{ "id": "john-milton/book-ix", "title": "Book IX", "ordinal": null, "subtitle": null, "poet": "John Milton", "poet_slug": "john-milton", "language": "en", "book": "Paradise Lost", "book_slug": "paradise-lost", "book_kind": "volume", "sequence": 9, "container": "Book IX", "epigraph": null, "first_published": { "year": 1674, "venue": "Paradise Lost (1674)", "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.", "uncertain": false, "sources": [ "https://github.com/standardebooks/john-milton_paradise-lost" ] }, "source": { "kind": "standard-ebooks", "repo": "standardebooks/john-milton_paradise-lost", "file": "book-9.xhtml", "upstream": [ "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000634929" ], "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)" }, "verification": { "level": "structural-only", "last_checked": "2026-08-20" }, "stats": { "n_lines": 1189, "n_stanzas": 53, "n_parts": 0, "longest_line_chars": 57, "max_indent": 0 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "No more of talk where God or Angel-guest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Man, as with his friend, familiar used", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sit indulgent, and with him partake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rural repast, permitting him the while", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Venial discourse unblamed. I now must change", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those notes to tragic; foul distrust and breach", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disloyal on the part of man, revolt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And disobedience; on the part of Heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now alienated, distance and distaste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That brought into this World a world of woe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death’s harbinger. Sad task! yet argument", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not less but more heroic than the wrath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Turnus for Lavinia disespoused;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or Neptune’s ire, or Juno’s, that so long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea’s son:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If answerable style I can obtain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of my celestial patroness, who deigns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her nightly visitation unimplored,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And dictates to me slumbering, or inspires", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Easy my unpremeditated verse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since first this subject for heroic song", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pleased me, long choosing and beginning late,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not sedulous by nature to indite", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wars, hitherto the only argument", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heroic deemed, chief mastery to dissect", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With long and tedious havoc fabled knights", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In battles feigned (the better fortitude", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of patience and heroic martyrdom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unsung), or to describe races and games,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or tilting furniture, imblazoned shields,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At joust and tournament; then marshalled feast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Served up in hall with sewers and seneshals:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The skill of artifice or office mean;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not that which justly gives heroic name", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To person or to poem. Me, of these", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor skilled nor studious, higher argument", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Remains, sufficient of itself to raise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That name, unless an age too late, or cold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Climate, or years, damp my intended wing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Depressed; and much they may, if all be mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not hers who brings it nightly to my ear.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The sun was sunk, and after him the star", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Twilight upon the Earth, short arbiter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twixt day and night, and now from end to end", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Night’s hemisphere had veiled the horizon round;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When Satan, who late fled before the threats", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In meditated fraud and malice, bent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On Man’s destruction, maugre what might hap", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heavier on himself, fearless returned.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By night he fled, and at midnight returned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From compassing the Earth; cautious of day,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His entrance, and forewarned the Cherubim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That kept their watch. Thence, full of anguish, driven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The space of seven continued nights he rode", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He circled, four times crossed the car of Night", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From pole to pole, traversing each colure;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the eighth returned, and on the coast averse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From entrance or cherubic watch by stealth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Found unsuspected way. There was a place", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a gulf shot under ground, till part", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rose up a fountain by the Tree of Life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In with the river sunk, and with it rose,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where to lie hid. Sea he had searched and land", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From Eden over Pontus, and the pool", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Downward as far antarctic; and in length", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "West from Orontes to the ocean barred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Darien, thence to the land where flows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ganges and Indus. Thus the orb he roamed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With narrow search, and with inspection deep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Considered every creature, which of all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most opportune might serve his wiles, and found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him, after long debate, irresolute", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To enter, and his dark suggestions hide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From sharpest sight; for in the wily snake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As from his wit and native subtlety", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Proceeding, which, in other beasts observed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doubt might beget of diabolic power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Active within beyond the sense of brute.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His bursting passion into plaints thus poured:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With second thoughts, reforming what was old!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For what God, after better, worse would build?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Light above light, for thee alone, as seems,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In thee concentring all their precious beams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is centre, yet extends to all, so thou", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Centring receiv’st from all those orbs; in thee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of creatures animate with gradual life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With what delight could I have walked thee round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now land, now sea, and shores with forest crowned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rocks, dens, and caves! but I in none of these", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Find place or refuge; and the more I see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pleasures about me, so much more I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Torment within me, as from the hateful siege", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of contraries; all good to me becomes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But neither here seek I, no, nor in Heaven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven’s Supreme;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor hope to be myself less miserable", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By what I seek, but others to make such", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As I, though thereby worse to me redound:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For only in destroying I find ease", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or won to what may work his utter loss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For whom all this was made, all this will soon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In woe then, that destruction wide may range!