, and found [ 85 ]

    t suttlest Beast of all the Field.

 3

    er long debate, irresolute

    Of ts revolvd, ence chose

    Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom

    to enter, and ions hide [ 90 ]

    From s sighe wilie Snake,

    ever sleights none would suspicious mark,

    As from  and native suttletie

    Proceeding, ws observd

    Doubt mig of Diabolic powr [ 95 ]

    Active e.

    t first from inward griefe

    ing passion into plaints thus pourd:

    O Earto  preferrd

    More justly, Seat  [ 100 ]

    its, reforming w was old!

    For er better worse would build?

    terrestrial  round by other heavns

    t s bear t officious Lamps,

    Lig, for thee alone, as seems, [ 105 ]

    In tring all thir precious beams

    Of sacred influence: As God in heavn

    Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou

    Centring receavst from all thee,

    Not in tue appeers [ 110 ]

    Productive in , and nobler birth

    Of Creatures animate h gradual life

    Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summd up in Man.

    it delig thee round,

    If I could joy in aug interchange [ 115 ]

    Of hill, and Vallie, Rivers, oods and Plaines,

    Now Land, now Sea, and S crownd,

    Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these

    Find place or refuge; and the more I see

    Pleasures about me, so much more I feel [ 120 ]

    torment eful siege

    Of contraries; all good to me becomes

    Bane, and in ate.

    But neither here seek I, no nor in heavn

    to dring heavns Supreame; [ 125 ]

    Nor o be my self less miserable

    By  oto make such

    As I, to me redound:

    For onely in destroying I find ease

    to my relentless ts; and royd, [ 130 ]

    Or o er loss,

    For whis will soon

    Folloo  in weal or woe,

    In  destruction wide may range:

    to mee she glorie sole among [ 135 ]

    to have marrd

    ie styld, six Nights and Days

    Continud making, and who knows how long

    Before riving, though perhaps

    Not longer t freed [ 140 ]

    From servitude inglorious welnigh half

    t throng

    Of o be avengd,

    And to repaire hus impaird,

    ue spent of old now faild [ 145 ]

    More Angels to Create, if t least

    Are ed, or to spite us more,

    Determind to advance into our room

    A Creature formd of Earth, and him endow,

    Exalted from so base original, [ 150 ]

    it he decreed

    ed; Man

    Magnificent t,

    ie!

 4

    Subjected to his service Angel wings, [ 155 ]

    And flaming Ministers to cend

    the vigilance

    I dread, and to elude, t in mist

    Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie

    In every Bush and Brake, where hap may finde [ 160 ]

    t sleeping, in whose mazie foulds

    to ent I bring.

    O foul descent! t I ended

    ito sit t, am noraind

    Into a Beast, and mixt ial slime, [ 165 ]

    to incarnate and imbrute,

    t to t of Deitie aspird;

    But  Ambition and Revenge

    Descend to? w down as low

    As  or last [ 170 ]

    to basest t first t,

    Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles;

    Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimd,

    Since , on

    Provokes my envie, te [ 175 ]

    Of e,

    o spite his Maker raisd

    From dust: spite te is best repaid.

    So saying, t Danck or Drie,

    Like a black mist low creeping, he held on [ 180 ]

    searc  finde

    t:  sleeping soon he found

    In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowld,

    , ord tle wiles:

    Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den, [ 185 ]

    Nor nocent yet, but on the grassie herbe

    Fearless unfeard : in at h

    terd, and al sense,

    In  or head, possessing soon inspird

    it intelligential; but his sleep [ 190 ]

    Disturbd not, ing close th approach of Morn.

    Noo dawne

    In Eden on t breathd

    t breath,

    From t Altar send up silent praise [ 195 ]

    to tor, and rils fill

    iteful Smell, forthe human pair

    And joind to the Quire

    Of Creatures ing voice, t done, partake

    test Sents and Aires: [ 200 ]

    t day t may ply

    tgrew

    tcwo Gardning so wide.

    And Eve first to hus began.

 5

    Adam, ill to dress [ 205 ]

    till to tend Plant, herb and Flour,

    Our pleasant task enjoynd, but till more hands

    Aid us, the work under our labour grows,

    Luxurious by restraint; w we by day

    Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, [ 210 ]

    One nigon growth derides

    tending to herefore now advise

    Or  to my minde first ts present,

    Let us divide our labours, thou where choice

    Leads t needs, wo wind [ 215 ]

    t

    to climb, while I

    In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt

    itle, find o redress till Noon:

    For whus all day [ 220 ]

    Our taske we c wonder if so near

    Looks intervene and smiles, or object new

    Casual discourse dras

    Our dayes tle, though begun

    Early, and th hour of Supper comes unearnd. [ 225 ]

    to wurnd.

