Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd,
Since higher I fall short, on him who next
Provokes my envy, this new favorite
Of Heav'n, this man of clay, fon of defpite,
Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd
From duft: spite then with spite is best repaid.
So faying, through each thicket dank or dry,
Like a black mift low creeping, he held on
His midnight fearch, where fooneft he might find
The serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found
In labyrinth of many a round felf-roll'd,

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His head the midft, well ftor'd with fubtle wiles :
Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,

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Nor nocent yet, but on the graffy herb
Fearless unfear'd he slept : in at his mouth
The Devil enter'd, and his brutal sense,
In heart or head, poffeffing foon inspir'd
With act intelligential; but his fleep

Disturb'd not, waiting close th' approach of morn.
Now when as facred light began to dawn

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In Eden on the humid flow'rs, that breath'd
Their morning incenfe, when all things that breathe,
From th' earth's great altar fend up filent praise 195
To the Creator, and his noftrils fill

With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,
And join'd their vocal worship to the quire
Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake
The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs :
Then commune how that day they best may ply
Their growing work: for much their work outgrew

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The

The hands dispatch of two gard'ning fo wide.
And Eve first to her husband thus began.

Adam, well may we labor ftill to dress

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This garden, ftill to tend plant, herb, and flower,
Our pleasant task injoin'd, but till more hands
Aid us, the work under our labor grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,
One night or two with wanton growth derides
Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise,
Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present;
Let us divide our labors, thou where choice
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 215
The woodbine round this arbor, or direct
The clasping ivy where to climb, while I
In yonder spring of roses intermix'd
With myrtle, find what to redress till noon :
For while fo near each other thus all day
Our task we choose, what wonder if fo near
Looks intervene and fmiles, or object new
Cafual difcourfe draw on, which intermits

Our day's work brought to little, though begun
Early, and th' hour of fupper comes unearn'd.

To whom mild anfwer Adam thus return'd.
Sole Eve, affociate fole, to me beyond

Compare above all living creatures dear,

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Well haft thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd

How we might beft fulfil the work which here
God hath affign'd us, nor of me flalt pass
Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found

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In woman, than to study houshold good,
And good works in her husband to promote.
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 sweet intercourse

Of looks and fmiles, for fmiles from reafon flow,
To brute deny'd, and are of love the food,

Love not the loweft end of human life.

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For not to irkfome toil, but to delight

He made us, and delight to reafon join'd.

Thefe paths and bow'rs doubt not but our joint hands Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide

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As we need walk, till younger hands ere long

Affift us but if much converse perhaps

Thee fatiate, to fhort abfence I could yield:
For folitude fometimes is best fociety,

And fhort retirement urges fweet return.

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But other doubt poffeffes me, left harm

Befall thee fever'd from me; for thou know'ft
What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, feeks to work us woe and shame
By fly affault; and somewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wifh and best advantage, us afunder,
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each
To other speedy aid might lend at need;
Whether his first design be to withdraw
Our feälty from God, or to difturb

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Conjugal

Conjugal love, than which perhaps no blifs
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;

Or this, or worfe, leave not the faithful fide

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That gave thee being, ftill fhades thee and protects. The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks,

Safeft and feemlieft by her husband stays,

Who guards her, or with her the worst indures.
To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,

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As one who loves, and fome unkindness meets,

With sweet auftere compofure thus reply'd.

Offspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earth's Lord, That fuch an enemy we have, who seeks Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn, And from the parting Angel over-heard, As in a fhady nook I stood behind,

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Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers.

But that thou shouldt my firmness therefore doubt

To God or thee, because we have a foe

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May tempt it, I expected not to hear.

His violence thou fear'ft 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

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Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be fhaken or feduc'd;

Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, Adam, mis-thought of her to thee fo dear?

To whom with healing words Adam reply'd.

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Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve,
For fuch thou art, from fin and blame entire :

Not

Not diffident of thee do I diffuade

Thy abfence from my fight, but to avoid

Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe.

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For he who tempts, though' in vain, at least asperses

The tempted with dishonor foul, fuppos'd

Not incorruptible of faith, not proof

Against temptation: thou thyself with fcorn
And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,
Though ineffectual found: mifdeem not then,
If fuch affront I labor to avert

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From thee alone, which on us both at once

The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,
Or daring, first on me th' assault shall light.
Nor thou his malice and falfe guile contemn;
Subtle he needs muft be, who could feduce
Angels, nor think fuperfluous others aid.
I from the influence of thy looks receive
Access in every virtue, in thy fight

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More wife, more watchful, ftronger, if need were

Of outward ftrength; while shame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd

Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite.

Why shouldft not thou like sense within thee feel 315

When I am present, and thy trial choose

With me, best witness of thy virtue try'd?

So fpake domestic Adam in his care

And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought

Lefs attribúted to her faith fincere,

Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd.

If this be our condition, thus to dwell

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