The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (107 page)

803

      

Till dieted
⁵⁰³⁶
by thee I grow mature

804

      

In knowledge, as the gods, who all things know,

805

      

Though others envy what they cannot give—

806

      

For had the gift been theirs, it had not here

807

      

Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe,

808

      

Best guide. Not following thee, I had remained

809

      

In ignorance. Thou op’nest wisdom’s way,

810

      

And giv’st access, though secret she retire.

811

      

And I perhaps am secret.
⁵⁰³⁷
Heav’n is high,

812

      

High and remote to see from thence distinct

813

      

Each thing on earth. And other care perhaps

814

      

May have diverted from continual watch

815

      

Our great Forbidder, safe with all His spies

816

      

About him. But to Adam in what sort
⁵⁰³⁸

817

      

Shall I appear? Shall I to him make known

818

      

As yet my change, and give him to partake
⁵⁰³⁹

819

      

Full happiness with me, or rather not,

820

      

But keep the odds of knowledge in my power

821

      

Without co-partner? So to add what wants
⁵⁰⁴⁰

822

      

In female sex, the more to draw his love,

823

      

And render me more equal, and perhaps,

824

      

A thing not undesirable, sometime

825

      

Superior—for inferior, who is free?

826

      

This may be well. But what if God have seen,

827

      

And death ensue?
⁵⁰⁴¹
Then I shall be no more!

828

      

And Adam, wedded to another Eve,

829

      

Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct:

830

      

A death to think!
⁵⁰⁴²
Confirmed then I resolve,

831

      

Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe!

832

      

So dear I love him, that with him all deaths

833

      

I could endure, without him live no life.”

834

      

   
So saying, from the tree her step she turned,

835

      

But first low reverence done, as to the power

836

      

That dwelt within, whose presence had infused

837

      

Into the plant sciential
⁵⁰⁴³
sap, derived

838

      

From nectar, drink of gods. Adam the while,

839

      

Waiting desirous her return, had wove

840

      

Of choicest flow’rs a garland, to adorn

841

      

Her tresses, and her rural labors crown,

842

      

As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen.

843

      

Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new

844

      

Solace in her return, so long delayed,

845

      

Yet oft his heart, divine
⁵⁰⁴⁴
of something ill,

846

      

Misgave him. He the fault’ring
⁵⁰⁴⁵
measure
⁵⁰⁴⁶
felt,
⁵⁰⁴⁷

847

      

And forth to meet her went, the way she took

848

      

That morn when first they parted. By the Tree

849

      

Of Knowledge he must pass. There he her met,

850

      

Scarce from the tree returning, in her hand

851

      

A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled,

852

      

New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused.

853

      

To him she hasted. In her face excuse

854

      

Came prologue,
⁵⁰⁴⁸
and apology too prompt,

855

      

Which, with bland
⁵⁰⁴⁹
words at will,
⁵⁰⁵⁰
she thus addressed:

856

      

   
“Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay?

857

      

Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived
⁵⁰⁵¹

858

      

Thy presence. Agony of love till now

859

      

Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more

860

      

Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought,

861

      

The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange

862

      

Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear.

863

      

This tree is not, as we are told, a tree

864

      

Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown

865

      

Op’ning the way, but of divine effect

866

      

To open eyes, and make them gods who taste,

867

      

And hath been tasted such. The serpent wise,

868

      

Or not restrained as we, or not obeying,

869

      

Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become—

870

      

Not dead, as we are threat’ned, but thenceforth

871

      

Endued
⁵⁰⁵²
with human voice and human sense,

872

      

Reasoning to admiration,
⁵⁰⁵³
and with me

873

      

Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I

874

      

Have also tasted, and have also found

875

      

Th’ effects to correspond.
⁵⁰⁵⁴
Opener mine eyes,

876

      

Dim erst, dilated
⁵⁰⁵⁵
spirits, ampler heart,

877

      

And growing up to godhead—which for thee

878

      

Chiefly I sought—without thee can despise.

879

      

For bliss, as
⁵⁰⁵⁶
thou hast part,
⁵⁰⁵⁷
to me is bliss.

880

      

Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon.

881

      

Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot
⁵⁰⁵⁸

882

      

May join us, equal joy, as equal love,

883

      

Lest thou not tasting, different degree

884

      

Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce

88

      

Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.”

886

      

   
Thus Eve with count’nance blithe
⁵⁰⁵⁹
her story told,

887

      

But in her cheek distemper
⁵⁰⁶⁰
flushing glowed.

888

      

On th’ other side Adam, soon as he heard

889

      

The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed,

890

      

Astonied
⁵⁰⁶¹
stood and blank,
⁵⁰⁶²
while horror chill

891

      

Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed.
⁵⁰⁶³

892

      

From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve

893

      

Down dropped, and all the faded roses shed.
⁵⁰⁶⁴

894

      

Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length