    Sole Eve, Associate sole, to me beyond

    Compare above all living Creatures deare,

    ell  tiond, s imployd

    best fulfill the work which here [ 230 ]

    God  pass

    Unpraisd: for nothing lovelier can be found

    In oman, to studie houshold good,

    And good e.

    Yet not so strictly h our Lord imposd [ 235 ]

    Labour, as to debarr us when we need

    Refres, ween,

    Food of t intercourse

    Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,

    to brute denid, and are of Love the food, [ 240 ]

    Love not t end of human life.

    For not to irksom toile, but to delight

    to Reason joynd.

 6

    t not but our joynt hands

    ill keep from ilderness h ease, as wide [ 245 ]

    As ill younger hands ere long

    Assist us: But if much converse perhaps

    tiate, to s absence I could yield.

    For solitude somtimes is best societie,

    And s retirement urges s returne. [ 250 ]

    But ot possesses me, least harm

    Befall t

    malicious Foe

    Envying our happiness, and of his own

    Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame [ 255 ]

    By sly assault; and somw hand

    atc, o find

    advantage, us asunder,

    o circumvent us joynd, where each

    to ot lend at need; [ 260 ]

    design be to hdraw

    Our fealtie from God, or to disturb

    Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss

    Enjoyd by us excites his envie more;

    Or t thful side [ 265 ]

    t gave till sects.

    the ife, where danger or dishonour lurks,

    Safest and seemliest by aies,

    endures.

    to wie of Eve, [ 270 ]

    As one ws,

    it austeer composure thus replyd,

    Ofspring of hs Lord,

    t such an Enemie we have, who seeks

    Our ruin, bothee informd I learne, [ 275 ]

    And from ting Angel over-heard

    As in a sood behind,

    Just turnd at s of Evening Flours.

    But t t my firmness t

    to God or thee, because we have a foe [ 280 ]

    May tempt it, I expected not to hear.

 7

    not, being such,

    As  capable of death or paine,

    Can eit receave, or can repell.

    hy fear, which plain inferrs [ 285 ]

    t my firm Faith and Love

    Can by ;

    ts, w

    Adam, mist of o thee so dear?

    to wh healing words Adam replyd. [ 290 ]

    Daugal Eve,

    For suc, from sin and blame entire:

    Not diffident of thee do I dissuade

    t, but to avoid

    ttempt itself, intended by our Foe. [ 295 ]

    For empts, t least asperses

    tempted h dishonour foul, supposd

    Not incorruptible of Fait prooff

    Against temptation: th scorne

    And anger  resent the offerd wrong, [ 300 ]

    tual found: misdeem not then,

    If suc I labour to avert

    From t once

    though bold, will hardly dare,

    Or daring, first on mee t s. [ 305 ]

    Nor temn;

    Suttle  be, who could seduce

    Angels nor thers aid.

    I from thy looks receave

    Access in every Vertue, in t [ 310 ]

    More cronger, if need were

    Of outrengthou looking on,

    So be overcome or over-reacht

    ould utmost vigor raise, and raisd unite.

    not thee feel [ 315 ]

    , and trial choose

    it ness of tue trid.

    So spake domestick Adam in his care

    And Matrimonial Love; but Eve, w

    Less attributed to h sincere, [ 320 ]

    t s renewd.

 8

    If tion, to dwell

    In narro straitnd by a Foe,

    Suttle or violent,  endud

    Single , [ 325 ]

    ill in fear of harm?

    But  sin: onely our Foe

    tempting affronts us eem

    Of our integritie: eeme

    Sticks no dis, but turns [ 330 ]

    Foul on hen wherefore shund or feard

    By us? wher double honour gaine

    From hin,

    Favour from ness from t.

    And ue unassaid [ 335 ]

    Alone,  exterior aind?

    Let us not t our ate

    Left so imperfet by the Maker wise,

    As not secure to single or combind.

    Fraile is our his be so, [ 340 ]

    And Eden hus exposd.

    to wly replid.

    O oman, best are all the will

    Of God ordaind ting hand

    Not or deficient left [ 345 ]

    Of all t ed, much less Man,

    Or aug migate secure,

    Secure from outhin himself

    t lies hin his power:

    Against his will he can receave no harme. [ 350 ]

    But God left free t obeyes

    Reason, is free, and Reason

    But bid ill erect,

    Least by some faire appeering good surprisd

    Sate false, and misinforme the ill [ 355 ]

    to do w God expresly h forbid,

    Not trust, but tender love enjoynes,

    t I s, and mind thou me.

 9

    Firm , yet possible to swerve,

    Since Reason not impossibly may meet [ 360 ]

    Some specious object by the Foe subornd,

    And fall into deception unaware,

    Not keeping strictest ch, as she was warnd.

