But first low rev'rence done, as to the Pow'r 835 Adam the while 840 Waiting, desirous her return, had wove As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new 845 850 Which with bland words at will she thus address'd: Hast thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my stay? 856 Thee I have miss'd, and thought it long, deprived Thy presence; agony of love till now Not felt! nor shall be twice; for never more Mean I to try, what rash untry'd I sought, 860 The pain of absence from thy sight! But strange 865 To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste! 835. This first sign of idolatry in man is well introduced as an Immediate consequence of the fall. The remaining portion of this book may be considered, I think, as in some respects superior to any other part of the poem. The mention of Adam, unconscious of the coming woe, weaving flowers for Eve is exquisitely pathetic; the misgivings of his heart on meeting her, the descrip tion of her agitated appearance, and the discourse, deep and pas sionate, which follows, are all conceived in the finest vein o. tragic genius. In no other part of his poem had Milton an op portunity of displaying his power in the delineation of human passion, but he has here proved, that had his subject admitted it it would have possessed not less pathos than sublimity. Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become, 875 Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth 870 880 885 Thus Eve, with count'nance blithe, her story told; But in her cheek distemper flushing glow'd. On th' other side, Adam, soon as he heard The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, 890 Ran through his veins, and all his joints relax'd; From his slack hand the garland, wreath'd for Eve, 895 O fairest of creation, last and best Of all God's works, Creature in whom excell'd 900 The sacred fruit forbidden? Some cursed fraud 905 How can I live without thee! how forego 910 Another rib afford. yet loss of thee Would never from my heart. No, no, I feel So having said, as one from sad dismay 915 Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd: 920 That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, 925 930 To us, as likely tasting, to attain 935 Proportional ascent, which cannot be Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, Though threat'ning, will in earnest so destroy 940 945 Triumph and say, Fickle their state whom God Matter of scorn, not to be giv'n the Foe. 929. Hainous; so spelt by Milton, from the French haineux. Consort with thee, death is to me as life: Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, 955 960 Adam? from whose dear side I boast me sprung, 965 And gladly of our union hear thee speak, One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof Rather than death or aught than death more dread Shall separate us, link'd in love so dear, 970 To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, If any be, of tasting this fair fruit, Whose virtue (for of good still good proceeds, Direct, or by occasion) hath presented This happy trial of thy love, which else 975 So eminently never had been known. Were it I thought death menaced would ensue This my attempt, I would sustain alone The worst, and not persuade thee: rather die 980 Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly assured So faithful love, unequal'd; but I feel Far otherwise th' event; not death, but life Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys, 985 Taste so divine, that what of sweet before Hath touch'd my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. On my experience, Adam, freely taste; And fear of death deliver to the winds. So saying, she embraced him, and for joy 990 990. There is great beauty and the truest passion in this pic ture of Eve. It well prepares the mind for the fall of Adam, who is represented as sinning more through the intoxication of love and fondness than any ignorance of his danger. What a magnificent scene has the poet for the first act of the fearful tragedy! The great theatre of the universe filled with darkness and horror, and the earth and elements suffering with a mysterious conscious uess of ruin. Tenderly wept; much won that he his love 995 1000 In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; Sky lour'd, and, muttering thunder, some sad drops Wept at completing of the mortal sin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate 1005 Her former trespass fear'd, the more to sooth Him with her loved society, that now, As with new wine intoxicated both, They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel Divinity within them breeding wings 1010 Wherewith to scorn the earth: but that false fruit Far other operation first display'd; Carnal desire inflaming: he on Eve Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him As wantonly repaid. In lust they burn: 1015 Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move: And elegant, of sapience no small part, 1020 Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd. 1000. A commentator has expressed his wonder that Adam shewed no astonishment at these convulsions.-Had he been ignorant of his guilt he would have done so, but he was aware of the crime he was committing, and the same fascination which made him break the known command of his Creator, prevented his regarding these signs of his wrath. It may also be conjectured that, awful as they were, the confusion of thought and passion with which he was agitated might hinder his giving them their proper and terrible interpretation. |