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To me shall be the glory sole among", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Continued making, and who knows how long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before had been contriving? though perhaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not longer than since I in one night freed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From servitude inglorious well nigh half", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Angelic name, and thinner left the throng", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his adorers. He, to be avenged,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And to repair his numbers thus impaired⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether such virtue spent of old now failed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More Angels to create, if they at least", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are his created, or to spite us more⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Determined to advance into our room", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A creature formed of earth, and him endow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Exalted from so base original,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Heavenly spoils, our spoils. What he decreed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He effected; Man he made, and for him built", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him lord pronounced, and, O indignity!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Subjected to his service Angel-wings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And flaming ministers to watch and tend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their earthy charge. Of these the vigilance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I dread, and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In every bush and brake, where hap may find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The serpent sleeping, in whose mazy folds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O foul descent! that I, who erst contended", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a beast, and, mixed with bestial slime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This essence to incarnate and imbrute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That to the highth of deity aspired!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But what will not ambition and revenge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Descend to? Who aspires must down as low", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As high he soared, obnoxious first or last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(Since higher I fall short) on him who next", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Provokes my envy, this new favourite", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So saying, through each thicket, dank or dry,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His midnight search, where soonest he might find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The serpent. Him fast sleeping soon he found,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His head the midst, well stored with subtle wiles:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor nocent yet, but on the grassy herb,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fearless, unfeared, he slept. In at his mouth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Devil entered, and his brutal sense,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In heart or head, possessing soon inspired", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With act intelligential; but his sleep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Now, whenas sacred light began to dawn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their morning incense, when all things that breathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the Earth’s great altar send up silent praise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the Creator, and his nostrils fill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And joined their vocal worship to the choir", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then commune how that day they best may ply", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their growing work; for much their work outgrew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The hands’ dispatch of two, gardening so wide;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Eve first to her husband thus began:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Adam, well may we labour still to dress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aid us, the work under our labour grows,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Luxurious by restraint: what we by day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One night or two with wanton growth derides,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let us divide our labours⁠—thou where choice", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The woodbine round this arbour, or direct", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The clasping ivy where to climb; while I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In yonder spring of roses intermixed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With myrtle, find what to redress till noon.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, while so near each other thus all day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our task we choose, what wonder if so near", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Looks intervene and smiles, or object new", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Casual discourse draw on, which intermits", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our day’s work, brought to little, though begun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom mild answer Adam thus returned:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Compare above all living creatures dear!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How we might best fulfil the work which here", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unpraised, for nothing lovelier can be found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In woman than to study household good,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And good works in her husband to promote.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Labour, as to debar us when we need", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To brute denied, and are of love the food⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Love, not the lowest end of human life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For not to irksome toil, but to delight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He made us, and delight to reason joined.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As we need walk, till younger hands ere long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Assist us. But if much converse perhaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For solitude sometimes is best society,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And short retirement urges sweet return.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But other doubt possesses me, lest harm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Befall thee severed from me; for thou know’st", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What hath been warned us, what malicious foe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Envying our happiness, and of his own", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His wish and best advantage, us asunder,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To other speedy aid might lend at need.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether his first design be to withdraw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our fealty from God, or to disturb", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enjoyed by us excites his envy more;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With sweet austere composure thus replied:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth’s lord!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That such an enemy we have, who seeks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from the parting Angel overheard,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As in a shady nook I stood behind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Just then returned at shut of evening flowers.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To God or thee, because we have a foe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May tempt it, I expected not to hear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His violence thou fear’st not, being such", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As we, not capable of death or pain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can either not receive, or can repel.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adam! misthought of her to thee so dear?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom with healing words Adam replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For such thou art, from sin and blame entire;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not diffident of thee do I dissuade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The attempt itself, intended by our foe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tempted with dishonour foul, supposed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not incorruptible of faith, not proof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against temptation. Thou thyself with scorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though ineffectual found; misdeem not then,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If such affront I labour to avert", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From thee alone, which on us both at once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or daring, first on me the assault shall light.