4

My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feard,

But still rejoyct, how is it now become [ 120 ]

So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who

Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree

Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?

To whom thus Adam sore beset replid.

O Heavn! in evil strait this day I stand [ 125 ]

Before my Judge, either to undergoe

My self the total Crime, or to accuse

My other self, the partner of my life;

Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines,

I should conceal, and not expose to blame [ 130 ]

By my complaint; but strict necessitie

Subdues me, and calamitous constraint

Least on my head both sin and punishment,

However insupportable, be all

Devolvd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou [ 135 ]

Wouldst easily detect what I conceale.

This Woman whom thou madst to be my help,

And gavst me as thy perfet gift, so good,

So fit, so acceptable, so Divine,

That from her hand I could suspect no ill, [ 140 ]

And what she did, whatever in it self,

Her doing seemd to justifie the deed;

Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate.

To whom the sovran Presence thus replid.

Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey [ 145 ]

Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide,

Superior, or but equal, that to her

Thou didst resigne thy Manhood, and the Place

Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,

And for thee, whose perfection farr excelld [ 150 ]

Hers in all real dignitie: Adornd

She was indeed, and lovely to attract

Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts

Were such as under Government well seemd,

Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part [ 155 ]

And person, hadst thou known thy self aright.

So having said, he thus to Eve in few:

Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?