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Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods,

Not terrible, though terrour be in Love [ 490 ]

And beautie, not approacht by stronger hate,

Hate stronger, under shew of Love well feignd,

The way which to her ruin now I tend.

So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclosd

In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve [ 495 ]

Addressd his way, not with indented wave,

Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare,

Circular base of rising foulds, that tourd

Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head

Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; [ 500 ]

With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect

Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass

Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape,

And lovely, never since of Serpent kind

Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changd [ 505 ]

Hermione and Cadmus, or the God

In Epidaurus; nor to which transformd

Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen,

Hee with Olympias, this with her who bore

Scipio the highth of Rome . With tract oblique [ 510 ]

At first, as one who sought access, but feard

To interrupt, side-long he works his way.

As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought

Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind

Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; [ 515 ]

So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine

Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,

To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound

Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as usd

To such disport before her through the Field, [ 520 ]

From every Beast, more duteous at her call,

Then at Circean call the Herd disguisd.

Hee boulder now, uncalld before her stood;

But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd

His turret Crest, and sleek enameld Neck, [ 525 ]

Fawning, and lickd the ground whereon she trod.

His gentle dumb expression turnd at length

The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad

Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue

Organic, or impulse of vocal Air, [ 530 ]

His fraudulent temptation thus began.