    Seek not temptation to avoide

    ere better, and most likelie if from mee [ 365 ]

    t: trial .

    ouldst tancie, approve

    First ther who can know,

    Not seeing ttempted, ?

    But if trial unsought may finde [ 370 ]

    Us bot,

    Go; for tay, not free, absents thee more;

    Go in tive innocence, relie

    On  of vertue, summon all,

    For God to, do thine. [ 375 ]

    So spake triarc Eve

    Persisted, yet submiss, t, replid.

    ithus forewarnd

    C t reasoning words

    touc our trial, , [ 380 ]

    May finde us both perhaps farr less prepard,

    t

    A Foe so proud  the weaker seek,

    So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

    thus saying, from her husbands hand her hand [ 385 ]

    Soft s

    Oread or Dryad, or of Delias traine,

    Betook o t Delias self

    In gate surpassd and Goddess-like deport,

    t as sh Bow and Quiver armd, [ 390 ]

    But ools as Art yet rude,

    Guiltless of fire .

    to Pales, or Pomona, thus adornd,

    Likeliest she seemd, Pomona when she fled

    Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her Prime, [ 395 ]

    Yet Virgin of Proserpina from Jove.

    look his Eye pursud

    Delig desiring more ay.

 10

    Oft o urne

    Repeated, so  engagd [ 400 ]

    to be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre,

    And all t order to invite

    Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose.

    O much deceavd, much failing, hapless Eve,

    Of turn! event perverse! [ 405 ]

    t houre in Paradise

    Foundst eit repast, or sound repose;

    Suc Flours and Shades

    aited

    to intercept thee back [ 410 ]

    Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.

    For no break of dahe Fiend,

    Meer Serpent in appearance, fort£ôp://£÷£÷£÷?£¹£¹li£â?£î£åt</dfn>

    And on , w  finde

    t in them [ 415 ]

    the whole included Race, his purposd prey.

    In Bo

    Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,

    tendance or Plantation for delight,

    By Fountain or by s [ 420 ]

    t wis find

    Eve separate,  not h hope

    Of w so seldom co his wish,

    Beyond e he spies,

    Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, wood, [ 425 ]

    he Roses bushing round

    About  stooping to support

    Eacalk, whough gay

    Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect h Gold,

    aind, taies [ 430 ]

    Gently le band, mindless the while,

    unsupported Flour,

    From  prop so farr, and storm so nigh.

    Neerer raversd

    Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme, [ 435 ]

    then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen

    Among ts and Flours

    Imborderd on eache hand of Eve:

    Spot more delicious those Gardens feignd

    Or of revivd Adonis, or renownd [ 440 ]

    Alcinous,  of old Laertes Son,

    Or t, not Mystic, w King

    ian Spouse.

    Muche Person more.

 11

    As one , [ 445 ]

    he Aire,

    Forto breathe

    Among t Villages and Farmes

    Adjoynd, from eac conceaves delight,

    tedded Grass, or Kine, [ 450 ]

    Or Dairie, eac, each rural sound;

    If cep fair Virgin pass,

    pleasing seemd, for her now pleases more,

    S, and in .

    Sucook t to behold [ 455 ]

    t, t recess of Eve

    thus alone; her heavnly forme

    Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine,

    her graceful Innocence, her every Aire

    Of gesture or lest action overawd [ 460 ]

    bereavd

    ent it brought:

    t space tracted stood

    From ime remaind

    Stupidly good, of enmitie disarmd, [ 465 ]

    Of guile, of e, of envie, of revenge;

    But t  alwayes in him burnes,

    t,

    And tortures he more he sees

    Of pleasure not for hen soon [ 470 ]

    Fierce e s, and all s

    Of misculating, tes.

    ts,

    Compulsion transported to forget

    us, e, not love, nor hope [ 475 ]

    Of Paradise for o taste

    Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,

    Save roying, other joy

    to me is lost. t me not let pass

    Occasion which now smiles, behold alone [ 480 ]

    tune to all attempts,

    nigh,

    ellectual more I shun,

    And strengtie, and of limb

    , terrestrial mould, [ 485 ]

    Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,

    I not; so much hell debasd, and paine

    Infeebld me, to w I was in heavn.

 12

    S Love for Gods,

    Not terrible, terrour be in Love [ 490 ]

    And beautie, not approacronger e,

    e stronger, under shew of Love well feignd,

    to end.

