Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/249

 BOOK NINTH

��207

��Hath touched my sense flat seems to this

and harsh.

On my experience, Adam, freely taste, And fear of death deliver to the winds." So saying, she embraced him, and for

joy 990

Tenderly wept, much won that he his love Had so ennobled as of choice to incur Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. In recompense (for such compliance bad Such recompense best merits), from the

bough

She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit With liberal hand. He scrupled not to eat, Against his better knowledge, not deceived, But fondly overcome with female charm. Earth trembled from her entrails, as

again 1000

In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan; Sky loured, and, muttering thunder, some

sad drops

Wept at completing of the mortal Sin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate Her former trespass feared, the more to

soothe

Him with her loved society; that now, As with new wine intoxicated both, They swim in mirth, and fancy that they

feel

Divinity within them breeding wings 1010 Wherewith to scorn the Earth. But that

false Fruit

Far other operation first displayed, Carnal desire inflaming. He on Eve Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn, Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance

move :

" Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste And elegant of sapience no small part; Since to each meaning savour we apply, And palate call judicious. I the praise 1020 Yield thee; so well this day thou hast pur- veyed.

Much pleasure we have lost, while we ab- stained From this delightful Fruit, nor known till

now

True relish, tasting. If such pleasure be In things to us forbidden, it might be

wished

For this one Tree had been forbidden ten. But come; so well refreshed, now let us

��As meet is, after such delicious fare; For never did thy beauty, since the day I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned 1030

With all perfections, so enflame my sense With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever bounty of this virtuous Tree ! " So said he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well understood Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. Her hand he seized, and to a shady bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbow-

ered, He led her, nothing loth; flowers were the

couch,

Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, 1040

And hyacinth Earth's freshest, softest

lap.

There they their fill of love and love's dis- port

Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, The solace of their sin, till dewy sleep Oppressed them, wearied with their amo- rous play.

Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit, That with exhilarating vapour bland About their spirits had played, and inmost

powers Made err, was now exhaled, and grosser

sleep,

Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious

dreams 1050

Incumbered, now had left them, up they

rose

As from unrest, and, each the other view- ing. Soon found their eyes how opened, and

their minds

How darkened. Innocence, that as a veil Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was

gone;

Just confidence, and native righteousness, And honour, from about them, naked left To guilty Shame: he covered, but his robe Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap 1060 Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked Shorn of his strength; they destitute and

bare

Of all their virtue. Silent, and in face Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute ; Till Adam, though not less than Eve

abashed,

At length gave utterance to these words constrained:

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