He fought them both, but wifh'd his hap might,
Eve separate; he wish'd, but not with hope [find
Of what fo feldom chanc'd, when to his with,
Beyond his hope, Eve feparate he fpies,
Val'd in a cloud of fragrance, where the flood,
Half fpy'd, fo thick the rofes blufhing round
About her glow'd, oft ftooping to fupport

Each flower of flender ftaik, whofe head, though gay

Carnation, purple', azure, or fpeck'd with gold,
Heng drooping unfuftain'd; them fhe upstays
Gently with myrtle band, mindlefs the while
Herself, tho' faireft unfupported flower,
From her beft prop fo far, and ftorm so nigh.
Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd
Of ftatelieft covert, cedar, pine, or palm,
Then voluble and bold, now hid, now feen
Among thick-woven arborets and flowers
Inborder'd on each bank, the hand of Eve:
Spot more delicious than thofe gardens feign'd,
Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renown'd
Alcinous, hoft of old Laertes' fon,

Or that, not myftic, where the Sapient king
Held daliance with his fair Egyptian spouse.
Much he the place admir'd, the perfon more,
As one who long in populous city pent,
Where houfes thick and fewers annoy the air,
Forth iffuing on a fummer's morn to breathe
Among the pleafant villages and farms
Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight,
The fmell of grain, or tedded grafs, or kine,
Or dairy', each rural fight, each rural found;
If chance, with nymph-like ftep, fair virgin pafs,
What pleafing feem'd, for her now pleases more,
She moit, and in her look fums all delight:
Such pleasure took the ferpent to behold
This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve
Thus early, thus alone; her heav'nly form
Angelic, but more foft and feminine,
Her graceful innocence, her every air
Of geture or leaft action overaw'd
His ralice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd
His fercenefs of the fierce intent it brought :
That pace the Evil-one abstracted stood
From his own evil, and for the time remain'd
Stupidly good, of enmity difarm'd,

Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge;
But the hot hell that always in him burns,
Tho' in mid Heav'n, foon ended his delight,
And tortures him now more, the more he fees
Of pleasure not for him ordain'd: then foon
Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts
Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. [fweet
Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what
Compultion thus tranfported to forget
What hither brought us! hate, not love, nor hope,
Of Paradife for Hell, hope here to tafte
Of pleasure, but all pleasure to deftroy,
Save what is in deftroying; other joy
To me is loft. Then let me not let pafs
Occafion, which now fmiles; behold alone
The Woman, opportune to all attempts,
Her husband; for I view far round, not nigh,
Whole higher intellectual more I fhun,
And ftrength, of courage haughty, and of limb

Heroic built, tho' of terrestrial mould,
Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,
I not; fo much hath Hell debas'd, and pain
Infeebled me, to what I was in Heav'n.
She fair, divinely fair, fit love for gods,
Not terrible, tho' terror be in love
And beauty, not approach'd by ftronger hate,
Hate ftronger, under fhew of love well feign'd,
The way which to her ruin now I tend.

So fpake the enemy' of mankind, inclos'd In ferpent, inmate bad, and tow'rd Eve Addrefs'd his way, not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as fince, but on his rear, Circular base of rifing folds, that tower'd Fold above fold, a furging maze, his head Crefted aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect Amidft his circling fpires, that on the grafs Floated redundant: pleafing was his shape And lovely; never fince of ferpent kind Lovelier, not those that in Illyria chang'd Hermione and Cadmus, or the God In Epidaurus; nor to which transform'd Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was feen, He with Olympias, this with her who bore Scipio the height of Rome. With tract oblique At first, as one who fought accefs, but fear'd To interrupt, fide-long he works his way: As when a fhip, by fkilful fteeriman wrought Nigh river's mouth, or foreland, where the wind Veers oft, as oft fo fteers and shifts her fail : So varied he, and of his tortuous train Curl'd many a wanton wreath in fight of Eve. To lure her eye; fhe, bufied, heard the found Of ruftling leaves, but minded not, as us'd To fuch difport before her through the field, From every beaft, more duteous at her call Than at Circean call the herd difguis'd. He bolder now, uncall'd before her flood, But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd His turret creft, and fleek enamel'd neck, Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod. His gentle dumb expreffion turn'd at length The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad Of her attention gain'd, with ferpent tongue Organic, or impulfe of vocal air, His fraudulent temptation thus began:

