Paradise Lost
Book 9

John Milton

Edited by Jack Lynch

The text is from the second edition of 1674. The notes are my own. I’ve only just begun adding annotations; be patient.

The other books are available here.

THE ARGUMENT

 plot summary
Satan having compast° the Earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist by Night into Paradise, enters into the Serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the Morning go forth to thir labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart: Adam consents not, alledging the danger, lest that Enemy, of whom they were forewarn’d, should attempt her found alone: Eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make tryal of her strength; Adam at last yields: The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other Creatures. Eve wondring to hear the Serpent speak, asks how he attain’d to human speech and such understanding not till now; the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain Tree in the Garden he attain’d both to Speech and Reason, till then void of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that Tree, and finds it to be the Tree of Knowledge forbidden: The Serpent now grown bolder, with many wiles° and arguments induces° her at length to eat; she pleas’dwith the taste deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not, at last brings him of the Fruit, relates what perswaded her to eat thereof: Adam at first amaz’d, but perceiving her lost, resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her; and extenuating° the trespass, eats also of the Fruit: The Effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover thir nakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another. compast = gone around
wiles = tricks
induces = persuades
extenuating = overlooking
 
No more of talk where God or Angel Guest
With Man, as with his Friend, familiar us’d
To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Rural repast,° permitting him the while meal
9.5 Venial° discourse unblam’d: I now must change forgivable
Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt,
And disobedience: On the part of Heav’n
Now alienated, distance and distaste,
9.10 Anger and just rebuke, and judgement giv’n,
That brought into this World a world of woe,
Sinne and her shadow Death, and Miserie
Deaths Harbinger:° Sad task, yet argument° forerunner, announcer — subject
Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth
9.15 Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursu’d
Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall; or rage
Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous’d,° broken up
Or Neptun’s ire or Juno’s, that so long
Perplex’d the Greek and Cytherea’s Son; troubled
9.20 If answerable° style I can obtaine appropriate
Of my Celestial Patroness,° who deignes° the Muse — is willing to
Her nightly visitation unimplor’d,
And dictates to me slumb’ring, or inspires
Easie my unpremeditated Verse:
9.25 Since first this Subject for Heroic Song° poem
Pleas’d me long choosing, and beginning late;
Not sedulous° by Nature to indite° diligent — write
Warrs, hitherto° the onely Argument° until now — subject
Heroic deem’d, chief maistrie to dissect
9.30 With long and tedious havoc fabl’d Knights
In Battels feign’d;° the better fortitude° imaginary — heroic strength
Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom
Unsung; or to describe Races and Games,
Or tilting Furniture,° emblazon’d° Shields, jousting equipment — decorated
9.35 Impreses° quaint, Caparisons° and Steeds; emblems — skillfully designed — decorative cover for horses
Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights
At Joust and Torneament; then marshal’d° Feast arranged
Serv’d up in Hall with Sewers,° and Seneshals;° attendants — stewards
The skill of Artifice or Office° mean,° duty — low
9.40 Not that which justly gives Heroic name
To Person or to Poem. Mee of these
Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument° subject
Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise
That name, unless an age too late, or cold
9.45 Climat, or Years damp my intended wing
Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine,
Not Hers° who brings it nightly to my Ear. the Muse’s
 
The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr
Of Hesperus, whose Office is to bring Venus (the “evening star’)
9.50 Twilight upon the Earth, short Arbiter° judge
Twixt° Day and Night, and now from end to end between
Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round:
When Satan who late° fled before the threats recently
Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv’d
9.55 In meditated fraud and malice, bent
On mans destruction, maugre° what might hap despite
Of heavier on himself, fearless return’d.
By Night he fled, and at Midnight return’d.
From compassing° the Earth, cautious of day, going around
9.60 Since Uriel Regent° of the Sun descri’d° ruler — caught sight of
His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim° angels
That kept thir watch; thence° full of anguish driv’n, from there
The space of seven continu’d Nights he rode
With darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line° equator
9.65 He circl’d, four times cross’d the Carr of Night
From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure;° imagined circle around the earth
On the eighth return’d, and on the Coast averse° opposite
From entrance or Cherubic° Watch, by stealth angelic
Found unsuspected way. There was a place,
9.70 Now not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught° the change, worked
Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise
Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part
Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life;
In with the River sunk, and with it rose
9.75 Satan involv’d° in rising Mist, then sought wrapped
Where to lie hid; Sea he had searcht and Land
From Eden over Pontus, and the Poole
Mæotis,° up beyond the River Ob; a swamp
Downward as farr Antartic; and in length
9.80 West from Orontes to the Ocean barr’d
At Darien, thence° to the Land where flowes from there
Ganges and Indus: thus the Orb° he roam’d globe
With narrow search; and with inspection deep
Consider’d every Creature, which of all
9.85 Most opportune might serve his Wiles,° and found schemes
The Serpent suttlest° Beast of all the Field. most cunning
Him after long debate, irresolute
Of thoughts revolv’d, his final sentence° chose decision
Fit° Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom suitable
9.90 To enter, and his dark suggestions° hide temptations
From sharpest sight: for in the wilie° Snake, deceptive
Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,
As from his wit° and native° suttletie° intelligence — natural-born
Proceeding, which in other Beasts observ’d
9.95 Doubt might beget of Diabolic° pow’r devilish
Active within beyond the sense of brute.° animal
Thus he resolv’d, but first from inward griefe
His bursting passion into plaints° thus pour’d: complaints
 
