The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (110 page)

1076

      

Our wonted
⁵¹³²
ornaments now soiled and stained,

1077

      

And in our faces evident the signs

1078

      

Of foul concupiscence,
⁵¹³³
whence evil store,
⁵¹³⁴

1079

      

Ev’n shame, the last
⁵¹³⁵
of evils. Of the first

1080

      

Be sure then. How shall I behold the face

1081

      

Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy

1082

      

And rapture so oft beheld? Those Heav’nly shapes

1083

      

Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze

1084

      

Insufferably bright. O! might I here

1085

      

In solitude live savage, in some glade

1086

      

Obscured,
⁵¹³⁶
where highest woods, impenetrable

1087

      

To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage
⁵¹³⁷
broad

1088

      

And brown as evening. Cover me, ye pines!

1089

      

Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs

1090

      

Hide me, where I may never see them
⁵¹³⁸
more!

1091

      

   
“But let us now, as in bad plight,
⁵¹³⁹
devise

1092

      

What best may for the present serve to hide

1093

      

The parts of each from other, that seem most

1094

      

To shame obnoxious,
⁵¹⁴⁰
and unseemliest
⁵¹⁴¹
seen.

1095

      

Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed,

1096

      

And girded on our loins, may cover round

1097

      

Those middle parts, that this newcomer, shame,

1098

      

There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.

1099

      

   
So counselled he, and both together went

1100

      

Into the thickest wood. There soon they chose

1101

      

The fig-tree—not that kind for fruit renowned,

1102

      

But such
⁵¹⁴²
as at this day, to Indians known,

1103

      

In Malabar
⁵¹⁴³
or Deccan
⁵¹⁴⁴
spreads her arms

1104

      

Branching so broad and long, that in the ground

1105

      

The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow

1106

      

About the mother tree, a pillared shade

1107

      

High over-arched, and echoing walks between.

1108

      

There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,

1109

      

Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds

1110

      

At loop-holes cut through thickest shade. Those leaves

1111

      

They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe
⁵¹⁴⁵

1112

      

And, with what skill they had, together sewed,

1113

      

To gird their waist—vain covering, if to hide

1114

      

Their guilt and dreaded shame! O how unlike

1115

      

To that first naked glory! Such of late

1116

      

Columbus found th’American, so girt
⁵¹⁴⁶

1117

      

With feathered cincture,
⁵¹⁴⁷
naked else, and wild

1118

      

Among the trees on isles and woody shores.

1119

      

Thus fenced
⁵¹⁴⁸
and, as they thought, their shame in part

1120

      

Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind,

1121

      

They sat them down to weep, nor only tears

1122

      

Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within

1123

      

Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate,

1124

      

Mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore

1125

      

Their inward state of mind, calm region once

1126

      

And full of peace, now tossed and turbulent,

1127

      

For understanding ruled not, and the will

1128

      

Heard not her
⁵¹⁴⁹
lore,
⁵¹⁵⁰
both
⁵¹⁵¹
in subjection now

1129

      

To sensual appetite, who from beneath

1130

      

Usurping over sov’reign reason claimed

1131

      

Superior sway.
⁵¹⁵²
From thus distempered
⁵¹⁵³
breast,

1132

      

Adam, estranged
⁵¹⁵⁴
in look and altered style,
⁵¹⁵⁵

1133

      

Speech intermitted
⁵¹⁵⁶
thus to Eve renewed:

1134

      

   
“Would thou had’st hearkened to my words, and stayed

1135

      

With me, as I besought
⁵¹⁵⁷
thee, when that strange

1136

      

Desire of wand’ring, this unhappy morn,

1137

      

I know not whence possessed thee. We had then

1138

      

Remained still happy—not, as now, despoiled
⁵¹⁵⁸

1139

      

Of all our good, shamed, naked, miserable!

1140

      

Let none henceforth seek needless causet’ approve

1141

      

The faith they owe!
⁵¹⁵⁹
When earnestly they seek

1142

      

Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail.”

1143

      

To whom, soon
⁵¹⁶⁰
moved with touch of blame, thus Eve:

1144

      

   
“What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!

1145

      

Imput’st thou that to my default, or will

1146

      

Of wand’ring, as thou call’st it, which who knows

1147

      

But might as ill have happened thou being by—

1148

      

Or to thyself perhaps? Had’st thou been there,

1149

      

Or here th’ attempt, thou could’st not have discerned

1150

      

Fraud in the serpent, speaking as he spoke.

1151

      

No ground of enmity between us known,

1152

      

Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm?

1153

      

Was I t’ have never parted from thy side?

1154

      

As good have grown there still, a lifeless rib.

1155

      

Being as I am, why did’st not thou, the head,

1156

      

Command me absolutely not to go,

1157

      

Going into such danger as thou said’st?

1158

      

Too facile
⁵¹⁶¹
then, thou did’st not much gainsay—
⁵¹⁶²

1159

      

Nay, did’st permit, approve, and fair
⁵¹⁶³
dismiss.
⁵¹⁶⁴

1160

      

Had’st thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent,

1161

      

Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me.

1162

      

   
To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied:

1163

      

   
“Is this the love, is this the recompence

1164

      

Of mine to thee, ungrateful Eve! expressed