1155

Was I to have never parted from thy side?
As good have grown there still a lifeless rib.
Being as I am, why didst not thou the head
Command me absolutely not to go,
Going into such danger, as thou said'st?
Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadst thou been firm and fix'd in thy dissent, 1160
Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with me.
To whom then first incens'd Adam reply'd.
Is this the love, is this the recompence
Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, express'd
Immutable when thou wert lost, not I,
Who might have liv'd and joy'd immortal bliss,

Yet willingly chose rather death with thee?
And am I now upbraided, as the cause

1165

Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,

It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? 1170

I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold

The danger, and the lurking enemy
That lay in wait: beyond this had been force,

And force upon free will hath here no place.

But confidence then bore thee on, secure

1175

Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also err'd in overmuch admiring

1165 Immutable] Inimitable. Bentl. MS.

1170 thy] So in the early editions; in Tonson's, 1711, it is 'in my restraint,' which Tickell, Fenton, and Bentley have improperly followed,

What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I thought No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue

1180

The error now, which is become my crime,

And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befall

Him who to worth in women overtrusting
Lets her will rule; restraint she will not brook,
And left to herself, if evil thence ensue,

1185

She first his weak indulgence will accuse.

Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning, And of their vain contest appear'd no end.

177

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X.

THE ARGUMENT.

Man's transgression known, the guardian angels forsake paradise, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved, God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends, and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the place of man: to make the way easier from hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway, or bridge, over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then, preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to hell: their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his success against man: instead of applause, is entertained with a ge'neral hiss by all his audience, transformed, with himself also, suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretells the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the present commands his angels to make several alterations in the heavens and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve;

she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication.

MEANWHILE the heinous and despightful act
Of Satan done in paradise, and how
He in the serpent had perverted Eve,
Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in heav'n; for what can scape the eye
Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omniscient, who, in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind
Of man, with strength entire, and freewill arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd
Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend!
For still they knew, and ought to have still remem-
The high injunction not to taste that fruit, [ber'd

10

Whoever tempted; which they not obeying
Incurr'd, what could they less? the penalty,
And, manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.

15

Up into heav'n from paradise in haste Th' angelic guards ascended, mute and sad For man; for of his state by this they knew, Much wondring how the subtle fiend had stol'n 20 Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news From earth arriv'd at heaven gate, displeas'd All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare

That time celestial visages, yet mix'd
With pity violated not their bliss.
About the new arriv'd in multitudes

25

Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know
How all befell: they towards the throne supreme
Accountable made haste to make appear
With righteous plea their utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most high
Eternal Father from his secret cloud
Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice.

30

Assembled angels, and ye powers return'd From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd, Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, Which your sincerest care could not prevent, Foretold so lately what would come to pass, When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from hell. I told ye then he should prevail and speed On his bad errand, man should be seduc'd And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fall'n he is, and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On his transgression, death denounc'd that day, Which he presumes already vain and void,

35

40

45

50

Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,
By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.