For understanding rul'd not, and the will Heard not her lore, both in subjection no To sensual appetite, who from beneath Usurping over sov'reign reason claim'd Superior sway from thus distemper'd bre Adam, estrang'd in look and alter'd style, Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd.

Would thou hadst hearken'd to my wor With me, as I besought thee, when that s Desire of wand'ring this unhappy morn I know not whence possess'd thee; we had Remain'd still happy, not, as now, despoil Of all our good, sham'd, naked, miserable. Let none henceforth seek needless cause to a The faith they owe; when earnestly they se Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fa To whom soon mov'd with touch of blam

Eve.

What words have pass'd thy lips, Adam sev
Imput'st thou that to my default, or will
Of wand'ring, as thou call'st it, which who k
But might as ill have happen'd thou being E
Or to thyself perhaps: hadst thou been ther
Or here th' attempt, thou couldst not have disc
Fraud in the serpent, speaking as he spake ;
No ground of enmity between us known,
Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm

1128 both] Fenton reads but in subjection.'
1144 words] Compare Hom. Il. xiv. 83.

Ατρέιδη, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος οδόντων. Τ

as I to have never parted from thy side? good have grown there still a lifeless rib. ing as I am, why didst not thou the head 1155 mmand me absolutely not to go,

ing into such danger, as thou said'st? o facil then thou didst not much gainsay, y, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. idst thou been firm and fix'd in thy dissent, 1160 either had I transgress'd, nor thou with me. To whom then first incens'd Adam reply'd. this the love, is this the recompence

' mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, express'd mutable when thou wert lost, not I,

1165

ho might have liv'd and joy'd immortal bliss,

et willingly chose rather death with thee?

ad am I now upbraided, as the cause
thy transgressing? not enough severe,
seems, in thy restraint: what could I more?
varn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold
e danger, and the lurking enemy

at lay in wait: beyond this had been force,
d force upon free will hath here no place.

t confidence then bore thee on, secure

cher to meet no danger, or to find atter of glorious trial; and perhaps Iso err'd in overmuch admiring

65 Immutable] Inimitable. Bentl. MS.

1170

1175

170 thy] So in the early editions; in Tonson's, 1711, it in my restraint,' which Tickell, Fenton, and Bentley have roperly followed.

What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I tho
No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue
The error now, which is become my crime
And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befal
Him who to worth in women overtrusting
Lets her will rule; restraint she will not b
And left to herself, if evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse.

Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self-condem And of their vain contest appear'd no end.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X.

THE ARGUMENT.

AN's transgression known, the guardian angels forsake padise, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance, d are approved, GOD declaring that the entrance of Satan uld not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge e transgressors; who descends, and gives sentence accordgly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin d Death, sitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous mpathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and sin by man there committed, resolve to sit no longer fined in hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the ce of man to make the way easier from hell to this world and fro, they pave a broad highway, or bridge, over Chaos, ording to the track that Satan first made; then, preparing earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to : their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemon, in full assembly relates with boasting his success nst man: instead of applause, is entertained with a ge1 hiss by all his audience, transformed, with himself also, lenly into serpents, according to his doom given in para; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springup before them, they greedily reaching to take of the chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and th; GOD foretells the final victory of his Son over them, the renewing of all things; but for the present comAs his angels to make several alterations in the heavens elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen tion, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; OL. II.

N

she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to e curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to A lent ways, which he approves not; but conceivin hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made th her seed should be revenged on the serpent, and ex with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by re and supplication.

MEANWHILE the heinous and despightful
Of Satan done in paradise, and how
He in the serpent had perverted Eve,
Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in heav'n; for what can scape th
Of GOD all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omniscient, who, in all things wise and just
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind
Of man, with strength entire, and freewill a
Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd
Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend!
For still they knew, and ought to have still ren
The high injunction not to taste that fruit, [
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying
Incurr'd, what could they less? the penalty,
And, manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.

Up into heav'n from paradise in haste
Th' angelic guards ascended, mute and sad
For man; for of his state by this they knew,
Much wondring how the subtle fiend had stol'
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome ne
From earth arriv'd at heaven gate, displeas'd
All were who heard; dim sadness did not spa