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Angels⁠—nor think superfluous others’ aid.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I from the influence of thy looks receive", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Access in every virtue; in thy sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shame to be overcome or overreached,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When I am present, and thy trial choose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So spake domestic Adam in his care", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Less attributed to her faith sincere,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“If this be our condition thus to dwell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In narrow circuit straitened by a foe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Subtle or violent, we not endued", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Single with like defence wherever met,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How are we happy, still in fear of harm?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But harm precedes not sin: only our foe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our integrity; his foul esteem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By us? who rather double honour gain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his surmise proved false, find peace within,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone, without exterior help sustained?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let us not then suspect our happy state", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left so imperfect by the Maker wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As not secure to single or combined.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Frail is our happiness, if this be so,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom thus Adam fervently replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O Woman, best are all things as the will", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of God ordained them; his creating hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nothing imperfect or deficient left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all that he created, much less Man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or aught that might his happy state secure,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Secure from outward force: within himself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The danger lies, yet lies within his power;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against his will he can receive no harm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But God left free the will; for what obeys", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Reason is free, and Reason he made right,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But bid her well be ware, and still erect,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lest, by some fair appearing good surprised,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She dictate false, and misinform the will", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To do what God expressly hath forbid.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since Reason not impossibly may meet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some specious object by the foe suborned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fall into deception unaware,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seek not temptation then, which to avoid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were better, and most likely if from me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou sever not: trial will come unsought.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "First thy obedience; the other who can know,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But if thou think trial unsought may find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us both securer than thus warned thou seem’st,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Go in thy native innocence, rely", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On what thou hast of virtue, summon all;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For God towards thee hath done his part; do thine.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“With thy permission then, and thus forewarned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chiefly by what thine own last reasoning words", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Touched only, that our trial, when least sought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May find us both perhaps far less prepared,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The willinger I go, nor much expect", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A foe so proud will first the weaker seek;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus saying, from her husband’s hand her hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soft she withdrew, and like a wood-nymph light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oread or Dryad, or of Delia’s train,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Betook her to the groves, but Delia’s self", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In gait surpassed and goddess-like deport,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though not as she with bow and quiver armed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But with such gardening tools as art, yet rude,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Likest she seemed⁠—Pomona when she fled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vertumnus⁠—or to Ceres in her prime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her long with ardent look his eye pursued", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Delighted, but desiring more her stay.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oft he to her his charge of quick return", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Repeated; she to him as oft engaged", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To be returned by noon amid the bower,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all things in best order to invite", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Noontide repast, or afternoon’s repose.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy presumed return! event perverse!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou never from that hour in Paradise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Found’st either sweet repast or sound repose;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waited with hellish rancour imminent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To intercept thy way, or send thee back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And on his quest, where likeliest he might find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The only two of mankind, but in them", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The whole included race, his purposed prey.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In bower and field he sought, where any tuft", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their tendance or plantation for delight;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By fountain or by shady rivulet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He sought them both, but wished his hap might find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half-spied, so thick the roses bushing round", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About her glowed, oft stooping to support", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each flower of tender stalk, whose head, though gay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Herself, though fairest unsupported flower,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or of revived Adonis, or renowned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alcinous, host of old Laertes’ son,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Much he the place admired, the person more.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As one who, long in populous city pent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forth issuing on a summer’s morn to breathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the pleasant villages and farms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If chance with nymph-like step fair virgin pass,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She most, and in her look sums all delight:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus early, thus alone. Her heavenly form", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Angelic, but more soft and feminine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her graceful innocence, her every air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of gesture or least action, overawed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That space the Evil One abstracted stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his own evil, and for the time remained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But the hot hell that always in him burns,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tortures him now more, the more he sees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of pleasure not for him ordained; then soon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Thoughts, whither have ye led me? with what sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Compulsion thus transported to forget", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What hither brought us? hate, not love, nor hope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Save what is in destroying; other joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To me is lost. Then let me not let pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Occasion which now smiles: behold alone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The woman, opportune to all attempts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose higher intellectual more I shun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not terrible, though terror be in love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And beauty, not approached by stronger hate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hate stronger under show of love well feigned⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The way which to her ruin now I tend.