O Earth, how like° to Heav’n, if not preferr’d similar
9.100 More justly, Seat° worthier of Gods, as built home
With second thoughts, reforming what was old!
For what God after better worse would build?
Terrestrial° Heav’n, danc’t round by other Heav’ns earthly
That shine, yet bear thir bright officious° Lamps, helpful
9.105 Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems,
In thee concentring all thir precious beams
Of sacred influence: As God in Heav’n
Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou
Centring receav’st from all those Orbs; in thee,
9.110 Not in themselves, all thir known vertue° appeers power
Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth
Of Creatures animate° with gradual life living
Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summ’d up in Man.
With what delight could I have walkt thee round,
9.115 If I could joy in aught,° sweet interchange anything
Of Hill, and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines,
Now Land, now Sea, and Shores with Forrest crownd,
Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these
Find place or refuge; and the more I see
9.120 Pleasures about me, so much more I feel
Torment within me, as from the hateful siege
Of contraries; all good to me becomes
Bane,° and in Heav’n much worse would be my state. cause of destruction
But neither here seek I, no nor in Heav’n
9.125 To dwell, unless by maistring Heav’ns Supreame;
Nor hope to be my self less miserable
By what I seek, but others to make such
As I, though thereby worse to me redound:° disgraces
For onely in destroying I find ease
9.130 To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd,
Or won to what may work his utter loss,
For whom all this was made, all this will soon
Follow, as to him linkt in weal° or woe, good
In wo then: that destruction wide may range:
9.135 To mee shall be the glorie sole among
The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr’d° ruined
What he Almightie styl’d,° six Nights and Days called
Continu’d making, and who knows how long
Before had bin contriving, though perhaps
9.140 Not longer then since I in one Night freed
From servitude inglorious welnigh° half almost
Th’ Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: hee to be aveng’d,
And to repaire his numbers thus impair’d,
9.145 Whether such vertue° spent of old now faild power
More Angels to Create, if they at least
Are his Created, or to spite us more,
Determin’d to advance into our room
A Creature form’d of Earth, and him endow,
9.150 Exalted from so base original,
With Heav’nly spoils,° our spoils: What he decreed° treasure taken in war — delared
He effected;° Man he made, and for him built brought about
Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,° residence
Him Lord pronounc’d, and, O indignitie!
9.155 Subjected to his service Angel wings,
And flaming Ministers to watch and tend
Thir earthy Charge: Of these the vigilance
I dread, and to elude,° thus wrapt in mist avoid
Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie dark
9.160 In every Bush and Brake,° where hap° may finde thicket — by chance
The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds
To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.
O foul descent! that I who erst° contended first
With Gods to sit the highest, am now constraind
9.165 Into a Beast, and mixt with bestial slime,
This essence to incarnate° and imbrute,° make fleshly — be degraded
That to the hight of Deitie aspir’d;
But what will not Ambition and Revenge
Descend to? who aspires must down as low
9.170 As high he soard, obnoxious first or last
To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere° long back on it self recoiles; before
Let it; I reck° not, so it light well aim’d, care
Since higher I fall short, on him who next
9.175 Provokes my envie, this new Favorite
Of Heav’n, this Man of Clay, Son of despite,
Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais’d
From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid.
 
So saying, through each Thicket Danck° or Drie, damp
9.180 Like a black mist low creeping, he held on
His midnight search, where soonest he might finde
The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found
In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowld,
His head the midst, well stor’d with suttle wiles:° cunning deceits
9.185 Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den,
Nor nocent° yet, but on the grassie Herbe° guilty — plants
Fearless unfeard he slept: in at his Mouth
The Devil enterd, and his brutal sense,
In heart or head, possessing soon inspir’d
9.190 With act intelligential;° but his sleep related to intelligence
Disturbd not, waiting close th’ approach of Morn.
Now when as sacred Light began to dawne
In Eden on the humid Flours, that breathd
Thir morning incense, when all things that breath,
9.195 From th’ Earths great Altar send up silent praise
To the Creator, and his Nostrils fill
With grateful° Smell, forth came the human pair pleasing
And joind thir vocal Worship to the Quire° choir
Of Creatures wanting° voice, that done, partake lacking
9.200 The season, prime for sweetest Sents° and Aires: scents
Then commune° how that day they best may ply discuss
Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew
The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide.
And Eve first to her Husband thus began.
 
