27

Would thou hadst hearknd to my words, and staid

With me, as I besought thee, when that strange [ 1135 ]

Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn,

I know not whence possessd thee; we had then

Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild

Of all our good, shamd, naked, miserable.

Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve [ 1140 ]

The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek

Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile.

To whom soon movd with touch of blame thus Eve.

What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe,

Imputst thou that to my default, or will [ 1145 ]

Of wandring, as thou callst it, which who knows

But might as ill have happnd thou being by,

Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou been there,

Or here th attempt, thou couldst not have discernd

Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; [ 1150 ]

No ground of enmitie between us known,

Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme.

Was I to have never parted from thy side?

As good have grown there still a liveless Rib.

Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head [ 1155 ]

Command me absolutely not to go,

Going into such danger as thou saidst?

Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,

Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.

Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent, [ 1160 ]

Neither had I transgressd, nor thou with mee.

To whom then first incenst Adam replid,

Is this the Love, is this the recompence

Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprest

Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, [ 1165 ]

Who might have livd and joyd immortal bliss,

Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:

And am I now upbraided, as the cause

Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,

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

I warnd thee, I admonishd thee, foretold

The danger, and the lurking Enemie

That lay in wait; beyond this had bin 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 finde

Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps

I also errd in overmuch admiring

What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought

No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue [ 1180 ]

That errour 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 her self, if evil thence ensue, [ 1185 ]

Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.

Thus they in mutual accusation spent

The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning,

And of thir vain contest appeerd no end.

The End of the Ninth Book.