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So spake the Enemy of mankind, enclosed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In serpent, inmate bad, and toward Eve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Addressed his way⁠—not with indented wave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Prone on the ground, as since, but on his rear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Circular base of rising folds, that towered", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fold above fold, a surging maze; his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Floated redundant. Pleasing was his shape", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lovely; never since of serpent kind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lovelier; not those that in Illyria changed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hermione and Cadmus, or the god", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He with Olympias, this with her who bore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At first, as one who sought access but feared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To interrupt, sidelong he works his way.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As when a ship by skilful steersman wrought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nigh river’s mouth or foreland, where the wind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So varied he, and of his tortuous train", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of rustling leaves, but minded not, as used", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To such disport before her through the field,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From every beast, more duteous at her call,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than at Circean call the herd disguised.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But as in gaze admiring. Oft he bowed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fawning, and licked the ground whereon she trod.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His gentle dumb expression turned at length", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Organic, or impulse of vocal air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fraudulent temptation thus began:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Wonder not, sovereign mistress, if perhaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou canst who art sole wonder; much less arm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy looks, the heaven of mildness, with disdain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Insatiate, I thus single, nor have feared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With ravishment beheld⁠—there best beheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where universally admired; but here", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In this enclosure wild, these beasts among,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beholders rude, and shallow to discern", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half what in thee is fair, one man except,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A Goddess among Gods, adored and served", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Angels numberless, thy daily train.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the heart of Eve his words made way,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though at the voice much marvelling; at length,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“What may this mean? Language of Man pronounced", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The first at least of these I thought denied", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To beasts, whom God on their creation-day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Created mute to all articulate sound;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The latter I demur, for in their looks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I knew, but not with human voice endued;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Redouble then this miracle, and say,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How cam’st thou speakable of mute, and how", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To me so friendly grown above the rest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Say, for such wonder claims attention due.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Empress of this fair World, resplendent Eve!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Easy to me it is to tell thee all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What thou command’st, and right thou shouldst be obey’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I was at first as other beasts that graze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As was my food, nor aught but food discerned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or sex, and apprehended nothing high:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till on a day, roving the field, I chanced", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A goodly tree far distant to behold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ruddy and gold. I nearer drew to gaze;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When from the boughs a savoury odour blown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To satisfy the sharp desire I had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the mossy trunk I wound me soon;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, high from ground, the branches would require", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy utmost reach or Adam’s: round the tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All other beasts that saw, with like desire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I spared not; for such pleasure till that hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At feed or fountain never had I found.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sated at length, ere long I might perceive", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strange alteration in me, to degree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of reason in my inward powers, and speech", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wanted not long, though to this shape retained.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thenceforth to speculations high or deep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Considered all things visible in Heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or Earth, or middle, all things fair and good:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But all that fair and good in thy divine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Semblance, and in thy beauty’s heavenly ray,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "United I beheld; no fair to thine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Equivalent or second, which compelled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gaze, and worship thee of right declared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sovereign of creatures, universal Dame!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For many are the trees of God that grow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Paradise, and various, yet unknown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To us; in such abundance lies our choice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still hanging incorruptible, till men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grow up to their provision, and more hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Help to disburden Nature of her birth.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Empress, the way is ready, and not long;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Lead then,” said Eve. He leading swiftly rolled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In tangles, and made intricate seem straight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brightens his crest. As when a wandering fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Condenses, and the cold environs round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kindled through agitation to a flame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(Which oft, they say, some evil spirit attends),", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hovering and blazing with delusive light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There swallowed up and lost, from succour far:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the Tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of prohibition, root of all our woe;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But of this tree we may not taste nor touch;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God so commanded, and left that command", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Law to ourselves; our reason is our law.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom the Tempter guilefully replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Indeed? Hath God then said that of the fruit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet lords declared of all in Earth or air?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom thus Eve, yet sinless: “Of the fruit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of each tree in the garden we may eat;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The garden, God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’ ”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Man, and indignation at his wrong,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New part puts on, and, as to passion moved,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely, and in act", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Raised, as of some great matter to begin.