Paradise Lost (1667)/Book VIII



O more of talk where God or Angel Guet With Man, as with his Friend, familiar u’d To it indulgent, and with him partake Rural repat, permitting him the while Venial dicoure unblam’d: I now mut change Thoe Notes to Tragic; foul ditrut, and breach Diloyal on the part of Man, revolt And diobedience: On the part of Heav’n Now alienated, ditance and ditate, 10 Anger and jut rebuke, and judgement giv’n, That brought into this World a world of woe, Sinne and her hadow Death, and Mierie Deaths Harbinger: Sad tak, yet argument Not les but more Heroic then the wrauth Of tern Achilles on his Foe puru’d Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall; or rage Of Turnus for Lavinia diepou’d, Or Neptun’s ire or Juno’s, that o long Perplex’d the Greek and Cytherea’s Son; 20 If anwerable tyle I can obtaine Of my Celetial Patrones, who deignes Her nightly viitation unimplor’d, And dictates to me lumbring, or inpires Eaie my unpremeditated Vere: Since firt this ubject for Heroic Song Plea’d me long chooing, and beginning late; Not edulous by Nature to indite Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument Heroic deem’d, chief maitrie to diect 30 With long and tedious havoc fabl’d Knights In Battels feign’d; the better fortitude Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom Unung; or to decribe Races and Games, Or tilting Furniture, emblazon’d Shields, Imprees quaint, Caparions and Steeds; Baes and tinel Trappings, gorgious Knights At Jout and Torneament; then marhal’d Feat Serv’d up in Hall with Sewers, and Senehals; The kill of Artifice or Office mean, 40 Not that which jutly gives Heroic name To Peron or to Poem. Mee of thee Nor killd nor tudious, higher Argument Remaines, ufficient of it elf to raie That name, unles an age too late, or cold Climat, or Years damp my intended wing Depret, and much they may, if all be mine, Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear. The Sun was unk, and after him the Starr Of Hesperus, whoe Office is to bring 50 Twilight upon the Earth, hort Arbiter Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end Nights Hemiphere had veild the Horizon round: When Satan who late fled before the threats Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv’d In meditated fraud and malice, bent On mans detruction, maugre what might hap Of heavier on himelf, fearles return’d. By Night he fled, and at Midnight return’d From compaing the Earth, cautious of day, 60 Since Uriel Regent of the Sun decri’d His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim That kept thir watch; thence full of anguih driv’n, The pace of even continu’d Nights he rode With darknes, thrice the Equinoctial Line He circl’d, four times cro’d the Carr of Night From Pole to Pole, travering each Colure; On the eighth return’d, and on the Coat avere From entrance or Cherubic Watch, by tealth Found unupected way. There was a place, 70 Now not, though Sin, not Time, firt wraught the change, Where Tigris at the foot of Paradie Into a Gulf hot under ground, till part Roe up a Fountain by the Tree of Life; In with the River unk, and with it roe Satan involv’d in riing Mit, then ought Where to lie hid; Sea he had earcht and Land From Eden over Pontus, and the Poole Maeotis, up beyond the River Ob; Downward as farr Antartic; and in length 80 Wet from Orantes to the Ocean barr’d At Darien, thence to the Land where flowes Ganges and Indus: thus the Orb he roam’d With narrow earch; and with inpection deep Conider’d every Creature, which of all Mot opportune might erve his Wiles, and found The Serpent uttlet Beat of all the Field. Him after long debate, irreolute Of thoughts revolv’d, his final entence choe Fit Veel, fittet Imp of fraud, in whom 90 To enter, and his dark uggetions hide From harpet ight: for in the wilie Snake, Whatever leights none would upicious mark, As from his wit and native uttletie Proceeding, which in other Beats oberv’d Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow’r Active within beyond the ene of brute. Thus he reolv’d, but firt from inward griefe His burting paion into plaints thus pour’d: O Earth, how like to Heav’n, if not preferrd 100 More jutly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built With econd thoughts, reforming what was old! For what God after better wore would build? Terretrial Heav’n, danc’t round by other Heav’ns That hine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps, Light above Light, for thee alone, as eems, In thee concentring all thir precious beams Of acred influence: As God in Heav’n Is Center, yet extends to all, o thou Centring receav’t from all thoe Orbs; in thee, 110 Not in themelves, all thir known vertue appeers Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth Of Creatures animate with gradual life Of Growth, Sene, Reaon, all umm’d up in Man. With what delight could I have walkt thee round If I could joy in aught, weet interchange Of Hill and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines, Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forret crownd, Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of thee Find place or refuge; and the more I ee 120 Pleaures about me, o much more I feel Torment within me, as from the hateful iege Of contraries; all good to me becomes Bane, and in Heav’n much wore would be my tate. But neither here eek I, no nor in Heav’n To dwell, unles by maitring Heav’ns Supreame; Nor hope to be my elf les mierable By what I eek, but others to make uch As I though thereby wore to me redound: For onely in detroying I finde eae 130 To my relentles thoughts; and him detroyd, Or won to what may work his utter los, For whom all this was made, all this will oon Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe, In wo then; that detruction wide may range: To mee hall be the glorie ole among The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr’d What he Almightie tyl’d, ix Nights and Days Continu’d making, and who knows how long Before had bin contriving, though perhaps 140 Not longer then ince I in one Night freed From ervitude inglorious welnigh half Th’ Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng Of his adorer: hee to be aveng’d, And to repaire his numbers thus impair’d, Whether uch vertue pent of old now faild More Angels to Create, if they at leat Are his Created or to pite us more, Determin’d to advance into our room A Creature form’d of Earth, and him endow, 150 Exalted from o