1096

Some Tree whofe broad smooth Leaves together fow'd,
And girded on our loyns may cover round
Those middle parts, that this new comer, Shame,
There fit not, and reproach us as unclean.

So counsell'd he, and both together went
Into the thickeft Wood; there foon they chose
The Fig-tree, not that kind for Fruit renown'd,
But fuch as at this day to Indians known
In Malabar or Decan, spreads 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
High over-arch'd, and ecchoing Walks between ;
There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heat
Shelters in cool, and tends his pafturing Herds

1100

1106

At Loop-holes cut thro' thickest shade. Thofe Leaves
They gather'd broad, as Amazonian Targe,
And with what skill they had, together fow'd,
To gird their wafte, vain Covering if to hide
Their guilt and dreaded shame; Ohow unlike
To that firft naked Glory. Such of late
Columbus found th' American so girt

With feather'd Cincture, naked elfe and wild
Among the Trees on Ifles and woody Shores.

Thus fenc'd, and as they thought their shame in part
Cover'd, but not at reft or ease of Mind,

They fate 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, Sufpicion, Discord, and shook fore
Their inward State of Mind, calm Region once
And full of Peace, now toft and turbulent:
For understanding rul'd
Heard not her lore, but in fubjection now
To fenfual Appetite, who from beneath
Ufurping over Sov'reign Reason claim'd
Superior fway from thus diftemper'd Breaft,

not,

and the Will

1120

1125

1130

Adam

Adam, eftrang'd in look and alter'd ftile,
Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew❜d.

Would thou hadst harken'd to my words, and stay'd With me, as I befought thee, when that strange Defire of wandring this unhappy Morn,

I know not whence possess'd thee; we had then
Remain'd still happy, not as now, dispoil'd
Of all our good, fham'd, naked, miferable.
Let none henceforth feek needless cause to approve
The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.

1136

1141

To whom foon mov'd with touch of blame thus Eve, What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe, Imput'ft thou that to my default or will

Of wandring, as thou call'ft it, which who knows
But might as ill have happen'd thou being by,

1145

Or to thy felf perhaps : hadft thou been there,

Or here th' attempt, thou could'ft not have difcern'd

Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;

No ground of enmity between us known,
why he should mean me ill, or feek to harm!
Was I to have ne'er parted from thy fide?
As good have grown there still a lifeless Rib.
Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head
Command me abfolutely not to go,
Going into fuch danger, as thou saidst?
Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,
Nay didft permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadft thou been firm and fixt in thy diffent,
Neither had I tranfgrefs'd, nor thou with me.

To whom then first incenft Adam reply'd,
Is this the Love, is this the recompence
Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, expreft
Immutable when thou wert loft, not I,

1135

1160

1165 Who

Who might have liv'd, and joy'd immortal bliss,
Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy tranfgreffing? not enough severe,

It seems, in my restraint: what could I more?

1170

I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold
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

1175

Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps

I allo err'd, in over-much admiring

What seem'd inthee so perfect, that I thought

No evil durft attempt thee; but I rue

1180

That error now, which is become my crime,

And thou th' accufer. Thus it shall befal

Him who to Worth in Women overtrufting

Lets her Will rule; reftraint she will not brook,

And left to her felf, if evil thence enfue

She firft his weak indulgence will accuse.

Thus they in mutual accufation spent

The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning,
And of their vain contest appear'd no end.

The End of the Ninth Book.

Para

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X.

The ARGUMENT.

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 Sentence accordingly; then in Pity cloaths them both, and re-afcends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the Gates of Hell, by wondrous Sympathy 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 Sire up to the place of Man: To make the way eafier from Hell to this World to and fro, They pave a broad High way or Bridge over Chaos, according to the Track that Satan firft made; then preparing for Earth

they

they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell; their mutual gratulatioa. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full affembly relates with boasting his fuccefs against Man; instead of applause is entertain'd with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself also Suddenly into Serpents, according to his doom giv'n in Paradife; then deluded with a few of the forbidden Tree springing up before them, they greedily reaching to taste of the Fruit, chew duft and bitter alhes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretells 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 appeases him: then to evade the Curfe likely to fall on their Offspring, propofes to Adam vio lent ways which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promife made them, that her Seed fhould be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to feek Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication

MEAN