9.205 Adam, well may we labour still to dress° tend to
This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour,
Our pleasant task enjoyn’d,° but till more hands required
Aid us, the work under our labour grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day
9.210 Lop° overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, cut
One night or two with wanton° growth derides° unrestrained — laughs at
Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advise
Or hear what to my minde first thoughts present,
Let us divide our labours, thou where choice
9.215 Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind
The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct
The clasping Ivie where to climb, while I
In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt
With Myrtle, find what to redress° till Noon: put in order
9.220 For while so near each other thus all day
Our taske we choose, what wonder if so near
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual discourse draw on, which intermits° interrupts
Our dayes work brought to little, though begun
9.225 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 deare,
Well hast thou motion’d, well thy thoughts imployd
9.230 How we might best fulfill the work which here
God hath assign’d us, nor of me shalt pass
Unprais’d: for nothing lovelier can be found
In Woman, then to studie houshold good,
And good workes in her Husband to promote.
9.235 Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos’d
Labour, as to debarr° us when we need prevent
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse° interaction (no sexual connotation)
Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,
9.240 To brute° deni’d, and are of Love the food, animal
Love not the lowest end of human life.
For not to irksom toile, but to delight
He made us, and delight to Reason joyn’d.
These paths & Bowers doubt not but our joynt hands
9.245 Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide
As we need walk, till younger hands ere° long before
Assist us: But if much converse perhaps
Thee satiate,° to short absence I could yield. be too much for
For solitude somtimes is best societie,
9.250 And short retirement urges sweet returne.
But other doubt possesses me, least° harm in case
Befall° thee sever’d from me; for thou knowst happen to
What hath bin warn’d us, what malicious Foe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
9.255 Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame
By sly assault; and somwhere nigh° at hand near
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wish and best advantage, us asunder,° separate
Hopeless to circumvent° us joynd, where each trick
9.260 To other speedie aide might lend at need;
Whether his first design° be to withdraw plan
Our fealtie° from God, or to disturb loyalty
Conjugal° Love, then which perhaps no bliss sexual, marital
Enjoy’d by us excites his envie more;
9.265 Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side
That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.
The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
 
9.270 To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve,
As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,
With sweet austeer composure thus reply’d,
 
Ofspring of Heav’n and Earth, and all Earths Lord,
That such an Enemie we have, who seeks
9.275 Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne,
And from the parting Angel over-heard
As in a shadie nook I stood behind,
Just then returnd at shut of Evening Flours.
But that thou shouldst my firmness therfore doubt
9.280 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 wee, not capable of death or paine,
Can either not receave, or can repell.
9.285 His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs° suggests
Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love
Can by his fraud be shak’n or seduc’t;
Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy brest
Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear?
 
9.290 To whom with healing words Adam replyd.
Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve,
For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:
Not diffident° of thee do I dissuade skeptical
Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid
9.295 Th’ attempt itself, intended by our Foe.
For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses° slanders
The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos’d
Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff
Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne
9.300 And anger wouldst resent the offer’d wrong,
Though ineffectual found: misdeem° not then, mistake
If such affront I labour to avert° keep away
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare,
9.305 Or daring, first on mee th’ assault shall light.
Nor thou his malice and false guile° contemn; deception
Suttle he needs must be, who could seduce cunning
Angels nor think superfluous° others aid. too much
I from the influence of thy looks receave
9.310 Access in every Vertue, 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-reacht
Would utmost vigor raise, and rais’d unite.
9.315 Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present, and thy trial choose
With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri’d.
 
So spake domestick Adam in his care
And Matrimonial Love; but Eve, who thought
9.320 Less attributed to her Faith sincere,
Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd.
 
If this be our condition,° thus to dwell situation
In narrow circuit strait’nd° by a Foe, made narrower
Suttle° or violent, we not endu’d° cunning — created
9.325 Single with like defence, wherever met,
How are we happie, still in fear of harm?
But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe
Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integritie: his foul esteeme
9.330 Sticks no dishonor on our Front,° but turns forehead
Foul on himself; then wherefore shund or feard
By us? who rather double honour gaine
From his surmise prov’d false, find peace within,
Favour from Heav’n, our witness from th’ event.° outcome
9.335 And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid° untested
Alone, without exterior help sustaind?
Let us not then suspect our happie State
Left so imperfet° by the Maker wise, incomplete
As not secure to single or combin’d.
9.340 Fraile is our happiness, if this be so,
And Eden were no Eden thus expos’d.
 
To whom thus Adam fervently repli’d.
O Woman, best are all things as the will
Of God ordain’d them, his creating hand
9.345 Nothing imperfet° or deficient left incomplete
Of all that he Created, much less Man,
Or aught° that might his happie State° secure, anything — status
Secure from outward force; within himself
The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
9.350 Against his will he can receave no harme.
But God left free the Will, for what obeyes
Reason, is free, and Reason he made right
But bid her well beware, and still erect,
Least° by some faire appeering good surpris’d in case
9.355 She dictate false, and misinforme the Will
To do what God expresly hath forbid,
Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes,° requires
That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.
Firm we subsist,° yet possible to swerve, take a stand
9.360 Since Reason not impossibly may meet
Some specious° object by the Foe subornd,° pleasing — prepared secretly
And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd.
Seek not temptation then, which to avoide
9.365 Were better, and most likelie if from mee
Thou sever° not: Trial° will come unsought.° separate — a test — without being looked for
Wouldst thou approve° thy constancie, approve demonstrate
First thy obedience; th’ other who can know,
Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?
9.370 But if thou think, trial unsought may finde
Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst,
Go; for thy stay, not free, absents° thee more; makes absent
Go in thy native innocence, relie
On what thou hast of vertue, summon all,
9.375 For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.
 
So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but Eve
Persisted, yet submiss, though last, repli’d.
 