bae original, With Heav’nly poils, our poil: What he decreed He effected; Man he made, and for him built Magnificent this World, and Earth his eat, Him Lord pronounc’d, and, O indignitie! Subjected to his ervice Angel wings, And flaming Miniters to watch and tend Thir earthlie Charge: Of thee the vigilance I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mit Of midnight vapor glide obcure, and prie 160 In every Buh and Brake, where hap may finde The Serpent leeping, in whoe mazie foulds To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. O foul decent! that I who ert contended With Gods to it the highet, am now contraind Into a Beat, and mixt with betial lime, This eence to incarnate and imbrute, That to the hight of Deitie apir’d; But what will not Ambition and Revenge Decend to? who apires mut down as low 170 As high he oard, obnoxious firt or lat To baet things. Revenge, at firt though weet, Bitter ere long back on it elf recoiles; Let it; I reck not, o it light well aim’d, Since higher I fall hort, on him who next Provokes my envie, this new Favorite Of Heav’n, this Man of Clay, Son of depite, Whom us the more to pite his Maker rai’d From dut: pite then with pite is bet repaid. So aying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie, 180 Like a black mit low creeping, he held on His midnight earch, where oonet he might finde The Serpent: him fat leeping oon he found In Labyrinth of many a round elf-rowl’d, His head the midt, well tor’d with uttle wile: Not yet in horrid Shade or dimal Den, Not nocent yet, but on the graie Herbe Fearles unfeard he lept: in at his Mouth The Devil enterd, and his brutal ene, In heart or head, poeing oon inpir’d 190 With act intelligential; but his leep Diturbd not, waiting cloe th’ approach of Morn. Now whenas acred Light began to dawne In Eden on the humid Flours, that breathd Thir morning Incene, when all things that breath, From th’ Earths great Altar end up ilent praie To the Creator, and his Notrils fill With gratefull Smell, forth came the human pair And joynd thir vocal Worhip to the Quire Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake 200 The eaon, prime for weetet Sents and Aire: Then commune how that day they bet may ply Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew The hands dipatch of two Gardning o wide. And Eve firt to her Huband thus began. Adam, well may we labour till to dres This Garden, till to tend Plant, Herb and Flour. Our pleaant tak enjoyn’d, but till more hands Aid us, the work under our labour grows, Luxurious by retraint; what we by day 210 Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, One night or two with wanton growth derides Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advie Or hear what to my mind firt thoughts preent, Let us divide our labours, thou where choice Leads thee, or where mot needs, whether to wind The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct The claping Ivie where to climb, while I In yonder Spring of Roes intermixt With Myrtle, find what to redres till Noon: 220 For while o near each other thus all day Our tak we chooe, what wonder if no near Looks intervene and miles, or object new Caual dicoure draw on, which intermits Our dayes work brought to little, though begun Early, and th’ hour of Supper comes unearn’d. To whom mild anwer Adam thus return’d. Sole Eve, Aociate ole, to me beyond Compare above all living Creatures deare, Well hat thou motion’d, wel thy thoughts imployd 230 How we might bet fulfill the work which here God hath aign’d us, nor of me halt pas Unprai’d: for nothing lovelier can be found In woman, then to tudie houhold good, And good workes in her Huband to promote. Yet not o trictly hath our Lord impo’d Labour, as to debarr us when we need Refrehment, whether food, or talk between, Food of the mind, or this weet intercoure Of looks and miles, for miles from Reaon flow, 240 To brute deni’d, and are of Love the food, Love not the lowet end of human life. For not to irkom toile, but to delight He made us, and delight to Reaon joyn’d. Thee paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt Will keep from Wildernes with eae, as wide As we need walk, till younger hands ere long Ait u: But if much convere perhaps Thee atiate, to hort abence I could yeild. For olitude omtimes is bet ocietie, 250 And hort retirement urges weet returne. But other doubt poees me, leat harm Befall thee ever’d from me; for thou knowt What hath bin warn’d us, what malicious Foe Envying our happines, and of his own Depairing, eeks to work us woe and hame By ly aault; and omwhere nigh at hand Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find His wih and bet advantage, us aunder, Hopeles to circumvent us joynd, where each 260 To other peedie aide might lend at need; Whether his firt deign be to withdraw Our fealtie from God, or to diturb Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no blis Enjoy’d by us excites his envie more; Or this, or wore, leave not the faithful ide That gave thee being, til hades thee and protects. The Wife, where danger or dihonour lurks, Safet and eemliet by her Huband taies, Who guards her, or with her the wort endures. 270 To whom the Virgin Majetie of Eve, As one who loves, and ome unkindnes meets, With weet auteer compoure thus reply’d. Ofpring of Heav’n and Earth, and all Earths Lord, That uch an enemie we have, who eeks Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne, And from the parting Angel over-heard As in a hadie nook I tood behind, Jut then returnd at hut of Evening Flours. But that thou houldt my firmnes therefore doubt 280 To God or thee, becaue we have a foe May tempt it, I expected not to hear. His violence thou feart not, being uch, As wee, not capable of death or paine, Can either not receave, or can repell. His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love Can by his fraud be hak’n or educ’t; Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Bret, Adam, mithought of her to thee o dear? 290 To whom with healing words Adam reply’d. Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve, For uch thou art, from in and blame entire: Not diffident of thee do I diuade Thy abence from my ight, but to avoid Th’ attempt it elf, intended by our Foe. For hee who tempts, though in vain, at leat aperes The tempted with dihonour foul, uppo’d Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff Againt temptation: thou thy elf with corne 300 And anger wouldt reent the offer’d wrong, Though ineffectual found: mideem not then, If uch affront I labour to avert From thee alone, which on us both at once The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare, Or daring, firt on mee th’ aault hall light. Nor thou his malice and fale guile contemn; Suttle he needs mut be, who could educe Angels, nor think uperfluous others aid. I from the influence of thy looks receave 310 Acces in every Vertue, in thy ight More wie, more watchful, tronger, if need were Of outward trength; while hame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over-reacht Would utmot vigor raie, and rai’d unite. Why houldt not thou like ene within thee feel When I am preent, and thy trial chooe With me, bet witnes of thy Vertue tri’d. So pake dometick Adam in his care And Matrimonial Love, but Eve, who thought 320 Les attributed to her Faith incere, Thus her reply with accent weet renewd. If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit trait’nd by a Foe, Suttle or violent, we not endu’d Single with like defence, wherever met, How are we happie, till in fear of harm? But harm precedes not in: onely our Foe Tempting affronts us with his foul eteem Of our integritie: his foul eteeme 330 Sticks no dihonor on our Front, but turns Foul on himelf; then wherfore hund or feard By u? who rather double honour gaine From his urmie prov’d fale, finde peace within, Favour from Heav’n, our witnes from th’ event. And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unaaid Alone, without exterior help utaind? Let us not then upect our happie State Left o imperfet by the Maker wie, As not ecure to ingle or combin’d. 340 Fraile is our happines, if this be o, And Eden were no Eden thus expo’d. To whom thus Adam fervently repli’d. O Woman, bet are all things as the will Of God ordaind them, his creating hand Nothing imperfet or deficient left Of all that he Created, much les Man, Or ought that might his happie State ecure, Secure from outward force; within himelf The danger lies, yet lies within his power: 350 Againt his will he can receave no harme. But God left free the Will, for what obeyes Reaon, is free, and Reaon he made right, But bid her well beware, and till erect, Leat by ome faire appeering good urpri’d She dictate fale, and miinforme the Will To do what God exprely hath forbid. Not then mitrut, but tender love enjoynes, That I hould mind thee oft, and mind thou me. Firm we ubit, yet poible to werve, 360 Since Reaon not impoibly may meet Some pecious object by the Foe ubornd, And fall into deception unaware, Not keeping trictet watch, as he was warnd. Seek not temptation then, which to avoide Were better, and mot likelie if from mee Thou ever not; Trial will come unought. Wouldt thou approve thy contancie, approve Firt thy obedience; th’ other who can know, Not eeing thee attempted, who attet? 370 But if thou think, trial unought may finde Us both ecurer then thus warnd thou eemt, Go; for thy tay, not free, abents thee more; Go in thy native innocence, relie On what thou hat of vertue, ummon all, For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. So pake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but Eve Perited, yet ubmis, though lat, repli’d. With thy permiion then, and thus forewarnd Chiefly by what thy own lat reaoning words 380 Touchd onely, that our trial, when leat ought, May finde us both perhaps farr les prepar’d, The willinger I goe, nor much expect A Foe o proud will firt the weaker eek; So bent, the more hall hame him his repule. Thus aying, from her Hubands hand her hand Soft he withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light Oread or Dryad, or of Delia’s Traine, Betook her to the Groves, but Delia’s elf In gate urpa’d and Goddes-like deport, 390 Though not as hee with Bow and Quiver armd, But with uch Gardning Tools as Are yet rude, Guiltles of fire had formd, or Angels brought, To Pales, or Pomona, thus adornd, Liket he eemd, Pomona when he fled Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her Prime, Yet Virgin of Proerpina from Jove. Her long with ardent look his Eye puru’d Delighted, but deiring more her tay. Oft he to her his charge of quick returne, 400 Repeated, hee to him as oft engag’d To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre, And all things in bet order to invite Noontide repat, or Afternoons repoe. O much deceav’d, much failing, haples Eve, Of thy preum’d return! event pervere! Thou never from that houre in Paradie Foundt either weet repat, or found repoe; Such ambuh hid among weet Flours and Shades Waited with hellih rancor imminent 410 To intercept thy way, or end thee back Depoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Blis. For now, and ince firt break of dawne the Fiend, Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come, And on his Quet, where likeliet he might finde The onely two of Mankinde, but in them The whole included Race, his purpod prey. In Bowre and Field he ought, where any tuft Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleaant lay, Thir tendance or Plantation for delight, 420 By Fountain or by hadie Rivulet He ought them both, but wih’d his hap might find Eve eparate, he wih’d, but not with hope Of what o eldom chanc’d, when to his wih, Beyond his hope, Eve eparate he pies, Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where he tood, Half pi’d, o thick the Roes buhing round About her glowd, oft tooping to upport Each Flour of lender talk, whoe head though gay Carnation, Purple, Azure, or pect with Gold, 430 Hung drooping unutaind, them he uptaies Gently with Mirtle band, mindles the while, Her elf, though fairet unupported Flour, From her bet prop o farr, and torn o nigh. Neererhe drew, and many a walk traver’d Of tateliet Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme, Then voluble and bold, now hid, now een Among thick-wov’n Arborets and Flours Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve: Spot more delicious then thoe Gardens feign’d 440 Or of reviv’d Adonis, or renownd Alcinous, hot of old Laertes Son, Or that, not Mytic, where the Sapient King Held dalliance with his faire Egyptian Spoue. Much hee the Place admir’d, the Peron more. As one who long in populous City pent, Where Houes thick and Sewers annoy the Aire, Forth iuing on a Summers Morn, to breathe Among the pleaant Villages and Farmes Adjoynd, from each thing met conceaves delight, 450 The mell of Grain, or tedded Gras, or Kine, Or Dairie, each rural