    So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclosd

    In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve [ 495 ]

    Addressd  ed wave,

    Prone on t on his reare,

    Circular base of rising foulds, t tourd

    Fould above fould a surging Maze, his head

    Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; [ 500 ]

    it Neck of verdant Gold, erect

    Amidst  on the grass

    Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape,

    And lovely, never since of Serpent kind

    Lovelier, not t in Illyria changd [ 505 ]

    he God

    In Epidaurus; nor to wransformd

    Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen,

    h her who bore

    Scipio tract oblique [ 510 ]

    At first, as one  feard

    to interrupt, side-long he works his way.

    As

    Nighe ind

    Veres oft, as oft so steers, and ss her Saile; [ 515 ]

    So varied ortuous traine

    Curld many a on  of Eve,

    to lure he sound

    Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as usd

    to suc before he Field, [ 520 ]

    From every Beast, more duteous at her call,

    t Circean call the herd disguisd.

    ood;

    But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd

    urret Crest, and sleek enameld Neck, [ 525 ]

    Farod.

    le dumb expression turnd at length

    to mark his play; he glad

    Of tention gaind,  tongue

    Organic, or impulse of vocal Air, [ 530 ]

    temptation thus began.

 13

    onder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps

    t, w sole onder, much less arm

    th disdain,

    Displeasd t I approachus, and gaze [ 535 ]

    Insatiate, I thus single, nor have feard

    tird.

    Fairest resemblance of thy Maker faire,

    thine

    By gift, and tial Beautie adore [ 540 ]

    it be beheld

    here

    In ts among,

    Beo discerne

    in t, [ 545 ]

    is one?) w be seen

    A Goddess among Gods, adord and servd

    By Angels numberless, train.

    So glozd tempter, and und;

    Into t of Eve his words made way, [ 550 ]

    t t length

    Not unamazd shus in answer spake.

    may t

    By tongue of Brute, and ?

    t at lest of t denid [ 555 ]

    to Beasts, wion-Day

    Created mute to all articulat sound;

    tter I demurre, for in thir looks

    Mucions oft appeers.

    t, suttlest beast of all the field [ 560 ]

    I kne not h human voice endud;

    Redouble this miracle, and say,

    te, and how

    to me so friendly gro

    Of brutal kind, t daily are in sight? [ 565 ]

    Say, for suctention due.

    to er thus replyd.

    Empress of t Eve,

    Easie to mee it is to tell thee all

    t and rig be obeyd: [ 570 ]

    I  first as ots t graze

    trodden  ts and low,

    As was my food, nor aug food discernd

    Or Sex, and apprehing high:

    till on a day roaving the field, I chancd [ 575 ]

    A goodly tree farr distant to behold

    Loaden  of fairest colours mixt,

    Ruddie and Gold: I nearer dreo gaze;

    he boughes a savorie odour blown,

    Grateful to appetite, more pleasd my sense, [ 580 ]

    test Fenel or teats

    Of E dropping  Eevn,

    Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, t tend thir play.

 14

    to satisfie the sharp desire I had

    Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolvd [ 585 ]

    Not to deferr;  at once,

    Po t

    Of t alluring fruit, urgd me so keene.

    About trunk I wound me soon,

    For he branches would require [ 590 ]

    tmost reacree

    All ots t sah like desire

    Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.

    Amid tree no, wy hung

    tempting so nigo pluck and eat my fill [ 595 ]

    I spard not, for sucill t hour

    At Feed or Fountain never had I found.

    Sated at lengt perceave

    Strange alteration in me, to degree

    Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech [ 600 ]

    anted not long, to taind.

    to Speculations high or deep

    I turnd my ts, and h capacious mind

    Considerd all things visible in heavn,

    Or Earthings fair and good; [ 605 ]

    But all t fair and good in thy Divine

    Semblance, and in ties heavnly Ray

    United I beo thine

    Equivalent or second, which compeld

    Mee tune pero come [ 610 ]

    And gaze, and wors declard

    Sovran of Creatures, universal Dame.

    So talkd ted sly Snake; and Eve

    Yet more amazd unhus replyd.

    Serpent, t [ 615 ]

    tue of t Fruit, in t provd:

    But say, wree, from hence how far?

    For many are trees of God t grow

    In Paradise, and various, yet unknown

    to us, in such abundance lies our choice, [ 620 ]

    As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht,

    Still ible, till men

    Groo thir provision, and more hands

    o disburden Nature of h.

    to whe and glad. [ 625 ]

 15

    Empress, t long,

    Beyond a roles, on a Flat,

    Fast by a Fountain, one small t past

    Of blowing Myrr

    My conduct, I can bring ther soon. [ 630 ]

    Lead tly rowld

    In tangles, and made intricate seem strait,

    to misc. es, and joy

    Brig, as when a wandring Fire

    Compact of unctuous vapor, w [ 635 ]

    Condenses, and the cold invirons round,

    Kindld tation to a Flame,

    , t attends

    ,

    Misleads t-wanderer from his way [ 640 ]

    to Boggs and Mires, and oft through Pond or Poole,

    t, from succour farr.

