Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, Unsuck'd of lamb or kid, that tend their play.` To satisfy the sharp desire I had

Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved
Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once,
Powerful persuaders, quicken'd at the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.
About the mossy trunk I wound me soon;
For, high from ground, the branches would require
Thy utmost reach or Adam's: round the tree
All other beasts that saw, with like desire
Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.
Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung
Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour,
At feed or fountain, never had I found.
Sated at length, ere long I might perceive
Strange alteration in me, to degree

Of reason in my inward powers; and speech
Wanted not long; though to this shape retain'd.
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep

I turn'd my thoughts; and, with capacious mind,
Consider'd all things visible in heaven,

Or earth, or middle; all things fair and good.
But all that fair and good in thy divine
Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray,
United I beheld: no fair to thine

Equivalent or second: which compell'd

Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come
And gaze, and worship thee of right declared
Sovran of creatures, universal Dame!"

So talk'd the spirited sly snake; and Eve,
Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied:
"Serpent! thy overpraising leaves in doubt

The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved.

But

say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? For many are the trees of God that grow In Paradise, and various, yet unknown To us; in such abundance lies our choice, As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd, Still hanging incorruptible; till men Grow up to their provision, and more hands Help to disburden Nature of her birth.”

To whom the wily adder, blithe and glad: "Empress! the way is ready, and not long; Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, Fast by a fountain, one small thicket pass'd Of blowing myrrh and balm : if thou accept My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon." "Lead then," said Eve. He, leading, swiftly roll'd

In tangles, and made intricate seem straight,
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his crest: as when a wandering fire,
Compact of unctuous vapor, which the night
Condenses, and the cold environs round,
Kindled through agitation to a flame,

Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,
Hovering and blazing with delusive light,
Misleads the' amazed night-wanderer from his way
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool:
There swallow'd up and lost, from succour far.
So glister'd the dire snake, and into fraud
Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree
Of prohibition, root of all our woe:

Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake: "Serpent! we might have spared our coming hither,

Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to' excess,
The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
But of this tree we may not taste nor touch:
God so commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his voice: the rest, we live
Law to ourselves; our reason is our law."

To whom the Tempter guilefully replied:
"Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit
Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat,
Yet lords declared of all in earth or air?"

To whom thus Eve, yet sinless: " Of the fruit
Of each tree in the garden we may eat:
But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst
The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die." [bold.
She scarce had said, though brief, when now more
The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love
To man, and indignation at his wrong,

New parts puts on; and, as to passion moved,
Fluctuates disturb'd, yet comely and in act
Raised, as of some great matter to begin.
As when of old some orator renown'd,
In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence
Flourish'd, since mute, to some great cause ad-
dress'd,

Stood in himself collected; while each part,
Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue;
Sometimes in highth began, as no delay
Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right.
So standing, moving, or to highth up grown,
The Tempter, all impassion'd, thus began:

"O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant! Mother of science! now I feel thy power