595 600 605 610 "By which to heavenly love thou may'st ascend, 66 (Though higher of the genial bed by far, "And with mysterious reverence I deem,) "So much delights me, as those graceful acts, "Those thousand decencies that daily flow "From all her words, and actions mix'd with love "And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd "Union of mind, or in us both one soul: 66 Harmony to behold in wedded pair "More grateful than harmonious sound to th' ear; 66 66 Approve the best, and follow what I approve. "To love, thou blam'st me not; for love, thou say'st, 615 "Love not the heavenly spirits? and how their love 66 'Express they? by looks only? or do they mix To whom the angel, with a smile that glow'd 620 Answer'd: "Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 630 "But I can now no more: the parting sun, "Beyond the earth's green cape and verdant isles, "Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. "Be strong, live happy, and love! but, first of all, "Him, whom to love is to obey; and keep 635"His great command: take heed lest passion sway "Thy judgment to do aught which else free will "Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, "The weal, or woe, in thee is plac'd; beware! "I in thy persevering shall rejoice, 640"And all the blest. Stand fast! to stand, or fall, "Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. "Perfect within, no outward aid require; "And all temptation to transgress repel." So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus 645 Follow'd with benediction: "Since to part, "Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger, "Sent from whose sov'reign goodness I adore! "Gentle to me and affable hath been "Thy condescension, and shall be honour'd ever 650 "With grateful memory: thou to mankind "Be good and friendly still, and oft return!" So parted they; the angel up to heaven THE ARGUMENT. SATAN having encompassed the earth, with meditated guile returns, as a mist, by night into Paradise; enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should attempt her found alone: Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at last yields: the serpent finds her alone: his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking; with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech, and such understanding, not till now: the serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he had attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden: the serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments, induces her at length to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates awhile whether to impart thereof to Adam or not; at last brings him of the fruit; relates what persuaded her to eat thereof: Adam, at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, to perish with her; and extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit: the effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover their nakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another. PARADISE LOST. BOOK IX. No more of talk where God, or angel guest, 5 Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change 10 Anger, and just rebuke, and judgment given, Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage |