Side 90 af 239

Under a plantane, yet methought less fair,

Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

Than that smooth watery image. Back I turned.

Thou, following, criedst aloud, Return, fair Eve;

Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, 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

Seized mine; I yielded; and from that time see

How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.

So spake our general mother; and with eyes

Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned

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,

Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter

On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron lip

With kisses pure. Aside the Devil turned

For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained:

Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two Imparadised 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 unfulfilled, with pain of longing pines.

Yet let me not forget what I have gained

From their own mouths. All is not theirs, it seems