From dust. Spite then with spite is best repaid."

So saying, through each thicket, dank or dry, Like a black mist low creeping, he held on His inidnight search, where soonest he might find The serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found In labyrinth of maný a round self rollid, His head the midst, well stor’d with subtle wiles. Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, Nor nocent yet, but on the grassy herb, Fearless unfear'd he slept: in at his mouth The Devil enter'd, and his brutal sense, In heart, or head, possessing, soon inspir'd With act intelligential; but his sleep Disturb'd not, waiting close th’approach of morn.

Now, when as sacred light began to dawn In Eden on the humid flowers, that breath'd Their morning incens", when all things that breathe From the earth's great altar send up silent praise To the Creator, and bis nostrils fill With grateful smell, forth came the human pair And join'd their vocal worship to the choir Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs : Then commune how that day they best may ply Their growing work; for much their work outgrew The hands' dispatch of two garu’ning so wide, And Eve first to her husband thus began :

“ Adam! well may we labour still to dress This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, Our pleasant task enjoin'd; but till more hands Aid us, the work under our labour grows, Luxurious by restraint: what we by day Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, One night or two with wanton growth derides, Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present; Let us divide our labours, thou where choice Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind The woodbine round this arbour, or direct The clasping ivy where to climb, while I, In yonder spring of roses intermix'd

With myrtle, find what to redress till noon :
For while so near each other thus all day
Our task we choose, what wonder if so near
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual discourse draw on, which intermits
Our day's work, brought to little, though begun
Early, and th' hour of supper comes unearn'd:

To whom mild ansirer Adarn thus return'd:
" Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond
Compare, above all living creatures dear!
Well hast thou motion’d, well thy thoughts employ'd
How we may best fulfil the work which here
God hath assign'd us, nor of me shalt pass
Unprais'd; for nothing lovelier can be found
In woman, than to study household good,
And good works in her husband to promote.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos d
Labour, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow,
To brute denied, and are of love the food;
Love not the lowest end of human life.
For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
He made us, and delight to reason join’d.
These paths and bowers, doubt not but our joint hands
Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide
As we need walk, till younger hands ere long
Assist us: but if much converse perhaps
Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield;
For solitude sometimes is best society,
And short retirement urges sweet return.
But other doubt possesses me, lest harm
Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou know'st
What hath been warn’d us, what malicious foe,
Envying our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work is woe and shame
By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand
Watches, no doubt, with greedy liope to find
His wish and best advantage, us asunder, .
Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each

To other speedy aid might lend at need:
Whether his first design be to withdraw
Our fealty from God, or to disturb
Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss
Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more;
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side
That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.
The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.".

To whom the virgin majesty of Eve,
As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,
With sweet austere composure thus replied:

“ Offspring of heaven and earth, and all earth's
That such an enemy we have, who seeks [lord!
Our ruin, both by thee inform'd I learn,
And from the parting angel overheard,
As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Just then return'd at slut of eveving flowers.
But that thou should'st my firmness therefore doubt
To God or thee, because we have a foe
May tempt it, I expected not to hear.
His violence thou fear'st not, being such
As we, not capable of death or pain,
Can either not receive, or can repel.
His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers
Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'di (breast,
Thoughts! wbich how found they harbour in thy
Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear?"

To whom with healing words Adam replied: “ Daughter of God and man, immortal Eve! For such thou art, from sin and blame entire; Not diffident of thee do I dissuade Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid Th' attempt itself, intended by our foe. For he who tempts, though'in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos’d Not incorruptible of faith, nor proof Against temptation : thou thyself with scorn And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,

Though ineffectual found ; misdeem not then,
If such affront I labour to avert
From thee alone, which on us both at once
The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare,
Or daring, first on me th' assault shall light.
Nor thou his maliée and false guile contemn :
Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce
Angels; nor think superfluous others' aid.
I from the influence of thy looks receive
Access in every virtue; in thy sight
More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were
Of outward strength; while shame, theu looking on,
Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd,
Would utmost vigour raise, and rais'd unite.
Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present, and thy trial choose
With me, best witness of thy virtue tried ?"

So spake domestie Adam in his care
And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought
Less attributed to her faith sincere,
Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd :

“ If this be our condition, thus to dwell
In narrow circuit, straiten'd by a foe,
Subtle or violent, we not endued
Single with like defence, wherever met,
How are we happy, still in fear of harm?
But harm precedes not sin ; only our foe
'Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integrity. His foul esteem
Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns
Foul on himself: then wherefore sbunn'd or fearu
By us? wbo rather double honour gain
From his surmise prov'd false, find peace within,
Favour from heaven, our witness' from th’ event..
And what is faith, love, virtue, unassay'd
Alone, without exterior help sustain'd?
Let us not then suspect our happy state
Left so imperfect by the Maker wise,
As not secure to single or combin'd.
Frail is our bappiness, if this be so,
And Eden were no Eden tbus expos’d."

To whom thus Adam fervently replied: " O Woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordain'd them: his creating hand Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created, much less man, Or ought that might bis happy state secure. Secure from outward force; within bimself The danger lies, yet lies within his power: Against his will be can receive no harm. But God left free the will; for what obeys Reason is free, and reason be inade right, But bid her well beware, and still erect, Lest by some fair appearing good surpris'd, She dictate false, and misinform the will To do what God expressly bath forbid. Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me. Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, Since reason not impossibly may meet Some specious object by the foe suborn'd, And fall into deception unaware, Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warn’d. Seek not temptation then, which to avoid Were better, and most likely, if from me Thou sever not: trial will come unsought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? approve First thy obedience; th' other who can know, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? But if thou think trial unsought may find Us both securer than thus warn'd thou seem'st, Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more: Go in thy native innocence, rely On what thou hast of virtue, summon all, For God tow'rds thee bath done his part, do thine."

So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve Persisted, yet submiss, though last replied:

“ With thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd, Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words Touch'd only, that our trial, when least sought, May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd, The willinger I go; nor much expect