The parts of each from other, that fcem moft

To fhame obnoxious, and unfeemlieft feen.

1096

Some tree, whofe broad fmooth leaves together few'd,
And girded on our loins, may cover round
Thofe middle parts; that this new-comer, fhame,
There fit not, and reproach us as unclean.

1100

So counfel'd he, and both together went Into the thickeft wood: there foon they chofe The fig-tree not that kind for fruit renown'd; But, fuch as at this day, to INDIANS known In MALABAR, or DECAN, fpreads her arms Branching fo broad, and long, that in the ground The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow About the mother-tree; a pillar'd fhade 1106 High over-arch'd, and echoing walks between : There oft the INDIAN herdfman shunning heat, Shelters in cool, and tends his pafturing herds At loop-holes cut thro' thickest fhade. Thofe leaves They gather'd, broad as AMAZONIAN targe: And, with what skill they had, together few'd, To gird their waift: vain covering, if to hide Their guilt, and dreaded fhame! O! how unlike To that first naked glory! fuch of late COLUMBUS found th' AMERICAN, fo girt With feather'd cincture; naked elfe, and wild Among the trees, on ifles, and woody fhores. Thus fenc'd, and, as they thought, their fhame in part Cover'd, but not at reft, or case of mind, They fat them down to weep. Nor only tears Rain'd at their eyes; but high winds worse within Began to rife, high paffions, anger, hate, Miftruft, fufpicion, difcord, and fhook fore Their inward ftate of mind; calm region once, And full of peace; now toft, and turbulent!

1115

1120

1125

For,

For, understanding rul'd not; and the will
Heard not her lore! both in fubjection now
To fenfual appetite, who from beneath
Ufurping, over fov'reign reafon claim'd
Superior fway from thus diflemper'd breast,
ADAM, eftrang'd in look, and alter'd ftyle,
Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd.

:

1130

WOULD thou hadst hearken'd to my words, and stay'd With me, as I befought thee, when that ftrange 1135 Defire of wand'ring, this unhappy morn,

I know not whence poffefs'd thee! We had then
Remain'd ftill happy; not, as now, defpoil'd
Of all our good, fham'd, naked, miferable- 1139
Let none henceforth feek needlefs caufe t' approve
The faith they owe: when earneftly they feek
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.

To whom, foon mov'd with touch of blame, thus EVE What words have pafs'd thy lips, ADAM fevere! Imput'st thou that to my default, or will 1145 Of wand'ring, as thou call'it it, which, who knows But might as ill have happen'd, thou being by; Or to thy felf perhaps hadft thou been there, Or here th' attempt, thou could'ft not have difcern'd Fraud in the ferpent, fpeaking as he fpake; 1150 No ground of enmity between us known, Why he fhould mean me ill, or feck to harm. Was I to have never parted from thy fide? As good have grown there ftill a lifeless rib! Being as I am, why didft not thou, the head, Command me abfolutely not to go, Going into fuch danger, as thou faid'ft? Too facil then, thou didst not much gain-fay; Nay, didft permit, approve, and fair difmifs.

1155

Had

Hadft thou been firm, and fix'd, in thy diffent, 1160
Neither had I tranfgrefs'd, nor thou with me.

To whom, then first incens'd, ADAM reply'd:
Is this the love, is this the recompenfe
Of mine to thee, ingrateful EVE! exprest
Immutable, when thou wert loft, not I;
Who might have liv'd, and joy'd immortal blifs :
Yet willingly chofe rather death with thee.
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy tranfgreffing! Not enough fevere,
It seems, in my restraint!

1165

1169

What could I more?

I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee; fore-told
The danger, and the lurking enemy

That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force;
And force upon free-will hath here no place.

But, confidence then bore thee on; fecure
Either to meet no danger, or to find

Matter of glorious trial. And perhaps

I alfo err'd, in over-much admiring

1175

What feem'd in thee fo perfect, that I thought
No evil durft attempt thee: but, I rue

That error now, which is become my crime;
And thou th' accufer! Thus it fhall befall
Him, who to worth in women over-trusting,
Lets her will rule: restraint fhe will not brook;
And left to herself, if evil thence enfue,
She first his weak indulgence will accufe.-

THUS they in mutual accufation spent

The fruitless hours; but neither felf-condemning:
And of their vain contest appear'd no end.

The end of the ninth Book.

1180

1185

THE

THE

TENTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

Man's tranfgreffion known, the Guardian-Angels forfake Paradife, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance; and are approv'd, GOD declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He fends his SON to judge the tranfgreffors; who defcends, and gives fentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and re-afcends. Sin and Death, fitting 'till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous fympathy feeling the fuccefs of Satan in this new world, and the fin by man there committed, refolve to fit no longer confin'd in hell, but to follow Satan their fire up to the place of man: to make the way easier from hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad high-way, or bridge, over Chaos, according to the tract that Satan first made; then, preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his fuccefs, returning to hell: their mutual gratulation: Satan arrives at Pandæmonium, in full affembly relates with boasting his fuccefs against man: instead of applaufe, is entertain'd with a general bifs by all his audience, transform'd, with himself alfo, fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom giv'n in Paradife: then, deluded with a fhew of the forbidden tree fpringing up before them, they gree dily reaching to take of the fruit, chew duft and bitter afbes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; GOD foretels the final victory of his SON over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the prefent commands his angels to make feveral alterations in the heavens, and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fall'n condition, heavily bewails: rejects the condolement of Eve; fhe perfifts, and at length appeafes him: then, to evade the curfe likely to fall on their offspring, propofes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promife made them, that her feed fhould be reveng'd on the ferpent; and exhorts her with him to feek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.