ight, each rural ound; If chance with Nymphlike tep fair Virgin pas, What pleaing eemd, for her now pleaes more, She mot, and in her look umms all Delight. Such Pleaure took the Serpent to behold This Flourie Plat, the weet reces of Eve Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav’nly forme Angelic, but more oft, and Feminine, Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire 460 Of geture or let action overawd His Malice, and with rapine weet bereav’d His fiercenes of the fierce intent it brought: That pace the Evil one abtracted tood From his own evil, and for the time remaind Stupidly good, of enmitie diarm’d, Of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge; But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes, Though in mid Heav’n, oon ended his delight, And tortures him now more, the more he ees 470 Of pleaure not for him ordain’d: then oon Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts Of michief, gratulating, thus excites. Thoughts, whither have he led me, with what weet Compulion thus tranported to forget What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope Of Paradie for Hell, hope here to tate Of pleaure, but all pleaure to detroy, Save what is in detroying, other joy To me is lot. Then let me not let pas 480 Occaion which now miles, behold alone The Woman, opportune to all attempts, Her Huband, for I view far round, not nigh, Whoe higher intellectual more I hun, And trength, of courage hautie, and of limb Heroic built, though of terretrial mould, Foe not informidable, exempt from wound, I not; o much hath Hell deba’d, and paine Infeebl’d me, to what I was in Heav’n. Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods, 490 Not terrible, though terrour be in Love And beautie, not approacht by tronger hate, Hate tronger, under hew of Love well feign’d, The way which to her ruin now I tend. So pake the Enemie of Mankind, enclo’d In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve Addre’d his way, not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as ince, but on his reare, Circular bae of riing foulds, that tour’d Fould above fould a urging Maze, his Head 500 Creted aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; With burniht Neck of verdant Gold, erect Amidt his circling Spires, that on the gras Floted redundant: pleaing was his hape, And lovely, never ince of Serpent kind Lovelier, not thoe that in Illyria chang’d Hermione and Cadmus, or the God In Epidaurus; nor to which tranformd Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was een, Hee with Olympias, this with her who bore 510 Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique At firt, as one who ought acces, but feard To interrupt, ide-long he works his way. As when a Ship by kilful Stearman wrought Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind Veres oft, as oft o teers, and hifts her Saile; So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine Curld many a wanton wreath in ight of Eve, To lure her Eye; hee buied heard the ound Of ruling Leaves, but minded not, as u’d 520 To uch diport before her through the Field, From every Beat, more duteous at her call, Then at Circian call the Herd digui’d. Hee boulder now, uncall’d before her tood; But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd His turret Cret, and leek enamel’d Neck, Fawning, and lick’d the ground whereon he trod. His gentle dumb expreion turnd at length The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue 530 Organic, or impule of vocal Air, His fraudulent temptation thus began. Wonder not, ovran Mitres, if perhaps Thou cant, who art ole Wonder, much les arm Thy looks, the Heav’n of mildnes, with didain, Diplea’d that I approach thee thus, and gaze Inatiate, I thus ingle; nor have feard Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir’d. Fairet reemblance of thy Maker faire, Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine 540 By gift, and thy Celetial Beautie adore With ravihment beheld, there bet beheld Where univerally admir’d; but here In this encloure wild, thee Beats among, Beholders rude, and hallow to dicerne Half what in thee is fair, one man except, Who ees thee? (and what is one?) who houldt be een A Goddes among Gods, ador’d and erv’d By Angels numberles, thy daily Train. So gloz’d the Tempter, and his Proem tun’d; 550 Into the Heart of Eve his words made way, Though at the voice much marveling; at length Not unamaz’d he thus in anwer pake. What may this mean? Language of Man pronounc’t By Tongue of Brute, and human ene expret? The firt at let of thee I thought deni’d To Beats, whom God on their Creation-Day Created mute to all articulat ound; The latter I demurre, for in thir looks Much reaon, and in thir actions oft appeers. 560 Thee, Serpent, uttlet beat of all the field I knew, but not with human voice endu’d; Redouble then this miracle, and ay, How cam’t thou peakable of mute, and how To me o friendly grown above the ret Of brutal kind, that daily are in ight? Say, for uch wonder claims attention due. To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply’d. Empres of this fair World, replendent Eve, Eaie to mee it is to tell thee all 570 What thou commandt, and right thou houldt be obeyd: I was at firt as other Beats that graze The trodden Herb, of abject thoughts and low, As was my food, nor aught but food dicern’d Or Sex, and apprehended nothing high: Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc’d A goodly Tree farr ditant to behold Loaden with fruit of fairet colours mixt, Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze; When from the boughes a avorie odour blow’n, 580 Grateful to appetite, more plea’d my ene Then mell of weetet Fenel, or the Teats Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn, Unuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play. To atifie the harp deire I had Of tating thoe fair Apples, I reolv’d Not to deferr; hunger and thirt at once, Powerful perwaders, quick’nd at the cent Of that alluring fruit, urg’d me o keene. About the Moie Trunk I wound me oon, 590 For high from ground the branches would require Thy utmot reach or Adams: Round the Tree All other Beats that aw, with like deire Longing and envying tood, but could not reach. Amid the Tree now got, where plentie hung Tempting o nigh, to pluck and eat my fill I par’d not, for uch pleaure till that hour At Feed or Fountain never had I found. Sated at length, ere long I might perceave Strange alteration in me, to degree 600 Of Reaon in my inward Powers, and Speech Wanted not long, though to this hape retaind. Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind Coniderd all things viible in Heav’n, Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good; But all that fair and good in thy Divine Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav’nly Ray United I beheld; no Fair to thine Equivalent or econd, which compel’d 610 Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come And gaze, and worhip thee of right declar’d Sovran of Creatures, univeral Dame. So talk’d the pirited ly Snake; and Eve Yet more amaz’d unwarie thus reply’d. Serpent, thy overpraiing leaves in doubt The vertue of that Fruit, in thee firt prov’d: But ay, where grows the Tree, from hence how far? For many are the Trees of God that grow In Paradie, and various, yet unknown 620 To us, in uch abundance lies our choice, As leaves a greater tore of Fruit untoucht, Still hanging incorruptible, till men Grow up to thir proviion, and more hands Help to diburden Nature of her Bearth. To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad. Empres, the way is readie, and not long, Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat, Fat by a Fountain, one mall Thicket pat Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept 630 My conduct, I can bring thee thither oon. Lead then, aid Eve. Hee leading wiftly rowld In tangles, and make intricate eem trait, To michief wift. Hope elevates, and joy Bright’ns his Cret, as when a wandring Fire Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night Condenes, and the cold invirons round, Kindl’d through agitation to a Flame, Which oft, they ay, ome evil Spirit attends, Hovering and blazing with deluive Light, 640 Mileads th’ amaz’d Night-wanderer from his way To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole, There wallow’d up and lot, from uccour farr. So gliter’d the dire Snake and into fraud Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree Of prohibition, root of all our woe; Which when he aw, thus to her guide he pake. Serpent, we might have par’d our coming hither, Fruitles to me, though Fruit be here to exces, The credit of whoe vertue ret with thee, 650 Wondrous indeed, if caue of uch effects. But of this Tree we may not tate nor touch; God o commanded, and left that Command Sole Daughter of his voice; the ret, we live Law to our elves, our Reaon is our Law. To whom the Tempter guilefully repli’d. Indeed? hath God then aid that of the Fruit Of all thee Garden Trees ye hall not eate, Yet Lords declar’d of all in Earth or Aire? To whom thus Eve yet inles. Of the Fruit 660 Of each Tree in the Garden we may eate, But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidt The Garden, God hath aid, Ye hall not eate Thereof, nor hall ye touch it, leat ye die. She care had aid, though brief, when now more bold The Tempter, but with hew of Zeale and Love To Man, and indignation at his wrong, New part puts on, and as to paion mov’d, Fluctuats diturbd, yet comely, and in act Rai’d, as of om great matter to begin. 670 As when of old om Orator renound In Athens or free Rome, where Eloquence Flourihd, ince mute, to om great caue addret, Stood in himelf collected, while each part, Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, Somtimes in highth began, as no delay Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right. So tanding, moving, or to highth upgrown The Tempter all impaiond thus began. O Sacred, Wie, and Widom-giving Plant, 680 Mother of Science, Now I feel thy Power Within me cleere, not onely to dicerne Things in thir Caues, but to trace the wayes Of highet Agents, deemd however wie. Queen of this Univere, doe not believe Thoe rigid threats of Death; ye hall not Die: How hould ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life To Knowledge? By the Threatner, look on mee, Mee who have touch’d and tated, yet both live, And life more perfet have attaind then Fate 690 Meant mee, by ventring higher then my Lot. Shall that be hut to Man, which to the Beat Is open? or will God incene his ire For uch a pretty Trepas, and not praie Rather your dauntles vertue, whom the pain Of Death denounc’t, whatever thing Death be, Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil; Of good, how jut? of evil, if what is evil Be real, why not known, ince eaier hunnd? 700 God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be jut; Not jut, not God; not feard then, nor obeid: Your feare it elf of Death removes the feare. Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, Why but to keep ye low and ignorant, His worhippers; he knows that in the day Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that eem o cleere, Yet are but dim, hall perfetly be then Op’nd and cleerd, and ye hall be as Gods, Knowing both Good and Evil as they know. 710 That ye hould be as Gods, ince I as Man, Internal Man, is but proportion meet, I of brute human, yee of human Gods. So ye halt die perhaps, by putting off Human, to put on Gods, death to be wiht, Though threat’nd, which no wore then this can bring And what are Gods that Man may not become As they, participating God-like food? The Gods are firt, and that advantage ue On our belief, that all from them proceeds, 720 I quetion it, for this fair Earth I ee, Warm’d by the Sun, producing every kind, Them nothing: If they all things, who enclo’d Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree, That whoo eats thereof, forthwith attains Widom without their leave? and wherein lies Th’ offence, that Man hould thus attain to know? What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree Impart againt his will if all be hi? Or is it envie, and can envie dwell 730 In heav’nly bret? thee, thee and many more Caues import your need of this fair Fruit. Goddes humane, reach then, and freely tate. He ended, and his words replete with guile Into her heart too eaie entrance won: Fixt on the Fruit he gaz’d, which to behold Might tempt alone, and in her ears the ound Yet rung of his perwaive words, impregn’d With Reaon, to her eeming, and with Truth; Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and wak’d 740 An eager appetite, rai’d by the mell So avorie of that Fruit, which with deire, Inclinable now grown to touch or tate, Sollicited her longing eye; yet firt Pauing a while, thus to her elf he mu’d. Great are thy Vertues, doubtles, bet of Fruits, Though kept from