BOOK NINTH
��205
��And Adam, wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct ! A death to think ! Confirmed, then, I re- solve 830 Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe. So dear I love him that with him all deaths I could endure, without him live no life." So saying, from the Tree her step she
turned, But first low reverence done, as to the
Power
That dwelt within, whose presence had in- fused
Into the plant sciential sap, derived From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the
while,
Waiting desirous her return, had wove Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn 840 Her tresses, and her rural labours crown, As reapers oft are wont their harvest- queen. Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and
new
Solace in her return, so long delayed; Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, Misgave him. He the faltering measure
felt, And forth to meet her went, the way she
took That morn when first they parted. By the
Tree Of Knowledge he must pass; there he her
met,
Scarce from the Tree returning; in her hand 850
A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, New gathered, and ambrosial smell dif- fused.
To him she hasted; in her face excuse Came prologue, and apology to prompt, Which, with bland words at will, she thus
addressed: " Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my
stay? Thee I have missed, and thought it long,
deprived
Thy presence agony of love till now Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never
more
Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought,
The pain of absence from thy sight. But
strange 86 1
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to
hear. This Tree is not, as we are told, a Tree
��Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown
Opening the way, but of divine effect
To open eyes, and make them Gods who
taste; And hath been tasted such. The Serpent
wise,
Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, Hath eaten of the Fruit, and is become Not dead, as we are threatened, but thence- forth 870 Endued with human voice and human sense, Reasoning to admiration, and with me Persuasively hath so prevailed that I Have also tasted, and have also found The effects to correspond opener mine
eyes,
Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, And growing up to Godhead; which for
thee
Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. For bliss, as thon hast part, to me is bliss; Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. 880
Thou, therefore, also taste, that equal lot May join us, equal joy, as equal love; Lest, thou not tasting, different degree Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce Deity for thee, when fate will not permit." Thus Eve with countenance blithe her
story told;
But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. On the other side, Adam, soon as he heard The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill 890
Ran through his veins, and all his joints
relaxed. From his slack hand the garland wreathed
for Eve
Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed. Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at
length First to himself he inward silence broke:
" O fairest of Creation, last and best Of all God's works, creature in whom ex- celled Whatever can to sight or thought be
formed,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet ! How art thou lost ! how on a sudden lost, Defaced, deflowered, and now to death de- vote f 901 Rather, how hast thou yielded to trans'
gress The strict forbiddance, how to violate
�� �
