To Satan only like both crime and doom. fell, Wholesome and cool, and mild; but with black air Accompanied : with damps and dreadful gloom; Which, to his evil confcience reprefented All things with double terror. On the ground 850 Outftretch'd he lay, on the cold ground, and oft Curs'd his creation; Death as oft accus'd The day of his offence. Why comes not Death, crias. O woods, o fountains, *) hillocks, dales, and bow'rs! * Perhaps it fhou'd be, Hills, Rocks, 860 With other echo late I thaught your shades name best That Befits thee with him leagu'd; thyself as false And hateful: nothing wants, but that thy fhape, Like his, and color ferpentine, may fhow 870 Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee Henceforth; left that too heav'nly form, pretended To hellifh falfehood fnare them! But for thee Though by the Devil himself; him overwee ning To over reach: but with the ferpent meeting Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, 885 More to the part finister, from me drawn; Well if thrown out, as fupernumerary To my juft number found. God, O! why did 890 Creator wife, that peopled highest Heav'n 895 And more that shall befall: innumerable 900 Or whom he wishes moft, fhail feldom gain Through her perverfenefs; but fhall fee her gain'd By a far worse: or if she love, withheld' To a fell adverfary, his hate, or shame: Which infinite calamity fhall cause 905 To human life, and houfhold peace confound. He added not, and from her turn'd; But Eve Not fo repuls'd, with tears that ceas'd not flowing, 910 And treffes all diforder'd, at his feed I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, I beg, and clafp thy knees; bereave me not, 920 My only ftrength and ftay! Forlorn of thee, Whither fhall I betake me, where fubfift? While yet we live, fcarce one short hour perhaps, " Between us two let there be peace, both joi ning, As join'd in injuries, one enmity 925 Against a foe by doom exprefs affign'd us, There with my cries importune Heav'n, that all: The fentence, from thy head remov'd, may light On me, fole caufe to thee of all this woe, 935 Me, me only, juft object of his ire! She ended weeping; and her lowly plight : Immoveable till peace obtain'd from fault Acknowledg'd, and deplor'd, in Adam wrought Commiferation: foon his heart relented 940 Towards her, his life folate and fole delight, Now at his feet fubmiflive in diftrefs! Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, His counfel, whom The had difpleas'd, his aid! As one difarm'd, his anger all he loft; 945 And' thus with paceful words uprais'd her foon. Unwary, and too defirous as before, So now of what thou know'ft not, who defir'ft The punishment all on thyself! Alas! Bear thine own firft; ill able to fuftain 950 His full wrath, whose thou feel'ft as yet least And my displeasure bear'st so ill. If pray'rs Could alter high decrees, I to that place. Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, That on my head all might be visited, Thy frailty and infirmer fex forgiv'n, 955 |