But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt

To God or thee, because we have a foe

May tempt it, I expected not to hear.

His violence thou fear'st not, being such
As we, not capable of death or pain,

280

Can either not receive, or can repel.

His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers

285

Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love

Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd;

Thoughts which how found they harbour in thy breast, Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear?

To whom with healing words Adam reply'd.

290

Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve,

For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade

Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid

Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe.

295

For he who tempts, though' in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Agains temptation: thou thyself with scorn
And anger would'st resent the offer'd wrong,
Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
If such affront I labour to avert

From thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,
Or daring, first on me th' assault shall light.
Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn,
Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce
Angels; nor think superfluous others' aid.

300

305

1 from the influence of thy looks receive

Access in every virtue, in thy sight

More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were

310

Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd,

Would utmost vigour raise, and rais'd unite.

Why should'st not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present, and thy trial choose

316

With me, best witness of thy virtue try'd?

In narrow circuit straiten'd by a foe,
Subtle or violent, we not endued
Single with like defence, wherever met,
How are we happy, still in fear of harm?

But harm precedes not sin only our foe
Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integrity: his foul esteem

325

Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns

330

Foul on himself: then wherefore shun'd or fear'd

By us? Who rather double honour gain

From his surmise prov'd false, find peace within,

Favour from Heav'n, our witness from th' event.
And what is faith, love, virtue unassay'd
Alone, without exterior help sustain'd?
Let us not then suspect our happy state
Teft so imperfect by the Maker wise,

335

As not secure to single or combin❜d.
Frail is our happiness, if this be so,
And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd.

To whom thus Adam fervently reply'd.

O Woman, best are all things as the will
Of God ordain'd them; his creating hand
Nothing imperfect or deficient left

Of all that he created, much less Man,
Or ought that might his happy state secure,
Secure from outward force; within himself
The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Against his will he can receive no harm:
But God left free the will, for what obeys
Reason is free, and reason he made right,
But bid her well beware, and still erect,
Lest by some fair appearing good surpris'd
She dictate false, and misinform the will

349

345

350

355

To do what God expressly hath forbid.

Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoins,

That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.

Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,

Since reason not impossibly may meet

360

Some specious object by the foe suborn'd,

And fall into deception unaware,

Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warn'd.

Seck no temptation then, which to avoid

365

Were better, and most likely if from me
Thou sever not: trial will come unsought.
Would'st thou approve thy constancy, approve
First thy obedience; th' other who can know,

Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?
But if thou think, trial unsought may find

379

Us both securer than thus warn'd thou seem'st,

Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;

Go in thy native innocence, rely

On what thou hast of virtue, summon all,

374

For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.
So spake the patriarch of mar.kind, but Eve
Persisted, yet submiss, though last, reply'd.

WITH thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words
Touch'd only, that our trial, when least sought,
May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd,
The willinger go, nor much expect

A foe so proud will first the weaker seek;

380

So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

384

THUS saying, from her husband's hand her hand

Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light,
Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train,

Betook her to the groves, but Delia's self
In gait surpass'd, and Goddess-like deport,
Though not as she with bow and quiver arm'd,
But with such gard'ning tools as art yet rude,
Guiltless of fire, had form'd, or Angels brought.
To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorn'd,

Likest she seem'd, Pomona when she fled
Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime,
Yet Virgin of Froserpina from Jove.
Her long with ardent look his eye pursu'd
Delighted, but desiring more her stay.

390

395

Oft he to her his charge of ick return
Repeated, she to him as oft engag'd
To be return'd by noon amid the bower,
And all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose.

O much deceiv'd, much failing, hapless Eve,
Of thy presum'd return! event perverse!

Thou never from that hour in Paradise

Found'st either sweet repast, or sound repose;
Such ambush hid among sweet flow'rs and shades
Waited with hellish rancour imminent

To intercept thy way, or send thee back
Despoil'd of innocence, of faith, of bliss.

For now, and since first break of dawn the fiend,
Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come,
And on his quest, where likeliest he might find
The only two of mankind, but in them
The whole included race, his purpos'd prey.

In bow'r and field he sought, where any tuft

400

405

410

415

Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,
Their tendence or plantation for delight;

By fountain or by shady rivulet

He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find

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,

420

Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,

425

Half spy'd, so thick the roses bushing round

About her glow'd, oft stooping to support

Each flow'r of slender stalk, whose head though gay