Count is found the American, so girt With feather'd cincture; naked else, and wild Anong the trees on isles and woody shores. 1115 Taus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part Cover'd, but not at rest or ease of mind, They sat them down to weep; nor only tears Rain'd at their eyes, but high winds worse within Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd: 1120 1125 1130 1135 Would thou hadst hearken'd to my words, and staid With me, as I besought thee, when that strange Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, i know not whence possess'd thee; we had then Remain'd still happy; not as now, despoil'd Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek Such proof conclude, they then begin to fail. 1140 [Eve: To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus What words have pass'd thy lips, Adam, severe ! Imputest thou that to my default, or wil! Of wandering as thou call'st it, which who knows 1145 1150 As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. 1155 1160 To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied le this the love, is this the recompense Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! express'd Who might have lived, and joy'd immortal bliss, 1165 And am I now upbraided, as the cause Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, It seems, in thy restraint; What could I more? I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold 1170 That lay in wait; beyond this had been force; And force upon free will hath here no place. 1175 Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps I also err'd, in overmuch admiring What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I thought The error now, which is become my crime, 1180 And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befal Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, Lets her wil rule: restraint she will not brook, She first his weak indulgence will accuse. 1185 Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. Man's transgression known, the guardian Arge.s forsake Parsi and return up to Heaven to approve their vigi.ance, and are a proved; God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not b by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors, who descends and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in Hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the place of Man: To make the way easier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the tract that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him, proud of his success, return ing to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pande monium, in full assembly relates with boasting his success against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transformed with himself also suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. 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 present, commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condclement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but, conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the Serpent; and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can scape the eye 5 Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind Of Man, with strength entire and free will arm'd, Whatever wiles of fce or seeming friend. 10 For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd, 15 Incurr'd (what could they less?) the penalty; With pity, violated not their bliss. About the new-arrived, in multitudes The ethereal people ran, to hear and know How all befel: They towards the throne supreme, On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, Against his Maker; no decree of mine Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 25 30 30 335 45 fis free will, to her own inclining left By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, 5* Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferr'd All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hel). Easy it may be seen that I intend Mercy colleague with Justice, sending thee, Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild: Father Eternal, thine is to decree; Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, 70 On earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st, Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none |