17

Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe,

Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,

His worshippers; he knows that in the day [ 705 ]

Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere,

Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then

Opnd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,

Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.

That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, [ 710 ]

Internal Man, is but proportion meet,

I of brute human, yee of human Gods.

So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off

Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht,

Though threatnd, which no worse then this can bring. [ 715 ]

And what are Gods that Man may not become

As they, participating God-like food?

The Gods are first, and that advantage use

On our belief, that all from them proceeds;

I question it, for this fair Earth I see, [ 720 ]

Warmd by the Sun, producing every kind,

Them nothing: If they all things, who enclosd

Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree,

That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains

Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies [ 725 ]

Th offence, that Man should thus attain to know?

What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree

Impart against his will if all be his?

Or is it envie, and can envie dwell

In Heavnly brests? these, these and many more [ 730 ]

Causes import your need of this fair Fruit.

Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste.

He ended, and his words replete with guile

Into her heart too easie entrance won:

Fixt on the Fruit she gazd, which to behold [ 735 ]

Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound

Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregnd

With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth;

Mean while the hour of Noon drew on, and wakd

An eager appetite, raisd by the smell [ 740 ]

So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,

Inclinable now grown to touch or taste,

Sollicited her longing eye; yet first

Pausing a while, thus to her self she musd.