5

To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelmd,

Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge [ 160 ]

Bold or loquacious, thus abasht replid.

The Serpent me beguild and I did eate.

Which when the Lord God heard, without delay

To Judgement he proceeded on th accusd

Serpent though brute, unable to transferre [ 165 ]

The Guilt on him who made him instrument

Of mischief, and polluted from the end

Of his Creation; justly then accurst,

As vitiated in Nature: more to know

Concernd not Man (since he no further knew) [ 170 ]

Nor alterd his offence; yet God at last

To Satan first in sin his doom applyd

Though in mysterious terms, judgd as then best:

And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.

Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst [ 175 ]

Above all Cattle, each Beast of the Field;

Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe,

And dust shalt eat all the dayes of thy Life.

Between Thee and the Woman I will put

Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed; [ 180 ]

Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.

So spake this Oracle, then verifid

When Jesus son of Mary second Eve,

Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heavn,

Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave [ 185 ]

Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumpht

In open shew, and with ascention bright

Captivity led captive through the Aire,

The Realm it self of Satan long usurpt,

Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; [ 190 ]

Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise,

And to the Woman thus his Sentence turnd.

Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie

By thy Conception; Children thou shalt bring

In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will [ 195 ]

Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule.

On Adam last thus judgement he pronouncd.