Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/266

260 Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree Loaden with fairest fruit that, hung to the eye Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadowed. Here had new begun My wandering, had not He, who was my guide Up hither, from among the trees appeared Presence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me, and, 'Whom thou soughtest I am,' Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest Above, or round about thee, or beneath. This Paradise I give thee, count it thine To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat. Of every tree that in the garden grows Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth. But of the tree whose operation brings Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set, The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Amid the garden by the Tree of Life —Remember what I warn thee—shun to taste, And shun the bitter consequence; for know, The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, From that day mortal, and this happy state Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world