With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words
9.380 Touchd onely, that our trial, when least sought,
May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar’d,
The willinger I goe, nor much expect
A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek,
So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.
9.385 Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand
Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light
Oread° or Dryad,° or of Delia’s Traine, mountain nymph — wood nymph
Betook° her to the Groves, but Delia’s self went
In gate surpass’d and Goddess-like deport,° appearance
9.390 Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd,
But with such Gardning Tools as Art yet rude, technique
Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought.
To Pales, or Pomona, thus adornd,
Likeliest she seemd, Pomona when she fled
9.395 Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her Prime,
Yet Virgin of Proserpina from Jove.
Her long with ardent look his Eye pursu’d
Delighted, but desiring more her stay.
Oft he to her his charge of quick returne
9.400 Repeated, shee to him as oft engag’d
To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre,
And all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast,° or Afternoons repose. meal
O much deceav’d, much failing, hapless° Eve, unfortunate
9.405 Of thy presum’d return! event° perverse! outcome
Thou never from that houre in Paradise
Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;
Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades
Waited with hellish rancour° imminent animosity
9.410 To intercept thy way, or send thee back
Despoild° of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss. stripped
For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend,
Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come,
And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde
9.415 The onely two of Mankinde, but in them
The whole included Race, his purposd prey.
In Bowre° and Field he sought, where any tuft shaded area
Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,
Thir tendance° or Plantation for delight, tending
9.420 By Fountain or by shadie Rivulet° stream
He sought them both, but wish’d his hap° might find luck
Eve separate, he wish’d, but not with hope
Of what so seldom chanc’d, when to his wish,
Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,
9.425 Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,
Half spi’d, so thick the Roses bushing round
About her glowd, oft stooping to support
Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay
Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,
9.430 Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies
Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while,
Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour,
From her best prop so farr, and storm so nigh. near
Neerer he drew, and many a walk travers’d
9.435 Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,
Then voluble° and bold, now hid, now seen fast-moving
Among thick-wov’n Arborets° and Flours shrubs
Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve:
Spot more delicious then those Gardens feign’d° invented
9.440 Or of reviv’d Adonis, or renownd
Alcinous, host of old Laertes Son,° Odysseus
Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient° King wise
Held dalliance° with his fair Egyptian Spouse. enjoyed
Much hee the Place admir’d, the Person more.
9.445 As one who long in populous City pent,° locked up
Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy° the Aire, damage
Forth issuing on a Summers Morn to breathe
Among the pleasant Villages and Farmes
Adjoynd,° from each thing met conceaves delight, nearby
9.450 The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine,° cows
Or Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound;
If chance° with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass, it happens
What pleasing seemd, for her now pleases more,
She most, and in her look summs all Delight.
9.455 Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold
This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of Eve
Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav’nly forme
Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine,
Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire° appearance
9.460 Of gesture or lest action overawd
His Malice, and with rapine° sweet bereav’d kidnapping or rape
His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
That space the Evil one abstracted° stood separated
From his own evil, and for the time remaind
9.465 Stupidly° good, of enmitie disarm’d, silently
Of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge;
But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes,
Though in mid Heav’n, soon ended his delight,
And tortures him now more, the more he sees
9.470 Of pleasure not for him ordain’d:° then soon destined
Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts
Of mischief, gratulating,° thus excites. greeting
 
Thoughts, whither° have ye led me, with what sweet to where
Compulsion thus transported to forget
9.475 What hither° brought us, hate, not love, nor hope to here
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste
Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,
Save° what is in destroying, other joy except
To me is lost. Then let me not let pass
9.480 Occasion which now smiles, behold alone
The Woman, opportune to all attempts,
Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh,° nearby
Whose higher intellectual° more I shun, intellect
And strength, of courage hautie,° and of limb lofty
9.485 Heroic built, though of terrestrial° mould,° earthly (mortal) — form
Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,
I not; so much hath Hell debas’d, and paine
Infeebl’d me, to what I was in Heav’n.
Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods,
9.490 Not terrible, though terrour be in Love
And beautie, not approacht by stronger hate,
Hate stronger, under shew° of Love well feign’d,° appearance — faked
The way which to her ruin now I tend.
 
So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos’d
9.495 In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve
Address’d his way, not with indented° wave, jagged
Prone° on the ground, as since, but on his reare, lying flat
Circular base of rising foulds, that tour’d
Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head
9.500 Crested aloft, and Carbuncle° his Eyes; red gem
With burnisht° Neck of verdant° Gold, erect polished — green
Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass
Floted redundant:° pleasing was his shape, like waves
And lovely, never since of Serpent kind
9.505 Lovelier, not those that in Illyria chang’d
Hermione and Cadmus, or the God
In Epidaurus; nor to which transformd
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen,
Hee with Olympias, this with her who bore
9.510 Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique height
At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh° Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind near
9.515 Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile;
So varied hee, and of his tortuous° Traine twisting
Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,
To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound
Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us’d
9.520 To such disport° before her through the Field, entertainment
From every Beast, more duteous at her call,
Then at Circean call the Herd disguis’d.
Hee boulder now, uncall’d before her stood;
But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd
9.525 His turret Crest, and sleek enamel’d Neck,
Fawning, and lick’d the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expression turnd at length
The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad
Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue
9.530 Organic, or impulse of vocal Air,
His fraudulent temptation thus began.
 
Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps sovereign
Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm
Thy looks, the Heav’n of mildness, with disdain,
9.535 Displeas’d that I approach thee thus, and gaze
Insatiate, I thus single, nor have feard
Thy awful° brow, more awful thus retir’d. awe-inspiring
Fairest resemblance of thy Maker faire,
Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine
9.540 By gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore
With ravishment beheld, there best beheld
Where universally admir’d; but here
In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among,
Beholders rude, and shallow to discerne
9.545 Half what in thee is fair, one man except,
Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen
A Goddess among Gods, ador’d and serv’d
By Angels numberless, thy daily Train.
 
So gloz’d° the Tempter, and his Proem tun’d; flattered and deceived
9.550 Into the Heart of Eve his words made way,
Though at the voice much marveling; at length
Not unamaz’d she thus in answer spake.
What may this mean? Language of Man pronounc’t
By Tongue of Brute,° and human sense exprest? animal
9.555 The first at lest of these I thought deni’d
To Beasts, whom God on thir Creation-Day
Created mute to all articulat sound;
The latter I demurre,° for in thir looks hesitate over
Much reason, and in thir actions oft appeers.
9.560 Thee, Serpent, suttlest° beast of all the field most cunning
I knew, but not with human voice endu’d;° provided
Redouble then this miracle, and say,
How cam’st thou speakable of mute, and how
To me so friendly grown above the rest
9.565 Of brutal° kind, that daily are in sight? animal
Say, for such wonder claims attention due.
 
To whom the guileful° Tempter thus reply’d. deceptive
Empress of this fair World, resplendent° Eve, shining
Easie to mee it is to tell thee all
9.570 What thou commandst and right thou shouldst be obeyd:
I was at first as other Beasts that graze
The trodden Herb,° of abject° thoughts and low, grass — cast down
As was my food, nor aught° but food discern’d anything
Or Sex, and apprehended nothing high:
9.575 Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc’d
A goodly Tree farr distant to behold
Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt,
Ruddie° and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze; red
When from the boughes a savorie odour blow’n,
9.580 Grateful to appetite, more pleas’d my sense,
Then smell of sweetest Fenel or the Teats
Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn,
Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play.
To satisfie the sharp desire I had
9.585 Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv’d
Not to deferr; hunger and thirst at once,
Powerful perswaders, quick’nd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urg’d me so keene.
About the mossie Trunk I wound me soon,
9.590 For high from ground the branches would require
Thy utmost reach or Adams: Round the Tree
All other Beasts that saw, with like desire
Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.
Amid the Tree now got, where plenty hung
9.595 Tempting so nigh,° to pluck and eat my fill near
I spar’d not, for such pleasure till that hour
At Feed or Fountain never had I found.
Sated° at length, ere° long I might perceave satisfied — before
Strange alteration in me, to degree
9.600 Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech
Wanted° not long, though to this shape retain’d. lacked
Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep from then
I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Considerd all things visible in Heav’n,
9.605 Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good;
But all that fair and good in thy Divine
Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav’nly Ray
United I beheld; no Fair to thine
Equivalent or second, which compel’d
9.610 Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come
And gaze, and worship thee of right declar’d
Sovran° of Creatures, universal Dame.° sovereign — female ruler
 
So talk’d the spirited sly Snake; and Eve
Yet more amaz’d unwarie thus reply’d.
 
9.615 Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt
The vertue° of that Fruit, in thee first prov’d: effect
But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far? here
For many are the Trees of God that grow
In Paradise, and various, yet unknown
9.620 To us, in such abundance lies our choice,
As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht,
Still hanging incorruptible,° till men unspoiling
Grow up to thir provision, and more hands
Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth.
 
9.625 To whom the wilie° Adder, blithe° and glad. deceptive — cheerful
Empress, the way is readie, and not long,
Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat,
Fast by° a Fountain, one small Thicket past close to
Of blowing° Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept blossoming
9.630 My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon. to there
 
Lead then, said Eve. Hee leading swiftly rowld
In tangles, and made intricate seem strait,
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy
Bright’ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire
9.635 Compact of unctuous° vapor, which the Night oily
Condenses, and the cold invirons° round, wraps
Kindl’d through agitation to a Flame,
Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends
Hovering and blazing with delusive° Light, deceptive
9.640 Misleads th’ amaz’d Night-wanderer from his way
To Boggs and Mires, and oft through Pond or Poole,
There swallow’d up and lost, from succour° farr. relief
So glister’d° the dire Snake, and into fraud shone
Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree
9.645 Of prohibition, root of all our woe;
Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.
 
Serpent, we might have spar’d° our coming hither,° saved the trouble — to here
Fruitless to mee, though Fruit be here to excess,
The credit of whose vertue rest with thee,
9.650 Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch;
God so commanded, and left that Command
Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law.
 
9.655 To whom the Tempter guilefully° repli’d. deceptively
Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit
Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eate,
Yet Lords declar’d of all in Earth or Aire?
 
To whom thus Eve yet° sinless. Of the Fruit still
9.660 Of each Tree in the Garden we may eate,
But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst
The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate
Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die.
 