Wonder not, fov'reign Mistress, if perhaps Thou canft, who art fole wonder; much lefs arm Thy looks, the heav'n of mildness, with difdain, Difpleas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze Infatiate; I thus fingle, nor have fear'd Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. Fairest refemblance of thy Maker fair, Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine By gift, and thy celestial beauty' adore, With ravifhment beheld, there best beheld Where univerfally admir'd; but here In this inclosure wild, thefe beafts among, Beholders rude, and fhallow to discern Half what in thee is fair, one man except, Who fees thee'? (and what is one?) who shouldf

be feen

A goddess among gods, ador'd and ferv'd By angels numberlefs, thy daily train.

So gloz'd the tempter, and his proem tun'd; Into the heart of Eve his words made way, Tho' at the voice much marvelling; at length, Not unamaz'd, fhe thus in answer spake:

What may this mean? language of man pronounc'd

By tongue of brute, and human fenfe exprefs'd?
The first at least of these I thought deny'd
To beafts, whom God, on their creation-day,
Created mute to all articulate found;
The latter I demur; for in their looks
Much reas'n, and in their actions oft appears.
Thee Serpent, fubt’lest beast of all the field,
I knew, but not with human voice indu'd;
Redouble then this miracle, and say,
How cam'ft thou speakable of mute, and how
To me fo friendly grown above the rest
Of brutal kind, that daily are in fight?
Say; for fuch wonder claims attention due.

To whom the guileful tempter thus reply'd :
Empress of this fair world, refplendent Eve,
Easy to me it is to tell thee all

What thou command'ft, and right thou shouldft be obey'd:

I was at first as other beafts that graze
The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low
As was my food; nor ought but food difcern'd
Or fex, and apprehended nothing high:
Till on a day roving the field, I chanc'd
A goodly tree far diftant to behold,
Loaden with fruit of faireft colours mix'd,
Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze;
When from the boughs a favoury odour blown,
Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense
Than smell of fweeteft fennel, or the teats
Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,
Unfuck'd of lamb or kid, that tend their play.
To fatisfy the fharp defire 1 had

Of tafting thofe fair apples, I refolv'd
Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,
Powerful perfuaders, quicken'd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keen.
About the moffy trunk I wound me foon;
For high from ground the branches would require
Thy utmost reach, or Adam's: round the tree
All other beafts that faw, with like defire
Longing and envying ftood, but could not reach
Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung
Tempting fo nigh, to pluck and cat my fill
I fpar'd not; for fuch pleafure till that hour
At feed or fountain never had I found.
Sated at length, e'er long I might perceive
Strange alteration in me, to degree
Of reafon in my inward powers, and fpeech
Wanted not long, tho' to this fhape retain'd.
Thenceforth to fpeculations high or deep
I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Confider'd all things vifible in Heav'n,
Or earth, or middle, all things fair and good;
But all that fair and good in thy divine
Semblance, and in thy beauty's heav'nly ray
United I beheld; no fair to thine
Equivalent or fecond, which compell'd
Me thus, tho' importune perhaps, to come
And gaze, and worthip thee of right declar'd

Sov'reign of creatures, universal dame.

So talk'd the fpirited fly snake; and Eve Yet more amaz'd unwary thus reply'd: Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt The virtue of that fruit, in thee first prov'd: But fay where grows the tree, from hence how far? For many are the trees of God that grow In Paradise, and various, yet unknown To us, in fuch abundance lies our choice, As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd, Still hanging incorruptible, till men Grow up to their provision, and more hands Help to difburden Nature of her birth.

