Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/292

286 Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed:
 * "If this be our condition, thus to dwell

In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, Subtle or violent, we not endued Single with like defence, wherever met, How are we happy, still in fear of harm? But harm precedes not sin. Only our foe Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem Of our integrity: his foul esteem Sticks no dishonor on our front, but turns Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared By us? who rather double honor gain From his surmise proved false, find peace within, Favor from Heaven, our witness, from the event. And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained? Let us not then suspect our happy state Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, As not secure to single or combined. Frail is our happiness, if this be so, And Eden were no Eden thus exposed."
 * To whom thus Adam fervently replied:

"O Woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordained them; his creating hand Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created, much less Man, Or aught that might this happy state secure, Secure from outward force; within himself