210"Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, "One night or two with wanton growth derides, "The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, "With myrtle, find what to redress till noon : 225 230 66 "Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond 66 Compare above all living creatures dear! "Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd, 66 pass Unprais'd; for nothing lovelier can be found "In woman, than to study household good, "And good works in her husband to promote. 235 "Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd "Labour as to debar us, when we need "Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, "For not to irksome toil, but to delight, "These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands 245 "Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide "As we need walk, till younger hands ere long 66 "Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield; "For solitude sometimes is best society, 250 "And short retirement urges sweet return. "But other doubt possesses me, lest harm "Befal thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st "What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe Envying our happiness, and of his own 'Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame "By sly assault, and somewhere nigh at hand Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find "His wish and best advantage-us asunder; Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each 260 "To other speedy aid might lend at need. "Whether his first design be to withdraw "Our feälty from God, or to disturb 255 265 270 66 66 Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss "Or this, or worse: leave not the faithful side "That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. "The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, "Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, "Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." As one who loves and some unkindness meets, With sweet austere composure thus replied: 66 Offspring of heaven and earth, and all earth's lord! "That such an enemy we have, who seeks 275"Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn, "And from the parting angel overheard, "As in a shady nook I stood behind, 280 "Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers. 66 May tempt it, I expected not to hear. "His violence thou fear'st not, being such "As we, not capable of death or pain, 285"His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers 290 66 Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love "Can by his fraud be shaken, or seduc'd: "Thoughts, which, how found they harbour in thy "breast, 66 Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?" To whom with healing words Adam replied: "Thy absence from my sight; but to avoid 295 "The attempt itself, intended by our foe. "For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses "The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd "Not incorruptible of faith, not proof 66 66 Against temptation. Thou thyself with scorn 300 And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, "Though ineffectual found: misdeem not, then, "If such affront I labour to avert "From thee alone, which on us both at once "The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; 305" Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. "Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; 310 315 "(Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce 66 Angels,) nor think superfluous others' aid. "I, from the influence of thy looks, receive "More wise, more watchful; stronger, if need were "Would utmost vigour raise, and rais'd unite. 66 'Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel "When I am present, and thy trial choose And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought 320 Less attributed to her faith sincere, Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd: "In narrow circuit, straiten'd by a foe Single with like defence wherever met, 330"Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns 335 "Foul on himself; then wherefore shunn'd or fear'd "By us? who rather double honour gain "From his surmise prov'd false-find peace within"Favour from heaven, our witness, from the event. "And what is faith, love, virtue, unassay'd "Alone; without exterior help sustain'd? "Let us not then suspect our happy state "Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, "As not secure to single, or combin'd: 340"Frail is our happiness, if this be so: "And Eden were no Eden, thus expos'd." 345 350 To whom thus Adam fervently replied: 66 "Of all that he created, much less man, "Or aught that might his happy state secure- Against his will he can receive no harm. "But God left free the will; for what obeys "Reason, is free; and reason he made right, "But bid her well beware, and still erect; "Lest, by some fair-appearing good surpris'd, 355" She dictate false, and misinform the will, "To do what God expressly hath forbid. "Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins "That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. "Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; 360 "Since reason not impossibly may meet "Some specious object, by the foe suborn'd, "Not keeping strictest watch as she was warn'd. 375 66 Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more— "Go in thy native innocence; rely "On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! "For God towards thee hath done his part: do thine." So spake the patriarch of mankind: but Eve Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied: "With thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd, "Chiefly by what thy own last reas'ning words 380 "Touch only, that our trial, when least sought, 385 'May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd, "The willinger I go: nor much expect "A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self In gait surpass'd, and goddess-like deport; 390 Though not, as she, with bow and quiver arm'd, Her long with ardent look his eye pursued |