To whom the wily adder, blithe and glad :
Emprefs, the way is ready, and not long;
Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,
Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past
Of blowing myrrh and balm; if thou accept
My conduct, I can bring thee thither foon.
Lead then, said Eve. He leading fwiftly roll'd
In tangels, and made intricate seem straight,
To mifchief fwift. Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his creft. As when a wand'ring fire,
Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night
Condenfes, and the cold environs round,
Kindled, through agitation, to a flame,
Which oft, they fay, fome evil fp'rit attends
Hovering and blazing, with delufive light,
Misleads th' amaz'd night-wand'rer from his way,
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or
pool,

There fwallow'd up and loft, from fuccour far,
So glifter'd the dire fnake, and into fraud
Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree
Of prohibition, root of all our woe;
Which when the faw, thus to her guide fhe fpake:
Serpent, we might have fpar'd our coming hi

ther,

Fruitless to me, tho' fruit be here t'excefs,
The credit of whofe virtue reft with thee,
Wond'rous indeed, if caufe of fuch effects.
But of this tree we may not tafte nor touch;
God fo commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his voice; the reft, we live
Law to ourselves, our reafon is our law.

To whom the Tempter guilefully reply'd:
Indeed? hath God then faid, that of the fruit
Of all these garden trees ye fhall not eat,
Yet lords declar'd of all in earth or air?

To whom thus Eve, yet finless. Of the fruit Of each tree in the garden we may eat, But of the fruit of this fair tree amidit The garden, God hath faid, Ye shall not eat Thereof, nor fhall ye touch it, left ye die. She fearce had faid, though brief, when now

more bold

The Tempter, but, with fhew of zeal and love,
To man, and indignation at his wrong,
New part puts on, and as to paffion mov'd,
Fluctuates difturb'd, yet comely and in ac
Rais'd, as of fome great matter to begin.
As when of old fome orator renown'd
In Athens of free Rome, where eloquence

Flourish'd, fince mute, to fome great caufe ad

drefs'd,

Stood in himfelf collected, while each part,
Motion, each act won audience, e'er the tongue,
Sometimes in height began, as no delay
Of preface brooking through his zeal of right:
So ftanding, moving, or to height up grown,
The Tempter, all impaffion'd, thus began :
O facred, wife, and wifdom-giving Plant,
Mother of Science, now I feel thy power
Within me clear, not only to difcern
Things in their caufes, but to trace the ways
Of higheft agents, deem'd however wife.
Queen of this univerfe, do not believe
Thole rigid threats of death; ye fhall not die :
How fhould you? by the fruit? it gives you life
To knowledge; by the Threat'ner? look on me,
Me who have touch'd and tafted, yet both live,
And life more perfect have attain'd than Fate
Meant me, by vent'ring higher than my lot.
Shail that be shut to man, which to the beaft
Is open or will God incenfe his re
For fuch a petty trefpafs, and not praise
Rather your dauntleís virtue, whom the pain
Of death denounc'd, whatever thing death be,
Deterr'd not from achieving what might lead
To happier life, knowledge of good and evil;
Of Good, how juft? of evil, if what is evil
Be real, why not known, fince easier fhunn'd :
God therefore cannot hurt you, and be just ;
Not juft, not God; not fear'd then, nor obey'd:
Your fear itfelf of death removes the fear.
Why then was this forbid? why, but to awe,
Why but to keep thee low and ignorant,
His workhippers; he knows that in the day
Ye eat thereof, your eyes that feem fo clear,
Yet are but dim, fhall perfectly be then
Open'd and clear'd, and ye fhall be as gods,
Knowing both good and evil, as they know.
That ye fhall be as gods, fince I as man,
Internal man, is but proportion meet;
I of brute human, ye of human gods,
So ye hall die perhaps, by putting off
Haman, to put on gods; death to he wish'd,
Tho' threaten'd, which no worfe than 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:
1 question it; for this fair earth I fee,
Warm'd by the fun, producing every kind,
Them nothing: if they all things, who inclos'd
Knowledge of good and evil in this tree,
That whofo eats thereof, forwith attains
Wifdom without their leave? and wherein lies
Th' offence, that man fhould thus attain to
know?