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As when of old some orator renowned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flourished, since mute, to some great cause addressed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood in himself collected, while each part,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sometimes in highth began, as no delay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of preface brooking through his zeal of right:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mother of science! now I feel thy power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within me clear, not only to discern", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Things in their causes, but to trace the ways", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of highest agents, deemed however wise.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Queen of this Universe! do not believe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those rigid threats of death. Ye shall not die:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How should ye? by the fruit? it gives you life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me who have touched and tasted, yet both live,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And life more perfect have attained than Fate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall that be shut to Man which to the beast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is open? or will God incense his ire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For such a petty trespass, and not praise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of death denounced, whatever thing death be,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deterred not from achieving what might lead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To happier life, knowledge of good and evil?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of good, how just! of evil⁠—if what is evil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be real, why not known, since easier shunned?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your fear itself of death removes the fear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His worshippers? He knows that in the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Knowing both good and evil, as they know.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Internal Man, is but proportion meet:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And what are Gods, that Man may not become", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As they, participating godlike food?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Gods are first, and that advantage use", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On our belief, that all from them proceeds:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I question it; for this fair Earth I see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warmed by the sun, producing every kind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Them nothing: if they all things, who enclosed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Knowledge of good and evil in this tree,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That whoso eats thereof forthwith attains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The offence, that Man should thus attain to know?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Impart against his will, if all be his?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or is it envy? and can envy dwell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Heavenly breasts? These, these and many more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Causes import your need of this fair fruit.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He ended, and his words, replete with guile,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into her heart too easy entrance won.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With reason, to her seeming, and with truth.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meanwhile the hour of noon drew on, and waked", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An eager appetite, raised by the smell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So savoury of that fruit, which with desire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Solicited her longing eye; yet first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though kept from Man, and worthy to be admired,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose taste, too long forborne, at first assay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gave elocution to the mute, and taught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy praise he also who forbids thy use", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Conceals not from us, naming thee the Tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forbids us then to taste; but his forbidding", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Commends thee more, while it infers the good", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By thee communicated, and our want;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For good unknown sure is not had, or had,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet unknown, is as not had at all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In plain then, what forbids he but to know?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such prohibitions bind not. But if death", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bind us with after-bands, what profits then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our inward freedom? In the day we eat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How dies the Serpent? He hath eaten and lives,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Irrational till then. For us alone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was death invented? or to us denied", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This intellectual food, for beasts reserved?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For beasts it seems; yet that one beast which first", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The good befallen him, author unsuspect,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Friendly to Man, far from deceit or guile.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What fear I then? rather, what know to fear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Under this ignorance of good and evil,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of God or death, of law or penalty?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of virtue to make wise: what hinders then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To reach, and feed at once both body and mind?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So saying, her rash hand in evil hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The guilty Serpent, and well might, for Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Intent now only on her taste, naught else", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In fruit she never tasted, whether true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or fancied so through expectation high", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of knowledge; nor was Godhead from her thought.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Greedily she ingorged without restraint,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And knew not eating death. Satiate at length,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus to herself she pleasingly began:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O sovereign, virtuous, precious of all trees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Paradise! of operation blest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Created! but henceforth my early care,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not without song, each morning, and due praise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy full branches, offered free to all;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though others envy what they cannot give⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus grown! Experience, next to thee I owe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Best guide: not following thee, I had remained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In ignorance: thou open’st Wisdom’s way,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And giv’st access, though secret she retire.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I perhaps am secret; Heaven is high,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High, and remote to see from thence distinct", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May have diverted from continual watch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About him. But to Adam in what sort", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall I appear? Shall I to him make known", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As yet my change, and give him to partake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full happiness with me, or rather not,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But keep the odds of knowledge in my power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without copartner? so to add what wants", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In female sex, the more to draw his love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And render me more equal, and perhaps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A thing not undesirable, sometime", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Superior; for, inferior, who is free?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This may be well: but what if God have seen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And death ensue? then I shall be no more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Adam, wedded to another Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So dear I love him, that with him all deaths", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I could endure, without him live no life.