She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold
9.665 The Tempter, but with shew° of Zeale and Love appearance
To Man, and indignation at his wrong,
New part puts on, and as to passion mov’d,
Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely and in act
Rais’d, as of som great matter to begin.
9.670 As when of old som Orator renound
In Athens or free Rome, where Eloquence
Flourishd, since mute, to som great cause addrest,
Stood in himself collected, while each part,
Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, before
9.675 Somtimes in highth° began, as no delay height
Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.
So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown height
The Tempter all impassiond thus began.
 
O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant,
9.680 Mother of Science, Now I feel thy Power knowledge
Within me cleere, not onely to discerne
Things in thir Causes, but to trace the wayes
Of highest Agents, deemd however wise.
Queen of this Universe, doe not believe
9.685 Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die:
How should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life
To Knowledge, By the Threatner? look on mee,
Mee who have touch’d and tasted, yet both live,
And life more perfet have attaind then Fate
9.690 Meant mee, by ventring higher then my Lot.
Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast
Is open? or will God incense his ire
For such a petty Trespass, and not praise
Rather your dauntless vertue, whom the pain
9.695 Of Death denounc’t, whatever thing Death be,
Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade
To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil;
Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil
Be real, why not known, since easier shunnd?
9.700 God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;
Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeyd:
Your feare it self of Death removes the feare.
Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe,
Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,
9.705 His worshippers; he knows that in the day
Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere,
Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then
Op’nd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,
Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.
9.710 That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man,
Internal Man, is but proportion meet,
I of brute human, yee of human Gods.
So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off
Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht,
9.715 Though threat’nd, which no worse then this can bring.
And what are Gods that Man may not become
As they, participating God-like food?
The Gods are first, and that advantage use
On our belief, that all from them proceeds;
9.720 I question it, for this fair Earth I see,
Warm’d by the Sun, producing every kind,
Them nothing: If they all things, who enclos’d
Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree,
That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains
9.725 Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies
Th’ offence, that Man should thus attain to know?
What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree
Impart against his will if all be his?
Or is it envie, and can envie dwell
9.730 In Heav’nly brests? these, these and many more
Causes import your need of this fair Fruit.
Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste.
 
He ended, and his words replete with guile
Into her heart too easie entrance won:
9.735 Fixt on the Fruit she gaz’d, which to behold
Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound
Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregn’d
With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth;
Mean while the hour of Noon drew on, and wak’d
9.740 An eager appetite, rais’d by the smell
So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,
Sollicited her longing eye; yet first
Pausing a while, thus to her self she mus’d.
 
9.745 Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits.
Though kept from Man, and worthy to be admir’d,
Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay attempt
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise:
9.750 Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use,
Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree
Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding
Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good
9.755 By thee communicated, and our want:
For good unknown, sure is not had, or had
And yet unknown, is as not had at all.
In plain then, what forbids he but to know,
Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise?
9.760 Such prohibitions binde not. But if Death
Bind us with after-bands, what profits then
Our inward freedom? In the day we eate
Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die.
How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat’n and lives,
9.765 And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,
Irrational till then. For us alone
Was death invented? or to us deni’d
This intellectual food, for beasts reserv’d?
For Beasts it seems: yet that one Beast which first
9.770 Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy
The good befall’n him, Author unsuspect,
Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile.
What fear I then, rather what know to feare
Under this ignorance of good and Evil,
9.775 Of God or Death, of Law or Penaltie?
Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine,
Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Taste,
Of vertue to make wise: what hinders then
To reach, and feed at once both Bodie and Mind?
 
9.780 So saying, her rash hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck’d, she eat:
Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat
Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe,
That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk
9.785 The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for Eve
Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else
Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd,
In Fruit she never tasted, whether true
Or fansied so, through expectation high imagined
9.790 Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought.
Greedily she ingorg’d without restraint,
And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length,
And hight’nd as with Wine, jocond and boon,
Thus to her self she pleasingly began.
 
9.795 O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees sovereign
In Paradise, of operation blest
To Sapience, hitherto obscur’d, infam’d, knowledge — until now
And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end
Created; but henceforth my early care, from now on
9.800 Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise
Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease
Of thy full branches offer’d free to all;
Till dieted by thee I grow mature
In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;
9.805 Though others envie what they cannot give;
For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here
Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,
Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind
In ignorance, thou op’nst Wisdoms way,
9.810 And giv’st access, though secret she retire.
And I perhaps am secret; Heav’n is high,
High and remote to see from thence distinct there
Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps
May have diverted from continual watch
9.815 Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies
About him. But to Adam in what sort
Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him to partake
Full happiness with mee, or rather not,
9.820 But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power
Without Copartner? so to add what wants lacks
In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,
And render me more equal, and perhaps,
A thing not undesireable, somtime
9.825 Superior: for inferior who is free?
This may be well: but what if God have seen
And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,
And Adam wedded to another Eve,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
9.830 A death to think. Confirm’d then I resolve,
Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I could endure, without him live no life.
 
