21

He added not, and from her turnd, but Eve

Not so repulst, with Tears that ceasd not flowing, [ 910 ]

And tresses all disorderd, at his feet

Fell humble, and imbracing them, besaught

His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint.

Forsake me not thus, Adam, witness Heavn

What love sincere, and reverence in my heart [ 915 ]

I beare thee, and unweeting have offended,

Unhappilie deceavd; thy suppliant

I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,

Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid,

Thy counsel in this uttermost distress, [ 920 ]

My onely strength and stay: forlorn of thee,

Whither shall I betake me, where subsist?

While yet we live, scarse one short hour perhaps,

Between us two let there be peace, both joyning,

As joynd in injuries, one enmitie [ 925 ]

Against a Foe by doom express assignd us,

That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not

Thy hatred for this miserie befalln,

On me alreadie lost, mee then thy self

More miserable; both have sind, but thou [ 930 ]

Against God onely, I against God and thee,

And to the place of judgment will return,

There with my cries importune Heaven, that all

The sentence from thy head removd may light

On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe, [ 935 ]

Mee mee onely just object of his ire.

She ended weeping, and her lowlie plight,

Immovable till peace obtaind from fault

Acknowledgd and deplord, in Adam wraught

Commiseration; soon his heart relented [ 940 ]

Towards her, his life so late and sole delight,

Now at his feet submissive in distress,

Creature so faire his reconcilement seeking,

His counsel whom she had displeasd, his aide;

As one disarmd, his anger all he lost, [ 945 ]

And thus with peaceful words upraisd her soon.

Unwarie, and too desirous, as before,

So now of what thou knowst not, who desirst

The punishment all on thy self; alas,

Beare thine own first, ill able to sustaine [ 950 ]

His full wrauth whose thou feelst as yet lest part,

And my displeasure bearst so ill. If Prayers

Could alter high Decrees, I to that place

Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,

That on my head all might be visited, [ 955 ]

Thy frailtie and infirmer Sex forgivn,

To me committed and by me exposd.