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Воок IX.—823-858]

And render me more equal, and, perhaps, A thing not undesirable, sometimes Superior; for, inferior, who is free? This may be well. But what if God have seen, And death ensue? Then I shall be no more! And Adam, wedded to another Eve, Shall live with her, enjoying; I extinct: A death to think! Confirmed, then, I resolve, Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe; So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure-without him live no life.

PARADISE LOST.

So saying, from the tree her step she turned, But first low reverence done, as to the power That dwelt within, whose presence had infused Into the plant sciential sap, derived From nectar, drink of gods. Adam, the while, Waiting, desirous her return, had wove Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn Her tresses, and her rural labours crown, As reapers oft are wont their harvest queen. Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new Solace in her return, so long delayed: Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt, And forth to meet her went, the way she took The morn when first they parted. By the tree Of knowledge he must pass, there he her met, Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. To him she hasted; in her face excuse Came prologue, and apology too prompt;

Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed: Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived Thy presence; agony of love till now

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Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, In fruit she never tasted, whether true Or fancied so, through expectation high Of knowledge; nor was godhead from her though. Greedily she engorged without restraint, And knew not eating death. Satiate at length, And heightened as with wine, jocund and boon, Thus to herself she pleasingly began:

O sovereign, virtuous, precious of all trees In Paradise! of operation blest To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed, And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end Created; but henceforth my early care, Not without song, each morning, and due praise, Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease Of thy full branches, offered free to all; Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature In knowledge, as the gods, who all things know; Though others envy what they cannot give: For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, Best guide: not following thee, I had remained In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way, And givest access, though secret she retire. And I, perhaps, am secret. Heaven is high, High, and remote to see from thence distinct Each thing on earth; and other care, perhaps, May have diverted from continual watch Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies About him. But to Adam in what sort Shall I appear? Shall I to him make known As yet my change, and give him to partake Full happiness with me, or rather not, But keep the odds of knowledge in my power, Without copartner? so to add what wants In female sex, the more to draw his love,