So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd,
9.835 But first low Reverence don, as to the power
That dwelt within, whose presence had infus’d
Into the plant sciential sap, deriv’d knowledge-endowed
From Nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while
Waiting desirous her return, had wove
9.840 Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorne
Her Tresses, and her rural labours crown,
As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen. accustomed
Great joy he promis’d to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, so long delay’d;
9.845 Yet oft his heart, divine of somthing ill,
Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt;
And forth to meet her went, the way she took
That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree
Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met,
9.850 Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand
A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil’d,
New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus’d.
To him she hasted, in her face excuse
Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt,
9.855 Which with bland words at will she thus addrest. pleasing
 
Hast thou not wonderd, Adam, at my stay?
Thee I have misst, and thought it long, depriv’d
Thy presence, agonie of love till now
Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more
9.860 Mean I to trie, what rash untri’d I sought,
The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange
Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to heare:
This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree
Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown
9.865 Op’ning the way, but of Divine effect
To open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste;
And hath bin tasted such: the Serpent wise,
Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying,
Hath eat’n of the fruit, and is become,
9.870 Not dead, as we are threatn’d, but thenceforth from then on
Endu’d with human voice and human sense,
Reasoning to admiration, and with mee
Perswasively hath so prevaild, that I
Have also tasted, and have also found
9.875 Th’ effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes
Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart, first
And growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.
For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss,
9.880 Tedious, unshar’d with thee, and odious soon.
Thou therefore also taste, that equal Lot
May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love;
Least thou not tasting, different degree
Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce
9.885 Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit.
 
Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her storie told;
But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd. fever
On th’ other side, Adam, soon as he heard
The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amaz’d,
9.890 Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill
Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax’d;
From his slack hand the Garland wreath’d for Eve
Down drop’d, and all the faded Roses shed:
Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length
9.895 First to himself he inward silence broke.
 
O fairest of Creation, last and best
Of all Gods works, Creature in whom excell’d
Whatever can to sight or thought be formd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
9.900 How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,
Defac’t, deflourd, and now to Death devote?
Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress
The strict forbiddance, how to violate
The sacred Fruit forbidd’n! som cursed fraud
9.905 Of Enemie hath beguil’d thee, yet unknown,
And mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee
Certain my resolution is to Die;
How can I live without thee, how forgoe
Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn’d,
9.910 To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn?
Should God create another Eve, and I
Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart; no no, I feel
The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,
9.915 Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State
Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.
 
So having said, as one from sad dismay
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbd
Submitting to what seemd remediless,
9.920 Thus in calm mood his Words to Eve he turnd.
 
Bold deed thou hast presum’d, adventrous Eve
And peril great provok’t, who thus hath dar’d
Had it been onely coveting to Eye
That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,
9.925 Much more to taste it under banne to touch.
But past who can recall, or don undoe?
Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate, yet so
Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact
Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit, already tasted
9.930 Profan’d first by the Serpent, by him first
Made common and unhallowd ere our taste; before
Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives,
Lives, as thou saidst, and gaines to live as Man
Higher degree of Life, inducement strong
9.935 To us, as likely tasting to attaine
Proportional ascent, which cannot be
But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,
Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy
9.940 Us his prime Creatures, dignifi’d so high,
Set over all his Works, which in our Fall,
For us created, needs with us must faile,
Dependent made; so God shall uncreate,
Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose,
9.945 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 say; Fickle their State whom God
Most Favors, who can please him long; Mee first
9.950 He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next?
Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe,
However I with thee have fixt my Lot,
Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death
Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life; interact
9.955 So forcible within my heart I feel
The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne,
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our State cannot be severd, we are one,
One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self.
 
9.960 So Adam, and thus Eve to him repli’d.
O glorious trial of exceeding Love,
Illustrious evidence, example high!
Ingaging me to emulate, but short
Of thy perfection, how shall I attaine,
9.965 Adam, from whose deare side I boast me sprung,
And gladly of our Union heare thee speak,
One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff experience
This day affords, declaring thee resolvd,
Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread
9.970 Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare,
To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime,
If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit,
Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds,
Direct, or by occasion hath presented
9.975 This happie trial of thy Love, which else
So eminently never had bin known.
Were it I thought Death menac’t would ensue
This my attempt, I would sustain alone
The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die
9.980 Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact
Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assur’d
Remarkably so late of thy so true,
So faithful Love unequald; but I feel
Farr otherwise th’ event,° not Death, but Life outcome
9.985 Augmented, op’nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes,
Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before
Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.
On my experience, Adam, freely taste,
And fear of Death deliver to the Windes.
 
9.990 So saying, she embrac’d him, and for joy
Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love
Had so enobl’d, as of choice to incurr
Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.
In recompence (for such compliance bad
9.995 Such recompence best merits) from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit
With liberal hand: he scrupl’d not to eat
Against his better knowledge, not deceav’d,
But fondly overcome with Femal charm.
9.1000 Earth trembl’d from her entrails, as again
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,
Skie lowr’d, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops looked threatening
Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin
Original; while Adam took no thought,
9.1005 Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate
Her former trespass fear’d, the more to soothe
Him with her lov’d societie, that now
As with new Wine intoxicated both
They swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel imagine
9.1010 Divinitie within them breeding wings
Wherewith to scorne the Earth: but that false Fruit
Farr other operation first displaid,
Carnal desire enflaming, hee on Eve
Began to cast lascivious Eyes, she him
9.1015 As wantonly repaid; in Lust they burne:
Till Adam thus ’gan Eve to dalliance move,
 
Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of Sapience no small part,
Since to each meaning savour we apply,
9.1020 And Palate call judicious; I the praise
Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey’d.
Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain’d
From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now
True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be
9.1025 In things to us forbidden, it might be wish’d,
For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten.
But come, so well refresh’t, now let us play,
As meet is, after such delicious Fare;
For never did thy Beautie since the day
9.1030 I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn’d
With all perfections, so enflame my sense
With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now
Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree.
 