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So saying, from the tree her step she turned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But first low reverence done, as to the Power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That dwelt within, whose presence had infused", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the plant sciential sap, derived", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waiting desirous her return, had wove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her tresses, and her rural labours crown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As reapers oft are wont their harvest queen.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Solace in her return, so long delayed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And forth to meet her went, the way she took", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That morn when first they parted. By the Tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Knowledge he must pass; there he her met,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To him she hasted; in her face excuse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came prologue, and apology to prompt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy presence⁠—agony of love till now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This tree is not, as we are told, a tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Opening the way, but of divine effect", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hath been tasted such. The Serpent wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or not restrained as we, or not obeying,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endued with human voice and human sense,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Reasoning to admiration, and with me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have also tasted, and have also found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The effects to correspond⁠—opener mine eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And growing up to Godhead; which for thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May join us, equal joy, as equal love;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lest, thou not tasting, different degree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deity for thee, when fate will not permit.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the other side, Adam, soon as he heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "First to himself he inward silence broke:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O fairest of creation, last and best", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all God’s works, creature in whom excelled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whatever can to sight or thought be formed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The strict forbiddance, how to violate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sacred fruit forbidden? Some cursed fraud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Certain my resolution is to die:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How can I live without thee? how forgo", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy sweet converse and love so dearly joined,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To live again in these wild woods forlorn?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should God create another Eve, and I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another rib afford, yet loss of thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would never from my heart; no, no! I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The link of nature draw me: flesh of flesh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So having said, as one from sad dismay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Recomforted, and, after thoughts disturbed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Submitting to what seemed remediless,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had it been only coveting to eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Much more to taste it, under ban to touch.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But past who can recall, or done undo?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate! Yet so", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perhaps thou shalt not die; perhaps the fact", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is not so heinous now⁠—foretasted fruit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Profaned first by the Serpent, by him first", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made common and unhallowed ere our taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor yet on him found deadly; he yet lives,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Higher degree of life: inducement strong", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To us, as likely, tasting, to attain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Proportional ascent; which cannot be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-gods.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us his prime creatures, dignified so high,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Set over all his works, which in our fall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For us created, needs with us must fail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dependent made; so God shall uncreate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not well conceived of God, who, though his power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Creation could repeat, yet would be loth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us to abolish, lest the Adversary", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Triumph and say; ‘Fickle their state whom God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most favours; who can please him long? Me first", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He ruined, now mankind; whom will he next?’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Matter of scorn not to be given the Foe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However, I with thee have fixed my lot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Certain to undergo like doom; if death", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Consort with thee, death is to me as life;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So forcible within my heart I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bond of nature draw me to my own,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My own in thee, for what thou art is mine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our state cannot be severed; we are one,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So Adam, and thus Eve to him replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O glorious trial of exceeding love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Illustrious evidence, example high!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Engaging me to emulate; but, short", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adam? from whose dear side I boast me sprung,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gladly of our union hear thee speak,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This day affords, declaring thee resolved,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rather than death, or aught than death more dread,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall separate us, linked in love so dear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If any be, of tasting this fair fruit;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose virtue (for of good still good proceeds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Direct, or by occasion) hath presented", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This happy trial of thy love, which else", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So eminently never had been known.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were it I thought death menaced would ensue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This my attempt, I would sustain alone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly assured", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Remarkably so late of thy so true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So faithful love unequalled; but I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far otherwise the event⁠—not death, but life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Taste so divine, that what of sweet before", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath touched my sense flat seems to this and harsh.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On my experience, Adam, freely taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fear of death deliver to the winds.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So saying, she embraced him, and for joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tenderly wept, much won that he his love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Divine displeasure for her sake, or death.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In recompense (for such compliance bad", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such recompense best merits), from the bough", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She gave him of that fair enticing fruit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With liberal hand; he scrupled not to eat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against his better knowledge, not deceived,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But fondly overcome with female charm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Earth trembled from her entrails, as again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sky loured, and, muttering thunder, some sad drops", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wept at completing of the mortal sin", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Original; while Adam took no thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her former trespass feared, the more to soothe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him with her loved society; that now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As with new wine intoxicated both,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Divinity within them breeding wings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wherewith to scorn the Earth. But that false fruit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far other operation first displayed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Carnal desire inflaming: he on Eve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till Adam thus ’gan Eve to dalliance move:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And elegant, of sapience no small part;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since to each meaning savour we apply,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And palate call judicious, I the praise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From this delightful fruit, nor known till now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In things to us forbidden, it might be wished", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For this one tree had been forbidden ten.