19

Greedily she ingorgd without restraint,

And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length,

And hightnd as with Wine, jocond and boon,

Thus to her self she pleasingly began.

O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees [ 795 ]

In Paradise, of operation blest

To Sapience, hitherto obscurd, infamd,

And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end

Created; but henceforth my early care,

Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise [ 800 ]

Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease

Of thy full branches offerd free to all;

Till dieted by thee I grow mature

In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;

Though others envie what they cannot give; [ 805 ]

For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here

Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,

Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind

In ignorance, thou opnst Wisdoms way,

And givst access, though secret she retire. [ 810 ]

And I perhaps am secret; Heavn is high,

High and remote to see from thence distinct

Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps

May have diverted from continual watch

Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies [ 815 ]

About him. But to Adam in what sort

Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known

As yet my change, and give him to partake

Full happiness with mee, or rather not,

But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power [ 820 ]

Without Copartner? so to add what wants

In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,

And render me more equal, and perhaps,

A thing not undesireable, somtime

Superior: for inferior who is free? [ 825 ]

This may be well: but what if God have seen

And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,

And Adam wedded to another Eve,

Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;

A death to think. Confirmd then I resolve, [ 830 ]

Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:

So dear I love him, that with him all deaths

I could endure, without him live no life.