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them an account of Satan, of his rebellion in heaven, and the wars of the rebel angels, down to their defeat and expulsion from heaven by the Messiah. This occupies the remainder of the fifth and the whole of the sixth books. In the seventh, Raphael, at Adam's request, gives a description of the creation of the world; and in the eighth book, Adam, in return, gives the angel a narrative of his own creation and that of Eve. In the ninth book, Satan, who had been driven away from Paradise by the guardian angels, returns by night as a mist, and, in order to prosecute his designs, enters the serpent.

BOOK IX.

THE ARGUMENT.

Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should attempt her found alone. Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her strength. Adam at last yields; the Serpent finds her alone; his subtile approach, first gazing, then speaking; with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the Serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech, and such understanding, not till now: the Serpent answers, that, by tasting of a certain tree in the garden, he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both. Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden: the Serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments, induces her at length to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not; at last brings him of the fruit; relates what persuaded her to eat thereof. Adam, at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, to perish with her; and, extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit.

Now, when as sacred light began to dawn
In Eden on the humid flow'rs, that breath'd
Their morning incense, when all things that breathe,
From th' earth's great altar send up silent praise 195
To the Creator, and his nostrils fill

With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,
And join'd their vocal worship to the quire

Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake
The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs: 200
Then commune, how that day they best may ply
Their growing work: for much their work outgrew
The hands' despatch of two gard'ning, so wide,
And Eve first to her husband thus began:
"Adam, well may we labour still to dress
This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flow'r,

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Our pleasant task enjoin'd; but till more hands
Aid us, the work under our labour grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day,
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,
One night or two with wanton growth derides
Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise,
Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present:
Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 215
The woodbine round this arbour, or direct
The clasping ivy where to climb; while I,
In yonder spring of roses intermix'd
With myrtle, find what to redress till noon;
For, while so near each other thus all day
Our task we choose, what wonder if (so near)
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual discourse draw on; which intermits
Our day's work, brought to little, though begun
Early, and th' hour of supper comes unearn'd?" 225
To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd:
"Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond

Compare above all living creatures dear!

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Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd
How we might best fulfil the work which here 230
God hath assign'd us; nor of me shalt pass
Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found
In woman, than to study household good,
And good works in her husband to promote.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd
Labour, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,
To brute denied, and are of love the food;
Love, not the lowest end of human life.
For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
He made us, and delight to reason join'd.

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These paths and bow'rs doubt not but our joint hands
Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide
As we need walk, till younger hands erelong
Assist us: but if much converse perhaps
Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:
For solitude sometimes is best society,
And short retirement urges sweet return.
But other doubt possesses me, lest harm
Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st
What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe,
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame
By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wish and best advantage,-us asunder;
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each
To other speedy aid might lend at need:
Whether his first design be to withdraw
Our feälty from God, or to disturb

Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss

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Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more:

Or this, or worse: leave not the faithful side

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That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects.

The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,

Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,

Who guards her, or with her the worst endures."
To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,

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As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,

With sweet austere composure thus replied: "Offspring of heav'n and earth, and all earth's lord!

That such an enemy we have, who seeks

Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn,

And from the parting angel overheard,

As in a shady nook I stood behind,

Just then return'd at shut of ev'ning flow'rs.

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But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt To God or thee, because we have a foe

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May tempt it, I expected not to hear.
His violence thou fear'st not, being such
As we (not capable of death or pain)
Can either not receive, or can repel.

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His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers
Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd:
Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast,
Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear?"

To whom, with healing words, Adam replied: 290 "Daughter of God and man, immortal Eve! For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:

Not diffident of thee do I dissuade

Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid

Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe.

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For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonour foul; suppos'd
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof

Against temptation: thou thyself with scorn
And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,
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 th' 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 ev'ry virtue; in thy sight

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More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were

Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,

Shame to be overcome or overreach'd,

Would utmost vigour raise, and rais'd unite.

Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel 315

When I am present, and thy trial chuse

With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?"

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