For fuch thou art, from fin and blame cntire:* Not diffident of thee do I diffuade
Thy abfence from my fight, but to avoid
Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe.
For he, who tempts, though in yain, at least
afperfes
The tempted with difhonor foul; fuppos'd
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation. Thou thyfelf with fcorn
And anger would'ft refent the offer'd wrong, 300
Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
If fuch affront I labor 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. 305
Nor thou his malice and falfe guile contemn:
Subtile he needs muft be, who could feduce
Angels nor think fuperfluous other's aid.
I, from the influence of thy looks, receive
Access in every virtue; in thy fight
More wife, more watchful, ftronger, if need
Of outward strength, while fhame, thou looking on,
Shame to be overcome, or over-reach'd,
Would utmoft vigor raife, and rais'd unite, Why shouldft not thou like fenfe within thee
When I am present, and the tryal chuse
With me, beft witness of thy virtue try'd?
So fpake domeftic Adam in his care,
And matrimonial love: but Eve, who thought
Lefs attributed to her faith fincere,
Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd.
If this be our condition, thus to dwell
In narrow circuit straiten'd by a fae,
Subtle or violent, we not indued
Single with like defence, where ever met, 325
How are we happy, ftill in fear of harm?
But harm precedes not fin: only our foe
Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integrity; his foul esteem
Sticks no difhonor on our front, but turns 330 Foul on himhelf; then wherefore fhunn'd or fear'd
By us? who rather double honor gain
From his furmife prov'd falfe, find peace
Favor from Heav'n, our witness from th
And what is faith, love, virtue unaffay'd 335
Alone, without exterior help fuftain'd?
Let us not then suspect, our happy state
Left fo imperfect by the Maker wise,
As nut fecure to fingle, 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 himfelf
The danger lies, yet lies within his pow'r.
Against his will he can receive no harm.
But God left free the will; for what obeys
Reason, is free; and reafon he made right:
But bid her well beware, and still erect,
Left by fome fair appearing good furpris'd,
She dictate falfe, and minfinform the will, 555
To do what God exprefly hath forbid.
Not then mifttrust, but tender love injoins, That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou
Firm we fubfift, yet poffible to swerve,
Since reason not impoffible may meet
Some fpecious object, by the foe fuborn'd;
And fall into deception unaware,
Not keeping strictest watch, as she was
Seek not temptation then, which to avoid. Were better; and moft likely, if from me 365 Thou fever not; trial will come unfought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? approve First thy obedience; th' other who can know, Not seeing thee attempted? who attest?
But if thou think, trial unfought may find 370
Us both fecurer, than thus warn'd thou
feem'ft
Go! for thy ftay, not free, absents thee more;
Go in thy native innocence! rely
On, what thou haft of virtue; fummon all: ›
For God tow'rds thee hath done his part, do
375 So fpake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve Perfifted, yet fubmifs, though last, reply'd. With thy permiffion then, and thus fore
Chiefly by what thy own laft reasoning words
Touch'd only; that our tryal, when leaft
fought,
May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd,
The willinger I go; nor much expect,
A foe fo proud will firft the weaker feek;
So bent, the
Thus faying, from her husband's hand her
Soft fhe withdrew; and like a Wood - Nymph
Oread, or Dryad, or of Delia's train,
Betook her to the the groves: but Delia's felf
In gait furpass'd, and Goddess like deport;
Though not, as fhe, with bow and quiver
arm'd ;
But with fuch gard'ning tools as art, yet
Guiltless of fire had form'd, or Angels brought.
To Pales, or Pomona thus adorn'd,
Likelieft fhe feem'd, Pomona, when she fled
Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime,
Yet virgin of Proferpina from Jove,
Her long with ardent look his eye perfu'd
Delighted, but defiring more her stay.
Oft he to her his charge of quick return
Repeated; fhe to him as oft engag'd
To be return'd by noon amid the bow'r;
And all' things in beft order, to invite
Noontide repaft, or afternoon's repofe.
O much deceiv'd, much failling, hapless Eve! Of thy prefum'd return! event perverfe! 405 Thou never from that hour in Paradife
Found'st either sweet repast, or found repofe! Such ambush, laid among fweet flow'rs, and fhades,
'Waited with hellifh rancour imminent
To intercept thy way, or fend thee back
Defpoil'd of innocence, of faith, of blifs! -
For now, and fince firft break of dawn, the
Fiend,
Mere ferpent in appearance, forth was come,
And on his quest, where likeliest he might find
The only two of mankind; but in them 415
The whole included race, his purpos'd prey.
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