Yet not fo ftrictly hath our Lord impos'd
Labor, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
(Food of the mind) or this fweet intercourfe
Of looks and fimiles, for fmiles from reafon flow,
To brute deny'd, and are of love the food;
Love, not the lowest end of human life..
For not to irksome toil, but to delight
He made us, and delight to reafon join'd.
The paths, & bow'rs, doubt not but our joint-hands
Will keep from wilderness with eafe, as wide
As we need walk; till younger hands e're long
Affift us. But, if much converfe perhaps
Thee fatiate, to fhort abfence I could yield:
(For folitude fometimes is beft fociety,
And fhort retirement urges fweet return.)
But, other doubt poffeffes me; left harm
Befall thee fever'd from me: for thou know'st
What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Defpatring, feeks to work us woe and shame
By fly affault and fomewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His with, and beft advantage, us afunder;
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each
To other speedy aid might lend at need:
Whether his firtt defign be to withdraw
Our fealty from GoD; or to disturb
Conjugal love; than which perhaps no blis
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more:
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful fide
That gave thee being, ftill fhades thee and protects.
The wife, where danger, or dishonor lurks,
Safeft and feemlieft by her husband ftays,
Who guards her, or with her the worst indures.
To whom the virgin-majefty of EVE,
As one who loves, and fome unkindness meets,
With fweet auftere compofure thus reply'd.
Off-fpring of heav'n and earth, & all earth's Lord! That fuch an enemy we have, who feeks Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn, And from the parting Angel over-heard, As in a fhady nook I ftood behind, Just then return'd at shut of ev'ning flow'rs. But that thou fhouldit my firmness therefore doubt To GOD or thee, because we have a foe May tempt it, I expected not to hear, His violence thou fear'st not, being fuch As we (not capable of death, or pain) Can either not receive, or can repel. His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers Thy equal fear, that my firm faith, and love, Can by his fraud be fhaken or feduc'd;
Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy breast, ADAM, mis-thought of her to thee fo dear?
To whom with healing words ADAM reply'd. 290
Daughter of GoD and Man, immortal EVE!
For fuch thou art, from fin and blame entire
Not diffident of thee do 1 diffuade
Thy abfence from my fight, but to avoid
Th' attempt it felf, intended by our foe:
For he who tempts, though in vain, at least afperies
The tempted with dishonor foul; fuppos'd
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation. Thou thy felf with fcorn,
And anger, would'ft refent the offer'd wrong,
Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,
If fuch affront I labor to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare;
Or daring, first on me th'affault fhall light.
Nor thou his malice and falfe guile contemn:
Subfile he needs muft be, who could feduce
Angels: nor think fuperfluous other's aid.
1, from the influence of thy looks, receive
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