Seite 170 von 239

Go in thy native innocence, rely 212 On what thou hast of virtue; summon all:

For God towards thee hath done His part, do thine. So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve

Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied:

With thy permission, then, and thus forewarned Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words Touched only, that our trial, when least sought, May find us both, perhaps, far less prepared, The willinger I go, nor much expect A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand Soft she withdrew, and, like a wood-nymph light Oread, or Dryad, or of Delia's train,1 Betook her to the groves-but Delia's self, In gait surpassed, and goddess-like deport, Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, But with such gardening tools as art, yet rude, Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. To Pales,2 or Pomona,3 thus adorned, Likest she seemed—Pomona, when she fled Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. Her long, with ardent look, his eye pursued Delighted, but desiring more her stay. Oft he to her his charge of quick return Repeated; she to him as oft engaged To be returned by noon amid the bower, And all things in best order to invite Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. 0 much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, Of thy presumed return! event perverse!

\ Oread, or Dryad, or of Delia's train.—Female divinities with which the Greeks peopled the neighbour of their rivers, woods, and mountains. \ Pales.—The Roman goddess of flocks—shepherds.

\* Pomona.—The female guardian of fruit trees.

Thou never from that hour in Paradise Found'st either sweet repast, or sound repose! Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades Waited, with hellish rancour imminent, To intercept thy way, or send thee back Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss! For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come, And on his quest, where likeliest he might find The only two of mankind, but in them The whole included race, his purposed prey. In bower and field he sought where any tuft Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, Their tendance, or plantation for delight; By fountain or by shady rivulet He sought them both, but wished his hap might find Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish, Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round About her glowed, oft stooping to support Each flower of tender stalk, whose head, though gay Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, Hung drooping, unsustained; then she upstays Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; Then voluble and bold; now hid, now seen Among thick woven arborets, and flowers Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned

^' Voluble and bold. - Curved and confident.