What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree
Impart against his will, if all be his?

Or is it envy, and can envy dwell

In heav'nly breasts? these, these and many more
Caufes 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 cafy entrance won:
Fix'd on the fruit the gaz'd, which to behold

Might tempt alone, and in her ears the found
Yet rung of his perfuafive words, impregn'd
With reafon, to her feeming, and with truth;
Meanwhile the hour of noon drew on, and wak'd
An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell
So favoury of that fruit, which with defire,
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,
Solicited her longing eye; yet first

Pausing a while, thus to herself the mus'd:

Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits,
Tho' kept from man, and worthy to be' adınir'd,
Whose tafte, too long forborn, at first assay
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
The tongue not made for fpeech to speak thy
praife:

Thy praife he alfo who forbids thy ufe,
Conceals not from us, naming thee the Tree
Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
Forbids us then to tafte; but his forbidding
Commends thee more, while it infers the good
By thee communicated, and our want:
For good unknown, fure 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 wife?
Such prohibitions bind not. But if death
Binds us with after-hands, what profits then
Our inward freedom? In the day we eat
Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we fhall die!
How dies the ferpent? he hath cat'n and lives,
And knows, and speaks, and reafons, and difcerns,
Irrational till then. For us alone

Was death invented? or to us deny'd
This intellectual food, for beafts referv'd?
For beafts it seems: yet that one beaft which
firft

Hath tafted, envies not, but brings with joy
The good befall'n him, author unfufpect,
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
What fear I then? rather what know to fear
Under this ignorance of good and evil,
Of God or death, of law or penalty?
Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,
Fair to the eye, inviting to the tafte,

Of virtue to make wife: what hinders then
To reach, and feed at once both body' and mind?
So faying, her rafh hand, in evil hour,
Forth reaching to the fruit, fhe pluck'd, she eat :
Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her feat
Sighing through all her works, gave signs of

woe,

That all was loft. Back to the thicket flunk
The guilty ferpent, and well might; for Eve
Intent now wholly on her tafte, nought elfe
Regarded, fuch delight till then, as feem'd,
In fruit fhe never tafted, whether true
Or fancy'd fo, through expectation high
Of knowledge; nor was God-head from her
thought.

Greedily fhe ingorg'd without restraint,
And knew not eating death; fatiate at length,
And heighten'd, as with wine, jocund and boon,
Thus to herself the pleafingly began:

O fov'reign, virtuous, precious of all trees
In Paradife, of operation blefs'd

To fapience, hitherto obfcur'd infam'd,
And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end
Created; but henceforth my early care,
Not without fong, each morning, and due praise,
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden cafe
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;
Tho' others envy what they cannot give;
For had the gift been theirs, it had not here
Thus grown. Experience, next to thee, I owe,
Beft guide; not following thee, I had remain’d
In ignorance; thou open'ft wifdom's way,
And giv'ft accefs, tho' fecret fhe retire,
And I perhaps am fecret; Heav'n is high,
High, and remote to fee from thence diftinct
Each thing on Earth: and other care perhaps
May have diverted from continual watch
Our great Forbidder, fafe with all his fpies

About him. But to Adam in what fort
Shall I appear? fhall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him to partake
Full happiness with me, or rather not,

But keep the odds of knowledge in my power
Without copartner? fo to add what wants
In female fex, the more to draw his love,
And render me more equal, and perhaps,
A thing not undefirable, fometime
Superior; for inferior who is free;

This may be well: but what if God have seen,
And death enfue? then I fhall be no more,
And Adam wedded to another Eve,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
A death to think. Confirm'd then I refolve,
Adam fhall fhare with me in blifs or woe :
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I could endure, without him live no life.