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But come; so well refreshed, now let us play,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As meet is, after such delicious fare;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For never did thy beauty, since the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all perfections, so inflame my sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than ever⁠—bounty of this virtuous tree!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So said he, and forbore not glance or toy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of amorous intent, well understood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious, fire.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her hand he seized, and to a shady bank,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thick overhead with verdant roof embowered,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He led her, nothing loth; flowers were the couch,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pansies, and violets, and asphodel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hyacinth⁠—Earth’s freshest, softest lap.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There they their fill of love and love’s disport", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The solace of their sin, till dewy sleep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That with exhilarating vapour bland", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About their spirits had played, and inmost powers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made err, was now exhaled, and grosser sleep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Encumbered, now had left them, up they rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As from unrest, and, each the other viewing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How darkened. Innocence, that as a veil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Just confidence, and native righteousness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And honour, from about them, naked left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To guilty Shame: he covered, but his robe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Philistean Dalilah, and wak’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shorn of his strength; they destitute and bare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all their virtue. Silent, and in face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At length gave utterance to these words constrained:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To that false worm, of whomsoever taught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To counterfeit Man’s voice, true in our fall.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "False in our promised rising; since our eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Opened we find indeed, and find we know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Both good and evil, good lost and evil got:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of innocence, of faith, of purity,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in our faces evident the signs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even shame, the last of evils; of the first", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be sure then. How shall I behold the face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rapture so oft beheld? those Heavenly shapes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Insufferably bright. Oh, might I here", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In solitude live savage, in some glade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To star or sunlight, spread their umbrage broad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And brown as evening! Cover me, ye pines!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hide me, where I may never see them more!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But let us now, as in bad plight, devise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What best may for the present serve to hide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The parts of each from other that seem most", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And girded on our loins, may cover round", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those middle parts, that this new comer, Shame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So counselled he, and both together went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fig-tree⁠—not that kind for fruit renowned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But such as at this day, to Indians known,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Branching so broad and long that in the ground", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the mother tree, a pillared shade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High overarched, and echoing walks between:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At loop-holes cut through thickest shade. Those leaves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with what skill they had together sewed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their guilt and dreaded shame! Oh how unlike", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To that first naked glory! Such of late", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Columbus found the American, so girt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With feathered cincture, naked else and wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the trees on isles and woody shores.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They sat them down to weep; nor only tears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their inward state of mind, calm region once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And full of peace, now tost and turbulent:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Understanding ruled not, and the Will", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heard not her lore, both in subjection now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sensual Appetite, who, from beneath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Usurping over sovereign Reason, claimed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Superior sway. From thus distempered breast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adam, estranged in look and altered style,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and stayed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With me, as I besought thee, when that strange", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I know not whence possessed thee! we had then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Remained still happy, not, as now, despoiled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all our good, shamed, naked, miserable!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Imput’st thou that to my default, or will", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of wandering, as thou call’st it, which who knows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But might as ill have happened, thou being by,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No ground of enmity between us known,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was I to have never parted from thy side?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As good have grown there still, a lifeless rib.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Command me absolutely not to go,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Going into such danger, as thou saidst?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Is this the love, is this the recompense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, expressed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Immutable when thou wert lost, not I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet willingly chose rather death with thee?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And am I now upbraided as the cause", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It seems, in thy restraint! What could I more?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The danger, and the lurking enemy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That lay in wait; beyond this had been force,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And force upon free will hath here no place.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But confidence then bore thee on, secure", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Either to meet no danger, or to find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I also erred in overmuch admiring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That error now, which is become my crime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him who, to worth in women overtrusting,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She first his weak indulgence will accuse.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus they in mutual accusation spent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of their vain contest appeared no end.", "indent": 0 } ] ] }