Another Rib afford, yet lofs of Thee So having faid, as one from fad difmay Thus in calm mood his Words to Eve he turn'd. Bold deed thou hast presum'd, adventrous Eve, And peril great provok'd, who thus haft dar'd : Had it been only coveting to Eye 915 920 That facred Fruit, facred to abstinence, Much more to Tafte it, under bane to touch. But paft who can recal, or done undo? Not GodOmnipotent, nor Fate: yet fo Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first 930 Made common and unhallow'd ere our tafte; Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives, Lives, as thou faid'ft, and gains to live as Man 935 To us, as likely tafting to attain 940 Not well conceiv'd of God, who tho' his Power 945 Triumph and say, Fickle their State whom God He ruin'd, now Mankind, whom will he next? 950 955 The Bond of Nature draw me to my own, My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; Our State cannot be lever'd, we are one, One Flesh; to lose thee were to lose my self. So Adam, and thus Eve to him reply'd. 960 Adam, from whose dear fide I boast me sprung, 965 And gladly of our Union hear thee speak, One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good proof Rather than Death or aught than Death more dread Shall feparate us, linkt in Love so dear, 970 To undergo with me one Guilt, one Crime, If any be, oftafting this fair Fruit; Whofe virtue, for of good ftill good proceeds, This happy trial of thy Love, which elfe 975 So eminently never had been known. Were it I thought Death menac'd would enfue This my attempt, I would fuftain alone The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die Deferted, than oblige thee with a fact 980 pernicious to thy peace, chiefly affur'd Remarkably fo late of thy so true So faithful Love unequal'd; but I feel Far otherwife th' event, nor Death, but Life Aug Augmented, open'd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joys, 985 Tafte fo divine that what of fweet before Hath touch'd my sense, flat feems to this, and harsh. On my experience, Adam, freely taste, And fear of Death deliver to the Winds. So faying, the embrac'd him, and for joy 995 1000 Sky lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, fome fad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate ICOS Her former trespass fear'd, the more to sooth 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 ΙΟΙΟ Wherewith to fcorn the Earth: but that falfe Fruit Eve, now I fee thou art exact of taste, And elegant, of Sapience no small part, Since to each meaning favour we apply, And Palate call judicious; I the praise 1020 Yiel Yield thee, fo well this day thou haft purvey'd. But come, fo well refresh'd, now let us play, 1025 1030 So faid he, and forbore not Glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood 1035 Of Eve, whofe Eye darted contagious Fire. Her hand he feiz'd, and to a fhady bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch, 104 And Hyacinth, Earth's freshest softest lap. There they their fill of Love and Loves difpost Opprefs'd them, wearied with their amorous play. 1045 1050 That with exhilarating vapour bland And honour from about them, naked left 1055 ΤΟ To guilty fhame: He cover'd, but his Robe Shorn of his ftrength. They deftitute and bare At length gave utterance to these words constrain'd. O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give car Of foul concupifcence, whence evil store ; 1060 1665 In folitude live favage, in fome glade To Star, or Sun-light, fpread their umbrage broad Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs Hide me, where I may never fee them more.. may the prefent ferve to hide 1085 1090 The Parts of each from other, that feem mo To shame obnoxious, and unseemlieft feen, Some |