Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life;
So near grows death to life; whate'er death is,
Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree,
The only sign of our obedience left
Among so many signs of power and rule
Conferr'd upon us, and dominion giv'n
Over all other creatures that possess
Then let us not think hard
One easy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave so large to all things else, and choice
Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers; Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou, for whom And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh, 441 And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou hast said is just and right:
For we to him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee
Preeminent by so much odds, while thou
Like comfort to thyself canst no where find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awak'd, and found my self repos'd
Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where
451 on] The second ed. reads 'of flowers,' but Tickell, Fenton, Bentley, and Newton, read after the first edition.
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how :
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound
Of waters issu'd from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd,
Pure as th' expanse of heaven; I thither went
With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite
A shape within the watery gleam appear'd
Bending to look on me: I started back,
It started back; but pleas'd I soon return'd,
Pleas'd it return'd as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love: there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me, What thou seest,
What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself;
With thee it came and goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
Thy coming, and thy soft embraces; he
Whose image thou art, him thou shalt enjoy
Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd
Mother of human race. What could I do,
459 lake] Compare Ov. Met. iii. 457. Newton. 461 A shape] Compare the Sarcotis of Masenius, lib. iii. p. 130, ed. Barbou, describing Sarcothea :
Virgo, novasque freto miratur crescere silvas.
Ipsa etiam propriæ spectans ab imagine formæ
Luditur, et niveum veneratur in ore decorem,' etc.
But follow straight, invisibly thus led?
Till I espy'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a platane; yet, methought, less fair
Less winning soft, less amiably mild,
Than that smooth watery image; back I turn'd,
Thou following cry'dst aloud, return fair Eve,
Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,
Substantial life, to have thee by my side
Henceforth an individual solace dear:
Part of my soul, I seek thee, and thee claim,
My other half. With that thy gentle hand
Seiz'd mine; I yielded, and from that time see
How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,
And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So spake our general mother, and, with
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd
And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first father; half her swelling breast
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he, in delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms,
Smil'd with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
478 Under a platane] See Grotii Adamus Exsul. 'Adamus, platani suppositus comæ.'
Tickell and Fenton read a 'plantan.'
500 impregns] See Dante Il Purgat. c. xxiv.
'L'aura di Maggio muovesi, et olezza
Tutta impregnata dall' erba, e da' fiori.'
That shed May flowers, and press'd her matron lip With kisses pure: aside the devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plain'd.
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two 505
Imparadis'd in one another's arms,
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill
Of bliss on bliss, while I to hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,
Among our other torments not the least,
Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines.
Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd
From their own mouths: all is not theirs it seems:
One fatal tree there stands of Knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to taste: knowledge forbidden? 515
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? can it be sin to know?
Can it be death? and do they only stand
By ignorance? is that their happy state,
The proof of their obedience and their faith?
O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds
With more desire to know, and to reject
Envious commands, invented with design
To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt 525
501 matron] meeting. Bentl. MS.
504 Ey'd them askance] See Dante Inferno, c. vi.
'Gli diritti occhi torse allora in biechi.'
509 Where] Bentley would read, 'Where's' for 'Where is,' but Pearce observes that Milton often leaves out 'is,' as B. viii. 621.
Equal with gods; aspiring to be such,
They taste and die: what likelier can ensue?
But first with narrow search I must walk round
This garden, and no corner leave unspy'd;
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530
Some wand'ring spirit of heaven, by fountain side,
Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw
What further would be learn'd.
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.
So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd, But with sly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale,
Mean while in utmost longitude, where heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun
Slowly descended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of paradise
Level'd his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alablaster, pil'd up to the clouds,
Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent
Accessible from earth, one entrance high;
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung
Still as it rose, impossible to climb.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,
530 A chance] This line, I think, should be thus read:
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet.
542 eastern] The sun setting shined on the eastern gate; 'tis well it was higher than all the rest of Paradise.' Bentl. MS. 544 alablaster] Thus spelt in both Milton's own editions.
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