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Though ineffectual found; misdeem not, then, If such affront I labour to avert From thee alone, which on us both at once The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare, Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce Angels. Nor think superfluous others' aid. I, from the influence of thy looks, receive Access in every virtue. In thy sight More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over-reached, Would utmost vigour raise, and raised, unite. Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel When I am present, and thy trial choose With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?

So spake domestic Adam in his care,

And matrimonial love. But Eve, who thought

Less attributed to her faith sincere,

Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed:

If this be our condition, thus to dwell

In narrow circuit straitened by a foe,

Subtle or violent, we not endued

Single with like defence, wherever met,

How are we happy, still in fear of harm?

But harm precedes not sin. Only our foe,

Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem

Of our integrity: his foul esteem

Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns

Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared

By us, who rather double houour gain

From his surmise proved false, find peace within,

Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event.

And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed

Alone, without exterior help sustained?

Let us not, then, suspect our happy state

Left so imperfect by the Maker wise,

Left so imperfect by single or combined.

As not secure to single or combined.

Frail is our happiness, if this be so;

Frail is our happiness, thus exposed.

And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. To whom thus Adam fervently replied: O woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordained them. His creating hand Nothing imperfect, or deficient left Of all that he created, much less man, Or aught that might his happy state secure, Secure from outward force. Within himself The danger lies, yet lies within his power: Against his will he can receive no harm. But God left free the will, for what obeys Reason is free; and reason he made right, But bid her well be ware, and still erect, Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, She dictate false, and misinform the will To do what God expressly hath forbid. Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me. Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, Since reason not impossibly may meet Some specious object by the foe suborned, And fall into deception unaware, Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. Seek not temptation, then, which to avoid Were better, and most likely if from me Thou sever not; trial will come unsought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve First thy obedience; the other who can know? Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? But, if thou think trial unsought may find Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;