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy
9.1035 Of amorous intent, well understood
Of Eve, whose Eye darted contagious Fire.
Her hand he seis’d, and to a shadie bank,
Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr’d
He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch,
9.1040 Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel,
And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.
There they thir fill of Love and Loves disport
Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale,
The solace of thir sin, till dewie sleep
9.1045 Oppress’d them, wearied with thir amorous play.
Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit, delusive
That with exhilerating vapour bland pleasing
About thir spirits had plaid, and inmost powers
Made erre, was now exhal’d, and grosser sleep
9.1050 Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams unnatural
Encumberd, now had left them, up they rose
As from unrest, and each the other viewing,
Soon found thir Eyes how op’nd, and thir minds
How dark’nd; innocence, that as a veile
9.1055 Had shadow’d them from knowing ill, was gon,
Just confidence, and native righteousness
And honour from about them, naked left
To guiltie shame hee cover’d, but his Robe
Uncover’d more, so rose the Danite strong
9.1060 Herculean Samson from the Harlot-lap
Of Philistean Dalilah, and wak’d
Shorn of his strength, They destitute and bare
Of all thir vertue: silent, and in face
Confounded long they sate, as struck’n mute,
9.1065 Till Adam, though not less then Eve abasht,
At length gave utterance to these words constraind.
 
O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give eare
To that false Worm, of whomsoever taught
To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall,
9.1070 False in our promis’d Rising; since our Eyes
Op’nd we find indeed, and find we know
Both Good and Evil, Good lost, and Evil got,
Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know,
Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void,
9.1075 Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie,
Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind, usual
And in our Faces evident the signes
Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; lust — from where
Even shame, the last of evils; of the first
9.1080 Be sure then. How shall I behold the face
Henceforth of God or Angel, earst with joy from now on — earliest
And rapture so oft beheld? those heav’nly shapes
Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze
Insufferably bright. O might I here
9.1085 In solitude live savage, in some glade
Obscur’d, where highest Woods impenetrable
To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad,
And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines,
Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs
9.1090 Hide me, where I may never see them more.
But let us now, as in bad plight, devise
What best may for the present serve to hide
The Parts of each from other, that seem most
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen,
9.1095 Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd,
And girded on our loyns, may cover round
Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame,
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.
 
So counsel’d hee, and both together went
9.1100 Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose
The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit renown’d,
But such as at this day to Indians known
In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes
Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground
9.1105 The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow
About the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade
High overarch’t, and echoing Walks between;
There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heate
Shelters in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds
9.1110 At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves
They gatherd, broad as Amazonian Targe,
And with what skill they had, together sowd,
To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide
Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike
9.1115 To that first naked Glorie. Such of late recently
Columbus found th’ American so girt
With featherd Cincture, naked else and wilde
Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores.
Thus fenc’t, and as they thought, thir shame in part
9.1120 Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind,
They sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares
Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within
Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate,
Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore
9.1125 Thir inward State of Mind, calm Region once
And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent:
For Understanding rul’d not, and the Will
Heard not her lore, both in subjection now
To sensual Appetite, who from beneathe
9.1130 Usurping over sovran Reason claimd sovereign
Superior sway: From thus distemperd brest, diseased
Adam, estrang’d in look and alterd stile,
Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd.
 
Would thou hadst heark’nd to my words, and stai’d
9.1135 With me, as I besought thee, when that strange
Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn,
I know not whence possessd thee; we had then from where
Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild
Of all our good, sham’d, naked, miserable.
9.1140 Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve from now on
The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile.
 
To whom soon mov’d with touch of blame thus Eve.
What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe,
9.1145 Imput’st thou that to my default, or will
Of wandring, as thou call’st it, which who knows
But might as ill have happ’nd thou being by,
Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou been there,
Or here th’ attempt, thou couldst not have discernd
9.1150 Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;
No ground of enmitie between us known,
Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme.
Was I to have never parted from thy side?
As good have grown there still a liveless Rib.
9.1155 Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head
Command me absolutely not to go,
Going into such danger as thou saidst?
Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
9.1160 Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent,
Neither had I transgress’d, nor thou with mee.
 
To whom then first incenst Adam repli’d,
Is this the Love, is this the recompence
Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprest
9.1165 Immutable when thou wert lost, not I,
Who might have liv’d and joyd immortal bliss,
Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,
9.1170 It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more?
I warn’d thee, I admonish’d thee, foretold
The danger, and the lurking Enemie
That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force,
And force upon free Will hath here no place.
9.1175 But confidence then bore thee on, secure
Either to meet no danger, or to finde
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also err’d in overmuch admiring
What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought
9.1180 No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue dare
That errour now, which is become my crime,
And thou th’ accuser. Thus it shall befall
Him who to worth in Women overtrusting
Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,
9.1185 And left to her self, if evil thence ensue,
Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.
 
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning,
And of thir vain contest appeer’d no end.
 

The End of the Ninth Book.
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Notes


This text has been prepared by Jack Lynch. You’re welcome to use it for non-exclusive and nonprofit purposes.