Man, & worthy to be admir’d, Whoe tate, too long forborn, at firt aay Gave elocution to the mute, and taught The Tongue not made for Speech to peak thy praie: 750 Thy praie hee alo who forbids thy ue, Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; Forbids us then to tate, but his forbidding Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good By thee communicated, and our want: For good unknown, ure is not had, or had And yet unknown, is as not had at all. In plain then, what forbids he but to know, Forbids us good, forbids us to be wie? 760 Such prohibitions binde not. But if Death Bind us with after-bands, what profits then Our inward freedom? In the day we eate Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we hall die. How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat’n and lives, And knows, and peaks, and reaons, and dicernes, Irrational till then. For us alone Was death invented? or to us deni’d This intellectual food, for beats reerv’d? For Beats it eem: yet that one Beat which firt 770 Hath tated, envies not, but brings with joy The good befall’n him, Author unupect, Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile. What fear I then, rather what know to feare Under this ignorance of Good and Evil, Of God or Death, of Law or Penaltie? Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine, Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Tate, Of vertue to make wie: what hinders then To reach, and feed at once both Bodie and Mind? 780 So aying, her rah hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the Fruit, he pluck’d, he eat: Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her eat Sighing through all her Works gave igns of woe, That all was lot. Back to the Thicket lunk The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for Eve Intent now wholly on her tate, naught ele Regarded, uch delight till then, as eemd, In Fruit he never tated, whether true Or fanied o, through expectation high 790 Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought. Greedily he ingorg’d without retraint, And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length, And hight’nd as with Wine, jocond and boon, Thus to her elf he pleaingly began. O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees In Paradie, of operation blet To Sapience, hitherto obcur’d, infam’d, And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end Created; but henceforth my early care, 800 Not without Song, each Morning, and due praie Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden eae Of thy full branches offer’d free to all; Till dieted by thee I grow mature In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know; Though others envie what they cannot give; For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe, Bet guide; not following thee, I had remaind In ignorance, thou op’nt Widoms way, 810 And giv’t acces, though ecret he retire. And I perhaps am ecret; Heav’n is high, High and remote to ee from thence ditinct Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps May have diverted from continual watch Our great Forbidder, afe with all his Spies About him. But to Adam in what ort Shall I appeer? hall I to him make known As yet my change, and give him to partake Full happines with mee, or rather not, 820 But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power Without Copartner? o to add what wants In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love, And render me more equal, and perhaps A thing not undeireable, omtime Superior; for inferior who is free? This may be well: but what if God have een, And Death enue? then I hall be no more, And Adam wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; 830 A death to think. Confirm’d then I reolve, Adam hall hare with me in blis or woe: So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure; without him live no life. So aying, from the Tree her tep he turnd, But firt low Reverence don, as to the power That dwelt within, whoe preence had infu’d Into the plant ciential ap, deriv’d From Nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while Waiting deirous her return, had wove 840 Of choicet Flours a Garland to adorne Her Trees, and her rural labours crown As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvet Queen. Great joy he promi’d to his thoughts, and new Solace in her return, o long delay’d; Yet oft his heart, divine of omthing ill, Migave him; hee the faultring meaure felt; And forth to meet her went, the way he took That Morn when firt they parted; by the Tree Of Knowledge he mut pas, there he her met, 850 Scare from the Tree returning; in her hand A bough of fairet fruit that downie mil’d, New gatherd, and ambroial mell diffu’d. To him he hated, in her face excue Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt, Which with bland words at will he thus addret. Hat thou not wonderd, Adam, at my tay? Thee I have mit, and thought it long, depriv’d Thy preence, agonie of love till now Not felt, nor hall be twice, for never more 860 Mean I to trie, what rah untri’d I ought, The paine of abence from thy ight. But trange Hath bin the caue, and wonderful to heare: This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree Of danger tated, nor to evil unknown Op’ning the way, but of Divine effect To open Eyes, and make them Gods who tate; And hath bin tated uch; the Serpent wie, Or not retraind as wee, or not obeying, Hath eat’n of the fruit, and is become, 870 Not dead, as we are threatn’d, but thenceforth Endu’d with human voice and human ene, Reaoning to admiration, and with mee Perwaively hath o prevaild, that I Have alo tated, and have alo found Th’ effects to correpond, opener mine Eyes, Dimm ert, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart, And growing up to Godhead; which for thee Chiefly I ought, without thee can depie. For blis, as thou hat part, to me is blis, 880 Tedious, unhar’d with thee, and odious oon. Thou therefore alo tate, that equal Lot May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love; Leat thou not tating, different degree Dijoyne us, and I then too late renounce Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit. Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her torie told; But in her Cheek ditemper fluhing glowd. On th’ other ide, Adam, oon as he heard The fatal Trepas don by Eve, amaz’d, 890 Atonied tood and Blank, while horror chill Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax’d; From his lack hand the Garland wreath’d for Eve Down drop’d, and all the faded Roes hed: Speechles he tood and pale, till thus at length Firt to himelf he inward ilence broke. O fairet of Creation, lat and bet Of all Gods Works, Creature in whom excell’d Whatever can to fight or thought be found, Holy, divine, good, amiable, or weet! 900 How art thou lot, how on a udden lot, Defac’t, deflourd, and now to Death devote? Rather how hat thou yeelded to trangres The trict forbiddance, how to violate The acred Fruit forbidd’n! om cured fraud Of Enemie hath beguil’d thee, yet unknown, And mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee Certain my reolution is to Die; How can I live without thee, how forgoe Thy weet Convere and Love o dearly joyn’d, 910 To live again in thee wilde Woods forlorn? Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford, yet los of thee Would never from my heart; no no, I feel The Link of Nature draw me: Fleh of Fleh, Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State Mine never hall be parted, blis or woe. So having aid, as one from ad dimay Recomforted, and after thoughts diturbd Submitting to what eemd remediles, 920 Thus in calme mood his Words to Eve he turnd. Bold deed thou hat preum’d, adventrous Eve, And peril great provok’t, who thus hat dar’d Had it bin onely coveting to Eye That acred Fruit, acred to abtinence, Much more to tate it under banne to touch. But pat who can recall, or don undoe? Not God omnipotent, for Fate, yet o Perhaps thou halt not Die, perhaps the Fact Is not o hainous now, foretated Fruit, 930 Profan’d firt by the Serpent, by him firt Made common and unhallowd: ere one tates; Nor yet on him found deadly; he yet lives, Lives, as thou aidt, and gaines to live as Man Higher degree of Life, inducement trong To us, as likely tating to attaine Proportional acent, which cannot be But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods. Nor can I think that God, Creator wie, Though threatning, will in earnet o detroy 940 Us his prime Creatures, dignifi’d o high, Set over all his Works, which in our Fall, For us created, needs with us mut faile, Dependent made; o God hall uncreate, Be frutrate, do, undo, and labour looe, Not well conceav’d of God, who though his Power Creation could repeate, yet would be loath Us to abolih, leat the Adverary Triumph and ay; Fickle their State whom God Mot Favors, who can pleae him long? Mee firt 950 He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next? Matter of corne, not to be given the Foe. However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death Conort with thee, Death is to mee as Life; So forcible within my heart I feel The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne, My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; Our State cannot be everd, we are one, One Fleh; to looe thee were to looe my elf. 960 So Adam, and thus Eve to him repli’d. O glorious trial of exceeding Love, Illutrious evidence, example high! Ingaging me to emulate, but hort Of thy perfection, how hall I attaine, Adam, from whoe deare ide I boat me prung, And gladly of our Union heare thee peak, One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff This day affords, declaring thee reolvd, Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread 970 Shall eparate us, linkt in Love o deare, To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime, If any be, of tating this fair Fruit, Whoe vertue, for of good till good proceeds, Direct, or by occaion hath preented This happie trial of thy Love, which ele So eminently never had bin known. Were it I thought Death menac’t would enue This my attempt, I would utain alone The wort, and not perwade thee, rather die 980 Deerted, then oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly aur’d Remarkably o late of thy o true, So faithful Love unequald; but I feel Farr otherwie th’ event, not Death, but Life Augmented, op’nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes, Tate o Divine, that what of weet before Hath toucht my ene, flat eems to this, and harh. On my experience, Adam, freely tate, And fear of Death deliver to the Windes. 990 So aying, he embrac’d him, and for joy Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love Had o enobl’d, as of choice to incurr Divine dipleaure for her ake, or Death. In recompence (for uch compliance bad Such recompence bet merit) from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit With liberal hand: he crupl’d not to eat Againt his better knowledge, not deceav’d, But fondly overcome with Femal charm. 1000 Earth trembl’d from her entrails, as again In pangs, and Nature gave a econd groan, Skie lowr’d, and muttering Thunder, om ad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original; while Adam took no thought, Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate Her former trepas fear’d, the more to oothe Him with her lov’d ocietie, that now As with new Wine intoxicated both They wim in mirth, and fanie that they feel 1010 Divinitie within them breeding wings Wherewith to corn the Earth: but that fale Fruit Farr other operation firt diplaid, Carnal deire enflaming, hee on Eve Began to cat lacivious Eyes, he him As wantonly repaid; in Lut they burne: Till Adam thus ’gan Eve to dalliance move. Eve, now I ee thou art exact of tate, And elegant, of Sapience no mall part, Since to each meaning avour we apply, 1020 And Palate call judicious; I the praie Yeild thee, o well this day thou hat purvey’d. Much pleaure we have lot, while we abtain’d From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now True relih, tating; if uch pleaure be In things to us forbidden, it might be wih’d, For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten. But come, o well refreh’t, now let us play, As meet is, after uch delicious Fare; For never did thy Beautie ince the day 1030 I aw thee firt and wedded thee, adorn’d With all perfections, o enflame my ene With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree. So aid he, and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent, well undertood Of Eve, whoe Eye darted contagious Fire. Her hand he ei’d, and to a hadie bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr’d He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch, 1040 Panies, and Violets, and Aphodel, And Hyacinth, Earths frehet oftet lap. There they thir fill of Love and Loves diport Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale, The olace of thir in, till dewie leep Oppre’d them, wearied with thir amorous play. Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit, That with exhilerating vapour bland About thir pirits had plaid, and inmot powers Made erre, was now exhal’d, and groer leep 1050 Bred of unkindly fumes, with concious dreams Encumberd, now had left them, up they roe As from unret, and each the other viewing, Soon found thir Eyes how op’nd, and thir minds How dark’nd; innocence, that as a veile Had hadow’d them from knowing ill, was gon, Jut confidence, and native righteounes, And honour from about them, naked left To guiltie hame hee cover’d, but his Robe Uncover’d more. So roe the Danite trong 1060 Herculean Samson from the Harlot-lap Of Philistean Dalilah, and wak’d Shorn of his trength, They detitute and bare Of all thir vertue: ilent, and in face Confounded long they ate, as truck’n mute, Till Adam, though not les then Eve abaht, At length gave utterance to thee words contraind. O Eve, in evil hour thou didt give care To that fale Worm, of whomoever taught To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall, 1070 Fale in our promi’d Riing; ince our Eyes Op’nd we find indeed, and find we know Both Good and Evil, Good lot and Evil got, Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know, Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void, Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie, Our wonted Ornaments now oild and taind, And in our Faces evident the ignes Of foul concupicence; whence evil tore; Even hame, the lat of evils; of the firt 1080 Be ure then. How hall I behold the face Henceforth of God or Angel, eart with joy And rapture o oft beheld? thoe heav’nly hapes Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze Inufferably bright. O might I here In olitude live avage, in ome glad Obcur’d, where highet Woods impenetrable To Starr or Sun-light, pread thir umbrage broad, And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines, Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs 1090 Hide me, where I may never ee them more. But let us now, as in bad plight, devie What bet may for the preent erve to hide The Parts of each from other, that eem mot To hame obnoxious, and uneemliet een, Some Tree whoe broad mooth Leaves together owd, And girded on our loyns, may cover round Thoe middle parts, that this new commer, Shame, There it not, and reproach us as unclean. So counel’d hee, and both together went 1100 Into the thicket Wood, there oon they choe The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit renown’d, But uch as at this day to Indians known In Malabar or Decan preds her Armes Braunching o broad and long, that in the ground The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow About the Mother Tree, a Pillard hade High overarch’t, and echoing Walks between; There oft the Indian Herdman hunning heate Shelters in coole, and tends his paturing Herds 1110 At Loopholes cut through thicket hade: Thoe Leaves They gatherd, broad as Amazonian Targe, And with what kill they had, together owd, To gird thir wate, vain Covering if to hide Thir guilt and dreaded hame; O how unlike To that firt naked Glorie. Such of late Columbus found th’ American to girt With featherd Cincture, naked ele and wilde Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores. Thus fenc’t, and as they thought, thir hame in part 1120 Coverd, but not at ret or eae of Mind, They ate them down to weep, nor onely Teares Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds wore within Began to rie, high Paions, Anger, Hate, Mitrut, Supicion, Dicord, and hook ore Thir inward State of Mind, calme Region once And full of Peace, now tot and turbulent: For Undertanding rul’d not, and the Will Heard not her lore, both in ubjection now To enual Appetite, who from beneathe 1130 Uurping over ovran Reaon claimd Superior way: From thus ditemperd bret, Adam, etrang’d in look and alterd tile, Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd. Would thou hadt heark’nd to my words, & tai’d With me, as I beought thee, when that trange Deire of wandring this unhappie Morn, I know not whence poed thee; we had then Remaind till happie, not as now, depoild Of all our good, ham’d, naked, mierable. 1140 Let none henceforth eek needles caue to approve The Faith they owe; when earnetly they eek Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile. To whom oon mov’d with touch of blame thus Eve. What words have pat thy Lips, Adam evere, Imput’t thou that to my default, or will Of wandering, as thou call’t it, which who knows But might as ill have happ’nd thou being by, Or to thy elf perhap: hadt thou bin there, Or bere th’ attempt, thou couldt not have dicernd 1150 Fraud in the Serpent, peaking as he pake; No ground of enmitie between us known, Why hee hould mean me ill, or eek to harme. Was I to have never parted from thy ide? As good have grown there till a liveles Rib. Being as I am, why didt not thou the Head Command me abolutely not to go, Going into uch danger as thou aidt? Too facil then thou didt not much gainay, Nay, didt permit, approve, and fair dimis. 1160 Hadt thou bin firm and fixt in thy dient, Neither had I trangre’d, nor thou with mee. To whom then firt incent Adam repli’d. Is this the Love, is the recompence Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, expret Immutable when thou wert lot, not I, Who might have liv’d and joyd immortal blis, Yet willingly choe rather Death with thee: And am I now upbraided, as the caue Of thy trangreing? not enough evere, 1170 It eems, in thy retraint: what could I more? I warn’d thee, I admonih’d thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking Enemie That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force, And force upon free Will hath here no place. But confidence then bore thee on, ecure Either to meet no danger, or to finde Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps I alo err’d in overmuch admiring What eemd in thee o perfet, that I thought 1180 No evil durt attempt thee, but I rue That errour now, which is become my crime, And thou th’ accuer. Thus it hall befall Him who to worth in Women overtruting Lets her Will rule; retraint he will not brook, And left to her elf, if evil thence enue, Shee firt his weak indulgence will accue. Thus they in mutual accuation pent The fruitles hours, but neither elf-condemning And of thir vain contet appeer’d no end.

The End of the Eighth Book.