Our state cannot be severed; we are one, One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied: Oh, glorious trial of exceeding love, Illustrious evidence, example high! Engaging me to emulate; but, short
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain?
Adam! from whose dear side I boast me sprung,
And gladly of our union hear thee speak,
One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof
This day affords, declaring thee resolved,
Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, Shall separate us, linked in love so dear,
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
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 Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly assured Remarkably so late of thy so true, So faithful love, unequaled; but I feel
Far otherwise the event; not death, but life Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, Taste so divine, that what of sweet before
Hath touched 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 Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur Divine displeasure for her sake, or death.
Such recompense best merits, from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing fruit With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, Against his better knowledge: not deceived, But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from her entrails, as again In pangs; and nature gave a second groan ; Sky loured, 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
Her former trespass feared, the more to soothe 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, Wherewith to scorn the earth.
Far other operation first displayed, Carnal desire inflaming: he on Eve Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn, 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 savor we apply, And palate call judicious; I the praise
Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained From this delightful fruit, nor known till now True relish, tasting. If such pleasure be In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, For this one tree had been forbidden ten. But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, As meet is, after such delicious fare; For never did thy beauty, since the day
I saw thee first, and wedded thee, adorned With all perfections, so inflame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree!
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. Her hand he seized; and to a shady bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof embowered, He led her, nothing loth; flowers were the couch, Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,
And hyacinth; earth's freshest, softest lap. There they their fill of love and love's disport
Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal,
The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play. Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,
That with exhilarating vapor bland,
About their spirits had played, and inmost powers Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep, Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams Encumbered, now had left them; up they rose As from unrest, and, each the other viewing, Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds How darkened. Innocence, that, as a veil, Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; Just confidence, and native righteousness,
And honor, from about them, naked left
To guilty shame: he covered, but his robe Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked
Shorn of his strength; they, destitute and bare Of all their virtue, silent, and in face Confounded; long they sat, as stricken mute; Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed,
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