So faying, from the tree her step she turn'd;
But firft low reverence done, as to the power
That dwelt within, whofe prefence had infus'd
Into the plant fciential fap, deriv'd
From nectar, drink of gods. Adam the while
Waiting defirous her return, had wove
Of choiceft flowers a garland to adorn
Her treffes, and her rural labours crown,
As reapers oft are wont their harvest queen.
Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, fo long delay'd;
Yet oft his heart, divine of fomething ill,
Mifgave him; he the falt'ring measure felt
And forth to meet her went, the way she took
That morn when firft they parted; by the tree
Of knowledge he must pass, there he her met,
Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand
A bough of fairest fruit, that downy fmil'd,
New gather'd, and ambrofial fmell diffus'd.
To him fhe hafted; in her face excufe
Came prologue, and apology too prompt,

The pain of absence from thy fight. But strange
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear:
This tree is not as we are told, a tree
Of danger tafted, nor to evil unknown
Opening the way, but of divine effect
To open eyes, and make them gods who tafte;
And hath been tafted fuch; the ferpent wife,
Or not restrain'd as we, or not obeying,
Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth
Indued with human voice and human ienfe,
Reafoning to admiration, and with me
Perfuafively hath fo prevail'd, that I
Have alfo tafted, and have alfo found
Th' effects to correfpond, opener mine eyes,
Dim erft, dilated fpirits, ampler heart,
And growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Chiefly I fought, without thee can despise.
For blifs, as thou haft part, to me is blifs,
Tedious, unfhar'd with thee, and odious foon.
Thou therefore alio tafte, that equal lot
May join us, equal joy, as equal love;
Left thou not tafting, different degree
Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce
Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.
Thus Eve with count'nance blithe her ftory
told;

But in her cheek diftemper flushing glow'd.
On the other fide, Adam, foon as he heard
The fatal trefpafs done by Eve, amaz'd,'
Aftonied food and blank, while horror chill
Ran through his veins, and all his joints relax'd;
From his flack hand the garland wreath'd for Eve
Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed:
Speechlefs he food and pale, till thus at length
First to himself he inward filence broke:

O fairest of Creation, last and best
Of all God's works, creature in whom excell'd
Whatever can to fight or thought be form'd,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How art thou loft, how on a fudden loft,
Defac'd, deflower'd, and now to death devote?
Rather how haft thou yielded to tranfgrefs
The ftrict forbiddance, how to violate
The facred fruit forbidd'n? fome curfed fraud
Of enemy hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown,
And me with thee hath ruin'd, for with thee
Certain my refolution is to die;
How can I live without thee, how forego
Thy sweet converfe, and love fo dearly join'd,"
To live again in thefe wild woods forlorn?
Should God create another Eve, and I
Another rib afford, yet lofs of thee
Would never from my heart; no no, I feel
The link of nature draw me : flesh of flesh,
Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy ftate
Mine never fhall be parted, blifs or woe.
So having faid, as one from fad difmay

Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs,
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd:
Bold deed thou haft prefum'd, advent'rous
Eve,

And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar d
Had it been only coveting to eye

That facred fruit facred to abstinence,
Mach more to tafte it under ban to touch.
But paft who can recal, or done undo?
Nr God omnipotent, nor Fate; yet fo
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
not fo heinous now, foretafted fruit,
Profan'd firft by the ferpent, by him first
Made common and unhallow'd e'er our tafte;
Not yet on him found deadly, he yet lives,
Lives as thou faidft, and gains to live as man
Higher degree of life, inducement strong
To us, as likely tafting to attain
Proportional afcent, which cannot be
But to be gods, or angels demi-gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,

Though threat'ning, will in earnest so destroy
Us his prime creatures, dignify fo high,
Set over all his works, which in our fall,
For us created, needs with us muft fail,
Dependent made; fo God fhall uncreate,
Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labour lofe,

