Mine never shall be parted, blifs or woe!
So having faid, as one from fa difmay Recomforted, and, after thoughts disturb'd, Submitting to what feem'd remedilefs,
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he
Bold deed thou haft prefum'd,
And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd, Had it been only conveting to eye
That facred fruit, facred to abftinence:
Much more to taste it under ban to touch. 925
But paft who can recall, or done undo?
Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet fo
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact
Is not fo heinous now, foretafted fruit,
Profan'd first by the ferpent, by him first 930
Made common and unhallow'd e're 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 afcent; which cannot be
But to be Gods, or Angels, Demi-gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator wife!
Thoug threatning, will in earnest so destroy
Us his prime creatures; dignified so high, 940
Set over all his works; which in our fall,
For us created, needs with us muft fail,
Depentent made: fo God fhall uncreate,
Be fruftrate, do, undo, and labor lofe;
Not well conceiv'd of God: who tho' his
Creation could repeat, yet would be loath
Us to abolish; left the Adversary
Triumph and fay: Fickle their state whom God
,,Moft favors! who can please him long? Me
,,He ruin'd, now mankind: whom, will he
Matter of scorn, not to be giv'n 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 hearth 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; tho lofe thee were to lose myself."
So Adam; and thus Eve to him reply'd. 960
O glorious tryal of exceeding love,
Illuftrious evidence, example high,
Ingaging me to emulate! but fhort
Of thy perfection, how fhall I attain,
Adam? from whofe dear fide I boast me
And gladly of our union hear thee fpeak.
One heart one foul in both! whereof good
This day affords; declaring thee resoly'd,
Rather than death or ought than death more
Shall feparate us, link'd in love fo dear! 970
To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,
If any be, of tafling 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 975
So eminently never had been known.
Were it I thought Death menanc'd would enfue
This my attempt, I would fuftain 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 fo true,
So faithful love unequal'd; but I feel
Far otherwife th' event, not death, but life
Augmented; open'd eyes, new hopes, new
Tafte fo divine! that what of sweet before Hath touch'd my fenfe, flat feems to this, and
On my experience, Adam, freely tafte,
And fear of death deliver to the winds.
So faying, fhe embrac'd him, and for joy 990 Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love
Had fo innobled, as of choice t' incur
Divine displeasure for her fake, or death.
Ir recompenfe, for fuch compliance bad
Such recompenfe beft merits, from the bough 995
She gave him of that fair inticing fruit
With liberal hand: he fcrupl'd not to eat,
Against his better knowledge; not deceiv'd,
But fondly overcome with female charm.
Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again 1000
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan.
Sky lour'd, and mutt'ring thunder, fome fad
drops
Wept, at compleating of the mortal fin
Original! while Adam took no thought,
Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate.
Her former trespass 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 falfe
Far other operation firft difplay'd,
Carnal defire inflaming: he on Eve
Began to caft lafcivious eyes: she him
As wantonly repaid; in luft they burn: 1015 Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. Eve, now I fee thou art exact of taste,
And elegant, of fapience no small 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 delightfu! fruit, nor known till now
True relifh, tafting: if fuch pleasure be
In things to us forbidd'n, it might be
For this one tree had been forbidden ten.
But come, fo well refrefh'd, now let us play,
As meet is, after fuch delicious fare:
For never did thy beauty fince the day
I saw thee firft, and wedded thee, adorn'd 1030
With all perfections, fo inflame my sense
With ardor to enjoy thee; fairer now
Than ever, bounty of this virtuous tree!
So faid he, and forbore not glance, or toy
Of amorous intent; well unterstood 1035
Of Eve, whole eye darted contagious fire.
Her hand he faiz'd and to a fhady bank,
Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowr'd,
He led her nothing loath: flowr's were the couch,
Panfies, and violets, and afphodel,
And hyacinth, earth's fresheft fofteft lap.
There they their fill of love, and love's difport
Took largely of their mutual guilt the seal,
The folace of their fin: till dewy fleep
Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous
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