    So glisterd to fraud

    Led Eve our credulous Moto tree

    Of proion, root of all our woe; [ 645 ]

    o her guide she spake.

    Serpent, we migher,

    Fruitless to mee, t be o excess,

    t of  hee,

    ondrous indeed, if cause of sucs. [ 650 ]

    But of tree  taste nor touch;

    God so commanded, and left t Command

    Sole Daug, we live

    Lao our selves, our Reason is our Law.

    to er guilefully replid. [ 655 ]

    Indeed?  of t

    Of all trees ye s eate,

    Yet Lords declard of all in Earth or Aire?

    to

    Of eacree in te, [ 660 ]

    But of t of tree amidst

    t eate

    touc, least ye die.

 16

    Shough brief, when now more bold

    tempter, but h shew of Zeale and Love [ 665 ]

    to Man, and indignation at his wrong,

    Ne puts on, and as to passion movd,

    Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely and in act

    Raisd, as of som great matter to begin.

    As wor renound [ 670 ]

    In Athens or free Rome, where Eloquence

    Flourise, to som great cause addrest,

    Stood in ed, w,

    Motion, eac ongue,

    Somtimes in h began, as no delay [ 675 ]

    Of Preface brooking t.

    So standing, moving, or to h upgrown

    tempter all impassiond thus began.

    O Sacred, ise, and isdom-giving Plant,

    Mothy Power [ 680 ]

    it onely to discerne

    t to trace the wayes

    Of  Agents, deemd however wise.

    Queen of t believe

    ts of Deat Die: [ 685 ]

    ? it gives you Life

    to Knoner, look on mee,

    Mee ed, yet both live,

    And life more perfet taind te

    Meant mee, by ventring . [ 690 ]

    S be s to Man,

    Is open? or will God incense his ire

    For sucty trespass, and not praise

    Ratless vertue, whe pain

    Of Deat, h be, [ 695 ]

    Deterrd not from atc might leade

    to happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil;

    Of good, ? of evil, if w is evil

    Be real, w known, since easier shunnd?

    God t  ye, and be just; [ 700 ]

    Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeyd:

    Your feare it self of Deathe feare.

 17

    to awe,

    to keep ye lo,

    in the day [ 705 ]

    Ye Eate t seem so cleere,

    Yet are but dim, sly be then

    Opnd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,

    Knohey know.

    t ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, [ 710 ]

    Internal Man, is but proportion meet,

    I of brute human, yee of human Gods.

    So ye sting off

    o put on Gods, deato be ,

    tnd, whis can bring. [ 715 ]

    And  Man may not become

    As ticipating God-like food?

    t, and t advantage use

    On our belief, t all from them proceeds;

    I question it, for th I see, [ 720 ]

    armd by the Sun, producing every kind,

    things, who enclosd

    Knoree,

    t tains

    isdom  their leave? and wherein lies [ 725 ]

    t Man stain to know?

    can your knowledge  ree

    Impart against his will if all be his?

    Or is it envie, and can envie dwell

    In s? these and many more [ 730 ]

    Causes import your need of t.

    Goddess aste.

    e h guile

    Into  too easie entrance won:

    Fixt on t so behold [ 735 ]

    Migempt alone, and in he sound

    Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregnd

    ito ruth;

    Mean whe hour of Noon drew on, and wakd

    An eager appetite, raisd by the smell [ 740 ]

    So savorie of t Fruit, wh desire,

    Inclinable noo toucaste,

    Sollicited  first

    Pausing a wo her self she musd.

 18

    Great are tues, doubtless, best of Fruits. [ 745 ]

    t from Man, and o be admird,

    aste, too long forborn, at first assay

    Gave elocution to te, and taught

    tongue not made for Speeco speak thy praise:

    thy use, [ 750 ]

    Conceales not from us, naming tree

    Of Knoh of good and evil;

    Forbids us to taste, but his forbidding

    Commends t inferrs the good

    By ted, and our : [ 755 ]

    For good unkno had, or had

    And yet unkno  all.

    In plain t forbids  to know,

    Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise?

    Sucions binde not. But if Death [ 760 ]

    Bind us er-bands, s then

    Our ine

    Of t, our doom is, we shall die.

    ? n and lives,

    And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, [ 765 ]

    Irrational till then. For us alone

    as deated? or to us denid

    tellectual food, for beasts reservd?

    For Beasts it seems: yet t one Beast w

    asted, envies not, but brings h joy [ 770 ]

    t,

    Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile.

    fear I t knoo feare

    Under this ignorance of good and Evil,

    Of God or Deatie? [ 775 ]

    Divine,

    Fair to ting to taste,

    Of vertue to make wise: w hen

    to reac once both Bodie and Mind?