Not well conceiv'd of God, who though his pawer
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, left the Adversary

Triumph and fay; fickle their state whom God
Melt favours; who can pleafe him long? Me

first

He ruin'd, now mankind; whom will he next?
Matter of fcorn, not to be given the foe.
However, I with thee have fix'd my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom; if death
Confort with thee, death is to me as life;
So forcible within my heart I feel

The bond of Nature draw me to my own,
My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our ftate cannot be ferver'd, we are one,
One fieth; to lose thee were to lose myself.
So Adam; and thus Eve to him reply'd:
O glorious trial of exceeding love,
Iluârious evidence, example high!
Engaging me to emulate, but short
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,

Adam from whofe dear fide I boast me sprung,
And gladly of our union hear thee speak,
One heart, one foul in both; whereof good proof
This day affords, declaring thee refolv'd,
Rather than death or ought than death more dread
Shall feparate us, link'd in love fo dear,
To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,
If any be, of tafting this fair fruit,
Whofe virtue (for of good still good proceeds,
Direct, or by occafion) hath prefented
This happy trial of thy love, which elfe
So eminently never had been known.
Were it I thought death merac'd would enfue
This my attempt, I would sustain alone
The worst, and not perfuade thee, rather die
Deferted, than oblige thee with a fact
Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly affur'd
Remarkably fo late of thy so true,
So faithful love unequal'd; but I feel
Far otherwife th' event, not death, but life
Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys,
Tafte fo divine, that what of fweet before
Hath touch'd my fenfe, flat feems to this, and harsh.

On my experience, Adam, freely taste. And fear of death deliver to the winds.

So faying, she embrac'd him, and for joy
Tenderly wept, much won that he his love
Had fo ennobled, as of choice to incur
Divine difpleasure for her fake, or death.
In recompenfe (for fuch compliance bad
Such recompence beft merits) from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing fruit
With liberal hand: he fcrupled not to eat
Against his better knowledge, not deceiv'd,
But fondly overcome with female charm.
Earth trembled from her entrails, as again
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,
Síky lour'd, and, muttring thunder, fome fad-drops
Wept at completing of the mortal fin
Original; while Adam took no thought,
Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate

Her former trefspass fear'd, the more to footh
Him with her lov'd fociety, that now

As with new wine intoxicated both
They fwim in mirth, and fancy that they feel
Divinity within them breeding wings,
Wherewith to fcorn the Earth: but that false fruit

Far other operation first display'd,
Carnal defire inflaming; he on Eve
Began to caft lafcivious eyes, fhe him
As wantonly repaid; in luft they burn:
Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move.

Eve, now I fee thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of fapience no fmall part,
Since to each meaning favor we apply,
And palate call judicious; I the praise
Yield thee, fo well this day thou haft purvey'd.
Much pleasure we have loft, while we abftain'd
From this delightful fruit, nor known till now
True relish, tafting; if fuch pleasure be
In things to us forbidd'n, it might be wish'd,
For this one tree, had been forbidden ten.
But come, fo well refresh'd, now let us play,
As meet is, after fuch delicious fare;
For never did thy beauty fince the day
I faw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd
With all perfections, fo inflame my sense
With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now
Than ever, bounty of this virtuous tree.

So faid he; and forebore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood Of Eve, whofe eye darted contagious fire. Her hand he feis'd, and to a fhady bank, Thick overheard with verdant roof imbower'd, He led her nothing loath; flowers were the couch, Panfies and violets, and afphodel, And hyacinth, Earth's freshest softeft lap. There they their fill of love and love's difport Took largely, of their mutual guilt the feal, The folace of their fin, till dewy fleep Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous play. Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, That with exhilerating vapour bland About their fp'rits had play'd, and inmoft powers Made err, was now exhal'd; and groffer fleep Bred of unkindly fumes, with confcious dreams Incumber'd, now had left them; up they rofe As from unrest, and each the other viewing,