I could indure, 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, whose presence 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 flow'rs a garland to adorn
Her treffes, and her rural labors 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 something ill,
Misgave him; he the faltring measure felt;
And forth to meet her went, the way she took
That morn when first 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 finil'd,
New gather'd, and ambrofial smell diffus'd.
To him she hafted; in her face excufe
Came prologue, and apology too prompt,
Which with bland words at will fhe thus addrefs'd. 855 Haft thou not wonder'd, Adam, at my stay?
Thee I have miss'd, and thought it long, depriv'd
Thy prefence, agony of love till now
Not felt, nor fhall be twice, for never more
Mean I to try, what rash untry'd I fought,
The pain of abfence 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 tasted, 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 reftrain'd as we, or not obeying,
Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth 870
Indued with human voice and human sense,
Reasoning to admiration, and with me
Perfuafively hath fo prevail'd, that I
Have alfo tafted, and have also 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 alfo 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 story told;
But in her cheek diftemper flufhing glow'd.
On th' other fide, Adam, foon as he heard
The fatal trefpafs done by Eve, amaz'd,
Aftonied stood 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:
Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length
Firft to himself he inward filence broke.
O faireft 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 forgo
Thy fweet converse and love so dearly join'd,
To live again in these 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 state
Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.
So having faid, as one from fad dismay Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb'd Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs,
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd.
Bold deed thou haft prefum'd, adventrous Eve,
And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd,
Had it been only coveting to eye
That facred fruit, facred to abftinence,
Much more to tafte it under ban to touch.
But paft who can recall, or done undo?
Not God omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
Is not fo hainous now, foretafted fruit,
Profan'd first by the ferpent, by him first
Made common and unhallow'd ere our taste;
Nor 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 tasting to attain
Proportional ascent, which cannot be
But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-Gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wife,
Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy
Us his prime creatures, dignified so high,
Set over all his works, which in our fall,
For us created, needs with us must fail,
Dependent made; so God fhall uncreate,
Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labor lose,
Not well conceiv'd of God, who though his power 945 Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, left the Adversary
Triumph and fay; Fickle their state whom God
Most favors; who can please 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 state cannot be fever'd, we are one,
One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.
So Adam, and thus Eve to him reply'd.
O glorious trial of exceeding love,
Illuftrious evidence, example high!
Engaging me to emulate, but short
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,
Adam? from whofe dear fide I boast me fprung, 965
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 presented
This happy trial of thy love, which else
So eminently never had been known.
Were it I thought death menac'd would enfue
This my attempt, I would sustain alone
The worst, and not perfuade thee, rather die
Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact
Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly affur'd
Remarkably fo late of thy fo true,
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