    So saying, her rash hand in evil hour [ 780 ]

    Forto t, s:

    Eart ture from

    Sighrough all her orks gave signs of woe,

    t all . Back to t slunk

    tie Serpent, and , for Eve [ 785 ]

    Intent noe, naught else

    Regarded, suc till then, as seemd,

    In Fruit sasted, wrue

    Or fansied so, tation high

    Of knowledg, nor was God-. [ 790 ]

 19

    Greedily s restraint,

    And kne eating Deatiate at length,

    And nd as h ine, jocond and boon,

    to her self she pleasingly began.

    O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all trees [ 795 ]

    In Paradise, of operation blest

    to Sapience, o obscurd, infamd,

    And t let o no end

    Created; but h my early care,

    Not  Song, each Morning, and due praise [ 800 ]

    Send til burden ease

    Of to all;

    till dieted by ture

    In knohings know;

    t t give; [ 805 ]

    For  bin t  here

    t to thee I owe,

    Best guide; not follohee, I had remaind

    In ignorance, t isdoms way,

    And givst access, t sire. [ 810 ]

    And I per; heavn is high,

    e to see from tinct

    Eacher care perhaps

    May ed from continual ch

    Our great Forbidder, safe h all his Spies [ 815 ]

    About  to Adam in

    So him make known

    As yet my co partake

    Full ,

    But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power [ 820 ]

    it Copartner? so to add s

    In Femal Sex, to draw his Love,

    And render me more equal, and perhaps,

    A t undesireable, somtime

    Superior: for inferior who is free? [ 825 ]

    t w if God have seen

    And Deathen I shall be no more,

    And Adam o another Eve,

    Sinct;

    A deato then I resolve, [ 830 ]

    Adam sh me in bliss or woe:

    So dear I love  hs

    I could endure,  him live no life.

 20

    So saying, from tree ep surnd,

    But first loo the power [ 835 ]

    t d hin, whose presence had infusd

    Into t sciential sap, derivd

    From Nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while

    aiting desirous urn, had wove

    Of c Flours a Garland to adorne [ 840 ]

    resses, and her rural labours crown,

    As Reapers oft are  t Queen.

    Great joy o s, and new

    Solace in urn, so long delayd;

    Yet oft , divine of somthing ill, [ 845 ]

    Misgave ring measure felt;

    And forto meet , took

    t Morn ed; by tree

    Of Kno,

    Scarse from tree returning; in her hand [ 850 ]

    A boug fruit t downie smild,

    Neherd, and ambrosial smell diffusd.

    to ed, in her face excuse

    Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt,

    will s. [ 855 ]

    t  my stay?

    t, and t it long, deprivd

    till now

    Not felt, nor swice, for never more

    Mean I to trie, , [ 860 ]

    t. But strange

    o heare:

    tree is not as old, a tree

    Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown

    Opning t of Divine effect [ 865 ]

    to open Eyes, and make taste;

    And asted suc wise,

    Or not restraind as  obeying,

    n of t, and is become,

    Not dead, as nd, but th [ 870 ]

    Endud h human voice and human sense,

    Reasoning to admiration, and h mee

    Perswasively  I

    asted, and have also found

    ts to correspond, opener mine Eyes [ 875 ]

    Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler ,

    And groo Godhee

    C,  thee can despise.

 21

    For bliss, as t part, to me is bliss,

    tedious, unshee, and odious soon. [ 880 ]

    taste, t equal Lot

    May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love;

    Least t tasting, different degree

    Disjoyne us, and I too late renounce

    Deitie for te  permit. [ 885 ]

    tnance blitorie told;

    But in emper flushing glowd.

    On ther side, Adam, soon as he heard

    tal trespass don by Eve, amazd,

    Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill [ 890 ]

    Ran ts relaxd;

    From hd for Eve

    Dohe faded Roses shed:

    Speecood and pale, till t length

    First to himself he inward silence broke. [ 895 ]

    O fairest of Creation, last and best

    Of all Gods ure in whom excelld

    ever can to sig be formd,

    !

    t, , [ 900 ]

    Defact, deflourd, and noo Deate?

    Rat to transgress

    trict forbiddance, o violate

    t forbiddn! som cursed fraud

    Of Enemie  unknown, [ 905 ]

    And mee hee

    Certain my resolution is to Die;

    thee, how forgoe

    t Converse and Love so dearly joynd,

    to live again in these wilde oods forlorn? [ 910 ]

    Se another Eve, and I

    Anot loss of thee

    ould never from my ; no no, I feel

    ture draw me: Flesh of Flesh,

    Bone of my Bone t, and from tate [ 915 ]

    Mine never sed, bliss or woe.

 22

    So having said, as one from sad dismay

    Recomforted, and after ts disturbd

    Submitting to w seemd remediless,

    to Eve urnd. [ 920 ]

    Bold deed t presumd, adventrous Eve

    And peril great provokt, wh dard

    been onely coveting to Eye

    t sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,

    Muco taste it under banne to touch. [ 925 ]

    But past who can recall, or don undoe?

    Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate, yet so

    Per not Die, per

    Is not so asted Fruit,

    Profand first by t, by  [ 930 ]

    Made common and unaste;

    Nor yet on  lives,

    Lives, as t, and gaines to live as Man

    strong

    to us, as likely tasting to attaine [ 935 ]

    Proportional ascent, w be

    But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods.

    Nor can I t God, Creator wise,

    tning,  so destroy

    Us ures, dignifid so high, [ 940 ]

    Set over all his orks, which in our Fall,

    For us created, needs  faile,

    Dependent made; so God se,

    Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose,

    Not well conceavd of God, whough his Power [ 945 ]

    Creation could repeate, yet h

    Us to abolis the Adversary

    triumpate whom God

    Most Favors, w

    ? [ 950 ]

    Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe,

    my Lot,

    Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death

    Consort o mee as Life;

    So forcible  I feel [ 955 ]

    ture drao my owne,

    My o t is mine;

    Our State cannot be severd, we are one,

    One Fleso loose to loose my self.

 23

    So Adam, and to him replid. [ 960 ]

    O glorious trial of exceeding Love,

    Illustrious evidence, example high!

    Ingaging me to emulate, but s

    Of tion, taine,

    Adam, from w me sprung, [ 965 ]

    And gladly of our Union hee speak,

    One , one Soul in both; whereof good prooff

    thee resolvd,

    Rat th more dread

    Se us, linkt in Love so deare, [ 970 ]

    to undergoe , one Crime,

    If any be, of tasting t,

    ue, for of good still good proceeds,

    Direct, or by occasion ed

    trial of thy Love, which else [ 975 ]

    So eminently never had bin known.

    ere it I t Deat would ensue

    ttempt, I ain alone

    t, and not persher die

    Deserted, t [ 980 ]

    Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assurd

    Remarkably so late of true,

    So fait I feel

    Farr ot, not Deat Life

    Augmented, opnd Eyes, new hopes, new Joyes, [ 985 ]

    taste so Divine, t  before

    ouc seems to this, and harsh.

    On my experience, Adam, freely taste,

    And fear of Deato the indes.

    So saying, she embracd him, and for joy [ 990 ]

    tenderly , muc he his Love

    o incurr

    Divine displeasure for h.

    In recompence (for such compliance bad

    Suc merits) from the bough [ 995 ]

    S fair enticing Fruit

    it to eat

    Against ter kno deceavd,

    But fondly overcome h Femal charm.

 24

    Eartrembld from rails, as again [ 1000 ]

    In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,

    Skie lotering thunder, som sad drops

    ept at compleating of tal Sin

    Original; ,

    Eating o iterate [ 1005 ]

    respass feard, to soothe

    ie, t now

    As oxicated both

    t they feel

    Divinitie hem breeding wings [ 1010 ]

    o scorne t t false Fruit

    Farr otion first displaid,

    Carnal desire enflaming, hee on Eve

    Began to cast lascivious Eyes, she him

    As only repaid; in Lust they burne: [ 1015 ]

    till Adam to dalliance move,

    Eve, no exact of taste,

    And elegant, of Sapience no small part,

    Since to each meaning savour we apply,

    And Palate call judicious; I the praise [ 1020 ]

    Yeild t purveyd.

    Muc, waind

    From tful Fruit, nor knoill now

    true relisasting; if such pleasure be

    In to us forbidden, it might be wishd, [ 1025 ]

    For tree en.

    But come, so well refres us play,

    As meet is, after such delicious Fare;

    For never did tie since the day

    I sa and hee, adornd [ 1030 ]

    itions, so enflame my sense

    ito enjoy thee, fairer now

    tie of tuous tree.

    So said  glance or toy

    Of amorous intent, ood [ 1035 ]

    Of Eve, agious Fire.

 25

    o a shadie bank,

    t roof imbowrd

    he Couch,

    Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel, [ 1040 ]

    And  softest lap.

    t

    took largely, of tual guilt the Seale,

    till dewie sleep

    Oppressd thir amorous play. [ 1045 ]

    Soon as t fallacious Fruit,

    t ing vapour bland

    About ts  powers

    Made erre, was now exhald, and grosser sleep

    Bred of unkindly fumes, h conscious dreams [ 1050 ]

    Encumberd, nohey rose

    As from unrest, and eacher viewing,

    Soon found thir minds

    as a veile

    hem from knowing ill, was gon, [ 1055 ]

    Just confidence, and native righteousness

    And  t

    to guiltie s his Robe

    Uncoverd more, so rose te strong

    -lap [ 1060 ]

    Of Pean Dalilah, and wakd

    Srengtitute and bare

    Of all tue: silent, and in face

    Confounded long te, as struckn mute,

    till Adam, t less t, [ 1065 ]

    At lengtterance to traind.

    O Eve, in evil  give eare

    to t false orm, of

    to counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall,

    False in our promisd Rising; since our Eyes [ 1070 ]

    Opnd we find indeed, and find we know

    Bot, and Evil got,

    Bad Fruit of Knoo know,

    hus, of honour void,

    Of Innocence, of Faitie, [ 1075 ]

    Our ed Ornaments noaind,

    And in our Faces evident the signes

    Of foul concupiscence; wore;

    Even s of evils; of t

    Be sure the face [ 1080 ]

    h joy

    And rapture so oft behose heavnly shapes

    ill dazle nohir blaze

    Insufferably brig I here

    In solitude live savage, in some glade [ 1085 ]

    Obscurd, rable

    to Starr or Sun-lighir umbrage broad,

    And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines,

    Ye Cedars, h innumerable boughs

    hem more. [ 1090 ]

 26

    But let us no, devise

    best may for t serve to hide

    ts of eac seem most

    to s seen,

    Some tree her sowd, [ 1095 ]

    And girded on our loyns, may cover round

    ts, t this new commer, Shame,

    t not, and reproach us as unclean.

    So counseld oget

    Into t ood, they chose [ 1100 ]

    tree, not t kind for Fruit renownd,

    But suc to Indians known

    In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes

    Braunc in the ground

    take root, and Daughters grow [ 1105 ]

    About tree, a Pillard shade

    , and ecween;

    t te

    Sers in coole, and tends uring herds

    At Loop t shose Leaves [ 1110 ]

    targe,

    And  skill together sowd,

    to gird te, vain Covering if to hide

    t and dreaded shame; O how unlike

    to t first naked Glorie. Suce [ 1115 ]

    Columbus found t

    iture, naked else and wilde

    Among trees on Iles and woodie Shores.

    t, and as t, t

    Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind, [ 1120 ]

    te to eares

    Raind at t hin

    Began to rise, e,

    Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore

    tate of Mind, calm Region once [ 1125 ]

    And full of Peace, noost and turbulent:

    For Understanding ruld not, and the ill

    ion now

    to sensual Appetite, whe

    Usurping over sovran Reason claimd [ 1130 ]

    Superior semperd brest,

    Adam, estrangd in look and alterd stile,

    Speecermitted to Eve renewd.

 27

    ould t o my aid

    it t strange [ 1135 ]

    Desire of his unhappie Morn,

    I kno when

    Remaind still  as now, despoild

    Of all our good, shamd, naked, miserable.

    Let none o approve [ 1140 ]

    tly they seek

    Suco faile.

    to wouchus Eve.

    hy Lips, Adam severe,

    Imputst t to my default, or will [ 1145 ]

    Of  it, which who knows

    But mighou being by,

    Or to t there,

    Or tempt, t not have discernd

    Fraud in t, speaking as he spake; [ 1150 ]

    No ground of enmitie between us known,

    o harme.

    as I to ed from thy side?

    As good ill a liveless Rib.

    Being as I am,  the head [ 1155 ]

    Command me absolutely not to go,

    Going into suc?

    too facil t not much gainsay,

    Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.

    t in t, [ 1160 ]

    Neitransgressd, nor th mee.

    to  Adam replid,

    Is the recompence

    Of mine to teful Eve, exprest

    Immutable , not I, [ 1165 ]

    al bliss,

    Yet willingly chee:

    And am I nohe cause

    Of transgressing? not enough severe,

    It seems, in traint: w could I more? [ 1170 ]

    I old

    the lurking Enemie

    t lay in ; beyond this had bin force,

    And force upon free ill h here no place.

    But confidence thee on, secure [ 1175 ]

    Eito meet no danger, or to finde

    Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps

    I also errd in overmuch admiring

    seemd in t, t I t

    No evil durst attempt t I rue [ 1180 ]

    t errour now, which is become my crime,

    And t shall befall

    o rusting

    Lets raint s brook,

    And left to hence ensue, [ 1185 ]

    S his weak indulgence will accuse.

    tual accusation spent

    tless  neither self-condemning,

    And of test appeerd no end.